The Blazing Tempest

DISCLAIMER: This story is a non-commercial work of fiction based on the anime/manga Samurai 7. Original copyright of Samurai 7 belongs to Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, Hideo Oguni, MICO, GDH, GONZO. Absolutely no monetary gain has been made with this work.


THE BLAZING TEMPEST
By Rory V. Pascual (Edited by Saiyukihana)
© Original Version 2001; Samurai 7 Version June 21, 2006


Chapter Eleven

Before night fell, the caravan made camp in a small oasis that was frequented by desert nomads for its well.

Shichiroji walked around the camp to see if all was fine. He even visited Liamina, who was happily nursing little Zumillah for the first time. The Samurai wandered around, checking everything, even the animals.

However, this meticulousness was merely a front to hide his unease. For some reason, Shichiroji was not looking forward to Tessai's little feast. Having trusted his instincts for a long, long time, there was a disturbing feeling in his gut that this was a harbinger for something terrible that would happen.

But then, stronger than his apprehensions was the desire to get answers. Since this morning, Shichiroji had been replaying in his mind the scene that he had stumbled upon. True, he had been dazed from that punch and when the back of his head had struck that rock when he fell. But there wasn't any doubt in his mind that it was Takeru who had spoken. Then, there was the matter of the Amanushi's brand.

The Samurai's mind was a-whirl with questions. Are Shinno and Takeru indeed twins, or, as he originally suspected, are they one and the same person? If they are one person, then who was the other man he saw when the two whores were seemingly together? Just who are these "twins"?

Which was why, despite his fears, Shichiroji found himself standing outside Tessai's tent. He could sense the Amanushi's adviser inside. There was no turning back. Taking a deep breath, Shichiroji entered the tent.

Tessai was waiting for him inside. He stood up, a warm smile on his face, seeing the Samurai. He took Shichiroji's hands and shook them. "Welcome to my humble tent, Shichiroji!" The Indian gestured to the sumptuous food on the low table. "Come, my friend! Join me for dinner."

In the next two hours, the two men ate and engaged in idle chat, while one of the female slaves served them. For a while, Shichiroji felt his fears ease a bit. Maybe he was wrong about Tessai, that he wasn't planning anything sinister. Then again, he was also concerned that his questions would remain unanswered. Still, they have a long way to go before they reach the Amanushi's realm, enough time for him to get his answers.

As the night wore on, although their meal was finished, the wine continued to flow. Although known for his temperance, the Samurai could not decline, fearing that he might offend the Amanushi's right hand man. Strangely, however, Shichiroji did not feel drunk. But he was suffused by a heat that was close to becoming unbearable. Worse, that warmth was concentrated on the sensitive regions of his body, specifically his groin. Judging from the expression on the adviser's face, Shichiroji could see that the wine was having the same effect on Tessai.

The adviser whispered something in the serving girl's ear. With a bow, she hurried outside the tent.

"Now, that we're alone," Tessai declared, lounging against the cushions, "let's get down to business."

"And what business is that?" Shichiroji asked in turn.

"You know what I mean -- the Amanushi's concubine."

"Which whore are you referring to?"

"Are we back to that again? Never mind. You'll get the answer to that question soon enough." The adviser went straight to the point. "Shichiroji, I want to know what your feelings are for the Amanushi's whore."

"Feelings? I have no feelings for him except the desire to bed him," the Samurai skillfully lied, keeping his face devoid of all expression. "He is exquisite. He was trained very well."

"Are you certain that is all? You seem protective of him last night."

"Isn't it my duty to protect him? As much as I understand your desire to discipline him, I don't think the Amanushi would approve of having his prized concubine marked in any way."

"To protect him... Yes, that is one of your duties. Your other duty I believe is to tame him, am I right?"

Shichiroji eyed Tessai with suspicion, wondering where this line of questioning was going. "Yes, that is true."

"So," the adviser began, "have you fulfilled this duty?"

The Samurai's heart thudded rapidly in his chest. "I believe I have. You've seen how meek he is in my presence."

A sly grin formed on Tessai's face as he raised his hand. "Very well! Here's your chance to prove your claim."

Shichiroji whirled around to find the robed form of the Amanushi's whore behind him. The man's brown doe eyes were wide in startlement, not expecting to find the Samurai in Tessai's tent. For once, Shichiroji was at a loss. He did not know who this man standing before him was.

In his confusion, the Samurai blurted out, "Takeru? Shinno? Who..."

"Yes, that's a good question," Tessai remarked as he got to his feet. "WHO ARE YOU?"

Suddenly, the adviser reached out and grabbed the man's arm.

"LET GO OF ME!" the concubine exclaimed, struggling to jerk his arm free.

With a powerful wrenching motion, Tessai shoved him onto the mat. Shichiroji watched in shocked, helpless silence as the Indian tore the robe to shreds, leaving the concubine naked and trembling in terror. But what stunned the Samurai the most was the sight of the brand on his shoulder – a flower with six petals. Written underneath it in flowing Arabic script are the words 'Prince of Whores.'

"SHINNO!" Shichiroji gasped out.

"Yes, this is Shinno...AND Takeru, if I heard you right," Tessai confirmed. "I don't know what game you've been playing, Little Taisho, but you should never have trusted a drunken idiot of a servant to act as if there were two of you in existence." Brutally, the Indian pushed the whoremaster into the Samurai's arms. "Show me, Shichiroji! Show me that you have tamed him! I have promised you a feast! Let us both partake of the beautiful flesh of this whore! Besides..." Tessai grinned lasciviously. "He needs to be punished for this deception."

Tears welled up in Shinno's lovely eyes as he looked up at Shichiroji. Eyes that so reminded him of the man he had abandoned in a dark tower. "Shichiroji, no! I could explain everything, but not here, not now."

"I don't understand. Why..."

"You promised you wouldn't hurt me!" Shinno begged the Samurai. "Please! You promised me!"

Promises again. What was he going to do, the Samurai thought in panic. Two promises... Which was he going to choose?

Tessai, however, took the choice from him. In sheer ferocity, the Indian grabbed Shinno back. Pushing the whoremaster down on the mat, Tessai straddled him and forced his legs wide apart. To Shichiroji's horror, the adviser pulled out a dagger, positioning the sharp tip at the concubine's opening.

"TESSAI, NO!" the Samurai cried.

"Your choice, Shichiroji!" Tessai's eyes shone with an insane light. "Either you take him first or I will."

Shichiroji gritted his teeth, hands clenched in fists at his sides. Steeling himself for the disgusting task before him, he took two steps forward, laying a heavy hand on the Indian's shoulder. Shichiroji was revolted by the leer on the adviser's face as he relinquished his position to the older warrior. Jaw hardening, he peeled off his clothes one by one.

When the Samurai lay on top of him, Shinno shook his head. "No, Shichiroji! You promised! I trusted you!"

That vulnerability caused anger to rise in the Warrior's heart. His hand flew out, viciously slapping the whoremaster in the face.

"Fight me, Shinno!" Shichiroji hissed in the terrified man's ear, so that Tessai would not hear what he was saying. "Damn it! I didn't teach you this! Remember what Shimada Kanbei taught you! Fight me, damn you! FIGHT!"

However, Shinno burst into tears. Gripping the veil tightly over his face, the concubine parted his legs in complete submission. That surrender forced a cry of anger and frustration to rise from his throat.

"Put out that light!" Shichiroji snarled at the Indian.

As Tessai happily complied, the Samurai tore the veil from Shinno's face.

Bending down upon the whoremaster, Shichiroji sobbed, "Forgive me, Shinno! Please forgive me!"

~~~~~~~~~~

The hours passed as the two Warriors took turns in abusing the pooor concubine. At one point, they used him at the same time. Shichiroji could see Tessai's frenzied outline as he forced himself inside Shinno's mouth. He knew that he looked the same to the adviser, thrusting hard and fast into the whore's battered ass.

Shichiroji wished that he could spare Shinno this cruelty and humiliation. The wine he had drank, however, filled his mind only with the need to fulfill his desires. Besides that, he was too angry to care. This man beneath him was not the Shinno he had known. Not the whoremaster, with his fiery temper and caustic tongue. Not the sly ninja who was always one step ahead of him. Not his student, whom he dreamed would one day go back to becoming a warrior. Not even Takeru had been this completely submissive. This terrified, meek form in his arms...he didn't know him at all.

As he pounded into Shinno, the Samurai hoped he could elicit a response from him -- a push, a punch, a cry of fury, the angry gnashing of teeth, even a sharp, piercing gaze. However, there was none. Just the sounds of weeping.

Daybreak saw Shichiroji inching out of guilt-ridden nightmares, the whoremaster beside him, dressed in his tattered robe. Tessai was nowhere to be found. Turning to face Shinno, he saw that the concubine was also awake, the lower half of his face covered by the veil once more. But his eyes were a blank.

"Shinno?" Shichiroji whispered. "Shinno! It's all right now. It's over." He reached out to caress the man's face.

But the minute his fingers touched a cheekbone, Shinno was jolted to alertness. Whimpering, he crawled away from the Samurai. For a moment, there was confusion in Shinno's face. However, looking down at his bruised and battered body, the memory of last night came flooding back.

"Why?" Shinno demanded, seeing his long legs drenched with blood. "Why did you do this to me?"

"He was going to kill you!" Shichiroji desperately tried to explain. "I had no choice!"

"Death was the better option! Anything, but rape!"

"Shinno, I'm sorry, but I couldn't let you die! Don't choose death! Live! You must fight for your freedom!"

The whoremaster, however, was no longer listening to him. With an anguished cry, Shinno revealed what was once inside his heart that was now broken to pieces. "I trusted you, Shichiroji! You promised you would never hurt me! But you betrayed me again! This is the second time that you betrayed me!"

Shichiroji shook his head in confusion. "I have no idea what you're talking about!"

Tears streaming down his cheeks, Shinno said bitterly, "What did I do to you, Shichiroji? What the hell did I do to make you treat me this way?"

The Samurai raised his hand helplessly to the hysterical concubine. "Shinno, calm down! You're not making any sense! Except for this moment... You must tell me! In the past, when have I hurt you? In what way have I betrayed you? Please tell me! I don't know! I swear I don't know!"

A stinging slap was delivered to his cheek, leaving a bloody handprint on his cheek.

"DON'T TOUCH ME! DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH ME EVER AGAIN!" screamed Shinno. "I HATE YOU, SHICHIROJI! I HATE YOU SO MUCH I WISH YOU WERE DEAD!"

Saying this, Shinno fled from the tent. Shichiroji quickly pulled on his trousers and hurried after the whoremaster. As he emerged into the sunlight, he saw Shinno making a mad dash for one of the dunes.

"Shinno, wait!" the Samurai called out, giving chase.

Suddenly, the stillness of the morning was jarred by an ululating cry. As Shichiroji looked on in horror, black-clad riders appeared at the top of the sand dune. Bandits! One of them urged his horse down the dune, heading towards the whoremaster. Before Shinno could get away, the bandit reached down, grabbed him by the waist and hauled him onto his saddle.

"NO!" Shichiroji shouted in rage, quickening his pace. "LET HIM GO, DAMN YOU! SHINNO!"

However, the rider swiftly turned his horse in the direction of his comrades. With fierce cries, they galloped off, kicking up sand in Shichiroji's face.

With a frustrated growl, the Warrior hurried back to his tent to get dressed, nearly bumping into Gorobei.

"What is it, Shichiroji?" Gorobei demanded. "I heard shouting!"

Shichiroji emerged from his tent in full battle gear, his spear slung at his back. He let out a high-pitched whistle. To his surprise, not only did his steed Thanatos gallop towards him, but also Shinno's horse, Denko.

Climbing onto the saddle, the Samurai told the moor, "Shinno was abducted by bandits. I'm going after them."

"I'm coming with you!" exclaimed Gorobei.

"There's no time! I might lose them!"

"Give me a minute, Shichiroji! There is something that you must take with you!"

Shichiroji snarled in impatience as the moor dashed off to his own tent. Thankfully, he returned at once with a pack, slinging it over Denko's saddle. Shichiroji saw that the pack contained Shinno's katana and other weaponry.

"You might need this," Gorobei told him. "Are you sure you don't want me to go with you?"

The Samurai shook his head. "No, Gorobei. I need you here. Take the caravan to the next oasis. I can't risk the bandits attacking you too. Although Shinno was obviously their target, they might return here."

"But what about you and Shinno?"

Shichiroji's lips formed a grim line. "Pray to Allah, my friend! Pray that I find him and rescue him before it's too late. We'll catch up with you!"

"What am I going to tell Tessai?"

The Samurai thought for a moment. "Tell Tessai what happened. Tell him also, that when I return, his head is mine!"

No longer waiting for the moor's reply, Shichiroji secured Denko's reins to his saddle and urged Thanatos and Shinno's loyal steed into a full gallop, heading out into the desert and the unknown.


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