(A/N) Well, here it is. Hopefully, you'll all find it in your hearts to understand what Ulrich will be talking about later. I poured my heart and soul into his words, I truly believe in them. Because it is happening right now in everyday life. See if you can guess, I won't be telling any answers.

Please enjoy, and think about what Ulrich has to say.

The Soul of a Warrior

By: Tellemicus Sundance

Chapter 13--Last Request

The survivors of the bitter battle all gathered around the large woodpile. It was located on the edge of the cliff and facing the setting sun. Placed gently on to the pile were the bodies of their slain friends and family.

Despite his numerous injures, Ulrich attended and participated in the sad event. It was a very difficult job for him, to carry people he'd come to know to their final resting just tore at his heart and soul. It was especially painful when he placed the last person on it, Taki.

No one offered to help him; they knew that he'd never accept. Laying her gently down top of the mass of bodies, he momentarily ran his hand over her face. He didn't and probably would never know what he was trying to do; etch her facial features into his memory for all eternity?

Tears were falling from his eyes as he walked away from the pile. Taking his place beside Tadashi, Ulrich watched the mass. Master Riyo was chanting something in an ancient dialect that he could never have understood even if he wanted. The villagers all stood in a semicircle and as close as they could.

As Riyo's chanting came to an end, one of the villagers stepped forward with a burning torch. Laying it near the base of the dry wood, the fire didn't take long to catch and engulf the bodies. Ulrich watched Taki for as long as he could until her body was consumed and the flames distorted her image.

A gentle wind suddenly blew in around them as they all cried silent tears. The opaque white smoke swirled and spiraled around them on the breeze. As Ulrich was glaring down at his bandaged fists, he felt something.

Looking up and around, he tried to find the presence that had entered his mind. One glance at the others told him that no one else had noticed it. Then he felt the presence moving, he followed it away from the fire and toward the cliff edge.

Then, as he was gazing up at the setting sun, he saw it. In the dancing smoke that was drifting high into the sky were numerous shady figures all walking toward the sun. As they neared the blinding orb, they would turn back and smile at him. In the dying light, he could recognize their faces.

He watched as Takei faced him and gave a polite bow before vanishing. Nozomi followed a few seconds later with a knowing and confident grin. Maki gently brushed Nozomi aside and gave the first bow of respect toward Ulrich he'd ever seen him do. With each person that he could recognize, he felt a piece of himself feeling slightly stronger, somehow knowing that they'd forgiven him.

Ulrich watched as the last of the spirits vanished. It was then, the last one, that he saw her. He wasn't prepared to see her face, even though he'd been expecting it. Taki was smiling down on him. Lining her cheeks he could see dried tearstains as she gave a polite bow.

Then, as she faded into the light, she pointed west. He could see a single word on her lips as her face finally vanished forever from his earthly sight.

"Go," was the word.

He couldn't sleep. It wasn't because of the overpowering pain that his injures were giving him or because of his infinite emotions that were threatening to drown him. If either of those had been the reason, he felt that he'd have fallen asleep long ago in an attempt to escape them. No, that wasn't it.

Throwing his blankets from his body, Ulrich climbed to feet. Pulling a shirt over his head and knotting his sash, he stalked out of his room. Walking aimlessly around the house, he relived once again what he could remember of his bitter battle upon the cliff edge.

As he remembered returning from his white oblivion of his mind and seeing Taki's body, he felt fresh tears rising. He had let her down. Taki could never take Yumi's place in his heart, he knew. But as he stood there before the main entrance peering unseeingly into the village, he wondered if it was possible to have two true loves in one life.

It just didn't seem fair that his couldn't be…

"Can't sleep, Ulrich-san?" asked a voice behind him.

"Yes," he said.

"Yeah, me too," Tadashi said as he walked up beside him.

Looking down at the boy who'd helped save his and the rest of the villagers' lives, he saw the boy's face downcast in the moonlight. It seemed almost ridiculous that this was the same hate-filled boy that had killed probably the best of the ninja's warriors.

"You know," Tadashi said as he returned his gaze to the village. "My grandfather has declared you a full-fledged samurai of this village." He glanced back down to Ulrich and saw that his expression hadn't changed. "That is a great honor for one so young."

Ulrich didn't seem to hear him. He just stared blankly ahead of him.

"In accordance to our traditions," Tadashi continued. "You shall be presented with a specially constructed katana and be given but a single request from this village." He had to glance down again to see if he'd heard him; he had. "What is your request?"

For the longest time, the two just stood there. Tadashi patiently waited for his answer as he considered. Just when he was about to restate the proposition, Ulrich quietly said, "Was it really worth it?"

"What?" Tadashi quietly asked. He hadn't expected that.

"All the fighting," Ulrich said. "All the killing between this village and the ninjas; just because the ancestors of these two villages were too proud. Too proud to admit that maybe, just maybe, they weren't the best warriors in all the lands.

"They started a war to prove their superiority over their rivals; a war that is still happening. But you no longer for fight pride…no you fight to avenge the deaths of lost loved ones—just like they do now."

Tadashi listened with befuddled look on his face.

"I know what will happen next," he continued, his face was that of deep thought. It was clear he was saying what he truly thought of in his heart. "The ninjas will strike back. They will strike fast and hard, and they will cause immense loss of life. The samurai of this village will find it in their sworn duty to train harder and lash back, trying to wash blood away with blood… It will only lead to yet another bloody war… a war in which neither side will or can win—ever."

"What would you have us do?" Tadashi asked. Ulrich, cool-headed Ulrich with little to no obvious opinion on almost any issue, was talking to him like a god would to a foolish mortal. Giving indirect advice to help his people.

He was silent for a moment before continuing. "Don't allow that first strike to happen. No, I would go over and talk to them…Your ancestors have tried to defeat the ninja for nearly four hundred years, and they have never succeeded… Why not try something different?

"It is all a question of karma," Ulrich finished. "What goes around…comes around."

Turning to face Tadashi, Ulrich looked up at him. Ever since his fight with Kurowana, Ulrich had been in an almost trancelike state. He couldn't eat, barely sleep, and rarely spoke. Now, as he looked up at his sparring partner, he felt that trance fast approaching. Before it could consume him, he spoke quietly, "I don't wanna get involved again, I wanna go home. That is my request."

"Very well," Tadashi said quietly. He had expected such an answer from Ulrich. Though as much as he wanted Ulrich to stay and continue his training with him, Tadashi would honor the request. That was the samurai's way.

Ulrich, so lost in thought, didn't notice Tadashi's hand descending toward his neck. In one blow, Tadashi knocked the already exhausted young samurai unconscious.