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 25, 2006


Chapter Twenty-Eight

A sound like a pained squeak was elicited from Moeru as Kikuchiyo, with Shichiroji's assist, tightened the bandages around his bruised ribs. Kanbei, who was watching with hands clasped in earnest prayer, blanched and gasped in concern.

Grinning, the mechanical samurai patted the colt's rump. "There, there now, boy. We're all done."

"Kikuchiyo-sama?" the concubine queried breathlessly. "Are you sure he's going to be all right?"

"Of course he will! He's a tough little fellow!"

"But...but...why doesn't he get up?"

Shichiroji smirked, noticing Moeru's eyes blink close, obviously pretending to be still in pain. "Shinno, I think you overfed him last night."

What was visible of Kanbei's face was flushed in embarrassment.

"Him? Overfed?" Kikuchiyo burst into laughter. "I've seen this little runt roaming the hallways since he got here and it looks like he hasn't grown a single inch! I think he's a midget!"

At that comment, Moeru raised his head, teeth bared. The cyborg swiftly pulled his hand back before the colt could snap at his fingers. With a snort, Moeru cuddled up to his protector.

"A word of advice, Little Taisho," Kikuchiyo began. Shichiroji stole a quick glance at Kanbei, but there was no sign of offense from the older man at that name. Besides, his former comrade spoke the name with such good cheer, almost like a pet name. "Perhaps you should consider not pampering him. If you baby him all the time, he'll always stay a
runt."

Moeru stuck his tongue out at Kikuchiyo, hearing that piece of advice. Before Kanbei could stop him, the colt thrust his head through the opening of the whoremaster's robe with an eager whinny.

The cyborg's laughter rumbled jovially in his chest. "See what I mean!"

Blushing, Kanbei gave Kikuchiyo a grateful bow. "Thank you, Kikuchiyo-sama!
Thank you so much!" He looked at Shichiroji. "Shichi…Shichiroji-sama, would you be so kind as to look after Moeru for awhile for me?"

It was Kikuchiyo who quickly shook his head, immediately understanding what the concubine meant. "Oh, no! There's no need for that!" He even wagged his hands furiously.

"But I want to."

"Maybe later, Little Taisho. You need to take care of this runt first."

Kanbei nodded, but there was a hint of a warm smile beneath his veil. "If that is your advice. But, Kikuchiyo-sama, please don't forget. I owe you."

Kikuchiyo raised his hands and gently caressed the concubine's face. Cupping the older man's cheeks, he gave Kanbei a sweet peck on the brow.

"I won't forget," the Horseman reassured him. He turned to the Samurai. "Care to come with me, Shichinoji? I think the Master and his colt need to be alone for awhile."

Nodding, Shichiroji leaned down and kissed Kanbei on the lips. "I'll see you later, Shinno."

"Yes, Shichiroji-sama," said Kanbei in gratitude. "And thank you too."

The two warriors left the room, with Kikuchiyo closing the door quietly.

As they walked down the corridor, Shichiroji put in softly, "I should thank you as well, Kikuchiyo. I thought you would be like Ukyo or Hyogo, but I could see how much you care for him, as he cares for you."

Kikuchiyo shrugged. "The bedding aside, he is really more like a brother to me. I try to protect him...when I can." He gave the man at his side a curious glance. "You call him 'Shinno.' Do you truly not know who he is?"

Uncertain on whether to trust his fellow warrior or not, Shichiroji decided to answer with a half-truth. "I only know him to be Ukyo's whore who is so overprotective of his identity, obviously at his Master's command. If he doesn't want to show me his face, that's fine with me. Bedding him is enough."

Kikuchiyo hummed thoughtfully. "Is that all he means to you? A simple plaything to sate your lust? For a moment, I thought there was something between you."

Shichiroji smiled wryly. "I never could fool you now, can I, Kikuchiyo."

"That's because you tend to get a careless when your emotions are concerned. You'd better be careful how you act when you're with Ukyo. I wouldn't worry about Hyogo too much. He's too...mentally unstable. He merely follows the Amanushi's orders."

"Tell me, Kikuchiyo. What is Ukyo up to? Last night, Shinno turned into a ghastly monster. What have you been doing?"

Kikuchiyo, however, said, "I heard that you will be seeing Ukyo tonight. He is in the better position to explain it to you. But if I were in your place, I would tread cautiously where he is concerned. If you love Shinno, do not let Ukyo use you."

Shichiroji let out a sigh. "Kikuchiyo, I know a lot more than you think. Maybe not the complete picture, but Ukyo will be able to fill in the gaps. Still..." He stopped and gazed at the cyborg. "There was a time when Shinno hated me. Perhaps it would be better to rekindle that hate...for his sake."

"Do you think you could do that, Shichiroji? I've known the man you call Shinno for many years, and I've learned one important thing about him."

"And what's that?"

Smiling, Kikuchiyo clapped a hand over Shichiroji's shoulder. "Never underestimate the power of a loving and forgiving heart."

~~~~~~~~~~

Hours later, Shichiroji returned to Kanbei's chamber to find the concubine all alone and playing chess.

"What happened to the runt?" he queried, wondering where Moeru was.

"I brought Moeru to the stables earlier to see if he would like to play with the other colts," Kanbei replied as he moved his knight, taking away the pawn. Laughing lightly, he said, "Kikuchiyo-sama was right. He is a lot shorter than the other colts. The colts were always teasing him and pulling on his tail. Moeru got frustrated that he banged his thick skull into one of them. One of the mares took offense and nipped him in the butt. Before I knew it, Moeru was running across the field and had leaped into my arms, bawling like a baby. I brought him to your room. Probably exhausted, the poor thing fell asleep on his cot."

"Kikuchiyo is right about a lot of things, especially when it comes to animals." Shichiroji inwardly commented, // As well as affairs of the heart. // "I think Moeru will always be small. He certainly doesn't look like the other horses I've seen. As Kikuchiyo said, he looks like one of those midget horses."

"Moeru doesn't like to be called a midget."

"It's either that or Kikuchiyo gives him one of his infamous growth balls from China. Before he became a mechanical samurai, Kikuchiyo was a farmer and an expert herbalist. I know he has some growth potions that he made from herbs. "

Kanbei shook his head. "No, I don't think so. I like Moeru just the way he is. Denko is also a sweet horse, but you couldn't cuddle him like the way you could Moeru. Do you know that it was Kikuchiyo who taught me how to ride a horse?"

"I didn't know that."

"Because of the never-ending conflicts in our homeland, all the horses were wiped out and our only means of transportation were fast turtles, not a particularly comfortable mode of travel. Kikuchiyo would always sit me on the war steeds instead of the training horses. He said that it was better that I started with a real good horse."

"Thank God, you didn't fall."

"Do you think I didn't? But I was thankful that Kikuchiyo was always around to catch me when I went sailing through the air."

Shichiroji gave the concubine a thoughtful glance. "You like Kikuchiyo a lot, don't you?"

"At first, I didn't," the older man answered softly. "I knew he was a farmer and I thought it was unthinkable for him to become a samurai. One should stay stick to a life that he was suited for. That was my belief. Anyway, I thought the desire for power had corrupted him, just like Ukyo and Hyogo. In the beginning, he was just as cruel as they were. However, as time passed, I've seen the kind of man Kikuchiyo truly is – his kindness, his consideration for my well-being. If the Amanushi and Hyogo wanted to bed me, I would prefer that Kikuchiyo were around. Those two men would be brutal, but at least, I know, with Kikuchiyo, that it would be good and that there would be no pain, no tears." Kanbei looked at the Samurai curiously. "I never understood why Kikuchiyo chose to become a mechanical samurai. His nature...it's contradicting to what warriors stand for."

"No, not really. Like Ukyo, Kikuchiyo has dreams of power. Sometimes, his good nature is overpowered by it. But more often than not, his gentle heart shows. I believe he thinks it a weakness, but I don't think so. I'm comforted in the belief that there is something
in Kikuchiyo that hasn't given up his humanity."

To Shichiroji's surprise, Kanbei suddenly held his hand. "Shichiroji? Being a warrior once myself, I know the kind of life we used to lead. Because he has sided with Ukyo, I know there will come a time when you will have to face him in mortal combat. If that should happen, could you...at least...try to talk Kikuchiyo out of it?"

"You don't want me to kill him, is that it?"

"I don't want either of you to get killed. Kikuchiyo...he deserves a chance at a better kind of life. Without the hatred, without the greed, without the killing. Same as you."

Shichiroji gave a wry laugh. "You know how strong is the lust for blood and battles. It doesn't matter if years or even centuries pass. We will always be what we
were – samurai, killing machines. Nothing could ever change that."

"Surely you don't believe that. I mean, you see what I am now," Kanbei looked meaningfully at the younger an. "Wouldn't you want to live a peaceful life, like what you
had with Yukino? You asked me a question once. If...if there is a chance that things could change for me, wouldn't you want to have that kind of life for us?"

Shichiroji looked at the concubine in surprise. He never expected to hear that last from the older man. Kanbei's hand was warm on his, becoming scorching, as his own hand turned to ice. Was this the 'yes' he was waiting for? The warmth in those limpid pools that were Kanbei's eyes told him that it was true.

However, the events of last night came back to the Samurai. He could clearly conjure up the hideous visage of the demon that had temporarily possessed the whoremaster.

// "Don't allow Ukyo to use you," // he remembered Kikuchiyo's advice.

// "Kanbei must be a willing sacrifice," // Joseph had told him.

Shichiroji's body reacted at once before he knew he was doing so. He turned the table over, spilling the chessboard and its pieces onto the floor. He heard Kanbei's surprised cry as he jerked the whoremaster towards the bed, throwing him on top. With cold-blooded intent, Shichiroji yanked the older man's robes up, spreading his thighs with a
callused hand. Positioning himself between those long legs, he readied himself to take the shocked form beneath him.

// Forgive me, // he spoke inside his mind, not knowing that tears were
trickling down his cheeks. // But I need your hate. If you hate me, you
will never go to the demon of your own free will. //

"Shichiroji..." Kanbei's soft, but firm voice was like a beam of light that pierced through the haze of anguish inside his mind. "If you're going to take me, I want your eyes to be open. Look at me, Shichiroji."

It was then that Shichiroji realized that from the table to their present position on the bed, he dared not look at the concubine's face. He had even closed his eyes. However, at that request, his eyelids snapped open -- hazel orbs meeting brown doe eyes. Both shimmering with tears.

"Please don't do this, Shichiroji," Kanbei begged the Samurai. "You know it doesn't have to be this way. Please! Don't give me a reason to hate you again!"

Shichiroji's eyes snapped shut, hoping to stop the flow of tears, but it was useless. In the end, he collapsed on top of the whoremaster and burst into sobs.

Startled, Kanbei embraced the younger man, soothing him with soft sounds rather than speak words of comfort. The minutes turned into an hour as the concubine waited for Shichiroji's weeping to abate. Soon enough, the Warrior's hiccupy breathing became shallow pants of desire. As Shichiroji nuzzled at his neck and shoulder, a tiny gasp of
surprise escaped Kanbei's lips as he was penetrated.

"I'm sorry," he heard the Samurai whisper in his ear. "I'm so sorry."

Kanbei shuddered as Shichiroji's reached inside his robe, his left hand cupping his chest, fingers fondling and pinching his nipple. A strong arm snaked around him to draw him close to the younger man, so that he was filled completely.

The concubine held on tightly to his lover, feeling Shichiroji's hesitant thrusts inside him.

"It's all right, Shichiroji," Kanbei mumbled huskily. "Do what you will with me."

At that reassurance, Shichiroji gave in completely to the call of desire, taking the willing concubine over the edge with him.

~~~~~~~~~~

"What happened, Shichiroji?" Kanbei asked quietly.

The two men lay arm in arm on the bed. The concubine was snuggled up to Shichiroji, his head lying on the Samurai's breastbone. His long brown hair covered Shichiroji's chest like a shawl.

"I wish I could explain, Shinno," answered Shichiroji, confused himself.


"Is it because you're now in the Amanushi's employ? Am I now just a whore to you?"

"You're not a whore!"

"Then, what am I? There was a time when I had a dream, but that's all it's going to be. I'm never going to get away from this place. Maybe this is my true destiny."

"No, it's not," Shichiroji insisted, his voice sharp. "Look at me." Lovely brown eyes peered up at him. "There are things you don't know...about Ukyo and this place. You must hold on to your dream of going back to the warrior's path. Shinno, your life depends on it."

"I don't understand."

"Whatever happens, don't allow your spirit to be broken. If it does, it would be very easy for you to surrender everything."

Sighing, Kanbei turned his gaze away from the younger man. "My spirit has been broken a long time ago. The only thing I have is the little strength...and love...inside my heart. If my heart were to be broken by the one person I love the most..."

Shichiroji embraced the older man hard. "I wish I could not promise you that, Shinno. How I wish I could not! But we're in Hell now. The place of broken dreams and broken hearts."

Tears trickled on Shichiroji's chest, warm little drops of fear, and a desperate clinging to fragile hope. "But you can try, can't you, Shichiroji?" whispered Kanbei. "For my sake, won't you at least try?"

The Samurai kissed the concubine on the crown of his head. His voice was strained as he answered, "I'll try. For your sake, Shinno, I'll try."

~~~~~~~~~~

Unknown to the two men, dark eyes were watching them from behind the mirror.

Ukyo gritted his teeth as he stormed down the tunnel.

// A shame, Shichiroji-kun, // he thought darkly. // You made me believe that I
could trust you. I won't let you get in my way, Samurai. I swear I'll break this little love affair you've been hiding behind my back. By the time I'm through with you, you will be dead, and the world and your precious whore would truly belong to me. //


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