Chapter 5- Fight for the prize
It was almost two months later when she returned to the town where she met Haru.
Shura and her fellow demon had conspired to use her notoriety to her advantage. She went around causing havoc on any troublemaker she could find. Bandits, ronin, mercenaries, gangs, and demons were all subject to her butchering. It wasn't long before bounty hunters and mercenary soldiers appeared to capture her. They proved more threatening than the local posse but still fell quickly. Now she was tracking down what farmers described as a powerful forest demon. She was skeptical as to avoid disappointment, but couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. This anticipation was not exclusive to the thought of the battle ahead of her.
It was strange. Shura knew crossing through town she might run into that strange loiterer again. She wondered why it was she was looking forward to seeing him again. Perhaps it was the fact that he was the first person she'd held a conversation with in ages. Everyone else she either ignored or cut down. The demon on her shoulder tended to get on her nerves so she preferred he remain his usual silent self.
Shura walked through the familiar front street. The newly replaced guards immediately recoiled. The citizens were already retreating into their houses.
Oh-ho. They remember me well it seems.
As she approached the old bar, her eyes began to wander in search for Haru. By the time she'd reached her destination he was still nowhere to be found. She contemplated whether to look for him at all. It was risky putting off the hunt for so long. She had the demon by the ropes, though it wasn't aware of this fact quite yet. But it wasn't smart to veer off or the beast might just disappear entirely.
I was planning to just rest up for a bit and then head out. If I saw you than so I did. If not than so be it.
But it was irritating to see the one person she knew nowhere to be found when she wanted him.
What's the harm on spending my time this way? It's not like he could get far. And I won't let him make a fool of me, especially when he hasn't a clue he is.
Shura stepped through the bar (not noticing the recently replaced floorboards) and lounged lazily on her seat with her legs spread across the table. She failed to notice the men ogling her while the rest were simply trying to avoid eye contact. The only gazes to catch her attention were those of a few shady figures ready to react if she tried anything. The thought alone made her want to burst out laughing.
She managed to repress it, only a small chuckle escaping her. After she ordered and drank, she stretched back to shut her eyes. It had been awhile since she'd rested like this.
She opened her eyes after a few minutes, not wanting to waste her afternoon away.
After wiping away some drool, the manslayer stood up and approached the front of the bar. She said in a commanding voice, "I'm looking for someone. A man named Haru. He's a hermit swordsman who sometimes lies outside."
A man said, "Haru?" as he scratched his head. Another with notably bad teeth blurted out, "Yeah I know him. Why you looking for him? He your type?" His joke failed to garner laughter from the fear stricken patrons.
Shura ignored his teasing and asked, "Where is he? If you know what's best for you, you won't waste anymore of my time."
The man gulped. "I—I haven't seen him around here in a week or so. Thought he left or somethin'"
"Anyone else?" she asked.
"Same here. If he's in town, he's not hanging around here anymore. Never knew why he did anyway."
"I see." Shura's eye for a moment showed disappointment. But like any emotion not fixed on fighting, it was gone a second later. She left the bar and headed out of town.
She had reached the front gate without running in to him. Shura knew it was time to give up. She at least felt pleased at getting some relaxation time while in town. It was enjoyable, though not something she needed. Life for her was about carnage, not comfort.
Shura snapped out of the thought when she sensed three or four presences hiding outside the gate. It was hard to say how difficult they would prove. She chose to find out the old fashion way.
Shura stepped through the gate. Right as she did, a sword came crashing down on her head. She whipped out her katana and blocked it.
She turned to her attacker and said, "You're underestimating me."
The others, seeing their ambush foiled, stepped out from cover. There were four: three men and one woman. One of the men had a crossbow and had it aimed at her head. Shura smirked.
The woman stepped in front of her and said, "It's about time you slipped up. We'd thought we lost you in the forest."
"And you are bounty hunters correct?"
"Correct. We've seen your skill. It's impossible to take someone like you alive. Sorry, but I'll have to take your head."
Shura said, "Decapitation? That's an excellent idea."
She kept her attention fixed mostly on the archer, knowing any second she'd have to be ready to deal with his bolt. Her eyes glanced over at the female. She appeared to be ready to charge head on.
The woman let out a battle cry and launched forward. Right then the archer fired the arrow.
Shura leapt a meter into the air. The arrow whizzed beneath her sandals and punctured her first attacker. Shura came flying down as the woman's katana came within inches from her head. The Black Oni caught the enemy's blade on the cross guard of Fujin-Maru.
Shura said, "That's two mistakes now."
The woman launched herself forward. Her blade connected with Shura's as she threw her weight forward.
"Do it!" she shouted, "Shoot her!"
Shura flung Raijin-Maru sideways. The slender blade spun in the air and came to a halt as it lodged in neck of the archer.
The woman freed her blade and swung it again. Shura ducked and spun around, positioning herself behind the woman's exposed back. She swung her blade but the woman countered it. Her last ally came up on Shura's flank. He slashed at her legs. Shura rammed the handle of her sword forwards into the woman's head. At the same time, she swung her leg backwards crushing the man's windpipe. As soon as both blows connected, she quickly stabbed the man through with her katana. She then slipped around him and dashed to the body of the archer.
The woman looked at Shura with unmistakable hatred in her eyes, trying to hold back tears. Shura reached down slowly and pulled out the katana. The woman assumed a battle pose, stretching her arms up in the air so as to deliver a slash when Shura was within range.
"How dare you slaughter them like that!" she shouted. "I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"
Shura grinned mischievously saying, "So punish me."
Shura knew the woman's stance was a last-ditch effort. It was almost pitiful but she was all too willing to end this woman's life.
Shura slowly walked forward, awaiting the perfect opening. She took another step forward. Her enemy stirred. The next step would be inside her striking distance…
The bounty hunter swung down with all her might. The ground exploded in front of her. Shura appeared behind her ready to deliver the final blow. The woman instinctively turned to meet her.
The female roared "Why don't you just die!"
Shura's eyes calmly followed the enemy's backhanded swing. She blocked the blast, sending the impact hurdling back on her opponent. The knock back gave her a split second to react. It was all the time in the world.
"Not on my watch you brat!" she said.
As she did, Shura released her katanas and grabbed the woman by her shoulders. She pulled her down as she purposefully lost her balance. As Shura hit the ground, she threw up her feet kicking the woman a good two meters into the air.
The Black Oni acquired her blades once again and waited for her opponent to come plummeting back to earth. But she wouldn't give her the luxury of dying from her neck snapping.
She charged forward, leaping through the air, and weaving an elegant dance with her katanas. She spun through the air countless times in what was a split second. As her feet touched the ground once again, the blood of her foe rained down. Shura found herself glowing at the results of her final attack. It was a beautiful death for an unworthy foe. But she couldn't resist such an opportunity to perfect her technique.
It was time to get back to tracking her demon. But before she could do that, Shura knew she needed to clean off the blood on her clothes and weapons. It would be distracting if a large carnivore were to attack in the middle of a hunt.
Shura found a small pond off shooting the farmer's plantation. She unloosed her scabbards and footwear and slipped into the cool water. She felt goose bumps run up her exposed arms. She went below several times until she was sure she'd rinsed off the blood.
After she was well-soaked, Shura began to clean Raijin-Maru and Fujin-Maru. Next she sharpened them with a water stone kept inside a pocket in her leggings. She performed maintenance on them with the care and attention a doctor would give to a patient whose life now rested in their hands.
Content with her work, she tucked them away and made a bee-line across the road to the thick forest along the mountainside. It was then she stopped in her tracks and looked down the road.
It couldn't be…
She couldn't quite make out the figure lying idly by the side of the road near another pond. Shura walked hastily forward. She stopped, less than six feet away. She could tell exactly who it was now. She was glad she ran into him before setting off.