Keiji rode hard and long till the sun began to set on the horizon. His shoulders ached from the long-grinding pace he had set during the day and as he slowed his mount to a walk, he realized that he was on the edge of large clearing. He was close to the temple, he decided, but before he could continue his journey, he would have to take a brief rest if not for his own sake, then for the poor tired horse who had carried him all this distance without complaint. He swung down at the edge of the clearing and lopped the reins around a nearby tree branch and leaned against the horse with a weary sigh. Not much longer, he thought as he straightened and pulled out of one of the saddle's pouches a travel ration and took a bit out of the dry meat with a wince as he went about setting up his campsite, though he didn't light a fire. He couldn't risk discovery at this stage. One early sighting could spell disaster so as the light faded, he allowed the darkness to settle around him unchallenged.
He had settled into a half doze when a shadow seemed to slither at his feet and Keiji was roused to full alert as he drew his katana and stilled his breath so he could hear whatever it was that crept around him in the night and set the horse into worried circles and tramplings.
"Ah, Keiji," a female's voice drawled, "I have been seeking you."
"Who are you and why don't you reveal yourself to me?" Keiji demanded as the hair on the back of his neck stood on end at the voice.
"I am Tamafune, I am a healer." came the simple reply and light suddenly flared into existence around him and in its center stood a woman dressed in a black kimono decorated with red magnolias and deeper shade of crimson colored the sash that finished her appearance.
"You do not strike me the way I would see a healer, Tamafune. Quite lying, who and what are you?" Keiji snorted in disgust.
To his surprise she merely laughed and hid her face behind a crimson fan and when she lowered the fan she replied, "I am a healer, Keiji, I do not lie. But as for the what I am, I am a dragon, the sister of Koreikyo if you must know and I appear before you know with a offer."
"What kind of offer?" Keiji demanded, "Being kin to Koreikyo doesn't make me believe you, so be quick or my blade will find your heart."
"Temper, my good samurai, temper! The offer I bring before you is this: I can bring Masake back to life in exchange, you will not ride into Bandithaven, for I have also forseen your future should your confront Kazuo." Tamafune answered all laughter gone from her voice.
"I do not believe you." Keiji replied as his hand reached for his katana, his mounting distaste for the woman before him growing.
"Here's my proof," Tamafune replied as the world suddenly seemed to collapse and he found himself experiencing the strange senstation of flight.
Below his feet, a battle raged. Two armies clashed. Katanas rose to salute him it seemed with their tips bloody and others with their blades planted into the earth seemed to morn him as their owners died on a single field. His attention was brought to circling figures. Two men, one in midnight blue armor lashed after another wearing crimson armor. Then the attack of the blue armor stopped as the crimson armors owner and his katana slashed wickeldly after the fallen blue and red rain fell to the earth. . .
He was brought back and Keiji was relieved to see that he had never actually left the earth.
"Now do you see your fate, Keiji?" Tamafune answered, tears coming to her dark golden eyes, "Should you continue on now, you will die. I can give you your father back and end this whole matter. You will still have your life and family."
Keiji took a deep breath before he answered, "I see this fate and I choose to ignore it. It is obvious to me that Kazuo has sent you to buy me off with the bribe of resurrecting my father from the dead through what ever ties that hold you and him together. I do not buy it, dragon. Go and tell Kazuo that I am coming and I will reclaim what was once my father's."
"You will accept my bargain human..." Tamafune began as the woman disappeared and a roaring black dragon snapped her teeth together inches from his head. Only a roar from on high stopped the attack of the black dragon as a familar red one landed with a heavy thump before Keiji.
"Koreikyo. . ." Keiji dared breath as the massive old dragon bared his yellowing fangs upon the younger black dragon who squirmed before him.
"Brother! I am happy to see you. . ." Tamafune began as she took a careful step backwards.
"Shut your decietful snout! You have broken the rules the gods set down before us to live by. Go to Kazuo and report that your trick failed and leave Keiji alone. This mortal is under my wing." Koreikyo snapped.
"Very well then, Koreikyo, I'll go. But realize, one day, those mortals you keep as pets will one day slash your throat and be happy in doing so. You cannot stop the dark heart of the humans, Koreikyo, you sentimental fool, nor can you alter their fate. It may not happen now, but one day, you will be forced to finish my work." Tamafune replied as she disappeared into the shadows of the night and the old dragon settled wearily upon the earth.
"What was she talking about?" Keiji asked of Koreikyo as the dragon sprawled around him.
"A old conflict that began in the very infancy of mankind. I was around before then and I walked with the framers of this world long before your kind were a whisper upon this Earth. My sister is younger than me and she did not see what I saw of this world and when the race of humankind appeared upon this world, like all those young and foolish, she deemed them evil, and set off on her self righteous crusade to end her evil. As you can see, I did not agree with her. Her anger and I crossed pathes and a battle ensued. I do not know how many mountains were born and then destroyed by our conflict, but there must have been many for it lasted for centuries. There was no clear victor, the battle itself was ended by the gods themselves. To ensure that we never fought again, they switched our natural powers from us. Her raw power for destruction sleeps within me even now and my ability to heal has been used and abused by her since that day. She is up to one of her old schemes. She knows that if this world ever becomes tainted with enough darkness, I'll be forced into destroying the very world I have protected for centuries. I am glad you did not fall for her trick, it is a testimony to your heart, but I cannot interveine in this much longer. Fight well Keiji and reclaim what was yours and be who you were born to be." Koreikyo explained as he collected himself and seemed lost in his own mind.
"She showed me my fate. Can it come to pass?" Keiji asked.
"That is for you to decide. Time is never still and thanks to her meddling, anything is possible. The outcome, however, rests chiefly in your hands. I must leave you know Keiji, I am old and the trip here has wearied me, I must return to my resting place. Remember my words and do not let my sisters visit cost you your focus on the present task laid upon you Keiji. Now then, good luck and good night."
With those words, the old dragon left him to ponder the riddles before him now. He was still lost in thought as the sun rose and he rode out for another days worth of riding.
