The Samurai

The Samurai Episode 8 Relic

"Wow! There he goes! He's doing it again!", Touka says to herself as she looks on in amazement.

-Aaaagghhhh! 

Torso yells as it finishes devouring its self. It begins to change both in power and appearance. The two remaining Torsos grow together until there back to back.

Its arms get bigger and longer extending almost all the way to the ground. 

Between the two back to back Torsos, a set of arms shoot out like scorpion stingers. They are long and it looks like they can reach out in all directions. 

It may have sacrificed one of its bodies, but with this change it once again makes itself into a defensive wall, no openings, no weak points, no blind spots. 

It now faces forward and backwards. Its grown in size bulking up greatly. With all it’s long arms and no blind spot.

Its gonna be hard to get in close and deliver any kind of hit much less land a decisive blow. Its power begins swelling. This Demon is strong, very strong. 

It’s a real Demon, not a Demi-Demon. Its devoured countless humans and it’s even devoured other Demon’s it’s the only way it could have gained this much power. 

"Just how long has this Demon been alive? No! I have to focus! Can I protect Touka while fighting this thing?".

 An image of Saya flashes before Kenshin’s eyes.

His power suddenly erupts like a bolt of lightning. The sound of birds chirping rings through the air as Kenshin seems to burst into invisible flames.

The ground beneath him peels flaking away, electricity shoots in and out the ground and dances around Kenshin’s entire body his hair and clothes dance around like he’s standing on top of a fan. He’s radiating power.

The Demon completes its hideous transformation. The two stinger like arms strike towards Kenshin with blinding speed. One of the hands lands a blow cutting Kenshin on his arm. But it’s like Kenshin doesn't even feel it.

He lunges into his own attack jumping into the air creating a crater beneath his feet. 

He releases a rapid flurry of sword swings creating blades of wind he then grabs his shoulder where he was cut then throws his blood into the blades of wind screaming,

-Blades Of Blood! 

The blood fuses into the blades of wind. The barrage of blades hits the Demon with such force it sounds like rapid fire from a high power weapon.

(Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!)

Its slices off one of the arms protruding out like a stinger but the Demon uses the other one enlarging its palm to shield it from the onslaught of Blood Blades.

After the attack ricochets off the blocking hand the Demon uses that hand to swat Kenshin from the air.

-THAT WASN’T VERY NICE! Torso shouts out laughing, YOU CUT OFF MY ARM, BUT ONCE I DEVOUR YOU THAT WONT REALLY MATTER!

The Demon rushes over to Kenshin and swings the still enlarged palm at Kenshin smashing into the ground. 

(Swoosh!)

The arm flies off spraying blood as Kenshin evades the attack while countering. 

-AAAGHHH! Torso yells.

Kenshin then lunges toward driving his Katana into the throat pushing it out the back cutting off the second stinger arm. 

Torso jumps back and quickly devours its severed arm. The two torsos fuse into one body. But it has two faces one in front and one in the back. Its four arms two facing forward two facing backward.

-NOW YOU UCHIHA SCUM! I'LL DEVOUR YOU!! LETS SEE HOW LONG I CAN PLAY WITH YOU BEFORE I BREAK YOU!

He then seems to teleport right in front of Kenshin striking Kenshin hard in the stomach. Then hits him in the face. Blood spills out of Kenshin’s mouth. 

Kenshin quickly stabs his sword into the hand Torso hit him in the face with. Torso spins around at the waste showing the other face. It punches Kenshin. It keeps wailing on him until Kenshin is forced to pull his sword from its hand.

Kenshin jumps into the air and flips behind the Demon trying to land a blow. But the other face spots the attack and thwarts his effort, punching Kenshin sending him flying backwards.

Kenshin hits the wall and yells out in pain. He quickly jumps back in for another attack. But the Demon brushes it off with ease. It’s no good, Kenshin can't find an opening. 

He attacks again uses the wind creating a gust trying to increase the potency of his attack. 

The Demon uses one arm to block the thrust. Kenshin’s sword embeds into his forearm. Its stuck, the Demon quickly catches him with the free arm. 

The other two arms twist crack and bend until they are both facing forward now too. The Demon begins to beat on Kenshin savagely while holding him in place with the aid of the embed sword. 

Kenshin pulls, but can't get his sword free.

"I can’t win like this, He thinks to himself, I can’t create an opening". 

The Demon continues to beat him. Laughing hysterically.

-Oh No! Touka shouts.

"He’s he’s gonna die if I don’t do something quick!". 

Touka leaps into the air forward and throws her two hidden throwing needles from her hair with pen point accuracy. Hitting the Demon in its forward facing eyes. 

It releases Kenshin and yells out,

-AAAAGHHH! YOU b***h! YOU DIE FIRST! 

It releases Kenshin dropping him to the ground then it looks at Touka readying itself for an attack.

It opens it arms and speaks,

-LETS SEE HOW LONG I CAN PLAY WITH YOU!

It spins its head facing the other face toward Touka while pulling the needles out of the now backward facing face,

-YOUR GONNA PAY…..

The two top arms suddenly fly into the air spraying blood.

Kenshin swings the blood off of his sword,

-I said stay back Touka! Thank you, but it’s not safe. 

The Demon shrieks,

-NOW YOUR GONNA DIE!! It screams. 

-Touka! Kenshin yells, Get back now! I can’t control this all the way yet! 

-Gees how about a thanks. I just saved your ass after all! Touka shouts back.

She looks and sees the electricity erupting from the ground, erupting from Kenshins body.

"Whoa! It’s like he’s conducting this electric current like like he’s become lightning itself!.."

The electricity crackling frying the air burning the ground. 

"..Whoa! I better get back!", Touka thinks then jumps back as far as she can while still watching.

 And almost at the same time Kenshin vanishes leaving a crater beneath him. All at once it was like he’s in the air the sound of chirping birds louder than before. 

The Demon doesn’t see Kenshin above in the air. It throws the needles Touka threw into its eyes down.

-YOU DIE FIRST b***h! It lunges toward her.

(BOOM!)

It looks like lightning just fell from the sky. The Demon falls in half as the electricity radiates through the ground and air.

Kenshin leaps into the air and uses the lightning ability his Demon blood gives him infused with the wind his sword technique gives together. He takes to air so fast it creates friction in the air waves.

He then suddenly stops midair while unsheathing his sword swinging it down at the Demon. Creating a powerful force of wind and electricity a blow so powerful it not only cleaves the Demon in two frying it it scars the very ground beneath it gashing into the earth leaving a permanent mark yards long.

Electricity continues to radiate and flash from the gash. The gash reaches cracking the ground almost all the way to Touka’s feet.

She jumps back,

-Whoa! Touka says in disbelief.

"He’s, he’s not human. He’s some kind of super powered Demon fighting machine. Just... just what exactly is He?"

All of a sudden Kenshin appears in front of Touka, he’s sheathing his Katana. Electricity still radiating around him. 

His eyes are glowing white, they are cold, calculating and that goofy look Touka is so used to is gone. His face shows no mercy, no emotion. He’s scary his whole presence is different it’s dark. 

Touka gulps,

-Hey, hey Ken…. 

He turns to Touka and his eyes fade back into his normal.

-Touka! Touka, are you alright? He looks at her, Touka are you…. 

He looks to her. She is frozen, with a terrified look on her face. 

-Touka! He says again. 

But she is to petrified with fear to answer to even move. He realizes her eyes aren’t looking at him, no there fixed behind him.

He immediately turns around while gripping the handle on his Katana.

It’s a Demon! A Real Full Blooded Demon! Its evil aura makes is suffocating, making it heard to breath just being in its presence. Its horrifying, a real live monster. 

It towers over them standing over 8 feet tall. It has enormous bat like wings, but they are torn full of gashes exposing its rotten smelling flesh. 

Its face is horrendous, demonic. It has a massive head and mouth full of razor sharp fangs. It looks human mixed with some kind of furless wolf. 

It is muscular with a torso that doesn’t look like it belongs to the seemingly short, but bulky legs. 

Its arms reach all the way down until it’s long razor sharp talons protruding from its fingers reach the top of its ankles. 

Its large hands larger than a dinner plate, with long fingers equipped with razor sharp talons.

It looks like it’s dead. But its breathing hot air, its eyes gazing green with a red slit down the middle glowing while it drools from its large mouth that looks almost as if its smiling this evil smile.

Touka has never seen anything so frightening. She has never felt such an evil murderous aura. It’s like its sucking the very life out of her. She can’t breath, she feels like she’s gonna faint just being next to it.

Kenshin stands in disbelief looking at the massive Demon. 

He suddenly remembers a drawing in the old scriptures in the Uchiha temple, "It’s, it’s A RELIC! A Demon that has been around since the time Demons ruled over the world. It’s an ancient beast that has lived for centuries".

It is massive, its body displays signs of the many battles it has been through. It is covered in open wounds exposing its flesh.

Touka is paralyzed. 

Kenshin suddenly realizes, "She has looked into the creatures eyes, she is under its spell!".

Kenshin’s eyes blaze white as he draws his sword. The sound of electricity erupts into the air. He goes to attack. 

"What! It’s gone! It vanished!" Kenshin can’t believe his eyes. He turns around to look. But he doesn’t see the Demon. 

He then turns back around. The Demon is there standing in front of him. But, "Oh No it has Touka!".

He immediately jumps in swinging his sword. The Demon throws holding Touka, throws her in front of itself shielding itself from Kenshin’s attack. 

Kenshin barely stops his sword in time. The blade stopping so suddenly sends a gust of air into Touka's face.

She snaps out of it, sees Kenshin’s sword. Then quickly seizes the opportunity to grab two of her throwing daggers. She uses the daggers, stabbing them into the Demons giant hand.

It quickly releases her, but at the same time swats her with one of its massive powerful wings, sending her flying. Kenshin rushes and catches her.

-UUUCCCHHIIAAA. 

The monster speaks with its demonic animal sounding voice. 

"WHAT! Touka thinks to herself, That... that thing can talk? And once again its after Kenshin!"

-UCHIHA! It says again this time its voice sounds clearer, I DIDN’T THINK THERE WHERE ANY OF YOU LEFT. I THOUGHT YOU WERE ALL WIPED OUT BY THE HUMANS YOU SO LOVED. 

WHY AM I SURPRISED? THERE STUPID CREATURES THAT CANT DO ANYTHING RIGHT! DO YOU SEE NOW? DO YOU SEE UCHIA HOW THEY CAN NEVERR BE TRUSTED. YOU FOUGHT FOR THEM, DIED FOR THEM. 

AND AS SOON AS THEY NO LONGER FELT LIKE YOU WHERE NECESSARY. THEY DISCARDED YOU LIKE TRASH. 

YOU CAN’T BEFRIEND THEM. THEY ARE CORRUPT, THEY ARE MERELY CATTLE. YET HERE YOU ARE WITH ONE. RISKING YOUR PATHETIC LIFE FOR THE SAKE OF ITS.

HAHAHA! SUCH FOOLISH BEHAVIOR. HAVE YOU LEARNED NOTHING?

Suddenly there are voices calling from beyond the alley way and there coming this way,

-Its police! Hey! One of them shouts, what’s all the commotion? 

-Oh! No! Touka shouts. I need to get them away from here. But she’s to late as the fire from there lanterns light the entrance to the alley as they make there way in.

-HEY! What are you people doing back here? The police ask while running towards Touka and Kenshin.

-TOO BAD UCHIHA! The Demon says.

Kenshin lunges forward to attack but the Demon vanishes. 

-BUT LET ME LEAVE YOU A LITTLE PARTING GIFT, Its voice whispers into the air.

Kenshin looks towards Touka,

-Oh no! He shouts as he rushes to her side. 

Touka screams out,

-Look out! Behind You! 

Kenshin quickly turns his attention around to the two unaware police officers. 

The Demon appears behind the officers and in one motion it uses one of its wings to cleave one policeman right in half down the middle separating his right half from his left all the way down to his waste. 

And at the same time crushes the other one with its huge clawed hand smashing him into shreds. 

Touka covers her face from the horrific drizzly sight. Then she feels the gust from the Demons powerful wings as it vanishes into the night sky.

The crushed officer moves and moans,

-Aaaaghhh! 

-Oh no! Touka shouts, He’s still alive! I have to help him! 

She goes to run and help but Kenshin quickly grabs her shoulder stopping her,

-No Touka! he says, stay back!

-What? Touka yells back, Let go of me Kenshin, Kenshin let go of me right now! I have to help him! Kenshin! Let Go Of…….

Suddenly the yells of death shriek into the air followed by the pungent strong scent of sulfur and rotting flesh. 

Suddenly the policeman that was cut in half springs to his feet. 

-WHAT?! Touka looks on with disbelief.

And right in front of her the policeman's body starts ripping, twisting, changing. The wound splitting him in half becomes a huge mouth that opens and closes side to side. Its arms change becoming leg like and the beast now stands on the ground on all four of its legs.

It’s disgusting, it still resembles the cop. But it has morphed into this horrific Demon. 

The other cop also now standing starts to fall apart. 

"No!, Touka realizes, it’s not falling apart".

Its separating splitting into dozens of tentacle like arms. It’s like a humanized version of a fly catcher flower, but instead of pedals it has many tentacle like arms to catch its prey and bring them to its huge mouth in the center of its arms. 

It also resembles the mangled policeman it once was. There abominations disgusting looking freaks of nature.

The arms shoot out reaching for Touka she jumps to evade, but as she does the four legged beast jumps also meeting her in the air. 

"They are fast!", She spins releasing dozens of her daggers while spinning in the air. They all hit the four legged Demon. But that doesn’t even phase the Demon or slow it down any. 

"Oh no! She thinks, I’m caught!"

(BOOM!)

A loud sound pierces her ears flooding the air. It sounds like a sonic boom. 

"But what was it?"

The Demon suddenly splits in half. Touka looks down as she begins to drop out of the sky. The other Demon is under her waiting to greet her with it’s open arms. Something catches her eyes above her. 

"The other Demon? No it’s the source of that loud boom!"

It's Kenshin he blazes past her descending rapidly like a swooping falcon. He uses the force of the fall to draw his sword and in an instant like a bolt of lightning he and his sword land to the ground cleaving the Demon right in half.

Lightning echoes in the air and radiates around the point of impact. He swings the blood from his blade then sheathes it. And then catches Touka out of the sky.

-Are you ok Touka? he ask. 

She looks at him with bewildered eyes,

-I’m... I’m fine she replies, but... but what about that monster? 

-It’s gone Touka. Are you sure your not hurt?

Touka looks at Kenshin his face concerned as his eyes fade back to normal. The sound of chirping birds dissipates. It was a fierce battle. 

-That was way too close! Kenshin says out loud. 

Then he thinks to himself, "Touka could have been badly injured or worse".

 He looks down at her still holding her in his arms. 

He brushes the hair out of her face, then thinks, "She’s not ready for this. She could have died".

She looks up at him and she smiles. She suddenly realizes he’s still holding her. Her face changes glows bright red as she panics. 

She slaps Kenshin and shouts out, 

-Hey! Put me down! Pervert! 

Kenshin drops her,

(BANG!) 

she hits her bottom on the ground. 

-There he says, next time I’ll just let you fall to the ground! Just like that! 

She gets up angry shouting,

-Hey you big jerk! You didn’t have to just drop me like that! 

JERK! And just because you saved me doesn’t mean you can just carry me around like I’m some kind of trophy. And if you think I owe you anything your wrong! I saved you first! 

The two start bickering and arguing. 

Kenshin finally says, 

-Give me a break! Get over yourself and to think I was worried about you!

He turns and smiles to himself, "I’m glad she’s ok. We made it out unscathed... This time... Next time we might not be so lucky".

Touka still yelling and screaming at Kenshin from behind,

-Touka! Kenshin shouts, Touka we need to get out of here! 

-Huh? She replies then quickly stops shouting, Yeah, I guess you are right, she says.

She then rushes over back to Kenshin’s side,

-What? What was that horrible monster Kenshin? I’ve never sensed such incredible dark power. Was it another Demi-Demon? 

-No, No Touka, I’m afraid its something far worse. I didn’t know something like that could still even be around. This changes everything. That thing is a Relic an ancient powerful Demon. 

Touka I don’t think I have the power to beat something like that. You sensed its dark seemingly endless power. It’s in a league of its own. 

-But... but you are so strong Kenshin! Touka answers back. 

-Touka that Demon was merely playing with us having fun gauging our strength. It hadn’t even begun to use its powers. And thankfully so. You have no idea what kind of monstrous dark power that thing is capable of.

We would need an entire army just to try to stand a chance. And even then I’m not so sure we could do anything.

Kenshin looks downward while tightly gripping his sword looking almost afraid. 

Touka looks at the expression of concern on his face and quickly becomes aware of the serious danger this Relic poses. They in trouble!

She grabs Kenshin’s hand and gently pulls it off his sword,

-Hey! She says softly. Hey come on let’s go Kenshin. Let’s get out of here. 

Kenshin looks up at Touka who’s smiling at him,

-Right, let’s go, he tells her.

The two head back to the lodge to regroup.

After they rest for a while Kenshin tells Touka to gather her things,

-Touka get everything you need. Were leaving. 

-What? Touka replies, leaving? But why? Where are we going? 

-Touka, I think it’s best if we get off grid keep a low profile. We need to hunt this Demon before he increases his ranks and powers. 

-But, but what about my Commander? Touka ask.

-No! Kenshin quickly replies back, No! We can’t trust anyone. We have to leave him,  leave everything behind.

We don’t know if that Demon is already pulling the strings of men. Hiding amongst humans. Telling anyone communicating with anyone might only help the Demons get to us.

Were already targets we just don’t know who all has there sights set on us. We have to stick to the woods. Someone is already leading the Demons to us aiding them in there hunt for us. It’s no mistake that Relic Demon was here for us tonight Touka. It set a trap for us then lied in wait to ambush us. 

-No way! Touka shouts. 

-Yes Touka, Kenshin answers back, someone already... we’ve already told someone to much. They set a trap for us and we just walked right into it. 

We weren’t prepared caught completely by surprise. Were lucky we even made it out of that alive. We wont get so lucky next time. We can't get caught off guard next time. We are going to set out on our own mission, hunting these Demons from they same shadows they themselves lurk in. 

But first Touka I have to train you to become a real Demon Hunter. 

-What? Touka shouts, we don’t have time for that! Are you crazy? You expect me to stand aside as innocent people just get murdered by these horrible monsters? They don’t even know nothing about!

All while were just training like were on some holiday! No! No Way! 

-Touka! Kenshin shouts out, Listen to me! In our current state we won’t be able to protect anyone. No, instead we would go out there hoping to save but ultimately we would only end up dying ourselves. If we hope to even stand a chance you will let me train you. It’s our only choice. Do you understand? 

Touka frowns thinking of everything she just heard. She then realizes it’s her only, their only chance. 

She looks up at Kenshin then nods her head and agrees,

-Oh, ok. Alright!

-Touka! Good answer, I cant do this without you! Let’s get going. I’m so glad your with me!

Touka blushes. The two gather there things then set off beginning there quest.

Some time passes...

There is the sound of flowing water, river or creek. Crickets are chirping in the rustling breeze. Kenshin opens his eyes. The sun is just beginning to set.

-Hey Kenshin! Saya shouts out as she makes her way down the bank of the creek. What are you doing silly?

Kenshin looks up at Saya who is now bending over him from behind looking into his face. He grabs her then pulls her down to him.

-I was enjoying a nice nap... That is until I was rudely awaken by the shouts of this annoying girl who seems to enjoy disturbing any moments of peace I get. 

He goes to kiss her, but she cups her mouth with her hand blocking his lips from touching hers.

-Annoying huh? She mumbles from behind her hand. 

She then pushes herself away,

-Well I don’t think you want a kiss from THIS annoying girl! 

She goes to get up and get away from Kenshin, but he jerks her back down and steals himself a kiss. She try’s to resist, but then gives in to him kissing him back. 

-Your really lucky I love you so much! 

The two laugh and kiss some more. The two then look into the river.

-Wow! It’s really pretty here Kenny! Saya says. 

Kenshin grabs her and answers her,

-Oh yeah. Well I haven’t noticed. Maybe that’s because compared to your beauty everything else just seems kind of plain. 

Saya blushes then kisses Kenshin again,

-Ohh! Your so sweet! Well when you wanna be. 

He smiles back at her. 

-But if I was so pretty then why did you let me Die! 

-Save you? What do you mean? Kenshin ask as he looks up toward Saya. 

She’s crying,

-I loved you Kenshin, why, why couldn’t you? Why didn’t you save me? Her clothes becomes red drenched in her own blood, Or did you think I was much pretty when bathed in my own blood? she says from her bloody mouth.

Kenshin’s eyes grow big and he yells out, 

-Saya! Saya!

Touka jumps up,

-What! What is it Kenshin? She shouts as she wakes up. 

She looks over at the still sleeping Kenshin. He’s thrashing about and screaming. He’s dreaming she reaches over and shakes him, 

-Kenshin, wake up Kenshin! Your dreaming again, wake up!

 He opens his eyes Saya is gone and there is Touka, right there in front of him frowning looking worried. He rubs hand over his eyes. 

-I’m sorry Touka, I’m sorry I woke you up again. 

She turns her face to the side and says, 

-It’s ok!

While frowning thinking to herself how sad it must be for him to see her every night when he dreams like that. She grows sadder realizing she cant help him or ease his pain, this pain that grips him so tight haunting him.

She forces herself to smile and she scoots closer to him.

-It’s ok Kenshin, really!, she tells him as she puts her arms around him hugging him. 

Then she thinks, "If only I could break those chains that bind him. I’ll never stop trying. I’ll never give up on him, on trying to stop his heart from all that suffering and sadness".

Kenshin removes his hand from his eyes. He looks down at Touka hugging him.

She looks so sad. She’s sad for him. He hugs her back, smiles then puts his hand gently on his her chin pushing her face up to look at him. He smiles at her a big smile. 

-Thank you! Touka thank you for everything!

She blushes then hides her face but hugs him tighter.

-Sooo, what do we do now Kenshin? she ask shortly after, We’ve been out here for nearly a month and other than a few weak Demi-Demons there hasn’t been much going on. We haven’t even sensed any real Demons much less that Relic thing again. Maybe it’s gone?

-I doubt that Touka Kenshin replies. He’s out there, you can be sure of that! He’s bidding his time building up his strength waiting for the right time to reveal himself and will only do so when He’s ready. 

Suddenly Touka jumps to her feet. 

-Kenshin she shouts. Can you sense it? There’s a demon nearby and the fresh blood. Let’s go! she shouts, it’s this way!