Disclaimer: Namco owns the Soul Calibur franchise. I own Peter, "Death's Right Hand."

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Chapter 6: The deadly three-way

Peter was on his way to Japan, vie boat transport earned by Maxi and the elder monk back in the Indies. His voyage for the Soul Edge introduced a new soul of interest named Taki. Peter wanted to remain phsyically fit, so he decided to assist some of the boat's crew with cargo adjustments and train them in the blonde warrior's other disipline: Russian Martial Arts. Maxi, who has swelling in the cheeks out of his badly timed question, watched from the railings higher above the deck as the wielder of the double-scythe leaned starboard, staring out at the surf and sunset, thinking about why the Reaper would want the Sword of Salvation in the first place, and the mystery girl who worries about him. Seong Mi-na was worried about him as well.

"So, how is he?"

"He's in high spirit. However, he still seems distracted."

"Let me guess, that mystery woman."

"Yeah, and I've been thinking about it. This might sound farfetched but..."

"Keep in mind you already recieved punishment from before."

"I think that the girl might be someone, from his time, that had died caring for him."

"Well, he did say he's from the 21st century. Are you saying it was a soul the Grimm Reaper had taken?" Peter heard that fiend's name being mentioned, decided to join the conversation.

"What are two talking about the Reaper for?"

"Well, we were wondering about the comforter of yours."

"Did someone who loved you in your time die trying to take care of you?"

"Actually, not one I can think of that I could remember."

"We see. Sorry about that." Peter went back to his spot.

Two weeks after the boat, carrying the three souls, left the Indie port, it arrived in Japan, in the Kantoyan region. Peter walked off the boat, assisting a crew member with some cargo for trade. As Mi-na was walking off, she looked to the town roofs, seeing a shadow moving into position. The shadow then left. Maxi stayed on, overlooking the trade operations. Then the warrior stopped and turned to Mi-na in town.

"Look, I don't want to anger you, but I want to do this alone. I do appreciate you looking out for me, but I don't want to put you in any danger." Mi-na started to feel rejected, but knowing his honesty, understood the situation.

"Just be carful out there," Mi-na whispered followed by a kiss to the forehead. She then ran back to the boat.

"Now, I know it isn't her." Peter clarified, telling the difference between Mi-na's kiss and the mystery girl's. The wisconsinite then started to ask around for anything on this Taki.Everywhere in the city his senses kept him looking around, almost as if he was being stalked by an assassin. He later found an open field where his senses calmed a little. Then he heard someone else coming from the town, causing him to turn around and look. His scruff face, along with the ponytailed black hair, stared straight at him. His armor was tatard, but still usable. His katana was in his right hand. Peter immediately brought forth his weapon, expecting a battle.

"My Shishi-Oh senses your fear, mortal," The man spoke.

"A samurai who wants to kill me without a purpose? Per shame." The mocking got the samurai agitated. Peter knew he got his guard down, but decided not to strike.

"You seek Soul Edge?"

"What's your reason for the sword?"

"None of your business."

"Do you know who you're standing up to?"

"Give me one reason why I should care?"

"Ah, the fearless type who can stare death in the face. This should be interesting."

"Try and amuse me." The samurai charged the dancing fighter full speed, and his sword cutting through the air. He raised his sword, willing to finish the fight in one blow. His sword makes contact, but hit the scythe. Peter's roundhouse kick struck Shishi-Oh, sending the samurai back a few feet. Regaining his balance, the swordsman tried a crosscut to behead Peter, but again stopped by the scythe. Peter tried to fight back, but for some reason his scythe wasn't budging. The samuari then caught a glimpse of why. A shinobi, wearing a tengu mask and magician's hat, was holding Peter's scythe with his sword. The first samurai recognized the ninja.

"Yoshimitsu?" Peter, relizing his fight was interfered, looked to the intruder.

"Mitsurugi, you still looking for a challanger who would deem worthy?" Peter wanted to speak up.

"Can't you see were in the middle of a brew-ha-ha? What's your deal?"

"You are not whorthy to talk to me in that manner."

"The young man is right." Then all three withdrew their weapons. Yoshimitsu looked at Peter suspciously. The scyther felted disturbed.

"What is it, do I have blood on my face?"

"No, it's just that...do you have a brother who's an assassin?"

"Not at all. I come from the 21st century, my bro is no assassin." Mitsurugi checks Peter's body structure.

"I see. He does look a lot like Azukai." This got Peter dumbfounded.

"Oh, so you had a chance to fight him yourself."

"Yes, but was interupted by that Kunoichi." Then the blonde remembered about his mission.

"Timeout. The kunoichi you mentioned. Would that, by any chance, be Taki?"

"It is."

"Do you know where I can find her?" BothMitsurugi and Yoshimitsushook their head. "Well, how about this?" He brings out the shards of Soul Edge. The twoSwordsmen grinned at the glowing shards.

"Give me those fragments!" They said in unison, and attacked Peter. Now he, Mitsurugi, and Yoshimitsu were fighting each other. For 10 minutes the three souls were showing some wear, but no mercy. Yoshimitsu, then, spun his wooden arm with his sword and took to the sky. Mitsurugi looked up in awe, but Peter didn't seem to care.

"He knows he can't win up there."

"That's because he'll be grounded." Peter then jumped up on Mitsurugi's armor and bounced up into the air with tremendous effort, after Yoshimitsu.

"What! He who uses no wing can fly?"

"Oh, I have a wing..." mocked the blonde with a smile, as he grabs the masked swordsman by the leg. Then, he swings to Yoshimitsu's back. "And here's my prayer!" He swings his scythe at the wooden arm, destroying it, and performs his Guillotine Kick to his spine. Yoshimitsu falls to the ground with the Wisconsinite on his back, and on impact, causes a massive crater. Mitsurugi ran to the crater to see their conditions. Peter was still standing on Yoshimitsu's back, with the scythe in his real arm. Mitsurugi was in shock after seeing what Peter performed. He also knew that the masked shinobi was no more. Peter tried to get out of Yoshimitsu's grave, but was too worn out by the landing, when someone grabbed him from behind. He looked up at Mitsurugi to relize he wasn't the one behind him.

"Allow me," said a voice. With one mighty leap, Peter was excavated from the grave. Then the warrior collapsed from exhaustion. He wanted to stand but was in no shape, and passed out. Mitsurugi knew the helper. It was a female, dressed in a tight red suit. Her determined look overshadowed her ponytailed beauty.

"Instead of hunting me or Azukai, you would tend to help this tattared soul, Taki?" It was Taki, the person of intrest about the ninja clan attack. She saw Peter finish off Yoshimitsu when the three fought. Taki, at the moment, had no intrest in Mitsurugi.

"We will fight another time. I want to take you on at full strength."

"I understand." The living samurai strutted off when he turnned around. "Oh, by the way, give these to him when he comes around. He deserves them." He handed Taki his and Yoshimitsu's fragment's of Soul Edge, then walked off. A little while later, Peter woke up in a temple. He slowly sat up, to looked around the room. He saw the double-scythe leaning on a wall behind him, as well as a satchel. He then grabbed his head in stress, because he remembered.

"Oh, first Voldo, now Yoshi. How many more lives must I take?" He quietly grinned. "I bet Reaper is having some field days."

"Did you say Reaper, as in the Grimm Reaper?" Taki spoke coming in Peter's room wearing a kimono, as well as her hair down, and coming in with riceballs and Oo-long tea.

"I did. I made an agreement with him to get the sword. He never specified why."

"Peter...that's your name, right?"

"It is."

"The captian of my ninja branch in northern Europe spoke of you. He wishes to apologize for his actions in trying to take your piece."

"I understand." Taki smiled, knowing he harmed the clan in self-defense. "Taki, so much has happened to me. I have questions to ask, but not sure which to ask first."

"I have one." Peter looked at the female ninja with interest. "You are the first I've seen who can wield a weapon such as that. How...are you able to wield something like it?" He explains how his double-scythe is like an axe due to its weight, but he wields it like a bo staff out of the balance it has. Because of his training sessions back home, he somehow uses the death weapon like a pro. Taki, despite understanding his style, was in complete shock.

"I'm sorry if it's too much."

"No, it was expected." The time passed by as the two souls conversated. Taki eventually tells Peter that she, as well, is not the mystery girl, but does have little info about it. Night fell and the two slept, in different rooms, of course. Peter started to dream about being back home, playing his games, listening to his favorite Dance Dance Revolution music, writing poetry under some trees in Jefferson Park, his place to get away from everyday life. Then, he sees his brother, James, and their sister, Liz, along with their friends, Mike, Zach, and Felicia. They would all be talking to Peter to see if he had any girlfriends yet. (Yes, this guy was alone.) Peter could almost say he's got a few who he'd give his soul to show, when someone else showed up and said, "girlfriend? Pete's my fiance." This woke Peter up in a sweat...and surrounded by Taki's ninja clan.

"Good morning, Scythe Master," the clan said, in unison. Peter put his glasses on and saw Taki in her skin tight suit.

"Intel has information in China. There's a boat that'll take you there." Peter stood up and bowed to the head ninja.

"Thank you for all you've done to help me." An hour later the American was starting to board the boat. Taki looked on, as if she had a brother, setting out for war. "I hope you find whatever destiny guides you."

"I will." Taki then kisses Peter on the left cheek, who then departs on the boat. Just as the boat left port, Peter recollected on Taki's kiss.

"I guess it's not her either." Now Peter sails on, to his journey.

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Peter sails on to danger as the boat is taken over mid sea. Who has the hero in the corner?

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This will be the last chapter for any of my stories for 2005. check in 06 for future chapters of Right hand of Death and Chains of Emotion.

P.S. R and R