Chapt 7

Beauty and Deceit

A Yoshimitsu fell to the ground, dead and lifeless, Hayate lowered his sword and immediately

gave a stern look at Nightmare. A look that said "you cannot stop me."

"Well? Any more subordinates you want me to cut down Nightmare?" Boasted Hayate as he stuck his sword into the floor.

"Oh...very interesting. Of course, Yoshimitsu is one of my fairly weaker underlings. Mitsurugi, I leave this in your hands...Don't betray your word samurai."

"Hai, shishou." Replied Mitsurugi as he bowed down.

And with that, Nightmare disappeared in a flash. Gone, right before his eyes, vanished...his only chance for vengeance...gone in an instant.

Mitsurugi reluctantly stepped foreward.

"Hayate, my son..."

"Shut up, I can't believe you...you have absolutely no right to call me SON! You are not my father."

"Halt! Mitsurugi! Do not sheath your sword!" Said the kimono sashed lady.

As she casually walked in front of Mitsurugi, she stood in defiance to Hayate.

"And just who the HELL ARE YOU?" Yelled Hayate.

"I am Setsuka, owner of Jyurakudai Villa. I will not let you leave this place with your life. Mitsurugi, step down. This is my palace and I choose to defend it against any who defile it. Come!"

And with that exclamation, Hayate thundered ahead. Each step booming like a thunderclap.

Hayate drew is katana and eagerly slashed at Setsuka. Setsuka had unsheathed her hidden blade in her umbrella to block. She smirked as she withdrew her sword and knocked Hayate with the hilt of her blade.

"Is that the best you can do? Ha! I guess it was nothing but sheer luck that you even beat Yoshimitsu. You are nothing but a pestilent boy swinging his sword thinking he is the greatest.

Trust me, I would run now...but I cannot give you such a choice."

"RAHHHH!!"

Hayate then charges full speed at Setsuka and instantly appears behind her.

"Wha?"

A sudden wound in the shape of an "B" appears on Hayate's chest.

"Battojutsu?"

"Hai hai, battojutsu. Around these parts, I am known as one of the Battosai. An elite group of swordsman who solely use battojutsu to fight. As you can tell, your blunt attacks cannot work on me."

Hayate then moves faster than ever, appearing behind Setsuka. He points his sword at her neck then all of a sudden, Hayate lies on the floor.

"What just happened?"

"Hm try that again and you might loose a limb."

Hayate then pounds the floorboards with his fist and various wooden planks jump out of the ground. Hayate then kicks them with all his might at Setsuka. Setsuka shreds the planks to ribbons when she suddenly notices Hayate in front of her, about to stab her abdomen.

Setsuka then unfurls her umbrella to block Hayate's katana. As Hayate impales the sword though the thin umbrella top, Setsuka delivers a powerful kick to Hayate's stomach, blowing him towards the pillar. The katana, still stuck into the umbrella, is grabbed by Setsuka and soon after is thrown to Mitsurugi.

Hayate then gets up and jumps of the pillar in a ninja type fashion. Racing to the thrown katana and grabbing the hilt before reaching the hands of Mitsurugi. Hayate then bounces off the pagoda wall and does a dive kick to Setsuka hand. He then swipe kicks her legs causing Setsuka to fall hard on the ground. As Setsuka tried to reach for her Umbrella sword, Hayate kicks it away and holds his katana to her forehead.

"haha...pestilent boy huh?"