Firestorm – Flame of Recca After War

Kurei raised a bloody head with his left arm, his right clutching a sword soaked with blood. It was clear that the man has been beheaded brutally. With signs of zig zagged cuts caused by a sharp blade, the eyes of the victim almost popped with blood. The face manifested infernal agony, like a dying man set on fire. The tongue was half intact. The other half was dark with burns. The hair was still tied with an old fashioned retainer. The ears are halved and the mouth separating the upper half of the teeth from the lower half was bleeding from an open wound. Oda Nobunaga wasbrutally murdered by the flame master. The leader of Ancient Hokage clan, Kurei finally returned after fifteen years in search for revenge. Single handedly, he razed the Temple of Honnou, the stronghold of Nobunaga.

Kaoru was patiently waiting several kilometers away from the burning temple. He preferred wearing old fashioned Japanese attire with wooden slippers. In a short while, he noticed a faint image approaching him from afar. In black costume, no doubt it would be Kurei. The last thing Kaoru saw was a Kurei excreting hateful aura. His face was like an African cobra, biting without warning. One shot of venom that could forever paralyzes the victim and drive him dead in a day. Now, it seems that Kurei was finally relieved. But it was not exactly as Kaoru thought.

Am I only capable of killing? Is this my purpose in life?

Much like a midlife crisis, Kurei suffers life wounding questions that he never had a chance to find the answer.

"You're done?"

Kurei nodded.

War of the Ancient World

Episode 1 – New Born Flower

"So where are we headed?"

Kurei paused for awhile. He took a deep breath, and replied, "Do you know of the history of our clan?"

Kaoru nodded. Of course I knew. Kurei used to tell him stories about it when he spent quiet time back in Kurei's manor. The series of events in the Urabutou Satsujin has enlightened him of the Hokage history. Morever, Kokuu's occasional appearances is packed with knowledge worth remembering. In fact, each time Kokuu appears reveal another piece of puzzle in his understanding of the Hokage clan.

"When our clan was overran fifteen years ago by Nobunaga's army," Kurei started. "There were some Hokage ninjas, with the sight of fear and cowardice fled to another village. As of this time, I have no idea where they are hiding. But what I am sure is that they are still alive."

Kurei stopped. Reaching through his pocket, he produced a mask. It was a familiar mask to Kaoru. The Ura Hokage. "Today, with the madougus destroyed, the only way I can possibly find the remaining Hokage ninjas is through this mask. I wore it when I entered the sealed cave as a sign of respect to my people who sealed the most powerful madougu of all. Their noble act forever rests in my blood."

Kurei paused, closed his eyes and wore the mask. "What we will be doing now is to find the remaining Hokage. There, we will find food that will last us for as long as we live. Morever, we will probably find a new family."

Family. It was unexpected of Kurei to say that word, Kaoru thought. It was the first time in his life that he had heard Kurei speak that word. However, to find a family where you don't know where to start is like finding a needle in a pile of hay. Kurei seems to be crazy for thinking that it would be easy to find the remaining Hokage. With no cars or copters, they have to walk bare footed in the vicinity of ancient Japan. They can wander for years and still not find what they are looking for.

"You are thinking that it is impossible, don't you?"

What a surprise, Kaoru thought. He read my mind. Kaoru nodded in agreement.

"Unless we try, we will never know."

Present Day

Fifteen minutes past four in the morning. "Hell I can finally sleep after weeks of restless nights." Fuuko silently whispered. She just got home after a firework display. Apparently, it was Recca's. "I wonder how Raiha is doing?"

She remembered sending Raiha to a nearby hospital. His breathing was quite abnormal after Raijin sucked his life energy in the previous battle. "Well… that's a worry that I must save for tomorrow." Fuuko thought. "Right now, It's time to get some good sleep!"

Before Fuuko could fall asleep, her cellphone rang. She looked at the raccoon clock hanging above the wall. Four thirty. "For God's sake who would have called this late."

Fuuko picked up the phone and heard a familiar voice. It was Kuukai, inviting her for the fourth Urabutou Satsujin. Fuuko snapped, "Asshole! I'm trying to get some sleep here! Don't you know what time it is? I have class at eight tomorrow morning. So if you don't mind, I need some rest."

Fuuko hanged up, cold as ever. I had enough battle for my lifetime. It's time I get a new life.

On the other end of the line, Kuukai looked at the clock. "Jeez, I never realized that it is thirty minutes pass four. I've been so busy inviting people to join the tournament." He looked down his table. There was a paper showing a series of tournament setup with players and rules. "Well, I still have Mikagami anyways. I'll phone him tomorrow morning."

Kaoru stood up. Kurei is right. There is nothing left to do over a sight of a burning temple. If they wish to find something, they must start now.

The journey has begun… the search for the remaining Hokage. Kurei's first step towards the west marked the beginning of a long journey. Kaoru followed beside him.

Aniki… anata wa mou hitorijyanai.

I will forever be by your side. You will never be alone again

Notes:

Anata wa mou hitorijyanai is a japanese phrase meaning you are no longer alone.

The Ura Hokage Mask was the one Kurei used when he entered the sealed cave. The mask with the Hokage logo un the right hand side of his face.