Rurouni Kenshin
Chapter #6: Demon of Revenge
It was a cloudy afternoon on board in the open sea. Sanosuke, Kaoru, and Yahiko were onboard a cargo ship heading for Kyoto. Sanosuke leaned on the main mast, Yahiko hung over the edge, sea sick, and Kaoru just sat there looking worried. The ship itself was rather large for a cargo ship, yet it held barely any cargo and even less passengers. The only other people onboard were distant travelers and salesmen. One of them placed himself closer to the small party than any other. He wore a black cloak that covered up his entire body, but you could tell he was equipped with a sword from the shape of the cloak. Although no one really paid any attention to this man, Sanosuke kept a close eye on him and dubbed him ‘dangerous’.
Another hour passed on the ship without anything happening. Everyone was going about their usual business. Yahiko finally returned to the group just in time to go off running back the side.
About that time a black ship could be seen in the horizon, Sanosuke was one of the few who saw this. As both ships advanced each other its shape became more definite. The was completely covered with black steel, its sails were triangular and black, and demons’ heads were carved everywhere on the ship. As the ship came even closer, the crew could be seen, they were demons.
Sanosuke ran up to the bow of the ship to get a closer look. Each person on the black ship looked almost human, except for a pair of yellow horns erecting from their foreheads. They all looked the same except for minute details, each wore the same type of black sleeve-less tunics and long baggy pants that matched. By this time all of the passengers hid inside the cabins, not wanting to get a closer look. Yahiko and Kaoru stayed on deck with Sanosuke, but they were afraid as well. The only other person who remained was the man in the black cloak.
The man now stood right next to Sanosuke. He spoke with a soft voice. “Here they come... stand fast....” Then he right hand around to grabs his sword.
“You think so eh?” Sanosuke replied curtly. “Those can’t be what I think they are.... can they?”
“They are...”
Silence filled the now stormy water. Drops of rain began to fall from the sky as the black demon ship approached this cargo ship. Sanosuke could see the faces of his soon-to-be enemies, their faces were grinning at him, bearing their sharp fangs. Five of them could be seen on the ship, they looked at the four-some as a hunter would look at its prey
The two sides stared at each other until the black ship collided with the cargo ship, rocking it violently. The demons moved. The one in front coolly walked up to the bow of the ship, then leapt onto the cargo ship right in front of Sanosuke, he was soon greeted with a punch in the jaw, knocking him back but not down. The demon rubbed his cheek for a moment before glaring at Sanosuke.
As this happenned pain shot through Sano’s right arm, his wound in his righ hand had not healed. The bandages around his right hand unraveled to reveal a bleeding fist, the demon’s face was rock hard.
“Not bad for a human.” He said in a low growl, then leapt at Sano, bearing his claws and teeth. Sano sent a quick high kick into his teeth to send him back, this time he fell.
“Not bad....” commented the stranger while studying Sano’s hand. “What do you plan to do when his friends decide to join?”
“Take ‘em all out of course.” Sano replied with a grin. “Just cause I can’t use my right hand doesn’t mean I’m done..”
The four demons that remained leapt onto Sano’s ship to help their comrade. As soon as they landed they began to hiss.
“You gonna help?” Sano asked, a little nervous.
“Of course.” The stranger said with a smirk. He reached to his shoulder and yanked his cloak off himself. His semi-long grey hair was whirled up in the quick motion but fell down to rest again. His matching grey eyes glared menacingly at their foe. He wore a simple black short-sleeved shirt with a pair of loose white pants. A sheathed katana hung limp from the left side.
“Then we’re all set.” Sano glanced back at Kaoru and Yahiko. “Jyo-chan, you stay back with Yahiko, alright?”
“Right...” she replied. She got up and near the doorway of the cabin.
Sano smiled and took off his white jacket with in a swift motion. Then he shot forward like a bullet. His right arm was cocked back to deliver his blow. The stranger followed his leave. He had his right hand firmly gripping the hilt of his sword, but not unsheathing it. The demons split up in two groups to take each of them on by themselves. Sano was going to take the group on the left, the stranger the right.
The stranger, when in range, drew his sword in one swift move and cut down his first opponent through the chest, then stopped. He spun around to find his second opponent, who had already found him. The demon’s claw caught the stranger across the chest, drawing a spurt of blood, but not cutting deeply. He retaliated with swift blow of his foot in the demon’s gut.
Sano had gotten the initiative against his first target, his fist caught the demon squarely in the face with his usable fist, sending him sprawling to the floor. The second one had taken this opportunity to smash his foot into Sano’s back, knocking him down to hsi face. By this time the very first demon Sano took down was back in the brawl.
Two demons were dead on the floor. The stranger had taken care of the one who had wounded him very quickly with a blow through the neck. Blood, red as their eyes, stained the wood of the deck. The stranger rushed to the fallen Sano’s aid. A demon was about to impale his clawed hand through Sano’s heart through his back, the stranger’s blade impaled itself through his heart first. The demon slumped forward on top of Sano, dead.
The last two remaining stopped to think if it was wise to attack the duo again. They cowered and leapt back onto their own ship.
Sano got up off his face, the corpse slumped off his back and to the deck in a pool of blood. “Running!? Cowards!?” He screamed out before he was on his feet.
On the black ship the heavy cabin door opened with a long creak, this caught everyone’s attention. From the darkness within a human male stepped out. He wore white and blue shit and pants with a matching blue cape hanging off his shoulders. The most distinct of his features was his white spiked out hair. A pair of two blue eyes stared down at Sanosuke and the stranger through a pair of round sun glasses. He spoke in a high accented voice. “Hmph, I see this practice run turned out to be a little obstacle.” He glanced to the side at the three corpses.
“Who the hell are you!?” Sano demanded. He was on his feet this time.
“I suppose you deserve an answer. I am Yukishiro Enishi, I provided my ‘comrades’ with this ship.”
The stranger spoke up. “Why do you help these demons?”
Enishi glanced down at the stranger. “Because they promised me one thing money could not get me, revenge!”
“Hmph, I suppose you are a demon yourself then, a demon of revenge......”
“Shut up!!!!” Enishi cut in. “What do you know of revenge!? What do you know of my pain!?”
“I don’t.....” the stranger spoke coolly.
“You!......” Enishi’s frown faded away into a sly smile. “I apologize, I lost my cool.... we will be leaving for now. A word of advice, if I were you I would keep out of Kyoto for while.”
The black ship began to turn around. Sano was pissed and ready to jump aboard to take care of this man. The stranger reached over to grab his shoulder but Sano was already out of reach. When he was a step away from jumping off a cold shiver ran down his spine. Right before he jumped he saw a silhouette of a demon ontop of the main mast of the black ship. This demon’s crimson stare scared the hell out of Sanosuke. He was definitely a force to be reckoned with.
NEXT
