Never Gentle
by Midori Bond

Chapter 3

Kanna Village was alive again. The Nobuseri were gone. The Capital was defeated. Now all they had to live for was their rice. Currently, a number of the villagers were trying to rebuild the bridge, while trying to avoid the idea of a certain young samurai that had a knack for such things.

Over on one of the cliffs four graves stood out, each marked by the owner's weapons. A lone man stood looking at each of the men that had chosen to follow him, only to fall for a village of rice farmers. His deep brown eyes kept returning to the grave with no body. Two swords stood as a reminder of his own weakness. He wasn't able to bring himself to accept Kyuzo's death. The blonde had always been too stubborn to die in the past. He had left his body behind, feeling as if he would see cold red eyes looking at him again.

"Great Samurai," the elder said, walking over to the figure clad in white. He saw the way the taller man stiffened at the title. "Now that the fighting is over, do you know what you are going to do?"

Grayish brown hair lifted in the wind. "I will continue in wandering," he said lowly.

The elder nodded gravely. "You can stay here," he said in the same tone.

"I am Samurai. I have no place as a Farmer."

"There are others that believe different."

"I cannot give Kirara-dono the love she deserves," the samurai said with a frown. "I'm too old."

A faint smile crossed the elder's face. "Some would say that she is too old as well."

"Kambei-sama, there is a messenger," Shichiroji called out.

Both turned to see the blonde man walking towards them. With the naginata wielding samurai stood a man with flowing plum colored hair, and a woman with short blonde hair. Kambei moved to meet them. The woman was dressed in peasant's garb, but there was something familiar about her.

Shido looked over his shoulder and looked at Hotaru. She had been quiet the entire ride from Miroden. He reached out and took her hands into his own. "Kambei-sama," he said respectfully. "I am Fujimiya Shido, and this is Tayama Hotaru. She is a villager from Miroden."

Kambei nodded as he looked at Shido. A fond smile crossed his face. "I remember you." His eyes looked at his second and his smile widened. "Shichiroji, you and I have gotten into many a fight because of his mouth."

Shichiroji's eyes widened as he looked at the younger man before him. He remembered an impetuous boy whose loud boasts gotten their squad into more problems than out of. A smile spread across his face as he looked him over. "You're still in one piece I see," he commented.

Shido rubbed the back of his neck as he remembered his time under these two men. "I've learned to control my mouth," he said with a shrug. He turned his eyes to Hotaru as she stepped closer to him. "But there is another urgent reason why we are here."

Kambei started to shake his head. "If it is for battle, I'm afraid..."

"You're daughter is still alive, Kambei-sama," Shido cut in. When widened eyes looked at him, Hotaru gasped. "She is in Miroden Village, currently fighting for her life. There was a wave of Nobuseri that attacked, and she fought with them."

All at once, Kambei's face went cold and he turned his back on Shido. "My daughter has been dead since the Great War," he said in coldly. "Whatever games you are trying to play now are not amusing Shido-noji."

The three stood silent as Kambei walked away. Shido frowned as he replayed the small conversation in his mind. He shouldn't have mentioned Nari like that. Kambei believed that Nari was killed over fifteen years ago. To just come out and say that she survived was like a slap in the face of such a noble man.

"That was really low Shido," Shichiroji said. His voice was barely a growl.

"It's true," Hotaru said in a whisper. Her eyes stayed on Kambei's back as he walked into one of the small huts. "Nari is almost an exact replica."

Shichiroji blinked. "What is her name?" he asked.

Hotaru looked at the older man and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "She does not mention a family name. Only my grandfather knows it. But her name is Nari." She looked back at the hut Kambei disappeared into and went to follow him. "Can I talk with him?" she asked softly. When Shido frowned at her, she gave him a level stare. "If he is Nari's father, I can explain who she is better than you."

"Are her eyes grey?" Shichiroji asked in a whisper.

Shido inhaled sharply. Her eyes were the first thing he noticed about her. "Yes," he answered.

Hotaru pulled the package from Shido's shoulder and went after Kambei. She would let them both stand there and puzzle out if Shido was telling the truth, but she wanted to know the man that Nari held such hatred for.

As she lifted the flap to the hut, she saw a young girl sitting next to Kambei, gently serving him a bowl of rice. "Kambei-sama," she started. When he looked at her, she knelt in front of him. "I am Tayama Hotaru, one of the granddaughters of the village elder in Miroden. Ten years ago, a girl was brought to us, with her, she had this." She held out the wrapped sword, and nodded as he took it. "It was said to be a sword her father left."

Kambei felt his heart shatter as he unraveled the all too familiar twin bladed sword. He had left the sword with his wife's brother so they would be protected while he was at war.

The young woman next to him gently touched his shoulder. "Kambei-sama?" she questioned. Her brown eyes were full of caring and concerned. "What is it?"

He was still trying to wrap his mind around the words. His daughter was alive. When he returned to his home after the fighting, only his charred home and wife's body greeted him. He always assumed that their cherished child was buried under the rubble. "Shido said that she was fighting for her life. What did he mean?" he asked, ignoring Kirara's question.

"Miroden was attacked three days ago. Nari fought with them, and she was hurt trying to protect my grandfather." Her eyes filled with tears as she thought Nari's wound. "One of the foot soldiers stabbed her in her chest."

Kambei's eyes closed tightly. "So you come to tell me that my daughter is alive, but dying again." He continued to ignore Kirara as she gasped. He stood and walked over towards the door. "Thank you for the news, Hotaru-dono, but I can not grieve for her again. My heart is already empty."

Hotaru felt a small smile cross her face. "We have the medical equipment to save her. My cousin is fighting for her life. Sara has studied medicine in Kyugakyo. If there's a chance for Nari to live, then she will."

Kambei looked at the two young women in front of him. A restless sigh escaped him. "Lady Kirara, can you please make sure Hotaru-dono has something to eat," he requested before leaving.

"Of coarse Kambei-sama," she said quietly. The former Mikumari looked at the village woman and smiled kindly. "We don't have much other than rice. Please, have some."

Hotaru smiled as she moved closer to where Kirara was sitting. "Rice is fine. It's a change from always eating fish."

Sara looked at the pair of warriors she was treating and sighed. Nari would be out of danger soon. Once she was, she would have to be taken back to the village. Kyuzo needed more time. With blood loss and broken bones, he would never have survived if Kei hadn't found him. She looked at her cousin and felt her anger rise again. Now she knew why Jiro allowed Nari to practice with her sword, and step into the roll as heir to the elder. She was so much like Kyuzo that Jiro was simply trying to win his wayward grandson back.

"Where is she?" a voice bellowed.

Sara's eyes widened as she moved to go greet the man that could still kill them all. In the passageway, she saw a tall man with short dark hair glaring at Momotaru. "Lord Jin, we weren't expecting you," she said quietly. "Nari-dono is not in any condition to see anyone."

"I don't care," the noble man growled. "She has no place on a battle field in the first place."

Sara inhaled as a number of soldiers ran into the cavern and past her and Momotaru. "What are you doing?" she asked in an alarmed voice.

Jin's dark eyes flashed angrily. "I am taking my betrothed home," he said in a hiss. As he went down the hall, he saw the medical equipment he had installed for the village.

Sara shook her head. "My lord, Nari-dono has always protected the village. It is a part of who she is. You can't just steal her away. She would never tolerate it."

"I don't care," Jin answered hotly. "She will come with me and she will learn her place."

Horror started to settle around Sara's heart. "Her place?" she echoed.

Jin looked at the equipment before turning to his men. "Take her," he ordered. When Sara made a move to object, he turned to her. "If you dare to stop me, this entire village will burn to the ground."

Sara felt tears in her eyes as she wrapped herself around Momotaru. She knew that he wanted to say something, do anything to help Nari, but the village would suffer. Her eyes widened when Jin leaned forward to examine the other tube in the cavern. "Please, don't," she pleaded.

Jin growled. Sara was one of the few that he would even answer to, just because of Nari. "Who is he?" he asked. He couldn't get the growl out of his voice, and he didn't want to. The thought of another man so close to his prize was infuriating.

"He is my cousin, Kyuzo," Sara said quickly. "Kei found him just outside of the village, and he's been here healing since."

"Why have I not met him before?"

"He left here when he was younger. He wanted... he didn't want to live his whole life in a fishing village. He decided to go see the world before taking over for Grandfather."

Jin straightened as the tube Nari was in emptied. If Jiro's wayward grandchild was finally home, that was fine. He was going to take Nari with him. He turned and looked at the young woman he had educated. "I know of your betrayal to the Nobuseri," he said lowly. His eyes drifted to Momotaru for a moment. "Just because they are gone, do not think that you are free," he told her. "Not until I have Nari's hand."

Tears fell out of Sara's eyes. "She would never agree," she whispered.

"She will not have a choice," Jin said lowly.

"You will not touch her," a muffled voice said in a growl.

He felt like he was floating. His entire body was sore, but he wasn't in pain.

"Who is he?"

That was a man's voice. For some reason, it sounded like he was under water.

"He's my cousin, Kyuzo."

Sara. He was back in Miroden. But he didn't know how he got there.

"Kei found him just outside of the village, and he'd been healing since."

That explained it. He must have been in one of the healing tubes like Ayamaru has scattered through his home. He slowly opened his eyes and saw the small, trembling figure of his cousin. She was being held by a man nearly twice her size. He looked somewhat familiar. Probably from Kyogakyo. What he didn't like was the man looking at the tube not too far from his own. He knew who that was. Tetsuho Jin. He was a known monster among the merchants. Even Ayamaru feared him.

"I know of your betrayal to the Nobuseri. Just because they are gone, do not think that you are free. Not until I have Nari's hand."

Kyuzo knew that Sara didn't want that woman to go with Jin. He knew that if his former home was in danger, he would have no other choice than to protect it. He opened his mouth in the oxygen mask over his face. "You will not touch her," he said in a growl. He saw the stunned look on Jin's face, as well as the shock on Sara's.

Jin slowly moved away from Nari and over to Kyuzo. "You dare to order me around?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Kyuzo, you shouldn't be exerting yourself," Sara scolded lightly. She frowned when Momotaru's strong arms pulled her back. "Let me go," she ordered in a hiss.

"As much as I say I can, I wouldn't be able to fight off all of these men if they come after you," Momotaru whispered into her ear. When she stilled, he slowly started to release her. "Be careful."

Sara gave his arm a gentle squeeze. She slowly stepped out of his embrace and closer to her cousin. "How are you feeling?" he asked gently.

"Silence!" Jin roared. He kept his eyes focused on the blonde samurai that had the audacity to order him around. "Who do you think you are?" he asked. "I can easily kill you, and anyone else that stands between what is mine."

"She isn't yours," Kyuzo said reasonably. "If she protects my village, then I will protect her."

Jin reached over and grabbed the sword from one of his escorts. Just as he raised the blade, he felt Sara's arms tangle in his. "Let me go," he hissed as he pushed her back.

As Sara cried out, Kyuzo's eyes glowed with utter fury. "You will pay for that," Kyuzo said lowly. With each word, the hatred in his voice grew. He curled his hands into fists, knowing he was too weak to attack now, but he was going to make the merchant pay.

"Sara," Nari's voice said weakly.

Everyone in the room stopped. Sara stood and went to Nari's side. "I'm right here," she said as she looked in the opened tube. She forced a smile to cross her face as smokey eyes opened.

"What's going on?" Nari asked, forcing herself to sit up. She looked around the chamber and saw Jin standing next to one of the other tubes. She grabbed Sara's hand and started to climb out of the tube. "What are you doing here?" she asked him coldly.

Jin shook his head. "I will not allow you to throw your life away in some back water village. My wife will know better."

Nari frowned as she leaned on Sara. "Then it is a good thing that I am not your wife," she said simply. When she heard his growl, she moved to stand on her own. "Jin, I am in no condition to fight with you. Please, take your men and leave. Return another time, and you and I can talk about this whatever you want to call it, that is between us."

A low growl escaped Jin. He didn't want to leave. He wanted to take Nari with him, and make sure she would never be in any type of danger again. But as he looked into her eyes he rubbed his eyes. He knew he could deny her anything. "I will give you one month," he said lowly. He walked over to her and gently caressed the scar on her face. She was trembling, and he couldn't help but smile. "I will return to here in one month, and you will come with me."

"Release her," Kyuzo hissed.

In spite of Kyuzo's warning, Jin leaned forward and placed a kiss on her lips. "You are a vision of beauty," he told her. As her shaking increased, he stepped away from her. "One month."

Kambei walked over to where Rikichi was quietly speaking with Shido. He looked at the young samurai and inhaled. "In the morning, I will go with you to Miroden," he said before turning to walk away.

Violet eyes were wide as he moved to follow his former commander. "Kambei-sama," he said softly. "What made you change your mind?" he asked quickly.

Kambei stopped walking and showed him Nari's sword. "I had this sword crafted for my brother-in-law. If anything were to happen to him, it was supposed to go to Nari's husband."

Shido snorted. "You've been away from her for a long time," he said with a muse. When Kambei looked at him, he shook his head. "She's Samurai. Your skills show in her fighting style."

A deep frown crossed Kambei's face. "She's a woman. There is no reason why she should be holding a sword."

Shido lowered his head slightly. "Once you see Miroden, you will see the good that she's done." He looked out over the cliffs. "Even if you don't want her to fight, you will be proud of her."

"We shall see," Kambei said with a sigh.

TBC...