A PortalWerks Fanfiction

Samurai 7: Honor's Heir

Chapter 2: Talk!


The early morning light trickled in through the holes of the screen, slowly waking the young boy who was still sleeping inside. Kenzoku gradually came to. "Eerrrgh... is it that time of day already...?" Rubbing his eyes, the boy shook his head to clear the fog and then looked around.

Katsushiro had apparently left the room early in the morning. There was a brief note tagged to the handle of Kikuchiyo's sword.

I've already paid, so don't worry about the tab.

The kid exhaled and wriggled out of his futon as he got to his feet. Briefly stretching, he then picked up his belongings, hefted Kikuchiyo's sword onto his shoulders, messily rolled his futon into one corner of the room and opened the door.

Katsushiro was waiting outside. Kenzoku gave a lopsided smile. "...and I thought you'd left."

"You're not going to get rid of me that easily. We still have matters to discuss." Katsushiro motioned for the kid to follow as he headed for a small food cart. Buying two bread rolls, he threw one to Kenzoku, which the kid eagerly caught and began avidly gnawing.

The kid spat crumbs as he spoke in-between mouthfuls. "Su... munch mis dere munch sumting ya munch wunded do munch dalk abuut munch Musthe Kutsushurr?"

Katsushiro rolled his eyes as he slowly nibbled at his own roll. "Talk after you finish swallowing."

Gulping his mouthful down, Kenzoku smiled sheepishly as he repeated his question. "So, was there something you wanted to talk about Master Katsushiro?"

Katsushiro motioned for him to follow as he began to walk down the thoroughfare, which was slowly starting to fill with vendors and street merchants setting up shop for the day. "I was wondering if you would be feeling up to answering my question today."

"...Hmm?"

Katsushiro paused for a moment to fix Kenzoku with a keen stare. "Why do you want to be a samurai?"

Kenzoku stuck out his lower lip. For a moment, Katsushiro thought that the boy would refuse to answer his question again. However, at length, the kid gave an answer. "Well... as you kinda guessed, I was born a peasant." Kenzoku's face fell, as he thought back to his home. "When my home was destroyed, I thought that maybe I could start over with my life... you know, be somebody else."

Katsushiro blinked. "So... you decided to become a samurai?"

"Well, yeah... but obviously, I didn't exactly have a sword to inherit or enough money to afford one. So, I decided to steal one instead." Kenzoku stopped for a moment, as if going over memories that had started to run the gamut in his brain. "It was around at that time that I came upon that set of graves. I took a look at all of them, and decided that I liked this one best." The kid spoke that remark without a hint of regret or apology.

"Knowing Kikuchiyo, he would have either been feeling completely flattered or completely insulted." Katsushiro shook his head and gave a wry smile. "Have you always been that strong?"

Kenzoku blinked. "What? Oh... yeah. My parents told me that I had been born with it, or something like that. I don't think they really understood what was going on either. Of course, you could kinda guess who did most of the chores around the house." The boy smiled faintly as his thoughts turned back again to home.

"I see..."

Kenzoku abruptly brightened as he shook his head to clear away the nostalgia. "So anyway, what are we gonna do today, boss? Right a few wrongs? Help the poor? Something along those lines?"

Katsushiro shook his head. "We're going to visit an old training ground of mine."

"Where?"

"The village of Kanna."

Kenzoku raised an eyebrow in puzzlement. "Kanna? Why?"

Katsushiro turned a corner. "Kikuchiyo's grave, whether you know it or not, lies close to Kanna Village. You took that sword from his grave without permission. It would be improper for a samurai not to make amends for it. At the very least, you should apologize to Kikuchiyo for having borrowed it without asking. And, I think a certain girl who lives there also deserves some sort of an explanation. She would be terribly upset if she didn't get one."

"A girl?" Kenzoku's face grew mischievous. "As in a girlfriend? A lover?"

Katsushiro shook his head in exasperation. "No. If I were her lover, I would have been labeled a cradle-robber."

Kenzoku rolled his eyes. "Great. Never mind then." The expression of mischief shortly returned. "But, was there some girl you were interested in back in Kanna? An older sister or a widow, perhaps?"

Katsushiro spluttered and his face grew bright red from embarrassment as his thoughts involuntarily flew to Kirara and then rather inconveniently merged them with the idea of a widow. "What! No! I... There is no such woman in Kanna!"

The grin on Kenzoku's face widened. "Yeah, yeah, you're not fooling me for one bit, Master. So you DO have a girlfriend in that village!"

"Shut up!" Katsushiro closed his eyes in tired annoyance as he held a hand to his forehead. "We are through on this subject. We will not discuss this matter further! And no, I do NOT have a girlfriend; neither in Kanna, nor anywhere else for that matter!"

Kenzoku rolled his eyes again as he tapped the flat of Kikuchiyo's sword against his shoulder. "Yeah. Whatever. Go and put yourself into fits of denial all you want. Knock

yourself out."

"I do NOT have a girlfriend!"

"Yeah. Whatever."

"Be quiet!"

A well-dressed merchant standing a short distance behind them raised his eyebrows as he pulled a small device out of his pocket and pointed it at the arguing pair.


There was a brief click.

"Yes, Haoh?"

"I have spotted a potential target. It seems to match the description from yesterday. Orange hair, the sword of a machine samurai... The description matches word for word." The well-modulated voice gave no hint of excitement or emotion. "I have taken a visual for your benefit as well."

A picture of Katsushiro and Kenzoku walking down the thoroughfare together popped onto a nearby terminal.

"Very good. You've done well, Haoh. I will handle matters from this point. You are free for now."

"Thank you, sir." Another click. The transmission ended.

"So I guess they've actually found him, sir?" A short, fat figure walked up.

The taller, thinner figure sitting at the desk nodded. "It seems too close to be a passing resemblance. There is no doubt. It is he, although he seems to be a lacking a program." Turning to a console on the desk, the taller figure tapped a button on a control panel as a screen popped up.

"And the other?"

"He looks to be a samurai of no importance. We will deal with him as the situation dictates."

A very obese face popped up on the screen and gave a simpering smile in welcome. "My lord Iyokuhito! What a pleasant surprise! I was just thinking of you. I was wondering when you would next-"

"Cut the flattering formalities, you blubber-faced baboon of a magistrate. I have important business that I need your assistance with." The expression written on the face of Iyokuhito showed that he was clearly less than pleased with having to ask help with the Kougakyou magistrate. "There have been a series of murders committed within the lower sections of Edo. We believe that our suspect has fled to Kougakyou."

The blubbery countenance shook with fear. Whether it was real or simply put on for show was anyone's guess. "A killer? Here? In my great city? Unforgivable! Do you have a description, my lordship?"

"I am transmitting a visual for your use now. The description the criminal answers to is the face on the right." Iyokuhito indicated Kenzoku's face with a bony finger. "One of my agents stationed in the fourth quadrant of your Street of Merchants spotted him just now. Unfortunately, our criminal is incredibly dangerous. My agent cannot take him alone. I therefore wish for your constabulary to assist in his capture, but I also want him taken ALIVE. If he dies at the hands of your men, I will have your head." Iyokuhito's face twitched with well-placed anger. "I want him to be alive tried and sentenced in the death courts of Edo like the murderous dog that he is. Understood?"

The obese magistrate bowed as his face paled at Iyokuhito's threat. "Your wish is my command, my lord. I will have him taken within the hour." Another bow, and the screen

flickered to black.

Iyokuhito sighed as he settled back into his chair and turned to look back out the window at Edo's bustling streets below. "I hate having to deal with that disgusting man."

"Do you really think that the Kougakyou magistrate will actually be up to the task of taking our HEIKI alive...?" There was a puzzled countenance etched onto the shorter man's face. "As you have mentioned, he is still extremely dangerous, even if he IS lacking that combat program."

Iyokuhito shook his head. "At the very least, we will have a good track of where he now goes. I just hope that rolling tub of lard doesn't screw things up."


The two had stopped for a brief lunch at a large intersection. Kenzoku looked around his surroundings with a mixture of puzzlement and confusion. "Master...?"

"Hmm?" Katsushiro looked up from a map posted on a public kiosk.

"Why are we still here? Are we not headed for Kanna?" The boy took another bite out of his meat dumpling.

Katsushiro looked over the map again. "I'm looking up an old friend. Before we left, I wanted to at least stop by and visit with him. This might interest you, since he knew Kikuchiyo as well."

Kenzoku merely grumbled as he continued to eat his lunch. "Whatever. I'm starting to-"

"Excuse me, sirs...?"

Katsushiro looked up again from his map with a slight amount of annoyance, then started to reach for his blade. "Yes? May I help you?"

A group of Kougakyou's constabulary had gathered in a rough semicircle around the two. The leader of the group shook his head. "I require the arrest of your companion, sir. He is wanted in Edo."

Katsushiro's look darkened as he glanced down at the young boy, who bore a look of confusion on his face. "What for?"

"Ten counts of murder in Edo's lower quarters. He is a serial killer." With that, the constables' leader pulled out a pair of wrist manacles. "Please do not resist."

Kenzoku glowered at his accuser. "You and what judge? I've never set foot in Edo in my life!" With that, he quickly brought the giant sword up, and took up a ready stance. "I'm not gonna be sent to prison for crimes I didn't even commit!"

The leader of the constables sighed. "I was afraid this would happen. Now I'll have to-"

The officer didn't have time to finish his sentence, as Kenzoku suddenly lunged forwards with a powerful swing that cut the constable's stunrod in half.

The other constables quickly moved in to cover their leader as Katsushiro angrily shot a glance at his companion. "Idiot. Now you've gotten them all worked up. We could have talked this out-"

"Screw talk. They're not here to chat with us." Kenzoku quickly swung again, forcing several constables to hit the dirt as they dodged the massive blade. Taking advantage of the brief confusion, Kenzoku quickly burst through the hole created in the surrounding line of constables. Scrambling onto a nearby roof with the aid of several stacked oil drums, the boy kicked the pile of containers over as he scrambled away over the rooftops, with most of the constabulary leaping after him in hot pursuit.

Katsushiro cursed. "Stupid idiot."

The leader of the constables managed to gain his feet and pulled out another pair of manacles as he pointed them at Katsushiro. "You... You're under arrest for complicity in an assault on a consta-"

The policeman was interrupted a second time as Katsushiro decided to forego negotiating and smacked him with the butt of his sword. "The kid was right. You idiots just don't know how to talk things out." The samurai quickly followed up by laying low the rest of the remaining constables with several more hilt-blows. Re-sheathing his weapon, Katsushiro quickly leapt onto the rooftops as he leapt off in the direction that Kenzoku and the other constables had taken.


Kenzoku wasn't sure, but it seemed as if he'd never run so fast in his life. Behind him, he could hear the occasional thuds of the boots of landing constables as they pursued him.

What the hell was their problem! And why the hell would they think that he was a serial killer...? No, wait, could it possible...?

The kid's thoughts and headlong flight were suddenly cut short as another group of constables landed in front of his path. Kenzoku skidded to a halt, panting with exertion.

"Please, do not resist."

Kenzoku spat as he brought up his weapon again. "Please, eat sht."

With those words, Kenzoku lunged as he swung the giant sword at the nearest constable. There was a brief flurry of robes as the officer sprang backwards, with two more jumping into the fray from behind.

"OOOFH...!" There was a brief fracas near the edge as the two attempted to subdue their captive. There was another grunt of pain, this time from the pair of officers as Kenzoku blindly smashed the huge blade downward into the roof panels.

CRAAAAAAAAAAASH!

There was the horrid sound of tortured, twisting metal as the huge blade cut straight into the metal paneling, and then the almost-as-awful scraping sound of rock against metal as the huge weapon continued to carve out a huge gash into the wall that was supporting the roof.

KRA-KLAAAAAAAAAANG!

Then there was a heart-stopping moment, as the battered blade of Kikuchiyo's sword suddenly snapped in two from the massive strain that had been inflicted upon it. Kenzoku stared dumbfounded at the broken blade as he fell the rest of the way to the ground.

THUD!

Kenzoku groaned as he rubbed his sore backside. Scrambling onto his feet, the hilt still clenched tightly between his fingers, the boy swung around as the tips of three stun rods impacted into his back.

"GAAAAUGH!"

As Kenzoku struggled to clear his head, the group of constables pounced upon him, trying to subdue him by sheer weight of numbers. As Kenzoku thrashed in the seething, writhing mass of men, there was suddenly a yelp and a THUD.

The next moment, the rent-a-cops that had been dogpiling on Kenzoku decided to spontaneously levitate into the air and fall in a broken heap into a nearby open trash bin. Then there was the metallic 'clang' of a dumpster lid being clamped shut, and Kenzoku found himself no longer buried under policemen. A deep, booming voice seemed to issue from thin air.

"You all right, son?"

Kenzoku winced as he struggled to his feet, then involuntarily took a step back as he got a good look at his rescuer.

The figure that stood before him was about a head taller than any normal human would ever dare hope for in altitude. A huge, basket-like metal hat completely hid the stranger's face, and a gigantic rosary was strung around the massive frame, which was covered by the folds of a large robe. One hand carried a large staff, topped by a ring from which hung six circular chimes. Completing the picture was an exhaust pipe that jutted out from one side of the monk's hat. A Buddhist machine-monk.

The monk stared down at the boy he had rescued. "Aren't you a little young to be heading off to your next life?"

Kenzoku groaned. "I guess you'll be expecting some alms for that good deed of yours."

The monk laughed. "Judging by your possessions, I think I'm more blessed with material goods than you are."

"Kenzoku!" Katsushiro had finally managed to catch up. "Are you all right?"

The boy nodded. "I'm fine now, thanks to him." He indicated the huge monk standing next to him with a jerk of the thumb.

Katsushiro bowed to the monk. "I must thank you for your kindness, Master...?"

The machine-monk waved away the samurai's thanks with a metal-plated hand. "There is no need to kowtow to me. Mochizuki Nenjuzu, of the Mechamida sect." Abruptly there came the sharp noise of multiple fists hitting the inside of the closed trash bin. Nenjuzu scratched his hat. "I'm afraid we'll have to continue our conversation elsewhere. It seems that our friends have decided to wake up."

By the time somebody had finally bothered to unlock the lid of the trash bin, the three were nowhere to be seen.


There was another click. "This is Haoh. Those damn constables the magistrate sent out were completely incompetent. I'm afraid we've lost contact with the target, sir."

"Never mind that. The target is still alive, so there's always a next time.

The screen flickered to life on Iyokuhito's desk as the Kougakyou magistrate's doughy face appeared. The magistrate looked awfully pale as he attempted to bow as low as he could, which wasn't much considering the tremendous girth of his body. "My lord... I'm afraid that the fugitives... have escaped."

Iyokuhito shook his head in disgust. "Fool. I expected better from you, magistrate. I want you to scour that city of yours. Notify every officer you have. Search every nook and cranny until you find him! Let nobody leave the city until we've finished. For now, begone! And until you catch him, don't show your face to me again!"

With a stammered apology, the magistrate quickly shut off his end of the transmission. Iyokuhito sighed. "Well... as I expected. That damn idiot isn't worth a damn when it comes to apprehending criminals. The only things he has any competent knowledge of are food and women."

Iyokuhito sipped at his tea. "Anyway, even with our failure to capture him, I think that he will be of much use to us. This contact with him has served its purpose. A HEIKI does not sit still when it is hunted. It takes action."

The attendant cocked an eyebrow in question. "Sir...?"

Iyokuhito smiled a toothy, predatory smile. "Even without 'that' program, a HEIKI sows the seeds of chaos wherever it goes. And with that chaos will come limitless opportunities."


"So I see." Katsushiro and Kenzoku had just finished relating their story to Nenjuzu, who cupped a small bowl of tea in his hands. The monk took another sip.

The trio was sitting inside a secluded cafe. Kenzoku cursed as he appraised the broken weapon in his hands. "Damn. How am I gonna explain THIS to Master Kikuchiyo when we get to Kanna?" He angrily shook his head as he looked up at Katsushiro. "What the hell is up with those damn policemen!"

Katsushiro fixed Kenzoku with a long stare. "ARE you a murderer?"

Kenzoku muttered a curse, but said nothing in actual reply.

Nenjuzu shook his head. " I think the accusations were fabricated."

The boy looked up at the samurai. "What? You do?"

The machine-monk nodded. " The policemen were all armed with stunrods. The typical action invoked against a labeled murderer usually involves weapons of a more lethal nature. Magistrates do not usually care about capturing murderers alive."

The samurai shook his head. "There are many things here that do not add up. In any case, you will now have to be doubly careful, Kenzoku. Those policemen will not take this humiliation lying down." Katsushiro sighed. "The constabulary will probably keep a close eye on every gate and route that leads out of Kougakyou."

Kenzoku sighed in turn. "So what is to be done now?"

"Masamune."

"Eh? What's a masamune?"

"Masamune is my friend's name." Katsushiro got to his feet. "Masamune is a tinker, blacksmith, and an ace mechanic. He helped my friends and I to escape the last time we had to flee Kougakyou due to unfavorable circumstances. He might also be able to do something about that weapon of yours." Hefting his shoulderbag, Katsushiro bowed to the machine-monk. "I'm afraid that we must leave you now. If we continue to remain together, I fear that we might put you in unnecessary danger."

Nenjuzu snorted. "I can take care of myself. It's you two I'm worried about. Just how are you going to find this Masamune fellow-"

A finger tapped Katsushiro's back. Spinning around, the samurai's expression of alarm quickly turned to relief. "Speak of the devil. Master Masamune!"

"Indeed." A small, short man bedecked in a workshop apron and sooty clothes, which indicated the profession of a tinker, stood with arms akimbo. He had been pulling along a wheelbarrow filled with all manner of scrap metal. His rather prominent nose was red, either due to a cold or too much sake. Kenzoku couldn't decide which. Tufts of white hair composed a scant mustache and goatee. The little tinker grinned. "Long time no see, my boy. Who are these two scamps that you're hanging out with?"

Introductions were exchanged. Masamune grinned as he scanned the sky. "I see you've made new friends, Lord Katsushiro. In any case, it's getting dark, so do you mind continuing this discussion back at my place? It's still not much, but at least I would appreciate the company. Your friends would be welcome as well."

Katsushiro bowed. "Your hospitality is always welcome. I just wish the others were here as well."

Masamune's face fell. "I heard what happened to Kikuchiyo and the others from ol' Momotaro. It's just not the same without him." Shaking off the gloom, the tinker grinned again and was about to reach for his cart when Nenjuzu reached over and picked up the wheelbarrow.

The monk bowed. "Please. Allow me. It is the least I can do."

Masamune's grin widened. "Heh. Let's make tracks, everyone. My old bones aren't going to get any younger by standing around here."

Kenzoku grinned. "Aye! To the horizon…!"

(That particular remark is a reference to a certain web site. Grin)


To Be Continued…