Tainted Souls, Tainted Swords

Chapter Seventeen: The Reunion.

Taki had no idea how long she slept, but imagined it was quite a while. She awoke in surroundings she vaguely recognized, but wouldn't recall exactly for a little while. A small barn, using bails of hay as a bed and her cloak as a blanket. Despite the warm air, she felt chilled and stayed beneath the cloak as she sat up. Her raven hair now flowed free of the bindings that kept it in a pony tail – coming down to just below her shoulder blades. A series of aches echoed from her abdomen where Sophitia's sword penetrated her to drive out the demon – the rest of her injuries seemed numb compared to it.

After pushing her tangled hair out of her face, the ninja sat motionless (still wrapped in her cloak) for several minutes while her senses came back to her and she thought upon the events of the last few weeks while under the influence of demonic possession. "Mental note: Thank . . ." and the Greek girl's name escaped her for only a moment. What was her name? So much had happened—so much on her mind—"Sophitia." That was it. "Thank Sophitia."

But where was she? Taki glanced around the abandoned barn, and located her in the loft asleep against the barn wall. 'I'll let her sleep.' The ninja stood up, keeping the cloak wrapped around her like a blanket, and stepped over her twin swords laid out neatly on the ground without realizing they were even there. Crossing the barn, she found a note nailed to the large doors reading "Careful, friend. Soldiers came looking for you while you rested. If they come back and you need to hide, there's a basement in the barn (don't ask) which is where I hid you." Taki smiled warmly, opened the doors peered out, then emerged from the dim barn into the bright sunlight.

It felt good. Very good. While possessed, her soul was forever in darkness. Now the sun could reach through her body, and touch her spirit. Taki let out a sigh of relief, breathed in the soothing morning air, and then opened her eyes to the reality again. The ashen remains of several bonfires were scattered around the outskirts of the village. From the lack of bodies and graves, Taki wagered that Sophitia had cremated the dead.

Taki wandered the village for an hour, walking aimlessly while her thoughts drifted to seemingly random subjects. How pleasant the green fields look in this early afternoon light, and how the breeze caressed her skin in a soothing, refreshing manner. The signs of life, of being alive. What manner of creatures would prefer the misery of darkness and death over this? Why would such beasts fight to bring this destruction to others? Was the nature of evil to find comfort in the darkness just as creatures of the light find peace in this beautiful landscape with the sun overhead?

And "Why do I have to fight demons?" the stray thoughts attacked Taki's mind. Is there any deep metaphorical meaning behind the endless battle between good and evil, or is it just an eternal cycle that cannot be escaped – does this cycle exist solely to give the beings of this world something to dedicate themselves to while they live? "Does anything really hang in the balance of me fighting?" Or are both sides cursed to never gain on the other regardless of the participants?

Taki shook the thoughts away and pulled her cloak tighter around her body. She felt that at one point she could have answered all of the above readily, but now it eluded her. "Damn you, Tenebraraum." But she continued to wander both in body and in mind. Ultimately, she had a destination and an agenda but she hadn't the faintest idea of how to get there. And after awhile, she glanced a the sky and judged that two hours had passed based on the sun's new position. The ninja found a quiet spot in the nearby field and carefully seated herself. Then she meditated until Sophitia woke up.

Taki was totally oblivious to the hostile eyes watching her.

"Don't stop on account of me," Sophitia said, wearily wiping the sleep from her eyes. She too had left her weapons in the barn, but unlike Taki, Sophitia realized it.

Taki, now standing, dusted the grass and dirt from her cloak, and then shrugged. Her attempts to get back what the demon stole yielded nothing but frustration, a frustration that defeated the purpose of meditation. And Taki was thankful to find Sophitia awake, giving her something to take her mind off from things. "I wanted to thank you for what you did."

"I've been meaning to thank you for seven years." She smiled a warm smile that hid a burning question and confrontation in the back of her mind. Not now, though, it could wait till later. "The Gods finally gave me a chance."

The ninja nodded, and left it at that. She could go on both thanking her, and apologizing for what the demon did through her but it would never be enough. Instead she'd be content to do something about it should the opportunity arise – there would be no hesitation. And as their eyes met, it became apparent that both understood this.

"You're looking better," Sophitia offered, as she stretched her arms until feeling the satisfying pop in her shoulder. "How's that wound feeling?"

"A lot better than it should," Taki said. Granted, it still hurt like hell, and she would not be able to fight for a few days . . . but it was healing faster than she could have expected. Apparently Hephaestus deemed the blow would hurt the demon far worse than it would hurt Taki.

And then it came – that uncomfortable pause in the conversation. As if neither woman knew what to say. The demon had been vanquished and banished back to hell for the time being, the task had been performed, the deed is done, now to move on – for Taki to locate her master and exorcise Oni, and for Sophitia to find her sister . . . but the task wasn't done. Taki hadn't fully healed, not physically . . . and she was still bleeding on another level.

The smile faded from Sophitia's face, as she turned over some unpleasant ideas in her mind.

"So," Taki began, and the direction of this next statement proved that she had no idea what to do next. "A basement in a barn?"

Amused, the smile returned to Sophitia's face as she laughed and nodded, "There's a small horde of treasure down there."

"Ah," Taki understood. Treasure in a basement in a barn? It appears the farmer would moonlight as a thief – perhaps even had his own thieves' guild – and stole from someone with power.

"Hephaestus lead me there." Sophitia elaborated, brushing her blond bangs out of her face, "I accidentally spilled water, and heard it dripping. Not even an hour later the soldier's appeared on the horizon looking for you."

Exactly what the demon wanted – for Taki to be the one hunted, on the run, and in danger of being recognized as the killer within the fog – effectively minimizing the threat she posed now that Italy was against her. "From what they said, do you know how big a region they're searching? Or how many are searching for me?"

Sophitia shook her head. She honestly had no idea, "They said a major city had been evacuated and several villages. But I sensed a bit of sensationalism in their voices. I think they were trying to scare me since I'm a woman."

Taki nodded, understandingly. And it came again – that uncomfortable pause, and along with it the realization of the true reason. Taki knew she, herself, was clueless of where to go and what to say, but Sophitia's smile again faded and she looked away from her. The Greek had something on her mind – something she held back. "Hey," Taki said to get the other woman's attention, and when their eyes met she asked, "What is it?"

Cornered, Sophitia obliged. She didn't want to open up their seven year reunion with, "You put the evil into your sword. Why?"

Mekki-maru and Rekki-marue! "Where are they?" Taki could not believe all this time had transpired without her knowing where her weapons were. The demon truly did cripple her.

Sophitia cocked her head curiously, "I left them by you in the barn. Didn't you see them?"

Gone was her refined battle instinct, gone too was the intimate knowledge of the supernatural world, and now her heightened senses. 'A common mugger could probably sneak up and kill me at this point.'

Taki started towards the barn, but Sophitia grabbed her by the arm and spun Taki around. Sophitia had wanted to avoid this confrontation, but the ninja asked for it. And she'd get it. "Why did you put the fragment into the blade?"

Biting her lip with frustration – not directed at Sophitia, but aimed squarely at herself. Without breaking eye contact, Taki admitted, "It was a mistake." Plain and simple confession. She screwed up. "Mekki-maru channeled positive energy. I thought I could utilize Soul Edge's power to magnify Mekki-maru's potency and maintain the positive aura." But she didn't realize that even a fragment of Soul Edge would overwhelm her sword's aura with evil. "My possession was a direct result of that mistake."

Sophitia's eyes dropped, and she shook her head, "Soul Edge was forged of pure evil. You saw its power first hand. You should have known." Then Sophitia tightened her grip on Taki's arm, "I want to say that 'because your intentions were pure, I can't fault you for it' . . . but I can't. You of all people should have known better."

Taki's eyes dropped to the Greek's hold on her arm, then back up to meet Sophitia's gaze. "What do you want me to do? Have I paid for my sins, or have I not suffered enough?"

"What do you plan to do with the sword?"

"I don't know."

"Destroy it."

"Sophi—"

"Destroy it."

Narrowing her eyes, Taki challenged, "And if I don't?"

"Don't make enemies of us Taki." Sophitia answered, releasing her friend. "I won't let you make the same mistake twice."

She was afraid of that. But it wasn't that Taki disagreed, it's just that she woke up a few hours ago to the full reality of what happened to her. "Give me time, Sophitia," Taki answered in a pleading tone. "I've just become myself again, and I have too much to think about."

"I'll destroy it, myself, if you wish."

"Give me time," Taki repeated, more forcefully than she intended. "If it'll make you feel better, lock it in that basement – I don't intend to use it anyway. Just let me think about it. I don't want to rush into the wrong decision."

"Keeping it is the wrong decision—"

"Let me get there on my own," Taki growled.

"I'm sorry." Sophitia backed away from the topic, "This is why I didn't want to have this conversation." Once she started, she had a nasty habit of not shutting up.

"It's not you," Taki turned to look across the lush green fields to the clear blue skies, "I'm more frustrated with myself than anything. Just let me think, okay?"

"I was going to head to the next town for supplies. It'll give you some time alone."

Taki nodded. "God speed."

She waited until the Greek servant of Hephaestus had disappeared into the horizon before returning to the barn to find the swords she'd missed. Indeed, Sophitia hadn't lied. Both Rekki-maru and Mekki-maru lay by her makeshift bed – Taki had literally stepped over them. "Damn you, Tenebraraum."

She seated herself upon the bail of hay, still wrapped in her cloak, and delicately picked up first Rekki-maru and drew the blade from its casing. The steel blade caught a strand of sunlight that seeped through the cracks in the old barn, and the light reflected back into Taki's face. She ran her thumb across the blade, testing its sharpness – feeling the edge scrape against the grooves that made up her fingerprint. And her eyes studied the blade, inch by inch, while her mind studied their history together. Many battles fought, many demons banished, and many times this sword had saved her life.

Is it any wonder that a warrior gains an intimate knowledge of her weapon? It's weight, it's reach, and how well it glides through the air and cuts through its prey. Is it any wonder that the weapon becomes an extension of her arm, of her soul, that she's become attached to this sword?

Laying the unsheathed Rekki-maru in her lap, Taki picked up the sword's twin: Mekki-maru. True these weapons, these two swords were merely tools with a deadly purpose. Her knowledge of the art of combat didn't limit her to just these two swords, or swords like them. But these were her swords. Mekki-maru belonged to her, as she belonged to it. Mekki-maru came free of its scabbard, and like with its twin, Taki studied the blade like she'd done so many times before when contemplating the world around her.

The darkness within tugged at her soul – at the edge of her consciousness, it whispered its temptations to her.

Rekki-maru and Mekki-maru were dear to her. They were a part of her. If she had to severe her own hand to prevent gangrene she would, if the lives of many innocent people rested with her killing a friend she would . . . but only if she knew beyond all doubts that such extremes were the only way. If she had to, she'd shatter her beloved Mekki-maru forever . . . but only if she had to.

Holding out Mekki-maru in her left hand, Taki picked up Rekki-maru in her right hand to deliver the fatal blow to the sword. Anxiety flooded through her veins, and she found herself holding her breath as one question plagued her thoughts, haunted her: Did the demon take away the strength to do what was necessary?

"It'll weaken you again," Taki told herself, squeezing both swords until her knuckles turned white, "It gave the demon the opportunity and the power to possess you. It revealed your weaknesses to your enemies. It betrayed you, and it'll betray you again." Sophitia was right. The only thing to do was destroy the sword, and the fragment of Soul Edge within it. The truth stared her in the face – everything she needed to convince herself that Mekk-maru was a threat to her survival . . . and yet . . . and yet . . .

She felt something tremble within the sword – something on another plane of existence. That intelligent essence of Soul Edge within trembled at the thought of its own destruction. It feared her . . .

"I can't." Lowering both swords, Taki cursed herself. She couldn't bring herself to shatter Mekki-maru. There had to be another way. Mekki-maru meant too much to her, and besides Soul Edge had brought her close to its heart during the possession – she knew more about it. Now she could master it. That's why it really feared her. She could master it now . . . .

Or was Soul Edge just manipulating the weakened ninja so it could survive? Flattering her so it could finish her?

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Author's Note: Sorry for the delay. Thanks for your patience.