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 29, 2006


Chapter Forty

When Shichiroji roused to consciousness, all he saw was the darkness of his prison cell. Before he could even lift himself to a standing position, a hot brand seared his skin, sending agonizing pain shooting all over his body. Before he fell into unconsciousness, he heard the snide snickering of the crazy warrior.

"I'm going to have so much fun with you, Shichiroji," Hyogo giggled maniacally.

This cycle of torture and sleep happened again and again and again. Each time he awoke, the Samurai was horrified to find that his lower body was fouled by more than just his blood. At one point, Shichiroji had instinctively clamped his fingers tight around Hyogo's
throat, along with his first breath of life.

"I'll kill you, you damned bastard!" Shichiroji roared in fury. "I'LL KILL YOU!"

Without a doubt, he would have ripped the warrior's ugly head from his shoulders, if only Hyogo had not grabbed his dagger and plunged the sharp tip into Shichiroji's good arm.

When the next time the Samurai awoke from troubled slumber, night had already fallen. Locked as he was in the deepest part of the Palace dungeon, Shichiroji had no way of knowing the day or the time. He was unaware that it was the evening of the second day, that the following day would be the day of the sacrifice.

Rage and frustration rising inside his heart, Shichiroji rushed to the iron doors and started shaking the bars. "LET ME OUT! LET ME OUT!"

It was Ukyo's calm voice that answered him. "I'm sorry about this, Shichiroji-kun. But you left me with no choice."

"Ukyo!" the Samurai hissed in anger. "Where's Kanbei? What the hell did you do to him?"

"He's safe...for now. But tomorrow?"

The Samurai's eyes widened. With a forlorn groan, he pressed his brow to the bars, shaking his head. "No! Dear God, no!"

"I underestimated you, Shichiroji-kun," Ukyo remarked. "You obviously know a lot more than I first thought."

"But I still don't know everything. You've kept your secrets well, Amanushi-sama." Shichiroji said the last with great scorn.

The twisted ruler loomed into view. With a casual shrug, he leaned against the wall opposite Shichiroji's cell, arms folded over his chest. "I suppose I should reveal all to you now. There's nothing you could do to stop the inevitable anyway."

"As you very well know, I was the bastard son of the late, unlamented Kougakyo Magistrate Ayamaro, who sent his only child off into exile for numerous…transgressions," Ukyo began his narrative. "I formed a little band of Nobuseri, mercenaries and cutthroats, plundering our way to this region. During our trek through the desert, we found the ruins of a great city. With all my accumulated riches, I decided to rebuild the Palace. One of my men was a master builder and he made the plans
to build the Palace using the still intact supports of the original edifice. It was while they were digging that they found the chapel. Inside it were clay jars containing scrolls on which were written the history of the people who lived here. About the magicians who have imprisoned in the catacombs below a powerful demon that could grant wishes."

A light laugh escaped Ukyo's lips. "Thanks to those scrolls, we were able to dig through the ruins until we reached the catacombs. It was easy for me to locate where the Odalisk's prison was. But I was dismayed when I found it. It was nothing more than a hideous
statue, its powers drained to such a degree that it could not move, frozen in a Lotus position like a grotesque Hindu god. I sought the answer as to how to awaken it. It was in the scrolls that I learned about the existence of a crystal in which the demon's powers were sealed. A stone that supposedly could give the bearer god-like powers, including healing and eternal life. The great Amesha Spenta Stone from the legends! The problem was, following the destruction of the city, the magicians and their gods willed that the crystal be hidden in the farthest corners of the Earth, where the demon could not get
its hands on it. Like a bright shooting star, the Amesha Spenta Stone soared into the heavens from the ruins of the city and disappeared."

"And so you decided to look for the Stone," Shichiroji wryly continued for him. "Let me guess! Aside from its promise of immortality, the Odalisk's ability to grant your heart's desire appealed to your sense of greed."

Ukyo smiled. "You know me too well, Shichiroji. With my Palace still under construction, I decided to go on a journey once more, leaving everything in the hands of my master builder. But throughout my travels, I did not find the Stone. When I heard of the Civil War that was brewing in my homeland, I decided to return. It had been easy to kill my father and become a warlord. I plundered villages – stole rice and the prettiest girls. I believe that your pretty Kirara was a Mikumari from Kanna Village. Indeed, I was a force to be reckoned with. But, of course, you know that for a fact. Did I not capture you and Kanbei-kun and the rest of your troops?" He glared at the Samurai. "While you were my prisoner, as time passed, you became a thorn in my side, Shichiroji-kun. I saw it in your eyes that you still harbor hatred towards me for taking the witch Kirara from you. Poor Kanbei never even knew that his precious 'wife' has been sowing his oats in another. And yet so great was his concern for you that one night, he came to me, demanding that I cease from my nightly amusements with you." A lascivious grin formed on Ukyo's face. "But then, I got a good look at your beloved general. I saw just how appealing he was, despite his age! In this brave man, I saw the key to destroying you. He was so sweet, Shichiroji-kun," said Ukyo dreamily. "He was a natural whore."

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Shichiroji bellowed, rattling the bars, eager to kill the Amanushi.

"Ah, but we haven't come to the best part! As I was taking him, a bright shaft of light burst from the center of his chest, healing his wounds completely. Just as quickly, the light vanished, leaving the skin of his chest unmarked. But it was enough. I saw it -- the one thing I've been searching for. I thought it would be hidden in ancient ruins or in a deep, dark cave. In the highest mountain or in the depths of the ocean. It was the perfect hiding place for the demon's crystal -- the body of a courageous warrior with a pure soul!" Ukyo clucked his tongue in mock regret. "Poor Kanbei-kun! Brave samurai! He sacrificed his innocence just to save the man he loved from the evil Amanushi, only to have his dear spouse brand him a traitor and abandon him. When you left him behind, all life deserted Kanbei-kun. He was nothing more than a lifeless doll that gave me and my men many nights of pleasure."

"BASTARD!" the Samurai cried furiously, squeezing his arm between the bars. "GIVE ME A SWORD THAT I COULD TAKE YOUR HEAD!"

"Don't you want to listen to the rest of the story? After you left, I brought Kirara and Kanbei back with me to Ain Mehira. I wanted to ensconce myself as the rightful
ruler of my little desert kingdom. It's not without difficulty, however. It seems my master builder had notions of grandeur running around inside his head and proclaimed himself Emir in my absence. Although some men remained loyal to me, we could not retake Ain
Mehira from him."

A smug grin quirked up his lips. "Bringing Kanbei-kun with me was a most fortuitous move. The mere presence of my Little Taisho within the oasis' borders was all it took to rouse the Odalisk from its slumber. It sensed the Amesha Spenta Stone within him. As you know, thanks to that bitch Kirara, the ritual was a failure. Within a night, the demon slaughtered everyone in the Palace. The screams were horrifying, and Kikuchiyo and his men had a difficult time holding it back. For a moment, we thought that the Odalisk would escape, but thankfully, the magical wards stayed, keeping it imprisoned. When we had at last cornered the demon in the catacombs, greedy fellow that I am, I went to it and demanded that it grant my wish, despite Kirara's being an unworthy sacrifice." Ukyo exclaimed with a tone of self-deprecation, "But stupid me! The Odalisk reminded me that it could not grant my wish without its powers. And, as was written in the scrolls, it would not be enough to simply give it the Stone. A worthy sacrifice must be offered to it -- one that could satisfy its base desires willingly. A sacrifice with the beauty and lustiness of a
siren, but with the soul of an angel.

"Guess who should appear from out of nowhere? All the screams must have awakened Kanbei-kun and, dazed as he was, somehow found himself in the catacombs. Do you know what your gentle Kanbei cried to the Odalisk? 'DON'T DO IT! DON'T GRANT
HIS WISH!' Amazing man! He was standing before a demon from Hell and he was not afraid. NOT AT ALL! Such was the goodness shining from his heart that the Odalisk did not realize that its powers were trapped inside this courageous whore. Then, a tear fell from his right eye. He does that well, you know, Shichiroji. That trick with a tear. I've seen a change in the demon. Gentle smiles formed on its two faces, and it actually reached out and wiped the tear from Kanbei's eye. 'Please don't grant his wish!' Kanbei-kun insisted again. 'He's evil!' As if I were the demon and the Odalisk were an angel from Heaven! I could see how attracted it was to Kanbei. I asked the demon, 'Do you want him?' The Odalisk replied, 'He is not ready.' I smiled and answered, 'In fifteen years, he shall be ready for you.' It ruffled ran its fingers through Kanbei's hair and said something which I could not hear. Kanbei nodded once and then he closed his eyes and began to slip to the floor. It was Kikuchiyo who caught him in his arms. 'In fifteen years,' the Odalisk told me and it went back inside its chamber.

"Oh, but I didn't send Kanbei-kun out into the world just yet. I waited five years before sending him out for training with the best whores in every corner of the globe. Still, I gave him the benefit of my expertise during those five years that we were together." Ukyo winked at the Samurai. "After all, did I not make an excellent whore out of you?"

Shichiroji's face darkened, his blue eyes piercing in their glare. "I swear, Ukyo, I will get out of here and, when I do, I will have your head, and I won't regret it one bit..." He concluded with utter disdain, "...Amanushi-sama!"

"You'll never get out of this cell, Shichiroji," the evil ruler answered firmly. "Here, you will rot for all eternity. You'll never see your beautiful lover whore to the Odalisk and sacrifice his life to it."

"You're dead, do you hear me, Ukyo? DEAD!"

Ukyo, however, simply ignored his ravings. "I'm not a cruel man. Don't worry, Shichiroji-kun! You have a companion inside your cell. Since you two are already good friends. I'm sure you would enjoy each other's company." Saying this, the Amanushi of Ain Mehira walked off, laughing all the way.

Turning, Shichiroji surveyed his cell, until his eyes fell upon the trembling figure crouched in the farthest, darkest corner.

"Oh my God! MOERU!" the Samurai rushed towards the colt. Through the dim light of the torch, he could see that Moeru's body was covered with bleeding cuts, possibly from the lash. The little horse was breathing heavily, making soft noises of pain. Given the way he favored his side, it was obvious to Shichiroji that Moeru had a few broken ribs as well.

Tears trickling from his eyes, Shichiroji carefully eased Moeru's head onto his lap. As he embraced the colt, he whispered, "I'm so sorry, little friend! I tarried too long in Kirara's cave. Now, it's too late! I couldn't protect you from the Ukyo's cruelty! I couldn't save Kanbei from the Odalisk! This is all my fault! I returned too late to save you both, and I'm oh so sorry for this!"

~~~~~~~~~~

Exhausted and depressed, Shichiroji eventually drifted off to sleep. Only two hours had passed when he awoke once more, sensing a presence inside the cell with him. Unlike Ukyo or Hyogo's disturbing aura, his visitor surrounded them with a refreshing atmosphere, like a breath of sweet, clean mountain air. Astonishingly, he discovered that all his aches and pains have disappeared. He would not be surprised if he sat up and found his body whole again. But the Samurai did not move, instead he extended his hearing -- to listen to the soft cajoling murmurs and the frightened whicker of the colt.

"Moeru, please!" that gentle baritone begged the little horse earnestly. "I swear it was not my intention to hurt you! Please don't be afraid of me!"

Shichiroji cracked an eyelid open. Kanbei was down on one knee, hand reaching out to the colt, which was cringing inch-by-inch back from him. There were dots of tears in the man's bed gown. One long slit in the side all too clearly revealed to the Samurai the crusts of dried blood on his rump and the back of his right thigh. But to his surprise, the one thing that Shichiroji never expected to see again was the black veil covering the whoremaster's entire face. From his position, Kanbei looked like a wraith or the Angel of Death.

Kanbei raised both arms to the terrified colt, his voice trembling as he pleaded, "Please, Moeru! My dear sweet friend! I just want to hold you! If you wish, you could feed from me. I know you're very hungry." Seeing the tiny horse staring back at him with eyes as round as plates, the concubine asked in growing dismay, "Moeru, what's wrong? Don't you love me anymore?"

Before he could even lay a finger on his wee friend, Moeru let out a frightened cry and painfully limped towards Shichiroji. Seeing the colt's wobbly gait, the Samurai quickly sat up and caught him before he could stumble. The little horse's rejection of him broke the whoremaster's heart in two. Lowering his head, Kanbei buried his face in his hands and burst into bitter tears.

"Kanbei..." Shichiroji called the older man's name softly.

The concubine pounded his fist several times to his chest. "It...it was this...thing! It was controlling me, and I couldn't stop it! When Moeru was forcing me to enter the chapel, I just found myself hitting him so fiercely that he hit the wall hard. Shichiroji, I swear I didn't mean to hurt him! I would never willfully hurt Moeru!"

"I know that, Kanbei. It's because of the Amesha Spenta Stone inside you. The Stone contains the essence of the Odalisk."

"Yes, I know. It's been doing...things...to me. Making me see things," Kanbei whispered. With a forlorn cry, he exclaimed, "But why me? I didn't ask for this! Why did those magicians put this thing inside me?"

"I'm not too sure myself. Maybe because they knew that the perfect hiding place for the Stone would be a person possessing a pure soul. They probably believed that you could be able to contain the evil."

"Well, I don't want it! Especially if it makes me hurt the ones I love!"

Shichiroji looked at his lover curiously. "Kanbei, you said that the Stone is doing things to you. What do you mean by that?"

A shadowed hand reached under his veil, apparently to wipe away his tears. "I could feel its powers, Shichiroji. I...I think I could be able to make amends with Moeru by healing him. Just as I had healed you."

"Then, why don't you?" Shichiroji smiled down at the terrified colt who had rolled up into a tight, painful ball in his arms. "Did you hear that, Moeru? Kanbei wants to heal you. There's nothing to be afraid of."

Moeru, however, vehemently shook his head, and tucked himself even closer to the Samurai.

The Warrior was saddened by this gesture. "Mini Moe, are you saying that you don't love Kanbei anymore? You know that he is under the control of the demon and his magic crystal. It is making him do things he doesn't want to do. Tell me, Moeru! In all the times that you've been together, has Kanbei ever laid a finger of harm on you?"

The colt gazed into the Samurai's face, tears welling up in his eyes. Then, slowly, he shook his head.

"Very well then. Let him help you. I am in no capacity to heal you, and Kikuchiyo isn't here." Shichiroji mused sadly, "I'm not even sure if he's..."

"Kikuchiyo is still alive," Kanbei put in. "Ukyo still needs his help for the ritual. I...made him see...the necessity of keeping the cyborg alive, until after the ritual."

Shichiroji frowned at that remark, but did not say anything else. Instead, he stood up and carried Moeru over to the concubine, laying him on Kanbei's lap. There was a moment's hesitation in the whoremaster.

"Don't be afraid, Moeru," Kanbei whispered again as he raised his hand.

Shichiroji stared in shock. The concubine's hand now resembled that of the demon's, white and gritty as unpolished marble with sharp claws. Moeru began to shake all over at the sight of that frightening hand, but did not make any move to escape, even when Kanbei laid his palm over his chest. Suddenly, Kanbei's hand began to glow a bright white, enveloping the colt in an aura of light. As the Samurai looked on in amazement, white tendrils snaked out from the whoremaster's fingers, tracing each and every wound on Moeru's body, leaving it healed with its passage. Surely enough, Shichiroji could feel the colt's breathing begin to attain its more normal rhythm, his position becoming relaxed. When the light faded away, Moeru was as good as new.

With a choked cry, the little horse cuddled close to his dearest friend as tears of guilt trickled from his eyes.

Embracing him eagerly and kissing him many times, Kanbei wept as well, "Don't cry, Moeru! Please! I understand that you were afraid, that you thought I might hurt you again. But it won't happen again. I swear it! I would rather die than hurt you!"

In his happiness that the colt was well again, the concubine did not notice that his veil was slowly being pulled from his face with every movement of Moeru's head. Before Kanbei could yank his veil back, it fluttered down on his lap, covering the horse's body like a silk blanket.

There were startled looks on both the faces of Shichiroji and Moeru, beholding the older man's face at last.

"DON'T LOOK AT ME!" cried Kanbei in panic, covering his face with both hands. But the Warrior and colt had already seen him too clearly.

Carefully, Shichiroji reached out and pried the whoremaster's trembling hands away from his face. He bade his lover to look up. Although his handsome face remained, his chocolate brown irises had been transformed into a blazing red color, giving it a feral mien. His parted full lips revealed sharp fangs. Kanbei's ears had assumed the form of bat wings, just like the Odalisk's. Even his long hair had changed into glossy red tresses, almost like copper wires.

Kanbei's fangs punctured his lower lip as he bit down. Laughing wryly, he said, "Amazing it? Even with the way I look now, it didn't stop Ukyo and Hyogo from fucking me! They said that I needed to be 'rehearsed' for the ritual."

Unable to speak, Shichiroji made to embrace the older man, but the concubine hastily stood up, with Moeru cradled like a baby in his arms.

"Come with me, Shichiroji," invited the whoremaster. "I'm taking you back to your chamber."

"But what about Ukyo? I don't want him to punish you."

"I told him that I wouldn't do what he wanted if he didn't release you from this cell." The concubine grimaced. "This...form...has its uses. The Stone also helped me to be more persuasive. Unfortunately, I couldn't persuade Ukyo to let you go. He said that he wanted you to be at the ceremony -- to watch as I copulate with the Odalisk."

The Samurai was about to utter a fierce retort, but then, his lover started to walk away. //Damn you, Ukyo! I swear you'll die by my hands! // With that oath, he hurried after the whoremaster.

As they emerged from the dungeons and went through the hallways of the Palace, Shichiroji noticed the deathly silence of his surroundings.

In answer to his unspoken question, Kanbei replied, "Most of the servants have gone. The only people left here are the soldiers still loyal to Ukyo. I don't know about the village, but I think even the villagers have fled from Ain Mehira." He turned slightly to the younger man. "This is your doing, isn't it, Shichiroji? This sudden exodus from the oasis?"

"Yes," the Warrior admitted. "I had asked Masamune to seek the help of Kyuzo and his men. I'm certain that they had infiltrated the village and had seen to the escape of the people from this realm."

"I doubt if it would do any good, especially when the Odalisk regains its full strength. I doubt if there is any place on this Earth that we could hide."

"Still, we must do everything we can to try to stop it. In a few hours, Gorobei would be here, together with his master, the Sultan, and his troops, as well as some men from the Bedouin tribes. Contrary to belief, Ukyo is considered a scourge among the desert tribes. As for those tribes still loyal to him, they wouldn't stand a chance against the combined
might of the armies of the Sultan and the other desert tribes."

"But would they stand a chance against the power of the Odalisk? I will do everything I can to stop the bloodshed."

"Kanbei, it's still not too late. Just say yes and I will take you away from this place."

"I'm afraid my answer is no. This is my destiny, Shichiroji. I will see it through to its very end."

Reaching the Samurai's chamber at last, Shichiroji grabbed Kanbei's wrist before he could open the door. "You've made your choice, haven't you? You have chosen the Master whose wish you shall ask the demon to grant."

Opening the door, Kanbei waved the younger man inside. "Yes, I have."

The Warrior waited until they were behind closed doors. As the whoremaster laid the now sleeping colt on his cot, he queried again, "Who did you choose? Is it me?"

Kanbei, however, shook his head. "I'm afraid I cannot tell you. You'll find out tomorrow."

"Do you think I could just stand by and watch you make love to that thing? Do you want me to do nothing while you sacrifice your body and soul to the demon?"

"Yes."

Gritting his teeth, Shichiroji reached under his bed and pulled out his spear.

There was sorrow in the concubine's eyes as he asked, "Are you going to kill me now, Shichiroji? Are you going to deprive me of this one chance to do something useful with my life?"

The Samurai let his sword fall from his hand. "Why did this have to happen to us, Kanbei? WHY?"

"Perhaps because it is meant to be this way."

With tears filling his eyes, Shichiroji wrapped his arms around his brave lover. "Can you forgive me, Kanbei, for ruining your life?"

Kanbei embraced the younger man just as tightly. "Oh, Shichiroji! Despite the cruel things I said and did to you in the past, I've long since forgiven you. You're my heart and soul. How could I not forgive you?"

At these words, the two men's eyes fluttered close as their lips pressed in a passionate kiss. Lost in the love they felt for each other, Shichiroji did not notice that the whoremaster was glowing with that same white light that had earlier surrounded the colt. Neither did he sense the transformation in the older man. When they pulled away to breath, a cry of delight escaped Shichiroji's lips, seeing the beauty of the concubine restored to him once more. Even Kanbei was awed, as he felt his face now turned back to normal.

The Samurai lifted the concubine in his arms and carried him over to the bed. As they sank down on the silken sheets, Shichiroji whispered, "I love you, Kanbei! For all eternity, I shall love only you!"

"Don't say anymore, Shichiroji," Kanbei muttered huskily. "This is our last night together. Just show me! Please show me!"

At these pleadings, the Warrior lowered himself upon his lover's luscious body, aching to possess the concubine utterly.

Before he could succumb to his passions, Kanbei glanced at the hidden panel behind the wall, a grateful smile turning up the corners of his full lips.

~~~~~~~~~~

The Odalisk had seen the concubine's gentle smile. It was the demon who had healed Kanbei. Yes, it was the human's last night on this Earth. Better that he be remembered and loved for what he was and not the hellish creature that he changed into because of the infernal crystal within his breast.

The demon grimaced, feeling the tug on the two hearts beating in its chest. Yes, it had felt jealousy, seeing the whoremaster surrender himself completely to his lover. True, it would have Kanbei tomorrow, but it would not be the same. It would never be able to own the concubine the same way the Samurai had.

The memory of a sweet smile filled its mind. That smile...it held so much promise. But Kanbei would never love it as he had loved Shichiroji.

With a sigh, the Odalisk wearily trudged back to its domain. Tomorrow is only a few short hours away. A few short hours and Kanbei would belong to it. And, yes, even the world as well.

So why was the demon not looking forward to it?

// Choose your Master wisely, Little Prince, // the Odalisk advised inside its mind. // The fate of your world lies in your hands. But whatever your choice will be, all those who have tormented you shall be the first to perish. //


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