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 Thirteen

Shinno did not think it would be possible to find a luxury in this small camp in the remote region of the Sahara. But after happy urgings from Katsushiro for the servants to fill the wooden tub with water, the concubine found his soiled robe hurriedly peeled off, and eager hands dumping him right into the tub. Before he could even react, Katsushiro removed his veil, clucking all the while at how dirty it was. As Shinno lowered his face into the water, the Bandit Chief's pupil dumped the contents of a bottle of lavender-scented oil in the water. Whistling, he proceeded to bathe the concubine's body with floral-scented soap, reveling in the feel of Shinno's luxurious brown hair.

An hour later, although his bath was finished, Shinno still sat inside the tub, the lower half of his face concealed beneath the water's surface. Looking at him disapprovingly were Katsushiro and the foal, whose chins were laid on the edge of the tub.

"Aren't you going to stand up from there?" queried Katsushiro. "The water's dirty and you'll shrivel up like a prune." The boy's face lit up, raising a finger as a sly idea crossed his mind. "Oh, I know what to do!"

Reaching down, Katsushiro pulled out the plug of the tub, eliciting a soft pop. Feeling the water draining out of the tub, Shinno's eyes fell upon Kyuzo's beautiful woven rugs getting drenched. Making a mad scramble out of the tub, the whoremaster swiftly plugged up the hole in the side once more before more water could drain out.

With a low growl, Shinno hastened to wipe the water from the rugs with his discarded robe. "For heaven's sake, Katsushiro! Have you no care for your teacher's property or how angry he would be with the servants if he found this mess you made? I just saved you from his anger. You're going to get us into trouble again!"

However, his scolding was met only with silence. Turning around, Shinno saw Katsushiro and the foal staring at him, awe written on their faces. It was then that he realized, to his horror, that he wasn't wearing a mask. Slowly, he stood up, about to wrap his wet, long hair around his face.

But Katsushiro pleaded, "No! Don't do that! Please!"

Not knowing what else to do, Shinno released his wet hair, letting it fall down his back.

A broad smile formed on the boy's face. A tear of joy trickled down his cheek as he hugged the foal tenderly.

"I thought you seemed very familiar to me, and I was right." Katsushiro's cheeks were colored red as he exclaimed, "IT REALLY IS YOU!"

~~~~~~~~~~

"Aren't you dressed yet?" the Bandit Chief's student asked impatiently, trying to peer on top of the dressing screen.

"Give me a minute, Katsushiro!" Shinno answered behind the screen.

Katsushiro crossed his arms over his chest and snorted, a pout on his lips. "I never met a man who dressed as slow as you do. You're worse than a girl!" Beside him, the foal whinnied in assent. "The last time I saw you, you were dressed in a grubby brown uniform. Since when did you become so particular about your appearance?"

"Is it wrong for me to want to look special for you?" Shyly, the concubine emerged from behind the screen.

Shinno was dressed in an elegant, flowing caftan of shimmering red silk and satin. The lapel and hem of the garment were embroidered with gold trimmings and pink roses, enclosed by wreaths of green leaves. Embroidered at the back was a beautiful peacock prancing among the rose bushes.

Katsushiro was so stunned that the pout was frozen on his lips, his eyes blinking owlishly at the older man.

Noting the expression on the other's face, Shinno frowned, his head cocked to the side. "Do I look that bad?"

Hearing that question, Katsushiro and the foal stared at each other. At once, they shook their heads.

"No, no! You don't look bad!" The Bandit Chief's student quickly replied. A dreamy smile forming on his lips, he gushed, "You are soooo gorgeous!"

Shinno blushed at that heartfelt praise. This was the first time that a man had gazed at him without any lustful intentions, just pure admiration, and it was such an immense relief for him. Because of his youth, Katsushiro was totally absent of guile or deceit. His words came straight from his heart.

Katsushiro giggled. "Your face is all red, just like that time when my grandmother gave you a kiss after you had saved me from that drunken samurai!"

The concubine lowered his eyes in embarrassment. "It wasn't just a kiss. She didn't have to smother me with kisses. I was only doing what I had to do."

The boy became serious, remembering the consequence of that act of valor. "I'm sorry. Because of me, you got captured again."

"It's not your fault. Like I said, I just couldn't let that war-crazy samurai hurt you." Looking down at himself once more, Shinno asked, "Where did you get this caftan, Katsushiro? It's so lovely. I feel ashamed to be wearing such a fine garment."

"Oh, don't worry about it!" Kyuzo's student said reassuringly. "It belonged to the Bandit Queen Merida. She and Kyuzo were lovers." Sadness crossed Katsushiro's features. "It saddens me that you never met her. She was a wonderful woman. Merida died saving my life."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring back painful memories," Shinno offered in sincere apology.

Again, there was that reassuring grin, although Katsushiro wiped away the tear that formed in his eye. "It's all right! I'm sure Merida wouldn't mind. Besides, I don't like to see such pretty clothes just tucked away in an old chest."

"But what about your Kyuzo? He may not want me using his lover's things."

Katsushiro took his hand. "Oh, would you stop worrying! I'll take care of Sensei!" He urged the concubine to sit down on a cushion, where a small chest lay beside it. "Won't you relax? Let's fix you up nice. I used to help Merida with her hair, you know." Katsushiro glowered at the foal who trotted towards Shinno. Carefully bending its wobbly knees, it laid its long neck on the whoremaster's lap, gazing longingly at the older man. "Oh, no you don't, little horsey! I saw what you were doing earlier. Shame on you, baby horse, for feeding on a man!"

Shinno burst into giggles. "What have you been feeding him anyway, Katsushiro?"

"Camel's milk. It was this foal's mother that killed Merida while in the throes of brain fever. She was trying to protect me from being trampled upon. Kyuzo had the mare killed after that." Katsushiro scratched his head and burst into mocking laughter. "Merida shouldn't have covered me the way she had. I've got a thick skull. Very hard to dent."

"Katsushiro, don't say that! Are you blaming yourself for what happened? Merida loved you that's why she protected you."

"Maybe if she hadn't protected me, she would still be alive. And Sensei wouldn't have to suffer so much."

Shinno looked at the sorrowful young man. There wasn't any doubt in his mind that Katsushiro harbored feelings towards Kyuzo that went beyond their present relationship as teacher and student.

Softly, the concubine put in, "I thought Kyuzo had the mare slaughtered because he was planning to do something bad with the foal."

"Oh, no!" Katsushiro said in defense of his teacher. "Like I said, the foal's mother was sick. Perhaps it's partly an act of revenge, or maybe he doesn't want any more people to get hurt or killed by her rampaging hooves, that's why he had her killed."

"If the mare was sick, then that would explain why this sweet foal felt feverish in my hands earlier. He might have a touch of his mother's illness and..."

"HEY!" Katsushiro suddenly exclaimed. The boy's scolding eyes were focused on the foal, who was nuzzling at Shinno's chest, trying to get the caftan open. "And what are you doing? Bad little horsey!"

"Do you have a small bowl?" the concubine requested. Rubbing his breast, he said, "I don't think my nipples could take a direct feeding."

Katsushiro hastened to obey, going inside the inner chamber. He returned with a bowl in his hands. "What are you going to do?"

"Just watch." Shinno opened the caftan and let the left sleeve fall from his shoulder, baring his left chest. Positioning the bowl at his breast, he proceeded to squeeze milk out of his tit, slowly filling it.

The boy's jaw dropped. "That's amazing! I never knew a man could do that!"

"I was given a drug that allows my chest to produce milk, even if I'm male." The concubine held the bowl before the foal's nose. Sniffing its contents for a moment, the foal raised his head and eagerly lapped up the milk. Shinno ran his fingers through the luxurious, soft red mane. "After this, little one, I'm weaning you off my milk and teach you to drink goat's milk."

The foal, however, snorted to the contrary.

Turning to the Bandit Chief's student, Shinno suggested, "You know, Katsushiro, we must give your darling foal a name."

Katsushiro thought for a long while. Shaking his head, he said, "I can't think of a good name. I thought of calling him 'Chibi' because he's too damned small. I never saw a horse as small as him."

It was the whoremaster's turn to lapse into thought. Gazing down once more at the foal's beautiful coat and mane, he exclaimed, "I know what we could call him -- 'Moeru' or 'Flame', because his coat is as red as a flame."

"That's a wonderful name! And…uh…" The boy blushed. "You could also call me Katsu-chan. I wouldn't mind. Besides, it's less formal."

"Katsu-chan…" the concubine tested the name on his tongue. "Yes, it does suit you more. But since you are training under Kyuzo, I may call you Katsu-dono as well."

That comment caused Katsushiro to turn even redder. Remembering something, Katsushiro frowned at the older man before him. "Wait a minute! You know my name, but I don't know yours. I never found out who you were after those guards seized you."

"I am known by many names."

"Is that so? I've never met anyone with many names before. Could you tell me? Please?"

"Very well. Most of the time, people call me 'Shinno' or 'Prince'."

"Are you a prince?"

"No. Not exactly. Sometimes, I am called 'Takeru.' It was an alternate identity I chose for myself."

Katsushiro shook his head. "I would agree to calling you Shinno. Takeru…well, it does mean 'warrior', but somehow it does not suit you. What I want to know is your REAL name."

The concubine paused, thinking for a moment. "I'll tell you my real name, but you must swear never to tell anyone who I really am."

"Why not?"

"Did you see that man inside the meeting tent -- the one with fair skin?"

"You mean Ponytail? I can't believe a man would tie his hair into three ponytails. Looks like the fan in a Nobuseri's exhaust."

The whoremaster wanted to laugh at the way the Bandit Chief's student described Shichiroji. "Yes, Katsushiro. He is not to be trusted. He...he only wants to hurt me."

Strong arms embraced him as Katsushiro buried his face in Shinno's hair. "I won't let anyone hurt you. You're my friend. After you had saved my life, I was going to beg you to take me in as your student. But I was never able to get the chance. You would have made a better teacher than Kyuzo-dono. Please! Do tell me your name! I promise I won't tell anybody what your name is."

"Outside of this tent, in the presence of everyone else, you must call me Shinno. But when we're alone, like right now, you may call me by my true name."

"Which is?"

A moment's silence. Shinno then breathed in deeply. "Kanbei.... My name is Shimada Kanbei."

"Kanbei... Now that's a wonderful name. A perfect name for a great samurai like you!"

There was sorrow in Kanbei's eyes as he said, "That name no longer suits me. I am not the warrior I once was. I'm a different man now. What you see before you is the empty shell of the man I had once been."

Katsushiro, however, shook his head. "There is a difference? Forgive me, but I can't see it. To me, you are still the same man who rescued me when I was a child."

Kanbei felt the boy pull away. Looking up, he beheld Katsushiro's smiling face and the brush he held in his hands.

"May I brush your hair, Kanbei-sama?" the boy asked eagerly. "It's so nice and soft, so long like a horse's tail. I promise I'll make it real pretty. I have all of Merida's pins and ribbons right here."

"Would you happen to have a veil?"

"What for?"

"Like my name, no one is supposed to see my face. Only the Amanushi could see my face."

"Why's that? Strange man, that Amanushi. I wouldn't hide a face as handsome as yours."

Kanbei beamed at that compliment. "But it's a face that could get anyone who beholds it killed."

"You mean the Amanushi is going to kill me?" Katsushiro's eyes were wide with fear. "I'll look for a veil...after I brush your hair." He looked at the concubine with suspicion. "Are you sure you're not just hiding from someone?"

The whoremaster was taken aback by that question. "Now, why would I want to hide from someone?" he lied between his teeth. "Katsushiro, I don't want any people to die just because of a stupid reason that they saw my face. Shichiroji...he is the Amanushi's executioner. If he knew that someone saw my face, it's..." Kanbei made a slashing gesture across his throat.

Katsushiro snorted. "You're just exaggerating!"

"No, I'm not! I'm really serious!"

"Oh well. I'll just make like the good boy that I am, because I know how important it is to keep a secret AND a promise."

"You don't know how relieved I am to hear you say that!"

Frowning, Katsushiro queried, "Who is this Shichiroji anyway? Do you think he knows Kyuzo-dono and Hei-dono?"

"You ask so many questions, do you know that, Katsushiro?"

"Sorry," the Bandit Chief's student said sheepishly. "Just curious, that's all." Katsushiro sat down behind Kanbei and began brushing his hair with gentle strokes.

~~~~~~~~~~

Kyuzo was gasping for air as he plodded into his tent. He knew that his grief and his worries were putting a strain on his heart. Time and time again, Heihachi had begged him to engage in some form of activity, so that he could keep his mind busy. But he just didn't have the energy for it, content to let his men do the work for him. He had been this way since Merida passed away. The only solace he could find was in drinking, and he needed wine in order to sleep lest he sees the beautiful face of the woman he loved in his dreams. Thankfully, his band of fierce bandits understood his pains. Other men would have overthrown him and taken over as leader. But they were loyal, knowing that despite this physical incapacity, his mind remained sharp. They knew that, one day, their leader would overcome his troubles and become the man he once was.

The problem was he was not sure if he could still become the warrior he had been. The days of despondency had wreaked its toll upon his health. He was also prone to mood swings and bouts of foul temper. It disturbed him deeply the way he had struck his student earlier. It had to take a mere whore to point out his weakness right in his face.

What was it about the Amanushi's concubine that had aroused such anger in him? He was not an evil man to force perversions upon a captive. True, he had bedded some of their male prisoners. But he never contemplated forcing them to perform bestial acts. So why now, and why with the Amanushi's prized whore? Was it because of the simple fact that it was a lowly slave that had showed him his shortcomings?

Before he could enter his tent, Kyuzo heard someone singing. Quietly, he went inside, only to find the receiving chamber empty. The singing was coming from the inner chamber. Raising the flap a bit, Kyuzo peeked inside.

"Merida?" the Bandit Chief gasped out in disbelief at the sight of the beautiful angel sitting within, with this student and the foal sleeping with their heads on her lap, running gentle fingers over their heads. For a moment, Kyuzo thought it was his dead lover returned to him.

However, looking closely, he saw that his angel was, in fact, a very handsome man. Beautiful of face, high cheekbones, full lips curled up in a gentle smile, sweet doe eyes capped by long lashes gazing lovingly at the sleeping man in his arms... Kyuzo realized he was staring at the Amanushi's whore, and he was someone that the Bandit Chief had known and loved fifteen years ago!

The pain of grief, guilt and disappointment lanced through his heart. With a whimper, he stumbled away, gripping his chest tightly. As he collapsed onto the cushions, the Bandit Chief barely heard the rustle of canvas behind him. He just found his lovely angel looking down at him with concern, a hand rubbing over his heart.

Pointing to his rack of herbs, Kyuzo said hoarsely, "My medicine! The green vial! Please!"

Swiftly, the concubine took the small bottle. Gently, he raised the Bandit Chief to a sitting position, letting Kyuzo take a sip from the vial. The former assassin flopped back down on the cushions, waiting for the pain to ebb.

The whore wiped the Bandit Chief's sweaty brow with a gentle palm. "Are you all right, Kyuzo-sama? Perhaps I should give you another medicine." The worry in his voice was genuine.

"No..." Kyuzo struggled to remember the concubine's name. "Shinno...that is not your real name. Kanbei..."

He saw the man start at the sound of his true name. But Kyuzo raised trembling arms to the whoremaster. "Would you just hold me? Please?"

Kanbei chuckled at that entreaty, but did as he was requested, embracing the Bandit Chief tenderly.

"Sleep now, Kyuzo-sama. Rest," Kanbei said softly. "The day is still long and your people could wait until you are well. Have no fear. I will watch over you."

Kyuzo gazed in wonder at the man he had condemned into a life of whoring. "After all the things I did to you, why are you so kind to me?"

"I never forgot how kind you were to me, Kyuzo-sama. And there's Katsushiro. An evil man will not have the patience or the loving heart to care for such an innocent soul. I am thankful that you took him in." Kanbei gave a nonchalant shrug, grinning. "Besides, we have a deal, remember?"

There was a slight pain in the Bandit Chief's heart as he laughed. "I don't think I could be able to perform."

Kyuzo was surprised by the answer of the Amanushi's whore. "I would take it as an insult if you couldn't. I would happily do this for you, Kyuzo, and for the sake of your beloved student. You've lived in the darkness long enough. Tonight, let me show you how it feels to be a man again."


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