Samurai Jack: The Sword Awakens

Chapter 4: Destinies Intertwined pt. 4

A Year Later

Neo Tokyo

Near the Forests of Mt. Fuji

The day seemed to go as nice as possible, except for a slight disturbance. An earthquake had shaken uncontrollably, shaking most of the area that surrounded the 500 square miles of Neo-Tokyo. It was common knowledge that the city was protected by a barrier that they had constructed to protect themselves and allowed those who entered and leave the city. Though during the earthquake, the barrier had shut down, and now they were trying to get it as fixed as possible to avoid

In the forest, Mako was running through the forest, while behind him were voices of Baron and his goons.

"Mako! Come back here, you fatherless outcast!"

"Yeah, ya freak! Come back, fako samurai boy!"

In a quick move, he dove into a pile of bushes, hiding from sight, as Baron and his two goons stopped behind him. The platinum blonde boy looked around, PO'ed that the Fatherless Outcast was missing from sight. He looked to his two associates, as he barked out, "Split up and look for him. He's not skipping out of his daily beating." But then he noticed the freaked out looks the two boys were getting as they ignored him and looked around the green and bleak forest. Their freaked out expressions only made Baron more angry and annoyed, as he shouted out, "What?!"

"Baron," the skinny goon boy shook, "Maybe we should just leave."

The bully squinted angrily, as Baron seethed out, "What?"

"Maybe he's got a point," the fat one whimpered, his legs shaking and daring to piss down them. "This is Aokigahara Forest. Otherwise known as the Suicide Forest."

It was no big news to Baron or anyone else who had heard of the Suicide Forest of Mt. Fuji. Back in the old days, the forest would be used as a dumping ground back in earlier times. When there wasn't enough food for families, children they didn't want or the elderly, blind, or sick were taken there to die. But later on after 800 years, it was where those that wanted to escape the world that Aku ruled to escape from this hopeless life. Even though the forest had a dark and bloody history, the nature there was untouched and beautiful. But no one dared to go too far or get lost in this forest, due to what inhabited it.

"So? What's the big deal," Baron asked, not fazed by all this at all.

"They say the forest is haunted by the Yūrei," the skinny one explained. "You know. The ghosts of those that died by their own hands. Their spirits remained trapped here, and they become vengeful, angry… murderous."

"I also heard that if you get lost in here, and if you have sadness in your heart, the Yūrei could find it," the fat one added, as he looked around, his skin paling and getting clammy, "Use it against you. And when you die because of them, it's due to you taking your own life. And then… you become one of them. Haunting this forest for the rest of your eternal afterlife."

Baron wanted to slap his two goons some good sense into their heads, right then and there. But a strange noise, an eerie silence filled the forest that caused the two boys to slowly back away, while Baron turned around to face it. But he smirked, as some parts of the legend was true: when people went into this forest, they didn't come out. Alive, that is.

Baron slowly walked backwards to his two followers, as he smirked. Though he spoke out loud, loud enough for Mako to hear him, "Have a fun time in this forest, Mako. You chose a pretty resting place. Knowing you, you'll be slitting your wrists open just to escape the pain." He then whispered as he turned around to follow his goons, as he chuckled mean and spiteful, "And I hope it's a slow bleed for you. Hehehehehe." And with that, the three ran out of the forest.

Hiding behind the bushes, Mako sighed, as he held on to the basket he currently fell flat on his butt. "Well, that was close." But then he looked around, and sighed, "I wish everybody would stop picking on me, just because I come back from this place every now and then."

It wasn't a secret that Mako wandered throughout the forest from time to time. He was mostly chased in or dared to go in, in which some people were hoping he'd get killed or commit suicide. Though nobody suspected that he would easily wander back out, alive and unharmed. Nobody knew how or why, but some say that he had made friends with the Tengu of the forest, in which they accepted him. So it only made it worse that they called him a demon.

Though something else caught his attention, as he heard rustling from the bushes. He blinked, as he looked around, and saw from it movement on the other side. Arching an eyebrow, and acting on curiosity than fear, he ventured forth to see what was on the other side. He easily scavenged through the bushes, and what he saw was a bit on the surprising side. There, crouched on her heels, was a young girl about seven years of age, in a black footie outfit, and had a flaming flip hairstyle. She seemed to be eating something, and acted like a wild animal when she did so.

Mako arched an eyebrow, as he spoke up, "Um… hello?"

The girl stopped, as she turned around, and looked at the boy with a look of confusion on her face. She had clear pale skin, brown eyes. But Mako didn't pay attention to that. Instead, he was looking at the butt, tail, and still kicking legs of a mouse that was struggling to get out of her mouth, fighting for its life.

"Umm, you do realize that mouse is still…" Mako began, looking rather nervous at it, but freaked out as the girl slurped the rest in, with only the tail sticking out. "Hey, spit it out!" he cried out as he ran towards her and tried to get her to open her mouth.

The sudden rush of movement, however, was taken by mistake as an attack. The girl spat the scared mouse out, as it scampered behind a tree trunk's root, as it saw what happened next. The girl grabbed the boy's right hand, and bit down hard, almost making it bleed uncontrollably. Though considering the action wasn't misinterpreted, Ashi also saw the mini-sword strapped to his belt, and thought he was someone that was serving the Samurai she was being trained to kill. Still working on martial art moves, she instead attempted to make him bleed… by biting off his hand.

Though Mako, who winched, didn't attack or falter. He saw the look of ferocity on her face, and felt she had misinterpreted his actions as an attack. Struggling to ignore the pain, he gently reached out to her with his other hand. Too focused on biting him, Ashi didn't see it until he was close enough. She would be ready to snatch the other hand, as soon as she bit off his fingers, but she didn't expect what happened next. With his left hand reaching out, he gently patted her on the head, stroking it, as if she were a puppy.

Ashi stopped gnawing at his hand, and was confused on this gesture or action. For the seven years of her life, she had been beaten, kicked, struck or smacked around with either hands, feet, or by her mother's staff. All those actions taught her to know and respect pain, and from that pain she learned fear and discipline. But this… she had never known a soft and gentle gesture. Let alone have it done to her in such a manner against someone she attacked. It felt… nice.

She stopped biting him, and merely smiled, liking the gesture as she softened.

Mako smiled, seeing she had calmed down, "See? Nothing to fear or worry about." Though he drew a blank, as he asked, "Do you have a name?"

Ashi's smile faded, as she looked to him, and she attempted to try to answer him. But all he got from her were grunts and straining sounds, almost as if she didn't know how to speak. Mako looked at her confused, as he asked, "What's wrong? Sore throat? Are you thirsty?"

Knowing she couldn't say anything, she lightly tapped her throat as he continued to guess what she was trying to tell him, "You're a mute?" she shook her head, as he asked again, "You can't speak?" though she still tapped her throat, until Mako asked, "You don't know how to talk?" Ashi shook her head.

"Oh," Mako realized that, and looked away, ashamed that he brought it up. But then suggested to her, "M-Maybe you could spell or write your name out" Mako bent down, and drew on the dirt, making strange symbols for her to see. When he looked at her, she seemed worried and confused, almost she was unprepared for what he was doing, as he realized, "You can't read or write… can you?"

Ashi sighed, as she hunched with her shoulders closing in, ashamed to look at him. However, the sounds of what seemed like birds, were actually screeching spirts, as Mako realized what that was, "Yūrei." He grabbed the girl's hand, as they both bolted, "Come on. We gotta get out of the opening and someplace safe."

Confused on this, the girl looked down at the boy's hand holding hers. She didn't know what it meant, but the gesture that he held her hand, guiding her and helping her… she was touched by this boy's strange attitude towards her. Her face seemed to go red from all this. She didn't know why, but this boy… he seemed to bring it out.

A little While Later

It had started raining a while ago, and the two kids had found shelter. High up in a big thick tree, Mako and the girl were being kept dried by a makeshift roof Mako had made. Using thick leaved tree branches, Mako tied them together to make a makeshift tent for the two to stay under until the rain stopped. The two scooted together to keep warm and dry. Though for Ashi, being this close to someone she didn't know, but who treated her so nicely… she was feeling strange and warm about all this. It was confusing for her to say the least. But at the same time, she didn't want it to end either.

But Mako asked, curious about her, "So… what are you doing here in the forest? You don't look like you live here."

Ashi looked to him, and wanted to answer, but she didn't have the words for it. It was only by coincidence that an earthquake had caused her mountain temple to almost fall to the ground. In the cavern room where she and her sisters' slept in, a fissure crack was made. It was bigger than the one her mother had filled in that showed the land before her. Curious and fearless, she ventured out to see the world that Aku had made. The world her mother had claimed Aku had made with his kindness and generosity to those that served him. Her sisters tried to stop her, but her curiosity had gotten the better of her, and so she ventured out to the forest that she saw. Though she got lost in it, as well as scared as the area was unfamiliar… and she could feel something inhuman haunting all around her.

She curled up into a ball, not wanting to explain it, as Mako nodded, realizing that it wasn't something to bring up in discussion, "Sorry. I didn't mean to bring up something you didn't want to talk about."

Though a small growl emanating from either one of them caught each other's attention. Mako knew it wasn't his stomach, as he looked to the girl, whom looked embarrassed to say the least, as she tried to avert his gaze on all this.

Mako had to guess that this girl didn't have anything to eat in a while. He reached into the bag and pulled out what appeared to be to the girl was a yellow thing on the inside, but red and green on the outside. Mako gently gestured it to her, but she looked at it in confusion, and then to him for answers. Mako arched an eyebrow at her reaction, but then figured she might not know what it was, as he gestured and explained, "It's a mango. A fruit. You know, you eat it?"

Ashi, a bit hesitant on that, as she had never seen anything like this ever, eating only what they gave her in the cavern lair. Once again, her curiosity and confusion were written all over her face.

"Here, let me show you," Mako explained, as he took another piece out of the bag, and ate it, showing her.

Once she knew, she graciously took the piece he handed to her, and ate it. But as soon as she did, her eyes lit up like Christmas tree lights, and her cheeks blushed red. She let out the cutest squeal, as she curled up, though kicked her legs around. Mako had to smile at that, seeing this girl act like this. Though he had to wonder, how she couldn't possibly know anything about fruit at all.

'What kind of life is she living,' he thought to himself.

Fifteen Minutes Later

The two were walking towards Mako's village, Neo Tokyo, and the girl was going with him. Mako told her she could wash up and relax at his home until her parents arrived. To which she seemed a bit… nervous about. But as they traversed further, something flew around her, causing her to stop in her tracks.

It was a small red ladybug, crossing her and his path, flying around past her face. She gasped at the creature, not in fear but in awes. She didn't know what they were called, but the sight triggered a memory she had a year ago.

So long ago.. back in the cave…

Ashi's eyes lit up as that memory was triggered

A Year Ago

Cult of Aku Cavern HQ

It was just a routine sparring exercise between her and Aki. They were no more than six years old by then. As they practiced a grueling series of blows and parries on one another, Ashi was distracted by the sudden arrival of a ladybug, having entered through a small crack in the wall of the arena.

"Wait!" the little girl spoke out, only able to say that one word. Aki was also intrigued by the creature as it flew between them. Not far from them, the High Priestess Azula took notice of her daughters' distracted state.

As she let the cute insect land on Ashi's outstretched finger, Aki leaned on her sister's shoulder in curiosity. It was such an interesting little creature as they both smiled in admiration.

"What is it," Aki asked. Not able to say more words, Ashi shook her head, but she and her sister were too entranced to care about answers.

"Ashi! Aki!" Their zealous mother called out. She towered over her daughters, staff in hand. Aki backed away at her presence as Ashi cowered in place.

Reaching out with her hand, the ladybug left Ashi's hand and landed on Azula's instead. The Priestess leaned in, as she silently glared at her daughter, while still keeping the ladybug between them on her index finger.

"These frivolous distractions are poisonous for your mission," The Priestess taught. "They are not part of our All-Father, Aku's Order."

She then used her other index finger, and promptly squished the poor insect right in her daughters' faces, with a droplet of the orange juices splashing against Ashi's cheek.

That day scarred the septuplets. But more so on Ashi.

Present Time

Snapping out of her mild flashback, the insect flew away from her towards the boy. Ashi reached out, as though begging the insect to return to her where it will be safe. Her eyes widened as Mako took notice of the insect, and smiled, as he gently reached out to it.

Ashi's eyes widened with horror, as mentally, she begged, 'No. Please stop…' made notice of the creature and gently stretched forth his arm.

But then something happened Ashi didn't expect. It landed safely on his right finger, and then skittered around his hand. He turned sideways, showcasing a profile shot, and much to her surprise… he was smiling at it. The complete opposite of what her mother had done. Eh then gently allowed the ladybug to freely fly away, as he looked to the girl's surprised state.

He blinked, as he asked, "What? You never seen a ladybug before?"

Puzzled, Ashi then spoke up, albeit struggling, as she only heard the name once before today, "L-L… laaadie… buuug?"

Mako blinked, as he smiled, "Oh, cool. You can talk." But then he explained, "Yeah, Ladybug. Though they're not all female, they're just called that." He stopped to think on it, as he confessed, "Don't know why they call it a ladybug if they're not all females though." But then lit up as he pointed out, "Though my mom told me that if a ladybug lands on your hand, it'll give you good luck." Then he made a grossed-out face, as he grimaced, "Though she also said they're the living embodiment of the red string of fate. Blech!"

Ashi looked confused on that, and tugged at Mako's sleeve, getting his attention. Looking at her confused face, Mako explained, "Oh, um… well, my mom says that the Gods tie an invisible red cord around the ring or index finger of those that are destined to meet one another in a certain situation or help each other out in a certain way. They say that the two people connected by this red string or thread are destined lovers, regardless of place, time or circumstances. It can tangle or stretch, but it'll never break. They also say the ladybug is the physical manifestation of that red string."

Ashi wasn't completely understanding of the concept of love or marriage, but it sounded like someone important would stay by your side. She looked at the finger that the ladybug landed on, and then at the boy's finger. The ladybug had landed on her finger and then on his as it flew away. Did this mean that she and he were… destined?

Mako looked at the girl in question, and asked, "You okay?"

Ashi looked at the boy again, and blushed a little, seeing his face, as she and he could be destined together. It might not have been bad; she didn't know a whole lot about him, but he was kind and nice. She liked that about him as he wasn't like her mother. She slowly reached out for his hand…

But then suddenly, they heard the sounds of screeches and howling screams, as they turned to the blackened forest behind and around them. There, coming at them, looked like people. But they didn't seem like they were alive; they had gray and pale skin, yellow blackish teeth made into points, and milky blue and gray eyes. They were barely human… much less alive.

Mako paled at that, as he uttered just one word in what they were, "Yūrei." He then grabbed Ashi's hand, and both bolted, with Ashi still confused as to what they were, but knew from the boy's voice they weren't friendly.

As the Yūrei continued to chase after the two Mako and Ashi continued to run as fast as they could through the forest of danger. The spirits were all over the trees left and right of the two lost children. In every shadow, glowing eyes filled with hate met the kids' eyes as they looked for an escape route.

'Yūrei to the left, Yūrei to the right, and no way of out running them forever,' Mako thought as his eyes darted left and right, 'There's got to be some way out of here!' He looked back at the girl whose face said she didn't know what was going. 'No way I'm letting this Yūrei do whatever they want to her,' Mako thought to himself as the two now found themselves in a clearing, 'A samurai doesn't abandon those in need!'

Suddenly, the sound of wood cracking caught Mako's attention as he and Ashi looked towards the sound. It was one of trees that was now falling towards the two kids that would surely crush them to death. "Look out," Mako exclaimed as held Ashi back from the tree as it collided with the ground. The impact shook the ground and the surrounding forest as a cloud of dirt filled the air. The leaves on tree tops shook and the sound of birds fluttering their wings was heard in the air. After getting over the shook,

Mako opened his eyes to see the tree twice his size stand before him and the girl. He looked at the girl who was coughing from all the dirt that blew in face. "Are you oka-"

The next thing the two of them knew, two Yūrei had grabbed the two distracted kids, and pulled them apart from each other. The cries of the demonic spirits screeched in the air as they celebrated their victory. "Let us go," Mako yelled out as he tried to reach his sword but was cut off by the demonic hands. He looked to see the girl attempting to punch and bite her way free. Only for the Yūrei to throw her over the tree to the other side of the clearing. "No," he yelled out as he finally managed to reach his sword. He jammed his sword through the head of the Yūrei that was holding him as it screamed in pain. It released Mako as it held its head in pain. The other Yūrei turned to see what happened only for Mako to slice across it's chest causing it to collapse onto the ground.

Without a second thought, Mako climbed up the side of the tree as best he could. He held on to the bark while grabbing every branch he could to pull himself up. As soon as he reached the top, he saw the girl was already scampering up the tree but not faring as well as Mako. "You're okay," Mako exclaimed in relief as he pulled himself up. The girl smiled in relief and joy that her friend was safe as well. Just as Mako was about to jump over, he felt a pair of cold hands grab his shoulders, and began to pull him backwards.

Seeing this, Ashi jumped up and grabbed Mako's hand that was holding onto the tree and began to pull him towards her. She looked as saw Mako continued to pull himself towards her and saw the face of the Yūrei. The evil spirit's eyes were white as though they were completely lifeless, a huge shadow with black ooze was dripping from the spot that Mako stabbed it in, and most of its teeth were gone as it roared at the two children.

Ashi used all her strength and more as she tried to pull her first real friend free. But the Yūrei was proving much too strong for her and Mako as the only thing keeping them together were Ashi's hand on Mako's one hand. She looked sadly at Mako who gave her a serious look, "You have to go! Run as fast as you can," he told her. But Ashi shook her head no as tears formed in her eyes at his request, "You have to. I'll find you one day! I promise! No GO!" With his final word, Mako released his grip on Ashi, and she was sent flying down the tree with tears in her eyes.

Back on the other side of the tree, the Yūrei pulled Mako down, pushed him against the log, and stared at him with venom in its eyes as it breathed in his face. It was as though the cold wind of the underworld was flowing around Mako ready to take his soul into a dark place with no chance of escape. Mako stared back trying to hide his fear even with tears rolling down his eyes. He held his sword with his one hand. 'I failed Master Jack... I failed you mom,' Mako thought as he saw the Yūrei prepare to deliver the final blow, 'I really am weak. I couldn't even save one life...' As he closed his eyes accepting his death, he saw the image of the girl whose name he never learned falling backwards and crying for him.

Suddenly, a renewed sense of strength and bravery filled his body as he griped around the hilt of his sword tightened as the blade shined brightly. "Men and samurais don't make girls cry," he exclaimed as he opened his eyes to meet his opponent. As the Yūrei shot its hand forward ready to crush the young samurai in training's skull, Mako shot his sword up in the air and straight into the head of the Yūrei stopping its hand. It cried in pain worse than before as it let go of Mako who slid down the log as he looked at the screaming creature. A bright light began to shine where he had stabbed it and spread through the rest of the demon. Finally, a huge flash of light filled the area blinding the boy as he heard one last cry of pain.

After a moment, Mako slowly cracked his eyes open to see what had happened. There a few feet away from him were scorched marks as a small bit of smoke slowly rose into the air. It was all that remained of the Yūrei much to Mako's surprise and disbelief. He looked at his sword in amazement as he held it in the air, 'How... How did it do that,' he thought trying to figure out what had happened. "The girl," he said as he remembered something more important at the moment. He quickly stood up, returned the sword to his scabbard, and climbed up the log as fast as he could. 'Please be all right, please be all right, please be all right,' he thought to himself as he climbed as fast as he could.

When he reached the top of the log, he looked down for the girl hoping for her or footprints to find her. Only to discover that there was nothing. No footprints, no signs of a struggle, and no sign of her.

However, an explosion caught his attention, as he turned to face it. It was in the direction of where Neo Tokyo was.

Neo-Tokyo

As soon as Mako got to the edge of the city, he stopped to catch his breath… but paled at what he was seeing.

Neo-Tokyo was under attack by Aku's Insect Drones. Beetle Drones were chasing after villagers left to right. Spider Drones were climbing up the walls, shooting out web blast nets to capture citizens, and taking them away with giant Weevil drones. Firefly drones were flying all around the place, setting the buildings on fire, along with giant Fire-Ant Drones firing rocket launcher blasts to destroy bigger places. It was slow but surely… Neo-Tokyo was being burnt to the ground, and its people enslaved to the forces of Aku.

Mako just stood there, looking at it in horror, but then snapped back to reality, as he whispered, "Mom… I have to find Mom."

He then bolted towards his home, avoiding the burning rubble that was buildings. And skillfully enough, dodging the Beetle And Bug Drones as they attempted to take him, but he dodged them all nevertheless. He then saw his home, still standing and not burning, as the fires had not touched his home yet. He bolted in, but stopped, as he noticed the front door had been busted down, and paled, as he realized something got in, as he rushed further inward.

"Mom! Mom!" he cried out, as he went into the living room.

But just as he was in there, he saw his mother; a fresh bruise on her left cheek, her lip bleeding, and her hair messed up, as she was on her knees, on the ground in front of someone. It was a woman, clothed in a black robe dress of sorts, with a crown of horns/antlers, and when she turned to face him, she wore an eerie red porcelain mask that held no sign of her facial features, not even her eyes, as they were black slits. It was like looking at a demon in front of you… and it wasn't Aku.

Mako… for the first time in his life… felt fear when this woman looked at him.

"Mako," his mother called out, getting his attention. It also gained the attention of the woman, as Asami pleaded, "Just leave my son be. I'll give you what you want."

The High Priestess looked to the boy, as she scowled in a voice of calm cruelty and malice, "You heard your mother, child. LEAVE!"

But Mako tensed up, closing his eyes, "I won't leave you, Mom!"

But Asami's fears disappeared as she smiled, "It'll be okay, sweetie. I'll handle this."

A reluctant Mako looked at his mother, and then looked at the masked woman. Even though her face was covered by a mask, he could tell, she was glaring at him fiercely because he could feel it. Then backed away, and ran out of there. But unknown to the Priestess or his mother, he managed to sneak into the kitchen, and under the sink. There, hidden by the grate, he witnessed what was going on. Although if he stayed longer, he might have regretted it…

The High Priestess then turned towards Asami, as she interrogated, "Now tell me… where is the Samurai?"

"Samurai Jack isn't here," Asami frowned, as she continued to stay defiant to this woman. "He hasn't been seen in fifty years. Everyone knows this. Why do you think your All-Father remains hiding in his lair?"

"YOU'RE LYING!" the High Priestess hissed, as her voice made Mako jump a bit, as she interrogated, "My sources claimed that the samurai was spotted here a year ago, and that your family cared for him." She then walked closer, her staff clanking on the ground, like a jackhammer that wasn't getting power, as she loomed over Asami, "I'm not leaving this city until I have my answer."

Asami sighed, as she looked to the priestess, and asked, "If I do this… do you promise…" and bowed her head and closed her eyes, "… to leave the rest of Neo-Tokyo, and my son, alone?" She looked up to the High Priestess, as she silently nodded her head in agreement, and Asami calmly answered, "Yes, he was here. But he left without saying hwere he would go. Sorry you invaded the city for nothing."

SCHNITK!

Asami cringed in pain as her back was arched, her face contorted in trying to tolerate pain… as the staff was shoved through her chest, right through her heart. The High Priestess leaned forward, digging it deeper, as Asami gasped but still maintained pride in her actions. "I wouldn't say it was all for nothing," the High Priestess calmly and evilly replied.

She then pulled the staff out, as Asami leaned forward, gasping as she clutched her bleeding wound. As the High Priestess was walking away, Mako came out, and stabbed at her thigh. She cried out in rage and pain, as a look of rage was frozen and growing on Mako's face; all he had for this woman was rage and hatred. It was almost as if everything he kept inside from all the bullying snapped him. But the Priestess slapped him across the room, next to his mother, as the sounds of flames began to build. Suddenly, the roof began to burn; the drones were already burning the place up.

The High Priestess pulled out the small sword that Jack had given him years ago, as she threw it into the ground, embedding it there. Ignoring the bleeding and the pain, she looked back, as she hissed, "I swore I would leave him be. But I don't have to save him or you." And then walked away, leaving the two to be burned in the flames.

Having just enough strength, Asami crawled to her unconscious son, and brought him close to her. As the flames began to spread and decimate the place, Asami held her son close, as she silently prayed, "Please… please let my Mako survive this. Let him be happy, have friends… and find love… please give him strength to find happiness… and not give up hope…"

The smoke and fire bellowed all around, as she used her body to shield her unconscious son, and then the fires cascaded down on them, as they were buried in the rubble.

Outside, the High Priestess was limping due to the stab wound. Though at that instant, Atilla, the big brawler of the Cult of Aku, was in front of her, as she looked to her, and slowly held up an unconscious Ashi. The High Priestess nodded, as she walked past them, with Atilla following as she carried the unconscious Ashi like she was a sack of potatoes. It was a good thing that Ashi was out cold… if she had learned the boy she had met was inside, she would have run to save him.

An Hour Later

The once beautiful city that was Neo-Tokyo was nothing more than a burnt pile of ruins. The once glistening buildings of white and glass were now charred black and shattered all around. The plants were now decimated, all withered or destroyed by the drones or the fire they spread. And the people, all the adults were captured and killed/enslaved, though some of the children managed to get out. At that moment, tank-mobiled carriers were parked out, with eight-nine foot mechs that had motorcycle attributes were helping out grown males and females in futuristic samurai armor. These were the Army of the Samurai.

Some of the orphans were Arthur, who was cradling his tedding bear in losing his family and home. Baron, his brother, and a four year old girl with long blonde hair and a tattered white dress.

Though one of the samurai were inspecting one of the burnt houses, as they were pulling back the rubble. There, once they pulled it away, they saw the charred burnt remains of a woman, cradling her son. Though not a burn on him was shown, except for a burnt imprint on his back in the shape of the front of a wolf's head. Sure he was covered in soot, but he was still slowly breathing.

"This one's still alive," he reported. "It looks like his mother shielded him from the fire." The samurai carefully pried his mother's dead corpse, and carefully scooped up the boy, as he looked around at the scene, "Poor kid."

Even though Mako was still unconscious, what he had experienced an hour ago, and what he would have to face again, it would carry with him for the rest of his life.

Next Chapter: Destinies and Prophecies; Training and Becoming a Warrior

Once again, thank you, Sideways865 for helping me with this chapter.