Sunrise, just Three Days Later...

Kobayashi sheathed his sword, and fastened his belt around his waist. He considered the naked girl on his futon, who simply groaned with a smile upon her face, as she turned over. She opened her eyes, and beheld her lover, as he donned his yukata, and secured his sword to his side. "My love," she said with a sweet voice, "to where are your journeys taking you today?"

Kobayashi sighed as he secured his feet in his clogs. "We are scouting west into the mountains," he said. He took another moment to consider his woman, allowing for her beauty to burn into his mind. The word had been spread to all creation, that Lord Kuroda would want to explore the mountains where these demons live. Of course, Kobayashi would comply, as he sought to please Lord Kuroda, for after all, he did make love to the Lord's daughter every night.

As Kobayashi said goodbye to Mayuki, he took one last time to consider her. He burned her image into his mind as he left the small hut, just as snow began to fall onto the ground on this very cold day. Awaiting Kobayashi was not only the snow, but Riyoji, who was also prepared for a long journey, swords at his side. "I trust you have rested well this morning?" Kobayashi greeted.

Riyoji simply bowed his head. "Restful and peaceful."

"There shall be no peace any longer, my mighty friend," Kobayashi said, as he smacked Riyoji in his back as a friendly gesture. "For today, we slay."

"I look forward to bringing honor and glory to Lord Kuroda anyway I can," Riyoji said.

"That's good to hear. We may not come back alive from this one," Kobayashi said. "But, with all due haste, let's dispatch these creatures and return, shall we?"

Riyoji nodded in response.

"Let's head out then," Kobayashi said, with Riyoji taking the lead. "Our men are waiting."

The camp was just outside of the city, where Kobayashi's men were awaiting their general. When Takagi, a young but trusted warrior, came to Kobayashi, he saluted and then asked for orders. "Tell the men," Kobayashi told Takagi. "It's time."

"At once, Kobayashi-dono."

Within moments of receiving the orders, Kobayashi's men was able to take down the camp, pack up their travel packs, and form-up in ranks. Takagi lead the ranks into the mountains, while Kobayashi and Riyoji stayed behind the ranks, well protected, just in case.

As the sun began to rise high, and the snow began to melt, the legion had entered a river valley, which Kobayashi recognized from their mission before hand. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and it was just a beautiful day. A day that would turn out to be much more unpleasant for those disgusting demons in the mountains above.

"So," Kobayashi said to Riyoji as they marched forth, "what do you think of our little kingdom?"

"Yamakeshiki's quite a nice town," Riyoji said, simply. "In my travels, I have not since seen in a nicer town."

"From which land do you hail?"

"Chikuzen," Riyoji said. "I grew up there, and learned to fight from the best."

"They taught you well," Kobayashi praised. "I was raised in Yamato, learned to fight there and learned to love. When I began serving Lord Kuroda, he showed me the greatness that is the Aki Province. It was, after all, where I would call home for probably the rest of my life."

"I see," Riyoji said. "I couldn't settle in one place. I would have to live and move on."

"You go by your first name," Kobayashi noticed. "What is your family name?"

"Hamasaki," Riyoji said.

"I'm not too familiar with it."

"It's quite alright," Riyoji said. "We keep to ourselves."

"Naturally," Kobayashi said with a smile. "That's how you make such a fine warrior. I envy that."

Riyoji simply shrugged. "It's nothing special."

As they forged ahead, they came upon a burnt village. There were only a few scattered survivors, mostly mothers cradling their dead children and husbands. Some of them were burnt beyond recognition. It made Riyoji's stomach churn just slightly, but he tried to show little to no emotion. It was a trait that Kobayashi also envied, as he saw the mighty warrior keep his cool. Kobayashi called for Takagi, who quickly came to him. "Scatter about the men, and see if you can determine what has happened here."

"At once," Takagi said. The small man scattered away, just as he was ordered.

That was when Riyoji saw her; a young woman in her twenties, over the dead body of her children. Riyoji placed a hand on the crying girl's shoulder. She looked up at him, eyes filled with tears. "They came from hell itself," she said through heavy sobs. "Fierce demons with blades of steel. My husband and my brother fought them bravely, but they were no match for their supernatural skills. When the demons were through with them, they finished the village." Immediately, the girl went back to crying over her dead family.

Riyoji outwardly became enraged. Inwardly, he realized, that there was nothing he could've done.

***

Hamasaki stepped away from the crying girl, and immediately found Kobayashi standing near a still burning hut. Kobayashi turned to Hamasaki and snarled. "Those demons will pay. This was a school. Their dishonor shall be their hell."

"I'm going to go see if I can find any more answers, especially where these demons ran off to," Hamasaki told Kobayashi. When Kobayashi let him go, Hamasaki broke away from the main party, secretly running to the outskirts of the village. From under his robe, he drew his tricorder and began scanning the area. Surely enough, there was plenty of evidence around to suggest how the attackers snuck-up on the village guards. "Hamasaki to Enterprise."

"Tuvok here."

"This place is flooded with transporter signatures," Hamasaki reported. "Can we do a reverse trace on their confinement beam?"

"Stand by," Tuvok ordered.

As Hamasaki continued to scan, the tricorder came alive. He found something that didn't belong here at all. A life sign. It was what he expected, but he didn't expect it to still be here.

Slowly, Hamasaki reached into his robe, and removed a small hand phaser. Quietly, he whispered, "Enterprise. I'm not alone."

Hamasaki came around the back of a burned-down hut, and stepped inside. The char and the smell of burnt flesh stung his nose, as he looked around.

A growl. A hideous growl.

Without much effort, Hamasaki swung around, firing his hand phaser. The beam hit the creature, humanoid in appearance, and it fell. Quickly, Hamasaki put the hand phaser away, and gripped the unconscious body of the "demon" to drag it out.

Kobayashi heard the growl, as did Takagi. They turned quickly to a burnt down house, and ran towards it, swords drawn. As they rushed the entrance, the entire house seemed to lightning with a redish flash. Kobayashi and Takagi stopped cold, fear overcoming them.

A moment later, Riyoji emerged, unconscious demon in hand. He exposed the demon to sunlight, and it didn't melt away. Strange, Kobayashi thought. Its form was disgusting; man-like, but with some strange pertruding bones in his forehead. Teeth sharp like knives as its grimace spread across its face.

Kobayashi was astonished at Riyoji. He couldn't imagine what it must've been like inside of that debris, fighting this demon from hell, and winning the day. After all the stories of the brave who had come before them, who had stepped up and fought, and lost their lives, fighting these creatures, here's Riyoji who had come down and defeated one. Kobayashi was proud.

Riyoji pointed. "It still lives. Lord Kuroda will be well pleased."

Kobayashi lifted his eyebrows, knowing full well that Riyoji was right. This was his chance to win his lord's favor. He wanted to take it. "You are right, my friend," Kobayashi said with a smile. "We'll take it back with us and present it to Lord Kuroda. He will give us all honor and glory."

"Indeed," Riyoji said. He called for Takagi to help him bind the creature.

Kobayashi smiled inwardly, but kept a straight face outwardly, as, after a long trek back to Lord Kuroda's state room, Riyoji and Takagi hauled in the now half-conscious demonic creature from beyond hell. Kuroda, upon looking at the creature, slowly stood, and stepped off the elevated throne, to come face to face with one of these monsters. The demon snarled, breath reeking of death. It was here that Kuroda knew he was staring into the eyes of a true demon.

The demon lifted his eyes to stare into the cold eyes of Lord Kuroda. The demon's gaze shook Kuroda to his very core. When the demon spoke, it was in the most horrifying of voices that Lord Kuroda had ever heard. The demon's mouth gaped open, then said slowly, "jIH 'oH ghoS Daq muSHa' HoH SoH."

Lord Kuroda didn't know what it said in its hell tongue, but it was enough for him to be struck cold within his heart...