Chapter 27 The Price of Mercy

Ekima stared out the window, leaning on an elbow. The sun was setting but it was nothing but a sliver of pure red light disappearing behind the mountains now.

Actually, Ekima thought, it kind of reminds me of butter on pancakes.

That's the way she thought. Simple and innocent, like a child. Ekima sighed. She was still a child after all. She had grown up but not in experience. Ekima didn't have the real world experience that the others did. She had only known Orochimaru and his experiments. Maybe if she hadn't thought it was wrong, she would be as sadistic as him. Growing up outside must have been a great thing.

Baka, do you think the world is such a grand place?

"Don't be like that, Onee-san." Ekima said. "You've never been put side either."

No, but I'm much more observant than you. Have you seen the people that come in and out of Orochimaru's hideout?

"Yes but everybody can't be like that"

Look at Uchiha Sasuke. He's after revenge on his older brother. Why? Because he massacred the entire Uchiha clan.

"I know but-"

Or Karasu. Remember what happened when Hiko asked about her father?

Ekima did remember. She remembered well. The way the wide and sadistic smile spread across her face. How her shoulders shook as she hunched over to laugh. But that was it. The laughter. That's what stuck to her memory. It was so empty. So fiendish. Like she drew some sick pleasure from the thought of her father's death.

Ekima turned around and leaned against the wall, wrapping her arms around her knees.

See? You do remember. People don't act like that when they've had a dandy life, Ekima. Either that or she's as unstable as Orochimaru-

"Don't compare Karasu-chan to a man as twisted as Orochimaru-sama!!!" Ekima shot back. "She's a good person! And it's not like you can talk about being unstable, Onee-chan!!"

Kira was quiet inside of Ekima's head for a while.

Ekima, you know as well as I do, that I'm all the feelings that you keep bottled up. We're a team. You'd be dead with out me.

"Don't start that again." Ekima mumbled.

I'm not selfish. I care about you and not just because we share a body. As for being unstable…you make me who I am, Ekima. I don't have a heart like you or a mind to change myself. I'm just you're emotional waste, brought together and made into an alternate personality.

"I know, Onee-chan."

All I know is that when I'm brought out, it's to defend you. I can't control my actions anymore than you can control your future.

"I know." Ekima repeated a she buried her face in her arms. "But I believe there's still good in the world and that you-"

The door slid open and Ekima looked up quickly. In the door way stood a boy, a cigarette dangling from his lip.

You!

"Ryujiro!" Ekima gasped.

"Oh I finally found you." Ryujiro said, rubbing the back of his head and smiling.

Ekima stood and pressed herself to the wall. Ryujiro held up a bandaged hand.

"They're not broken anymore but they still hurt like hell!" His smile grew wider. "Besides, wouldn't you like to know how it feels?"

What's he talking about?

You don't remember? He attacked you until then I took over and broke his finger.

But that's so cruel!!

Sorry.

"Hey!" Ryujiro barked and Ekima flinched. "Don't go and space out on me!"

"Eh? Sorry." Ekima mumbled.

What are you apologizing for?

"Anyways, bring out that other personality of yours." Ryujiro said. "She's the one who broke my fingers. I've got no beef with you."

"No! I-I'm gonna fight you!" Ekima said. "I won't have Kira fighting all my battles for me!"

Ekima…

Ryujiro's shoulders began to shake then he threw back his head and began to laugh.

"You couldn't even defend yourself, girl, much less land a blow!" Ryujiro bellowed. "You don't have the talent to be a shinobi!"

Ekima's hands curled into fists.

"That fine, Ekima. Orochimaru said. "Were done for the day."

"Hai, Orochimaru-sama"

"There won't be training tomorrow, or ever again."

"But…but…Orochimaru-sama I can do it! Just give me more time…please."

"No, I know talent when I see it. You, Ekima, do not have the talent to fight or be a shinobi for that matter. We're finished."

"B-but…Orochimaru-sama-"

"I said we're finished, Ekima!!"

"I do have talent." Ekima whispered. "I just need time."

"Eh? What?" Ryujiro asked, leaning forward.

"I do have talent!!!!!" Ekima screamed. "I can fight!!"

She charged. Ryujiro didn't even budge, an amused smile on his face. When she was close enough he reached out and placed a hand on her head, halting her movement. Ekima struggled but couldn't move forward.

"Don't even bother, girl." Ryujiro sighed.

Ekima grabbed the his arm but she couldn't pull him away. Ryujiro laughed again but realized to late what she was actually doing. Like before, vines snaked out of Ekima's sleeve and dug themselves into Ryujiro's skin. He cried out and let go of Ekima, who pulled back. Ryujiro reached over to tear the vines out of his arm but more came ripping from the floor and restrained him arms. He struggled to free himself but the vines keep him secure.

"God dammit!" He cursed.

Another vine slid out from Ekima's sleeve, but this one was straight like a blade. She charged and plunged it into Ryujiro's stomach. He gasped and couched up blood. Then as the vines released him, his body crumpled to the ground. Ekima backed away. Shaking she stared down at her bloody hands.

Ekima…you…

"I killed someone…" She whispered.

Breathing suddenly became difficult.

"Oh my god, I've killed someone!" She cried as tears began to stream down her face. "Oh my god!"

*~~*

Yoshimitsu continued running, following the sound of Ryujiro's footsteps. He heard the sound of another pair of footsteps and he halted, flattening himself against the wall. Looks like his luck had finally run out. Someone, most likely a guard, was coming this way. He could use his byakugan but he wanted to preserve as much chakra as possible.

The footsteps drew closer. They were coming from one of the hallways that branched off from the one he had been running down. He carefully shifted himself toward the hallway entrance, preparing to attack the moment he saw the person's face. The footsteps came to a stop at the entrance but no far enough for Yoshimitsu to attack. Neither moved.

"Yoshimitsu-san?" A familiar voice said.

Yoshimitsu couldn't suppress a gasp.

"You can…come out, I won't attack."

Yoshimitsu walked out until he was facing Hayashi.

"I wasn't expecting to see you again." He said darkly.

"Why?"

Yoshimitsu said nothing.

"Why did you let me live, even though I asked for death." Hayashi asked.

"I don't think your job is worth dying for."

"Are you taking pity on me!?" Hayashi said angrily.

"I don't believe in pity."

"Then why?!"

"Because I was once like you." Yoshimitsu said. "I was once willing to die for pathetic mercenary jobs because my life was not important to me."

"That's not how-"

"No person of honor would allow themselves to die over such a thing."

Hayashi was silent. Then he side and pulled the blind fold from his face. His dark brown bangs fell across his face and he stared at Yoshimitsu with two milky blue eyes that were as lifeless as a dead fish's.

"You are the strongest opponent I have ever faced." He said. "If I can't beat you then it means I have reached my level and If I die…I'll have no regrets"

Yoshimitsu shifted into a offensive position.

"Please, don't hold back."

"I don't plan to."

Then, for the first time in what seemed like forever, Hayashi smiled.

Yoshimitsu charged.

Author notes: Uh…what should I say? Ekima's finally killed someone and Hayashi is still alive not to mention that we got a sneak peek at Yoshimitsu's past. Oh, and about Ekima's ability; I noticed there weren't any plant Justus's beside Wood Element (which I can't use because it's a unique ability) so I decided to give Ekima the ability to create vine and thorn like plants (nothing that involves wood obviously) by combing earth and water elements.