"Who travels for love finds a thousand miles not longer than one." - Japanese Proverb
Gonkuro happened to be imprisoned in a hidden dark storage room in a building somewhere in the village itself. He was bounded up tightly and was suffering quietly in dark isolation. He had his robe largely teared; his straw hat was virtually destroyed; his hair was disheveled and loose; and felt a mixture of fear, low self-confidence, weariness, a bit of paranoia, and a dreadful sadness overcome him. He surely felt trapped with strong regret as he felt like he was in a bad fall that is never going to stop. He especially felt regret at not completing his mission, which he thought was going to succeed, and respectfully get Yuka back. He felt ghostly in an entrapping way. He also felt trance-like, especially in addition to being interrogated and taunted by the goons and the Nekomata. It seems they were trying in disorienting ways to try to make him one of them. So far, their effort hadn't really succeeded though it felt like it might eventually succeed. He pondered, in his solitary confinement, how he's affected by his seeming failure and tormented thoughts about his previous guilty life failures, including even longing after his dear Ashi. How things really ain't simple anymore but anyway, they hadn't in a long time.
He founded himself nervous, alone, and felt blown away by the goons. He somewhat was pained & wounded from the inflicted torture they did to him. Regardless, he felt a certain degree of hope within him. This ordeal, especially in comparison to his own long intense struggle with Aku, seemed like a lesser struggle. He felt hopeless enough to call upon his ancestors, which he did at one point. However, he felt quite dazed and forlorn thanks to the goons and their evil two tailed cat helper. Gonkuro often had a vicious cat-like being interrogated him, interchangeably with a harsh looking fully armored samurai warrior. The strange interrogator seemed to nefariously manipulate him by playing on his need for extra power, need for further prestige after his defeat of Aku, and the supposed submissive yet oppressed power he had under his uppity Emperor who was his father, his guilt, etc. Gonkuro managed to resist its temptations to the unexpected dissatisfaction of his interrogator. For that matter, though he revealed little information to the goons, he otherwise withstood their questioning and imposed affliction as well. Nonetheless, Gonkuro had nightmares about being furthered interrogated by the demonic shapeshifter in places where he was tempted by inner Jack (which he could tell was just a complete hallucination). He thought he even could somewhat see Ashi in his dreams. At one point, Gonkuro bravely inquired about them, their motives, and origins. Their explanation was that they happened to been some recently freed slaves and aides of Aku who happened to encounter a nekomata who promised great things to their desirable advantage and to gained better glory, including the possible chance of taking over Japan! They since then had employed the demon cat as a helper and had enslaved some people since then, along with plundering and taking advantage of others to their own benefit. What angst he felt at their mindsets yet he felt he, in a great entrapping pressuring sense, he can't do anything about it. How he felt stuck and secluded within, along with a firm paralyzing feeling. He even oddly felt the, long since disregarded, ghastly samurai omen would approach him again.
In the midst of all this entrapping pessimism, he witnessed the sudden surprising burst of someone into his prison quarters after swiftly slaying the guards outside. It turned out to be a lightly armored onna-begeisha with a tiara like headband, a couple of kantanas, and an oni mask.
Gonkuro asked, "Who are you? Are you Yuka or someone I know?"
The intruder took off its mask. It turned out the intruder was indeed Yuka, for he saw the sweet pretty face of smiling Yuka. He reacted with a mix of astonishment and happy relief. He felt grateful for finally being able to be liberated and for that matter in seeing Yuka again.
As Yuka approached him and released him from his bands, Gonkuro inquired of her, "What happen and how did you get here Yuka?"
Yuka quickly replied, "I will explain later. Now you get back into shape with this potion I have for you, which I got from the healing spring we went to at an earlier time."
Yuka showed him a potion which Gonkuro gladly accepted. How content, refreshing, and relieving it felt in drinking it. Right after drinking it, he felt wholly renewed, vigorous, and energetic enough again in a revitalizing way. Yuka kissed him before she gave him his father's sword. Both were then firmly ready to get out and do some essential fighting business together. What appreciation Gonkuro felt as he glanced at Yuka's quaint face as it helped renewed and reassured their bond. How it seems their love for each other really vibrated back and proved an urgent solution of delivery after all.
Yuka was riding in a firm and fast-paced devotion mode as she traveled onto Gonkuro's destination of disappearance. On the way, she decided to stop by the Izumi-Washrine where her father was healed and with the consent of the shrine's priest got a bottle of the shrine's healing water along with a couple of amulets. She went through a purification ceremony as well. She also gave an offering and an ema at the shrine. The shrine's priest gave her some words of advice before she left, especially to work hard in her devotion to Gonkuro. She also got to wish luck from a dosojin, on the way, as well. She wanted to go to the shrine because she had an intuitive prompting inspired by her vision. After what seemed to be nearly non-stopped several hours, she finally arrived at her supposed destination from a distance. She only vaguely knows where it was but was seemingly guided by the blessing of Benzaiten. She felt glad she made it and sighed in relief. Her journey felt long yet it effectively passed by speedily, probably because of her determined love for Gonkuro. From her distance, she thought she could spot some sentries. She ate an onigiri rice ball, which was among the food given to her by the shrine's priest. From her view point upon closer observation, she thought she could see some nervous people roaming around and laboring, perhaps they were slaves. In the midst of her observation, to her own fright, saw a basket head bandit approach her. She swiftly decided to go off her horse, take off her kantana, and stood in a respectful yet courageous position of willing defense against the bandit.
However, to her surprise, the bandit just stood there without retaliation for some moments before inquiring, "Who goes there?"
Yuka calmly responded back, "I am Yuka of the Satoaki clan. I am here to reclaim the captured crown prince and the enslaved villagers of this land."
There were some weary moments of silence before any of them responded.
To her astonishment, the bandit lightheartedly responded, "Well, saving help has finally arrived then."
She felt perplexed as the bandit dumbfoundedly took his basket headgear off.
Turns out, he was a rugged handsome yet nice looking man and Yuka asked in confusion, "What is this?"
The stranger bowed and Yuka in curious perplexity bowed back.
The stranger bandit sentinel then politely explained, "I technically part of this mixed bandit ronin group because I happened to been a woodcutter who one day was going back to my village from doing my day's work and happened to unfortunately see, to my own shock, my village being ambushed before I encountered one of them in my way. In response, I got to remarkably kill him off and took his clothes as a disguise. So, I went to nervously joined the ambushing company and after a while they started to question who I was due to my different personality. They eventually discovered who I was and it nearly cost my life and they gave me a hard time. Luckily, I was spared because I convinced them how I was brave in defeating one of their members and managed to blend in. So, I was still allowed to be part of them as long as I kept to the rules and so I reluctantly did. I, after all, mainly blended in for my safety and curiosity. It was hard seeing how they treat the villagers as slaves, including how they made them work at a nearby mine that was mined during Aku's dreadful reign. They also took some willing villagers as trainees for their group. Yet, other villagers were very reluctant against them and even a couple got killed. For the other rebels, they tortured, imprisoned, and brainwashed them. I been hoping during those last few weeks or so and I felt grateful for being mainly assigned a sentinel job instead of an intimidating job against my people. I honestly think this group of bandits, which called themselves the Ninkyo, is a peculiar yet hideous lot to be with. Therefore, I am willing to take on this opportunity to try to fight them off with you."
Yuka smiled before she soberly asked, "How this Ninkyo group came to be? Is there anything we need to worry about? What is your name anyway?"
The welcoming stranger replied, "From what I been told, the Ninkyo were a group of some mischievous, scavenging released slaves who very much were former bandits themselves. Others were ronin and former ninjas. The leader, Oda, especially was an apparently miserable, miserly, and ambitious vagabond who one day happened to come across an impish nekomata, who had shapeshifted into a pretty woman to try to lure Oda off his turf. As the nekomata, after a failed attempted to lure him off, launched at and tried to attack Oda. Oda himself screamed back in terror how he would like to be spared.
This startled the Nekomata who transformed back into the pretty woman and asked a curious yet simple riddle, "What is swift, mischievous, and heroic?"
Oda responded, "A Kantana."
The nekomata reacted with surprise and decided to let go of Oda. The cat next faced and asked if he would like a favor or wish due to successfully passing its riddle. Supposedly, Oda grinned and replied how he would like to sabotage Japan in some way, like a n'er-do-well's dream. However, that seemingly perked up the nekomata. The nekomata replied it can help him do that. That perked up Oda and came to a deal to help recruit people willing to join in his cause and to conquer, with intimidation, parts of Japan for his own gain. The nekomata also has the ability to manipulate people to its own will. So, they went to recruit others to their own cause and formed the Ninkyo. The nekomata can also turned into a demonic and fierce armored masked samurai warrior along with its pretty woman form on the side. Allegedly, Oda has a relationship with the nekomata in its pretty woman form. So far, this is their first and only successful capture of a settlement. They are determined to soon conquer another village and so on. How insatiable, hungry, wicked, and especially mad Oda and his Nekomata, which name is Neko by the way. What mean bosses they can be. How thus I be to help defeat them and even the whole of Ninkyo at the risk of my life for my people! I also, of course, be quite willing to rescue the poor captured crown prince of the land!"
There was a pause and reassurance of each other through their body language before the good stranger further said, "Anyway, I am Daisuke, which coincidently means great help. My parents named me so as they hoped I be a good help to them and responsibly take over my father's woodcutter occupation. I feel like fulfilling part of my filial piety by helping you tonight. They both confidently smiled and nodded towards each other.
Daisuke asked, "Are you a woman underneath that mask?"
Yuka replied, "Yes."
Daisuke remarked, "I am okay with you being a woman and is opened to the interesting and different concept of a woman warrior. How did your family react to this by the way?"
Yuka replied, "Thank you, and I just sneaked out of the place before they woke up and so I do not yet know their reaction. I went as I was called by Benzaiten in a recent dream to rescue my crown prince."
Daisuke nodded in anticipation. They shortly went down to the captured village to fulfill their goal of sabotaging and defeating the enemies that held the village and rescuing the crown prince.
As they approached the village, there were some Ninkyo sentinels who noticed their approaching dauntlessness and went to take defense against them. The mysterious and masked onna-bugeisha intruder swiftly, with graceful demeanor, slew off the sentinels one by one along with her traitor Ninkyo bandit companion. They hastily made it further into the village where they were guarding a closed door to something in a building. She had some skirmish with the ruffians but eventually she abruptly defeated them. Her companion had some success though he at one point received a cut at a cheek but nonetheless kept going. Daisuke led Yuka to where the kantana was supposedly stored in, which was a closely guarded house. Yuka, with some of Daisuke's help, managed to boldly get through into the place and get the important item. Finally, they made it to the posting guards at a sealed door. Yuka fiercely stood and gazed at them for some long moments with the bandit sentinels gazing back in return. Then with Daisuke's assistant, she firmly fought them in a demanding and struggling matter. A firm urge of hopeful love helped her agilely fight off the bad sentinels successfully to the last second. How her noble love for Gonkuro had been the hopeful, motivating, and constant north star for her in overcoming. Finally, she defeated the goon guards and with great relief opened the door, founded her beloved prince, revealed to him who she was, released him, kissed him, made him drink the potion, gave him his magical kantana, replied to Gonkuro's question, and introduced him to Daisuke. The trio proceeded to finish their mission. Daisuke remarked to Yuka how intrigued he is with what Yuka really looks like before she put back her mask on.
She chuckled and replied, "Thanks."
Gonkuro chuckled as well. The firm love, faith, and hope of Yuka and Gonkuro seemed to help overcome their hazardous situation thus far.
Once they were out, they noticed some weary yet wondering enslaved villagers looking at them throughout the village.
Yuka stood out to address, "We are your liberators and are here to defeat the bad men that held you captive. I urge you to stay indoors until the coast is clear about your full liberation. However, if any of you willing to fight along with us, then it is fine and certainly welcomed."
There was a long moment of silence before most of the villagers, saved it be a relatively few that stayed and joined, went indoors.
Just then, one of the villagers that stayed to volunteer shouted, "There are approaching bandits from the shadows."
The trio liberators turned back and noticed a bunch of good approaching from behind them. So, they along with the volunteers picked up weapons from the fallen goons and started fighting the goons. As they fought off the goons, Gonkuro shown renewed courageous confidence and determined intensity of heroic proportions in bravely fighting off the savaged goons. Gonkuro felt extra inspired and motivated by his prolong love for his people (including the villagers) and Yuka. He especially realized the significant life saving value of love in overthrowing savaging evil and how it helped him before in defeating evil. How love could help him be sustained through life's dangers, disappointments, and frustrations. They swiftly melee the goons with fierce martial arts that included kicking from time to time. Yuka and Gonkuro felt like they were fighting as a united yin and yang couple. A couple of their fellow fighters on their side, including Daisuke, got wounded. Gonkuro tried very hard to fight off the goons that wounded them. Finally, after fighting off goons for a while, with the goons being greatly reduced, the heroic warriors sighed before they got a cautious feeling of an approaching menace. They turned to see the fierce approaching sight of Oda and a tigerish scary looking full armored masked samurai besides him.
Gonkuro, Yuka, their assistants, and even the remaining goon stood in relative grave silence as they fearfully awaited what the Ninkyo leaders were going to do to them. The Ninkyo leaders suddenly stopped and gazed towards the heroes in anger as the dark clad samurai said in a fierce and angst patriarchal tone to Gonkuro and Yuka, "What a failure you been for each other, what a loose relatable love you have for each other! Did you know of your loyal lost lovers and how they were your true lovers?!" This startled Gonkuro and Yuka to their hearts. It put Gonkuro in a wan introspective mood, remaining him once again of the painful loss of Ashi and how technically she still was his true love; not withstanding how his relationship with Yuka until today was in an estranged hiatus. This made him sink into a depression merged with confusing mixed feelings. After what felt like a long time (actually about ten minutes), as Gonkuro turned to face the dark samurai and was going to say something to it, the menacing entity surprisingly and promptly went to try to fiercely strike Gonkuro, withstanding Gonkuro's astonishment. Gonkuro firmly defended himself back with the tough strike of his special kantana. A hard fight between Gonkuro and the dark samurai began. A great shock the dark samurai's abrupt strike was. That strike shown what an inhumane scum the dark samurai really is. This furthered Gonkuro and his assistants' hearts against the dark samurai and Oda. After being affected by the manipulating and coldhearted striking words of the dark samurai, Gonkuro finally decided to overcome the negative effects of the dark samurai's words, realizing no doubt how Yuka was actually meant for him over Ashi. The power of true love seemed to have an overcoming effect upon him and observed how it serves an essential purpose, including how it in turn helped saved the world. He felt the sustaining and triumphant truth of love burned within him, in contrast to the great greed and selfish malevolence of Oda and his dastardly gang. Yuka was somewhat and similarly affected by the dark samurai's words, yet just like Gonkuro especially overcame it knowing how he was her true love over Aoi.
Gonkuro and the dark samurai fought in a firm, relentless, and struggling fast-paced aggressive matter. Throughout the fighting ordeal, Gonkuro had the firm righteous zeal, renewed heroism, and love within him. Yuka, feeling very concerned for him, decided to try to help him off at one point by harshly swooping her kantana at the left leg of the dark samurai. She succeeded, including how the amputated leg turned into a cat leg as it fell off. The dark samurai then fell down to their satisfaction. Unfortunately, Oda tried to assault and she attempted to fight back but Oda succeeded in grievously wounding her unconsciously. For Gonkuro, triumphant turned to outrage as he swiftly fought Oda. Eventually, Oda triumphantly managed to strategically kick Gonkuro and wounded him as Gonkuro painfully fell to Oda's advantage. The final blow was about to be struck- Oda with a mischievous smile turned to face in front of Gonkuro and was preparing to take the final killing blow on Gonkuro. A pinnacle of misfortune and failure poor Gonkuro was feeling as his victorious enemy was about to deal the final blow on him. However, just then, it fortunately looked like Oda was murdered in the back, telling by Oda's apparent painful face and the sound of a slice of sword stabbing into Oda's back. Next, Gonkuro heard the sword back swift up, went out, and gruesomely chop his head off. What happened next remained a bit of a blur for Gonkuro, but apparently observed how the rescuer was Daisuke(who was wearing an amulet) who somehow managed to still fight despite his supposedly wounded state. Daisuke took Gonkuro's special kantana and went to destroy the wounded dark samurai with the kantana itself before Gonkuro faded out entirely.