Samurai 2.0 - Destiny: A Harem Fantasy Adventure

by April O'Malley

“That is all fine and good,” Ratnakar said, drawing a small line on the man's throat. A tiny trickle of blood began to leak down onto his shirt, and drop down toward the ground, creating miniature dust storms as they hit. “However, you then come to me because of what? A woman?” Ratnakar sneered. “A woman who obviously does not want to be with you or she would be. Apparently, she is happier with someone new. Someone stronger.” He returned to his original spot, directly over Atagi's chest. “Someone like me.” He grinned down at the man, slightly pushing his sword a bit more into the man's soft tissues. “So it appears we have a problem.”

  Atagi swallowed carefully. “Just kill me if you dare,” he said with a grin. “Otherwise, you'd better run because as soon as I....”

  “As soon as you what?” came a smoldering voice from the doorway. “As soon as you get up? As soon as you run away like a coward? Or as soon as you shit yourself right here in front of me?” Furi sauntered up to the excitement and walked in slow circles around Atagi. “It is nice to see you again, Atagi.”

  “Furi,” he said. “Call this kid off before I kill him.”

  Furi stopped at Ratnakar's side and let out a laugh that was so belittling that every man standing there felt sorry for Atagi. “Oh, surely you kid yourself,” she said. “Atagi, honey, you cannot kill what you do not understand.” Her hands trailed over Ratnakar's shoulders as she circled him, the tip of the deep black scar on Ratnakar's chest barely peeking over his shirt. She never took her eyes off the man still on his back on the ground. “In fact, I am surprised he has not executed you yet.”

  Atagi's mouth twisted into a hate filled line. “He doesn't have the balls.”

  “Oh, he has the balls,” Furi said. “And they are so much nicer than yours.” Several of Ratnakar's men laughed at this. Furi continued, “However, he will not kill you. We need you... alive. You are a part of the plan and it is not your time to die yet.” She patted Ratnakar's arm lightly. “Let him up a bit,” she cooed into his ear.

  Ratnakar backed up, allowing Atagi to stagger to his feet. Blood still lightly peeking through the wound at his throat.

  “I will never again work with you, Furi,” he said, shoving a finger toward her and then toward Ratnakar. “And I shall NEVER work with this boy.”

  In an instant, Furi was in his back, striking a tiny point in the scruff of his neck that plopped Atagi back down in the dirt. The man knelt there, gasping for breath, his face red, spittle exploding out of his mouth. “Now, I'll say it again: we need you alive, Atagi. You are part of the plan.” She knelt down in front of him. His face was turning purple. “Let me know that you will be a good boy and do what you are told and I will release you.”

  Quickly and emphatically, Atagi nodded over and over again. Furi grinned and said, “Smart decision.” She reached down and pressed another point behind his ear, and he gasped a huge breath in. After a few seconds, she said, “Are you ready to help now?”

  Once he had recovered enough, Atagi sat up. “What do you want Furi?” The hatred in his eyes was evident. Being humiliated like this in front of his men would set back his command. They would be ready to test him as soon as they were out of sight of the house.

  “I need you to simply be who you are,” she said with a smile. “Go back to the tavern. Go back to your hideout. Do your normal things, robbing, raping… You know, what you do best. That is all.”

  He looked up at her, puzzled. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”

  “We need you to be as visible as possible. You are drawing the one we need right here to us.”

  “What? Who? And how am I drawing anyone here?” he said, getting to his feet. “You are completely delusional.”

  She grinned. “That I may be, but you are the one drawing the power of Akio right here to us.”

  “I don't know who that is,” Atagi replied.

  “You murdered his father,” she said, walking around him. “You brutally tortured him, and his men, and you killed him. You have angered the one called Akio, and he comes for you now.”

  Atagi laughed loudly. “Oh man, Furi, you had me going there for a minute.” He rubbed his face. “I haven't tortured anyone's father. I kill people, pure and simple. That is all. I don't waste my time with that nonsense.”

  Furi came right up to his face. “Oh, we both know that is a lie, but that's okay, Atagi,” she said. “Keep up this lie; it will only fuel the anger of Akio.” She came face to face with him. “And that is what we need.”

  Atagi stepped back slightly, and he took a full swing at Furi. The assassin moved at an insane speed; she dodged his strike and planted a palm firmly on his Adam’s apple, causing him once again to gasp for air. Atagi fell to one knee and his men advanced slightly until he held a hand up. “Okay, okay,” he said. “I'm done with you, Furi. I told you this before.” He got to his feet. “I'm done with this street rat of a boy, I'm done with your idle threats, your cryptic sayings, and your weirdness.” He moved back to where his men stood. “You will see me again you two. You can count on it.”

  The group watched as the intruders turned and left down the road until they could no longer be seen. Ratnakar told Kujo to post double guards at all of the gates and on the patrols. Furi laughed. “They will not come back tonight or tomorrow,” she said. “Atagi will go back to his tavern, lick his wounds, and build himself up to attack again later.” She moved to where Ratnakar stood. “By the time he is ready to try again, Akio will be here and Atagi will be dead.” Then she turned and headed back into the house. As she walked, she said over her shoulder, “And the girls are back.”

  Ratnakar turned from watching Furi walk away to the gates just in time to see Fate and Karma appear out of the woods. The girls wore huge smiles on their faces. They came up to Ratnakar and hugged him. “We found the perfect place,” they said.

  “What are you talking about?” he asked them. “A place for what?”

  “For you to train your army, silly,” Fate said.

  “With room for everyone,” Karma said.

  “I didn't know that is what you were doing,” he said. “What is wrong with this place?”

  “Well, sir,” Kujo spoke up, “it's not easily defendable. There are too many access points, too many weak points...” One look from Ratnakar shut him up.

  The girls began to rattle off the different perks of this place they had found.

  “We have the perfect place,” Fate continued.

  “On a cliff...” Karma said.

  “Only one large, easily defended gate...” Fate added.

  “Lots of buildings for an army....”

  “Full kitchen ready to cook for hundreds...”

  “Infirmary...”

  “Working gardens...”

  Ratnakar got an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. “And where is this place, pray tell?”

  As one, the girls answered: “The monastery!”

  ***

  Kuninaka waited patiently for the arrival of the secret procession that carried the country's ceremonial leader. He hated waiting, especially on this spoiled brat. After an eternity, he finally got word that the emperor had arrived and was headed to the throne room. Kuninaka did not move his butt from the seat; instead, he sat firm in the large throne that he had ordered for him decades ago.

  The doors opened at the other side and a parade full of formalities and color proceeded across toward him.

  He stood and bowed deeply to the emperor. “Emperor, it is wonderful to meet you again.”

  “I see that you are still fat, Kuninaka,” was the young emperor’s response. “However, that matters not. I have gotten word that you have someone you want me to appoint to replace you.”

  Kuninaka looked down at the boy. Only sixteen and an emperor, without much knowledge of the world or how to handle it. He was just rude and not someone Kuninaka cared to visit with much. “I have.” He snapped his fingers at a servant, who then rushed from the room. “And, I have
already had the paperwork drawn up.”

  One eyebrow raised on the emperor's forehead. “Have you now?” He cocked his head slightly. “Do you not feel it wise that I meet this man first?”

  The shogun laughed, causing the face of the emperor to turn crimson. “We both know that I hold the power here,” Kuninaka said. “I have for decades, and I still do. Your title is ceremonial in nature and I allow the people to love you to please your ego, emperor.” He put a nasty emphasis on the last word as if it were a worn out play toy. “The previous shogun was weak. I am not, even now.” The servant appeared with a couple of scrolls. Kuninaka stood up. “Let's move into a more private chamber and we can speak more, shall we?”

  He walked down the few steps, then turned and headed off to the left, toward a double door. The emperor and two of his guards followed.

  Chapter Ten

  While Akio had seen multiple weddings in his lifetime, they usually had been small affairs. Never had he witnessed something so grand, so majestic, especially one thrown together in a single day. He walked through the set up in the shogun's courtyard, flowers everywhere, the breeze smelling like the most wonderful spring day ever. People were scurrying here and there, setting up tables with foods, moving chairs, finding the best places for more flowers, and bringing in gifts.

  He looked around at the people already in the courtyard. Several of his soldiers were accompanying him anywhere he went now as were a few of the shogun's personal guards. He frowned as the realization hit him that he'd never have alone time again. He wondered how he would manage to sneak out and visit Aichu, to train with her, without being caught.

  Deep in thought, he didn't even realize that one of the servants had come up to him. “Sir?” the servant inquired, “Kuninaka wishes to see you.” Akio turned and followed the servant into the huge house and into the formal sitting room where the older man waited in his oversized chair.

  “Ah! Akio! My son!” He boomed as Akio entered the room. He then shooed everyone else out, except for Chikakane. “I have things ready for you. Come! Sit!” He patted a chair next to his and Akio moved up to sit beside him.

  The shogun continued to tell him all about the property, and Chikakane brought over a large map so Kuninaka could show him everything. There were so many rooms that Akio doubted he'd ever learn them all. And, there were several secret tunnels to help him escape if there were ever an attack on the compound that breached the gates. Kuninaka went through so many other things that Akio was afraid that he would forget it all before he ever got back. For a second, he wondered if he couldn’t get an alien tattoo on his arm that would just instantly pour all those facts into his mind, and he smiled inwardly.

  Before he knew it, though, a servant appeared and told the men it was time to get Akio ready for the ceremony. Akio was led to a huge dressing room where multiple servants dressed him in the finest clothes. A long black silk kimono was wrapped around his frame, followed by sashes of beautiful red silk, the color of his house, and gold ropes and tassels. He was impressed by the lengths that the servants were going to so that they could get everything perfect on his outfit. When they were finished, he was ushered outside under a massive bunch of pink flowers.

  The servants left him for a few moments and Kiso appeared. “So,” she said, “today is the day. My Akio finally becomes a married man.”

  The pair stood on the porch overlooking a beautifully manicured garden. “I guess so,” Akio replied. “Kiso,” he said, turning his face toward her, “I want you to know, this changes nothing between us.”

  She quickly snapped her head to face him, a mix of hurt and amusement on her face. “Doesn't it?” She waved a hand over the gardens below them, and motioned to the rest of the place. “This doesn't change things? You are marrying the daughter of the shogun. And, from the sounds of things, you are to be the new shogun. How does that not change anything between us, Akio? Huh, tell me.”

  He wasn't sure what to answer. “Kiso, you've always been my best friend. You've always been my toughest critic. I need you at my side now more than ever, if not just for your advice and friendship, but for your ideas and knowledge. I need you.”

  “What about finding the man who killed your father?” she said to him, her face wrinkling up slightly. “You said that this trip was about tying up that loose end before you were forced to be wed. What about that, Akio?”

  Akio shook his head. “Things change sometimes,” he said. “I cannot refuse the orders of the shogun.”

  “Yes,” she said, “you can. You just chose not to. You wanted the power that he was offering and could not stop yourself.”

  “Kiso, you know that is not true.” Her words really hurt him. “What would you have done if you were me? Would you have told the shogun no? Would you have refused to marry a daughter until you finished something else?”

  “Yes!” she said. “Yes I would have.”

  “I doubt that,” Akio said. “I truly doubt that. You have more honor in you than anyone I know. I think that you would have done exactly as I have and followed the shogun's wishes.”

  “You do not think with your heart or your mind, Akio,” she said with a grimace. “You think with your penis this time.”

  Akio laughed. “Is that truly what you think?”

  Kiso turned her beautiful face back out over the gardens and went quiet. Akio finally stopped watching her and too shifted his gaze toward the scenery. After a moment, she said, “I will always be at your service.” Then she turned to him, bowed formally, and walked away. He could feel the hurt emanating from her yet had no clue how to handle it.

  Before he could worry much more about it, a servant appeared to take him down to the ceremony. Everything was laid out so beautifully. Flowers were everywhere, people were everywhere, and there was just a wonderful breath of excitement cast over the whole of the city. Women and girls were giggling and grinning at him as well as other men in the crowd. Dressed in their finest, many hoped that they could catch the eye of a wealthy or high-ranking man.

  Akio was looking everywhere at the same time, waiting for Seki to make her entrance. Then, there she was. Her beautiful white kosode kimono made her appear as if she were an angel. The uchikake robe and white floss silk headdress were perfectly placed on her as if they were holding her here on Earth just for his viewing pleasure. Her father walked her to him and the ceremony began.

  It seemed to Akio that it was over too quickly, more quickly than he hoped – as he could have stared at her beauty forever, there in that place under the flowers. Sake was offered and drank to seal the vows and the wedding. Then a servant handed Akio the traditional kosode in a mix of his house color and hers, red and black.

  Seki was ushered off to change, and when she reappeared, he had to catch his own breath. She came to sit next to him at their table of honor and the celebration started. Well into the night everyone ate, drank, talked and danced. Akio and Seki barely took their eyes off each other and Akio didn't seem to have a care in the world.

  Kiso had fled the ceremony as soon as Seki had been brought out. She couldn't bear the idea of seeing her best friend, and the man she loved, marry another – especially one that he seemed to already love so deeply.

  As she walked through the streets of the almost empty city, she wondered how different things would have been if she had just said yes to him. Would he have ever been engaged to Saru? Would they have come on this journey? Or would they have come after the shogun passed and the place was torn with fighting? A million 'what if's' ran through her head and, finally, she had to stop and hold herself up on a wall close by.

  When she looked up, she discovered she was at the same tavern that she and Akio had visited when they first arrived. Inside, through the door as it opened, she met the girl she had been with the previous time. She smiled slightly and headed inside.

  At the celebration, Akio leaned over to Seki and whispered in her ear, “Would you like to sneak away from all of this?” She
nodded and smiled. The pair managed to somehow sneak through the crowds and into the north gardens, where they first had truly met and had their first kiss.

  On that same bench, Akio kissed her again. Now his wife, she kissed him back without restraint. Giggling like children, they walked through the gardens, stopping constantly to kiss each other, their kisses growing more and more passionate.

  Finally, toward the back of the gardens, they stopped. They could no longer hear the commotion that was the celebration. Seki leaned against the wall and Akio leaned against her. Never taking their lips apart for more than a few seconds, their hands explored each other. Akio raised her kimono and she raised his, both in a frenzy, and they consummated their marriage against the brick wall among the flowers and bushes. Akio felt a bittersweet twang of emotion as he realized that he would have to leave Seki tomorrow and continue on his journey.

  In town, Kiso lay in the soft bedding of the yujo she had known the other night. The girl once again worked her magic on Kiso's body, calling forth feelings of pleasure that Kiso longed to continue forever. The woman's soft kiss was magical, pulling away the hurt locked deep inside Kiso.

  As Kiso finally climaxed, she shed tears of release. The yujo reached up and wiped them away, never letting her other hand leave Kiso's skin. When it was over, the two lay together, tangled in each other's arms. Kiso knew that tomorrow, she would have to face Akio and the new man that he would be.

  ***

  Back in their home city, Akio's mother had just received the letter he had sent. Mixed emotions flooded through her. She sat in the cold kitchen with a pot of sake. Ecstatic that her son was to become the shogun, she was also shamed slightly that the match she had made would now only be a second rate wife. She ran the idea back and forth through her head of not telling the family of Saru, but knew that it was unavoidable at this point.

  Another cup of sake down, more excitement mixed with fear. Tomorrow, she would have to go to their home – or summon them here – and tell them about the new developments. She knew that she should be proud of her son, and she was, but she was also now filled with fear at all of the changes that were to come from this massive promotion at his young age. Another cup of sake, and another round of worries and thoughts of what tomorrow would bring.