Kanbei met Shichiroji at where they had agreed and gave his old friend a small smile.
"You're done doing what you needed to?"
"I am, but it looks like you're not."
Kanbei looked at Shichiroji skeptically.
Shichiroji knocked him soundly on the back of his head, making the dignified warrior stumble and glare.
"Stop brooding."
With that, he began walking, Kanbei falling into step beside him, a faint wry smile on his lips.
Kyuuzou sat in an alcove he had discovered when he had worked for Ayamaro, and took off one of the gloves he had bought a few moments after entering the city. It was faint, but if you looked hard enough, you could see it. On the back of his hand, on his palms, on his fingers, everywhere there were faint markings that seemed to shift beneath his skin, flowing as if they were his own blood. He shook his head slowly to clear it. Kanbei was no longer in this city. Katsushiro wasn't either. Why was he still here?
He tried to stand, but found that his legs didn't obey him. So he quieted and tried to listen. Whatever was controlling him ought to tell him why.
Because I cannot walk among humans myself.
Kyuuzou waited for more explination, but instead found himself breathing hard as he struggled to stay concious.
I need not explain myself to you, Kyuuzou. Just do as I command you. I will let you chase after those two soon enough.
Kyuuzou was able to feel his body again and his head cleared.
Just listen, and I will tell you where to go.
'Why?'
To make sure things go as they are meant to.
'You decide?'
Kyuuzou did not give the demon the pleasure of reacting as he felt cold whisper down his spine.
I do.
With that, he felt the demon leave and his body slowly relaxed. If he ever was told to kill someone he didn't want to, he wouldn't. He wasn't idealistic, but he did believe that a man coould forge his own destiny. he was propelled into standing and pointed in one direction. So Kyuuzou began to meander leisurely along. For all he knew, he had all the time in eternity to complete his tasks. There was no deadline that he knew of. So he stalled, and, in his own quiet way, resisted the demon's commands.
Kanbei sat near the river that ran behind Hotaruya, and tried to decide what to do with his life. He did not want to burden his best friend and his lover with a nearly useless man. He had no desire to return to Kanna Village after finally escaping the graves the exhuded memory. But he had to do SOMETHING. His nature wouldn't allow him to sit idle for long. even after only two days at Hotaruya he was becoming restless. He tried to think of all the worthwhile skills he had. He was a strategist...a warrior...that was all well and good, but it didn't leave a lot of job opportunities. He could count on one hand what his skills would give him.
Unless, and of course, he decided to completly forsake what he had known and disappear into the wilderness. Which, actually, wasn't sounding too bad. He looked up at the quickly darkening sky and started. He was immediatly on his feet and crouched, wary. A shadow within the darkness was looking at him intently, as if trying to memorize every feature. He felt its gaze become disapproving and kanbei tensed when he saw the shadowed figure draw out a sword. The figure tossed it lightly at Kanbei who caught it instinctivly.
He heard the shadow say something, and the voice combined with the sword in his hand made his heart beat painfully in his chest. He looked back up again and shook his head. That could not have been him.
Then how was he holding one of the missing swords in his hands? And why had he understood the meaning behind the shadow's statement? As he went into the building, brows furrowed in thought, he heard the words in his mind spoken by a voice that he recognized so well and yet knew that it was impossible.
"Don't lose it," the shadow had said. In his voice.
Kanbei carefully avoided all the occupied rooms of hotaruya and went to the room that Shichiroji was allowing him to borrow. He sat down on the mattress and held the sword up, and watched the light from the lamp in his room flicker across it.
'It's sharp...' he thought and gave it a swing through the air. The way it sounded, the way it felt in his hand...he hadn't realized he'd missed his own sword so much. He looked at the gift and gave a small lopsided smile. Well, now he knew that he could market his skills as a warrior again. He heard Shichiroji approaching, so he put down the sword and stood to meet him. He'd have to get a sheathe for Kyuuzou's sword soon. He couldn't carry it around without one; it simply wasn't smart. Shichiroji opened the door and smiled lopsidedly at his friend.
"Still sharp enough to hear me coming, eh?"
"You walk loudly."
"So say you."
"I've decided what I'll do for now, until the next war comes up."
"Oh?"
Kanbei shook his head, declining to answer as he exited the room,closing the door behind him. Shichiroji heaved a dramatic sigh and led his old friend to dinner.