FicWad

Please see Chapter One for full disclaimers, warnings, and summaries.

/Kotaro's POV/

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Enemy of my Enemy - Chapter 09

I'm not sure what happened next. All I know is that the blade was suddenly ripped away from my throat and I could breathe again. I collapsed on the floor, gasping in the sweet, delicious air past my bloodied lips. It was painful to breathe and I knew it would be even more difficult to speak. I climbed to my feet, clutching at my throat and quickly turned to see Magoichi and Gogandantess facing off again.

Magoichi had his weapon drawn and was pointing it at the demon. His expression startled me with the intense hatred that was being focused towards my captor. His breath was coming in short, his muscles tensing. "I'll fight you again if I have to," he said, voice shaking with rage. "I'll do whatever it takes to get you away from him."

I took a step towards him, wanting to fall into his arms and let him take me away from there. Any other time I would have wanted to stand on my own, but Magoichi made me feel safe and I needed him right then. Of course, I wasn't trying to be quiet when I stumbled towards him and the second I moved Gogandantess turned and blocked my way. "You couldn't beat me before," he said, reaching out to grab me by the arm and pulling me towards him. He held me against him, my back pressed to his chest, and spun us around to face Magoichi. I looked helplessly into his eyes as Gogandantess ran his hands along my bare chest. "Why should I give up this exquisite plaything? You lost him fair and square." I turned my head away when the demon spoke to him. I couldn't bear to look into those dark eyes anymore. I was so humiliated as the hand traveled lower to my hip, fingers splaying out to reach even lower. I felt a cry catch in my throat but only a muffled sound escaped my lips as I felt new tears wetting my cheeks. It hurt to cry. "Don't tell me that you're the sore loser type," the demon continued. "Oh, I never would have thought-"

"Shut up!" Magoichi yelled suddenly and I closed my eyes at the sound, tears leaking down my face. He should be off helping Jubei, but here he was saving me instead. Even though I didn't want to be raped, I didn't want him thinking that I was some child that needed saving either. The realization that he thought so little of me hurt even more than the sword against my throat had. I balled my hands into fists, trembling, as I stood naked before them, just wanting to disappear.

"We can work something out," Magoichi continued. "There's got to be something you'd like more than Kotaro." I expected to hear desperation in his voice, but was surprised when it was instead controlled and laced with anger.

Gogandantess shifted against me, his hand beginning to stroke my hip as he made a sound of thought. "Whatever did you have in mind?" He was amused! Of course this was all a game to him. To demons, humans were little more than cattle.

"Let him go first," Magoichi said and I braved to look back into his face. His eyes glowed with apprehension and resolve. "Then we can talk in the other room. I have a proposition for you." He had a plan. I knew it! But I had no idea what it might be. I held my breath, waiting to hear what Gogandantess would say, praying that Magoichi would get out of there with his life, and if I was lucky, I could do the same.

The hands on me were removed and I was left to stand on my own. "I doubt that anything you could offer me would be more delicious than Kotaro," he hummed as I slumped to my knees on the floor. "But it wouldn't hurt to listen. I'm afraid that I was a bit too rough on him in my excitement. He'll need to rest if he's going to survive what I have planned for him next." My head was buzzing and I felt numb as I listened to his footsteps move away through the doors. Magoichi came up to me, but my throat hurt when I tried to speak so I looked up to those dark eyes, trying to tell him that it was hopeless to reason with a creature like that. I'd never see him again. Gogandantess would kill him and then come to finish with me.

"I... don't worry Kotaro," he said, picking me up and carrying me over to the bed. I felt my throat tighten up as I began to cry again. I cried for him. For the situation. He pressed something into my hand as he leaned over me to plant a chaste kiss on my lips. The moment our mouths touched I instinctively wrapped my arms around him and drew him against me, opening my mouth to invite his tongue inside. Our last goodbye had been so sudden. This time, I would make it count.

When he finally pulled away he stayed a moment and I memorized the way he looked at me then. It was softer than before and tinged with sadness. I opened my mouth to speak but he turned away before I could try to say anything. His steps were hurried as he left the room, closing he door behind him and leaving me alone.

The bed was comfortable, but even while I was surrounded in comfort I just couldn't fall asleep. The torches burned around me and set eerie shadows across the stone walls, keeping me at my guard. A long while past but I couldn't hear anything from the other room. I crept over to listen at the door and heard muffled voices but couldn't make out any words. The room was scarcely furnished and I found myself returning to the bed after I'd inspected all the corners and shadows, looking for a weapon, or even a way out. I looked at what Magoichi had given me before he left and realized that it was a tightly wrapped package of strong medicine. It tingled as I swallowed it, its magical properties starting to work instantly to ease the ache in my throat.

After that I waited, even though it killed me to sit around. There was nothing I could do and I wondered what Magoichi could have to say that would keep Gogandantess listening for so long? I rested my head on the pillows, saving my strength for whatever was to come. My throat was starting to feel better and I was grateful for that small thing. Even though I could swallow easier, I still knew the medicine wouldn't stop it from bruising. I touched my fingers to my neck, curious to find out if it still hurt to touch. I lightly pushed the spot where the sword had been threatening to crush my windpipe. It was swollen and I gently trailed my fingers across the skin to my shoulder, feeling the deep scar there and realizing just how badly that demon in the forest had cut me. If it hadn't been for Magoichi I would have been dead. Would he need similar help from me once he'd finished with Gogandantess?

A sharp cry tore my eyes to the door, setting my blood to run cold with fear and I was on my feet in an instant. I ignored my hunger and how weak I felt. I couldn't just sit around while he was being killed! I ran to the door, pulling with all of my strength to try and open it. The moment I touched the ancient wood, however, a demonic field appeared, repelling me back and keeping me from interfering in whatever was going on inside. "Magoichi!" I cried, hitting the barrier in desperation, "Magoichi!" It was his voice I'd heard. I knew it! I kicked the door but the field glowed bright and threw me back across the room. I flew through the air until the sickening sound of flesh hitting stone resounded in my ears and I fell to the floor. The pain spread across my back and I winced as I climbed my feet, prepared to run at the door again. The loud bang of the barrier being removed stopped me in my tracks. The icy grip of fear froze me and I couldn't move, my eyes glued to the door. It was over. I bit back the tears that threatened to fall. Magoichi was dead... it was my fault. My foolishness... oh god, it really was all over. In that moment, I felt more alone than I'd ever felt in my life. The silence that followed the removal of the barrier stretched on forever. It fueled my anger, setting my heart to beat faster when I finally heard the door being pushed open from the other side.

The light from the other room was bright as it spilled into the darkness and I couldn't clearly see the figure that stood in the doorway. He took a step towards me and as my eyes adjusted to the change in light I felt my heart skip a beat, "Magoichi!" I ran to him, wrapping my arms around his muscled frame to prove to myself that I wasn't dreaming. He was alive! I squeezed him as tightly as I could; ignoring my nakedness and any discomfort he might have felt because of it. I wouldn't let him go this time. His arms came up around me and I melted into him when he hugged me back. It was that simple confirmation that made me happier than I'd ever felt in my life. "Where is Gogandantess?" I looked up at him to see his eyes cloud over at my question.

He loosened his grip on me, "That guy..." he trailed off. I could hear his heart beating fast, "He's left." It had seemed as if he'd wanted to say something more, but in the end he'd summed it up into two neat words. I noticed that his hands were empty, free of their usual metal appendage and his armour hung open to reveal his chest. He was damp with sweat and I felt him shiver when I trailed my hands up his clothed back. What had happened? I nuzzled his neck, happy to be safe for the moment. "Thank you for saving me," I whispered against his salty skin. I felt him stiffen under my hands, his arms tightening their grip around me. "Is something wrong?" He didn't have to answer. I already knew something was very, very wrong here. "What did you do to make him leave us alone, Magoichi?"

I looked up, but his eyes were shut and he'd completely closed himself off from me. Finally, after a long moment he pulled back, reaching up to run a hand through my hair and I leaned into his touch, peering up at him from beneath my bangs. He looked down, his dark eyes meeting mine and he sighed, "Nothing important." He turned from me then and I felt the cold as he left me standing naked in the middle of the room. "We should get moving," he said, turning back to me a second later, his voice controlled again as it usually was. "Do you know where your clothes are?"

I didn't know. Gogandantess had stripped me while I was unconscious and for all I knew they'd been thrown away. "I don't know, but I'm not fighting naked!" I turned from him, knowing his eyes would take advantage of my lack of clothing, but when I peeked at him a moment later he wasn't even looking at me. He was staring off towards the fire, a distant look in his eyes. I stepped close to him, sneaking into his line of vision, "What's wrong, Magoichi?" I had to know. "Did that demon say something to you?"

He took a deep breath, not looking away from me, but I had a feeling he was looking through me as he thought. Finally he breathed it out, almost a whisper, "Yes." He reached out to grab my shoulders, holding his breath as he peered into my eyes with firm resolve, "But I can't tell you," he sighed, "I'm sorry, Kotaro." He looked back to the fire, his eyes full of sadness. "It's eating me up inside. Something terrible will happen, but I won't let it," he faced me again, his gaze burrowing into mine. "I'm not leaving your side again," his words carried more emotion that I think I'd ever heard from him before. "Now... lets get out of here," he spoke quickly and turned to leave and just like that the conversation was closed.

+++

I followed him through the doors into the room beyond. There were many candles and torches lighting up the room and showing off the elaborate furniture that was neatly arranged on the stone floors. The ceiling stretched up high, nearly escaping the flames that licked up the walls to reach it. Several large mirrors were mounted on thick frames and bolted to the walls, keeping us within their reflections wherever we went. I couldn't walk far without catching a glimpse of my body and I felt myself blush with embarrassment as I saw my nakedness. "It would be nice to find my clothes sometime soon!" I called out as I watched Magoichi walk over to an overturned bench to pick up his weapon. I watched him move, doing little to hide my interest in him as he bent over. He lifted his weapon up to prop against his shoulder and turned to face me with those dark eyes. I trailed my gaze down his body, letting him see the way he affected me. I walked up to him, my bare feet making little sound over the floor as I stood dangerously close to him. My hand came up to feel his chest, fingers splaying out as I kept my eyes locked with his.

I wanted to forget the feel of Gogandantess' touch. I cringed when I remembered the feel of his fingers inside of me and I needed to erase it. I needed to overwrite his memory with a more pleasant one and I needed Magoichi to do that. I felt my member harden as my hand traced down his chest, feeling the solid muscle tensing under my fingers. This time, there was nothing that would stop me. I looked up to his eyes, telling him exactly what I wanted at that moment, and let his eyes wander further down my body to see what I needed. I bowed my head forward, licking at the bared skin of his chest, feeling the shiver that ran through his body.

"Kotaro..." he was speaking, trying to push me away. "Kotaro, we can't..."

I ignored him, gripping him tightly and holding him close to me, latching my teeth onto a nipple.

"Kotaro!" he said, pulling me away from him and holding me at a distance. "What do you think you're doing?" He was angry, his eyes boring with fire into my heart. "That demon almost raped you and you want to fuck in his bedroom?!"

He released me roughly, taking a few steps away from me. I couldn't believe this! "What's wrong with that?" I was mad too. What pissed me off was that he didn't think I could handle it. To him I was still a child who needed someone to take care of him! "Don't you think that I know what I want?"

"It's not that," he said, keeping his back to me. "You just don't get it."

"How the hell should I get anything when you don't tell me what the hell is going on?" I said. "I've been stuck with Gogandantess for days, haven't eaten in that time because he didn't think to feed me. He took my clothes and kept me naked in his bed and then you expect me to know what's happened since then? I'm not some child, you know!"

"That's not it, Kotaro," he said, turning to me. "It's not always about you."

His words stopped me dead like a slap in the face. It was about him? "So," I stammered, my throat tightening, "Since he touched me, you don't... you..." I turned away from him quickly, my blood boiling. Like Magoichi was pure! I couldn't help it if that demon had touched me! It's not like I'd asked him to violate me!

"That's not it at all, Kotaro," he said, lightly placing his hands on my shoulders. "Let me finish first." I turned to face him, deciding to hear him out. Maybe I had jumped to conclusions. Maybe things were more fucked up than I thought. He bowed his head, taking a deep breath. I felt my anger melt away when I saw the difficulty he was having in speaking. Something was really bothering him. "Kotaro, after what Gogandantess said... I don't want to think about it, but..."

"I know, you can't tell me either," I sighed. I'd been the one who had wanted to get that demon off my mind, but it looked like Magoichi needed something to help him forget as well. He'd been so confident in himself when I was watching him in Imasho, but now it seemed as if that part of him was gone. We both needed to forget the one who had brought us here. I looked into his eyes, grinning suddenly as an idea came into my mind. "You say you won't leave me?" I asked in all seriousness. "Well, I'm not going to leave you either." I made sure he was looking at me before I sank to my knees in front of him, reaching up to remove his lower armour as quickly as I could.

"Kotaro," he said, voice warning. "I thought I said..."

"Hey," I cut him off, "I don't do this kind of thing for just anybody." I hoped I knew what I was doing as I set his armour aside and freed his member. It was what I'd wanted to help me forget. I hoped this would distract Magoichi for a little while as well.

"Kotaro," this time my name was less a warning on his lips as I stroked his length.

"Maybe we both need to forget for little while," I whispered, lightly blowing on the tip of his cock. I think that ended the argument right there because he stopped protesting and leaned back against the wall, letting me do as I pleased. I closed my eyes and stuck out my tongue, trailing saliva down the underside of his cock as my lips left wet kisses along the hardening flesh. I kissed further along the length, breathing in deeply when my mouth reached the base where the bed of curls tickled my mouth. I loved how he smelled like musky gunpowder. It overrode all my other senses and I lapped at the base of his cock for a while longer, just smelling the arousing musk and imprinting it to my memory. I wanted to remember him more than anything else. He was so strong and willing and eager as I kissed my way back up to the tip of his cock and placed my lips around the end. His hands were in my hair, holding me still and I opened my mouth to let him push his way inside. When had I lost control of the situation? I'd wanted to be the one to pleasure him, but I realized that I enjoyed it better when he was in charge. I relaxed my jaw as he inched inside and I heard the grunt of satisfaction as he reached the back of my throat. He stopped and I guess he didn't think that I could take anymore, but I wasn't going to let it stop there. The medicine had worked and since I wasn't in pain I swallowed him down my throat, taking him fully into my mouth until my lips were buried in the bed of curls at the base of his cock. The groan that I wrenched from his lips at the simple action went right to my own forgotten need.

I pulled my head back and thrust down on him, swallowing him whole in one movement. I smiled when I felt his hands tighten in my hair and his hips begin to move. He knew exactly what to do. I released my grip, reaching down to teasingly feel along his inner thighs as he set his own pace with his thrusts. My fingertips danced over his muscled legs before I reached up to cup his balls, rolling them gently in my hands. If it weren't for his cock I would have grinned at the sounds he made. It seemed that he liked me playing with him while he fucked my mouth. I gently tugged on them, rolling them between my hands, feeling them shift when I applied pressure. He groaned loudly, the sound raking over my ears and causing my cock to shiver as it bobbed in my lap. I squeezed his testicles in one hand and reached down with the other to alleviate the delicious tension that had been building between my legs since my knees had touched the floor. I groaned long and hard as my fingers quickly worked the part of me that I was so intimate with. My thumb found the wetness that was leaking out of the tip and spread it around. I shuddered when I scraped my nails under the head, sending the nerves there on fire. Normally I would have been calling out his name, but my mouth was busy and I could only moan around his quivering flesh. His actions were becoming more frantic. He gripped my head tightly, snapping his hips forward and back, fucking my mouth in a way that just spurred my own desire onward. I released his balls, gripping my cock with both hands, frantically tugging on it as I felt the tingling prelude of my release begin to spread through my belly. I gasped for breath, my throat swallowing his cock as he fucked my mouth, his breath coming in short as he neared his own release. He thrust into me, his nails digging into my scalp and pushing me to my limits. I strained to look up at him, seeing his brown eyes trained on me the entire time that I was sucking on his cock. His eyes were clear and focused, his lips moving silently in some sort of mantra that he breathed between the delicious sounds that I wrenched from him. He was what I wanted. His strength and his determination attracted me to him like no one else ever had. Oh god, he was so beautiful. I choked out a cry, tugging roughly on my cock to milk the essence that spilled from it. Waves of orgasm swept over me and I forced a shuddering groan around his flesh as I saw white light flash behind my vision. I was dimly aware of his cock twitching between my lips as he ground his pelvis against my mouth; his cum leaking down my throat and my name on his lips.

He was calling my name? I had screamed his name in my mind as I'd felt the peak of my release, but I'd never thought that he would be one to vocalize mine. My body was shuddering in the aftershocks of my orgasm but my ears heard him continue to repeat my name over and over again, as if reaffirming that it was me on my knees before him.

I swallowed a few times, milking the last drops of cum from him before drawing his length from my mouth and letting it hang between his legs once more. I was still breathing heavily as I stood, the experience far more tiring that I'd thought it would be. "Kotaro, I..." he started, but I just leaned up and kissed him, pushing my tongue past his lips to let it slide against his. His hands came up to hold me and I pressed my body fully against his. When I pulled away he had a faraway look in his eyes. "It is you," he said, as if realizing it for the first time.

"Um, yeah," I said, confused but I couldn't stop smiling. Did he think I'd be someone else?

"Never mind," he said suddenly. "That was amazing, Kotaro," he stammered, brushing his fingertips along my cheek. I leaned into their rough touch.

"Well," I said with a smirk, "Now you're stuck with me. I'm never leaving you alone!"

I saw the smile tug at his mouth and I just wanted to laugh. It had been so long since I'd seen him look at me like that. "I told you, Kotaro, I'm not leaving your side. There is something that I have to do."

"That's fine," I hummed, bringing my hand close to my face to see the essence that was trickling along the back of my wrist. "We're stuck together then. If I left you, then you would complain to Jubei that I'm a slut, which I'm not." I looked into his eyes while bringing my hand up to my mouth, teasingly snaking my tongue past my lips to lap at the jizz to prove my point.

His hand gripped my arm, pulling it up to his lips and I was mesmerized by his lips as they descended upon the back of my hand, moving over the cream that was still coating my skin. If I hadn't just spent myself I knew that the sight of him doing that would have me ready to go again. I'd tried to be in control of the situation, but he didn't even have to ask to get me to submit to him. I was his. It wasn't the other way around. It was so different from when Gogandantess had had me. I shuddered, stopping his tongue from its seductive display on my hand. "What is it?"

I shook my head, "When Gogandantess had... when he..." I was remembering again. Our brief escape from reality had ended and now I remembered the bruise on my throat, the rough hands as they'd pushed their way into me, the humiliation. "Don't let him take me away like that again, alright?" I hated sounding weak and asking for things that I should be able to handle myself, but I wanted to hear him say it.

"Kotaro," he started. His voice dropped in tone and in that instant he was deadly serious, "No demon is ever touching you again." I felt the venom in his voice as he spoke, as he said the word demon. It wasn't just about Gogandantess. It was as if he had found a hatred for all demons.

I started to ask why but he cut me off, "You wouldn't want to hear it. Trust me." He was back to his usual gruff but kind voice and I was happy just to hear that. I nodded my understanding. "Now," he said, looking around. "Let's find your clothes."

+++

I was happy when I found my armour poking out from a chest that held a disturbing collection of similar pieces of armour and clothing that did not belong to me. I reached into the mass of tattered clothes, my hand pushing past the dried blood and other stains that I couldn't identify. I shivered when I thought of how many other humans that demon had taken to his bed. How many had resisted like I had and been killed for it? I pushed the disturbing thoughts aside, instead pulling my armour out from the mess of cloth and broken weapons. The material was rough on my skin as I slid it on, my joints settling into their familiar creases and I quickly fastened the clasps, grateful for the warmth and protection. My weapons were not far away, tucked into a dusty drawer with my pack. It seemed that Gogandantess had had other plans for my blades, but I eagerly took them back, the cool metal familiar in my hands as I attached them to my belt. When I was finally dressed I turned to see Magoichi watching me. His eyes held a look that I would have mistaken as fear if I didn't know him better. The look only lasted a split second and he was leading me out of the room, hopefully back the way he'd come to rescue me.

The passageway out of Gogandantess' rooms was well lit and while I couldn't see any enemies, my senses were on alert anyways as we climbed the tunnels out of that place. Something wasn't right. Where were all the demons? I could smell the dampness leaving the air as we continued climbing, but the odd energy that seemed to follow the demons wherever they went still hung like an unpleasant smell. They were still there... but where? We continued on until a large, impressive door stood before us at the end of the tunnel. I knew that this would be the way out. It had to be because the demon energy was stronger here. I gripped my kunai tightly as Magoichi pushed the door open to reveal a large room beyond. The room was bright and I pressed myself against the wall, trying to see any enemies that might be ready to attack us, but once my eyes had adjusted to the light I could see that we were completely alone. We entered the chamber, my eyes darted around to find any hidden traps, but my attention was immediately attracted to the intricate carvings along the walls. It was impressive in size and the intricate details that were carved into the stone were just as stunning. Their detailed surfaces led my gaze to an extraordinary machine that sat at the centre of the chamber, surrounded by pillars that reached up to the ceiling. I cautiously approached the device, keeping an eye out for genma as I looked more closely at its layered surface. "Who do you think built it?" I asked, trying to hide my excitement. We were still in danger and here I was getting giddy about some mysterious construction. I couldn't help it, it was enormous, and I had to crane my neck to see up its surface to the top. Its length was even greater, stretching along and nearly filling the length of the entire room.

I looked back to Magoichi. He was looking at the structure as well, but with more controlled interest. I could still see the questions dancing in his eyes when he flicked his gaze along the length to the other end of the room. "Probably the Oni. This is their sacred place..."

"Weird," I mumbled, reaching out a hand to feel along the convex surface. It was made of wood! "Looks kind of like a boat," I mumbled. I wanted to find out more, thinking at the very least that we could use it to defeat Nobunaga! I turned to ask Magoichi what he thought, but before I could ask I heard something that sent alarms off in my head. I think he heard it too because we both bolted as fast as we could to rush behind the pillars just as a genma appeared where we'd been standing moments before. I leaned into Magoichi, my hands reaching for my weapons, prepared to strike if that demon even began to go near us. I could smell his gunpowder and knew that he was loading his gun for the fight. I watched the demon for what felt like forever as it inspected that area of the structure before suddenly marching away. I looked at Magoichi and knew that we both had the same idea. We rushed after the demon, being sure to stay in the shadows and out of sight.

I led the way this time while Magoichi followed behind. I guess it was because I'm the ninja and know how to stay hidden. I have to admit, though, he was pretty good at keeping up, for a non-ninja, I mean. We trailed the demon to a section of the boat that had an opening in it and watched it disappear inside. This was it! I quickly looked around to make sure that no other genma would appear before making a run for the opening. Magoichi was a second behind me and I could see from the glimpse I got of his face that he wasn't happy. I was inside the opening and ducking into the darkness in seconds. There were genma nearby but I doubted that they knew we were there... yet. Magoichi stumbled in behind me and I grabbed him, pulling him against the wall as a demon walked past us. "Kotaro, what the hell do you think-!" I put my hand over his mouth, keeping him quiet as I strained to see where the demon went. I let go of Magoichi and followed it, but stopped soon after as I heard a human voice speaking. Magoichi stopped behind me and we leaned forward, trying to hear what was being said by the high, irritating voice.

"Get to your post! Do you know what our lord would do if he caught you wandering around the ship?" I heard some low, grumbling sounds and I assumed it was the demon speaking. The mysterious voice made a noise of disapproval, "So you thought you heard something outside? No excuse! Jubei is almost here with that Odani woman and we can't afford to be unprepared when they show up to activate the airship!" The demon's armor rattled loudly as I heard it run off further down the hall, leaving the unknown human behind. I stayed in my place, listening to find out where he was going next.

I didn't notice Magoichi stepping out from the shadows until it was too late. "Tokichiro Kinoshita," he said slowly, biting out the name with venomous anger. "What the hell are you doing?"

I ran out after him. Why the hell had he revealed our presence? I was about to rush out to ask him, but his hand came up, telling me to stay back. I stopped in my tracks, even though I wanted to run up and smack him.

"Magoichi!" The man exclaimed, obviously startled to see us there. "I didn't expect to see you! You're not supposed to be here!"

"Sorry to disappoint you, but what the hell is this?" I let Magoichi do the talking. It seemed like they knew each other from before. I just hoped he knew what he was doing.

Even though this Tokichiro guy was short, it didn't stop his mouth from spilling over with threats. "This," he said, gesturing to the walls around us. "Is what will bring Nobunaga's enemies to their knees! No one can stand against a flying battle ship!" This guy was slimy and I didn't like him. He was human but he served the demons! He reminded me of men I'd known back in Fuma village. Their whiney voices grated on my nerves as they clamored for power, and their bony hands turned my blood to ice as they tried to pull me into their beds. This one was different, however. His yellow eyes told of sleepless nights spent toiling for power, his twisted and wiry frame shaking with glee as he taunted us. "Even though there is nothing you can do to warn Jubei and Oichi, I can't have you wandering around the ship either!" I saw him move but was too slow to stop him from pushing a hidden button in the wall. He laughed as the floor beneath us gave way and we fell into a room below.

It wasn't that far of a drop, but far enough to keep us from getting out the way we'd come! I looked up in time to see that hollow little face looking down at us, his crooked smile laughing as he left us there. Great. Exactly what we'd needed to have happen! I looked at Magoichi, wanting to blame him but sighing and giving up before I even opened my mouth. It wouldn't help matters. I just hoped he'd have better suggestions for our situation than I did. I gave him a questioning look, but he only looked at me a grinned, "Well, looks like we're trapped, kid."

Oh yeah, he knew exactly what I'd wanted to hear.

~End chapter nine~