CHAPTER 4: THE COMPANY

There was no hesitation, no remorse in Mitsurugi's first strike – the arc of his blade as it came whistling towards his opponent, the ripping of flesh, the rapid spurts of crimson sanguine fluid as his target crumpled to the ground in a torn heap.

Black-clad forms shrouded the garden in darkness. He flicked the blood off his sword and began searching the growing pile of bodies, hoping, praying that Taki's was not among them.

It was then that the moon showed its visage from beneath a cloud and illuminated her agile, flowing form amidst the sea of blackness -- cutting down opponents with her sword as if trimming a field of grass. He sighed with relief, noting the absence of wounds on her face and body and therefore concluding that the splotches of blood on her face belonged to some unfortunate assailant.

"That's the last of them!"

A voice cried out from behind, startling him. He shuffled to the side just in time to avoid a falling body, blood dripping from the raw gash that was once its throat.

He found himself standing face to face with the attacker, the newcomer. A tingle of uneasiness quickly spread down his spine. The stranger's ominous presence stemmed from beyond his mere appearance; rather, it was an aura, a darkness that seemed to emanate from his very soul.

"Who are you?" Mitsurugi said flatly, keeping his sword in hand.

"Are we on the same side?" came the reply. The stranger turned away, tucking a broad, gleaming knife into the folds of his jet-black robes.

"I suppose you are not with them," he said, then fell silent.

"Sakagure Yo," said Lai, approaching the stranger with her hands on her hips. "It appears your 'associates' are still keen on pursuing you."

"They have been dealt with for now. We must leave the kingdom soon. Enough blood has been shed."

"Associates?" said Mitsurugi. "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing? It appears to be an ambush to me. What has happened here?"

"It does not concern you," said the man, narrowing his eyes.

"Perhaps we can discuss this another time," said Taki as she made her way to the scene along with the others. She rested a hand on the man's shoulder and motioned towards Mitsurugi.

"Sakagure Yo, Mitsurugi Heishiro."

Mitsurugi bowed a silent greeting. The man did the same.

"How did you know I was here?" he said to Taki, then grinned slightly. "It was Kenichi, was it not?"

"As usual," said Yukio, flashing Kenichi a knowing smile and nudging him with her elbow.

"Kenichi?" Mitsurugi frowned.

Hyun cleared his throat. "An extraordinarily gifted individual. Apart from his unusual hair color, he was born with the gift of the third eye... of second sight. His ki, or spirit power, is ten times stronger than that of an ordinary man. It enables him to see things no one else can see, to do things no one else can do. You have to see it to believe it..."

"Er, I think that's enough for now," Kenichi interrupted softly. "No need to make such a big fuss
about... it."

"He's very humble about it too," Kayen added. "Look, he's blushing."
 

Eliminating the immediate threat was a relief to Mitsurugi; however, the bartender and his patrons obviously did not share his feelings. Tables, cups and dishes lay scattered about the wooden floor, a testament to the customers' hasty attempt to flee.

In the midst of the clutter stood the bartender, a stocky, graying man with the slightest hint of stubble on his hard-set chin. He folded his arms and glared at the group.

"Have they come again?" he said, raising his voice. "Who are those rogues? They're scaring off my customers -- bad business! Not to mention that they're a danger to everyone present!"

"Bandits, obviously," said Yukio nonchalantly.

"Bandits... or servants of Lau Tseng?"

"Common criminals," said Siegfried. "They are of little concern, compared to Lau Tseng's sorcery. They've all been dealt with."

"Thank heaven," the bartender said gruffly, hoisting a jug of wine from behind the counter. "Here. Have a drink."

Hyun grinned mischievously. "No charge?"

"No charge? What do you mean, no charge?" the bartender scoffed.

"Come now. We stopped the masked marauders, didn't we? Could have saved a lot of lives,"

The bartender grinned.

"All right. I suppose that is a logical reason. Another round, coming right up!"
 

"So Sakagure-san here is to join our company for this quest."

"Yes," said Taki, nodding.

"Fair enough." Mitsurugi downed the rest of his rice wine in one gulp. "But you'll have to explain where he comes from, because it seems to me that he belongs with those masked killers rather than with us."

The object of conversation let out an annoyed grunt and narrowed his eyes at Mitsurugi.

"I think he hit a nerve," Kenichi whispered.

Taki shook her head. "May we change the subject? We have far more important matters to discuss..."

"... such as songs and rhymes and faerie-dances!"

Startled by the interruption, the whole group turned to face a gaily clad, dark haired young man standing in the doorway with a lute in his hand and a long, fine, nearly fragile-looking sword hanging by his side. Siegfried hollered a greeting.

"Sidney Willowbrook! Late, as usual!"

"And for good reason," said the Westerner, stepping into the nearly empty room and setting his plumed cap by the table. He stole a glance at the clutter and flashed a bright-eyed smile to his comrades, ignoring it. "The spirit folk of the elder's flower garden bade me to serenade them -- how could I refuse?"

"So I suppose they made you stay for a while?" said Lai, smirking.

"But of course. Naturally. Spirits know talent when they see it."

"Is he joining us too?" Mitsurugi said with a scowl while clenching and unclenching his fists.

"As sure as the sun shines and the wind blows, sir."

"Really?" he said, finally bursting from the strain. "A bard? A wandering musician? When I battle the sorcerer, the last thing I want is some feather-garbed fop of a troubadour singing of dancing fairies!"

"Please, Mitsurugi," said Taki. "Sidney, sit down." Turning to Mitsurugi, she said, "The nature spirits and I chose these people because they are the finest warriors in the land -- regardless of their outside appearance. Perhaps a few of them have made bad first impressions..."

"Very bad first impressions," Mitsurugi cut in, unconsciously switching his gaze back and forth between Siegfried and Yo.

"... but the elders, the spirits and I are more than confident in their skills. They may be young, but you must have faith in them. We cannot succeed in our quest if all you do is bicker with each other."

Mitsurugi sighed. "Is he the last?"

"Yes."

"Thank heaven."

"Speaking of our quest..." Sidney began, smoothing down the edges of his parti-colored robes. "What is the mission anyway?"

"By Raiden! He doesn't even know what we're doing?" Mitsurugi yelled, slapping himself on the forehead. He began to pull himself to a standing position. "I have had just about enough of this. A demon-possessed murderer, a possible fugitive and a mockingbird with a lute. How am I supposed to save the world with this band of misfits?"

"Misfits, eh!" Lai interjected.

The bartender spat in disgust. "Have some faith in the spirits, boy!" he barked, emerging from behind the bar and wiping his hands on his grease-stained apron. "Do you find it hard to believe that the fates sent you here, to join with this brave band of souls and march against the sorcerer? Bah! You young people these days..."

"The spirits could have used better judgement," he muttered under his breath.

A little voice chimed in from the other end of the table. "You offend me."

Mitsurugi's face flushed red with embarrassment.

"Didn't you think that I, too, had a hand in choosing these people?" said Kayen, piercing him with her emerald green eyes. "I may have the form of a child, but let me tell you -- beings who've lived for several hundred years hold more wisdom than the oldest of humans." She pouted, seeming more like a child than ever and yet wise far beyond her years.

"I'm sorry..." he replied, partly out of shock at her sudden change of manner.

"Go on!" said Taki. "Go ahead and set out on your quest now. If you want to recruit other traveling companions, let me remind you that the nearest village is six days away by horse and that every second we waste brings us closer to the day when Lau releases himself from the Eye."

Mitsurugi opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say a word, Hyun interrupted with, "Of course you could always go alone."

The final blow.

Alone, again. Alone... without companions to guide him, friends to laugh with him... without her...

"My apologies," he said quietly.

"Hmph!" said the bartender. He wiped his hands again and disappeared into the kitchen.

All was silent the instant he left. Mitsurugi gazed around the room, shifting his attention from one member of the party to another. None said a word.