Chapter 4- Small Comforts

"Okay, let's get started." said Shura. She already had out her twin katana. Opposing her was Matsu, the gang lord and his posse. She was completely surrounded by at least a dozen blades.

Perfect

It seemed word had already reached them off her prowess. They wouldn't hold back.

Matsu charged forward, swinging a morningstar. Shura moved to the side. The morningstar slammed into the floorboards, tearing through them like wet cloth. Shura noticed the four thugs swarming her now. She saw the first blade come for a piercing blow. She launched a kick at him sending him crashing into his buddies. Perhaps this would be another disappointing fight.

"Bitch," shouted Matsu, "I'll kill you."

I love it when they talk dirty.

He flung his club down on her. Shura crossed her blades. To the gang leader's surprise, she didn't seem to have any difficulty holding back the heavy weapon even with the amount of force he put behind the blow. Shura shoved his morningstar back with her blades and spun around, slitting the throat of an unready thug. The others formed battle positions.

"Just come at me." she said, "I'm ready for anything."

Sparks flew as her blade danced back and forth between their attacks. With each swing, she blocked or on whim—parried. When she was done with them, she exploited their openings and dug a hole through their vitals.

Blood began to soak into the bamboo flooring. The gang members were fighting with everything they had. They grabbed any objects, barrels or bottles of sake. Others resorted to fists. Shura slashed through a barrel and then lunged forward cutting an unfortunate man in two. The air behind her changed. Shura rolled to the side evading Matsu's strike. He twisted it to the side sending wreckage flying. Shura found her sight obscured by the pieces of bamboo blocking her way. The ground exploded.

Matsu paused to look at the results of his attack. He gasped. Shura was standing on the top of his morningstar. She slashed his rib cage with a lightning fast strike. He dropped the blade and clutched at his wound.

"Is that it then? That's all you can muster?"

Matsu scowled, clearly sick of her mocking. He grabbed out a dagger from his belt and placed it horizontally in front of his head.

He asked, "You kidding? I think I'm starting to have fun. I wasn't expecting such a scary woman."

"You like this?" she asked back, "Well, well… That's a good look there."

"Let's end this. I'll come at you with all I got!" he shouted.

She gave a toothy grin as she aimed a katana at his throat. Her feet were ready to spring forward at the given moment.

A piercing scream filled the room. The eyes of her spaulder had begun to glow blue. The eerie light soon began to leak out. It started to circle her foe. Without warning, the light transformed into dozens of bony hands with talons for fingertips. They twisted around the gang lord and tore him to pieces in an instant.

Shura looked down in shock. The shock swiftly changed to anger.

"What the hell's wrong with you?"

"I've gotten restless." the wicked spirit answered, "It's been so long since I've killed."

"Don't interfere. You're not required."

"Since when… have I taken orders from you?" he asked.

"Since when have I had reason to fear you? You were the strongest demon I've ever fought true, I'll never forget the pleasure of our battle. But you lost. You are below me."

"For now. But who are you to threaten me anymore? I am immortal. I could swallow you now, but I'd rather wait for the right container to show up."

"Your taunts grow old. I'm tired of empty threats." she said.

"Don't be mad. He was weak anyway."

"He had heart. Killing him might have been fun."

"At least, you can't say I don't carry my weight."

Shura scowled at him. What a troublesome spirit she'd been chained with.

The blind warrior sat comfortably underneath a tree. He listened keenly to the different birds playing overhead. He could recognize the species apart by their distinctive songs. Many of these birds he recalled seeing in a past vivid with color.

A cold object bounced off of his stomach, knocking him out of his daydreaming.

"Oomph" he let out. He felt the culprit of his discomfort. It was a cold bottle of sake.

He smiled. "I wondered if we'd meet again."

Shura looked down at him with unreadable eyes.

"Thanks? What do I owe it to this time?"

"Nothing. This town has nothing to offer me. It's time I'd be leaving."

"So it's a going away present then?"

"Who knows?"

"That's not a reason."

"What does it matter? Just accept this stranger's donation hermit."

"It's still a little…"

"Do you want it or not?"

"I'd accept it but the mystery would linger for far longer. You'd be doing me more harm than good."

"Damn it. You need a reason? I just felt like it. You were the only useful person in this lazy backwater town. So here's your reward. Okay?"

"Okay then."

Shura let out a sigh. The man seemed to ignore it as he indulged himself in his newly acquired bottle of sake. He took a swig and then bottled it up.

"Well then miss… may this one know your name before you leave on your journey?"

She looked down at the ragged swordsman. She reasoned with herself whether she should bother pouring any more attention on this man.

"Shura…"

"Fitting but… I meant your birth name."

"I can't remember. Shura… that is what they call me now."

"I see. Well then Shura-san, it was a pleasure to meet you."

"Humph. No need to lie. It must be unpleasant speaking with a murderer."

"Believe me, I've met more uncivilized."

"And what's your name then?" she asked.

"Haru"

"Farewell Haru."

Shura spun around, her long black tail of hair floating behind her. She went on her way down the stone road leading to the next town. Her efforts there would link one bloody crime scene to the next.

Author's Note: "Had heart"? Shura and Loki might have hit it off in a crossover fic.