Chapter XVI

A Tale of Aka Usagi

I've kept in touch with Kori…I'm thankful she's okay. But that Kuan Shi…that's two of them that have appeared lately. I know it, now…we killed only one generation of the Kuan. There are more…I'm reluctant to say my fear has returned. I miss Kori, though…it's been a while since I have seen her. I have so long to wait for her…but…what if…I don't see her again. Twice I've come near-death with those dreaded Kuans. I've won by nearly all luck. I was nearly killed against Kuan Jin, and Shi came close…

I just want to see her at least once more before my luck runs out…just…once more…

It was daytime when a messenger unit arrived. The gate opened its doors and the unit rushed in delivering letters. Aka was given one, and he opened it. It read:

Hello old friend…I'm sure you know who I am so I'll cut to it. You know we're alive, and we know all of you are, as well. I hoped it would never come to this, Aka. But the gods wish for one of us to die, and I dare not defy them. Heh, you've always said you're their descendant. If it were true, would they send you to die? You'll know where to find me, be there in five days…I'll be waiting.

Your eldest friend,

De

Aka froze. He curled up the letter and put it on his cot inside of his tent. He paced slowly around in a circle thinking of this.

"Something' wrong?" asked Aoi, tilting in the inner corner of the tent.

"You really should stop doing that…" said Aka.

"Meh, it's fun. So…what's the letter about?"

"Nothing big…just an old friend of mine want's to see me again, is all…what about your letter?"

"Basically…the same. Now about yours…it wasn't De, was it?"

"What if it was?"

"You're going to fight him, aren't you?"

Aka didn't reply, but he put on his chest armor. Aoi sighed.

"He's a hell of a fighter, swordsmanship of a demon. Heh, kind of like me, huh?"

"Aoi, listen for once. You're not the only one who can fight for yourself. I've held my own easily before and I still can."

"The other Kuan nearly killed you."

"And Jin almost killed you, but he didn't…did he? Aoi, this is something I have to do for myself. If I die, send Kori my regards."

Aka finished putting on his armor. He placed his normal blade upon his waist and his great sword he carried on his back. Aoi walked with him to the stable.

"Oh and Aka…don't die on me, alright? I'm hoping for all four of us to fight again."

Aka nodded, and snapped his horse's reigns.

Aoi walked back, and Shiro caught up with him.

"Oh you didn't just send him to De…did you?" said Shiro.

"It's his fight, not mine." Said Aoi, smiling.

"He'll die! I doubt even you could beat him."

"It's his choice, if he wants to fight he can fight. But for now we must concentrate on taking Shu."

Shiro wanted to protest, but he let it go.

It was a few days of banquets and arrivals at Shu's new camp, and Aka arrived. He dismounted his horse. It was a cloudy, rainy field. Aka looked around, it was a graveyard. It was dark as night, as well, and Aka begun walking.

"Horrible senses, as usual." Said a man. Aka turned around and saw him sitting on a grave.

The man was wearing black clothing and boots, and had straight, silver hair that covered his right and left cheeks and almost reached his shoulder. He stood up.

"What is with you and Aoi doing that?!" said Aka.

De laughed, and they walked down an abandoned street.

"What happened, Kuan De?" said Aka. "Why does one of us have to die by the other's hands?"

"Aka,ave to die by the other's hands?"

"I could not shame my family name by befriending the men who slaughtered two of my brothers…it would be very strange."

"Why not join us, you could rampage the battle field, along side us!"

"Aka…I'm so sorry it had to turn out this way. If my brothers hadn't been so bloodthirsty, we would have been allies, and our names would again be feared through out the entire land! But alas, action must be made…"

Aka sighed in awe. Kuan De was a childhood friend, and an amazing swordsman. But his word would not be changed.

De begun talking again, and said, "Men fight for many reason. Ambition, power, test in skill, honor…but today I fight for my family. I wish you good luck, and hope you well."

The two stopped at an open field. It was a hard stone floor, with but one small building upon the two men.

"You have no armor?" asked Aka.

"You know me, I don't even need it."

Aka took it as a challenge, and removed his chest armor. He removed his large sword from his back and held it out. The wind blew across the two, it was sure to be a battle to see.

Aka charged and did a quick overhead slash. Kuan De pulled a blade from his belt upside down and blocked the attack, and kicked him back.

The sword was unique. The hilt had black silk. The blade was thin and curved. It was a fast and deadly sword. Had it been made by normal men it would have been no match for Aka's powerful sword, but it was made by some of the finest crafstmen, along with two Kuan ancestors. It had been waiting for it's correct user, and De was the perfect match. De had slaughtered many with that sword…that day may have been another.

"Surprised your still using that toothpick, De." Snickered Aka.

"Insulting though it may have been," said De, "this toothpick just presed your own blade back."

De charged chaotically at Aka, releasing swift attacks. Aka blocked his leg, but was cut across the chest. Then he blocked a right slash to his hip. De spun clockwise and went for Aka again, but he docked and punched De in the stomach. De slid himself back, and readied himself.

Aka went back onto the offensive and charged. He swung his blade from the right, and De read his move. He grabbed the hilt of Aka's blade and hopped up, kicking him across the face. He landed his feet on top of the blade, making Aka lose it.

"You can't possibly expect to beat someone agile with something so slow, can you?" said De.

"Was workin for a while." Said Aka.

Aka stood up and unsheathed his broad sword. It had a bump across the base, with Fu Xi incribed on it.

"I call it God's Fury." Said Aka.

De and Aka charged eachother. They brought their blades up to their shoulders and slashed down, resulting in a clash of the swords. Small sparks from the friction was coming out of the center of the two swords. Aka's blade pushed De's to the side. Aka spun around and cut De's stomach.

De stepped back. He closed his eyes smirking. He pulled his hair to the side, and it moved back.

"Much better, Aka." Said De. "Been practicing?"

"Always." Said Aka.

De held his blade again. He ran at Aka, and leaped into the air with a forward motion. He spun around in the air, slashing at Aka, twice. They both failed to hit, so he flipped forward and landed. De backstabbed, but Aka lunged forward and hit the attack away.

While Aka was off guard, De ran with ridiculous speed and cut across Aka's back, landing on his feet gracefully in a kneeling position.

Aka stepped back and readied himself, he ignored his wound, as he would not be able to pressue it without sustaining further damage. He spat out some blood and concentrated.

"Aoi's right, you still are a demon of a fighter." Said Aka, smirking.

Aka went forward and stabbed at De's shoulder. De dodged and spun counter-clockwise, just as Aka went clockwise. The two blades clashed and passed eachother, and the two spun again. They clashed again but got in a saber lock. Aka moved his sword on the un-sharp side of De's blade, and pushed it away. He then got a good slash on De's back.

"Are you holding back?" asked Aka.

De half-backflipped and double kicked Aka onto the ground. He spun around and cut across Aka's stomach, and backed away.

Aka stood up and coughed up some blood, but continued to fight. The two were becoming determined to kill eachother, and they hadn't noticed. Aka charged recklessly and slashed vigorously at De. De was being pushed back hard, but his blade withheld the attacks. Aka slashed again and De's blade flew out of reach. Aka went for an overhead slash, but De caught it with his right hand, and elbowed Aka in the stomach with his left. While Aka was weakened from the attack, De grabbed Aka's hands with both of his and forced Aka to stab himself. He took the blade out and kicked it away, then grabbed hold of his blade. Aka was on one knee, getting himself up.

Aka's previous wounds weren't completely healed, and they had reopened.

De's teeth were gritted in his own blood from a hard battle. He ran at Aka and rose his blade up, to put the warrior to rest. He blinked and saw what he was doing…he was horrified.

"Aka…I'm sorry…" said Kuan De.

Aka looked confusingly at De. Aka had lost, and expected De to finish him. But De took his own blade and flipped it upside down. De then brought himself to his knees.

Aka's eyes widened, and blood spattered on his face…De stabbed himself in the stomach.

"This demon…has died…" said De, with an innocent smile. He removed his blade from his stomach. He dropped the sword, and fell onto his stomach.

"I'll be waiting…Aka…" said De. "Don't die on me…now…go. They're waiting for you."

Aka nodded and sheathed his sword. He grabbed his great sword and his armor, and left…De was left behind as asked, holding his flesh wound.