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 22, 2006


Chapter Fourteen

"Where is Shinno?"

"In my tent. Where else should he be?"

Shichiroji's eyes narrowed at the Bandit Chief sitting beside him before the campfire.

Kyuzo had arranged a small feast -- to honor his guests, or so he told the Warrior. However, Shichiroji could hardly partake of the sumptuous meal before him, despite Heihachi's urgings. Neither could he drink the wine that was poured into his cup, nor bring himself to respond to the boisterous banter of the bandits, who continued to give his back a good-natured pounding.

"Did you bed him?" Shichiroji gave voice to the grave concern inside his heart. "I warned you what could happen if you ever touched him."

The Bandit Chief, however, merely laughed off the Samurai's threat. "My dear Shichiroji! For as long as you are in my domain, I will do whatever I want with him."

Shichiroji was about to say more when a swift kick landed on his butt.

"Owww!" he cried, rubbing his aching bum. Whirling around to face his assailant, Shichiroji beheld Kyuzo's student Katsushiro leading the Amanushi's concubine towards the campfire. Shinno's wrists were secured by golden shackles linked to a chain leash that Katsushiro held in his hand. Shichiroji was not fooled by that charade. Judging from those loose chains, it was obvious to him that the concubine was being treated as a friend and not a prisoner.

The whoremaster was elegantly dressed in a deep blue caftan of silk and satin, with swimming fish of many colors and varieties embroidered all over. His hair was left flowing free behind his back, a rosebud pin holding some strands back from his right temple. Shinno's lovely eyes, the only things visible on his face because of a blue veil, were shaded with kohl. As he walked, the slit of the caftan parted to reveal long, graceful legs, with jeweled bands at his ankles and strap sandals on his feet. Following behind him was the foal. Shichiroji did not know who it was that kicked him because all three newcomers were flashing daggers at him from their eyes. The two men settled down on either side of Kyuzo, with the foal plopping down on the ground as well with his head laid on the concubine's lap.

With his eyes focused on the beautiful form of the whoremaster, the Samurai failed to notice the surprised expression on the face of the Bandit Chief.

"What are you doing here, my student?" Kyuzo queried. "Did I not tell you to stay in our tent and watch over our sweet desert flower here?"

"I wanted to see if you're all right, Sensei." Katsushiro grinned as he raised the chain. "Besides, our prisoner won't be going anywhere."

The Bandit Chief laughed, raising a full tankard of wine to lips. "Good idea, Katsushiro! Excellent!"

This time, Shichiroji saw Shinno's head whip to the side to give the leader of the bandits a scolding glare. At once, like a chastened child, Kyuzo lowered the tankard back on the platter, grinning sheepishly.

"Haven't you had enough yet? Shinno-san told me what happened to you earlier," asked Katsushiro. "Besides, it is rather late and..." He opened his mouth and yawned, rubbing his eyes. "I want to get some sleep."

"But I still have a guest," Kyuzo gestured helplessly to the Samurai.

Turning to Shichiroji, Katsushiro said icily, "My Sensei needs to rest now, O Samurai-sama."

"Forgive me, young Master," the Warrior began, undaunted. "There are still many things we have to talk about -- like the important details of this kidnapping plot. Who ordered the abduction of the Amanushi's concubine? How much is your teacher going to be paid for successfully doing so?" Shichiroji gave the young Samurai a level glower. "Most important of all, I wish to discuss the sleeping arrangements. It is my duty to protect Shinno, and I demand that he stay in my tent with me."

As the Samurai looked on in surprise, Katsushiro's right hand closed around the hilt of his sword, as he placed himself protectively before the whoremaster. "No! He's not going anywhere with you!" The foal had also raised its head, a semblance of a menacing growl issuing from its throat.

But Shichiroji said stubbornly, "No! I'm sorry, but Shinno is staying with me. His...well-being...is my concern."

To everyone's shock, Shinno got to his feet, the swiftness of the motion causing the shackles on his wrists to fall. Furious, he rounded on the Warrior. "Well-being? Since when have you made my well-being your concern? I will choose whose tent I will stay in, and it will never be yours!"

The Samurai stared aghast at the concubine. Standing, he exclaimed, "Damn it, Shinno! This is not the time to be stubborn! Do you know what he intends to do with you?"

"The same thing you and Tessai did to me five days ago. This time, however, I have a choice. I would rather bed a bandit like Kyuzo than a betrayer like you." Shinno gazed down at the speechless Bandit Chief. "Your student is right, Kyuzo-sama. We must return to our tent. We still have our little arrangement." Whispering in Kyuzo's ear, he added, "And you're not yet well. Please! Your student worries about you. I, too, worry for you."

The Bandit Chief saw the concern in the concubine's expressive brown eyes. In reply, he simply nodded his head. With the help of Shinno and Katsushiro, Kyuzo stood up.

"I'm afraid I must bid you good night, Shichiroji-dono," he said with a polite bow to the Warrior. "I must accede to the wishes of my student and the Amanushi's...beloved. We shall discuss this tomorrow. Good night!"

As the three men made to walk past the Samurai, Shichiroji blocked their path. "No, Kyuzo! I won't allow this!"

Thinking their leader was in trouble, the bandits readied their swords. But the sharpness in Shinno's words made them sheathe their blades.

"If you don't get out of our way," the whoremaster said threateningly, "you'll regret it."

"What do you intend to do -- fight me?" Shichiroji exclaimed mockingly. "In case you've forgotten, my student, you haven't finished your training. You don't stand a chance of winning against me."

Suddenly, something warm, wet and smelly gushed down his leg. Shichiroji looked down in disgust to find the snickering foal pissing on his leg. Cursing out loud, he started stomping his feet, shaking the drips off to no avail. His trousers were drenched with urine.

"Give it up, friend Shichiroji," he heard Heihachi say beside him. "You've lost this round."

Shichiroji turned to watch as Kyuzo, Katsushiro and Shinno made their way through the camp, heading towards their tent, the foal trotting at their heels.

"But there's always tomorrow," said Shichiroji, gazing longingly at Shinno. "There's always tomorrow."

~~~~~~~~~~

"Good night," Kanbei whispered, as he tucked Katsushiro and the foal in with a blanket. To his surprise, Moeru raised his head and bussed the whoremaster on the lips. With a disgusted snort, Katsushiro pulled the blanket over the foal's head, eliciting a whinny of protest from the animal.

A pout formed on Katsushiro's lips. "Kanbei-sama, why don't you sleep here with us? There's plenty of room."

Kanbei ran his fingers over the boy's thick mane. "Your teacher needs me, Katsushiro. I told you what happened earlier. I have to be with him. Do you understand?"

"Yes. I truly am worried about this health and I know that you could take care of him. It's all right. There's always tomorrow."

"Yes, and I promise I'll sleep with you and Moeru tomorrow night."

Katsushiro grinned slyly. "We sure showed him, didn't we, Kanbei-sama!"

The concubine hugged Katsushiro lovingly, smiling. "Yes, Katsushiro. We certainly did." Kissing the boy's cheek, he said, "Good night, Katsushiro."

"Night, Kanbei-sama," answered Katsushiro, settling down to sleep.

Seeing that the Bandit Chief's student was well, at least for the night, Kanbei stood up and closed the flap behind him. He then entered the inner chamber, where Kyuzo was seated on the cushions waiting for him.

"Your student is sleeping at last, Kyuzo-sama," he announced, removing the veil from his face. "You should consider my giving the foal a bath if he's going to be sleeping with Katsushiro, or else you'll find fleas and gnats in your sleeping quarters."

There was no reply from the Bandit Chief. Cocking his head to the side, he saw Kyuzo watching him, a strange expression on his face.

"Kyuzo-sama?" Kanbei asked curiously. "Is something wrong?"

Kyuzo shook his head, as if waking from a dream state. "For a moment, when you walked into my chamber, I thought you were... No, it's not important."

"Who did you think I was?"

The Bandit Chief lowered his gaze before the concubine could see the tears welling up in his eyes. "Someone I had loved more than life itself. Someone I had lost so soon. Seeing you, I realized that perhaps I did not love her at all. Because she reminded me so much of you."

Kanbei sensed the grief in Kyuzo. Kneeling, he cupped the bandit's face and bade him to look at him. "I understand your grief. Have you not found someone who could fill even a little the emptiness inside your heart?"

Kyuzo found himself admitting, "No. She will be the only one for me."

"And, in doing so, you have closed your heart to everyone who cares for you -- your men and especially your student. What they feel for you is love and respect. Perhaps not the same as what was given to you by your lost beloved. But it is also a kind of love that deserves to be reciprocated." Kanbei gave the Bandit Chief a gentle smile. "Can you not find solace in the little love that they give you? After all, it's better to know love than not at all."

The Bandit Chief gazed at the older man in awe. "That is what my beloved Merida always tells me. But..." He gave Kanbei a curious glance. "You speak as though you have not known love. I know that is certainly not true."

"If there had been love in my life, I do not remember it now. I've lived with pain for far too long." The concubine shook his head. "But enough of this depressing talk. I want to cheer you up -- let you know how it feels to be loved and to love again."

Kanbei hastened to remove Kyuzo's clothing. The bandit, however, stayed his hands. "No, Kanbei."

"Why, Kyuzo-sama?" the older man asked in dismay. "Am I not appealing enough for you?"

"On the contrary, in your face, in your beautiful eyes, I see my sweet Merida. How could I not want you? In truth, I wish I had never beheld your face again. All I want is to kiss you and touch you and possess you utterly."

"Then, why don't you?"

"Because I do not want to cause you pain. Contrary to what happened earlier, I never force my will upon another. If we are to do this, I prefer that you are willing, and that you want me as much as I want you." Kyuzo gestured to his weak form. "I don't think you'd like to make love to a pig...like me."

"That's where you're wrong." Kanbei stood up. With a graceful jerk of shoulders and hips, he let the caftan slip down his body. Stepping out of the pool of discarded clothing, he knelt down once more before Kyuzo. With the Bandit Chief in awe of handsome man before him, the concubine used this momentary distraction to strip Kyuzo of his garments. "I've known only four men with whom I was willing to make love to. The first is the Sultan. The second is another samurai who never failed to make me laugh, even in the middle of all my hardships. The third is...someone...whom I thought had changed, and who loved me just as much as I love him. But...he betrayed me in the end."

Kyuzo did not even have to guess who this third man was. He asked breathlessly, "And the fourth..."

Smiling, Kanbei reached between Kyuzo's thighs to free his cock and scrotum. Inching forward, like a wolf eyeing its prey, he answered, "Through your student, through your heartfelt words, I've seen the man you truly are. It would please me greatly, Kyuzo-sama, to make love to you."

The Bandit Chief's eyes snapped wide open as the concubine swooped down and captured his long neglected cock between his full, luscious lips.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Shichiroji emerged from his tent clean and refreshed after a cool bath. But worry for the Amanushi's whore had his heart pounding like a hammer in his chest. That, and anger at Shinno's obvious rejection of him.

// Damn him! // the Samurai thought angrily. // How could he choose that bastard over me! //

But then again, didn't Shinno himself reveal to him the reason for his choice?

"I would rather bed a bandit like Kyuzo than a betrayer like you!"

"NO!" Shichiroji exclaimed out loud, quickening his pace, hoping against all hope that he would reach Shinno in time. // I can't let you do this, Shinno! Certainly not out of anger and revenge for what I've done to you. You hurt yourself if you do it. Damn it, Shinno! You hurt ME! Just a few words, that's all I need. You must give me a chance to explain!//

However, as he neared the Bandit Chief's tent, the Warrior could hear...noises...emanating from within, getting louder and louder as he came closer. Before he could even enter the tent, the Samurai came to a dead halt at the sight he beheld.

The bright lamp inside the tent cast the shadows of the two men coupling within upon the canvas. Shinno's lithe silhouette, straddling the bandit's body, was unmistakable. Before Shichiroji's shocked eyes, the concubine was bouncing up and down, as Kyuzo thrust upwards into his sweet, willing flesh. As the Samurai watched, the Bandit Chief raised his hands to fondle Shinno's delectable nipples, causing the whoremaster to thrust his chest forward even more. Sitting up, Kyuzo embraced the Shinno, hungrily pressing his face to that chest. Shichiroji did not even have to guess what the bandit was doing. He himself could never resist taking Shinno's milk-laden nipples between his lips.

But what hurt Shichiroji the most were those sounds. The last time he heard those ecstatic moans and cries was when Shinno was lying in his arms. To hear those sounds being elicited from the concubine's lips by another man was like an arrow being shot right through his heart.

Deeply saddened, Shichiroji walked away, shoulders hunched. He was unaware that tears were streaming down his cheeks.

"I would rather bed a bandit like Kyuzo than a betrayer like you!"

Shichiroji knew, that because of what he had done, he had lost his chance for happiness and love. And he has only himself to blame for that.

~~~~~~~~~~

A few hours later, Kanbei and Kyuzo lay arm in arm on the rug. Although asleep, like an infant, the Bandit Chief was suckling upon the concubine's rose-hued nipple.

Kanbei gazed at the glow of the flickering flame of the lamp upon the canvas. But his mind brought him outside the tent, where he knew someone had been watching him earlier as he made love to Kyuzo.

// I hope you enjoyed the show, Shichiroji, // he thought bitterly. // But that won't be the last. I want you to see exactly what you'll be missing. //

But tears welled up in his eyes. With a quiet sob, Kanbei turned on his side and embraced the younger man. Despite his angry mental pronouncements, his heart spoke otherwise.

// Oh, Shichiroji! What I would give that this were you lying in my arms and feeding upon my breast! How I wish this were you instead of another man! //


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