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 July 1, 2006


Chapter Forty-Six

That dazzling flash burned with such intensity that Shichiroji thought he would be struck blind. To his relief, he sensed the light gradually dimming to the point that he could open his eyes at last.

The Samurai beamed at the awe-inspiring sight of his lover, with taisenshatou in hand, standing above the writhing figure of the God of Evil on the floor. Ahriman was clutching the bleeding stump of his left arm. Moeru was cautiously sniffing the still twitching severed hand on the floor. When the hand suddenly turned over, a claw touching his nose, the colt squealed in surprise and swiftly galloped back to his precious 'trophy', which he had hidden behind a clay jar, much to the chagrin of Kikuchiyo, who had been searching for it earlier and was rubbing his sore crotch.

But what caught Shichiroji's eye were the man and woman lying on the spot where the Odalisk had earlier stood. // My God, he did it! // he thought happily, gazing at his lover with pride. // He really did it! //

Seeing them as well, a joyful smile lit up the concubine's face. Ignoring Ahriman, who was about to grab his leg, Kanbei went to the couple.

Kneeling between them, the whoremaster gently shook the woman's shoulder. "Devi Mari? Devi Mari, wake up!"

There was a slight tremor in those closed eyelids. Then, Devi Mari opened her eyes, her gaze falling upon Kanbei's liquid brown orbs. A sob was caught in her throat as she lifted her hand to caress his face.

"Little Prince!" she muttered weakly, tears of happiness streaming from the corners of her eyes. "I never gave up hope! I knew you would save us!"

Then, a dazed voice mumbled, "What...where are we?" Mithras gasped, beholding the beautiful face of his beloved. "Devi Mari? My dearest Devi Mari! Is it really you? Or is this just a dream?"

Kanbei took Mithras' and Devi Mari's hands and clasped them together. Laying his own palm over their joined hands, he asked, "Does this feel like a dream to you, Mithras?"

The God of Light started to weep as well. He looked at the man kneeling above them. "Oh, Little Prince! You are our savior!"

With all his attention focused on the two lovers, the concubine did not notice that Ahriman was slowly getting to his feet, eyes blazing with hatred towards the whore that defeated him. His hand tightened around his spear.

Before Shichiroji could stop him, Ahriman broke into a run, heading toward the whoremaster, spear poised to kill.

"KANBEI, LOOK OUT!" the Samurai cried in warning. The other warriors were just as stunned. They were too far to offer Kanbei protection.

To Shichiroji's shock, however, the concubine did not move. He just knelt there, holding the lovers' hands, back turned to the Lord of Darkness that was about to kill him.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Ahriman and his demonic horde continued to jeer at the human army, which had now gathered at the edge of the desert in preparation for battle.

"Why do you just stand there, Little Taisho?" the Lord of Evil's grand persona taunted the spirit persona of the concubine. "Are you afraid? You don't stand a chance against us! Surrender now! I promise we will not torture you too much!" Ahriman roared with laughter at that wisecrack.

Hyogo grimaced at that remark. He mumbled to the whoremaster, "Someone should shut him up!"

"Believe me, Hyogo," Kanbei began reassuringly, "he will be silenced." Becoming serious, he told his comrades, "I'll go first."

Kirara and Tessai looked at him as though he were insane.

"You obviously have forgotten that one rule we had as warriors, Little Taisho," Tessai commented. "You never attack an army alone, unless you are contemplating suicide."

"I'm used to attacking solo, Tessai. Believe me. I know what I'm doing."

Strongly, Hyogo stated, "I don't want to die another, more permanent death without completing my body parts first."

"I don't think this is wise, Kanbei," put in Kirara. "You know how eager Ahriman is to get your soul."

The concubine smiled enigmatically. "That is the one thing he won't be able to do. It's his army that's the greater physical threat."

"But Kanbei..."

"You'll see." Winking at his spirit companions, Kanbei said in encouragement. "Hold fast, my friends. I'll clear the way for all of you." Before they could argue with him any further, the whoremaster unfurled his wings and flew toward the demon army, heading straight for Ahriman.

Everyone's eyes were wide with alarm, seeing the concubine's angelic persona in a valiant solo charge against that hellish horde.

"KANBEI!" the Sultan cried out, terrified, as the Demon Lord raised his spear, ready to stab the approaching angel.

A quick thrust. For a moment, they saw the spear's point pierce the whoremaster's body. But then, Kanbei continued to press onward, despite that fatal wound …and PASSED RIGHT THROUGH a stunned Ahriman's body! He came to an abrupt halt before the God of Evil's general. Before the ghoulish warlord could even raise a cry, the concubine cut off his head. Other ghouls lunged at Kanbei, but he quickly felled them and their steeds with his katana.

With an outraged bellow, Ahriman spun on his heels to glower at the angel that was picking off his troops one by one. Furious, he struck at the concubine again and again with his spear. However, his weapon simply passed through the whoremaster's form, his spear connecting instead with Kanbei's opponents.

Seeing that the Lord of Darkness was not the threat they believed him to be, a broad smile formed on Kirara's face. There were similar smiles on the lips of Tessai and Hyogo, who was actually chuckling. The Sultan and Masamune rode up beside the three spirits.

"Shall we attack now, my friends, before Kanbei finishes them all for us?" the Sultan inquired, grinning.

Kirara's answer was to raise her sword above her head and shout, "ATTACK!"

~~~~~~~~~~

The six samurai could not believe what they were seeing. Even Moeru's jaw had dropped that his 'prize' was hanging from his mouth. Despite the astounding sight before him, Kikuchiyo found himself distracted by the colt's trophy that he attempted to swipe it again. But Moeru's mouth snapped shut around his hand. The mechanical samurai grimaced as the fiendish little horse chewed on his fingers.

Ahriman's bellow of frustration echoed throughout the Palace. Repeatedly, he lashed out at the kneeling concubine, but each blow passed through the Kanbei's body as though he were a ghost. Mithras and Devi Mari were just as stunned.

As the spear's point went through his head, Kanbei casually stated, "That's not going to work. I already know your weakness. You draw your strength from the negative emotions that fester inside a heart." Solemnly, he intoned, "My anger gives you strength. My pride gives you substance. My hate gives you might. My despair is your triumph. But without all these, you, Ahriman, are NOTHING!"

The concubine then stood up and faced the still flailing Demon Lord. He raised his hand and delivered a fierce slap to Ahriman's face, which sent him falling to the floor. As he picked himself up, the God of Darkness saw that Kanbei held the broken pieces of the Amesha Spenta Stone in his hands. Behind the concubine, surrounded by a golden aura, was the Supreme Being, Ahura Mazda.

"Let this orb that we had used to protect good now serve as your eternal prison," Ahura Mazda said with a knowing smile.

"NO! NEVER!" Ahriman roared in defiance.

"Time to say goodbye, Angra Mainyu," Kanbei and Ahura Mazda spoke in unison, as the samurai held out the Stone.

"NO! NOOOOO!" screamed Ahriman as he began to revert back into a red mist.

~~~~~~~~~~

The same scene was being played out in the field of battle outside the walls of Ain Mehira. As the Sultan felled the last ghoul, he turned to find his comrades staring, enrapt, at the terrified Demon Lord, who was shrinking back from the combined might of the concubine and the Great God of Light.

As Ahriman slowly transformed into his red mist form, the Amesha Spenta Stone sucked him in, ranting all the way.

"THIS ISN'T OVER, SAMURAI!" roared Ahriman. "I SWEAR I'LL COME BACK FOR YOU! YOU AND YOUR DESCENDANTS!"

When all of the mist had been collected, Kanbei closed the two halves of the Stone, the crack sealing by itself. Looking at the swirling mist within, he said simply, "I'll be waiting!" He then handed the Amesha Spenta Stone to Ahura Mazda, who nodded and disappeared.

Kanbei approached the Sultan and the scribe. Flinging his arms around his former lover's neck, he mumbled, "It's all over now, Ismail, Masamune."

"Yes, I know," the Sultan whispered, smiling in immense relief. He beamed at the three spirit warriors. "Thank you. Thank you very much."

Kirara nodded to the monarch. Taking Tessai's hand, she said, "Come, Tessai. Now we can rest."

Tessai turned to the scribe. "Take care of Kanbei for me, my friend. And, have a good life."

"Yes, Tessai," Masamune said, beaming. "I promise you that."

At these words, the three spirits faded from sight.

Abdullah embraced his son one last time. "Till we meet again! I love you, Mikey!"

Kanbei kissed the Sultan on the cheek. "Please wait for us at the top of the dune. We'll be rejoining you soon."

Granting his friends a salute, the whoremaster then flew off and returned to Ain Mehira.

~~~~~~~~~~

Inside the Throne Room, Shichiroji watched in awe as his lover's angelic persona joined with Kanbei's earthly body, but not before granting the Samurai the sweetest kiss. When the whoremaster was at last complete, he could no longer hold back the feelings that welled up inside him. The Samurai rushed toward the older man, who lifted both arms to him in welcome. They embraced each other tightly, exchanging passionate kisses as though they had been deprived of love for centuries. They would have made love right then and there, but then they remembered that they were in the presence of the Supreme Being.

Ahura Mazda was not the least bit offended. Beaming with pride, he looked at the concubine. "You did well, Little Prince. Because of you, I could now take my two children back to Heaven."

Devi Mari stepped forward, smiling gloriously, handing the concubine the rag doll she had made for him. Cupping Kanbei's face tenderly in her hands, she whispered, "Little Prince, I thank you for all that you've done for us."

Mithras embraced the concubine as well. "Can you forgive us, dearest child, for hurting you? For sating our infernal lust upon you?"

"There is nothing to forgive, my friends," Kanbei exclaimed. "I will be eternally grateful for the love and kindness you had showered upon me. I am deeply honored that this whore, with his meager skills, was able to give you pleasure."

"Ah, but you didn't give us pleasure, Little Prince," Mithras and Devi Mari told him. "You taught us how to love again." The two lovers turned to Shichiroji. "We are going back home now. To you we entrust our Little Prince. Please take of him for us."

Shichiroji smiled, pulling the older man close. "I won't let him out of my sight."

"If this fool should leave Kanbei alone again," Kikuchiyo chimed in, grinning broadly, tapping his sword in his hand, "this time, he'll have to face me."

"No," Gorobei quickly countered. "He'll have to face all of us."

Mithras laughed. "I have no doubt you would." He looked at the six warriors with pride. "You all have changed so much. Continue on this path and you will find true happiness."

Heihachi looked at the concubine with pride. "We have Kanbei to thank for that."

Devi Mari's eyes fell upon the little colt, who had toddled up to her, happily wagging his tail. Laughing, the Persian Princess went down on her knees and embraced Moeru. Even Mithras fondly ruffled the white tuft of hair on his brow.

"Naughty Moeru! You have been such delightful company!" gushed Devi Mari. "I see that you have gotten...repayment...against he who has tormented you so."

Moeru nodded eagerly. He even opened his mouth to show the Princess his 'prize.' However, since the colt's back was turned to him, Kanbei could not see what it was.

"Don't strain your neck too much, Kanbei-sama," Katsushiro advised him with a grimace. "It's something you should not see."

"My sentiments exactly," Kyuzo snorted. "I certainly don't want to see it."

"That's because you HAVE seen it before, and it's something we need to talk about later, Sensei."

But no matter what they said, Kanbei could not contain his curiosity.

Noting the curious glances that the concubine was throwing at his colt, Devi Mari whispered to the little horse, "If I were you, Moeru, I would think twice about showing your 'trophy' to our Little Prince."

"That's what I've been telling him earlier," Kikuchiyo declared in disgust. "Damned runt wouldn't part with it!"

Hearing that word "runt", Moeru swiveled his head back and growled at the mechanical samurai.

Mithras gave the colt a bear hug. "Do not be offended by that name! It is not meant as an insult. Besides, as you very well know by now, big things always come in small packages."

At that remark, Moeru snootily cocked his chin up.

Kikuchiyo could not help the groan that escaped his lips. "Wonderful! Now he's going to be more impossible!"

"We must go now, Mithras, Devi Mari," said Ahura Mazda, raising his hands to the lovers. The couple took the proffered hands. Slowly, they began to float into the air.

"Farewell, Little Prince," Mithras and Devi Mari waved to the concubine who had saved them from eternal torment. "And again, thank you!"

"Goodbye, Mithras, Devi Mari!" Kanbei waved back. "I'll never forget you!"

Devi Mari looked at Ahura Mazda for a moment, who nodded as a sign of his permission. "Little Prince, this part of your life is over now. It is time for you to regain that which you have lost."

"What do you mean?" he asked the Persian Princess, pulling away from his lover's embrace to gaze at his departing friends.

"Now is the time for you to return to your homeland."

"But I have no home to return to."

Mithras declared, "You are the son of the land from whence you came. It is there where you truly belong."

A wave of sadness filled Kanbei's heart, remembering his old home. "I cannot claim that country to be my home anymore. My people… They know me as a whore."

"A whore, you say?" Ahura Mazda's laughter rumbled in his chest, as he and his 'children' slowly began to vanish. "Even back then, you have displayed a selfless heart -- a heart that puts the needs and concerns of others above your own. That is a trait of a TRUE warrior. Dare they call you a 'whore'? Never forget that you have defeated the Lord of Darkness on this day. No warrior could make the claim of facing the Demon Lord and survived. Stand tall, Little Prince. You have much to be proud of. Let no man call you 'whore' for you are, indeed, a warrior true."

In finality, the Supreme Being commanded, "Return to your home, Shimada Kanbei. The God of the Mountain has need of your aid there."

At that last, Ahura Mazda disappeared with Mithras and Devi Mari.

Shichiroji looked at the hunched form of his lover with concern. Going toward the whoremaster, he laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Kanbei, love? Are you all right?"

Kanbei hastily wiped the tears that were forming in his eyes. "I'm fine, Shichiroji. I'm just happy it's all over." Before the Samurai could ask another question, the concubine approached his beloved pet, falling to one knee. "All right, Moeru! We've delayed this long enough. What is it that you're going to show me?"

At that question, everyone burst into groans.

"What? WHAT?" Kanbei stammered, wondering what was wrong with everyone to react so.

However, as the colt was about to show his 'prize to his beloved Master, the earth began to shake violently. So strong was the tremor that cracks snaked up the walls of the Throne Room.

"I think we'd better get out of here," mused Kikuchiyo in increasing alarm.


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