CHAPTER V

Payback

Masaki came to Manjis and started talking:

- He told me everything. I had to torture him, but now I know their position. They are in Serene forest! It is west from here...a big forest full of Kudji-Kiri ninjas. We must come there and surprise them. That’s the only way to beat them.

- Who is their leader? – Asked one of the Manjis.

- It is a ninja called «Dagon». I don’t know who it might be...I never heard of him. That makes him more dangerous...

- Where is Kunimitsu? – Asked Yoshimitsu.

- They trained her and she became a Kudji-Kiri ninja! You won’t recognize her because she wears a mask, just like you.

- She became Kudji-Kiri? Damn...it will be hard to free her from them...

- We must go! – Said Kobayasha. Sooner we go, the chances to beat them are greater! We’ll go in pairs. Yoshimitsu, you will go with me. remember, DO NOT attack until I tell you so! We must sneak there, and attack later!

Yoshimitsu and Kobayasha started running to west, where Serene Forest is. Other ninjas followed them, and split up in different directions.

Yoshimitsu sneaked stealthy, because there might be an enemy ninja somewhere close, but he didn’t spot any ninjas. Defeated, they probably went to their base and made a new plan...

Suddenly, Yoshimitsu heard an animal roar. He turned and spotted two tigers!

- Kobayasha...we have two tigers wanting us for lunch. I don’t have any spoons or rowlocks here, so we better eliminate them before they eat us.

- I know. – Said Kobayasha, looking at tigers. I’ll take the left one, and you take the right one.

Yoshimitsu quickly jumped to right tiger, and waved his Samurai sword. But tiger also jumped to him too so they bumped and fell to ground. Tiger prepared to stick his teeth into Yoshimitsu’s neck, but Yoshimitsu was faster. He grabbed tiger’s head and threw him sway, then got up. Tiger attacked again. But Yoshimitsu was ready. When tiger jumped, Yoshimitsu stabbed his sword into tiger’s chest! Tiger started falling to ground, and Yoshimitsu didn’t have time to get the sword out of tiger, so he let it stay in tiger’s body so the sword doesn’t break.

Meanwhile, Kobayasha fought with another tiger. Tiger attacked first, but Kobayasha jumped above him, and landed on his back, breaking tiger’s bones.

He jumped back, and landed on ground. Tiger attacked again, but Kobayasha was faster, he waved his right leg and kicked the tiger so hard that it fell back, on ground. Kobayasha grabbed his sword, wanting to finish him, but tiger surprised him and quickly got up, then attacked! Tiger scratched Kobayasha’s right arm with its powerful paw!

Yoshimitsu’s tiger wasn’t dead yet. He got up and jumped to Yoshimitsu again, still holding the sword in his body. Yoshimitsu rolled to side and avoided this attack, then grabbed his sword from tiger’s body. Kobayasha’s blood and its own blood made tiger more angry and it became more nervous. Yoshimitsu quickly took one shuriken, and threw it to tiger! Shuriken was too fast even for tiger’s reflexes and tiger roared when shuriken hit him in his own nose. The pain was terrible, but tiger wasn’t dead yet...he was an animal, NOT a human...

Tiger rushed to Yoshimitsu with incredible speed, which surprised Yoshimitsu. With his powerful roar, he attacked with his paws to kill that armored human...

But Yoshi was a ninja. And ninjas have excellent reflexes. He stabbed his sword in tiger’s chest for the second time, and jumped to right, letting the sword stay in tiger’s body again. Yoshimitsu waited for tiger to end his reflexive twitching, then came to him and picked up his sword. His tiger was dead.

Anyways, Kobayasha’s arm was hurt, and his tiger was more nervous because of all the blood. the blood makes those animals crazy...

Tiger prepared to kill Kobayasha, but something stabbed him from his back...

It was Yoshimitsu’s sword. Yoshimitsu quickly took the sword back, then stabbed it into tiger’s head. Tiger waited for some moments, like he still doesn’t believe that he is dead, then fell on ground, twitching like his dead partner did before some moments.

- Thanks, Yoshimitsu. You saved my life. I’ll owe you forever.

- Don’t worry. We should hurry, though. Where was the Serene forest?

- That way – said Kobayasha. – Let’s go.

- Is your arm hurt?

- It’s nothing. I can still fight.

Yoshimitsu and Kobayasha continued to the Serene forest, and they finally get to it. After sneaking more deeply in the forest, they spotted bunch of tents.

- That means...there is a village! But where are Kudji-Kiri ninjas? – Wondered Yoshimitsu.

- They are here. They think they can confuse people acting like innocent village people, but I know that nobody knows about this place, expect them.

- What should we do?

- OK, here’s the plan. You need to sneak in that tent over there. Did you bring explosive pellets?

- Yes. They are here.

- Good. You need to place three explosive pellets there. Then, come back there and I’ll throw fourth explosive pellet there. It will cause big explosion, and it will confuse them. After that, we will attack. I think all Manjis are already here, but we can’t see them from this place.

- OK. I’ll go now.

- Good Luck.

Yoshimitsu started sneaking hiding behind the trees. When he saw nobody is looking in his direction, he ran to other, closer tree. He looked at village again, but now he saw four Kudji-Kiri ninjas guarding that entrance!

«Damn, it will be much harder now» thought Yoshimitsu. «I won’t kill them, but I COULD sneak in that tent and stay unseen...it’s hard, but not impossible...»

When nobody of ninjas was looking in his direction, he quickly ran out of hid cover, and hide behind one tent. He was proud of his speed...now he was much faster than before...practice makes a ninja almost perfect and unstoppable fighter...

But he wasn’t finished with his mission. He needed to get to the tent in the center of «village». It was empty, and other Kudji-Kiri ninjas were probably in other tent...

Yoshimitsu sneaked to next tent and now he wasn’t in Kudji-Kiri ninjas’ viewpoint. Now he crawled with killing slowness, but it had to be that way. He can’t take too many risks, and he can’t be seen, because that would mean his death. He crawled to the center tent.

He was right. It was empty. He crawled inside the tent and put three small explosive pellets which can cause incredible explosion.

When Yoshimitsu just wanted to exit the tent, he spotted...a NINJA!

A ninja was in purple suit, with cat-looking mask, and long red hair. It was female. Ninja had two daggers and she pointed them to Yoshimitsu’s chest.

- Who are you? – she asked with threatening voice.

That voice...Yoshimitsu recognized who was the ninja...it was KUNIMITSU!

- Kunimitsu? – Asked Yoshimitsu. – It’s me, Yoshimitsu, your brother!

- I have no brothers or sisters. I only have ninjas from Kudji-Kiri. You are an intruder...and you will DIE!

He already realized what Kudji-Kiri did with Kunimitsu. She has an amnesty; they hypnotized her and made her forget everything...

Yoshimitsu realized that he couldn’t convince Kunimitsu that he is her brother, so he quickly grabbed his katana and broke the tent!

There wasn’t a need for stealth anymore. He was discovered, and he needed to ESCAPE! Yoshimitsu started running to his cover, but three Kudji-Kiri ninjas appeared in front of him. They grabbed their katanas, and waved them to kill the intruder!

But Yoshimitsu was faster than them, he jumped above them, landed behind his enemies. He didn’t have time to fight, so he continued running to his cover. He finally got to Kobayasha.

- What the hell just happened? – Asked Kobayasha.

- Kunimitsu...she discovered me! We must attack...now! But don’t hurt Kunimitsu!

Tons of human voices are heard. Kudji-Kiri ninjas realized that someone entered in their hideout! They started getting out of tents, preparing for a fight.

Kobayasha saw that Kunimitsu got out of the tent, so he quickly grabbed his fourth explosive pellet and threw it in the center tent...where Yoshimitsu put three pellets...

A huge explosion reverberated like lighting. Whole village exploded, and explosion killed many Kudji-Kiri ninjas.

- NOOO! – yelled Yoshimitsu. – Did the explosion kill Kunimitsu?

- No, she is alive...she is there, hiding behind that tree...but we must attack...NOW!

- OK, I’m ready!

- ATTACK!!!!!!!!! – yelled Kobayasha so all Manjis near the village can hear him. They rushed to Kudji-Kiri ninjas, who were still shocked about that gigantic explosion. Manjis got to their opponents and hard battle began...

Ninjas fought everywhere...a real war started. Ninja screeches could be heard, along with sounds of crossing the swords and stabbing swords in human meat...

But Yoshimitsu didn’t fight with Kudji-Kiri ninjas...he wanted to find his sister. He ran to the tree where she was hiding, but she wasn’t there anymore.

He continued, and finally saw her. She was standing, holding daggers. She prepared to fight.

- Kunimitsu, I don’t want to hurt you – Yoshimitsu started – You don’t remember anything, but you are my sister! I don’t want to hurt you. Please, come with me and we’ll solve your amnesty...

- NO! I don’t believe you, stranger! I live for Kudji-Kiri and I will die for Kudji-Kiri!

Yoshimitsu was sad. It wasn’t Kunimitsu’s fault, Kudji-Kiri ninjas did that to her, but she wants to fight, and he can’t hurt her. He didn’t have a plan how to solve this hard situation...

Kunimitsu attacked, pointing her daggers in Yoshimitsu’s heart. Yoshimitsu moved his head and avoided the daggers. She continued the attack, now aiming her weapons to Yoshimitsu’s chest, but he blocked them with his katana, fast like a light. After that, he grabbed her arm and took her dagger. She quickly jumped back.

She still had another dagger, and she is still deadly...

Kunimitsu attacked again. She jumped above Yoshimitsu, wanting to stab him in his head. He dashed back and Kunimitsu missed him. She started waving her dagger to him and to do a combo, but Yoshimitsu waved his katana only once, and hit Kunimitsu’s dagger, revolting it to ground.

Kunimitsu was unarmed.

- Please, come with me...I can help you. – begged Yoshimitsu. He loved his sister more than anything.

- Kunimitsu started running from him. He didn’t chase her. He was sad, but he didn’t lose his mind. There will be a chance to get Kunimitsu back...later.

Yoshimitsu got back to Kudji-Kiri hideout, and found whole bunch of ninjas.

Manji ninjas!

- Where were you? – asked Masaki.

- I fought with Kunimitsu, but she escaped. I couldn’t convince her that I’m her brother...

- Hypnose...

- Yes, I know. She forgot everything, and she thinks I’m her enemy. But, what happened here?

- We defeated them! – Said Masaki happily. – They were shocked and not ready, but we were ready to fight and we defeated them! But some of our ninjas are dead, though...I can’t believe this...Kudji-Kiri is destroyed!!! – said Masaki, smiling.

- Where is Kobayasha?

- He is on south...he is chasing Dagon, the leader of Kudji-Kiri. Well I hope he will defeat him, if Dagon survives, he will make a new evil clan...but HEY! Where are you going?

Yoshimitsu didn’t hear him anymore. He was running south, to Dagon and Kobayasha.

After 10 minutes of running, he found them, fighting near huge waterfall. He saw Dagon. He wasn’t in black costume, like his ninjas were. He was in silver costume, with black helmet on his head. He was good built, strong, and probably really fast. His red eyes...meant only one thing : DEATH.

Dagon saw him too. Kobayasha spotted that Dagon is looking in another direction, so her turned and saw Yoshimitsu.

- Yoshimitsu! What are you doing here?

Yoshimitsu calmly walked to them.

- I’ll help you to defeat Dagon.

Dagon smiled.

You two really think you can defeat me? Nobody can defeat me, because I am a SON OF DEATH!

- OK, Yoshimitsu, let’s kill this maniac before he starts talking he is a son of elephant or something.

- Al right.

Yoshimitsu attacked first, but Dagon was much better fighter than he thought. He blocked Yoshimitsu’s attack, and countered by kicking Yoshimitsu in stomach. Yoshimitsu fell on ground. Kobayasha wanted to surprise Dagon by jumping above him, and shooting a shuriken to his head, but before he did anything, Dagon charged and punched him in the head so hard that he fell on ground too.

- You two think you can kill me? I knocked you down with one simple move! Is that the best you can do?

Yoshimitsu got up and took out his katana, and waved it. But that didn’t confuse his opponent. Dagon jumped above him, and shot two shurikens to him!

But Yoshimitsu was fast, he used his katana as a shield and blocked the shurikens! Dagon dashed back. He saw that he can’t beat his opponent by his mere hands, so he took his weapon – Mace.

Yoshimitsu wondered...why Dagon uses mace instead of sword? He must be a mace expert...

Dagon started waving his mace, then he attacked Yoshimitsu! He was too fast, and Yoshimitsu couldn’t escape or block the attack...

No!

Kobayasha jumped to Dagon’s right side and grabbed his mace! Dagon didn’t expect that, so Kobayasha easily grabbed the mace and threw it away, because he didn’t know how to use it. He took his trusty katana, and attacked Dagon. Dagon quickly dodged the attack, and hit Kobayasha with his knee. Kobayasha was on ground, again. Dagon grabbed Kobayasha’s sword, and pointed it to Kobayasha...

- NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! – Yelled Yoshimitsu.

He ran as fast as he can, but...

Dagon stabbed the sword right in Kobayasha’s chest.

Yoshimitsu charged to Kobayasha with intention to smash him in pieces, to kill him, to eliminate that brutal killer...

But Dagon didn’t lose his control, so he quickly grabbed his mace and attacked. Yoshimitsu rolled to side, then kicked Dagon in his stomach.

That didn’t seem to hurt Dagon, because he just smiled and attacked again.

Yoshimitsu avoided another mace attack by jumping and shooting three shurikens to Dagon...

All of them hit Dagon. He was badly hurt...but not dead yet. He waved his mace again, pointing to Yoshimitsu’s head...but Yoshimitsu crouched and avoided Dagon’s attack. Yoshimitsu countered with his Knee Bash and hit Dagon in the stomach.

Dagon fell on ground, and before he could do anything, he felt Yoshimitsu’s sword on his neck.

- Where’s your power now? – Yoshi was angry, very angry, because Dagon killed his only true friend. – You will meet your Kudji-Kiri friends in hell...soon...very soon...but you know what? I won’t kill you unarmed. I'll give you a chance for a fair fight. Get up!

Dagon got up. Yoshimitsu gave him his mace.

- Now fight! – Yoshimitsu’s voice was different because of his anger.

Dagon wanted to hit Yoshimitsu with his mace, but he was hit by Yoshimitsu's powerful roundhouse. He was standing on the edge of the rock, he lost his balance...and fell into waterfall.

As insane scream was heard while Dagon’s body was falling to the bottom of the waterfall, Yoshi came to Kobayasha, who wasn’t dead yet.

- You...you beat him. – Kobayasha talked slowly, knowing he hasn’t much more time left. – Good job...

- I...I am sorry...it is my fault...I should protect you...

- It is NOT your fault, Yoshimitsu...my time has come...funny, eh? I died by my own weapon...Listen...I have a son...he is called Tokeda...please protect him...I know you can do it...don't let anything happen to him, please...

- I will. You have my word.

- Thank you...

Yoshimitsu didn’t know what to say anymore. He was angry and sad at the same time. He knew he is losing his best and only friend, a man who made a Manji from him.

- Yoshimitsu...rule Manji...I know you will do it best...fight for the good and destroy evil...good luck.

- I will, my friend.

Yoshimitsu wanted to say something else, but Kobayasha closed his eyes. He knew his friend couldn’t hear him anymore.

Kobayasha was dead.

- Goodbye, Kobayasha. Rest in Peace...

Yoshimitsu took a look at his dead friend for the last time, then left, with anger and sadness in his heart.

He came back to Manjis hideout...

- Yoshimitsu! What happened? Did you kill Dagon? Where's Kobayasha? – Asked one of the Manjis.

- Dagon is dead. Kobayasha too.

- WHAT? KOBAYASHA IS DEAD?

- Yes. Dagon killed him. I couldn't save him. I'm sorry...

Manjis were really shocked. Their best member, their idol, is dead.

- Where is Tokeda? – Asked Yoshimitsu.

- I'm Tokeda. – Said one Manji, who was completely in white armor, like his father was. His face was hidden by a gray mask, but by the tone of Tokeda's voice Yoshimitsu knew that the boy is crying.

- You are Kobayasha's son, right?

- Y...Yes...

- I'm sorry about your father. But he fought like a real Manji and died with honor. Don't worry, I'll take care of you, and I won't let anybody hurt you.

- Thank you, Yoshimitsu...

Yoshimitsu turned around and walked to Zeku Nasa.

- Yoshimitsu, Kobayasha should be the leader of Manjis when I die, but now you will lead Manji. I am too old and I can't lead this clan. But I realized that when it was too late. I know I'll die soon, so I am asking you to lead Manji. When I die, throw my body to the waterfall...I was born on the waterfall, I want to remain in waterfall. Can you do that?

- I will lead Manji clan well. But don't think about your death now. You are going to live long...

- I know you will lead it good...good luck, Yoshimitsu.

- Thank you, sensei.

Yoshimitsu went into his tent and tried to sleep. But he couldn't, he was thinking of his dead friend...

He started meditating. He needed to get his spirit back, to calm down, and to clean his soul...

After 2 hours, he finally managed to sleep. He had a strange dream, he saw Kobayasha smiling and talking:

- Yoshimitsu, rule Manji. You are very skillful and you have good soul. Fight for the good and destroy evil. I believe in you. Everyone does. Everybody knows that you can rule Manji. I died happy, because I knew you will listen to me and be the Manji leader, protect my son, and fight against the evil. Save your sister...

Thank you, Yoshimitsu, and good luck...

He woke up. He was still thinking about Kobayasha, and his last words:

Save your sister...

Yes. He needed to save Kunimitsu. She escaped, but Yoshimitsu knew she will come back. He MUST convince her that he is her brother, or use other methods, but he MUST save her from the path of darkness. And he will.

- Don't worry, my dear sister...I am coming to save you, and everything will be alright...