A/N: To FourEyes with Braces…because of you this chapter is so damn premature but, friend even if you drive me nuts I still care for you.

Disclaimer: I don't own Samurai 7, because if I do I won't be sitting here in front of my PC trying to extract ideas that won't come out. Geez!

Chapter 4: Incur!

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The night was calm. Nothing else can be heard except for the noises that Mother Nature always makes, like the soft rustling of the leaves and a few crickets that started to sing their usual monotonic midnight sonata and even the wolves on the mountain wail to the glory of the lone silver moon.

A fine serene night; Kyuzo thought, as he silently watched the scattered diamond-like stars against the inky black sky.

"Such calmness…"

His scarlet orbs changed its direction, from the black velvety sky to the small farm village that was quite visible from where he was. Fire was lit at the center and there are people gathering around it as they were swaying like little moths flying around a candle flame to a rhythm he cannot hear.

He squinted his eyes, and hoped to have a look at a certain samurai but trained eyes he may have he cannot possibly see that man from where he was for there is quite a distance between them…his opponent worthy of his life…Shimada Kanbei. The only person creditable enough to slash his good for nothing head off. He anticipated all his life to meet a samurai like him and now, a fight that he was eager to have is only a few kilometers away.

As he inched a bit closer to the edge, a small stone rolled down. He had already surveyed the terrain. The rocks are not loose and there are protruding chunks so it would be easy enough to climb down than to walk around the forest for hours. His injuries are long been healed nearly five days ago including his fractured arm. Sakuraba no Aki made it a point that she heals him every day, "…to insure your health" she says.

The thought of the girl lit up a small silver light from his chest. Every time he thinks about her, this small light appears. It has been almost a week since he had woken from his deathbed and had known her, but the mystery that surrounds her never fades like there are more things in her than her dull green eyes.

Mysteries

In deep thoughts, he brought his right hand against it. It glowed a bit brighter than before and a shape started to form.

"You are now bound to me."

This must be the silver feather that she was talking about.

He snickered.

Surely, a myth will always remain a myth. He was too old to believe in these kinds of crap but he had remembered about something from many nights ago on the wasteland, something that nearly lost in the back of his memories.

"Come and defend my village Kyuzo-dono that's all I ask. I know you're thinking of an endless contract but no, my spell is only up until the very first snow flake drops to the ground...Till then, your freedom is yours for the taking."

It was the last plea of hers and that was yesterday morning when she check his wounds for the last time, since then she never spoken another word to him.

He look up in the dark sky, still in deep thoughts and still clutching the silver light, a star seems to blink brightly before his eyes and a small smile curved his lips. His mind was made up. He had decided which detour to take. As the night wind sends shivers and as the stars lights his way, he starts to move to where he knows his destiny lies and could feel danger lurks.

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"Here, take this tea."

He gave her a mug of green tea before tossing another wood to the fire. The wind was getting a bit colder as the days pass. Soon autumn will come, he thought as he took a swig of the flask he had.

How many hours pass since that pale haired samurai left? He can't remember. All he knew was that man suddenly took off by noon and he had never return until now.

"Kintaro, how far are we from Kanna Village?" A soft feminine voice spoke beside her.

"Five hour walk, I guess." He said idly and pours another green liquid to his now nearly empty flask.

She seems contented from what she heard. He watched her as she gently drink the tea from the mug.

She was acting strange, he thought. Ever since that samurai left she was always quiet and in distant thoughts. And whenever he would bring up the topic of going back to the village or finding another samurai, she would just nod which is odd because she always insist the opposite of the things he wanted.

He heaves out a sigh. This quest is a grave mistake. He should have prevented it before its conception and now, few consequences are slowly taking place and Aki could get hurt which he will not allow to happen.

"Aki…"

The girl looks up and turns her head towards his direction. "What?" She asked.

"Do you want to know what the sky looks like tonight?"

For the first time after that samurai left, she smiled. She jovially nods her head in agreement like a child waiting for her usual bed time stories. Aki loves to ask people what they saw and making them describes it for her. Ever since she lost her sight when they were children she develops this habit because for her, even though she sees darkness there are still pleasant things behind it.

He felt her lean close to him, putting her dark head over his left shoulder.

"As always the night sky is still dark but the moon was full and the stars are out." He just goes on and on, describing the contrast the white cap mountain make and the darkness of the night to the small number of fireflies that stayed on the grass.

It could have been a perfect night but as of five figures wearing black cloaks and menacing faces suddenly came out of the bushes makes the once serene atmosphere smelled of danger. Kintaro instinctively block half of his body to cover Aki.

"So, it is true that there are farmers who escaped." The rather small burly one at the right spoke. His watery eyes roam around as if searching for something then his eyes landed on Aki which was half hidden from Kintaro. He peered closely then smirks maliciously. "And you have brought the Healer with you! Oh ho! The Master won't be pleased with this you know. Taking his precious little elixir away means death."

Shit! Problem is brewing! He reached over his bag and pulled a wakizashi from it. "Aki, stay close to me." He whispered then armed himself with the dagger.

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A/N: OK! This is only a beta…I will add soon on this chapter but my friend (a slave driver and I hate her for it) wants me to post it now because she said, YOU ARE SUCH A LAZY ASS! POST IT OR I'LL KILL YOU! She'll be login to any time. You know she read my stories but doesn't even bother to make any comments…she just want my name be seen in fan fiction. Sooo Troublesome! Haaay!

To my regular readers (if there's any) I promise to include more on this chapter and I'm planning to revise the previous chapters too…Please bear with me.