A/N: Yes, another chapter. This one is serious folks. Yup, I had been thinking about this one for a while. I almost never write this serious or this deeply...So, my apologies if it comes off as weird. My mind is weird if you haven't already noticed. However, I quite enjoyed writing this one. I actually put real thought into it...Funny what happens when you actually access your brain's abilities...Anyhoo, please enjoy!

I don't own S7

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1000 days that pass…

The first rays of the morning sun filtered through the screen door leading to the outside garden. The occupant of the room stirred in his sleep until he was awake. Stretching out his limbs, he stood up languidly and listened. The only noise was the first chirps of the birds starting the day and the menial workers getting ready.

Quickly folding up his bedding, he quickly got dressed and ran his hand through is short blonde hair. Walking over to a corner, he grabbed his neatly folded jacket and slipped it onto his slim frame. Then, he attached the sheathe containing his twin katana on the belt that hung loosely on his hips. Satisfied, he slid open the door to the garden and stepped out.

Taking a deep breath, he softly made his way to his master's location.

1000 faces to see…

"Kyuzo-dono."

Another man caught up to him and began walking beside him. Kyuzo nodded his head once to acknowledge the other's presence.

"Hyogo-dono."

The words were soft and deep. Nothing else was ever spoken between the two as they walked together in silence.

As they kept walking, more faces began to appear and soon a small group of assassins paraded their way to their master.

Sitting casually at a large table was the lord and master of Kougakyou, Ayamaro. Kyuzo lightly bowed his head as he stopped and knelt to the side of his master. On the magistrate's other side was his son lounging on his side while courtesans draped themselves all over him.

"Well, if it isn't the great samurai. What's the matter? Are you upset at being reduced to a lapdog, great samurai?"

"Ukyo, you should not say such things. These men are the very ones who protect you."

"Whatever. Really though, the only one who actually is around would be Tessai."

At the mentioning of his name, the somewhat short and squat man bowed his head while lightly gnawing at the end of his pipe.

"I don't see the need for such frivolous things now, father."

1000 actions that could be…

Kyuzo remained neutral in his expression as always. However, as he listened to the conversation between father and son, he shut his eyes and concentrated on taking deep breaths.

He was samurai. Samurai fought and died. The dead no longer were, and the living now scratch out their lives doing whatever they can. No longer is honor upheld, no longer is there battle. For now, the age of warring, the age of samurai, was over. The new age was upon the world. This new age, dealing with deceit and power where bushido is scorned. It was now an age of merchants.

"I will be quite busy today with affairs. An imperial envoy is to be expected later today. I will only need Hyogo. Tessai, would you accompany Ukyo? I was told he had plans to go out today."

"Of course, my lord."

He bowed his head while Ukyo scoffed.

"Why do you keep so many around, father? They," He jerked his head in Kyuzo's direction, "Are worthless. What do they even do?"

The silent samurai clenched his jaw together and subtly clenched the material of his jacket in his fists. There was once a time when even their masters respected the skills and honor of the samurai that served them. Now, the spoiled quickly forget that their guards they keep around have the ability to kill them in a blink of an eye. The samurai have the ability but do not act on it. That is why they are samurai and are so great among men.

1000 words unspoken…

"It's a good thing you remain so tight lip, Kyuzo-dono. What's the young master got against you anyways?"

The guards and assassins not required at the moment were casually lounging in a large room. Kyuzo sat quietly in the corner with his sword leaning against his shoulder.

They would jest at his silence, but to speak would be pointless. If they were even once samurai, they had long forgotten the ways of a samurai. There were even some Nobuseri who remembered the ways of old.

Kyuzo knew he was different. He was still samurai. That was why Ukyo singled him out. For the seemingly dense, superfluous outside, the young lord was quite perceptive. However, to speak would serve him no purpose. Any words of insight would be lost upon those ears deaf to the code of bushido. Now, they only heard the money of the merchants and abandoned their identity.

1000 paper cranes…

With precise and methodic motions, Kyuzo deftly manipulated the small, colorful piece of paper. A fold here and a fold there, and soon, it became a beautiful orange crane.

"You know, if you make 1000 paper cranes, they say your wish will be granted."

Kyuzo ignored the comments of those fools passing by. Instead, he examined the object in his hand.

The crane was perfectly shaped. There was not an extra crease or wrinkle anywhere. It was perfect.

He held it up in the palm of his hand and let the sunlight filter around and through it. This was one of his best. Satisfied with his work, the silent samurai stood up and walked to the small space he called his room.

It was in the corner away from anything so it was dark. Barely any light made its way through the screen door. It was just how he liked it. Kneeling down, he opened a box hidden in the darkest corner. With great care, he set the crane down. It sat perfectly on top of its brethren. Cranes of all colors flooded out of the box and spilled onto the floor. Still, his perfect one remained sitting at the top.

"1000."

A single wish fulfilled…

Kyuzo gently touched the fresh cut along his neck. As he reminisced about his fight, the others' comments faded away.

That one they called Shimada Kambei was the one he had sought out since the wars ended. He was samurai. He was one worthy of Kyuzo's skill and worthy to be slain by his sword. Samurai lived to fight, lived to die.

Here now was his wish. The plight of a village meant nothing to him, as the jaded samurai was his only concern. The days passed quickly and Kyuzo's mind never drifted away from his glorious battle. Even with the death of the imperial envoy, he still remained fixated on Kambei.

He was what Kyuzo desired, that skill that enraptured him. To kill or be killed by what could be considered one of the few remaining samurai was far too appealing. This is what he wanted. There was no hatred, no malice that he felt, but rather, pure energy coursing through his body.

"Kyuzo-dono. We are heading out to the cave exit of the Shikimoribito. The rogue samurai the peasants hired are going to be there."

Never had he been so thrilled at the news that his companion delivered to him. Now, he no longer needed to wait. It was now that his fate would change and lead him forward on the great path of the samurai once again, one that he so desired.

As he prepared to leave his room and accompany Hyogo, Kyuzo paused when his sharp eye caught a flash of color in the corner. He could not help the small smirk that crept along his face.

Sitting with all its perfection was a single orange crane.

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A/N: How was it? The whole paper crane part stepped into the symbolism department. So no, I did not randomly pick out orange and what not. There is meaning behind it. It is generally associated with desire, people who desire all things that offer intense living and getting the full experience. Orange generates an impulse towards active doing such as competition and struggle. And there you have it, a tidbit of info from a rice ball...Don't you feel special now? I certainly do. I managed to make it serious. Well, I certainly hope you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading!!