Kinoshi entered the dark, deserted temple, and stood before the entrance with his bo stick ready. The ogre outlaw looked up, the light from fire before the ogre dimmed in comparison as the scarred face of the ogre outlaw twisted in anger. The ogre rose up from his haunches, dark-purplish veins throbbing across his hulking form. In his hand, the no-dachi seemed more like a small knife than a great sword. He roared as he swung his no-dachi through the flames. Kinoshi braced himself with his bo stick as felt a blast of heated air struck him. Then he heard the ogre outlaw bellow; its words filled the old temple with the foul stench of his terrible fury. "Puny man, come and die!"
Nearly twice his size, the ogre's huge frame filled his vision. Kinoshi spun his bo stick, and charged. Feint Left, Strike Right. The ogre outlaw shrugged off his first few blows as if they were bee stings. When the ogre swung the great sword to split him in half, Kinoshi rolled to the right. And leaped into the air, lifted the bo stick high as he brought it crushing down upon the ogre's outstretched arms. The bo stick forged from the finest metals, struck hard and merciless. The ogre howled in pain as the bone in his left arm splintered from the deadly blow. With a guttural growl, the ogre outlaw swung his great sword at Kinoshi. The Beast Lunges for the Throat.
Kinoshi lifted the bo stick up with both hands to block the descending no-dachi. The clash of steel sent a quivering vibration along both ends of the bo stick. Even wielding the great sword with only one hand, the ogre's strength was great. As the ogre pressed the no-dachi against the bo stick, Kinoshi felt his feet sliding across the floor. The ogre pressed, relentlessly. His maniacal laughter filled the chamber, as he screamed, "Think you can collect?"
The fire burned to dying embers as the night invaded the serenity of the forsaken temple. Dust erupted in a cloudstorm as Kinoshi's back smashed into the wall. Pushed against the wall, Kinoshi felt the cutting edge of the great sword grated forcefully against his bo stick, a mere breath from his face. The ogre grinned with freakish mirth, the pain in his broken arm forgotten. Totally consumed by his own battle rage, the ogre growled. "Now. You die!"
Kinoshi focused. He breathed, slow and sure. He saw the veins crisscrossed all over the ogre's body expanded before the outlaw leaned forward, pressed downward with all his strength. He saw, and he reacted. He poured his strength into his right arm, he pushed and twisted the bo stick. Simultaneously, he twisted the left end of the bo stick. The great sword slid along the bo stick, then the stick twisted apart, its metallic links caught the edge of the no-dachi. The surprise on the ogre's face twisted into an insane grimace as he felt the other end of the stick butted his throat. The Viper Strikes from below the Flower.
The bo stick had separated into a three section cudgel, connected end to end by silver metallic links. With his no-dachi caught between the metallic links, the ogre was wide open for Kinoshi's strikes. The outlaw let fall his no-dachi. The ogre's face, a distortion of frustration and maddening pain, contorted into a mask of savagery. He grabbed the middle section of the cudgel, and pulled with brutal frenzy. The Beast Catches the Tail.
Once again, Kinoshi felt himself propelled by the ogre's strength. Smiling, he let his hands slide to the end of both sections of the cudgel. With a twist, twin blades came loose. Twin Dragons Take Flight. Without mercy, he ran the ogre through with both swords. The ogre outlaw collapsed with both swords sticking out of his ribcage. Still, the ogre did not died until Kinoshi removed both swords from his body and cut off his head.
Without a word, Kinoshi quickly cleaned the blood from the blades, and changed his weapon back to a bo stick. He whispered a death prayer. And wrapped the head of the ogre in a sheep-skin. Then he searched the headless body with a grin. Hidden in a boot, he found ten koku. With the bounty in his hand, Kinoshi left for the nearest city.
The moment bounty hunter entered the magistrate's courthouse; he sensed the lurking shadows. The presence of warriors of a darkened soul filled his mind, but he kept his sight on Chinoko. Kinoshi realized where the real danger lies; the warriors of a darkened soul will not attack without a signal from that kolat bitch. Chinoko sat behind the magistrate's desk, fanning herself leisurely. Kinoshi's mind swirled with rippling thoughts as if a pebble had been thrown into his head. He watched the kolat madam carefully for the slightest sign. He calmed his mind and relaxed his body. And he waited.
The wait was short-lived. Chinoko spoke softly, her voice firm and commanding.
"Kinoshi, have you grown tired of being hunted? Do you wish to be free?"
"I can never be free of the Kolat," spoke Kinoshi through gritted teeth. But, intrigued, he asked, "What would be the price?"
"Something was stolen from me," Chinoko spoke, her voice quivered with anger, "Return it to me, and I guarantee you shall be free of the Kolat."
"What is so precious?" Kinoshi asked, truly intrigued now. "Who would dare steal from you, dear Chinoko?"
"A ninja stole from me," replied Chinoko as she leaned forward slightly, her words filled with indignation. Chinoko looked at the bounty hunter, annoyed by his familiar tone, wondering if she had made a mistake. Her choice made, she pressed on. She spoke above her fan, "Kage's legacy, a black-bordered book."
"If I refuse?" Kinoshi stared straight into her eyes, as if trying to divine the answer from her soul.
"Do or die!"
Suspense filled the room like a pack of wolves let loosed in a forest. Danger lurked in the air as Chinoko watched Kinoshi, her fan twisting in her hand. The moment seemed to stretch into the night. Then she saw the defiance in his eyes and heard his refusal. Her smile wavered, her fan twisting in her hand. Chinoko snickered, her smile full of daggers. She motioned with her fan in a throat-slitting gesture. From the shadows came the hiss of blades whispering into the air. Kinoshi counted quietly the numbers of blades cutting the night air. He knew their number before the six warriors of a darkened soul stepped from the darkness. Death lurked in the air. Chinoko spoke again, "Then die."