Firestorm – Flame of Recca After War

War of the Ancient World

Kaoru, Raiha

I am writing this down so that when all the things I've said here come to pass, you will know the truth.

When the Nobunaga invaded the Hokage Village, a remnant escaped into another village called Hanabi. Raiha is among the remnant that escaped. It has been prophesied that one full moon after the destruction of the Hokage Village, Hanabi too will be destroyed.

My husband and I are also among those who escaped from the Hokage village but chose to settle in a place away from Hanabi. Our hopes of not being discovered by living far away from that place were in vain. We too have been discovered. In fact, earlier than Hanabi's imminent destruction.

In a few hours, I will drive both of you away from the house to save your lives. Our positions have been discovered and Kaima is coming with the Tendou Jigoku.

I am fully aware that you are from another time. When you and your friend arrived in our time, my husband and I were following the both of you in secret, hoping that the god of the heavens would answer our prayer for salvation.

When you open this letter, I may no longer have any breath left. But I have one request. Destroy Tendou Jigoku. Nobunaga was simply a pawn. The destruction of the Hokage village is Kaima's plan all along. Put an end to his madness.

North of this house is a cave. Inside the cave lies the Koukai Gyoku. It has the power to erase anything it come in touch, even Tendou Jigoku. You have to retrieve it. It is the only way to defeat Kaima. Be careful. The cave is guarded. Do everything in your power to retrieve our last hope.

I trust in you. Kaoru, Raiha.

I love you.

Miyu

Episode 10 – The Two Guardians

"Raiha," Kaoru spoke up after finishing the letter. "We need to get going. We may just have a way to stand up against the enemy." Raiha picked up the last of his things and began running in the same direction as Kaoru.

It took them about half an hour to find the cave. Surveying the mouth of the cave, there doesn't seem to be any sort of danger. "Raiha, get in here." Kaoru commanded, waving his hand to the little guy. Raiha yielded and went straight to Kaoru. Kaoru extended his arms for both his hands to lay on Raiha's shoulders. Looking straight, he said "Stay here. We don't know what's inside. It's better if you stay in this place where the enemy will not be able to find you and far enough for the guardians to suspect your presence. Even if they did, they would have to go through me first."

"But…"

"No buts Raiha." Kaoru demanded, cutting of Raiha. "I do not want to put you in any kind of danger. Please. Listen to me." Raiha objected, now his voice is louder. "But what if you cannot take them alone?"

Kaoru let loose a sigh. He knew what it's like to worry. But one diving into the unknown is far better than two. At least, if the first would live to tell the tale, the second would benefit. If the first didn't live to tell the tale, the second would have his share of warning. It was a natural response for someone who bears the responsibility of protecting another. It is after all, a human instinct.

"I won't die. I promise." Kaoru smiled, attempting to assure the last guy by his side. "If you come with me, it'll be more difficult for me to fight because I have to look after you."

Raiha knew Kaoru was right. He is not fully weaned in training. In fact, at his age, he apparently didn't had a lot of opportunity to train. "Alright." Raiha conceded. "Just don't die."

Kaoru smiled back at the little guy. In a rare occasion, Kaoru crossed his hands from Raiha's shoulder to the opposite arm, embracing him. "Stay strong, Raiha." With that, Kaoru ran off to the depths of the cave. Kougan anki at hand, he prepared himself for a showdown with what comes ahead.

As Kaoru descended further into the cave, he noticed the walls were covered in paper with calligraphy written all over. "Are they seals?" Kaoru moved in amazement of how the Hokage ninjas would design a location to protect a dangerous madougu. He was completely aware of the power of the weapon. When Rasen fought Recca way back, he remembered how Saiha touched the edge of the Koukai Gyoku. Almost like magic, the blade vanished.

A little while later, he ran into a metal gate with the symbol of Yin and Yang engraved. At the center of the door, there were words written that are lighted by a few Tomoshibis. "Death awaits those who seek to enter."

Death huh? If I turn back, I'll surely die when Tendou Jigoku finds me. I'd rather take my chances than to prolong my life a little bit and die nevertheless. Kaoru slashed the lock open and pushed the gate. As he entered, a voice from the darkness broke the silence.

"Fool! You who refuse to heed the warning shall die by our hands!"

Kaoru quickly prepared himself for the battle. From the darkness, two figures appeared before him. At the left was a man in white outfit. His forehead has a headband attached. His eyes were white, without the eyeballs. His clothes was like a big sheet of paper arranged like the clothes of a ninja. His arms and legs were covered in bandages made of paper. At the right was a woman in black outfit. Her hair covers most of her face. She wears a black mask covering her nose down to the chin. Her outfit was also fashioned in regular ninja costume but is wrapped with hair. Her gloves and boots are also worn with hairy exteriors. From both of their right arms are madougus which isn't new to Kaoru. He was well acquainted with those who possessed them in his time - Saicho and Menou.

"So you're both using Shikigami as your madougu."

The man quickly corrected "as our madougu?" Before the man could speak another words, the woman injected. "We are the madougus."

Kaoru couldn't believe what he just heard. Certainly, he had seen the madougu crystals. But to fight madougus in their human form is something new.

"You may have seen people using us for battle. But we assure you that what they may have performed in your sight is inferior to what we can do." Warned the twins.

Kaoru did not speak another word. He crouches abit, sizing up his enemies. There's no turning back. It's Koukai Gyoku, or death.

End of Episode 10.

Author's note: Hanabi means fireworks (flowers of fire) in Japanese. Get it? Hanabi-shi? Recca Hanabishi? J