The "legend" told in this is based of a story simply called the "Black Hair" and is one of my favorite, albeit somewhat unique, tales.
Revised Edition with changed/added footage: 8-8-2006
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Chapter 21: Through the Darkest Night
Slowly coming to his senses, Mukotsu could feel the heavy beam's weight on him and the warm sticky liquid trickling down from the injury on his head. Looking back to assess the predicament he was in, the short poison user was forced to pull the white cloth off his head, then using the cloth he usually used to protect his face; he tied it over the wound to stop the bleeding before returning his cowl to its usual place.
Seeing as his legs were pinned, he set about freeing himself from the fallen debris. Knowing there was a slight chance that the youkai survived the explosion; Mukotsu moved quickly, acknowledging that he might be an easy target to attack. Doing as best as he could with his short stature, he finally struggled free of the debris that had trapped him. Rubbing his legs and checking for any broken bones, an unexpected silhouette appeared in the flames behind him.
Charred clothing hung about his frame, his black ponytail frizzled from the ordeal, and his tattered and blood-stained shirt was hanging on by mere strands of thread. Bloody, but not beaten- Gatenmaru was furious.
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Back in the quiet building, Suikotsu let his mind wander over all the tales he could remember. Once in awhile, as he would start to think on a story, he'd grab his head in pain, trying to block out the bad memories that it had awoken.
On one such occasion, he felt a gentle hand rest on his arm.
"Suikotsu, don't think on those if it's too much for you," Bankotsu said, understanding smile on his face.
Nodding, the brown-haired man sighed, then his face lit up a bit, "Okay, I've got one."
"Oooh, what's it about, Suikotsu?" Jakotsu asked.
"Well, it's about a ronin samurai, so I figure that you'll like it," He replied with a shrug.
Jakotsu coughed and tugged at Bankotsu's sleeve.
"What's wrong?" He asked; panic rising in his voice.
"Cold…" Jakotsu murmured.
Bankotsu began to reach for the blanket to pull it up when he realized that with Jakotsu's head still resting on his lap, he wasn't going to be able to get the blanket without disturbing his friend.
Seeing what was happening, Suikotsu stood and lifted up the blanket.
"Thanks Suikotsu, I would have but…" The young leader paused, not quite sure what to take of Suikotsu's actions.
The brown-haired man had began to lift up Jakotsu, but instead of moving him to lay on the futon like Bankotsu first thought, he had moved him closer and gestured that he wanted Bankotsu to hold him.
"Suikotsu?" He questioned.
"It's from the fever, we've got to keep him warm and at ease. You can do both."
Opening his mouth to protest, Bankotsu was cut off as Jakotsu spoke up.
"Listen to him Bankotsu. He knows what he's talking about. He is the doctor around here after all."
Taking a deep breath in hopes it would quell his nervousness, Bankotsu looked up to Suikotsu, "Okay, what do I need to do?"
"Well, it would be best if you could lie beside him as close as you feel comfortable doing so. It shares body heat that way."
"Is that all?"
Suikotsu laughed a bit to himself, "Honestly Oo-aniki, I doubt you'll want to do anymore than that."
Wanting to do all he could to help Jakotsu, he spoke up, "What else could I do?"
Suikotsu coughed and had to hold back another laugh as he leveled a serious gaze at Bankotsu, "Okay, if you insist, but I'm not too certain that you'll be willing to go through with it..."
"What? Tell me what it is?" He demanded, getting irritated.
"From all I remember, it's said that clothing sometimes...well; it decreases the amount of heat that can be shared."
Bankotsu blinked, face full of innocence as he tried to figure out what that meant.
Suikotsu couldn't help but smirk a bit as he bluntly remarked, "Put simply, the less clothing you have on, the better."
Face turning crimson, the young leader looked to the side in embarrassment.
Jakotsu, on the other hand, couldn't help but laugh a bit as well, "Sounds good to me."
Stammering and, if it was possible, turning even redder, Bankotsu scooted a bit further away, "Jakotsu! This…this isn't the time to be joking around!"
"Oo-aniki, I hate to say it, but I am serious about this," Suikotsu spoke up, "It was something taught to travelers that might get lost in a colder mountain region for safety. My father told me it when I was young."
Knowing that if Suikotsu was in a state of mind to remember and comment on his father that he was indeed completely serious, Bankotsu muttered in reply, "Well, can I… just take off my shirt then?"
"It's up to you, Oo-aniki," He said, "I did find it odd that you were sleeping in your clothing to begin with."
Gently sitting Jakotsu down on the futon, Bankotsu stood, "I guess I was just a bit preoccupied worrying about the battle that I didn't think to change into something more comfortable to sleep in."
"Ah, I see," Suikotsu remarked with a nod, figuring that Bankotsu had been worrying himself sick about sending Jakotsu off with the injured leg.
Looking back to Jakotsu, Bankotsu took a deep breath and tugged off his shirt, letting it drop to the ground.
Trying to muster a more leader-like voice, he spoke up as he turned back to the other two, "Now don't try anything funny Jakotsu. I'm only doing this to help you."
Jakotsu nodded, but his face betrayed his sincerity as he smirked.
"Jakotsu. I'm serious."
"Suikotsu- would it help if I took off some of my clothes as well?" The injured man impishly inquired.
"Well actually it would help..."
"His fever isn't…that bad is it?" Bankotsu questioned, hoping and praying that this didn't go in the direction he thought it would.
"It has gone down some, but it's still not back to normal."
Hearing some rustling from Jakotsu's direction, Bankotsu rushed over as he noticed him trying to move.
"Hey, you're injured. Stop trying to move about," He reprimanded.
"Well then, you help me get my clothes off," Jakotsu shot back.
Frowning and knowing all to well that Jakotsu was somewhere underneath his pain finding this whole situation greatly amusing, Bankotsu knelt beside him.
"Only the armor, agreed?" He said firmly, leveling a warning glare.
Knowing it was best not to push things too much with Suikotsu present, Jakotsu nodded his consent.
Taking a deep breath, and hoping his face wasn't showing how embarrassed this predicament was making him, Bankotsu slid the pink yukata from the pale shoulders then set about pulling the blood-stained armor from Jakotsu's body.
Setting the armor aside, the young leader turned back to Suikotsu, "So just lay down beside him, right?"
"Yeah, as close as you feel comfortable," He replied.
Composing himself yet again, he laid down on the futon aside Jakotsu, a gap between them.
"Now Jakotsu don't…"
Cut off by the one he was trying to speak too, Bankotsu lay frozen as the taller man rolled towards him and pressed himself up against his shorter figure. Wrapping his arms around his bare chest, Jakotsu rested his head under Bankotsu's chin.
"You're very warm, Bankotsu. Thank you."
Not sure what else he could do, given the situation the young leader turned and looked to Suikotsu; his expression simply saying 'I am only doing this because he's sick. I swear.'
Smiling back, Suikotsu reached down and pulled the blanket up over the two.
"Okay, so did you still want to hear that story?"
"Of course!" Jakotsu spoke up.
Bankotsu just shrugged, "Sure Suikotsu, you said it was about a ronin, right?"
"Yeah, it is," He said, sitting down next to the futon the two shared and beginning to tell the tale.
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At the battlefield, the poison user froze. Sensing the presence, Mukotsu turned sharply, instinctively grabbing for a piece of the shattered wood from nearby to use for defense if necessary. Knowing that running would only draw attention to himself, he waited where he was- poised to attack with what little he could.
Gatenmaru slowly drug his axe up to its usual placement leaning on his shoulder and surveyed the area.
"Where is that insolent insect?" He spat, "That accursed human is going to pay dearly for what he's done to me. They all will!"
Finally, his eyes caught sight of the slightly smudged and bloody form of Mukotsu.
"Well well, what now? Out of your little toys?" He mocked, sauntering towards him.
Mukotsu stood firm, his face determined and his hand clutched firmly about the wooden scrap he was using in lieu of a proper weapon.
"I am one of the Shichinin-tai. I can fight no matter what the situation."
Gatenmaru scoffed, "Such loyalty you humans have. Funny thing is- your supposed leader sent all of you to do his dirty work and left you all to die; unless the wimp has not yet made himself known to me."
Mukotsu frowned, "Once Bankotsu hears of this, he'll come and easily kill you; but until then, you're fighting me."
"Such bravery for such a pathetic little human," Gatenmaru remarked, "Come now, let me kill you so I can get on with my life."
Glancing down, Mukotsu sized up the shattered piece of wood he held. It wasn't that long, perhaps only equal in length to his own arm, but the angle it was broken at would prove useful; a point on it that rivaled a newly polished blade.
His vision began to blur, suffering from the side effects of the blow to his head, and Mukotsu had to blink his eyes back into focus.
"I have to stay strong. I have to fight for my companions- my friends- my family- for the ones who accept me as I am. And if I die, then I'm taking this bastard with me."
Gatenmaru raised his axe slowly and began the swing. As Mukotsu expected, the youkai's injuries slowed the rate of the attack, leaving him just the time he needed to fight back.
Ducking the swing and letting the blade pass mere inches above his head, Mukotsu dashed forward as fast as he could and stabbed the wooden stake into Gatenmaru's side.
The axe fell and the youkai grasped at the wound while Mukotsu made his way off in search of assistance before his own injuries got the best of him as well.
"I can't give up now. I can't give up at all."
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Waiting a moment to allow Bankotsu to get settled with the one who was currently pressed up against him, Suikotsu took a breath and begin his story.
"Not that long ago, in a large town, there lived a samurai. He had a beautiful wife who was a fine weaver and had long flowing black hair. His life was easy and he was very happy. Then, the town was faced with hardships and the samurai was released from the service of the daimyou, leaving him a ronin."
"Ronin's are better anyways," Jakotsu muttered.
Bankotsu smiled, "Of course they are."
Shaking his head, the Shichinin-tai's doctor continued the tale, "Well, times were bad and he couldn't find jobs as easily as he would have liked, but his wife kept weaving beautiful cloth that she sold to buy food. But the ronin grew restless of his life, and in time, he couldn't take it any longer. He packed up his belongings and told his wife he was leaving. Feeling that living as he did was a disgrace, he told her to find another to marry, that he was off to seek fortune."
"That's awfully cold-hearted. I'm sure his wife still loved him," Bankotsu remarked.
"Indeed she did, and she begged him to stay; but his heart was hardened and so he left her. In a distant town, he once again became a samurai and worked his way through the ranks. Then, his eyes fell on the Daimyou's daughter. She was a selfish and pampered woman, but the man knew if he could win her hand in marriage that his fortune would be secured."
Once again mumbling from where he was curled up against Bankotsu, Jakotsu retorted, "Sounds like this guy was a greedy bastard."
Suikotsu knew the way the tale went and just nodded before continuing, "Well, so the man spent his days serving the Daimyou in wars while his new wife sat and primped herself in front of a mirror. Whenever he wasn't fighting, he would go out with his wife and her servants when she visited the shops to buy clothes, trinkets and jewels. On one such day, the man began to think back on his first wife. How beautiful she would be when sitting at the loom, her long black hair flowing over her shoulders and the soft clacking noise the loom made as she wove. It was then that he realized how vain his new wife was and he was sickened by it all."
Pausing, and expecting another remark, the brown-haired man heard nothing but attentive silence from the two. He allowed himself a slight smile, knowing that this tale had its morals that might be advantageous for the young leader to keep in mind, "So, tired of his wealthy and sad life, the man left one night and hastily rode back to his hometown. As he rode into the courtyard, he could see that the shoji screens were torn and the yard was full of weeds. He knew life had not gone easy on the fair wife he left behind and he hoped that she would take him back. Quietly entering the house, his ears heard the familiar sound of the loom and he walked into the room; his eyes falling on the figure of his wife sitting at the loom like she always had. She turned and on seeing him, she rushed to greet him. He begged her forgiveness, and she kissed his tears away, simply satisfied that he had returned to her at last. They spent the whole night talking, laughing and crying and then they fell into a peaceful sleep in each other's arms."
Looking over to make sure that his two listeners hadn't fallen asleep as well, Suikotsu noted the intense eyes of Bankotsu gazing up towards him.
"I hope this isn't too hard on him," He thought to himself, "No, he needs to hear it. He needs to know better."
Taking another breath, Suikotsu finished up the story, "As the sun rose, the man was confused to find that it was shining directly on him. On opening his eyes, he noticed a huge hole in the roof. He rubbed his eyes, but it was not a dream. Bewildered, he looked around. Morning dew glistened on the torn paper walls and fallen beams, weeds grew through the rotted floor and a broken loom stood in the center of the room. His wife lay beside him, her back to him and her long black hair flowing down her back and onto the floor. He took hold of her and turned her toward him and- it was but a skeleton of the woman he once knew and loved. Long ago, his gentle wife had died of grief, loneliness and longing. And knowing in his heart that he was to blame, the man wept."
Hearing a soft sound, the brown-haired man inwardly hoped that it wasn't too much for the young leader to handle. Pulling Jakotsu closer to him and keeping his arms around him, Bankotsu softly spoke up, "Suikotsu that was- well, thank you," He finished, knowing that the doctor was telling this story on his behalf.
"Mou…Bankotsu?" Jakotsu said, obviously getting sleepy yet again.
"Hmm?"
"Don't you go and leave me for some stupid woman, 'kay?" He slurred, his eyes growing heavy.
Not sure what to say to that, yet wanting to calm Jakotsu nonetheless, Bankotsu quietly replied, "Who said I was going to leave you …or any of you guys?"
"Just don't okay?"
"Okay Jakotsu, I won't leave you," He said softly, forgetting to try and cover it up with worry for the entire group.
Suikotsu stood and walked over to them, "Oo-aniki?"
"Yeah?"
"I think it's best if we let him rest. The medicine seems to be working, so now he just has to sleep some of the side effects off."
"All right."
About to go out the door, Suikotsu stopped as Bankotsu called out.
"Suikotsu?"
"Yes?"
"Stay in here. There's no use in you being alone when there's others about."
Smiling at the young man's usual friendly nature, Suikotsu sat back down, "If you insist."
"I do. No one should have to be alone."
"Understood, Oo-aniki."
Sighing Bankotsu looked up at the ceiling, "I hope everyone else is okay. This whole youkai thing has me really worried."
"Once Jakotsu's feeling a bit better, you can go to them; but now, he needs you, Leader."
Thanking the older man's wisdom with a simple smile, Bankotsu replied, "Yeah, he does; and I plan on being here for him as long as he needs me."
Suikotsu just smiled in return; glad to see that he trust between the two was so strong. For as the young doctor knew, everything in the world depended on trust and if these two men he called friends were going to survive- they would pull through it, together.
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