Chapter XVII
The Legend is Born
Ice Wind was cloaked inside of white, silky cloth. In her arm was a newborn baby boy, encased in a small block of ice. Tears were streaming down her face as she rode slowly to Liaozhong.
Flashback
"But he's our child!" said Kori.
"And that is precisely why we must keep it safe from harm." Said Aoi.
The two were hiding away in a cave, discussing the matter of the child.
"Please, Aoi…we can raise it together, be a family…"
"We'll be in danger. They'll send people for us, to kill us. Encase the kid in ice…you'll know when to thaw him."
Kori begun crying softly.
"Please…isn't there another way?"
"It will only be temporary. You and a select few will hide away in the mountains. There is a small village there for supplies. When the baby is born take it to Liaozhong…have someone raise it there. You name it. I'll come for you…"
Kori tried to hold her tears. She looked at the baby and smiled.
"Your name will be…Shiro…Shiro Kitsune…" she said.
Aoi opened mail from Kori, it read:
Aoi…The baby's been born…you have a new son…I'll be at Liaozhong soon enough…when you get a chance…I'd like to see your face…it's been so long…and I miss you…I don't want to drift away again…goodbye Aoi.
Aoi dropped the note. As he left his tent, Shiro walked up to him.
"So…when were you going to tell us about your kid?" said Shiro.
"When I felt like it." Said Aoi, trying to avoid the topic.
"Which would be, when?"
"On my deathbed."
"You really should lighten up some time, could do you wonders."
Aoi stopped and looked at Shiro.
"And what reason should I have? Why should I calm myself? Now if you'd excuse me, I am going to prepare for battle."
Liu Gui was very much angered when he heard his generals were killed. Zhang Ren immediately saw him.
"My lord," said Zhang Ren. "There is a very important road on the southeast, please allow me to guard it while you hold the city."
Zhang Ren formed an assault team at the road, containing no less than three thousand men. He was one of the fiercest warriors Liu Gui had at his disposal. He had a sharp, golden spear. He had a gold, pointy helmet and golden armor.
Pang Tong's forces begun marching to this point, unaware of Zhang Ren's presence.
Aoi Kitsune sat in a dark tent. In his right hand was his knife. He was cutting phrases onto his left hand. It read Black Dragon. He then cut into his right hand, and wrote God of War. His fingertip then grew a dark aura, which he swept over his cuts. Very painfully, the wounds sealed into a scar. He equipped his armor and blades. He was ready.
Shiro sat on his cot, holding his spear lightly in his hand. Aka hadn't returned. He was probably long dead by now. Kuan De was one of the fiercest swordsmen he knew. His deadly blade was swift as the wind itself. Aka's, though powerful and deadly, wasn't the fastest blade around. But there was nothing he could do any longer. He stood up, already equipped for battle.
Kori Kaze was still on her way to the Liao province. She doubted it would be anywhere near bearable to let her child go. She considered running away and raising the child, or doing something hectic. But she had to think what was safest for her newborn. He would surely have been harmed at a point.
Aka Usagi, however, was okay. His horse continued an easy pace back to camp. His wounds had stopped bleeding, but he was taken by fatigue. He was healing, but he saw one of his oldest friends stab himself. He was alive, but his spirit crushed.
Pang Tong's forces continued the march to Luocheng through the path. Aoi Kitsune rode up to Pang Tong.
"I have a bad feeling about this path." Said Aoi. "Perhaps we should turn back, and take a different route."
"We've already decided a three-sided attack." Said Pang Tong. "Wei Yan will lead this southern path, Lord Liu Bei will take the high road. Huang Zhong will be with the main force."
"And where am I and Shiro to go?" said Aoi.
"You will be reinforcements should anything go wrong. Shiro Inazuma is with Liu Bei, right now."
"With all due respect, I still do not think this is safe."
Pang Tong looked at Aoi and smiled.
"You are too cautious, Lord Kitsune. Please, take the rear."
Aoi hid his anger and begun riding to the back. Pang Tong begun passing, when soldiers leaped out from the forest and ambushed them. Archers appeared in the trees as well. In adrenaline and desperation, a soldier pointed at Pang Tong.
"There! It's Liu Bei! Eliminate him quick!"
Aoi turned back to try to rescue him, but arrows pummeled Pang Tong. A body fell from a horse…he was dead.
"Retreat back to the Pass!" shouted Aoi.
Aoi took arrows from his quiver and set fire under the arrowheads. He fired them into separate trees, and a mass fire begun. Enemy soldiers burned, but Zhang Ren was gone. Aoi hacked down people who tried to escape, when Shadow pulled him away. Wei Yan was caught between enemies as well. He held his spear and a soldier charged at him.
The soldier stabbed at Wei Yan, who spun around and severed his head. He then pivoted and stabbed another soldier. It was getting hotter, and a burning branch from a nearby tree fell. The fire was spreading in the area. Huang Zhong appeared on his horse and shot down a man behind Wei Yan, and lifted Yan onto his horse, escaping.
A messenger told Liu Bei of Pang Tong's death. Liu Bei turned back and headed for the camp back at the Pass.
Zhang Ren appeared mounted on his mighty horse. His spear was flat and sharp on all sides. It had red coloring across the top and bottom, and was in an upside-down T shape. He was gaining on Liu Bei, when Liu Feng and Guan Ping appeared. They pressed Zhang Ren back enough to allow Liu Bei to reach the Pass.
Shiro stayed with Liu Bei as ordered, should anyone make it that far. He urged to go out and battle, but he maintained his ambition. Afterall, what had Pang Tong's ambition done to him?
Aoi Kitsune rode alongside Huang Zhong and Wei Yan, and made it back to the Pass as well. They failed their attack, and the Little Phoenix fell.
It wasn't long before Zhuge Liang heard of the losses. He left Guan Yu to defend the city, and set off to Liu Bei.
It was night, and a star had fallen. The stars were bright and gorgeous as normal. Aoi sat with Shiro.
"Have you ever thought this was a lost cause?" said Aoi.
"The thought has striked my mind more than once…it's hard to accept…" said Shiro.
"Why do men truly fight? Honor…ambition…power…all useless in reality."
"But so valuable to so many people…"
Aoi and Shiro stopped their conversation. They hadn't been in the mood for talking. It was a morbid-feeling night.
Aoi, still armed, stood up. He slowly walked to his horse.
"You're going to find her?" said Shiro.
"I'll see you around, Shiro." Said Aoi.
Aoi mounted Shadow and departed without any other word. He stormed through the forest and paths, on to the Liao province.
At dawn, the alarm sounded. The men were in panic. Shiro ran outside his tent, ready for battle. He sprinted to his horse, and ringed around the neck, jumping on.
Zhang Ren's forces were attacking. They begun siege on the front gate. Shiro immediately sent two-hundred archers to the top of the gate.
A massive quantity of arrows shot down from the gate, and killed several soldiers. Zhang Ren's forces retaliated, and then split up. The other part of the army went around the gates, and the other attacked the front. Zhang Ren came up from behind Liu Bei's forces now. The gates bursted open, and Zhang Ren charged.
Shiro rode towards Zhang Ren, but Zhang Fei appeared and fought first.
Zhang Fei's pike was deadly. The end of the blade was in a curved V shape, and not a blade to be messed with by any normal man.
Shiro reluctantly turned back, and observed the fight.
Zhang Ren and Zhang Fei charged. The dust followed their horse's tracks with each swift movement made. The two set eyes on eachother and grabbed their polearms, ready to behead eachother.
Zhang Ren stabbed at Zhang Fei, who pulled his horse away and stabbed Ren off his horse. Ren rolled sideways and stood up. Fei charged him again, but Ren rolled to the side and slashed at Fei. Fei used his blade to hit Ren's spear away, and went forward. He turned and charged once more, but Ren rolled and ducked an attack and then slashed Fei off.
Zhang Fei landed hard on the ground, but stood up quickly. They stared eachother off and sand blew in the air. Shiro watched amusingly as the two combatants prepared to bout.
It started. The two warriors charged eachother again. Zhang Fei leaped into the air and drove his pike down at Zhang Ren. Zhang Ren quickly jumped forward, dodging, and then twisted around, slashing at Zhang Fei. Zhang Fei landed and rolled to dodge the attack. Zhang Ren took the opportunity to attack again. He ran and stabbed at Zhang Fei, who turned and grabbed the pole of the blade. He pulled it down and punched Zhang Ren across the face. Zhang Fei stood up and grabbed hold of his blade again. The battle roared with the sounds of blades clashing.
Zhang Fei was also a very powerful man, with more strength than Guan Yu.
Zhang Fei and Zhang Ren charged eachother once more. They held their polearms tightly and both went for a blow to the head. The poles clashed. It was now a test of strength. But Zhang Fei pressed hard and pushed Zhang Ren to the floor. He went for a finishing blow but Shiro interfered. He blocked Zhang Fei's pike with his own spear.
"He is a great fighter, should he truly go to waste now?" said Shiro.
Zhang Ren fled, and Zhang Fei entered the camp. Looking around, Zhang Fei noticed Zhuge Liang hadn't arrived yet.
"Hah! So I am the first arrival! Excellent!" said Zhang Fei.
To Shiro, it was another pointless excuse for him to drink. Zhang Fei was quite the drunk, and sometimes even went to battle drunk.
Shiro sat and listened to Zhang Fei brag about past battles.
"There I was, surrounded by an army with two men by his side!" said Zhang Fei. "There was no escape, and I'd have to fight my way out!"
"Let me guess, you sat down and drank a jug of wine?" said Shiro, laughing.
The men laughed, and Zhang Fei continued his story.
At morning, Zhang Ren went to the camp and offered a challenge. His men were shouting and waving flags.
"Are you cowards? Do you fear my blade to the extent of hiding behind your walls?!" said Zhang Ren.
Zhang Fei was infuriated. He mounted his horse to charge, but Shiro ran in front of him.
"Are you mad?! It's a trap!" said Shiro.
Zhang Fei arrogantly ignored Shiro and charged past him. He charged furiously at Zhang Ren, who turned back and fled. Soon, an enemy officer named Wu Yi appeared and ambushed Zhang Fei. Zhang Ren turned back and went on the offensive.
Shiro caught up and saw Zhang Fei surrounded. He pummeled through the fronts and met up with Zhang Fei. Zhang Ren slashed him off, but Shiro took Zhang Ren's horse down with him.
Zhang Fei and Shiro went back to back, facing the soldiers.
"Oh, and you without a jug of wine." Said Shiro.
Zhang Fei and Shiro laughed, and charged into the flanks.
Shiro leaped up onto a man's shoulder and thrust his spear into a soldier. He pulled it back and landed, then swiftly spun around in a full circle, slashing seven men down.
Zhang Fei ran at the men and lunged at them. He swung his pike and cut the enemies down, then he plunged it forward and impaled another man. Zhang Fei pulled his pike back and swung in a half-circle, cutting someone behind him down.
Shiro cut to the right and spun clock-wise to strike down the enemies on his sides. He backed out of the crowd and made it to Storm. He trampled soldiers, and cleared the path. Zhang Fei got back on his horse and they charged back to their camp.
When the gates opened, they entered the camp to see Zhuge Liang. It wasn't long before an assembly was called.
"Zhang Ren is a great threat to us." Said Zhuge Liang. "He must be dealt with sooner rather than later. East of the city is a bridge. Two miles south of this I saw dense growth of reed and plants, which would make good shelter. Wei Yan will lead one thousand spearmen to the left and is to attack only horsemen. Huang Zhong will lead a thousand swordsman, who are to cut the horses. When Zhang Ren has lost most of his troops and horses, he will flee by the hill road, where Shiro Inazuma and Zhang Fei will ambush him."
"Zhao Yun will wait in ambush close to the bridge, and you will destroy it as soon has Zhang Ren has crossed. When you do so, take position beyond the bridge to prevent escape. Forced south, he will fall into our hands."
Liu Zhang, the Imperial Protector, sent two generals as reinforcements. They were Zhang Yi and Zhuo Ying. Zhang Yi would help Liu Gui and Zhuo Ying would help Zhang Ren.
Liu Bei's forces got into position. Shiro expected to have been appointed to the first attack force, but instead he would be the ambush party. He wanted to rush out there and cause all kinds of damage, but he knew it would unveil the ambush, so he sat quietly.
Zhuge Liang crossed the bridge and pointed to Zhang Ren.
"Zhang Ren," said Zhuge Liang. "I am surprised, you stood your ground at the hearing of my name."
Zhang Ren narrowed his eyes at Zhuge Liang.
"The Sleeping Dragon, a mastermind of tactics, a god of strategy." Said Zhang Ren. "All false rumors taken from a greater man."
Zhang Ren whirled his spear around his head and charged Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang mounted a horse and retreated across the bridge.
Zhang Ren crossed the bridge with his men and saw many enemy soldiers. He turned back and the bridge was gone. Zhao Yun was on the other end of the trench, watching. He then rode down the river-side with his cavalry, when Wei Yan and Huang Zhong appeared.
Wei Yan's men started cutting the horses down rapidly. Huang Zhong's swordsmen took down the riders.
Zhang Ren saw his forces being cut down quickly. He was becoming desperate. He had no choice but to retreat further. None of his footman were left alive, but a very few horsemen were lucky enough to escape.
Zhang Ren went up the hills when Shiro Inazuma and Zhang Fei ambushed him. Zhang Ren became angry, and the adrenaline rushed to his skull.
Zhang Ren charged and cut down man after man. Zhang Fei charged and stabbed at Zhang Ren, who ducked and cut Zhang Fei across his stomach. He twirled his blade around his head, then spun around and slashed Shiro off as well.
Zhang Ren set his eyes on Shiro, and charged at him. Shiro threw his spear into Zhang Ren's horse's neck and brought it down, then unsheathed his blade.
Zhang Ren wouldn't give in, and he charged at Shiro. Ren stabbed at Shiro, who hit the pole up and cut across Ren's stomach. Ren turned and cut Shiro's back. Ren ran at Shiro again. Shiro stabbed at Ren, but Ren leaped up and threw his spear at Shiro. It impaled Shiro through the stomach, and he fell.
Zhang Ren took Shiro's spear from his fallen horse, and ran at Shiro. Zhang Fei was about to step in as Zhang Ren pulled his arm back to finish Shiro, but a horse leaped high into the air, coming out of nowhere. Zhang Ren looked up and the horse slammed into him, and trampled him. Shiro looked up and saw Aka Usagi mounted on the horse, wielding his broadsword, Flame.
Three of Zhang Ren's ribs had shattered, and blood poured from his chest.
"Finally…a man who would kill me…" said Zhang Ren with his last breath.
"Our next city will be Chengdu, the capitol of Shu." Said Zhuge Liang. "But meanwhile, there may be trouble in calming the distant counties. We should send Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun with Wu Yi, Zhang Yi, and Zhuo Ying leading the way into the country along the river."
Aka helped Shiro up, and got the spear out of his stomach. He got Shiro onto his horse, and he, along with Zhang Fei, went back to the camp.
It was the next day when Kori made it to Liaozhong. She hid her pain with a smile and handed the child off to a woman.
"Before you die…please send Shiro somewhere to become a warrior…" said Kori. "His father's name is Aoi Kitsune…"
The woman blinked in amazement when she found who's child she was holding. Aoi was, again, very famous in that province.
An explosion went off, with screaming everywhere. Arrows flew into her bodyguards, and she was unarmed. Armed bandits appeared around them…