Samurai Number 8 Chapter 5, a samurai 7 fanfic

Notes:

shamisen- 3-stringed Japanese musical instrument

Chapter Five: Firefly House

''How could he have a child with another woman?!''

''Mother, please, calm down!''

I paused what I was doing, just holding my colorful ball. I looked over to the closed doors.

'What's going on?' I crept towards the source of all the noise. The lady Father brung me to didn't seem to really like me. Why? I don't understand. Father said she was supposed to be nice!

The woman Big Brother called 'Mother' was yelling again.

''Mother, please,'' brother pleaded,''The doctor said you shouldn't be stressing out.''

"But what about that cursed thing?! It's tearing our family apart by just living here!'' I heard the sound of something shattering, and I instantly backed away from the door. "Wait," I heard the woman say," I know what to do..."

I heard the woman's plan for me. I thought my Mother told me not to end up like that...

"No, Mother, for the last time, you're not selling Aki to that kind of place!''

''Don't you call that thing by its name in my presence, Ren!"

I got really scared. Not wanting the woman to find out I was here, I ran off, not knowing that I had left my ball by the door yet.

I groaned as I woke up.

"So your finally awake, Aki!"

"Ngh... Huh?"

I slowly sat up, and looked at my surroundings. I guess I had been sleeping in a corner of the candle-lit room, with Kiku sitting to my left. A short old woman sat across from him, and there was Kiku's 'family tree' between them.

"How do you feel?" my friend asked.

"Horrible. Groggy. My lungs feel like they're burning a bit... Did I fall in some water and almost drowned?"

"Well, I did had to hide under a bridge..."

So that's why my clothes feel damp, too.

"Where are we, anyway? What happened?"

"We're at the Firefly House! We got separated from the others back in Kogakyo. I managed to grab you and jump off the the train before it crashed. Tried to find the others, but those damn guards just wouldn't let up! I think they're still trying to find us..."

Firefly House? Oh, that inn thing from the city near Kogakyo... Ah, good times, good times. Wait.

"Damn. Our friends probably think we're dead."

"Maybe. Oh, hey, you hungry?"

"I'll eat later," I turned to the old woman," Where can I get a bath?"

"To your left and down the hall. Towels and everything are already there."

"Thank you." I bowed slightly and grabbed my messenger bag that was leaning on the wall to my right. I took out the clothes I intended to wear after my bath, along with a roll of bandages and ointment, and I left. I was lucky that no one was in the baths, so I just relaxed. The hot water felt nice on my skin, especially on my sore ribs, and as I bathed, I thought about the dream I had before waking up.

'Why did I dream of that? The last time I dreamed of my family was right before I met Master, and that was a lo~ng time ago.'

I simply don't understand at all.

After I finished my bath, I dried myself with a towel and got dressed. Instead of a violet kimono and grey hakama, I wore a dark blue kimono and white hakama. I almost forgot to re-wrap my torso in the bandages I had brought with me, but I remembered before I left. I really have to be more careful out on the streets. When I had been searching for samurai back in Kogakyo to help those 3 Kanna villagers, I had gotten into a fight somehow. Nothing important or anything.

Drying my hair, I remembered that I forgot to bring my hair tie, too. Man, what's with me today? I'm not this forgetful. Neh, oh well. What are the chances that someone I know will recognize me? Besides, with my hair down, I'll just look like some girl to them.

Still, I quickly went back to the room I shared with Kiku. He was looking for his name on the scroll again.

"Hey, Aki! Where's my name on this thing, again?"

"What's that, 13?" I smirked.

"Sh-Shut up!" Steam blew out from one of his many pipes. "I'm not 13!" He crossed his arms and looked away from me. "Just eat your food..."

"Fine, fine, Number 13~!"

I waved my hands at him and sat down to his right. The food was really good. The fish was tasty, and Heihachi would've loved the rice!

"Hmm..."

I felt Kiku staring at me as I ate. After I finished eating, the old lady left to take the tray away.

"Kiku? Why the hell are you staring at me?"

"I still don't get why you have keep your secret from everyone..."

I sighed, and took a hair tie out from my bag. As I put my elbow-length hair in a ponytail, I said to him," Kiku, I thought we already went over this. I'm a girl. If certain people were to find out that I was actually female and a so-called 'samurai', I'd be in deep shit. I mean, you know how society thinks of women these days. They expect them to be weak, look over the family, and be the homemaker. If I pretend to be a guy, then I'll be able to freely do what I love to do."

"You mean going to jail?"

I face palmed before slightly glaring at him.

"No, I mean fighting."

"Why couldn't you tell the others?"

"Kiku, I hardly know them. I'll tell them when I'm ready. Well, except for Hei-chan. He already knew."

"I figured as much, from the moment you said that you two were friends since the War."

I heard him grumble.

"Hey, Kiku. What's wrong?"

"I dunno if I should treat you like a girl or a guy..."

"Guy. Please. Even I forget that I'm really a girl sometimes, so this is easier. Ok?"

The old woman from earlier came back in.

"Is there anything I can do for you two?" she asked.

Kiku perked up.

"Take a look at my family tree! I'm right..."

As he made the poor lady help him look for his name again, I decided to read a book from my messenger bag. I didn't feel tired at all, even though I only had a few hours of sleep. I know I'll probably crash from sudden fatigue later, but for now, I'll just keep myself occupied.

Eventually, Kiku and the old woman were fast asleep. I could faintly hear the sound of a shamisen and someone singing for a few seconds. I read for a few more moments, until I felt a familiar chill down my spine. I quickly shoved my book back in my messenger bag, and stood up.

"Kiku! Wake up!"

"Huh? Wha...?"

The two woke up, and I told the old woman to leave. She asked no questions and left, seeing me have my katana ready. I faced the other doors of the room, opposite to the one she left from.

"Aki... What is i-"

The ones who were chasing us burst into our room. There were some guardsmen and 2 individuals. The red samurai I saw back in Kogakyo, and some other dudes. Kiku was now on full alert at the sight of our enemies.

"What the hell do you want?!" Kiku yelled, as I readied myself to dodge in case if the intruders suddenly attacked.

"This is a samurai hunt," said a guardsman," Come quietly."

Before Kiku could say anything (I saw him reach for his family tree in glee), I said,"Kiku, let's get out of here! It's too cramped to fight!"

I ran out, with the cyborg in tow. The guardsmen followed us. I was ready to fight, until I had to step out of the way. Kiku ran away when the red samurai tried to attack. I looked at where he ran to, and saw the others. I hastily knocked out the guard that was in my way, and ran to our friends. I didn't know they were here, too!

I heard Kiku yell about something being back, and Komachi seemed really happy.

"Hey," I said," It's not that I don't like this whole reunion thing, but I really think we should be getting out of here now."

I then heard a voice from behind Kiku and I.

"Found you, Kirara!" Gah. What was that guy's name? Ayamaro's son... I think it was Ukyo? "You shouldn't be here, in a place like this. Leave here with me, dear."

"I'll slice you all up!" said Kiku, fired up for a battle. I stepped away from one of the guards, keeping my distance.

A blond haired man ran in front of him before Kiku could use his sword.

"This is the Village of Healing," he said,"Swords aren't allowed here. I must ask that you all please refrain from any violence."

An argument started. The enemy wanted to fight us, while we wanted nothing to do with them. One of the men attacked. Gorobei blew flames from a candle towards the glasses wearing attacker.

"Akinari! Get over here!" I heard Kiku say.

"Alright!"

I ran over to the group. The blond man then raised the tatami mats all around us.

"Everyone!" he said,"Under the floor!" The man then turned to look at Kambei. "Kambei, it's been a long time since we fought, huh?"

A woman raised a block from the floor from its handle, and we all quickly went in. After the block was put back into place, everyone got into the boat. I froze in my step, initially intending to go in after Kiku. A boat...

"So we're going in the boat?" asked Kiku.

"Yes," said the blond man," It'll take us out of here. Why?"

"Oh nothing. I just have to do this!"

Kiku swiftly punched me in the gut.

"Th-Thanks... " I passed out.

Carriages, boats, trains, whatever! I'm never going on them unless I'm either knocked out or I'm in the spur of the moment.

End of Chapter 5

A/N: For once, I had time to work on this. I thought for sure that I'd lose interest in this, but I can't seem to just discontinue this fanfic. Starting to get into writing fanfics.