Hello everyone, its time for another chapter of Lotus Petals. I'm so excited to hear what people think of it. Anyway, another shout out to PimpTroyce for another lovely review. Also, if anyone noticed the rating went up from T to M, mainly because of violence. I wouldn't want to be banished just because a rating wasn't high enough. So if you don't like blood and gore, then you should stop reading, then again I didn't go into detail, so maybe it isn't all that bad. Enough of my senseless ranting enjoy the unfolding story of a samurai and Team 7.
Chapter Three
I tried with all my strength to hold back my tears. The memories of Unteki brutality against ninjas and fellow samurai mingled with my current thoughts. If Kakashi and his team stayed, they would be killed ten times worse than the one we found.
I also feared for what they would do Sakura, don't think about it, just get them out of there. "Kakashi leave now, not all your strength and skills will defeat the Unteki. And I fear for your young team and...," I looked back at Sakura.
Kakashi nodded his head, he understood what I meant.
"Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura get out of here, these samurai are known for their brutality and you guys aren't ready to take on these guys. I'll stay and ..."
"No, if you're killed during the battle, who will lead your team?" I glared at him, just hoping that he would listen.
"It doesn't feel right to leave you alone, but your right." He turned his back to me, good, there's no need for you to die for a damned woman.
"I do have one more thing to say before I leave you," Kakashi tilted his head back to me, "I don't swing that way when it comes to love."
I nearly fell over in embarrassment, great, he thinks I'm gay. "Whatever ninja, now be on your way. It's going to get messy around here," I said as I stared at the eleven Unteki samurai.
I drew my sword as the four ninjas walked away, it would be the last time I would most likely see them. With my final prayers in my heart and on my lips, I slowly walked towards the Unteki samurai.
"Had to say your final farewells to the filthy ninjas," the leader said in a sarcastic tone.
"Actually they smelled a lot better you guys. You do know what soap is, right?" I was playing a dangerous game angering Unteki, but the less sense they have about them the easier to take them down.
They all began to grind their brown teeth in unison, the sight was sickening. The smell of blood and filth hung heavily in the air, it was almost to overpowering.
Just think what it would smell like if you were wearing your mask, I held my breath. I was about twenty feet away; they bore naked swords, each measuring about three feet in length. I closed my eyes and settled my spirit and made peace with my ancestors.
"Man their as ugly as they smell aren't they," a high childish voice came from beside me.
I quickly looked to my left, there was Naruto and Sasuke standing there with a grin, well Naruto was anyway. I sidestepped and bumped into someone.
"Hi, did you miss me and my posterior?" There he was, Kakashi and a confused Sakura.
"I told you to leave," I said through my teeth.
"Well I figured that it would be a great way to teach my team on how to fight sword wielding opponents," Kakashi explained nonchalantly.
"Don't worry, we can handle ourselves," Sasuke said in the same manner as his Sensei.
No use, when a ninja makes up their mind, they don't change.
"So you going to take our offer or what," Naruto asked.
Phoenix looked at each member of the team and released a heavy sigh, "You chose this, but I accept the offer. I advise you three stay together; Unteki are slow but very strong, wait them out and strike at their legs. That's their weak point. And..."
"Enough talk, more fight," one of the samurai screamed as he charged towards Phoenix.
Kakashi and the other jumped out of the way, except for Phoenix. Kakashi turned to see what Phoenix would do. He lowered his sword to the level of the charging samurai's chest. A loud clash then a flash of brilliant light, the samurai lay behind Phoenix and he wasn't moving.
Kakashi stared on as a pool of blood began to form under the fallen Unteki, he's not playing around.
Phoenix beckoned for the others to follow if they dared; the leader raised his sword and the others soon were following the path of their death comrade. The remaining nine split into groups of three, each going after their targets.
I hope that Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura can handle these guys, Kakashi thought as he drew his kunai.
Three more Unteki recklessly rushed towards me; I raise my blade perpendicular to my shoulders and returned the charge. The first one came at me from the left; I brought my sword down and made contact with his chest. His blood poured from the fresh wound as he crumbled to his feet. The next one came at me with his sword horizontally, hoping to pierce me through my chest. I merely sidestepped and brought my sword up to an offensive position.
A true samurai would never strike man in the back, I had to keep my honor codes.
He turned around with some difficultly, but he got up to speed for another charge. He made the mistake of holding his sword above his head; I quickly thrust my katana into his chest. His face contorted in pain, but he expelled his last breath. I pulled my blade from his chest as he collapsed to the ground.
One more, then I can go after the leader, I glanced from side to side to see how my ninja companions where doing.
Naruto was taking care of an Unteki, while Sasuke and Sakura handle the other; they already had taken down one samurai.
Kakashi was just finishing up with his second, jeez; every move he makes just makes me shiver and quake. I shook my head; I had to take care of one more foe before I could take on the leader.
Kakashi slashed one more time at the unrelenting samurai and finally he fell to the ground, but the other soon was hacking and slashing at Kakashi. He jumped and ducked as the samurai aimlessly cut through the air. Kakashi knew he had to finish this fight soon or the samurai might gain the advantage. With the kunai in hand, Kakashi waited for the Unteki to slash one more time. The samurai brought down his sword so hard and fast that the ground shook and the force of the wind nearly knocked Kakashi off balance. Kakashi threw his kunai, hoping that it would hit the samurai's chest. It whizzed past the samurai's head, just barely missing his ear. The Unteki glared down at Kakashi with cold heartless eyes and brought up his sword once again. Kakashi tried to move, but he still was a little stunned from the earlier blow.
The sword was about to reach his head, but was caught by the appearance of a blade decorated by lotuses. His image reflected along with the image of Phoenix. His eyes were intense but were focused, they seem to reflect inner depths of his soul, but it wasn't like that of man.
Who are you really Phoenix, what secrets do you hide under your mask and armor?
Phoenix pushed the Unteki's sword back and brought up his sword so that it sliced through the samurai's abdomen and chest. He fell back into a pool of his own blood. Breathing heavily, Phoenix stretched out his hand to help Kakashi up. Kakashi looked over to where his students were just finishing up with their last opponent.
What do you know, they can handle some of the most brutish samurai around, he thought proudly as he was pulled to his feet.
"Thanks for the save; I was supposed to be saving you."
Phoenix nodded his head in agreement.
"AGGG," a loud battle cry came from behind Phoenix, he whirled around but was too late.
Kakashi watched in horror a sword emerged from Phoenix's lower back.
"That's what you get for associating with filth like them," the Unteki said right in Phoenix's face.
Short heavy breaths could be heard as Phoenix pushed the opposing samurai away.
"Phoenix," Sakura, Naruto and even Sasuke started to run towards the mortally wounded samurai.
He held his sword towards them, silently telling them to stop.
He turned his head back to Kakashi, "bury me where I lay, unmarked and with honor. It will release you from your debt."
Phoenix turned his attention back to his foe and pulled the katana from his abdomen. He lifted his sword and held it parallel to his head. Building up speed, Phoenix ran towards the samurai; he jumped into the air. The next thing Kakashi knew Phoenix was crouching on the ground and the Unteki lay on the ground, but his head laid about three feet away from his body.
Kakashi shook his head in disbelief, he had never seen samurai fight one another and it was perhaps the most intense thing he had ever experienced.
"Kakashi Sensei! We need to help Phoenix," Sakura said through her tears as she ran over to where the crouching samurai was.
Naruto and Sasuke followed after her, Kakashi came out of his nightmare and joined the fallen samurai. He bent down to Phoenix's head; he was whispering an inaudible prayer.
Dropping his sword, Phoenix fell into Kakashi's lap, "bury me here and never speak of me again. It is the fate that was written for me." His eyes rolled into the back of his head.
"No," Sakura held her hands to her mouth.
Naruto began to cry and Sasuke was trying to hold them back. Kakashi looked down at the noble samurai, his armor was still moving as if he was still breathing.
"Help me get this off, he's still alive," Kakashi pulled off the helmet and long silver hair streamed from where the helmet once rested. "What?" Kakashi gentle pulled down the face mask, it revealed a face of not a young man, but of a female youth whose beauty couldn't be describe. I know her... "We need to get her to our village and now or she might not survive."
His team just kneeled there in awe of the beauty that lay before them.
"If you guys don't get it together, you'll be staring at a dead woman," Kakashi said as he hoisted the young woman onto his back.
Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke shook their heads to wake up from the horror and beauty they just witnessed.
"Come on, hurry," Kakashi yelled as he began to run down the road, his team following right after. Just hold, don't die on me...