by Mark Swaine
“Master Yu-Huang, what are you doing? You have not the power to heal the undead!” exclaims Kamui Li, racing to stop him.
“Hold him back!” commands Yu-Huang.
The Samurai draw their Katanas as a handful of Jade soldiers restrain Kamui Li, and the stand off comes to a halt as Kamui Li commands them not to intervene. The General nods humbly to Yu-Huang having complete faith in his divine healing energy, then turns his attention back to Ning Bao. The young soldier focuses his gaze upon his Sensei, Master and father figure as he breathes shallow.
“Yībān zǔzhǐ tā! (General stop him!),” shouts Kamui Li attempting to wrestle himself free.
“Emperor Yu-Huang you must not infect your blood!” shouts Kamui Li in a strange language.
“What are you saying Samurai!” says the General confusedly listening to Kamui Li's urgent gibberish.
Kamui Li quickly places the Spell of the Tongue on General Arachie.
“Do not allow him to do this General, he too will become infected. He has not the power to heal the infected, nobody has the power!” shouts Kamui Li.
“How do you know of this?” asks Arachie.
Too late, Yu-Huang presses his bleeding hand against the dying soldier’s neck. Expecting his wound to heal immediately, the soldier's grip loosens around the General's hand and falls limp by his side. Yu-Huang doubles over in pain and crawls away in agonizing screams before standing to his feet a short distance away. As black veins crawl up Yu-Huang's arms, neck and face, the infection takes a hold of his body. Suddenly Yu-Huang's eyes light up green as an energy blast of Jade light explodes from within him. Knocking all those on their feet into a backwards flail, the wave of green fire spreads outwards across the city like a tsunami of healing energy. Rapidly rushing through courtyards, farmsteads, hamlets and towns like a crackling jade typhoon, all those infected by the undead plague are cleansed by the booming arc of green until it finally fades away into the distant mountain sides. Sometime later, the infected survivors awake all over the city, cured of their disease, only those killed by their wounds remain lifeless and still. Kamui Li staggers to his feet and races over to Yu-Huang to check if he is still alive, and void of infection. As the other soldiers wake, they look around in confusion and see unconscious dragons scattered atop the landscape of buildings. Looking to the sky, they see no more dragons blocking the sun, and nothing but the sky looking back at them. Kamui Li holds his ear to Yu-Huang's mouth and hears him breathing. Yu-Huang opens his eyes and Kamui Li begins laughing maniacally as if to witness a miracle.
“She was wrong, we are saved,” says Kamui Li embracing the Emperor.
“What happened?” asks Yu-Huang standing groggily to his feet.
“You performed an act of.... something,” says Kamui Li, aiding him up. “You saved us, you saved your people, you saved them from the undead plague. Look around you; the dragons are healed of the infection. You truly are the saviour my Emperor spoke of,” says Kamui Li, excitedly.
“I have not saved us, I have doomed us. I know not how this miracle came to be, but it was not of my doing. The next attack will be different, stronger. Do you not see my friend, it was merely another test...I have not the power to defeat this force,” says the Emperor moodily.
“No, no, I saw you with my own two eyes, you passed the test,” says Kamui Li, reassuringly.
“Then why is he still infected!” bellows Yu-Huang.
Kamui Li looks at the lifeless wounded soldier Ning Bao, with General Arachie crouched beside him.
“How can this be, I do not understand,” says Kamui Li looking at the other previously infected soldiers free of their wounds.
Akane Junko takes a knee beside the General, and with as much respect as one can give to another in quiet mourning, she advises him softly, but firmly.
“General Arachie, Ning Bao fought with courage. You must remove his head if you wish his soul to remain in peace,” says Akane Junko.
General Arachie closes the eyelids of the deceased soldier before they can open. Looking at Ning Bao's peaceful and motionless face, he looks up at the Onna-Bugeisha.
“I will not remove his head...wench,” barks the General with his fist clenched.
Akane Junko Li rises and takes a step back, then removes her Katana an inch from the hilt.
“Those bitten in the neck rise much faster, you have but seconds before he wakes. When he does, if you do not sever his head, then I shall,” warns Akane Junko.
“Back away, these are my soldiers, not yours! You are not a man, you are not a Jade soldier, you are not even Samurai!” shouts the General. “Onna-Bugeisha?” sneers the General, spitting on the floor. “I will not allow some... shameless stinking dog the honour of claiming but one of my soldiers. Come near him, and pay with your life, woman!” shouts the General, reaching for his hook sword.
“General, do not allow this fallen soldier to suffer. Ning Bao deserves better,” says Chung-Denshi, stepping forward.
General Arachie looks to Kamui Li, and remembers the first time he met the Samurai, for he was placed under similar and direr circumstances, yet still did his duty.
Kamui Li gestures Akane Junko to his side and he grips her shoulder supportively as she walks past him. Kamui Li walks over to General Arachie and offers him his Katana. The General accepts the blade as Ning Bao groans to life and brings it over his neck to deliver the soldier into infinite peace. Yu-Huang inspects the palms of his hands, now void of the divine energy that should have saved the life of Ning Bao; the kind of energy that would have given him the clairvoyance to anticipate the onslaught of unnatural and undead beasts this day. The Emperor thinks back on the massacre that he was powerless to prevent, a massacre he was unable to even foresee. Yu-Huang looks at Ning Bao's headless body and suddenly recalls the riddle of Seamstress, and how she had failed to pay heed to her surroundings. Was it he himself who caused her demise wonders Yu-Huang, or had she perished due to her own ignorance and naiveté. Had his friends perished in the attack he wonders, for he can no long sense their suffering. If they have perished, could it be a result of his companionship, acquaintance or mere intervention in their lives. Or does shit just happen he wonders solemnly. Yu-Huang senses knowledge leaking into his conscious thoughts, from where it came he cannot say, but now he knows he has not the power to save those hanging between the balance of life and death. Yu-Huang suspects that had the Jade soldier Ning Bao awoken as one of the undead, his hidden power would have removed the undead sickness within him. But in the twilight of pure life ending and a dark one beginning, not even the power lurking within him had the right to turn his fate.
There is something within this knowledge that gives Yu-Huang a glimmer of hope, and he needs to know why. These are desperate times, and Yu-Huang knows time grows short and is no longer a luxury he divulges in.
“I must seek the counsel of the Black Dragon,” thinks Yu-Huang finally.
Peng Shi pushes the devoured carcass of his Jian heng of him and sneakily rises to his feet whilst feigning multiple injuries. A Jade soldier inspecting the bodies of those cut down by warrior's blade happens across a dead messenger crane. Its long broken leg twitches slightly and the Jade soldier prods it gently with the tip of his sword. The crane's eyes suddenly open and it squawks wildly as it opens its lengthy wings before levitating upward. The stunned soldier takes a nervous step back and the crane draws back its long bloody feathered neck. The crane drives its disproportioned beak forward and through the soldiers head. The tattered, white eyed crane slides its beak from the dead soldier's head and he drops to the floor as it hovers past him and toward Yu-Huang. The crane stares at the Emperor, somehow maintaining its flight as its torn broken wings remain out stretched and still. The tall, gangly broken legged bird opens its long, chipped orange beak as wide as possible as its large rounded belly begins to shift. The bird hisses before a harmonised and joyous voice emerges from its mouth.
“Emperor Yu-Huaaaaang,” says the crane, smugly.
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��Hisako-Hisa,” scowls the Emperor.
“Master I beg of you, do not converse with the beast,” says Kamui Li approaching his side.
“What is it that you want Witch?” continues the Emperor.
“What I want, I will take from you when I desire. But should you wish to spare your people from further suffering, you will cut the hearts from every chosen Samurai sworn to your allegiance,” says the Witch lustfully with glee.
“This I cannot allow,” replies Yu-Huang curtly.
“Chosen?” asks Chung Denshi curiously.
“Kamui has not told you? More secrets, more lies, more deceptions,” says the Witch.
“I will not sacrifice the Samurai,” states the Emperor.
“A most unwise decision, now every mortal under your banner will die. You will all learn, all mortals who defy me, will learn of the horrors awaiting on the other side, even those not fated to an eternity in Diyu,” swears the Witch,
“You have no power over the Emperor, Witch. Your true self has been revealed to us. You are nothing more than a vessel, a sack of meat for this Darkness to manipulate,” says Kamui Li in his Japanese tongue.
“For your insolence, I will have my beasts feast upon the bones of your fellow captive Samurai. My Sorcerers will rip their souls apart before stitching them back with twines of fire,” sneers the crane.
Kamui Li's jaw clenches and he says no more realising that his words have caused more harm than good. A trio of protesting Ministers lead by Peng Shi pushes forward for an audience with the possessed crane in an attempt to reason for any mercy she may have to offer.
"My Emperor, if I may, these warriors brought this curse down upon us,” protests Peng Shi.
“Yes, yessss, listen to the wisdom of your Priests. The Samurai will bring about your downfall Priests,” says the crane.
“Brothers, the only thing that would cause our downfall is heeding the words of this impure force of evil,” says Chung Denshi calmly and wisely. “Fearing this monster will only provide this Darkness a means of power. Heed not its false claims to power, only its malevolent intentions,” adds the Priest.
“Ahhh, Minister Denshi, the bender of vows. Your time too, shall soon be at an end,” says the crane in a sinister tone.
“I pay no heed to false threats, only positive actions. Only through Chi...” says Minister Denshi raising a clenched palm, “...can we make better our lives, and the lands that sustain them,” he concludes confidently.
“Gather as much Chi as possible Minister Denshi, you will need it before long, that I promise you. And you! Emperor, deliver the treacherous hearts of the Samurai and I shall spare the souls of the Huanghua city,” says the crane.
Chung Denshi holds his thoughts and emotions in reserve as he studies his brothers listening to the Witch's ultimatum. He observes Peng Shi inciting further fear into his brothers, and he senses their lack of enthusiasm regarding the Emperor's refusal to turn over the Samurai. Chung Denshi contemplates the reality of the situation as he looks at the other Ministers practically hiding behind Peng Shi's urgent and strident demeanour. Chung Denshi is all too aware that sacrificing the Samurai may hold a possible resolve in the interest of maintaining peace, yet more importantly, keep safe the life of his Emperor. Handing over the Samurai may also be the only solution as he notices the Emperor's absence of divine control, and how he failed to act in battle and unsuccessfully use his powers to defeat the undead. But handing over his allies to the Witch would not only damn their souls to Diyu, but make them cowards and traitors in the process, making them just as evil as this Darkness. But Chung Denshi is also aware that many of his brothers are conniving cowards, and the fear in their voices informs him they are more interested in self-preservation. However, he couldn't argue that their comments held fractions of validity, from a coward’s point of view. Chung Denshi knows he must back them up if he too is to be counted amongst them and discover why Peng Shi is speaking out on behalf of his deceased, half eaten and equally cowardly master, Minister Jian-Heng.
“The Witch is lying; should you choose to turn us over to the Witch, she will attack regardless,” warns Kamui Li.
The crane, becoming tired of the Samurai's contradicting reply, looks at Kamui Li with discontent.
“Sumiko is with me, a thousand demons feast upon her as we speak,” cackles the crane.
“She is far from your reach,” says Kamui Li revealing nothing more.
“It will not be long until I discover the whereabouts of Kazuko's precious bitch daughter,” says the crane softly.
“It shall not be long until you meet the edge of my blade once again,” replies Kamui Li confidently.
Hisako-Hisa realises her words are wasted on the fearless Samurai, so turns her attention to prey on the easier ears of the Ministers.
“The Emperor can protect you, no longer. He is weak in my presence, look into his eyes and tell me that I not speak the truth,” says the crane, pointing at the Emperor with the tip of her wing.
Kamui Li observes the reactions of the Ministers and it is as he fears; they are hanging on to every word of Hisako-Hisa as they gape at the “raw fragility” of their Divine Ruler, and he is now nothing more than a mere mortal reflected by their own weak judgement.
“Converse no more with the Witch; 'tis a trick, deceiving you she is!” warns Kamui Li.
“The Samurai plot against the life of the Emperor,” claims the conniving Witch. “Did Kamui Li yet share with you how Emperor Kazuko came to pass? ”
The crane's bulbous belly begins to shift and the crane hacks up blood whilst coughing and gagging as a large round ball makes its way up its crooked furry neck. The crane opens its long broken bill out wide and its jaw dislocates as a soaked bloody head pushes through its slim mouth. The slime covered head drops to the grass with a heavy thud and the crane picks it back up between its beak to reveal the familiar face. The long haired dripping head with a goatee and thin moustache opens it eyes tiredly as flies buzz around its sloping mouth. As it wheezes faintly, its mouth opens slowly as a tongue poorly attempts to wet its cracked bloody mouth. Its eyes open completely and study the surrounding people, instantly recognising two faces. Kamui Li and Yu-Huang stare at the pale face of Emperor Kazuko as his gaze settles on them.
“Yu-Huang san my old friend, I ache, I suffer. Kamui Li I beg of you, do as the Witch desires,” wheezes the voice of the head quietly.
“You dare disgrace a Legend!” bellows Emperor Yu-Huang.
“Emperor Kazuko would never beg for his life,” sneers Kamui Li.
“You will pay for this blasphemy one way or another Hisako-Hisa,” says Yu-Huang lividly.
“Kamui Li, how could you do this to me,” says Emperor Kazuko, with tears pouring down his cheeks.
"Silence, stay your tongue Witch!" bellows Kamui Li buckling under the torment.
The bird covers its beak with the tip of its wing and giggles with its head bobbing up and down in little fits of laughter.
“How could you do this to me, how could you do this to meeee-he-he-he-AAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA,” cackles the insane crane in hysterics.
“Enough madness!” yells an enraged General Arachie, swinging a hook sword at the feathered beast.
The strong blow severs the crane’s neck and ends its laughter, bringing complete silence. Kamui Li looks down at Emperor Kazuko's silent head and covers it with a cloak. The silent Samurai then awaits the inevitable questions from the traumatised Ministers, and only Chung Denshi and a few by his side hold their queries. Chung Denshi had been observing the reactions of his fellow Priests closely as they listened to the empty promises of the Witch, and he grows paranoid of their fear, and potential resolve. Chung Denshi senses the Witch is somehow afraid of the Samurai, and were it not for their continued presence then perhaps she would have attacked the city in person, and much sooner. Chung Denshi knows he must act fast if he is to be included in any secret meetings regarding the intentions of his fellow Ministers. Having being raised in the Brotherhoo
d, Chung Denshi is more than familiar with the inside politics of trickery, backstabbing and bootlicking, after all he and Jian-Heng were once close friends. Chung Denshi knows he must employ their tactics to gain ground, especially with the influential Peng Shi who will surely use this tragedy for his own gain. The Ministers have waited a long time to rid of the imposters, these...'foreign savages'. So with the slimiest and most patronising manner conceivable, Chung Denshi begins enquiring about the circumstances regarding Emperor Kazuko's death. Kamui Li is reluctant to cooperate with the arrogant Minister.
“I think you owe us some form of an explanation,” says Chung Denshi in a condescending manner.