("…Gotta get back…back to the past…Samurai Jack.") There's nothing but a black screen.
("I've finally returned to the past and defeated Aku.") The scene then goes down to reveal Jack. His silhouette all white with a white shadow behind him, standing in the dark with his back turned towards the viewer.
("But, I still feared for the future.") Jack is then shown looking out at the horizon from the balcony of his castle, pink Sakura leaves falling all around him and his empire. The scene then changes to show an opening in a snowbound forest with towering trees.
("Though he's gone, his shadow still remains.") The camera turned slowly to the right and stopped when it shows Jack meditating on the snow covered ground, with his right side facing the viewer. There's then a close up of the sheathed Sword, as the blade is pulled from the scabbard.
("Though I will not be around, I will not let the nightmare return.") The scene focuses only on the Sword's blade, as reflection of Jack's eyes was shown in the metal for a moment, before Aku's eyes replaced them.
("With a simple goal, the Sword was passed down to eldest child of the eldest child.") Jack's silhouette, with the sword in hand, stands on top of a hill looking at his home from a distance. But then the scene changes to where there was a woman standing in Jack's place, looking at another city of the in the 19th century.
("To be passed down throughout the times.") The scene fades into another one, this time to a man looking at a city set ablaze in the night, as American bombers fly overhead during World War 2.
("So that if Aku does comes back, there's hope.") Again, the scene changes. But this time shows Kenny's silhouette looking at Kuoh. The city lit by its neon lights in the night atmosphere.
("I've placed my faith in him, and those around him.") Kenny was now sitting on the ground and leaning against a tree while looking up at the silhouette figure a familiar young woman. The screen suddenly goes black.
("His name is Kenny Kurosawa, the Red Dragon Samurai.") Then the title burns itself into the scene, glowing red as it shines in the dark.
The Red Dragon Samurai
Episode X
"The Face of Evil"
The full moon shined brightly in the night sky. The time was unknown. For some, this night was just like any other night. But for a small group of Devil/students of Kuoh Academy, it's proven to be the longest night of their lives.
Never taking his eyes off the Killer as he walked towards him, Kenny stopped about four meters away.
Behind him, his friends laid unconscious after being blown up by the mysterious masked man. Akeno, being the first one to be knocked out, was on her back with nothing on except shreds and bits of her uniform, with few streams of smoke rising up from her body. Most of the right side of Kiba's uniform was burnt and gone, leaving him shirtless half way while lying on his left side. The same could almost be send for Koneko, only with her the left side of her uniform destroyed and she was lying face down. Asia was lucky enough to keep on her clothing, but they were still mostly burnt and the shockwave of the blast had her landing head first, knocking her out.
Among them was Rias, who was naked while lying on her back. Suddenly her face cringed and she let out a small grunt. The pain coursing through her body was almost excessive, making the redhead quivered lightly. With gritting teeth, she turned her head on its left side and cracked open one of her eyes. She saw Kenny standing before a masked man with the Sword in its scabbard and out of the shinai bag. With her left hand, Rias tried to reach out to him.
"I'm going to make you pay for what you've done," Kenny said in a resentful tone.
"Come, boy." The Killer said before slipping off his cloak and then grabbed the swords on his waist. "Your fall will be my ascension in the First Legion of Darkness." He then pulls out the swords.
"K-Kenny." Rias said in a weak horse tone. She wasn't able to get the next sentence out before she lost unconscious again. "Don't…"
Kenny's glare narrowed. He pulled out the Sword and tossed the scabbard aside. Then he placed his left hand on the blade and slide it along the length, achieving the Boosted Gear.
[Boost!]
The two opponents stood still as they stared intensely at each other. Three seconds later, they charged, running at full speed, before coming to a stop and swung their blades.
CLASH!
The three blades locked with sparks flying as their users pushed against each other. Kenny snarled up at the taller man. The Killer's face remained unreadable behind the mask.
They brought them back, then slashed at each other again; only this time the Killer used his left sword to block Kenny's chop. He then horizontally slashed at him with his right sword. Kenny jumped back before it could cut across his chest, then rushed towards him and slashed diagonally, but the Killer blocked it. The two continued slashing, cutting, and swinging at each other, with their blades clashing and clanking. Kenny found himself being more on the defensive, as he blocked attacks from the two swords.
About five seconds later, Kenny stepped forward and left slashed horizontally at the man's waist, but the masked man surprised him by jumping over the younger man with a front flip. Kenny could only look up and watch with wide eyes and a hanging mouth, as the Killer's shadow passed over him.
Once he landed a few feet away, the Killer turned around and charged at Kenny. Luckily Kenny reacted quickly enough and faced him just in time to block a slash from the right sword, then one from the left sword.
The masked man launched a powerful kick into his stomach, knocking the air out of him, and sending him flying off his feet and a few meters away. He was soon off and away from the dirt field and slammed back-first into a tree. Groaning in pain for a second, Kenny looked up just in time to see the Killer jumping at him with, arms crossed like an X, ready to cut the young man in half. Quickly opening his wings, Kenny used them as he jumped upwards into the air.
SLICE!
The jump provided to be timed just right, just before the Killer sliced right through the truck of the tree completely with ease. The masked man looked over his shoulder to see Kenny landing back on the ground. He turned around to face Kenny, while the tree topples over on its side with a rattling, snapping crash.
Kenny wouldn't have been surprised by the sword cut, if they were like the Blade of Light Freed carried with him. What astonished him was the fact that the swords were one metal piece and he would have to guest them were also silver, since the masked man was planning on killing and he is a Devil.
He was brought out of his thoughts when the Killer rushed him. Kenny ducked his head before it was taken off his shoulders by a right horizontal slash. He brought the Sword up to parry another slash. Then the Killer jumped up, angled his body sideways, and spun around like a propeller with his arms stretched out to the sides, forcing Kenny to raise the Sword to block a series of slashes while backing away. He quickly took a leap step back, causing the masked man stopped his spinning. He slashed at his left side, only to lock blades with the masked man's left sword it. The Killer then turned around to the right and swing his right hand sword, which Kenny blocked.
The Killer then lifted with his left arm and pointed the tip of the sword in his left hand at him.
He thrusts it forward.
Kenny saw it and quickly twisted his body sideways to dodge the stab, watching as the shiny metal moved forward a feet inches parallel from his chest.
The black-haired teen took a couple steps back to catch his breath. The Killer wasn't having any of it and charged towards him. Kenny parried a slash and quickly kicked hard into the man's stomach. The Killer held his stomach with his head down as he moved backwards a few feet, with his feet dragged into the grass and dirt.
Coming to a halt, he looked up to see Kenny in the air with the Sword over his head.
"YAAAAAAH!" Kenny let out his battle cry as he came down towards the Killer.
To his frustration, he saw the Killer seemingly disappear in a black blur when he jumped back just before he could chop him in half. Looking up, Kenny saw as the masked man lands back on the dirt field five meters away.
"Come now, boy," said the Killer as he stood straight. "Surely this isn't the best you got."
Kenny snarled at the masked man in anger. He knew that he shouldn't be getting angry during a fight, but after what he did to Rias and the others, it proved to be quite a challenge. He reopened his wings. "Stand still, and I'll show you more!"
WISSSH!
With a flap of his bat-like wings, Kenny glided across the field at great speeds with the Sword raised to cut down the Killer.
However, the man jumped upwards again. Kenny halts himself in midair, before placing his feet on the ground. Frantically turning his head from left to right, the teen tried to locate the Killer, but couldn't find him. He was sure the guy jumped. He couldn't have just disappeared like that.
"If you truly believe that you can kill me…" Kenny's head snapped to the right and upwards in the direction of the voice. He found the silhouette of the masked man standing on top of the school's roof with the moon shining behind him. The Killer looked down at the young man with his hakama pants flowing in the wind. "Then come at me," he said.
Kenny stood there and glared for a brief sentence. He then flapped his wings and took flight. Knowing he wasn't going to able to reach the gable roof the Killer was on, as it was the highest one of the school, Kenny landed on one of the lower ones and rushed forward.
He then flew himself on to the highest roof and ran towards the Killer. Kenny slashed at him, but the attack was blocked by the right sword. He ducked his head to avoid a swipe from the other sword.
The Killer suddenly went lower and sweep kicked his legs out for under him.
"WAH!" Kenny fell hard on his back. He grunted in pain for a second with his eyes closed shut, before opening them. He quickly rolled out of the way before a sword could stab him through the heart. That was a mistake, as he found himself rolling uncontrollably down one of the slopes of the roof.
He was soon stopped when his stomach slammed first into a dormer. Kenny groaned in agony as his back bent upwards and his arms and legs hanged off the edges. He placed his arms on the top of the dormer and pushed himself just a little bit. He then looked over his right shoulder and neared yelled out of shock.
The Killer was falling towards him with his swords over his head.
Placing both hands on the dormer's top, Kenny pushed himself backwards and off it.
CRASH!
Right before the Killer brought his swords down on the dormer, cutting into it and creating a dust cloud.
Kenny was soon falling down towards the ground. Halfway down, he opened his wing again and flapped.
He landed with a crouch and hand on the ground to stabilize himself. The Killer land a few feet in front of him, as they were now on the front side of the school, with the wall of the building to Kenny's right. The two warriors stood up from their landing. Kenny spread his legs and readied the Sword.
No one made a move, only stood there waiting to see make the first move under the moon's light.
Kenny charged forward. The Killer sidestepped to the right to dodge a diagonal slash, causing Kenny to go past him. Kenny quickly turned around and blocked the left hand sword. Then parried the right sword, before leaping back to avoid another right slash from the left sword.
He was stopped when he felt something tough the back on his hip. Looking behind himself, Kenny saw it was the stone fountain. When Kenny turned his head to face back forward, he instantly crouched down and jumped to the right before the Killer chopped down on the edge of the fountain, destroying that section of it.
Kenny rolled forward on his back when he landed. He then quickly got up to his feet and turned around. The Killer rushed and started slashing at him.
CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!
Kenny parried and blocked all of the attacks while being forced back. He felt like it was costing him more strength by the second.
[Boost!]
Giving himself another boost of energy, Kenny went on the offensive with his own slashes and hacks with only his right hand holding the Sword. This time the Killer was the one being forced backwards, backing stepping his way towards the academy. Being more experienced than the high school student, he effortlessly blocked all the attacks.
CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!
The Killer stopped walking when he felt the wall against his back. Taking a quick glance over his shoulder to see the structure for himself, he turned his attention back to Kenny.
Kenny saw the left sword coming at him in a downward diagonal slash. With a loud clang, he swatted it away with the Sword.
The Killer then swung his right sword horizontally at the black-haired teen. To his surprise, Kenny's Boost Gear grabbed his wrist in a strong grip.
See his opening to strike, Kenny brought the Sword up over his head with his right arm and brought it down vertically in an arch. But at the same time it, the Killer brought up his foot and kicked him in the stomach.
SLICE!
It didn't stop the momentum of the Sword, as the tip of it cut down the middle of the mask.
A cry of agony escaped the Killer's mouth while Kenny landed on his back with a thud. Laying there for two seconds while groaning, Kenny then brought his upper body up on his elbows in an attempt to sit up. He opened one of his closed eyes and saw the Killer hunched over, with his right hand free of its sword and placed on his face.
Stumbling a bit, the Killer placed his left arm on the wall and lean against it, groaning and moaning in pain. Kenny watched him for about a second before remembering this was a fight and scrambled to his feet. Getting into a fight pose, he waited for the Killer to make a move. All the masked man did was take his hand away from his face and examine the blood it was covered in.
The Killer looked towards Kenny, before taking his arm off the wall and turned his body towards him. Even though Kenny can't see his face or his eyes, looking into the two eyes holes with a long and bloodied slice mark still chills down his spine.
Those chills intensified when the left side of the mask fell away, revealing a man about maybe five years older than Kenny with red eyes. The Killer glared angrily at him, while blood leaking lightly for the cut.
Sweat ran down the side of Kenny face as he stared at the Killer with a hint anxiousness in his eyes. The Killer bent down and picked up the left hand sword he dropped. Bringing himself standing straight up again, he had his arms at his sides and swords clenched tightly.
Kenny stood there for a second to see what the Killer's next move would be. Inside, he felt a little worried that he's just awoken a beast and it was ready to tear him to pieces. He quickly Promoted to a Rook.
His thoughts were cut off when the Killer rushed at him with a burst of great speed. Kenny was only given a quarter of a second to be surprised before raising up the Sword.
KLANG!
The force of the two swords hitting against the Sword knocked Kenny off his feet and onto his back. Quickly scrambling to his feet, Kenny looked around to find the Killer. His ears picked up something form up above. Looking up, he saw the Killer coming down at him with his blade over his head. When he brought them both down, Kenny blocked them. Flipping back for him in the air, the Killer ran up to him and started swinging at Kenny fast and furiously. Kenny blocked and dodged as many of them as he could, but some were able to leave small burning cuts on him, making him wince.
After swinging his right sword at him, which he ducked his head under, the Killer brought it back and stabbed it into the ground. He swung left sword at Kenny, and he blocked it. Then suddenly, the man grabbed the younger male by the front of his red shirt. Kenny yelled in shock when he felt the Killer pick him off his feet and threw him over his head.
"AAAHH!" Kenny yelled as he flew through the air upside down, his back facing forward, with arms and legs extended out in front of him.
CRASH!
He cried out in pain when his back slammed into the main gate of Kuoh Academy, busting it up before landing on his back with a painful thud. He quickly rolled over on his hand and knees and stood back up. Quickly turning his body around, he saw the Killer flying at him, with the end of his black hakama seeming like a blur at the speeds he was going. The Killer landed in front of him. Kenny slashed horizontally at him, but the half-masked man was a blur when he jumped up again. This time the Killer jumped over both Kenny and the bridge in front of the school and landed on the other side of it in an arch.
Kenny twisted his upper body to the right to look at where he landed. He then turned himself completely around and charged. He was not letting this guy get away.
However, right when he stepped foot on the bridge, the Killer reached behind his waist with his right hand. Pulling back out his hand, he held the sword with his pointer finger and thumb, while his remaining fingers held two red ball pellets.
When Kenny was about three steps from the half way point of the bridge, the Killer throws the pellets towards him. Kenny's eyes widened when he saw them coming. He was about to stop himself and jump back with the help of his wings, but before he could the pellets hit the stone pathway of the bridge.
KA-BOOM!
The explosion that ensued destroyed the bridge while sending chunks and pieces of debris flying everywhere, somehow completely missing the Killer. Not even a second later, the whole thing buckled and collapsed down into the canal. Taking with it Kenny.
Wanting to make sure the job was down while not giving him the time to recover, the Killer sheathed his swords, reached behind his waist, and pulled out about five of explosive ball pellets in each hand. Aiming at where Kenny Kurosawa landed, he swiftly throws them into the canal.
KA-SPLUSH!
A geyser of water exploded into the air before the Killer, sending water high up into the sky before raining back down, draining the canal of most of its water, and creating a mist. As he was being soaked by the falling water and with only the left side of his mouth being seen, the Killer smirked victoriously at his work. That smirk was soon down and replaced by a confused expression when he heard a splashing sound.
When the mist covering the canal cleared up, there was nothing but debris littering all over that area of the waterway. But then one tall piece of the bridge that was standing up suddenly fell forward on its face, revealing a battered, wet, and panting Kenny proceeding to stand back up over the two feet deep water that was gradually rising. He scowled up at the Killer. He black blazer and white dress shirt were gone, leaving only his red shirt with him, and even it had a few small tears. The black pants had large holes that exposed his scraped knees, with his arms having a few scraps and bruises of their own.
"How?" The Killer whispered in shock.
Kenny didn't answer and raised his sword—which he miraculously held onto—while getting into a fighting pose. Trust is, when the first explosion that destroyed the bridge went off, he was knocked back while his blazer and dress shirt were destroyed in the blast. When the bridge fell down into the canal, he must have landed behind the large debris and that shielded him from the second explosion. Good thing he still had on the Rook abilities.
"Can't waste any more time," Kenny said to himself and opened his wings. Just like before, he flapped them with a great amount of strength, resulting in him shooting upwards. Passing the high edge of the canal, Kenny stopped a few feet above the ground before falling. Turning his body so that it was facing the Killer when he lands.
With the Sword over his head, Kenny landed to the left of the Killer—who turned his head towards him—and brought down the Sword.
CLASH!
The Killer blocked the attack with his left sword and then slashed at him with his right sword. Kenny blocked it and then right slashed horizontally at him, but it was blocked. He then chopped down diagonally, but this time when it was blocked by the Killer, the teen sent his left fist into the right cheek of the half-masked man. Causing him to stagger back.
Seeing his opening, Kenny swung the Sword again.
SLICE!
"GAH!" The Killer screamed out in pain as Kenny cut across his chest, leaving a gash. Gritting his teeth while groaning in agony, the Killer twirled the swords into reverse grips and placed his hands on the bleeding gash. Growling as he hunched over a bit, the older man looked up at Kenny and glared angrily at him. Kenny returned the look with a scowl.
Continuing to glare at him for about three seconds more, the Killer then turned around and jumped high up onto the roof of a nearby house, then leaped across to another one.
Not willing to let the man escape, Kenny opened his wings and flew up onto the first house's roof. Once his feet touched the roof, he looked up and was astonished to find the Killer already so many houses away and still going.
'How is he still able to keep going?' He thought to himself. Surely his wounds would've weakened him, right? Kenny shook his head to clear it of any other questions. He had to focus. With his wings still open, Kenny leaped up and flew after the Killer.
"Rias…Rias…RIAS!"
Rias snapped her eyes opened with a loud gasp and jolted upwards. Frantically scanning her surroundings, she saw she was still on the dirt field on the school and it was still nighttime.
"Rias!" The redhead whipped her head to the left when she felt a hand placed on her shoulder. To her relief it turned out to be Sona kneeling next with a worried expression. She stared at her friend to make sure she was okay, Sona released her held breath in relief. "Thank goodness you're okay," she said.
"Sona?" Rias asked after calming down. "When did you…"
"We arrived just a few seconds ago." The two Kings turned their head to see Tsubaki standing behind them. "After erasing all of the memoirs of the incident from the police and other witnesses, as well as repairing the damage done to the locals where we fought them, we made our way back here." She looked over her right shoulder to gesture towards the other members of the Occult Research Club regaining consciousness while Sona's peerage tended to them. "When we arrived here, we found like this and assumed the worst. But luckily it wasn't."
"Rias, what the hell happened," Sona asked.
Rias moaned as she rubbed her right temple before beginning to recollect her memoirs. "Well, it was after we got back." She starts explaining. "Akeno's teleportation circle, for some reason, brought us out here. We didn't mind at first and I even asked…" Her sentence came to a complete stop as her eyes widened with shock and her hung open. She remembered. She remembered seeing her cute samurai take the Sword out. He was walking towards a masked man. He was the one who knocked them out. And now he was going to fight Kenny.
"Kenny!" Rias shot up to her feet and frantically looked around her surroundings. Her scream made Sona, Tsubaki, and the others almost jump out of their skin.
"Rias, what's wrong?" Sona stood up, feeling more worried for her friend and now even Kenny too. The busty redhead turned her attention to her and suddenly grabbed her by the arms.
"Where is he?!" She asked, freaking out. Rias lets go of Sona and looked at the others. "Have any of you seen Kenny?"
Tsubasa, who was kneeling next to Asia to tend to her, stood up with the blonde and ask concerned, "What do you mean. Wasn't he with you?"
Rias ignored the question and scanned the field again. Hopping that a sign of Kenny would somehow pop up and present itself.
"Rias." Akeno's firm and concerned voice broke through Rias' mind and the redhead turned her attention to her Queen. The girl looked at her with an anxious expression, as she was also worried about Kenny. "I was the first to be knocked out," she said, placing a hand to her heart, "so I don't know what's going on. But you seem to do. Please, if you know something, tell us."
After hearing those words Rias started to calm herself, realizing that panicking wasn't going to help her Pawn. Taking a deep breath, she began to explain was she saw. "There's a man wearing a kabuki mask that attacked us. I think he wants to kill Kenny."
"What!" Everyone shouted in disbelief.
"Why would he want to do something so horrible?" Asia asked with her fist held close to her chest.
"I don't know," Rias said before placing a hand to her chin to think. "This person wasn't a robot, I can tell from his bare chest, but he had a reason for wanting to fight Kenny. He did knock us out to provoke him. He did say something about a… First Legion of Darkness."
"First Legion of Darkness?" Sona started thinking too, with her right hand holding up her left elbow while her left hand was on her chin. "Why does that name sound familiar?"
Kiba, who was off to Rias' right, remembered something. "Say President," he said, catching her attention. "Didn't Exdor say that the people who wanted the X-series reprogramed wearing kabuki masks?"
The moment after he said that, Rias gasped in realization. If this person was associated with the people Kiba suggested, then it was likely that he was one of them that wanted Kenny dead. But why would he want to kill him? What would they gain from it? But then it hit her. 'Could this First Legion of Darkness be—?'
"Uh, guys." Everyone turned their attention to Saji, who wasn't there at the time. He was now standing a couple feet away from the group with a freaked out expression. "You gonna want to see this."
"What in the world?" Sona asked out all, too amazed to say anything else after. Saji had taken the group out towards the front of the academy where, to their shock and surprise, found the gates busted open and the bridge that connected the neighborhood to the school destroyed.
Currently Sona, Rias, Akeno, Tsubaki, Asia, and Tsubasa were standing on the neighborhood side, while the rest were on the school side of the canal.
"As you guys went towards the Clubhouse," Saji explained, standing close to the edge of the now destroyed bridge, "I looked down and saw this. I looked around to see if anyone was around, but saw nothing." He then bent down on one knee and rubbed his hand on black scorch marks that were on the stone ground. "These scorch marks make me believe that it was destroyed an explosion."
"You don't think Kenny was caught in it," Reya asked him worriedly. It was something that they all hopped wasn't true. There was no telling want this attacker was capable of and the fact that he was able to knock out Rias and Akeno, two of the strongest Devils in the area made it spin chilling as to think of Kenny fighting him.
"He was, but Kenny Kurosawa is alive," said a mechanical.
Everyone on the neighborhood side turned around, as the others on the other side of the canal looked up.
Rias and Asia gasped, surprised to see who it was. "You…" said the redhead.
Standing behind them was X-9 and the small Pup Lulu sitting next to his right left. His car parked sideways behind him. "Kenny Kurosawa is on the move," he said. "If you follow me, I'll be able to track him down."
Kata-kata-kata-kata-kata-kata…
The sound of Kenny's running footsteps was only matched by his rapid breathing through his gritting teeth, as he ran across a roof with his wings still open. In front of him on another roof was the Killer, still running away from him. As of now, the chase has been going on for about few minutes. The Killer didn't stop for anything, even with the gash Kenny inflicted continuing to drip blood that left a trail.
'Then again,' Kenny thought as he leaped and landed on the same roof the Killer, finally closing in on him, 'I lost a massive amount of blood when Raynare and her followers kidnapped Asia and the Fairy.'
And then, just when Kenny was half way to catching him, the half-masked man jumped off the edge of the roof. His jump took him all the way across the street below before landing on the brim of another house's roof.
Kenny was shocked by this, but nonetheless picked up his speed. When his next step was placed near the edge of the roof, Kenny stretched out his wings, Promoted to a Knight and launched himself forward. With the wind flowing through his hair, Kenny felt like he was flying as he sailed across to the other side.
He landed in the center of the roof. Looking up, he saw the Killer only a few feet from him. And he was about to jump off again. Through with running and chasing for one night, Kenny narrowed his gaze and ran forward a few steps. Then he flapped his wings and leaped forward with his arms extended out and the Sword in a reverse grip. He was hoping to tackle the Killer onto the other roof when he was in middle air.
To his surprise, the Killer just ran off the roof and fell down.
'What!' Kenny thought incredulously. His short flight took him across the gap between the two houses that the man down into. Quickly stopping himself by straightening his body and flapping his wings forward once to halt his movement. Kenny then turned around and ran back to the edge of the roof.
Getting down on his hands and knees, Kenny looked over the edge and down below. It looked to be an alleyway between the back sides of the houses, but that all he could tell as it was too dark to see anything. Tracking his gaze across the ground to the left, he saw that the alleyway stretched for many blocks before ending at an opening. Doing the same with the right, Kenny saw the same thing; an opening at the end. Only it was a few meters away.
Kenny let out a sigh with a fatigued shake of his head. He knew that he was going to have to go down there if was going to find the Killer again. And so he Promoted himself to Rook, threw his legs over the edge, and fell down into the dark alley.
He crouched on one knee when he landed, as the green jewel on his Sacred Gear glowed dimly in the darkness. He stayed like that for a second so that he could scan his surroundings. There was nothing there but him. No trash. No water puddles. Nothing but a soft howling echoes of the wind current flowing through the narrow alley. He could even feel the cool air and it made him shiver a bit, due to how wet he still was.
But Kenny wasn't letting his guard down. The Killer was still there. Standing up, Kenny held the Sword with both hands and brought it close to himself, with the blade pointing up. Noticing the soft green light shining from the Boosted Gear, he made sure to have his left hand angled just so that the jewel was pointing in front of him. He knew that it was a risky thing and that he was now able to see better in the dark environment, but it was just something that felt right doing.
With that done, Kenny started making his way forward towards the closest exit. At a slow and cautious pace, his footsteps weren't as loud as how they would normally sound. However, it was still enough to have his heart racing and forced him to control his breathing; all while his eyes moved all around their sockets as he watched for anything to move.
About 12 meters away from the opening exit Kenny stopped walking. He then turned his body to the right and looked down at the other opening, wondering if the Killer had gone that way.
Kata-kata!
His eyes widened by the sound of running feet, and quickly turned back around.
CLASH!
He turned just in time to block the two swords of the Killer. Sparks flew off of the colliding metal weapons, brilliantly shining upon both their snarling faces as they locked blades. When the lighting faded, Kenny pushed the half-masked man away and flowed.
CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!
Kenny started slashing and hacking at the Killer, forcing the man back. Everything two or three blades struck, sparks would fly and light up the battle for only a brief moment.
The Killer brought his swords up and tried to bring them down on Kenny, but the teen raised his blade up and blocked the attack. Kenny, still having his Rook abilities active, deliver a fast and hard kick to the Killer's stomach. The man felt all the air leave his lung as his mouth gaped open. The kick also sent him flying backwards, until he landed outside of the alleyway. He quickly picked himself up and ran to his left, with Kenny running towards the exit to follow.
Rushing out of the alley, Kenny turned his body to the right and skidded to halt. He saw the Killer a few meters away stop too, standing in the middle of a three-way intersection, and looked over his shoulder back at him.
When Kenny started charging at him, the Killer looked around to see if this was where he wanted to fight. This boy has proven to be more trouble that he was hoping and the man knew he overestimated himself with him. He was just a human.
Truth be told, after fight Raynare and her followers, the three Phoenix servants, and the X-series, Kenny as gained quite a lot of experience in fighting. Coupled with his grandfather's training, Kenny was more than a capable warrior.
However, when he looked to his right, he saw a stone pathway that led to a stone Torii gate that was before a long flight of stone steps. The Killer smirked to himself. If the Torii was a part of a shrine, then he could use that to his advantage.
Just when Kenny was about four feet from him, the Killer speeded away in a blur to the right. Snapping his head to where he went with a stunned expression, Kenny only saw the man coming right at him the next second. He wasn't able to react when he was kicked. His body flew towards the Torii gate.
He landed on his ass a foot from passing through the gate and slid the rest of the way. To the Killer's shock and anger, nothing happened to him when his back and head collided into the first few steps.
Little did he know that this was where Akeno lived.
Kenny groaned from the impact and landing with his eyes shut. Lifting his back away from the steps, he rubbed the back of his head for a second. When he opened his eyes, Kenny wasn't able to take in his surroundings and the fact that he had just entered a shrine. The Killer ran towards the teen and about five feet away, he leaps at him with his swords over his head. Kenny quickly reopened his wings and launched himself up the flight of stairs. Wincing as he felt the edge of each step rub against his back.
CLANK!
The two swords slammed on the stairs Kenny was once at, leaving cut marks carved into the stone.
Kenny ran up the stairs to the only floor up the hill, before turning around to wait for the Killer. The half-masked man wasn't far behind and when the two were on the floor, they clashed blades again. If anyone was to be walking by the Torii gate, they would have probably have heard the fight echoing, as multiple clashing, clanging, and clanking echoed for the deadly dance of swords.
Kenny blocked the left blade and then right one, before right swinging the Sword horizontally at the Killer's head, only for the half-masked man to duck his head under. He then sped toward the stairs that continued upwards, before Kenny could bring his blade down on him. Looking at where the man was going, Kenny rushed after him.
With the Killer in front while running backwards, and Kenny in the back facing him while he runs forward; the two warriors continued their sword clashing while making their way up the long flight of stairs. Trees whipped past them on both sides, and the number of steps for them to climb seemed endless.
Unbeknownst to the two as they continued their upwards, fighting was that up at the top of the hill was the shine and another Torii gate: Akeno's home.
CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!
At about fifteen stairs from the top, the Killer jumped backwards, taking himself the rest of the way up. Kenny ran faster to catch up.
When the Killer landed gently at the top of the stair and under the gate, he back away a feet step before Kenny rushed up and charged at him with a swinging sword.
CLASH!
The Killer blocked the attack with his right hand sword before diagonally slashing down at him, but Kenny parried that. The two of them then continued slashing at each other and blocking the others attacks. Sometimes they thrust their weapons or swing at their opponent, while other times they would dodge the attack to quickly send their own attacks. All this happening before the traditional Japanese shrine, as the moon was starting to descend from the night sky.
CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!
Suddenly the Killer used both swords and with a trill and powerful swing, swatted the Sword out of Kenny's left hand, leaving it only in his right hand. However, it also left his body opened. Acting quickly, the Killer swung his right sword down on him. Kenny saw this a reacted by reaching out to grab it.
Clank!
Surprisingly to him and the half-masked man, he caught it by the blade. It didn't cut him, though. Kenny guest that since the Boosted Gear was armored that it was able to hold the silver blade. The Killer snapped out of his dilemma and swung his left sword at his neck. But thanks to his Devil reflexes, Kenny was able to bring the Sword up and block the attack.
The two stood there glaring at the each other. The Sacred Gear kept its hold as the Killer tried to pull it away. Kenny tried to push away the other sword, as the half-masked man tried to force it towards his neck.
POW!
The Killer kicked Kenny back, causing him to release his grip as he backed away. With his left hand placed where the kick impacted—his chest—Kenny's back touched up against one of the two legs of the Torii.
"You should know that death is no dishonor," said the Killer as he stood a few feet from Kenny. "The death that is demanded of me will bring greatness to the Legion."
"Why?" Kenny asked with a scowl. "Why did you and the First Legion wanted the X-series to kill me? What do you get from all of this?"
"It is not what I want. It's want they commanded." The Killer shook his head. "Because it's what he would have wanted."
"'He?'"
"Yes!" The man shouted at the heavens with his arms and swords extended outwards, as the setting moon was behind him. "We worship only one. One that will bring an era of greatness for those who are grateful and loyal to him!" His right hand abruptly released its grip of its sword, letting it fall to the ground. "And once we kill you and destroy that damned sword, his return will be the beginning of a golden age in the history of the world. And it is us who will be there to bring him back! To be there to greet him and devote our undying allegiance to him! We, the First Legion of Darkness, are the followers of the only true god in this world!" The Killer grabbed his neck with his right hand and snapped it off, before holding it up to the heavens. "AKU!"
The moment that name went through Kenny's ear, he was left in complete and utter disbelief and paralyzed. The First Legion of Darkness was the followers of Aku that Jack warned him about. But why was a human with them? Are there any more like him? Why would he willingly join Aku? Many more questions popped into his head as he tried to process what was just said to him.
"So now you know what must be done." The Killer said, snapping Kenny out of his thoughts, while wrapping the neckless around his right hand. "As I said; there will be no shame in your death. Think of it as cleansing you of your sin; being the next carrier of the Sword. Being born into this life." After finishing with the wrapping, he bends down and grabs the sword he dropped. "I've read all about you for this mission. You seem like a good person. Your affections for Rias Gremory is strong, which is why I targeted her last." Kenny felt his grip tighten on the Sword. "Your sister is lucky to have a brother like you. You've done a remarkable thing by saving the nun and the Fairy. You deserve to live a full life, full of happiness and love. But since your life is labeled as a sin—" the Killer extends his arms out a bit, readying his blades to strike. "—I must ended you."
He charged and leaped at Kenny, sword raised over his head to cut the teen.
At the very last second, Kenny place one foot out in front, grabbed the Sword with both hands, and thrust it forward.
STAB!
"Gah!" The Killer gasped out loud as his collided into Kenny, causing the teen to slam back into the leg of the Torii. Gasping like a fish out of water, the Killer struggled to look over his shoulder as his body pressed up against Kenny. Though he couldn't see it and only caught a glimmer of metal out of the corner of his eyes, he knew it was there. That sticking out his back was a blood covered blade. The man coughed up blood and his swords fell from his grasps. His body goes limp as he dies.
Kenny shared out ahead, breathing with his mouth open. He wanted to say something, but couldn't find the right words. How could he? Raynare may have been the first person he's even killed, but this man was a human. A human that's been tricked and/or corrupted by the Angels, Devils, and Fallen Angels of the First Legion of Darkness. What he did was—
'No!' He shook his head, not wanting to think like that. 'The decisions I make and the actions that follow are a reflection of who I am. He was the one who attacked first and harmed Rias and everyone else. He was the one who wanted to kill me, so I retaliated. If he had killed me, then the Sword would have been lost. No one would be safe. He chose his actions, I had chosen mine to protect my friends and family.'
Taking a deep breath, Kenny slides down the Torii and sits, taking the Killer with him. Once he was on the ground, he pushes the man off of him to his left, pulling out the Sword in the process. Creating loud, sickening sound as the weapon slid out of the flesh.
The Killer's corpse laid there on his back, blank eyes gazing up at the sky with mouth opened. Kenny just stared at his eyes, trying to something to say to the man. In the end, he just sighed, reach over to the Killer's and took it off. "I don't think to live is a sin." He said before using his fingers to close the eyes, allowing the man to rest in peace. "Like you said before, I'm a good person, with feeling for a wonderful young woman, a sister who I love with all my heart, and I've done things for the sake of others. To die here, to let you kill me, would be a greater sin. I'm not ready to leave behind these wonderful people." After that he sighed.
He then looked down at the Killer right hand. The neckless was still wrapped around it. Curious about it, Kenny grabbed the thin leather rope and unraveled it from the hand. Holding it by the rope, he brought it up to get a better look at the wooden piece hanging from it.
"So, this what you look like?" The wooden piece craved to resemble what looked like the head of a demon. The grinning mouth with four teeth that curved outwards, a long beard, six horns—four long and two short—extending out from the head, and flaming eyebrows. "Aku."
"Kenny!"
Recognizing that voice, Kenny looked all the Torii's leg and down the steps, as the first light of dawn started to shine over the horizon. To his joy, it was Rias and the others running up the stairs. Among them, much to his confusion, was the X-Model known as X-9.
After she arrived first to the top, Rias got on her and hugged the black-haired teen. "Kenny! Oh, thank goodness you're okay," she sobbed lightly. "You don't know how worried I was. I thought that…" she stops when she heard what sounded like snoring. Ending the hug and quickly wiping away her tears, she looked down at him. She, along with the others that were gathered around the two, smiled at what they.
Kenny, with his laying against Rias' large breast, with sleeping peacefully with a smile. The morning sunlight shined upon his face, signaling the end of the night.
"So, this is Aku," Akeno asked, pointing at the wooden neckless piece that was standing up on Rias' desk. After school the next day was over, Rias had called over Sona and Tsubaki, along with Akeno to discuss about last night. Only they were inside the room. The events of last night had left almost everyone tired and exhausted, with Kenny being the most. And so Rias decided it was best for him to sleep in and not come into school for the day. As for the others, she and Sona thought it was best to let their peerage go home early and hold off all club activity until tomorrow.
"That's want Kenny told us," Rias said with her head resting on her knuckles. Her eyes shared directly into the wooden ones of the piece. "It appears my hunch was right. The attacker from last night was one of the people who order Future Robotics to reprogram their X-series into becoming assassins. Those people were members of the First Legion of Darkness: Aku's followers."
"And now it looks like they've made their first move," Sona commented while sitting on the right hand sofa.
"I've already sent a report of the situation of last night to the Underworld," said Tsubaki, standing behind her master, "but have received nothing."
This caught everyone's attention for a moment.
"That's odd," Rias said. "I would have thought that we would have been given something, like an order to be on standby or return to the Underworld."
"What I'd like to know is what are we to do with X-9." Sona looked at the redhead seriously. "I do respect your decision to let him live, but to allow him refuge in Kenny's house? Isn't that a little risky?"
"It was mostly Asia's decision." Rias leaned back in her chair with a smile. "She felt bad for X-9 and offered him a place at Kenny's house." She giggled when she remembered the black-haired teen's reaction to that. The poor boy nearly fainted.
"Then what are we to do when this First Legion attack again?"
Rias' expression changed to a deadly serious one. "If that happens, I'll blow them all away," she said. "We'll have to be ready for anything that they throw at us. But one thing's for sure, I will not let them hurt a single hair on Kenny's head."
Just then her phone started buzzing. Reaching into her pocket, she pulls it out and turned it on. It was a contract. With a single swipe she pulls up the address and—after what happened last night with that CO—the name of the contract.
The second she saw who it was, Rias gasped.
"Rias?" Akeno looked concerned at her King. "Are you okay?"
Her only response was a quivering smile and a tear running down her face. Quickly brushing it away, Rias stood and hurriedly went to the wide area in the room. "I'm sorry, girls. I have to go do something really important." Then in a flash of light, Rias teleported of the room. The other three young women just looked at each other, equally confused.
At the Kurosawa residence, the front door opened to reveal Asia arriving for school. "Hello, everyone," she said with a bright smile.
Karin, who was sitting on one of the sofas, sharing down at her homework on the tea table, looked up to see the blonde come in and smiled. "Hey, Asia. What are you do home so…" The sentence fell to a halt, her smile dropped to a hanging jaw, and her expression showed her astonishment.
X-9 bent his head down a bit to avoid hitting the door frame before stepping inside after Asia. In his left hand he carried Lulu. She now had on a red collar with a dog tag. The machine closed the door behind himself and locked it. He then turned to face Karin.
The younger sibling just sat there and shared, trying to process the fact she was looking at a blue robot that looked like it was a member of the mafia. "Uh, Asia?" She started, finally finding her voice. "Who are your friends?"
"Hm?" Asia blinked confusingly until she realized what she meant. "Oh! That's right, I forget to tell you," she said before gesturing to the robot. "Karin, this X-9 and his adorable puppy, Lulu. You see, he was once a part of a group of robots just like him that were designed to kill Kenny. But X-9 was the only one of them that was given an emotion chip. So we beat the others and saved him from his orders before offering him a place here."
Karin nodded. "…Uh-huh."
Then came the silence.
"KENNY KUROSAWA!" She suddenly roared, snapping the pencil she had in her hand, startling Asia and Lulu. X-9 didn't even flinch.
A second after that the sound of a door banging open was heard, before running footsteps echoed from upstairs. Three seconds later, Kenny came running down the stairs with a panicked expression and the Sword in his right. His body was soaking wet, with his long hair shining and dripping water from it. The only thing he had on was a towel around his waist that his left hand held in place by his right hand.
"What! What's wrong?!" He exclaimed.
"AAAHHHH! Asia scream with cherry red face at the sight of his almost naked body, before turning around and covering her eyes. X-9 gave him a deadpanned share and covered Lulu's eyes with a hand, while she remained obliviously happy and panting.
"What is this I hear about this thing and others like him trying to kill you?" Karin demanded before taking notice of Kenny's wet form. "And why are you naked!"
"I'd just gotten out of the shower," he replied.
"Then explain to me what happened last night!"
Kenny shared at her a brief moment before sighing. Asia most have spilled the beans. "Okay, look." He looked away from her and scratched the back of his head. "I was attacked by X-9 and other units like him last night." He then went over to the sofa on the other side of her and explained what happen. Starting for the extra contract Rias had him do, to meeting Xuelan, Karlamine, and Isabella. Next to being chased by the X-series and meeting Exdor. Then to the plan to destroy the robots and Asia and Rias offer to X-9, saying that the machine staying was a last minute thing for himself too. And finally to the Killer and killing him.
"I know that it was wrong to lie to you, Karin." Kenny lowered his head in shame, feeling guilty for not telling her the truth. "But I did it to protect you. The man with the mask said that this First Legion of Darkness knows about you, and that means that they will hurt you to get to me." He raised his head to look her in the eyes. "Please forgive me."
Karin shared at her older brother in silence for three seconds before shrugging. "Ok."
"Huh?" Kenny blinked two times, a little surprised by his sister's response.
"I forgive you for not telling me," she said before frowning at him. "While I didn't like the fact that you lied to your own sister about being hunted, and that you were okay; I would have done the same." She gave him a heartwarming smile. It was true what she said. If she was the next one in line to carry the blade, then she would've wanted to keep Kenny as far away from the dangers that follows. Karin knew the dangers of having the Sword, but she's learned to accept that Kenny was going to face those who'd wanted to bring harm to people just to get to him.
On the sideline, Asia and X-9 smiled with Karin, glad that it was all okay between the two. Kenny returns the gesture with a smile of his own. Glance around himself, he gives his legs a pat. "Well, I better go get dressed," he said, getting up and walked towards the stairs.
"That's a great idea," she said with a playful smirk. Kenny looked over his shoulder and gave her a lopsided smile before continuing on. After he reached the top floor, he walked down the hallway and enter the bathroom, hopping the dry himself up like he was going to before Karin shouted.
However, the moment he stepped foot in the room, his phone that was on the sink started ringing. Kenny picked it up a saw it was Rias calling him. Wondering why she was calling, he answered the phone and put it on speaker as he grabbed another towel for the railing and started rubbing his head. "Hello?"
"Kenny, are you available at 8:00 tonight?"
He stopped drying his hair for a moment, turned around, and looked at the phone confusingly. "Yeah," he answered. "Why?"
"I got a contract and I'd like it if you could do it."
"Really?" He asked incredulously, if not a little annoyed, taking the towel away from his head. "Remember what happened the last time I tried to do a contract?"
"Don't worry, I've met the person ahead of time and I'll be there with you when you meet them... And trust me Kenny, this is something you might want to consider. If not for me, then for yourself."
Kenny shared at the screen with a raised eyebrow. What does she mean? He knew that making pacts with humans was important, but was this one contract really that big of a deal? After five seconds of silence, he decided it was most likely better for him to just find out for himself. "Okay, I'll be there."
"Terrific! I'll send you the address and I'll meet you there."
"Okay. Seeya, Rias?"
"Goodbye, Kenny."
The called end there. Kenny sighs, exasperated with his shoulders slumping. Hoping that this wasn't going to end up being like last night.
—(7:56 PM)—
"This must be the place," Kenny said to himself, as he found himself standing before a two story house. It wasn't hard to find. It turns out the person lived only about six blocks up the road from his house. He was dressed in blue jeans with a dark gray sweatshirt on, the Sword in the shinai bag on his back like usual.
Just then the front door opened and revealed to be Rias. "Kenny!" She greeted him with a bright smile. "I'm glad you made it."
"Well, you are the boss, so yeah," he said with a smile as he walked onto the porch of the home.
The redhead beauty giggled at him before stepping aside for him. "Then please come on in. The client is just getting ready." He nods and walks into the house.
After taking off his shoes, he follows Rias the rest of the way. Kenny looked around the place out of curiosity. On the walls of the hallway they're walking through were a few pictures and paintings. He then stopped for a brief second to look at one picture that caught his attention. It was family picture that showed a wife, a husband, and their daughter. He didn't take the time to fully examine them and continued after Rias.
"He's here!" Rias called upwards. "We'll be in the living room!"
"Okay," said a woman's voice. "I'll be right there."
Rias looked to right at Kenny and nodded towards another room, signaling for him to follow. Entering the large living room, Kenny found a long sofa on the right side wall and heads towards it. Sitting down on it with Rias doing the same, the black-haired teen leans back and takes the shinai bag off. He then takes the time to look around the room. Seeing a flat screen TV in front of them with a tea table in between, two windows to the right of them with navy blue curtains, and lounging chair to the left of them.
Bring his gaze to the carpeted floor, he found what looked like a stuffed dog with a red bow and dress at his feet. He bends over and picks up the doll. Looking over it for about ten seconds, he was about to place it on the tea table with a voice said, "Excuse me, sir?"
Turning his head to the left, he with surprised to see an adorable little girl about six years old with brown hair down in a braid and green eyes. "That doll is mine," she said politely with her hands behind her back, "may I please have it back?"
Giving the doll a quick glance, Kenny smiles kindly at the girl and hands it to her. She takes the doll and hug it close to her chest. It was a cute and heartwarming sight that Kenny couldn't help but chuckle a bit.
The girl then looked back at him and asked, "Are you and… Miss Rias my babysitters?"
That caught Kenny a little bit by surprise. "Babysitters?"
"I'm afraid not, dear," Rias answered her with a gentle smile. "It's only going to be Kenny, but don't worry; you're going to have a fun time with him."
"Oh."
"Uh, Rias?" Kenny leaned towards the redhead. "What does she mean by babysitters?"
"Well, it's the job," she informed him. "Kenny, this is Hiriko. Her mother would have called a real babysitter to take care of her, but her job just called her to start night shifts tonight and she didn't have the time to call someone. And so, she decided to try us out. Even though it was supposed to be a joke to claim herself when she started to panic." Rias then bents forwards and places a hand on Hiriko's right shoulder. "Hiriko, this is my friend Kenny. Why don't you hello."
"Hello." She grinned at him with a wave.
Kenny returns the gesture with a smile and the wave. "Hi there, sweetheart," he said, trying to be friendly with the girl. Just then a woman in a waitress uniform rushes into the room. She was in her early thirties, was very pretty, with matching colored eyes and hair as her daughter, only with her hair done in a bun.
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting. I'm running a little…" her sentence came to a halt when she looked up from buttoning her sleeves and spotted Kenny.
What followed was an uncomfortable the hung in the air. Not wanting to have it around anymore, Kenny got up from the sofa and extended his hand to her. "H-Hi there, ma'am. I'm Kenny Kurosawa, and I'm a Devil of Rias Gremory," he said to the woman with a smile. The introduction seemed to have snapped her out it and the brunette grabbed as shook.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," She said with a smile. "I'm Ume, Hiriko's mother." She then lets go of his hand and rubbed she together, looking around the room as if wanting to know how to start something. Ume spotted her daughter and kneels one knee and placed her hands on her shoulders. "Hiriko, mommy has to go to work. But this young man is going to take of you, so be on your best behavior."
"Okay, mommy."
Ume flashed her a smile and kissed her forehead. "On off you go while I have a quick talk with these people. I love you very much," she said, bringing her daughter into a hug. When the hug ended, Hiriko ran out of the room with her doll. The mother then turned to the Devils and takes in a deep breathe. "Rias, if you don't mind, I'd like speak to Kenny about…" she rubbed her hands anxiously and bit her lip. "…what you told me."
'Wait, what?' Kenny's expression turned to a puzzled and nervous one. What did Rias tell her?
"I understand," Rias said with a grateful smile. "I'll beside the room if you need me." She then stood up, but before she left the redhead looked over her shoulder at Kenny and gives him an assuring nodded. She walked past Ume and out of the room.
Kenny brought his attention back to the mother. "So what can I help you with," he asked. Ume looked down a bit before sighing and raised her head to look him in the eyes.
"About a month ago, there was an incident; involving a shooter and a student as their main target, and they ended up killing a police officer when the officials came to arrest them," she begins to explain. Kenny's eyes widened a small amount and his back straighten after hearing that, something that Ume noticed. "Yes, that attack." She pause for a moment. "And that student was you, wasn't it?"
"How did you…"
"Rias told me what really happened that night," she answered before he could finish asking. "She told me that the shooter wasn't a terrorist like the news said. It was a Fallen Angel and it was targeting you because you had something that made you a treat to her, yes?"
Kenny nods, wondering where she was going with this.
Ume opened her mouth to say something, but closed it when nothing came out. She sniffed as her eyes became watery. She had to say this. She had to be strong and power through.
"Th-That police officer…was my husband."
Kenny gasped out of shock as his eye became watery too. Was this really happening? Was he really facing that officer's wife? What was he going to do? How does he approach this? The reality of the situation has left him unable to speak the words he's been wanting to say to her.
"When I was told that I could meet you," she continued, struggling not to start crying, "I didn't know what to think. For the first few days I was a wreck. Unable to work to the point where I almost lost my job. I would get drunk to the point that I would snap at anything. Even at my own daughter, who I ended telling her daddy was dead. Something no young child should ever have to hear. When my daughter—" Ume chocked up a bit "—when she asked me if I hated her, it finally hit me that I had a real problem. I blamed you for what happened to him, and for what was happening to me."
"And you should!" Kenny suddenly exclaimed, before looking down in shame and guilt, his body trembling as tears flowed down his face. After hearing everything that she said, he felt horrible. How could he not think about the impact the family would have? And now he knew, and he felt like a monster. "If I could have done something that night to stop her then I would have. But I froze. I froze out of fear for my life that I just sat there and watched as Raynare killed him for getting in her way of killing me. I couldn't do anything."
"I know." His head whipped up to look at Ume. She was still looking down, but Kenny could see she started crying before he did. "After a while, I stopped hating you," she said with light sobs and kind and gentle smile. "I got help. Family, friends, and people that cared for me and Hiriko were able come to me and helped me out of my mental state. I was able to be Hiriko's mother again." The brunette looked up at him and smile. "In the end, I forgave you."
"Why?" He asked.
"Kenny, it's normal that you were afraid." Ume placed a hand on his cheek and used her to brush away the tears. "You were in a situation that you had no control over. You didn't know what was going to happen." She turned her gaze downwards, still holding a smile on her lips. "My husband was only doing his job. He knew what he was signing up for when he joined the force." Ume looked back at him again and place her other hand to her chest. "As did I. And you did do something, you were able to pin her and lead her away before she could kill again. You saved the others' lives. You thought about us and made sure that if we needed you, you'd come to our aid. And in the end you finally brought her to justice."
"But still," Kenny said after the tears stopped, leaving his eyes a small amount of red. "I so sorry. I wish I could have done more."
"Then please," she pleaded with a firmness in her voice, "for my sake and Hiriko sake, live. Don't let my husband's death be for nothing. Live and have a wonderful life."
As he stood there and shared into her eyes, Kenny could see the sincerity and genuineness she had in her words. He remembered what he said the Killer, and realized just how ironic it kind of was. He said that friends and sisters would have wanted for him live, now here was the wife of the police officer asking for him to live.
After about three second of silence, Kenny took a deep breath and smiled. "I will."
"Wonder," Ume said bringing back her hand. She then looked her wrist watch and gasped. "Oh no! I got to go!" She reached into her pocket and pulls out a folded piece of paper and hands it to him. "Everything the she need to do is right here. She's already eaten so just make sure she's in bed by night and I'll hopefully be back at around twelve." The mother turned around a sprinted out of the room. She pasted Rias, who was leaning back against the wall. "Bye Hiriko, I love you!" Ume grabbed her keys from a hanger and opened the door, exiting the house, and closed it behind her.
Rias came out from behind the corner and enter into the living room again. She saw Kenny standing there with a smile, which only made her own grow. "Well, I'll let you handle things from here," she said and was about to transport herself out of the house when Kenny spoke.
"Rias," he said to her. "Thank you."
"It was my pleasure." Rias walked up to the wrapped her arms around his neck, prompting him to wrap his arms around her. "You deserve this, Kenny. I know this is what you would have wanted." She then reluctantly pulled away from the hug and took a few steps back. Spreading out her arms, the redhead beauty summoned the magic circle and in a red flash, disappeared.
A second later, Hiriko ran into the room. "Mister Kenny! Mister Kenny!"
"What? What is it," he asked, getting a little worried.
She then stopped before him and placed her hands behind her back, looking down in embarrassment as she twists her left leg left and right on its toes. "Well, I was going to have a tea party with momma but she's not here. Is it okay if you join me?"
Kenny smile at her, not being able to resist the cuteness of the young girl. "I'd love to," he said.
"Real!" She exclaimed in excitement. "Yeah!" She then grabbed his right hand and started pulling him to follow her. Luckily he was able to grab the shinai bag. Hiriko dragged Kenny out of the room and up the stairs, all while he laughed along the way.
To Be Continued…
{Playing Shine by Mr. Big}
[Instrumentals] The opening fades into the inside of a dark room with the moonlight coming from the window. The light moves against the wall, turning the areas that become covered by it a light blue. As it gradually shifts, it soon reveals the handle of the Sword, as the weapon leans up against the wall. The light then touches the unsheathed blade, causing it to reflect and shine off the metal.
[I never really feel quite right] Kenny, wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans, was out at night standing in an open plain with a few trees behind him. His hair flying in the wind and his hands in his jean's pockets as he looks upwards, the green grass under and around him flowing against the wind as well.
[And I don't know why, all I know is something's wrong] The scene stays like this for a moment, before switching to present a close up of his face. Showing an expression that tells the viewer he was deep in thoughts, as his black eyes weren't focused and his lips were parted a small bit.
[Every time I look at you, you seem so alive] High up on a white balcony in the night time, Rias stands there in a white sundress, with her arms on the railing as she leaned on it while looking up at the moon. She face carries a bright smile as her vixen figure is seen slightly through the dress as it and her elegant crimson hair flies in the wind gracefully while glowing into moonlight.
[Tell me how do you do it, walk me through it] The scene changes to show different images. The first was of Akeno as she smiles sweetly at the viewer in a lovely kimono, holding an umbrella in her arms with her in a bun. The next image is of Kiba as he stands in a gym, wearing Kendo equipment and the mask tucked under his armpit, giving the camera his charming smile, while in the background were many girls smiling at him back with hearts in their eyes.
[I'm following every footstep] Koneko's next shown, sitting on the sofa in the clubhouse with a piece of chocolate in her mouth, looking at the viewer blankly as she holds up her hand in a peace sign. The final image shows Asia in her nun outfit, brushing a few stray hairs behind her right as she smiles brightly, while standing in the park with the playground behind her.
[Maybe on your own you take a conscious step] Returning back to Rias, the camera shows her up close from the left side, with twinkling stars shining in the background. Her bright expression turned to a sad look as her gaze fell. She placed a hand on her left breast and sighs with her eyes closed.
[Do you wanna give it up? All that I want…] Her eyes opened, but only half way. Showing that she's hurt in some way and sadden about something. The camera then shows the left side of her, before Rias turns her head to the left and a surprised expression appeared on her face.
[Is for you to SHINE~] The scene changes to a white surrounding and the camera moves upwards, showing Kenny in his average school uniform, with his back facing the camera, the Sword in his right hand, and the scabbard in his left as his long black hair flows in the wind.
[SHINE~ down on me] The camera zoomed out to show Rias, now naked, staring at Kenny's back with her right shoulder facing the viewer and her head turned towards him.
[SHINE on this life that's burning out] A side angled view, and Kenny now is seen facing Samurai Jack, whose ghost stands a few feet from him. The camera focused on Kenny face for a movement, before switching over to Jack's. The samurai gives him a smile and disappears. Kenny lets out a sigh with his eyes closed, as he was now standing on a cliff as the sky turns orange in the afternoon.
[SHINE~] Rias, now fully dressed in her usual school uniform, walked up to his right and places a hand on his shoulder. Kenny looks at her as she gives him a smile, then Akeno comes up and stand with him too. Then Asia, Kiba, and Koneko.
[SHINE~ down on me] Kenny smiles fondly at them for a moment, before his expression quickly turned serious and he faces forward. The others do the same, readying themselves for battle.
[SHINE on this life that's burning out] The scene changes to show their backs and zooms out to revival Aku's towering silhouette before them, with the setting sun behind his head.
[SHINE~] The image then changes into a watercolor-like painting. Then everything fades out, as the song comes to an end.
Narrator: "On the next episode of The Red Dragon Samurai…."
?: "Hey, you Kenny, ain't you."
Akeno: "Kiyome comes from a family of Beast Tamers."
Kenny and Kiyome: "AAAAAAAHHHH!"
Kenny: "What are these things?!" Kiyome: "How should I know?"
Narrator: "The Red Dragon Samurai. Updates coming soon."
Kenny: "How would you like to be my familiar?"
Narrator: "Only on Fanfiction."
Bet you didn't see that last part coming, huh. :D
And with that, the Assassin Arc is done, with the longest episode I've ever made. And now comes the familiar episode and then the Rating Games Arc. This arc has been a hell of a ride. With all the chasing and fighting, it's been quite the challenge, but I think I pulled it off quite nicely. Now Kenny knows about the First Legion of Darkness and that they are the followers of Aku.
To be honest, I'd almost forgotten about Kenny's vowel to the police officer's family. So to celebrate the tenth episode of the series, I've decided it was time for Kenny to have closure on that subject and meet the family.
And so the part you guys have been waiting for is here. Kenny will meet the White Wolf and have him as his familiar. Now that I'm going off the canon story again, hopefully the updates will come out faster. As always, please review, favorite, and follow if you like the story. Hope you guys had a wonderful 4th of July. Peace!