Notes:

*I don't actually know what each mecha's type is!*

Raiden- the blue mechas

Yakan- the short cylinder shaped mechas

Chapter Six: New Ally and I Used My Wits!

I groaned as I woke up the next day. I sat up, wincing, as I looked at my surroundings. I was in a home, and Katsushiro laid in a bed next to mine. There were bandages on his right thigh. What could've happened while I was out like a light?

"Akinari," Kirara walked in,"You're awake. Are you feeling all right?"

"Yeah, I'm all right," I said, as the water priestess sat down next to Katsushiro," Um... What happened last night?"

I noticed that Katsushiro was breathing heavily. I thought he was asleep, but he's clearly awake.

"Our pursuers shot an arrow at us when we escaped the Firefly Inn. Katsushiro got hit." Kirara took the cloth that was on his forehead, plunged it in water, then put it back on his forehead after wringing the cloth out as she spoke. "We're in Metal City. A woman named Honoka was kind enough to let us stay here for the time being."

"I see... How long was I out?"

"A couple of hours. It's nearly noon." It was a brief silence before the girl asked," Is it true that you're afraid all modes of transportation?"

I sheepishly turned away, laughing nervously.

"Yeah... It's true. Why?"

"Well..." Kirara trailed off a bit before saying," Kikuchiyo said that you were afraid of them. You seemed to be doing fine when we were on the elevator train some time ago, but we had to get on the boat, you looked like you were going to have a heart attack."

I was a little embarrassed that I was admitting one of my fears to her.

"About that... I was distracted from my fears when those guardsmen attacked us on the train. When I thought of it as just an elevator, and not a train, I was pretty OK. When it came to the boat however, well, you saw what happened."

"I guess even samurai have their fears." I looked away from her at that statement. Samurai... She considers me to be a samurai... "Akinari? Is there something wrong?"

I looked back at her, and saw her worried eyes. I showed her my fake smile.

"Nothing. Just thinking about something."

Yes. It's nothing. Nothing at all.

A blond man came into the room. I recognized him from last night.

"Hey there," he said," I'm Shichiroji. You're Akinari, right?"

"Yes, I am."

"That big guy punched you pretty hard. Are you OK?"

"Yup. It'll take more than Kiku's punches to bring me down!"

"Glad to hear that," Shichiroji then sat down next to Kirara and asked," So how is he?"

"His fever is starting to rise," she replied," It doesn't look like he can sleep because of the pain..."

Shichiroji and I detected someone on the roof. Through the opening, someone hit Katsushiro with a dart through a blow pipe, and escaped.

"Who's there?!" Shichiroji asked, running outside to try and catch the stranger.

While he was gone, Katsushiro's breathing calmed. I took out the dart that was in his left arm, and examined it. Hey, I know this thing! Kambei, Heihachi, and Komachi came in, concerned. Shortly after, Shichiroji came back in.

"What happened?" asked Kambei.

"A Shikimori shot something at Katsushiro," said Shichiroji.

"It's a drug dart medics used to use back in the war," I said," It's one of the antibiotics that was made."

"The pain is going away," said Katsushiro. Komachi and Kirara were relieved.

"For them to use this," said Shichiroji," You have to wonder exactly what the Shikimori are up to."

"At the least," said Kambei," We can assume that they're not our enemies."

Katsushiro then spoke up. "Sensei, please, go on ahead. All I'm doing is slowing you down..."

"You're just trying to come across as a hero."

"That's not what I mean!"

"It's frustrating, isn't? That's good," Kambei then looked at the 2 girls," These people are also grateful to you. That's what it takes to be a warrior." Kambei stood up from his seat on the floor. "You are the sixth." Katsushiro looked happy to be accepted. "After we rest for another night, we'll go." With that, the man left.

"Good for you, Katsu!" said Komachi cheerfully.

"He hasn't changed a bit," said Shichiroji.

"Momotaro, you sound like his old wife when you say that," stated the little girl.

"But like I said, I'm not Momotaro!"

As the group laughed, I took another look at the drug dart. It still had some serum in it. I think I'll keep this for future reference.

Suddenly, we heard a strange sound. The machinery of Nobuseri. I picked up my katana and my gun after putting the dart in my bag, then ran out with Heihachi and Shichiroji. I followed them to the others, and stood with them on the rocky cliff as 1 Raiden and 2 Yakans flew by. I gripped the edge of my messenger bag in anticipation. After they passed, Rikichi yelled at us to start killing them before they get away. A young woman ran towards us, and stood in front of Rikichi.

I watched as the Raiden gave the Shikimori 2 barrels of rice, and got some large batteries in exchange.

"You must not cut down the bandits!" yelled the woman,"They're the Shikomori's trading partners!"

"What are talking about?!" yelled Rikichi,"The Nobuseri are our enemies!"

"The Shikimori said that we can't get the Nobuseri angry at us!," the woman yelled,"They're letting us live here!" She calmed down a bit, before saying," If that's what the Shikimori say, then there's nothing we can do."

"Honoka..." muttered Rikichi.

So the lavender-haired woman was Honoka? Damn. How much did I miss?

"What should we do, Kambei?" asked Kiku.

Rikichi attempted to go after the Nobuseri, but Gorobei stopped him.

"Why are you all just standing there?!" yelled the Kanna farmer," The Nobuseri are right there in front of our eyes!"

"There's nothing we can do," said Kambei, calmly.

"If you guys aren't going to do anything, then I will!" Rikichi stole a katana that was the closest to him, which was Gorobei's, and ran.

As everyone went after him, I stayed behind. I watched as the trade between the Nobuseri and the Shikimori were completed, and the enemy left. I turned around, and walked down the path before I ran into Kiku.

"Going after them?" I said.

"You stopping me?"

"Nah, why would I? I'm coming along. I feel cramped, being in a dark cave and all."

"Heh heh! Then let's go, quickly!"

The two of us ran after the Nobuseri, and once we were by the water, Kiku went in. I didn't want to get wet, so I just kept close to the wall, carefully, as I took each step, careful not to fall into the water. After some time, Kiku resurfaced, and we heard a familiar voice.

"Kiku! Kiku!" We looked up at the cave's ceiling. How the hell did Komachi get up there?! Sliding down the stalactite, Komachi fell to the water, making a loud splash.

Cursing under my breath, I hid behind a stalagmite, and held my breath. Kiku and Komachi went under water to hide.

'Please don't find us,' I repeated in my head.

The Raiden's flashlight scanned the waters, before it left with the Yakans. I let out my breath, as the 2 resurfaced.

"Ah! You startled, me, Kiku!" said Komachi.

"I'm the one who's startled, sprout!" said Kiku,"What are you doing here?"

" What are you guys doing here?"

"I was chasing the bandits," said Kiku, pointing in the direction they headed.

"I was making sure Kiku doesn't get killed," I said.

"I was following you guys," said Komachi.

"Why?"

"Because you two seem to do crazy or stupid things when you're together. I was really worried..."

"You don't need to worry about us," said the cyborg," You know kid, we are samurai. Samurai are big enough to do great things! There's no need to worry! After hearing what Rikichi said back there, how could I just sit still?" Komachi nodded. "Now that you understand, why don't you go on back. It would be bad if the Nobuseri found you."

Komachi nodded again.

"Komachi, you can go back to the others if you follow the path this way, alright?" I said, as I helped her out of the water. "You're small enough to walk on it easily."

After she left, Kiku and I continued to make our way out of the cave. It was a sandstorm out there. Outside, Kiku tripped, and came face to face to a katana wielded by a man in glasses. Behind the man was the red samurai. There were also 2 Nobuseri. A Raiden and a Aw shit. We're screwed!

"...You aren't by any chance Nobuseri, are you?" asked Kiku.

I held my hands up in defeat.

"...Don't hurt us?" I said, smiling nervously.

I let them capture us as Kiku tried to put up a fight. He was easily tied up, though. The two of us were taken to the Nobuseri's floating harvesting fortress. Inside, Kiku was about taken away in one direction, while I went in another direction.

"Hey! Why are we-"

"This young man will be going in a cell," said glasses man, interrupting Kiku," We have reason to believe that he may be the one who assassinated the imperial envoy in Kogakyo."

Say what?

"But I did nothing!" I complained.

"You've stolen and killed for money in the past. For all we now, you could've accepted a job to kill the envoy in exchange for a large sum of cash."

"I may be stupid, but I'm not that stupid!"

"Be quiet."

I was roughly pushed forward, and was forced to walk away from Kiku. I'm in deep shit now.

Let's see... I'm in a prison cell, tied up by rope. My weapons and messenger bag are on a table by the door. I have 2 foot soldiers in the room watching me, along with 1 Yakan. I can easily untie myself with that trick Master taught me, but then the enemy would try to re-tie me if they see me. I can try to do this slowly and discreetly, but once the rope falls, that Yakan will see. If I'm fast enough, I can knock out the 2 foot soldiers after untying myself and grab the cell keys, but then the Yakan may escape to get more of its buddies, or it might fight me, causing a ruckus that could alert the other guards. I need to be able be already out of the cell. That way, I can knock out the foot soldiers and tie the Yakan up with the rope after I'm free.

But how can I do that? C'mon, Aki, think!

I started coughing, pretending to be sick with some disease.

"Hey, what's wrong with you?" asked a foot soldier.

"*cough* Sorry, *cough* I haven't had my *cough* m-medicine yet..." I coughed some more. " I-I have a condition... *cough* If I don't have my medicine, my body will shut down..."

"You looked fine earlier."

I bit the inside of my cheek and spat out blood, pretending to cough.

"Aw shit!"

I was let out of my cell. As 1 foot soldier stood behind me, the other searched my bag for the 'medicine'. The Yakan didn't know what to do.

"Is this your medicine?" asked the foot soldier, holding up the drug dart.

"Y-Yes... *cough* I need to be untied though, or else these bindings will prevent it from spreading through my body *cough*"

The damn suckers fell for it. Once I was untied, I spun around, kicking the soldier behind me in the face. I stole his sword as he fell back, stabbed him, and then the other soldier. The Yakan in the room attempted to seize me, but I jumped away from its large sword. I jumped again, this time towards the Yakan, and pried open the top hatch. The person in side glared at me, then tried to throw me off. With all my strength, I shoved the Yakan to the ground away from me.

A loud clunk was heard, and the man inside fell out. Before he had time to get back up, I took the sword I held and threw it like a spear. Blood splattered as the man died, the sword embedded through his skull. His muscles twitched as he tried to cling to his last shreds of life. I walked over to him, and pulled him by the ankles to the cell I was just in. I slowly pulled out the sword, but I pulled a bit too roughly, and blood spurted out of the wound. I quickly stepped aside. I can't get any blood on me.

After dismembering the corpse so I can fit it in the cell easier, I put the sword back in its dead owner's sheathe.

I grabbed my belongings from the table, and checked the Yakan. Yes! It's not broken! I ripped a piece of cloth from the dead man's pant leg and wiped off any blood spots on it. After cleaning it and throwing away the bloodied cloth, I went inside the Yakan. It took me a few minutes to make it start working again. I closed the hatch above me, but I didn't lock it. I exited the room, and made sure that no one could get into it, jamming the door.

'Now to find Kiku...' I thought.

I retraced my steps and found myself in the corridor where Kiku and I were separated. I went in the direction he was taken to, until I came to 3-way split. Which path to go? I got my answer a couple of minutes later, when glasses man from earlier came out of a room to my right.

"You there!"

"Yes, sir?" I made sure my voice was a bit deeper, in case he recognized me by voice.

"Take the prisoner in that room and take him outside. You are to follow the others, understood?"

"Yes, sir!"

I saluted, and once he walked away, I went to the room.

"Finally!" A Nobuseri was in the room. "Take him away, please! He's annoying me to death!"

"Of course, sir!" I saluted, and went over to the tied up Kiku.

"Hey! Don't you get near me!"

I smacked him upside the head, and held him by the rope.

"Shut up," I said. After leaving the room, Kiku continued to struggle. Once I was sure no one would hear, I said," Kiku! Shut up! It's me, Aki! I stole this Yakan to get to you!"

"Wh- Oh... Wait. How do I know that you're really Aki?! Tell me, is Aki a guy or a girl?!"

I sighed. "I'm a girl, but I pretend to be a guy. Now shut up and bear with me here! We're getting out of this place."

I found other Yakans and followed them out of the floating fortress. I really didn't want to, but I dragged Kiku on the sand as we all made our way towards Hyogo and Kyuzo (I had Kiku explain to me who they were on the way). Looks like they plan to kill the red man. From a distance, I saw our friends rush in to defeat the enemy. Hyogo became pissed.

"Ha-Ha! Dirty tricks like taking hostages won't work against him!" said Kiku. I held him a bit higher to let the sand pour out of him. "After all, he is- no, they are samurai after all! Haha!" Many Yakans fell to their blades. "You got that?! Anyone who uses a gun is no samurai!"

"Hey! What about me?!" I popped out from the Yakan I was in, and glared at Kiku. "I use a gun, and you say that I'm a samurai! Make up your mind!" I may not call myself one, but if someone says I am, then I am. OH! SHIT! I blew my cover! "Uh... we're outta here!"

I went back in the Yakan and flew away from Hyogo with Kiku in tow. He shot the Yakan on its side though, and I lost control. I was once again out of the Yakan, but on the ground this time. After getting up, I ran over to Kiku and undid the ropes. While I was doing this, Hyogo made a deal with Kyuzo and the others. Basically, it was a fight to the death between Kyuzo and Kambei. If Kyuzo wins, he won't get in trouble for betrayal. If he loses, Hyogo himself will kill him. I knew that they knew what would really happen. Hyogo would shoot them down at the right moment in their fight, intending to kill them both.

All of a sudden, Katsushiro came out of nowhere, and attacked a Yakan that was behind me. I was so focused on the scene before me, that I never noticed the large sword about to be put down on me. Hyogo shot him, but missed. Katsushiro landed in the sand near me.

"Thanks, Katsushiro!" I said, helping him back up.

"No problem, Akinari."

"KYUZO!"

Kyuzo had taken the chance to attack Hyogo. He sliced up Hyogo and his gun. Two Yakans closed in on Katsushiro and I. We were prepared to take care of them, but then Kiku ran over, and punched them, knocking them to a rock.

"Hey, kid! That was pretty cool of you!" he praised Katsushiro. The boy looked proud.

The others walked towards us.

"Katsushiro," said Kambei," How is your injury?"

"I'm fine now, Sensei. The Shikimori led me here."

"Hey~!" We all looked up at the top of a large cliff. "We came to help!" yelled Komachi. With her were Kirara, Rikichi, Honoka, and some Shikimori.

Guess everyone's all and accounted for.

"You're in it now, samurai," said Hyogo, dying. We were all gathered around him. "You're not getting away with this... Right now, Soubei-dono is heading back to the main base." We all tensed at that. The enemy will know of us, now. "Wh-Why... Kyuzo...?" The man looked up to the red clad swordsman.

"I want to live," Kyuzo replied, simply, calmly, and coolly.

Before he took his final breath and died, Hyogo called him a fool. There was a silence, until Kambei asked,"Will you join us?"

Kyuzo turned to him. "When do we leave?"

"Right now."

Yay! Another ally!

"You're leaving?" asked a Shikimori," We'll miss you."

"The Nobuseri now know about us. There isn't a moment to lose."

"Kambei-sama," spoke up Honoka.

"Don't worry," he said,"Wait for us here."

"My sister and Rikichi-san's wife must definitely be in the Nobuseri's main base..."

"Let's go."

Kambei started to walk away, before Kirara suddenly blurted out, talking about Kyuzo, " This man is our enemy!" With a worried look, she stared at Kambei.

"Kyuzo is our ally now, and not our enemy," Kambei said, and walked away.

I kind of agreed with Kirara, but also with Kambei. Kyuzo is now our comrade, but once this is all over, he will surely attempt to fight Kambei in a death match. I think he's just helping us to make sure that he's the one who takes his life, and not some Nobuseri or something.

Well, whatever. Call me a coward, but as long as I don't end up having to fight him, anything is good with me.

End of Chapter Six

A/N: Don't want to sound whiny or anything, but please review! I would really like it if I could read what you thought about this fanfic!