The Samurai

The Samurai episode 4 The Uchiha

Touka catches him.

Saya-You jerk.

My name is..

Just then something flashes and catches her eyes.

It’s a necklace with two rings on it.

He feints from exhaustion.

Touka looking at the rings begins crying.

-He wasn’t lying. He was married. And his wife she died somehow.But how?.. Kenshin is so strong.

How?.. Poor Kenshin...

Then she thinks...

..What is Kenshin, what is Uchiha? And how does he connect to the Demons and The Flaming Skulls, how do they all connect?

No not right now? Right now I have to get us to safety. I don’t know if reinforcements are on there way. I have to get him to safety!

We have to leave now! Whoa he’s a lot heavier than he he looks. Luckily I’m a tracker ninja and speed is my specialty. Well at least I thought it was, these guys are in a league of there own.

Just what...

No, no time...

..Time to go.

I can ask questions when where safe.

And in the blink of an eye Touka vanishes.

She flashes through the woods without out making a sound with Kenshin in tow.

Moving fast until she feels they are clear from any danger.

Touka is no ordinary human neither she has undergone strict ninja training since the age of two.

She is stronger than most men faster than the eagles and as beautiful as cherry blossom.

She carries Kenshin to safety and is hardly even out of breath.

-There I think were safe now! Ok, Kenshin?!

He’s still unresponsive.

"Ok then", Touka tells herself, "I’ll set up camp. Build us a fire to stay warm".

Snows starting to fall.

She quickly builds a makeshift tent then a fire. Then puts Kenshin with his head on her lap.

She is facing the only way in or out.

-This time I’ll protect you Kenshin, she say’s, I promise I’ll keep you safe, just like you did for me she says while rubbing his hair out his face. You don’t have to be alone anymore. I’ll always, ALWAYS be here for you.

I promise, she says to the sleeping warrior.

You really are beautiful you know?!, she says while rubbing her finger down the scar on his left cheek, What happened to you? How was someone able to cut you?

Your so strong. What, who are you? What does Uchiha mean? What happened to your wife? Is that why you always look so sad?

Can I make you happy, is that possible? Do you want to be happy? Well I don’t know if I can make you happy, but if I could at least bring you a sense of peace. Yeah that’s how I can repay you!

Touka slowly drifts off to sleep……

-Kenshin aren't the stars lovely tonight?! Saya ask cheerfully while looking up onto the sky.

Kenshin looks up and replies,

-Sure!

POW!!

-Sure!, Saya shouts.

-Oww! What the... Hey! I was agreeing with you!, Kenshin shouts out, So why did you hit me Saya?

Saya turns away pouting.

-I wish you were into me as much as you are that stupid sword, She cries.

Kenshin lightly grabs her chin and turns her towards him softly kissing her lips.

Saya blushes and tries to hide the big smile forming on her face.

-Well don't think that gets you off the hook Kenshin, she says to him, Because one kiss...

Kenshin pushes her to the ground before she can finish her sentence and begins kissing her.

She laughs and grabs him, hugs him and kisses him back. The two kiss and mess around for a moment.

Then Kenshin rolls over into the grass and gazes up into the star lit night sky.

-You know what your right Saya, he says, The stars are beautiful tonight! But, they pale in comparison to your beauty My Love.

Saya giggles blushing.

She tells Kenshin,

-I love you sooo much Kenny! I knew you could be sweet some times. I'm sorry Kenny...

Kenshin turns to her and ask,

-For?

Saya says in a soft voice with her face looking down still blushing,

-Well maybe you do love me more than your sword.

Kenshin laughs and tells her,

-I love you more than life itself.

Saya giggles again her cheeks glowing bright red.

Kenshin looks back into the stars.

-Do you love me more than the sword you let kill me??

-What did you just say? Kenshin ask as he turns to look at Saya.

There's blood dripping from her mouth her skin is pale her eyes lifeless.

-Well? She asks him again, Do you love me as much as the sword you let KILL ME? DO YOU KENSHIN, KENSHIN, KENSHIN.....

-Aaahh! Kenshin wakes up.

The fire Touka made is almost out.

"Huh!, he comes to, Where am I?". He realizes he's laying down, "But wait how did I..? Where are the..? OH NO! Touka! Where is Touka!?!?".

He begins to panic. Until he looks up and sees Touka. Her eyes are closed her head tilted forward.

She's sleeping. She fell asleep sitting up guarding Kenshin.

He suddenly realizes, he's laying on Toukas lap.

He sighs a breath of relief, "She's safe! Were ok!", He doesn't want to wake her.

While looking up at her as she sleeps he realizes how beautiful she really is.

She has long straight beautiful dark hair, high cheek bones. Large beautiful red lips. She is one of the most beautiful women he has ever seen.

She reminds him of Saya in so many ways.

He gazes softly at her beautiful face and reaches his right hand up towards her and runs his fingers across her red soft lips.

Touka slowly begins to open her eyes as she wakes up.

She feels his fingers on her lips.

Kenshin looks into her beautiful soft gazing eyes and smiles.

Touka comes too and smacks Kenshins hand then shoves him off of her lap.

-You pervert! She yells! Filling up on a girl while she's sleeping! What a nerve!

Kenshin gets up while shouting back,

-What! Hey, I woke up on your lap meaning you put.. You know what forget it. I can't believe I was actually thinking... Your nothing like her! Yeah sure maybe your cute while your sleeping, but that's as far as it goes.

Touka smacks him,

-Jerk!, she shouts as she turns away from him smiling so he can't see.

Thinking to herself, "He thinks I'm cute!", she smiles again.

-Well back to reality! You sure can ruin a moment, Kenshin says as he's dusting himself off looking around.

-A Moment! Touka shouts, Is that what you call it? You perverted jerk!, While still hiding her smiling face.

Kenshin looks at her. Whatever he says. Then he looks around some more.

-Anyway... Where are we Touka? he ask, Were not on any trail. What happened, how did we get here?

-Well! Touka says, For your information, I saved your sorry tail. Hmmph. So instead of feeling me up. You should be thanking me. After all you owe me now, she says in a cocky voice.

Kenshin grabs her hands and tells her,

-Thank you Touka. I do owe you. I'm just glad your not hurt.

Touka quickly grabs her hands back and turns her face to hid the her blushing cheeks from Kenshin.

Then she ask,

-But what about you? What about your arm Kenshin? Aren't you hurt?

Kenshin looks down at her and asks,

-What do you mean? My arm? What about it Touka?

He then lifts up his arm and to Touka's amazement the wound on Kenshin's arm appears to have vanished, not even leaving behind a scar or mark.

-Um! Nothing just forget it. I'm hungry! she tells Kenshin, So first we eat then I have questions a lot of questions.

Kenshin replies,

-Ok deal, but first food!

Kenshin and Touka are finally allowed a moment to catch there breath and rest. To regain their strength.

They will need that strength sooner than they realize. There journey has merely just begun. There metal soon to be tested.

But for now they can relax eat and try to get to know a little about one another. Build trust in each other. There lives will depend on that trust.

They are about to embark on a journey with things beyond Toukas wildest dreams. Things that even she a highly trained tracker ninja has never seen in all her days on the battlefield.

Things she won't believe, things no human would believe as they prepare to go deeper into the world of Demons.

"And just who is Kenshin? What is this power he displays? And who are what is Uchiha?

What does Uchiha mean? What is there connection to the Demons? How can it be that Demons even exist?".

How did Touka not realize there existence, she never saw into there world. The world of shadows.

And why were there ninja with the Demons. She's a ninja, yet she's never seen a demon never even knew they existed. She knew nothing of this Demon world that hid in the shadows.

No, not until she came across Kenshin.

This was just ordinary assignment. She was just performing her duties as a Tracker Ninja.

It was just another run of the mill everyday mission, but ever since she met him this white eyed mysterious warrior. Her life was changed her world turned upside down. And it will never again be the same.

"Just what did she get herself into? And just who is The Samurai??"

Sniff, sniff!!

-Is that meat!?

Sniff, Sniff!

It smells like, like stew!!! And Rice!!

Touka gets up excitedly with her nose in the air drooling.

Kenshin looks up from the fire he's kneeling beside and stops stirring the pot of stew.

He looks up at Touka and answers her,

-Yeah you said you were hungry so while you napped I killed a couple of rabbits I spotted out near the creek. I got us some fresh drinking water and used the rest to make rice and gravy for a stew.

Touka still drooling responds,

-It smells soooo good. Wait! You killed pour little rabbits!, tears coming from her eyes.

Kenshin answers her back,

-Yes, we had to eat and while rice may be filling it doesn’t have the nutrients that we need to replenish our strength. I didn’t know you didn’t eat meat. I’m sorry. Oh well you can stick to the rice and gravy, I’ll eat the meat.

Touka quickly wipes the tears from her eyes and tells him,

-No, no I’ll eat the meat. It just seems so cruel. Did they suffer?

Kenshin answers her back,

-Hey I take no pride in killing them. It’s not like I went out looking for them. I just went after water for the rice and to drink. They just happened to be there and lucky for us we can use a good meal. We have to do what it takes to survive Touka. Besides they didn’t even know it happened. It was over in a instant I promise.

Touka still sobbing,

-Oh ok then. Mm mmmm! It sure does smell good Kenny!

-Well come sit down then let’s eat and don’t call me Kenny! Kenshin answers back to her.

-ALLRIGHTT! Touka shouts out cheerfully as she runs and sits down right beside Kenshin.

He looks down and says,

-Hey why so...

Touka cuts him off and while scooting closer ask,

-So what? It’s really cold! she says.

Kenshin looks down at her innocent face and despite wanting to tell her to move away he reaches over and grabs the blanket.

Other than Saya, Kenshin has never allowed another person to get close to him.

In fact he has always done all he can to push people away. Keeping them and himself at a distance.

But he bites his tongue out of fear of hurting Toukas feelings.

Though he would never admit it, he’s growing quite fond of Touka.

He likes having her around he cares about her, enjoys her company, so he just allows her to sit uncomfortably close to him.

He throws the blanket over her and as he does she slides over even closer and places some of the blanket over him.

Kenshin grabs a bowl and fixes some rice and gravy in it. He then pulls out some of the rabbit and deboned it while creating edible portions that he places back into the bowl.

He passes the bowl down towards Touka, who now is resting her head on his shoulder while looking into the flames of the fire.

Touka looks up and grabs the bowl, her face now as bright as the embers of the fire.

She smiles while blushing and tells him,

-Thank you! Wow! You can be sweet!

-I’m just feeling nice so just be quite and except it, Kenshin tells her.

Touka already digging in shakes her head yes. Then she thinks herself. "This is what it must feels like to have someone who cares about you. It feels so nice!".

Tears begin to come from her eyes.

Kenshin notices them and ask her,

-What’s wrong Touka did you bite your lip?

He reaches down and grabs her gently by her chin. Here let me take look.

Touka quickly pulls her face down and tells him,

-No, No. I’m fine. I just looked into the fire to long.

-Well, be more careful, Kenshin tells her.

Touka smiles then replies,

-I’m sorry. I will!

Then she presses into Kenshin even more.

Kenshin goes to say something, but when he sees her face he just continues to quietly eat his meal.

After he's done eating he tells Touka,

-Hey you should get some rest ok? Ok Tou…

He looks down Touka is already fast asleep bowl still in hand.

Kenshin takes the bowl out of her hand and pulls the cover over her.

He reaches and grabs the grain of rice from the side of her mouth.

-You really are cute. When your sleeping, he says while smiling to himself.

Then he gazes into the fire and falls into a memory…

About 10 Year’s Ago….

The War.

It’s a war that has all of Japan involved.

A war to rid the world of Demons.

And although it’s a war of man against Demon. Most of the men soldiers aren’t even aware of the Demons existence.

That’s because Demons rarely take to the battlefield. They orchestrate from the shadows trying to keep there existence secret. Controlling humans and Demi-Demons from behind the scenes.

There are only a few that fight The Demons that are even aware of their existence.

They are a group of elite soldiers.

They are the Special Ops force.

They all display a unique shark fin just under there collars on the back of there uniform.

The Sharks of the battlefield, The Uchiha.

They are there own organization like mercenaries.

There a rare bloodline a clan of special warriors with special powers and special blood.

Demon Blood.

There clan has been around since the beginning since a time when Demons and humans coexisted lived amongst each other and in some cases they mixed with each other.

Giving birth to this special bloodline to this clan of special warriors small in numbers but great in power.

They were masters on the battlefield. That’s how they earned the nickname. The Sharks of the Battlefield.

There half demon blood granted them special powers and in combat there was none greater than The Uchiha.

They were feared and respected.

Masters of close quarters combat, masters of the sword.

And it’s this clan this special bloodline that is leading the charge on the frontlines of this war. Driving back the Demon forces. It’s a war that has high casualties on both sides lasting 8 year’s.

The scent of blood and the sight are common in these dark times.

Demons often plunder villages sometimes wiping out entire villages. Eating the villagers enslaving a few and even fewer still they transform into Demi-Demons.

Horrible abominations neither man or Demon.

Forced to feed on the very man they once themselves were. It’s a horrible fate.

Not all survive the transformation. Some reject the Demon blood causing there bodies to explode. But maybe they are the lucky ones. They won’t spend there lives out serving The Demons hunting and eating the humans they once lived amongst.

The war carries on man killing man everyday.

Hundreds of men killed on both sides.

But behind the scenes in the shadow’s The Uchiha use there special power’s to push The Demons back.

Victory seems certain.

Uchiha General, That’s it men! That’s it! One more push! And At Long Last we will have subdued the demon forces finally bringing an end to this long blood filled war. NOW!! PUSH!!

AAAAAHHHHHH!

The battle cries from the Uchiha clan fill the sky.

It’s dark but the glowing white eyes of The Uchiha light up the night sky.

The Uchiha General calls out to a young Kenshin.

-Yes General! Kenshin replies.

The General then tells Kenshin,

-Go now inform the Samurai of our victory.

Kenshin looks up at the General.

-What! But sir I want to be here it’s my birthright to be here alongside my people at the moment of our victory over The Demons.

The General looks at Kenshin and tells him,

-That won’t be necessary. We have undoubtedly secured our win already. We have all the soldiers we need for the last push.

Now go! You are the fastest out of all the Uchiha!

We need to ensure this message gets delivered as fast as possible . Once it does men will stop killing one another and this war will finally come to an end. But move swiftly they will do all they can to thwart your efforts.

Kenshin I’m trusting you with this most important mission. Now go run with the wind and do not fail me.

Kenshin answers back,

-Yes General! and then in an instant vanishes from the battlefield.

-All right men! The General yells out.

And the Uchiha drive back the remaining Demon forces.

The Uchiha Captain rushes to his General,

-Sir, I didn’t see him... Sir, I didn’t see their leader. We must be sure he is dead!

The General shouts,

-He is either dead or hiding awaiting his death that is sure to come. I inflicted a serious wound to him I can assure he won’t go far. That Demon has seen the last of his days. It matters not let him die in hiding like the coward he is.

-But sir, The Captain replies! Sir we should be sure.

The General quickly cuts him off,

-Don’t question my command Captain. Do you doubt me?

We killed all his commanders, we killed or injured most of the full blood. They will die soon from there wounds. And I the great Uchiha General fought and delivered the wound to The Demon Master that will surely lead to his dead.

So fear not for we The Uchiha are Victorious! We are The Uchiha!!!

-UCHIHA! A voice calls out.

Suddenly a large army the army of men emerge surrounding the Uchiha on all sides.

The man General calls out again,

-Uchiha! We are most grateful to your clan for your help in subduing the enemy. We thank you for killing off the Demons, for helping put an end to this era this long bloody war that has taken the lives of so many men. However we regret to inform you. This is the end for you!

-Have you gone Mad? the Uchiha General shouts out in disbelief, And help you? We, The Uchiha, got rid of the Demons. The Uchiha Alone!

-Yes , yes you did, The Man General answers back, You and your people are powerful. Your half Demon blood makes you strong far stronger than any man. Yes. You are powerful. Too powerful in fact. And now that the Demons are gone men fear that ever growing power you have. So I regret to inform you that the council of men has decided it is in our best interest you all die here and now.

The Uchiha General shouts out,

-What! How dare you?

The Uchiha Captain looks to his General and tells him,

-They used us!

Suddenly the Mans General cuts them off and shouts out to the Uchiha clan,

-We thank you for all of your aid on the battlefield. We are most grateful for your victory over the Demons. Be glad your dying with that taste of victory fresh on your lips. At least you get to die with your honor in tact. Please understand it’s nothing personal. But in order to make sure a war like this never happens again, to make sure Demons never reign over man again. We have to crush your bloodline ridding the world of any traces of that tainted Demon blood.

Now Men! Ready Your Bows! FIRE!!!

And all at once the sky rains down arrows onto the Uchiha clan leaving no room for error or escape.

The ground now covered in the fallen Uchiha arrows everywhere. It’s a gruesome sight...

Kenshin runs until he reaches the mans camp.

"What? Its empty, there’s no one here! The whole army is already gone. I’m to late. They’ve already left to engage the enemy. Well that suits me fine. If I hurry back I can take part in the final battle".

He then takes off even faster than before.

As he approaches the battlefield he can hear the soldiers as they march there way back to camp.

"Dammit! I wasn’t fast enough! Well at the very least I can join up with my people, maybe I’ll even get to see that Demon leaders corpse. I wonder what he looks like? Scary, ugly, is their leader even a him?", Questions and excitement racing through Kenshin’s mind as he continues on ahead.

It’s quite. His clan must have been with the marching army of men.

-Dammit! Well that’s that.

WHAT! WHHHAT?!

What is this?!?! My people!!?

His eyes burst into white flames as he looks to the gruesome sight of his dead clan.

Arrows everywhere...

"The Demons!", he runs ahead, "The Demons must have set an ambush!"

He reaches down and pulls one of the arrows from the ground beside him.

"The Dem… What? What is this? This arrow, it’s no Demon weapon".

He continues to look around as he pulls another arrow from one of his dead comrades.

"These arrows, all the arrows are arrows shot from the bows of MEN!! WHAT! WHY! HOW, HOW CAN…".

-AAARRGHH! The Uchiha General cries out as he notices Kenshin..

Kenshin looks up and sees his General. He rushes over to him.

-General, General. What has happened here? Gen….

The General answers him back in a low voice,

-The humans they ambushed us... They fear our power... Your power Kenshin...

Cough , cough…

So they, they killed us. They killed us fearing we would someday use that power against them…

Cough, cough..

Kenshin grabs his General and holds him up looking at how badly injured he is.

-Quite, he says to The General, you are hurt. Don’t speak or mover around to much. I, I have to go get you help immediately.

His eyes fade back into there normal color. He goes to get up.

The General grabs his shoulder and tells him,

-No Kenshin it’s too late, but they failed Kenshin! They...

Cough

..they didn’t erase our bloodline...

Cough.

..You are the loan survivor. You are the last of our kind. You can’t die...

Cough, cough.

..Your life is no longer just yours to live. I’m sorry but you have to endure survive for us for all your fallen brethren. You and you alone can someday extract the revenge of our clan on these humans...

Cough.

..Kenshin, you have to keep your powers hidden. Or they will come after you too. Wait until the day you are strong enough... Trust no one... Survive Kenshin.

Cough, cough.

..Live for your clan keep your blood...

Cough, cough.

Keep our bloooo……

The Generals eyes fade as his hand drops off of Kenshins shoulder and the life fades from his body…

-NOOOOOOOOO! Kenshin shouts out at the top of his lungs. Tears pouring from his eyes.

And in an instant Kenshin is all alone. No home, no family, no place to return, no purpose...

He is forced to become a wanderer. Usually sticking to the forest and mountains away from humans.

When he does enter the world of man he hides and blends into the crowd.

He trust no one, he knows no one. He’s completely alone.

Out of necessity he is forced to the the only thing he is good at.

He becomes a assassin a ruthless mercenary. A cold blooded killer, lurking in the shadows.

Feeding the darkness in his heart living for the chance of avenge his fallen comrades.

Not long after another war breaks out.

On one side become evil power hungry tyrant, trying to rule over all those that are weaker then He and his army are.

The other side is a band of Samurai that aim to protect the farmers and peasants from this reign of terror.

Kenshin wants no part of it.

Men are greedy war hungry. They can’t live without bloodshed.

He is sick of their ways. He has no desire to help any of them.

No, they can just kill each other just as they did his clan. He for the most part avoids the conflict.

But a mission sends him after one of the Tyrants commanders.

As an assassin, the mercenary he has now become he has no choice but to get involved.

During this encounter he learns that this same army that is trying to enslave all with power. They are the same army that killed the Uchiha. Killed his clan using the excuse that they never wanted to see another war break out from the greed of power.

Now these same men are acting like The Demons they had The Uchiha destroy. Men.

They make me sick. But this is the chance I’ve been waiting for.

He seeks out the Samurai that fight in the opposing side and gets recruited into there ranks.

He quickly rises to the top using his skill to slay many of the armies commanders.

His name becomes known on the battlefield.

He and his sword are feared by all.

Legends begin to emerge of a deadly assassin. One like no other his sword technique and skill is matched by none.

He becomes The Ghost Shark of the battlefield.

His power grows daily. But so does his bloodlust and he gives more and more into the Demon blood coursing through his veins.

The Demon side becomes stronger consuming him as it takes more control over him.

He hardly deals with people. Unless he’s hunting them down to kill.

He single handedly turns the tide of the war as his legend grows.

He lives solely for the purpose of revenge. He has become an avenger. Living out his days resting hidden off trail. His nights are blood filled.

Blood rains from the skies everywhere he goes leaving only fear and rumors of a Demon behind.

The human side of Kenshin is slowly dying allowing the Demon in him to become stronger.

As the Demon takes ahold of him, Kenshins hatred grows more and more along with is insatiable thirst for revenge.