Illusion and Reality

{Not far away from a village nearby}

A young man of demonic origin paced up and down impatient. Why did it take his servants so long to gather the energy of the humans, created by their fear and despair? Sometimes his aides were incapable of everything. He huffed. If they weren't back in less than an hour he would exterminate one of them to make his point. He hated insufficiency... Then, he stopped dead. Someone was here, with him in this very room. He turned around, searching for the intruder.

"So you are Yume, the Master of Illusions?" An unfamiliar voice asked from a spot in the darkness behind him. A darkness he created himself. So no one was able to hide himself in it. Now he knew where his opponent was.

"Fool, you dare to trespass my castle?" He asked silently with an impending tone. He let the darkness and mist disappear with a dapper wave of his hand. Now he could see the man who had hidden himself. His red eyes were glowing evilly and he had an even more evil smile on his face which was itself framed by long, black hair. "Tell me why you are here before I punish you for coming."

"I heard about your yearning for revenge." He answered, ignoring the demon's threat. Yume's eyes narrowed, observing the other demon. For now he decided not to kill this man. But what was his talking about revenge about?

"That already has happened. The man responsible and his whole village has been exterminated by my aides and myself." He responded pleased, remembering that fine, delighting massacre. He could still feel his pleasure when he thought about the screaming and the murderers' face realizing his destiny was death.

"Are you sure about that? What is about the descendents?" His opponent asked, grinning. Yume froze. That couldn't possibly be. The black-haired himself forged a violet mist, showing a scene in a forest. Especially, the scene focused on a handsome redhead and an also pretty black-haired who were enjoying themselves with their friends.

"So those two are his children?" Yume asked unbelieving, watching their happiness and harmony. He waved his hand. "It doesn't matter whether they are or not. They shall feel my wrath!"

[Akira]

"Food's ready." The boyish girl stated, stroking a flick of hair off her face, while she thought about earlier. Akira didn't even know why she started the fight a while ago. In fact, she liked to cook. Maybe it had been Bankotsu's commanding tone that had bothered her. It was something about him that got under her skin. In a bad way. But maybe it had something to do with herself, too. The young woman was still on the edge because of the sudden development, so she gave a testy reply. The copper-haired could still feel her blood boil. Hopefully, it would be over soon. Right now the man she argued with sat next to her childhood friend, pouting. At least, for her it seemed like he did. The copper-haired filled a bowl with stew and handed it to Jakotsu who passed it along to the leader. Then, he took another bowl for himself, waiting for the others to gain their food, so they could start eating together. She shook her head about the sweet gesture. Akira hadn't expected that Jakotsu was still partly the boy she used to know. She hadn't expected to meet him again one day. After all, Japan was a very big county. She handed two bowls towards another man in his twenties whose head was covered by a light blue cloth. Furthermore, he had purple tattoos on his face, two stripes from his jaw over his eyes. For that, she earned a gruntle from the big red-head who looked like he was partly mechanical. He looked a bit weird, just like the others.

"What... did he say?" She wondered loudly, looking confused at the younger of the two men. He grinned slightly while the big one raised his basin to his nose. It looked kind of funny because of their size difference. One serving surely wouldn't be enough for him.

"Ginkotsu said 'Thank you'." The young man next to him explained, eyeing her. 'He doesn't trust me, does he? I just feel it in my guts. I have to be as careful around this guy as I should be around their leader...' Akira thought while smiling back. "I'm Renkotsu by the way."
"My pleasure, you two." The young woman answered nice, managing to smile honestly at the two. At least, now she knew the names of two more of the team. Akira really hated not to know who she was dealing with.

"Does the rest of us get our food soon, too, or what?" A voice said impatient and she focused her attention towards its source. It was an elder man – at least older than her mentor – who was clothed completely in white. Furthermore, his eyes were framed red and two stripes were going opposite from each other to his wide mouth. More tattoos? 'Strange man...' She handed him a basin filled with mulligan, then another one to a big muscle man with green hair and two blue stripes under his bloodshot eyes. After that, the young woman fetched her own and sat down next to Jakotsu where she felt most comfortable amongst all the strange mercenaries.

"I bet it's poisoned.", Bankotsu mumbled quietly but somehow almost everyone heard it. Akira looked at the young leader next to Jakotsu again. He was REALLY pouting, being mad at her. 'What a baby. As if I was the first who slapped him...', the young woman thought, partly regretting her action. So instead of saying something snappy – what would have been "Only yours." – the copper-haired tried to be nicer this time.

"Why would it be?" She asked, smiling friendly. But he seemed to mistake it for acting innocent, staring at her. It didn't bother her. So Akira started to eat her meal, hoping it wasn't too bad-tasting. Jakotsu bended over to her, telling her silently the names of those she didn't know yet. So the big green-haired was called Kyōkotsu, the oldest member was Mukotsu and the one with the claws Suikotsu. That was good to know. Just as the copper-haired was about to answer her friend, she was interrupted.

"Well, I don't mind if it is. Then, I could eat all I want." Mukotsu stated, widely grinning. Obviously he liked her food. Or maybe he was just joking... "Cripes, if you weren't a guy I'd make you my wife! The others here can't cook that good."

The other mercenaries laughed at his statement, only she went beet-red and looked precarious, moving uncomfortable. It had been a good decision to maintain the misunderstanding after all. The young woman sighed quietly. It'd be hard to maintain the cover. Jakotsu seemed to notice her conflict and he patted her slight on her back to calm her down, showing he wouldn't leave her alone. 'At least, it's what I think he's trying.' Then, the cross-dresser started eating again. Akira felt a bit better now while she looked around again, still having a light flush on her cheeks. The others had started talking again, they were joking around, enjoying themselves. Everyone was feeling comfortable right now, even Bankotsu seemed to have forgotten about their fight and laughed with his friends. 'They really do look like a team, everyone seems to care about the other. Just I don't fit in. But it'll be only for a few weeks... I'll get used to them somehow...'

{A few hours later}

[Jakotsu]

It had been a while since the group started traveling again. As far as he knew they where going to Kyoto now. This town was at least a few weeks away. Bored Jakotsu let his eyes run over his environment. They were still passing this damned never-ending forest. It felt like they were running in circles what was very unlikely. The group didn't stray from the track, they were following the clearly visible path through the forest. Anyway, the forest was changing and he didn't recognize any place they were passing. However, the other thing that bothered him was that Akira hadn't spoken to him much. 'She didn't even told me what happened with that old man!' The cross-dresser poked, looking at her without ostentation. The copper-haired didn't notice. Obviously, she still railed against her fate which she had partly accepted though. 'And the most annoying thing is that we won't fight for a very long time. I already miss killing...' Jakotsu sighed, looking at the cause of that prohibition again. What he wanted to do that is. Akira should walk next to Suikotsu. Irritated he turned his head around more but not only Akira was gone but the rest of his companions, too. Startled the cross-dresser looked at the leader.

"Aniki, they're gone!" He said alarmed, causing Bankotsu to turn around, too. The young man saw the plait-boy frown.

"That can't be." His younger friend said in disbelief, staring around observant. Then suddenly something ominous made his flesh crawl. That didn't happen frequently. He stared at his right arm puzzled. 'I have a bad feeling about this.' Jakotsu thought, being reminded of something. He just couldn't catch a hold of that feeling felt long ago. "They were right behind us. Where could they...?"

"Akira! Aniki!" The cross-dresser yelled worried. He didn't want his friends to be on their own when... Bankotsu gave him a warning glance. 'Of course... this is the aura of a demon!'

"That won't help us finding them! If they are really gone because of an demon, then..." His friend said reprehensive, still gazing in the suddenly dark, misty forest. Now it appeared sinister.

"You're right. It won't." A dark voice stated, laughing evilly. A wind got up, causing a smokescreen around them. It got up and down again. 'It feels somehow... acquainted...' The cross-dresser thought while Bankotsu held Banryu in front of him, pointing at something darker in the mist. Was that the place the demon was hiding himself? Jakotsu froze.

"So there is a demon! Show yourself and tell us where our comrades are!"

"Hehe. You are kinda bossy, don't you think?" The man – the source of that voice – sounded arrogant, smirking bright and evil, revealing his short fangs in his mouth. Now he stood only a few steps away from the two companions. Bankotsu seemed to be thrilled to fight with that demon. After all, he grinned almost as arrogant as that demon. The yokai himself had short lilac hair and had violet eyes in his handsome face. His ears were pointy like all demons' ears. 'Such a cutie...' Jakotsu thought, now with big eyes again. 'Too bad I can't have as much fun with him as I want to... But somehow...' He lifted his head slightly, trying to remember. "I'll be kind even if you're not even worth it. Your companions are spread over the forest, facing their baddest, most sore nightmares. But you aren't the one I want, you're just a waste of time, blighter. You there, I know you. You're a descendent of that damned samurai, aren't you?" The demon's eyes narrowed.

"Descendent?" Jakotsu just asked, blinking. At the same time his friend said surprised: "Samurai?", looking curiously at him. 'Oh yeah, I never told him about my childhood...' Then both of their gazes went back to the appearance in front of them.

"Don't try to deny who your father was. Heh, I expected you to be different..." The yokai let out an evil laugh again, giving the cross-dresser a contemptuous look which he ignored easily. After all, he was used to this. "Well, you should remember my revenge for what your father did."

"I don't. But I have to admit you're pretty cute for a fog." The cross-dresser smiled as cute as ever, drawing the sword on his back while not even looking for his close friend. "You know what? I'd love to hear your screams."

"W-what?" The demon flinched at Jakotsu's comment, not knowing how to react for a moment. Jakotsu's smile turned into a grin, watching Bankotsu out of the corner of his eye. He nodded at him, ready to fight. After the yokai regained his composure he seemed to be even more mad than before. The lilac-haired waved his hand at once. "I'll help you remember!"

Fog fumed out of the ground, making it almost impossible to see. While his friend released one of Banryu's techniques Jakotsu swung his sword, releasing more linked blades which moved zig-zagged in the direction of the strange demon, surrounding him. With a slight move of his hand the chain of blades tightened around the demon when something changed. Distracted he looked sideways, he was now surrounded by fire and screams but Jakotsutō, Bankotsu and the weird demon were gone. 'Where am I?' He looked around again but the only thing he saw was a well-known burning village. Near him he heard a caw from a young boy with shoulder-length black hair who was obviously looking for somebody even if he was very afraid and coughed because of the smoke. The young boy trudged through the heat, always yelling something Jakotsu didn't understand. 'Could it really be...?' He followed the boy though the heat was burning on his whole body, making him sweat. The cross-dresser didn't know what else to do anyway. All over the place partly or fully burned and mutilated bodies were lying around. He balked. Some of the bodies looked like... 'They look like my friends! That can't be. It's just a nightmare. It can't be real!' The cross-dresser calmed himself down, trying to push his sadness away by watching the boy again. The black-haired boy stumbled but chased on. Then, he suddenly stopped, stumbling towards a burning hut which was already starting to deflate. There, underneath a broken timber and grey ashes, lay a small lifeless figure. The boy screamed out of fear and joy, trying to free the body from the timber. Dangerous, hot fire shone on his constant efforts. 'Of course!' Jakotsu's eyes widened, then made a bolt for the beam. He remembered.

[Renkotsu]

He turned around, looking at the man in front of him in disbelief. The man's face was merely a few centimetres away from his own. The bald man gasped, trying to breathe. 'No...' The sword of the other man had pierced his chest, making it impossible to breathe right now. He looked at the ugly man in panic now, trying to get away. He couldn't. But Renkotsu could already feel coldness crawling through his veins, his vision blurred, eerie mist surrounding him. 'No!' The man grinned evilly, swiveling the sword in his wound, looking satisfied. 'I don't want to...' He thought when darkness took over.

[Bankotsu]

The fog disappeared. The young leader looked around attentive. Something wasn't right, he could feel it in his bones. But he wasn't alone anymore. All his comrades surrounded him, laughing. They were on their way. It felt like something was missing but he couldn't remember. Far away dust blew up. That wasn't a good sign. Bankotsu stopped. Soldiers appeared on the horizon. He looked on either sides but there was the same scene. 'They came to subject and execute us.' He realized, turning quickly around to his comrades while looking at them. They seemed belligerent but he bet there were at least 500 to 1000 soldiers to fight the Band of Seven. That were too many and the Seven would fall against them.

"Run!" Bankotsu ordered hastily, starting to run to where they came from. Out of the blue a feeling of despair and fear crawled up inside the young mercenary. "Kill everyone who is on your way outta here!"

[Suikotsu]

The evil side of Suikotsu tried to overwhelm the good doctor but somehow he couldn't. It felt like he was bound in chains, couldn't do anything else than watching the doctor taking care of those who were near death... and children... 'Grrr...' He thought, rebelling in his chains. 'You can't free yourself anymore, can you?', a soft voice asked, making the evil side mad. 'I don't need your pity!' He snarled at his good side, giving him a grim look. 'I have no intention to feel pity for you. The only thing I feel is relief because you'll never hurt people again.' Then, suddenly, the voice disappeared again. The bad side narrowed his eyes, anxiety rising in him. 'Forever trapped within this kind-hearted good-for-nothing?! Not going to happen!'

[Akira]

The young woman watched Suikotsu collapse. After the group suddenly got separated Suikotsu was the only one left with her. 'What happened?!' Akira wondered warily while she hastened to the mercenary who lied there prone. She kneeled down beside him, turning the man on his back. 'What should I do?' The female warrior decided to try to use her spiritual powers. She placed her hand on his chest and focused totally on him, frowning. The young woman could feel his soul and his body. Physically Suikotsu was alright but his soul... Alongside some evil thoughts he could feel fear and despair. 'I wouldn't expect this feelings inside him.' She thought, pulling her hand back. After that, Akira looked up. 'What is going on here?' The fog around was weird. What in hell was that? It felt like it was pulsing of evil, creating something. And it certainly wasn't healthy. But her companion would be alright but she had to do something against this bloody fog. Akira reached for her bow and arrows, raised her bow and focused on the centre of the circulating mist.

"Be gone, you wretched illusion!"

* Yume: jap.; Traum, Wunschtraum, Vision, Einbildung