The Choice Chapter 12:
OMHLA! It's been so long I can't believe it, and sorry to some of you readers whether you enjoyed the story or not I've been so busy these past what 2-3 years 😱 well thing aren't getting any Easier now 💍🚼👶 if you know what I mean 😉 but yes family life 👪 can provide challenges and inspiration as well so I hope this never happens again I will finish this story 😘
Kambei and Shichiroji watched as lady Kirara lead Takamasa towards Rickichis home. As they entered Kambei reached for the sword that was no longer at his side, how useless he felt at that very moment.
"Odd he looks just like Ukiyo, but there is just something that's not right about him." Shichiroji then looks behind them. " same goes for them"
"The face maybe the same, but the intentions are clearly different, Ukiyo was a manipulator,,, this man." Kambei paused as he felt the heavy desire for death linger behind him. "This man is a killer"
...
Inside kirara sat next to Rikichi her hand placed on the ton to, not grasping, but gently, for the was no true danger at the moment. Not a single sign of intent to kill untill the every moment if needed. Takamasa sat on the other side of kirara.
"well then shall be begin?" Takamasa asked as he looked at Rickichi with a smile across his face, knowing full well the man in front of him wanted nothing more but to get him out of kanna for good.
"what are lord makiyatos request of us this time." Rikichi asked gritting his teeth.
"Same old same old, Get all samurai out of Kanna village' the request have not changes one bit I'm afraid." Takamasa snickered.
"The samurai live here this is their home. They have family here, the are not hired swords!" Rickichi proclaimed.
"Hired swords or not Kanna village is a threat."
"how are we a threat?" kirara asked.
Takamasa sighed "unbelievable, you honestly thing you pose no ill will against the merchants that run the cities, to lords and their lands?" He paused. "Kanna village took down the greatest symbol in the merchant world, with a few farmers and 7 noble samurai. Who taught for rice."
"our war with the capital is over. It has been for years! The samurai here do not fight for rice, let alone fight at all. We are at peace, so if you and your lord want to keep that peace then I suggest we end this silly conflict. I have no reason to pay for the swords of samurai any longer!" Rickichi stood up and pointed to the door. "I will not be the cause of a new war because nobles fear ronin. Now please leave."
"..." Then there it was that unmistakable lust for killing. Kirara waited for the right moment.
"seems you don't understand rickichi-sama."
"It's just rickichi"
Takamasa. " you realize that I have a job to do, I'm not here to make peace... I'm a haired sword as well..."
At that every moment takamasa lungged towards Rickichi with a dagger and another at kiraras throat as she to lugged forward. "well sees I have both of you, how easy it would be now."
Kirara smiled a wicked smile.
"huh"
"you men are so interested in seeing what happens up top,"
"... Water witch..."
Kirara then pressed the tip of her tonto against takamasa manhood. "they forget what's on bottom..." Kirara lend closers into takamasas blade at her neck. The sharp edges dug into her skin as she whispered into the mans ear. "if its war he fears, its war hell get, with haired swords, or offered swords... This will not go unpunished takamasa-san." Kirara tilted the blade up signaling Takamasa to stand. She then lead him to the door, still pressing the blade to his groan. "turn around you don't want anyone to see you in this position, don't you?"
"when war starts ill look for you virgin ass first..." Takamasa snickered." Then you finally be a real woman. Dead, but a women when I'm done with you... Water witch..." Takamasa turned and headed toward the main gates.
"were leaving."
And in a moments notice they were all gone.
Kambei, shichiroji and the other samurai raced to Rickichi and lady kiraras side.
"my lady? Was there an agreement." Hetoshi was the first to question the meeting.
"I'm afraid not hetoshi-dono..." Then everyone notice the cut on her neck. At that moment Kambei pulled kirara from the group."Hey?!"
He led her away, just far enough to talk to her one on one. "you still haven't answered me."
"that doesn't mean you get to drag me away!" Kirara pulled herself free from his grip. "we will all speak tonight in the center on kanna." Her attention turned toward the men in the group. "come with me, and if you ever lay your hands on me again I will kill you." Her threat was fierce but empty.
Kambei couldn't help but smile. "alright any thing you want... My Lady."
How kirara wanted to kick him out of Kanna, she hide her red cheeks behind her bangs as she walked off towards her house. ". Come along. You're not going get your answers with half the village questioning me first."
Kambei smiled an without a second thought he followed her.
Shichiroji watched as his friend made away with the lovely kirara.
"momotaro! Weres kambei at!?" Kiku came up with komachi at his side as always. "I have a score to settle with him! " the machine samurai throw his sword in the air and flung its tip toward the ground.
"sorry big guy be even with that new fancy armor your still no match for him, with or without his sword." Roji laughed as kiku pouted.
...
While the others were involved with each other kirara invited kambei into her home to talk. The said make made a spot for himself as he waited for the water priestess. Kirara removed the katana and wakishai from her hips and placed them beside her as she sat down. Kambei watch every move she made, her once timid and careful hand placed the swords with care as if she was born into a warrior family rather than a priestess. Her warm once caring eyes, held a dark haze he knew all to well.
"why did you come back here?" Kirara asked plainly. Kambei sat in his place choosing his words carefully. " I wanted you all gone before any of this happened. Your war with kanna was over along time ago, there is no need for any of your to return to Kanna village." Kirara's cold eyes pierced through Kambie like never before.
His heart raced, how was she able to do this to him? Her once gentle and kind voice held nothing but anger and strength, and a hint of sorrow. "we didn't defend this village all those years ago just to have it be burned down by anyone else." Kambie paused as he looked into kiraras cold and unforgiving eyes. "you are samurai now... You should know what that means to us..."
Kirara closed her eyes and shook her head and with a slight chuckle she got to her feet taking her swords with her. "you are a fool Kambei Shimada... A sword less man going into battle, I might as well kill you myself and save the enemy the trouble." She walked to the door of her hut. "but since you are already here we might as well use your experience against our next battle... After that you might not have anymore use to us... Then you can leave." She opened the door wide open. "and you can take these idiots with you as well..." Shishiroji, Gorobie, and Kiku fell to the floor.
"haha, well what do you know Lady Kirara your door is working just fine after all." Roji laughed as they retreated back down the steps.
Kambei got to his feet and walked out the door. "We'll stay as long as we are need, and no long." He looked her in the eyes just as deep as she looked into his. "untill then our place is here." Kambei walked down the steps and past kastushiro and kyzo.
Kastushiro gripped the sword kambie had given him years ago. His eyes then traveled toward kirara. "you need us kirara. Just admit it."
Kirara's gaze focused on Kastushiro. "don't you have battle to fight some where else... katsushiro-dono..." The dullness in her voice sent shivers down his spine... This was not the simple water priestess he had once held feelings for, as she replayed the words he spoke to her in the village of respite.
Without another word, seeing as her point was already clear enough. Kirara returned to the quietness of her home closing the door behind her. As she listened and heard their footstep fade off away from her hut, kirara walked over to the place Kambei sat, she knelt down and placed herself in his spot. As her heart raced on, there was a sudden wave of anger and pain.
"not now..." Kirara began a cold sweat. The temperature of her body rose, her breathing shallow, her muscles weak. It was happening again this illness that now plagues her was not about to subside. She fought back the coughs as she started to Los control of her own body as it collapsed to the floor.
...
Outside amara struggled with a small bucket of water. Kambei noticed the elderly woman and offered her his help. "thank you kambei, I appreciate you r offer." They may towards Kiraras home.
Kambei couldn't shake the strange feeling he had as they walked back to kirara hut. "Amara-san, if it wasn't to much trouble to ask if lady Kirara condition..."
"say no more Kambei,"she already know what he wanted to hear. "kirara has been ill for quite some time. Thought the illness is not life threatening, it does however keep her bed ridden for a few days."
"not life threatening? But, the other day..."
"the other day she was full of worry, frustration, and guilt." She looked over to Kambei. "and no matter how skilled or how stronger someone is, those feeling can shred any man to pieces."
Kambei placed his hand on the door, ready to open it. ' guilt...' It was the only word he could think of at that moment as he opened the door.
"kirara!" Amara quickly as she could raced to the aid of an ill kirara. Kambei watched on as the elderly woman took the bucket of water from his arms. P placed an old cloth into the c cold water in an attempt to lower the woman on the floor before things got any worse.
As for Kirara, her lips moved in a slow motion, and without as sound she her lips spoke. "do... Not... Wait... For... Me..."
' worry, frustration, guilt...'
Guilt... Guilt...guilt...an I guilty of this...
Kambei stopped at the door way unsure what to do.
"Kambei-sama what's wrong?" Shishuroji was the first to spot his ex-commander. He had never seen Ksmbei like this. The face he made had almost no emotion. And his lips were so still, and yet it seemed almost as if he wanted to speak, to say some thing, if anything at all. Roji, walked up the steps. "is she ok..."