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Episode 3: The Senkon no Wakizashi
-Kain-
After a about a half hour of traveling, we had arrived to where Mandy was stationed. It was an old abandoned warehouse. It seemed desolate on the outside, but when Mandy opened the door I could see that the entire inside of it was lit up and there were five people inside. When the people inside turned and saw us, there eyes widened and they all dropped what they were doing.
"Mandy-chan!", they all yelled in unison as they all came running to greet her, completely ignoring me.
They all were ecstatic to see her, giving her hugs and pats on the back.
"What have you brought back for us Mandy?", asked a tall and rather muscular woman
"Well, umm. I haven't exactly brought blood or money, but I did bring that guy.", Mandy said, pointing to me.
"And what use could we have for that guy?", asked a short but solid brown haired man with slight annoyance in his voice.
"He'll be staying with us for the day. Tomorrow, I have to take him to the Smugglers Tunnel, and he'll be paying us handsomely for everything."
"What! I never said-"
"Shutup!"
My sentence was cut short when Mandy gave me a light kick in the shin.
"Introduce us to him Mandy! Introduce us to him!", said the muscular woman, so excited she looked ready to jump up and down.
"Alright, everyone this is Kain-san. Kain, this is Maniwa."
Maniwa was a short but solid man, he stood just over five feet tall and had short, thick brown hair that hung slightly over his blue eyes. Now that I look at him, he resembles Mandy in a way. He was studying me closely, and I could tell he wasn't sure if he could trust me. He wasn't welcoming me, and yet he wasn't pushing me away.
"This is Kamome."
Kamome was a very tall and muscular woman, she stood over six feet tall, almost matching my own height. She had green eyes and curly blonde hair tied back in a ponytail. I could tell she was very friendly and she seemed very excited to see a new face around. Her intimidating height and build belied her gentle, energetic and almost child like demeanor.
"This is Sakura."
Sakura was a thin woman of average height. She had chin length brown hair and brown eyes. I could tell she was the shy quiet type by the way she kept glancing at the floor.
"This is Ayumi."
Ayumi was a colored woman with brown eyes and shoulder length purple hair which she wore in braids. She was a little under six feet tall and was giving me a friendly soft eyed smile. She seemed sweet, amicable, and self-confident.
"And this is Fuyubachi."
Fuyubachi stood about six feet tall and had an average build. He had black hair which he kept tied back in a ponytail and had brown eyes and wore glasses. He seemed like the smart bookworm type and I could tell he was curious about me. It was when he turned slightly that I realized the left sleeve of his jacket was empty. I was curious to how that happened.
"Alright Kain, you can sleep in the guest room. It's down that hall, second room to the right.", Mandy said, pointing down the hall.
"Gotcha."
All of Mandy's friends were watching me like a hawk with curiosity burning in their eyes as I walked down the hall. I finally reached the guest room, which was nothing but a lamp on a small night table and a musty old couch. It wasn't nearly as luxurious as the stuff I was normally used to, but I suppose this was the best I could expect for a while. I was just beginning to drift off to sleep when I heard voices outside my door. I recognized them to be Mandy and Maniwa's.
"Sister! How could you be so stupid! Inviting a strange man to stay with us and not even giving us a whisper about it first! For all you know he could be working for the Sarafan!"
So they are related.
"Calm down, believe me, he's way too stupid to be working for the Sarafan. He doesn't even know his way around the city."
What! I would've been fine even if you hadn't shown up! Having someone guide me around just saves time, that's all.
"He was completely helpless. He was traveling alone, he had no weapons, and he was completely lost. If I hadn't found him he would've been dead before nightfall."
Hmm, maybe she actually cares about me a little.
"Besides, if I don't help him how else am I going to scam him into giving me all his money?"
Maybe not.
"Alright, but I better see that money by tomorrow night."
"Ok, ok."
After their conversation was over they both walked down the hall to their rooms. Then I finally fell asleep.
-Mandy-
After a good night's sleep I stirred myself awake. Let's see, what time is it? I looked to the clock. Eight o' clock already! We'd better get going. I walked to the guest room where Kain was still fast asleep.
"Get up, Kain!", I told him while kicking him.
"Alright, alright, just stop kicking me."
Kain quickly rose out of bed, ready to go. I lead him down the hall, back to the living room where Ayumi was standing in her cooking apron.
"Wait. Before you go I've made you both some breakfast.", Ayumi said, with a cheery smile on her face.
There were two cups of fresh blood on the table. Ayumi always made meals for everyone.
"Arigatou, Ayumi."
"Yeah, thanks."
We both sat down to drink at opposite sides of the table.
"Mmm, this is great! I've never tasted anything like it before, where did you get it?", asked Kain, who was actually smiling for once
"Oh I just got it from an average human. All I did was add a little sake to it.", answered Ayumi
"Yup, Ayumi always adds sake to every meal."
"Sake?"
"What? You've never had sake before?", I asked in pure shock
Damn, this guy needs to get out more.
"Had it? I've never even heard of it."
"It's a delicious rice wine. Drink up then. No man, living or dead, should go without the taste of fresh sake on their lips."
Words to live by. When we were both finished drinking we got up to leave.
"Goodbye, Ayumi. And thanks again for the blood."
"No problem. Have a safe trip."
And so we went on our way.
"So where exactly is the Smugglers Tunnel?"
"It's hidden in a cavern underground. You would have never found it on your own."
"Underground? If it's underground then how does anyone get to it at all?"
"The church. There's a secret passageway in the church that'll take us underground."
"A church? Kind of satirical, for a church to be territory to thieves."
"That church? That church is no holy place. Don't you remember the big scandal where that church was really a place used to summon demons?"
"You mean that's the Avernus cathedral?"
"Avernus? They tore that city down two hundred years ago! Where have you been?"
"Well forgive me if I'm not up to date on the latest events! I've been in a coma for the past two hundred years!"
Wow, I guess that explains a lot.
"A coma? For two hundred years? How the hell did you manage that?'
"I used to command an army of vampires. When the Sarafan Lord took power we began losing battles and my men were dropping like flies. In the last battle I fought we were greatly outnumbered and my army was crushed. I decided to pick a fight with the Sarafan Lord myself and I wound up getting hurled off the tallest cliff in Nosgoth."
"Wow, that sucks."
"That sucks? I get thrown off a cliff, go into a coma for two hundred years, wake up in this crazy world and all you have to say to me is that sucks?"
"Here's a tissue, for your issue.", I said while handing him a tissue.
"Never mind.", Kain sighed
"Vampires! This is Ivan calling for backup! We have two vampires on church street near the food stand!", shouted a young Sarafan guard into his megaphone
"Shit, we've been spotted!", Kain cursed
"Don't worry, the guards around here couldn't fight their way out of a damn bowl of jello."
Within seconds three guards came running down the street flailing their swords around like retards.
"Dirty bloodsucking fiend! I'll hack you from crotch to gizzard!"
"Ok, you do that."
Before he could even get a hit on me I unsheathed my sword with incredible speed, cutting his head clean off. The two other guards then charged for me from both sides and I just simple jumped high out of the way, came back down with my sword pointing down, stabbed one guy through the head and then before the other guy could run I threw my legs forward and twisted his head around with my feet, snapping his neck before I even landed. When all was said and done I licked the tasty blood off my sword before I sheathed it, then I turned to Kain, who was staring at me wide eyed and open mouthed.
"What?"
"What do you mean 'what?' Did you see what you just did?"
"Yeah I saw what I just did, I was the one doing it wasn't I?"
"That was amazing, where did you learn to fight like that?"
"Eh, you know. You live, you learn."
"And what about that sword? It cut through their armor like it was paper?"
"This sword is my most trusted companion. This is the Senkon no Wakizashi!"
"Could you say that again?"
"The Senkon no Wakizashi. Sword of a thousand souls."
"Sword of a thousand souls? Where would it get a name like that?"
"The legend states that the sword is inhibited by the souls of a thousand warriors who died in battle a long, long, time ago. Their souls protect whomever wields it, if they like you that is."
"And how did you acquire such a powerful weapon?"
"I bought it at a thrift store for five bucks."
"What? That legend can't be true! That's just some story they made up to get you to buy it, which you foolishly believed."
"Oh, then how do you explain the swords power? I've had this sword for centuries and the blade hasn't dulled at all! How do you explain that one?"
"Well, um, oh forget it!"
We walked in silence for a few minutes until we finally reached the church.
"Here we are."
I lead him into the church. Despite no one ever cleaning it, it was kinda pretty with its white marble walls and stained glass windows.
"So where's the passage underground?"
"Right here."
I pushed the altar aside, revealing a dark foul smelling staircase leading downward.
"What's that awful smell!", Kain said, while holding his nose
"Oh yeah, did I mention that this is also where the thieves dispose of corpses?"
"No."
"Well now you know."
I lead Kain down the staircase and through the small, dark tunnel where there were many decaying corpses. After a few unpleasant minutes we finally exited to the passageway that leads to the Lower City.
"Ok, now you just cross that bridge, head through the furnace room and then you'll be in the lower city."
"Got it. So I guess this is where we go our separate ways."
"Wait a minute. Fighting with all those Sarafan guards today was a lot of fun. Maybe saving the world isn't such a bad idea. It's about time we had a vampire in charge anyway."
"What are you getting at?"
"I think I'll come with you. Besides, you're way too weak to go off on your own just yet."
"You can't just make yourself a member of the Cabal!"
"Why not? Have you ever seen them fight? Believe me, they could use the help."
"I'm just fine on my own! I don't need your help!"
"You don't need my help, huh? Alright then, go on. Find your own way around Nosgoth, defeat your own enemies, since you can do everything yourself and don't need anyone's help."
"Ok then. Goodbye."
And with that Kain went off into the Smugglers Tunnel. Don't need help, my ass! He'll come crying back to me before he even reaches the lower city. I'll be waiting right here.
-Kain-
Finally, I'm on my own again. I've always found that help, when not needed, is really no help at all. All my life I've gone my own way, always, but this time-. No! I'm the Great Kain! Scion of balance, army general, vampire champion! I don't need anyone's help! I'm unstoppable!
"Well, well. Our lord was correct, you are alive.", said a male voice as I exited the tunnel.
Uh, oh.
"Do you remember me, Kain? The one who served you so well?"
As he stepped into the light I did recognize him. It was Faustus, one of the legionnaires from my old vampire army.
"Faustus! I don't believe this! Vampires have really turned against their own kind!"
"Our kind? To hell with our kind! In serving the Sarafan I have protection, I have power! And who better to hunt down a vampire than a more powerful vampire? History is written by the winners, Kain, that is my kind!"
"How many of us has the Sarafan killed, Faustus? How many have been brought to their deaths by you?"
"I care not for those destined to die! I don't weep for them, and I won't weep for you!"
"Look around you, Faustus, do you really think you can beat me?"
"Our lord knows of your presence! He beat you before, and he will bury you now!"
"You'll never know how it ends Faustus, because I'll bury you first of all!"
I lunged for him and grabbed him up by his collar. I gave him a few good punches in the face, but then he broke free. I had managed to give him a bloody nose. He wiped the blood from his nose, then looked at me with a grin.
"I have a surprise for you, Kain. Follow me and you shall have it!"
Faustus ran into another room. I followed him into a room with about six furnaces in it. This must be the furnace room that Mandy mentioned earlier. Ahh! My thinking was interrupted when Faustus threw a small grenade at my feet. I jumped away, just barely in time.
"Catch!" Faustus taunted as he ran around, hopping from furnace to furnace, throwing bombs at me. "Heh, heh. Enough games. It's time to finish you off!"
Faustus situated himself atop one of the furnaces, pulled something out of his pocket, closed his eyes, and threw it down. The moment it hit the ground it gave off a blinding flash of light that practically burned my eyes out.
"Shit! I can't see!"
The next thing I knew I felt something sharp and cold pressed against my throat. It was Faustus's sword.
"Wouldn't it be nice to be somewhere safe right now, Kain? You could have been, if you knew which side to be on. But I suppose your kind is more important than-"
Faustus suddenly stopped talking. His taunting words were suddenly replaced with wet choking sounds coming from his throat. What the hell? My vision slowly returned and my eyes blurred into focus. Faustus was standing there wide eyed with trails of blood flowing from his open mouth. I looked down and noticed there was a sword sticking through his chest. The sword was withdrawn and Faustus's dying body fell to the floor. I looked up and there she was.
"Hey, Kain! Just me, the person you need absolutely no help from.", Mandy said sarcastically.
"I thought I told you I didn't need your help!"
"Don't need my help! And this is coming from a guy who's so damn stupid he doesn't even know to close his eyes when somebody throws a flash grenade!"
"So that's what that was. Anyway, I suppose you do have a point. Maybe this time two heads really are better than one. Alright, you can come with me, but just until I get my strength back, you hear!"
"Got it!"
"Very well then, lets get going."
We both exited the tunnel and entered the lower city. I was dying to meet the rest of the Cabal, and quite frankly, I was curious to see their reaction when they see the legendary thief and killer, public enemy number one merrily strolling by my side.
Preview of next episode:
Kain and Mandy have finally made it to the lower city, but wait a minute! Wasn't Umah supposed to meet them when they got there? Where is Umah? And that's not their only problem! A strange western-clad woman is hell bent on killing them! Will they even make it to sanctuary alive, let alone find Umah! Find out in
Episode 4: Umah, Missing in Action!