Challenge thy father
 

Kurokawa and Demon Devin have spent many months training near a small village in the western Garwara. Kurokawa has read the news of his father Taketoshi's  rampages throughout the land. Over several weeks Taketoshi killed many young men as he traveled along the Garwara-Kogasuma border. Even being confronted by ninja sensei Hikori didn't stop the raging Taketoshi. With little news coming in recent days, it is assumed Taketoshi is laying low. The news of these rampages make Kurokawa want to show the world that his father isn't as powerful has he claims. Kurokawa thirst to show his father and the world that he is the rightful master of the katana and should lead a clan of even more powerful warriors. Demon Devin has been at Kurokawa's side for several months as they both train together. Devin knows of Kurokawa's desire for greatness and his deep hatred of his mentor and father Taketoshi. She has heard many times of the savage treatments Kurokawa endured at Taketoshi's hand. One evening as the sun was setting in the summer skies, a humid haze cover the fields as Devin returns from her travels in the village nearby. She notices Kurokawa looking into the hazy field and asks, "Kuro, you seem lost in thought. What is troubling you?" Kurokawa looks at Devin and says, "I have to challenge my father in some way. He began this killing spree to show the world that he is the true master of the katana and the clan. He told the world with his blade that he is here to stay. It was an insult directed toward me, to shame me for leaving the clan." Devin replies, "Maybe it's time we strike at him?" Kurokawa looks away and says, "To challenge my father, I have to know for certain I can beat him. If I'm not a master of the katana, he will kill me. I'm still unsure if I have learned enough. It could take me many more years of learning to match Taketoshi." Devin says while sitting next to Kurokawa, "Well maybe it's time to hit him where he can't really strike back." Kurokawa looks at Devin and says, "Please explain what you mean?" Devin says with an evil grin, "Let's pick off his SoDT clansmen, one-by-one. Since you are not directly challenging Taketoshi to a death dual, he can't attack you by his code. By fighting the SoDT members, you learn some of their techniques." Kurokawa looks intently at what she has just said and says, "Some of those clansmen are like brothers to me and others I hate with a deep passion." Devin says, "They all would kill you on Taketoshi's command. None of them sided with you. I'm not suggesting that we go and kill all of them, but kill at least two or three. That would show your father and the world that his son is the true heir to the clan and that no one dare to cross you." Kurokawa says, "You have a devious mind girl, but I like your idea. I wouldn't dare challenge Murzim.....yet, but the other three current members are fair game." Devins, grinning says, "Who's first?" Kurokawa says, "Follow me at dawn you you'll see!"

After a days ride into the Kogasuma, Kurokawa and Demon Devin come to a small farming village. Kurokawa writes a note and tells a boy nearby to deliver it for a silver coin. The boy quickly runs with the note as Kurokawa looks to Devin. She says, "I'm curious to know who you wish to challenge first is to be." Kurokawa says, "He will come. He's a man of the shadows. A man my father hardly even knows, but he believes a man named Rudabaugh is here. His sword is well known in these parts and if I can take it from him, I will be better for it."

Kurokawa and Devin hide in the nearby woods for a few hours hoping the boy has delivered the note. As they begin to think he didn't, a man wearing a long hat and heavy poncho appears on the trail. Kurokawa and Devin appear in the man's path. The Drifter looks up and sees Kurokawa. Nothing is said. Kurokawa says after a long pause, "You will never meet Rudabaugh. My katana will end your search." The Drifter looks up and his eyes look over Kurokawa and then to Demon Devin. He then says with a raspy voice with a hint of  laughter, "Two of you. That's not a fair fight young one. You come here with a girl too. I'm going to have fun I see. Trouble is what you want, that is what you shall get!" Kurokawa walks closer, his hands sweating as his adrenaline rushes. The Drifter remains calm. Kurokawa yells, "Let me know to where I should send your head, to Taketoshi or to Rudabaugh!" The Drifter face to fully visible and a profoundly evil grin is seen, his decaying teeth are displayed. He says, "Bring it boy. The last thing you will hear is me slowly slicing this girl." Kurokawa roars back, "I will make you scream like an animal you filthy bastard!" Devin displays her sword. Kurokawa quickly leaps toward the Drifter as his displays his sword. They both clash and a quick series of swings and strikes occur. Kurokawa violently thrashes his katana and nearly knocks the Drifter off of his feet. The Drifter keeps his cool even as Kurokawa continues his attack. Devin stays in the background with her eyes intently focused on the two. After several minutes of fierce fighting, the Drifter is able to get a quality strike on Kurokawa. He is able to slash his leg, right above the knee. Kurokawa winces from the pain but stays composed. As he tries to defend a further blow the Drifter, with is left hand slaps Kurokawa' s face and delivers a cut to his back. Kurokawa becomes much more enraged and roars as he fights to get the upper hand in this battle. The Drifter feeling as if he's got the upper hand attacks Devin too. She is able to defend herself, keeping up with the Drifter's quick sword action. Kurokawa realizes that the Drifter is much better then he had thought, but he believes his attack on Devin will throw his focus off. Kurokawa shouts as the Drifter and Devin challenge each other's skill and strength as they hold their sword positions, "Face me MAN! FACE ME!" The Drifter quickly breaks the sword lock with Devin and rushes Kurokawa. As he goes for a risky move, his sword clashes with the Drifter's and then punches the Drifter in the face, leaving himself open. The Drifter is fazed by Kurokawa powerful punch and as he tries to regroup, Kurokawa slashes a long cut up his chest, tearing his poncho and shirt open. The Drifter howls in pain as Kurokawa makes a quick series of swings and is able to cut off the Drifter's left hand. As the Drifter turns, Kurokawa makes the kill by decapitating the Drifter. Kurokawa then collapses. Devin runs to him as he tries to catch his breath. Kurokawa says, "That guy was much better then I had been lead to believe. He didn't think twice about fight both of us." Devin replies, "I know. What should we do with his head?" Kurokawa says while looking over his wounds, "I will send it to Taketoshi, but we must take out at least one more of the SoDT. That would truly shame him." Devin says, "Do you think you are able to take on another member so soon?" Kurokawa says, "I have to, what other way is there?" Devin replies, "Most of your father's gang are thugs, there is no need to always follow his code. Just assassinate the next member!" Kurokawa thinks to himself and says, "We are really going down a dangerous path girl."
 

Kurokawa and Demon Devin quickly send the severed head of the Drifter to the address in which Kurokawa believes his father is staying. They then quickly make for a small, remote mountain village about 30 miles to the north.

Kurokawa and Demon Devin arrive in the village several hours after nightfall. Kurokawa has been silent along their journey regarding to whom they plan to assassinate. Devin whispers, "Kuro, why have you not told me who we are to kill? Is it Gareth or Aemoh?" Kuro looks over at Devin the nights glow and says, "I wanted to kill Gareth first, I hate him almost as much as I hate my father, but I don't know where he is. Aemoh has never wronged me, but to follow my father simply condemns him to death." Devin asks, "You told me before that he is a very demented religious man who has sacrificed many living beings for his gods." Kurokawa replies, "He has slowly killed many people, young villagers for his god or gods. He kills whatever he can capture. I warn you inside his temple will be a place of great horrors. The smell alone could make you vomit." Devin questions, "How do we kill him? Do you want to dual with him or just a simple, quick kill?" Kurokawa says, "Aemoh is a very powerful man, but his swordsmanship is of lesser quality. Maybe you should go for the kill here. Take his head in any manor you see fit. If you have trouble just yell. I will be at the temple entrance.

Devin walks toward the dark temple on this dark, moonless light. She thinks to herself as she hold her sword, "Kuro is testing me with this kill. What kind of a maniac am I to encounter?" Devin walks into the dark temple and can only see a few candles burning. She can smell death everywhere as she very slowly makes her way down the main corridor. She sees skins of animals, many of then dried up and skull and bones littering the corridor. She comes to the main room which is more lit. She doesn't see Aemoh but senses he is nearby. Devin sees a carcass of a deer torn open and it's organs laying before a huge statue of what looks to be a giant granite man with eight arms. She starts to move closer when she it hit from behind with a club. Devin falls and nearly looses her sword. Dazed, Aemoh appears and kicks her sword out of her hands and quickly throws her onto his shoulder. Devin briefly passes out as Aemoh carries her to the alter.

Devin soon wakes as she see Aemoh over her. His shiny helmet and yellow eye lenses add to his menacing looks. He doesn't speak, just grunting and looking to his statue with the glee. Devin quickly regains her strength and notices her arms are tied to the platform from behind her. She sees many dirty knives to her right. She shouts, "What are you doing you maniac? Free me and fight me if you call yourself a warrior." Aemoh is on the process of taking off Devin's boots and notices her face reddening as she grows angrier. He yanks her other boot off and tears open her pants around her knee, grabbing her calf. Devin thinks, "This crazy bastard wants to feed me to his God." Devin shouts, "I'll destroy you! Fight me if you call yourself a warrior! If you can defeat me with your skill then you can feed me to your God!" Aemoh looks over at her rage grows. Suddenly Kurokawa enters the room and yells, "Face me Aemoh! Your God wishes for you to challenge me!" Aemoh ignores Kurokawa as he picks up one of his cleavers. Kurokawa drop-kicks Aemoh. Aemoh looks and roars, the roar muffled by his mask. As he begins to charge, Kurokawa drop-kicks him again, forcing Aemoh into a deep, dark pit near the alter. Aemoh's roars can be heard from below has he hit bottom.

Kurokawa turns around and sees Devin has freed herself of here binds. He asks, "How did you break free?" Devins replies as she looks into the pit, "I'm a ninja!" Kurokawa looks around the temple and says, "We haven't killed Aemoh, we have to destroy this place at once!" Devin shouts, "Let's get started, this bastard is going to pay for what he's done to me." They both start smashing his idols and soon turn to his main God statue. They both crawl from behind and push with all the brute strength they can muster. Both grown as they try to topple the large statue. Finally it sways and soon falls, crashing onto the floor with a thunderous crash. Devin begins to set the building alight with fires and Kurokawa searches for information Aemoh may have on his father and Gareth. Soon they both can hear Aemoh trying to climb the pit's walls and both decide it's time for them to exit the temple. They exit and hide in nearby woods as they see the temple burn. Kurokawa says to Devin softly, "Maybe Aemoh will parish in that fire. His burnt head will be a great gift for my father."

Aemoh is soon able to free himself of the pit and sees his temple ablaze. He turns and sees his "God" crumbled on the floor and his idols smashed. A swell of rage overtakes Aemoh, the likes of which he's never had. His roars echoes throughout the burning temple. He looks around for Kurokawa and Devin and then charges full speed out into the night. Kurokawa and Devin see Aemoh running at great speed into the night, robeless and roaring. Devins whispers, "Where is he going?" Kurokawa says, "Taketoshi!"

Two hour later, a few hours after midnight Taketoshi is laying asleep in a bed with one of his concubines, Lady Idio, in the sleepy village of Hisian. Taketoshi has decided to lay low after a string of murders of youths in the region. Suddenly the door of Lady Idio's home is kicked open and Aemoh barrels his way through the home and crashes through a wall into the bedroom. The noise awakens Idio. Aemoh leaps into their bed and begins to beat both the sleeping Taketoshi and startled Lady Idio with a heavy wooden club. Aemoh roars like a savage animal as he beat the two in their bed.

 Taketoshi awakens, confused and yelling. Idio screams loudly. Aemoh hits her over her head and knocks her unconscious. He then turns to Taketoshi who is bloody and dazed. Aemoh leaps onto Taketoshi and beats him with first with this club and then with his fist. The two wrestle as Taketoshi roars with equal anger at this attack. Aemoh and Taketoshi wrestle around the room and Aemoh and the nude Taketoshi crash through a wall. They fight and wrestle each other in mortal combat. Taketoshi yelling, "You dare to attack your master in the most vile methods. How dare you attack ME!" Taketoshi soon gain the upper hand and locks his arm around Aemoh's throat. He yells, "Why have you come and disturbed me Aemoh? Have you gone completely mad?" Aemoh roars, fiercely trying to escape Taketoshi's hold. Taketoshi screams, "Answer me! I am your master! You have never raised a hand to me since joining my clan. Answer me!!" Aemoh groans, "Your....blood......attacked......my....GOD!" Taketoshi tried to determine what he's trying to say. Taketoshi asks, "My blood, do you mean my son?" Aemoh roars and squirms violently. Taketoshi yells, "Kurokawa did this to you, attacked your God?!" Taketoshi roars and forces Aemoh to his feet and then shoves him to the ground. He places his pants on and shouts with incredible anger, "If my son dare attack you in a cowardly way, you have my support!" Aemoh groans, "Girl.....son and girl!" Taketoshi yells, "He must be with that red-haired thief." He looks over and sees Lady Idio laying in a heap and turns to Aemoh and says, "You lead the way, we shall hunt them down."
 

A bloody and battered Taketoshi and Aemoh open the door to Idio's home and look into the night. The crickets of the late summer's night chirp as a crescent moon shines. Taketoshi looks down and sees a box that wasn't there when he entered the home several hour earlier. He lifts it and opens it. He then slams it to the ground and bellows a primal howl of anger. Aemoh looks and seems the Drifter's head rolling out of the box. He falls to his knees and slams his fist into the ground. Taketoshi shouts, "Kurokawa you dare to challenge my clan as a swine, you will know what it is like to pray for your own death my boy. I will make sure you will never sleep or eat without looking over your shoulder. I will make you challenge me."

by Jesse Nightingale©2009

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