The weary and battered group were forced into the center of the red field, some of the more heavily wounded they protected by standing guard on the rough oval of desperation they formed against the almost endless wall of Kazuo's men. For every man they killed, Tamafune resserurected two more, and the tide of bodies Kazuo had to throw against the weary Ronins was endless and the final achievement was they had come to resort to this final, defensive loop.
Keiji stood on the edge, watching the sneering wall inch closer to them, marching slowly out of merciless mirth on their part and his heart sunk.
The skies seemed to echo as rain began to pour down from the heavens and he dared a look towards them thinking: No fair heaven, it is me who feels like grieving! It should be I who cries, not you. Why? Just the why of it all? Ten years of preparation for this moment-a moment of victory for Kazuo and eternal dishonor for my family?! Why did I dare to hope? Look at all the men who answered my summons, in the full faith I could lead them to victory and help them regain the honor they lost and instead of leading them to that end, I have lead them to a horrible death and the shared fate of dishonor upon us all. What a fool I have been and what a fool's chase I have lead. Even Risako has abandoned me in this hour, or maybe she is not even alive, and of all the people I would have choosen to been with in these moments, I would have wanted her. Then again, she doesn't have to see me this way. It is for the best. Sorry Koreikyo, I guess I failed you too. Perhaps I should just draw Juzo's katana now and never witness our defeat...
"You know Keiji," Conlan began as he caught his weary breath beside him and interupting Keiji's thoughts, "It has been a honor fighting beside you. Had my son ever lived to see this day, he would have been about your age and he most likely be in my place on the field. I am getting to old for this."
"Death seems to be late, Conlan," Keijji answered, "Tell me about your family before we go."
"Let's try to make certain death stays late. However, my son, Masao, as I said before, would have been about your age and my wife, Chiyo, was the most understanding and loving woman I met and loved in this land. I have missed them." Conlan answered, his eyes raised in question of Keiji.
"Yes, I just wish I had a chance to see Juzo and my mother, I miss them too." Keiji answered.
The skies thundered ominiously and Keji cast another look, and this time, his eyes grew wide with astonishment with what he saw within the murkey depths of the grey skies.
Among the clouds, two dragonic forms, not one, but two, were caught in battle. Sometimes a red or black tail would dip from the skies and then vanish as quickly as it appeared. But he was certain that Koreikyo and Tamafune were up in the skies fighting. Apparently Kazuo and his forces saw as well and paused to watch the second battle that had erupted from the heavens. Their eyes seemed more concerned and with a flash of foresight, Keiji realized just what this meant. Tamafune was distracted, she wasn't paying attention to the human battle anymore, which meant, Kazuo's men were mortal as they stood there, surprised and intent upon the dragon's duel.
"Conlan..." Keiji began, catching the knight's attention and pointed out the stopped men and few moments of consideration passed over the greying face before the dawn of realization took its place. Keiji turned then and called out softly to all those who could hear him. If they could re-group quietly enough and make a final stand, they might just have a chance to turn this into a victory from the clutches of defeat battle...hope returned to him. The slender thread of victory dangled once again before his eyes and away from the impending jaws of death.
He looked over the wall of men and smiled at Kazuo. They would be meeting soon, this time, he assured it.
Through the spiriling stairs they rushed, and as they climbed, Risako felt her every step grow weaker. She was drawing ever nearer to place where her life had once nearly fled the world. She knew that place, the place where she had fought, was also death's personal chamber. She could feel its hunger as they burst onto the first level of the tower and three weary eyed guards looked up in time only to see the flurry of their katanas before they died.
The occupants of the cells that surrounded the room cried out in surprise and then urgency with pleas to save them.
"Brake them free!" She ordered and was obeyed.
From the cells came the men of Dansha, but no women, nor any children. Risako, surprised, turned to Masao and the man mirrored her expression of dismay as well.
"Where are the women and children?" She demanded of the newly liberated men.
"Kazuo ordered that they be kept seperate of us in the final level of the tower." a old man who was pulled from the corner of his cell and carried into the center of the small space at the level's center by her men replied as they settled him comfterbly before her.
"He did so, promising that if we were ever to escape, the lives of our wives and children would be forfeit." Another younger, and angrier man, answered.
Risako sighed, partly from exasperation and from exhaustion. Kazuo, you old demon! You have pulled one last trick upon me! Curse you! So close...
"Masao, Izo, with me. The rest of you stay here. We can free the women and children, but we must go it alone..." Risako began before the other members of the Kinlan began to protest, "Look, I have been here before. I have passed through these passages before, you haven't. I also need the lowest level of the tower safe guarded, you cannot let any of Kazuo's men, should they get wise to our plans, past this level. You can't leave the tower, the guards on the upper levels may very well see all of you and kill the women and children before we can enter the level. I have choosen Izo and Masao to go with me becuase they are best suited, and these next levels aren't as easy to access and most likely I would lose every last one of you in the process. Please, for once, don't follow me, let Izo represent your will."
The survivors looked thoughtfull for a moment and then knodded in consent, with looks cast in her direction that also meant they soon wouldn't forget this. Thankfully the men of Dansha looked placated as well, though the old man meet her gaze before bowing his own consent to her. His eyes, she took note of, were like Keiji's. Fierce, proud, and defiant. Some common blood most exist between the men she knew nothing of. Perhaps she would ask when she returned, if she returned.
She turned to the stairs spiriling away into a even deeper darkness and took the first step. Masao and Izo mounted the steps behind her, completly unawares of the hell they were preparing to enter. They would understand on the second level.
The 'wings' had formed up, and thankfully, Kazuo men were still unawares, caught in the spell of the dragon's duel. What had liberated Koreikyo to battle his sister, Keiji could never guess, but he was grateful for the distraction the dragon had provided. They might just survive this.
Wordlessly he, motioned them forward with a slash of the water logged katana, casting a fine spray of water at formed a line for his 'wing' to follow.
Then the individual, wedged groups, erupted forward, plowing their way into the wall, still in their centers protecting the wounded and weary how took aim at a free chance of targets.
Keiji lead his wing right up to the last of Kazuo's men and then, there before him, Kazuo glared angerly upon him.
"So," Kazuo began, "You have drawn close to me at last young Keiji, I was wondering when you would at last."
"Yes, draw the katana you stole from my family and accept my challenge to you for my right to it." Keiji growled as the battle around him erupted back into full swing, but for every death rattle that rose out, no moans of the revived reached his ears. His plan was working. He just prayed Koreikyo could maintain his battle with Tamafune before the dragoness could return her attention to Kazuo.
"Very well then," Kazuo began, "My men seem well occupied while we keep ourselves active, so very well then. Here is where you shall fall. How silly of me, it should be me who kills you anyhow, I don't want any vinidcative spirits after me after all, Tamafune can't shield me of those."
"Depends on the victor. I do not plan on losing." Keiji answered.
"Yes, you are right, no one plans on losing," Kazuo remarked as the formerly crimson katana bared its darkened blade before Keiji and Keiji leveled the blue katana upon it. The old friends, it seemed were glaring at one another in the weak light as thin trails of rain water caught the flashes of light in the darkened skies.
For a moment in time, they stood transfixed, and then, without a word, Keiji leapt forward, katana snarling and all hope and heart intent upon the wicked one before him.
