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Never Gentle	By : MidoriBond Category: +S to Z > Samurai 7 Views: 1588 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Samurai 7, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Never Gentle

by Midori Bond

Chapter 3

Kanna Village
was alive again. The Nobuseri were gone. The Capital was defeated.
Now all they had to live for was their rice. Currently, a number of
the villagers were trying to rebuild the bridge, while trying to
avoid the idea of a certain young samurai that had a knack for such things.

Over on one of
the cliffs four graves stood out, each marked by the owner's weapons.
A lone man stood looking at each of the men that had chosen to follow
him, only to fall for a village of rice farmers. His deep brown eyes
kept returning to the grave with no body. Two swords stood as a
reminder of his own weakness. He wasn't able to bring himself to
accept Kyuzo's death. The blonde had always been too stubborn to die
in the past. He had left his body behind, feeling as if he would see
cold red eyes looking at him again.

"Great
Samurai," the elder said, walking over to the figure clad in
white. He saw the way the taller man stiffened at the title. "Now
that the fighting is over, do you know what you are going to do?"

Grayish brown
hair lifted in the wind. "I will continue in wandering," he
said lowly.

The elder
nodded gravely. "You can stay here," he said in the same tone.

"I am
Samurai. I have no place as a Farmer."

"There
are others that believe different."

"I cannot
give Kirara-dono the love she deserves," the samurai said with a
frown. "I'm too old."

A faint smile
crossed the elder's face. "Some would say that she is too old as well."

"Kambei-sama,
there is a messenger," Shichiroji called out.

Both turned to
see the blonde man walking towards them. With the naginata wielding
samurai stood a man with flowing plum colored hair, and a woman with
short blonde hair. Kambei moved to meet them. The woman was dressed
in peasant's garb, but there was something familiar about her.

Shido looked
over his shoulder and looked at Hotaru. She had been quiet the entire
ride from Miroden. He reached out and took her hands into his own.
"Kambei-sama," he said respectfully. "I am Fujimiya
Shido, and this is Tayama Hotaru. She is a villager from Miroden."

Kambei nodded
as he looked at Shido. A fond smile crossed his face. "I
remember you." His eyes looked at his second and his smile
widened. "Shichiroji, you and I have gotten into many a fight
because of his mouth."

Shichiroji's
eyes widened as he looked at the younger man before him. He
remembered an impetuous boy whose loud boasts gotten their squad into
more problems than out of. A smile spread across his face as he
looked him over. "You're still in one piece I see," he commented.

Shido rubbed
the back of his neck as he remembered his time under these two men.
"I've learned to control my mouth," he said with a shrug.
He turned his eyes to Hotaru as she stepped closer to him. "But
there is another urgent reason why we are here."

Kambei started
to shake his head. "If it is for battle, I'm afraid...."

"You're
daughter is still alive, Kambei-sama," Shido cut in. When
widened eyes looked at him, Hotaru gasped. "She is in Miroden
Village, currently fighting for her life. There was a wave of
Nobuseri that attacked, and she fought with them."

All at once,
Kambei's face went cold and he turned his back on Shido. "My
daughter has been dead since the Great War," he said in coldly.
"Whatever games you are trying to play now are not amusing Shido-noji."

The three
stood silent as Kambei walked away. Shido frowned as he replayed the
small conversation in his mind. He shouldn't have mentioned Nari like
that. Kambei believed that Nari was killed over fifteen years ago. To
just come out and say that she survived was like a slap in the face
of such a noble man.

"That was
really low Shido," Shichiroji said. His voice was barely a growl.

"It's
true," Hotaru said in a whisper. Her eyes stayed on Kambei's
back as he walked into one of the small huts. "Nari is almost an
exact replica."

Shichiroji
blinked. "What is her name?" he asked.

Hotaru looked
at the older man and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "She
does not mention a family name. Only my grandfather knows it. But her
name is Nari." She looked back at the hut Kambei disappeared
into and went to follow him. "Can I talk with him?" she
asked softly. When Shido frowned at her, she gave him a level stare.
"If he is Nari's father, I can explain who she is better than you."

"Are her
eyes grey?" Shichiroji asked in a whisper.

Shido inhaled
sharply. Her eyes were the first thing he noticed about her.
"Yes," he answered.

Hotaru pulled
the package from Shido's shoulder and went after Kambei. She would
let them both stand there and puzzle out if Shido was telling the
truth, but she wanted to know the man that Nari held such hatred for.

As she lifted
the flap to the hut, she saw a young girl sitting next to Kambei,
gently serving him a bowl of rice. "Kambei-sama," she
started. When he looked at her, she knelt in front of him. "I am
Tayama Hotaru, one of the granddaughters of the village elder in
Miroden. Ten years ago, a girl was brought to us, with her, she had
this." She held out the wrapped sword, and nodded as he took it.
"It was said to be a sword her father left."

Kambei felt
his heart shatter as he unraveled the all too familiar twin bladed
sword. He had left the sword with his wife's brother so they would be
protected while he was at war.

The young
woman next to him gently touched his shoulder.
"Kambei-sama?" she questioned. Her brown eyes were full of
caring and concerned. "What is it?"

He was still
trying to wrap his mind around the words. His daughter was alive.
When he returned to his home after the fighting, only his charred
home and wife's body greeted him. He always assumed that their
cherished child was buried under the rubble. "Shido said that
she was fighting for her life. What did he mean?" he asked,
ignoring Kirara's question.

"Miroden
was attacked three days ago. Nari fought with them, and she was hurt
trying to protect my grandfather." Her eyes filled with tears as
she thought Nari's wound. "One of the foot soldiers stabbed her
in her chest."

Kambei's eyes
closed tightly. "So you come to tell me that my daughter is
alive, but dying again." He continued to ignore Kirara as she
gasped. He stood and walked over towards the door. "Thank you
for the news, Hotaru-dono, but I can not grieve for her again. My
heart is already empty."

Hotaru felt a
small smile cross her face. "We have the medical equipment to
save her. My cousin is fighting for her life. Sara has studied
medicine in Kyugakyo. If there's a chance for Nari to live, then she will."

Kambei looked
at the two young women in front of him. A restless sigh escaped him.
"Lady Kirara, can you please make sure Hotaru-dono has something
to eat," he requested before leaving.

"Of
coarse Kambei-sama," she said quietly. The former Mikumari
looked at the village woman and smiled kindly. "We don't have
much other than rice. Please, have some."

Hotaru smiled
as she moved closer to where Kirara was sitting. "Rice is fine.
It's a change from always eating fish."

* * * * *

Sara looked at
the pair of warriors she was treating and sighed. Nari would be out
of danger soon. Once she was, she would have to be taken back to the
village. Kyuzo needed more time. With blood loss and broken bones, he
would never have survived if Kei hadn't found him. She looked at her
cousin and felt her anger rise again. Now she knew why Jiro allowed
Nari to practice with her sword, and step into the roll as heir to
the elder. She was so much like Kyuzo that Jiro was simply trying to
win his wayward grandson back.

"Where is
she?" a voice bellowed.

Sara's eyes
widened as she moved to go greet the man that could still kill them
all. In the passageway, she saw a tall man with short dark hair
glaring at Momotaru. "Lord Jin, we weren't expecting you,"
she said quietly. "Nari-dono is not in any condition to see anyone."

"I don't
care," the noble man growled. "She has no place on a battle
field in the first place."

Sara inhaled
as a number of soldiers ran into the cavern and past her and
Momotaru. "What are you doing?" she asked in an alarmed voice.

Jin's dark
eyes flashed angrily. "I am taking my betrothed home," he
said in a hiss. As he went down the hall, he saw the medical
equipment he had installed for the village.

Sara shook her
head. "My lord, Nari-dono has always protected the village. It
is a part of who she is. You can't just steal her away. She would
never tolerate it."

"I don't
care," Jin answered hotly. "She will come with me and she
will learn her place."

Horror started
to settle around Sara's heart. "Her place?" she echoed.

Jin looked at
the equipment before turning to his men. "Take her," he
ordered. When Sara made a move to object, he turned to her. "If
you dare to stop me, this entire village will burn to the ground."

Sara felt
tears in her eyes as she wrapped herself around Momotaru. She knew
that he wanted to say something, do anything to help Nari, but the
village would suffer. Her eyes widened when Jin leaned forward to
examine the other tube in the cavern. "Please, don't," she pleaded.

Jin growled.
Sara was one of the few that he would even answer to, just because of
Nari. "Who is he?" he asked. He couldn't get the growl out
of his voice, and he didn't want to. The thought of another man so
close to his prize was infuriating.

"He is my
cousin, Kyuzo," Sara said quickly. "Kei found him just
outside of the village, and he's been here healing since."

"Why have
I not met him before?"

"He left
here when he was younger. He wanted... he didn't want to live his
whole life in a fishing village. He decided to go see the world
before taking over for Grandfather."

Jin
straightened as the tube Nari was in emptied. If Jiro's wayward
grandchild was finally home, that was fine. He was going to take Nari
with him. He turned and looked at the young woman he had educated.
"I know of your betrayal to the Nobuseri," he said lowly.
His eyes drifted to Momotaru for a moment. "Just because they
are gone, do not think that you are free," he told her. "Not
until I have Nari's hand."

Tears fell out
of Sara's eyes. "She would never agree," she whispered.

"She will
not have a choice," Jin said lowly.

"You will
not touch her," a muffled voice said in a growl.

* * * * *

He felt like
he was floating. His entire body was sore, but he wasn't in pain.

"Who
is he?"

That was a
man's voice. For some reason, it sounded like he was under water.

"He's
my cousin, Kyuzo."

Sara. He was
back in Miroden. But he didn't know how he got there.

"Kei
found him just outside of the village, and he'd been healing since."

That explained
it. He must have been in one of the healing tubes like Ayamaru has
scattered through his home. He slowly opened his eyes and saw the
small, trembling figure of his cousin. She was being held by a man
nearly twice her size. He looked somewhat familiar. Probably from
Kyogakyo. What he didn't like was the man looking at the tube not too
far from his own. He knew who that was. Tetsuho Jin. He was a known
monster among the merchants. Even Ayamaru feared him.

"I
know of your betrayal to the Nobuseri. Just because they are gone, do
not think that you are free. Not until I have Nari's hand."

Kyuzo knew
that Sara didn't want that woman to go with Jin. He knew that if his
former home was in danger, he would have no other choice than to
protect it. He opened his mouth in the oxygen mask over his face.
"You will not touch her," he said in a growl. He saw the
stunned look on Jin's face, as well as the shock on Sara's.

Jin slowly
moved away from Nari and over to Kyuzo. "You dare to order me
around?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Kyuzo,
you shouldn't be exerting yourself," Sara scolded lightly. She
frowned when Momotaru's strong arms pulled her back. "Let me
go," she ordered in a hiss.

"As much
as I say I can, I wouldn't be able to fight off all of these men if
they come after you," Momotaru whispered into her ear. When she
stilled, he slowly started to release her. "Be careful."

Sara gave his
arm a gentle squeeze. She slowly stepped out of his embrace and
closer to her cousin. "How are you feeling?" he asked gently.

"Silence!"
Jin roared. He kept his eyes focused on the blonde samurai that had
the audacity to order him around. "Who do you think you
are?" he asked. "I can easily kill you, and anyone else
that stands between what is mine."

"She
isn't yours," Kyuzo said reasonably. "If she protects my
village, then I will protect her."

Jin reached
over and grabbed the sword from one of his escorts. Just as he raised
the blade, he felt Sara's arms tangle in his. "Let me go,"
he hissed as he pushed her back.

As Sara cried
out, Kyuzo's eyes glowed with utter fury. "You will pay for
that," Kyuzo said lowly. With each word, the hatred in his voice
grew. He curled his hands into fists, knowing he was too weak to
attack now, but he was going to make the merchant pay.

"Sara,"
Nari's voice said weakly.

Everyone in
the room stopped. Sara stood and went to Nari's side. "I'm right
here," she said as she looked in the opened tube. She forced a
smile to cross her face as smokey eyes opened.

"What's
going on?" Nari asked, forcing herself to sit up. She looked
around the chamber and saw Jin standing next to one of the other
tubes. She grabbed Sara's hand and started to climb out of the tube.
"What are you doing here?" she asked him coldly.

Jin shook his
head. "I will not allow you to throw your life away in some back
water village. My wife will know better."

Nari frowned
as she leaned on Sara. "Then it is a good thing that I am not
your wife," she said simply. When she heard his growl, she moved
to stand on her own. "Jin, I am in no condition to fight with
you. Please, take your men and leave. Return another time, and you
and I can talk about this whatever you want to call it, that
is between us."

A low growl
escaped Jin. He didn't want to leave. He wanted to take Nari with
him, and make sure she would never be in any type of danger again.
But as he looked into her eyes he rubbed his eyes. He knew he could
deny her anything. "I will give you one month," he said
lowly. He walked over to her and gently caressed the scar on her
face. She was trembling, and he couldn't help but smile. "I will
return to here in one month, and you will come with me."

"Release
her," Kyuzo hissed.

In spite of
Kyuzo's warning, Jin leaned forward and placed a kiss on her lips.
"You are a vision of beauty," he told her. As her shaking
increased, he stepped away from her. "One month."

* * * * *

Kambei walked
over to where Rikichi was quietly speaking with Shido. He looked at
the young samurai and inhaled. "In the morning, I will go with
you to Miroden," he said before turning to walk away.

Violet eyes
were wide as he moved to follow his former commander.
"Kambei-sama," he said softly. "What made you change
your mind?" he asked quickly.

Kambei stopped
walking and showed him Nari's sword. "I had this sword crafted
for my brother-in-law. If anything were to happen to him, it was
supposed to go to Nari's husband."

Shido snorted.
"You've been away from her for a long time," he said with a
muse. When Kambei looked at him, he shook his head. "She's
Samurai. Your skills show in her fighting style."

A deep frown
crossed Kambei's face. "She's a woman. There is no reason why
she should be holding a sword."

Shido lowered
his head slightly. "Once you see Miroden, you will see the good
that she's done." He looked out over the cliffs. "Even if
you don't want her to fight, you will be proud of her."

"We shall
see," Kambei said with a sigh.

TBC...
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Never Gentle