Chapter 3: Monsters of Men
A breath hicked within his chest, what was he to say. What would become of him if he chose to walk away?
"Bearing in mind that you will be hunted if found."
"Hunted...", He came back from his deep thoughts as he continued in shock, "Hunted by whom?", And like animals no less;
"If not my father than the Shogun who protect the emperor. Influenced by a monk - the archbishop of the Tendai sect known as Tenkai; these soldiers are spread out in each clan's warrior class and seek to destroy us all. This is administered by my father - a demon lord no less, who is using his power to protect himself... I ran away, but he dared not to find me... because I believe he knows what I shall do if ever I see him again...", And as she said this, Kazuki then realized who she was.
The daughter of Ieyasu-sama;
"M-Mariko Tokugawa..?", as he said her name she subconsciously looked up at him.
He then looked back in awe.
"Yes, that is my name.", She stated in woe as she gracefully lowered her head.
"All of this all at once, Miss Tokugawa. I have to admit is all too much.", Kazuki's tone toward her had changed, almost just as hers had to him.
He was her soldier as he has already killed in her name.
He gently took a knee and proudly stated;
"I will fight by your side,...", but soon, he then thought about his mother and all they have lost in seemingly one night, "... What choice is there...", he could let the thirst consume his humanity, but the fear of becoming a monster could be the very thing that brings one to it. He had killed a man, but felt nothing - no sorrow but a hollowing hunger if not sadness that ate away at him as if the errotion of rock to sand.
Every light casts a shadow despite the very flame of rage itself - no fire can cast a shadow unless there was something in it's path... Then perhaps Mariko was that flame.
"Are you hurt? How did you escape? Did anyone-?"
"Please, get up.", she quietly pleased as she looked around for any on lookers through the trees," I don't believe I deserve the honor."
" But my princes-", he began but was cut short by her hand as she raised it in silence;
"Please, Kazuki...", She said in a kind voice to which Kazuki then replied in compliance;
"...yes, your-", he caught his words before ending his sentence in instant regret, tapping his mouth three times gently to assume an apology;
"I mean Miss. Tokuga- miss. Mariko.", She looked at him before lowering her head and smiling as birds drifted by their heads with playful chirps of banter - Kazuki suddenly realized that he enjoyed making her smile, there being something awfully warm about her despite her frightening seriousness... In all, he enjoyed looking at her.
She then began again now with her serious tone filled with sorrow;
"You have to tell your mother gently.", she said, he knew that much but;
"She needs to move to the inner city in order to survive without, me. How do I say this?", he thought aloud with slight nerves as he placed a curled finger below his lower lip in thought, " perhaps I tell the truth of becoming a warrior and only that... Will you stand by this claim in my favor?"
"In order for you to become a samurai in my name."
"Yes, princess.", he slightly bowed in respect, his new found honor came second to only one thing...
"I have no such power but that of my father's right hand Daimyo,...", she said as she looked down and furrowed her brow in thought before looking at Kazuki, "I may know how you can help and who can help us..."
"Who, my princess?", as he said this she tired to ignore his new habit and told him to be ready by tomorrow morning, and when he asked why all she had said was;
"Because you are about to be come a soldier for my father's army.", stated as bluntly as such she simply shocked him with her words.
" But he is the enemy.", He stated in strain.
"Exactly,...", she said, "I hope that this will help you understand, but I need someone to watch and know my father's every move."
" And how do you know that this will work?", He asked almost nervously, she looked at him and stated;
" It will work, I simply need someone other than Hanzo by my father's side, to know the lay of the land and of the castle. Understood?"
"Yes, my princess.", but as he looked up at her he realized just who she was talking about;
" But wait, Hanzo is to be my partner!?"
"Yes, he is the one who will be training you.",as she said this his shoulders almost slumped in front of her in sheer disappointment for he had a firm belief that this Hanzo character had no favour to Kazuki, but he also belived that he had to be strong, not only for his mother; father; and the princess but as well the cause.
He had to fight, all signs of weakness in him as he stole his mind and restored it with honor and purpose anew.
But what will all this bring in the end, could it be death or something far worse than such as Kazuki was a total stranger to sheer pain, but he knew he had to fight.
Even if it killed him.
He wasn't even actually sure if demons such as himself could die but he knew that much that sunlight makes him feel weak and slow. He cannot eat he cannot sleep but close his eyes and see colours of that of the sky.
In short one could argue that he was miserable but what choice could he have had to live it any other way?
Mariko brought him back to this life to perhaps give him the life he had so deemed as a dream, much like his father did. But little did he know it was paved with such danger, though his father had warned him, there was no turning back.
And he knew that.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone