http://clampfix.fanworks.net/kenichi/honor.txt </head><body><pre> "To defeat an enemy, one must think like his enemy." Sun Tzu, The Art of War Honor Among Thieves The bright lights dazzled like a million fireflies in the night. Cold wind bit into me in spite of the jacket I wore. A spasm caused me to grimace as I tightened my grip on the handlebars. All 500cc's of engine roared, launching my bike even faster into the dark oblivion of the cityscape. Midnight. The dark superimposed on the light. Tokyo. After two years, I had returned to my home city. Yet it was not nostalgia but urgency that I felt as my machine tore across the roads at an almost deathly speed. Two years ago. I quashed the memories from my mind before they took hold. It didn't matter; Weather was the least thing on my mind right now. I was hoping Shiroi Ogami's information was correct, despite the fact that I still distrusted him. After all, would you trust an assassin to lead you to an assassin? Then again, if anyone should keep tabs on an assassin, it's the very people he hunts down. If not for Mirei's plea that I trust him, I might as well have shot him. Miyazaki Mirei... That girl really cares for you, Shiroi. Damn you, your'e lucky. The bike hummed to a halt as I turned into a small side street. The difference was incredible; from the fairly dense traffic of the highways, the street was absolutely desolate by comparison. I put the bike in park and locked it to a telephone pole. I took out the slip of paper in my pocket and read it in the harsh sub-light of the streetlamps. Seventeen-Zero-One. An old house, elegant and barren. Must have been here since the last World War or so. Damaged but still beautiful. But not for long. The signs posted outside spoke of the demolitions to come the next day. Tomorrow, this house would be no more. Just like that bastard to find the moodiest place available. The walls surrounding were an easy enough task for me to vault. Now, all I needed was to slip by his notice. With drawn breath, I crept into the mansion. The night was my friend and ally, as I cast no shadows in the hall. silence and a musty odor of decay were my only greeting. It was halfway across the hall that I realized that he had been expecting me. Cherry blossoms. The petals strewn across the floor. Deliberately so. A path. The soft petals pointed a line to a large open room, it's doors torn open by rot and insects. A figure seated itself directly in my line of sight. It's one eye glowed as it greeted me. "Come in. Iv'e been wanting to talk." Muscles tensed as I cautiously made my way to the door. A soft drizzle of Sakura petals met me as I walked in. Macabre, isn't it? That such beauty would be representative of the beast I now faced in the room. Sakurazukamori. The very thought of the name turned my stomach. The grin was gentle on his face, but it's meaning was lost on me. "So, Ken. What do you plan to do?" I remained silent as he chuckled to himself. "Kenichi, use your common sense. Do you really think it's that easy to kill a master assassin-group?" Mockery came to my voice. "It takes one to know one." Sakurazukamori put a hand to his lips. "Damn. And I had such high hopes for Shiroi. He would have been my replacement." My knuckles cracked as I tightened my hands into balled fists. "Well, are you going to fight, or are you going to talk me to death?" My right foot slid forward, anticipating attack. The smile left the Sakurazukamori's face. "Tell me, Ken. How many times have I fought you?" "Twenty-Five times. You lost three of the last ones. I plan to end it tonight." I recalled the last fight; It occured barely three months ago. It left me with two broken ribs. Sakurazukamori suffered a dislocated arm and five broken ribs. The great mass sighed. "Not all fights are won by force. That..." Sakurazukamori grunted as he rose from his seat. "...and the fact that you have me at a disadvantage. My injuries have not yet recovered fully." "All the better to slay you with." The deadly hand rested on the chair arm. "It's gone beyond petty squabble, Kaeda. I have more important things to deal with." "Like what? Killing little children, this time?" "If you hadn't busted my arm, I would already be killing you." Bile churned in my gut. "Big talk for a man who can only kill young women like Hokuto Sumeragi. You didn't exactly do too well in the last duel we had." Sakurazukamori grimaced as his eye glowed bright in the darkness. My hands flew into a defensive position. But no attack came. "And here I thought I found Subaru amusing." I winced. "I'm not Subaru Sumeragi, Sakurazukamori. I don't have the emotional hang-ups over you that he seems to have..." The crisp night air cut into my words as I remembered Sumeragi. How pained he was every time I mentioned the Sakurazukamori's name. How I came to hate the Sakurazukamori even more when I heard what he did to Subaru's sister. Teeth grit as I continued. "...No way. You can't play your damned mind games on me. I plan to wipe this town with your spleen if I have to." To which the big man laughed. "Ironic. A master of the Earth going against the Dragons of Earth." "Dragons of Earth?" This was a new development. Or was it just another of Sakurazukamori's tricks? Curiosity got the better of me. "What are the Dragons of Earth? Damn you Sakurazukamori, tell me!" The Sakurazukamori turned. "Not your concern. You are too much of a wild card to trust with that information. All I ask of you is to leave it be. Let your frustrations out on me, feel free to. But do not interfere with the Dragons." "Not likely. If your'e involved, I'm going after you." "Even if it means you will fight destiny once again?" A coldness shot through my soul. Destiny. Again. The Sakurazukamori grinned, then wheezed as he slithered back into his seat. The one glowing eye fixed on me as if I was the center of the universe. "As I said, it no longer concerns you, Kenichi Kaeda." Sakurazukamori knew, as I knew, of the shattered destiny that I brought upon another world. If I hadn't foolishly engaged him in dreamscape, he would never have known my only fear. Dreamscape. I first met Subaru Sumeragi in a dream. I hadn't realized the link between his Onmyoujitsu and dreamweaving before. I was drawn into a small duel he and Sakurazukamori had. In interfering, my mind was read by both Onmyouji. It was a blessing and a curse. I found an ally and possible friend in Subaru, but I also left my own fears and weaknesses bare to the Sakurazukamori... Weaknesses which I spent the last two years trying to eliminate. "You should have left Subaru alone, back then. As you should leave me alone now. I have no wish to kill the son of a friend." "You have no more friends, Sakurazukamori." The glowing eye softened. "That's all I am to you now, isn't it? Not Seishirou, not Uncle, not even your favorite uncle. Just the Sakurazukamori, an inhuman, soulless engine for you to put the blame upon and destroy." I fixed an icy glare upon him. "That's everything you ever were, Sakurazukamori. You had a chance to change, with Subaru and Hokuto, but you fucked it up. That's your problem now. My problem is how I'm going to kill you." The glowing eye looked up at me as Sakurazukamori grinned maliciously. "Whatever happened to the moody little boy I knew years ago?" Bitterness rose within me. "He died twice. Once when his father died, and again when he knew there was no escaping destiny..." I bit my lip. "...even if you can defeat it." I turned and walked toward the door. The Sakurazukamori's voice carried outward. "Ken...I had no hand in the death of your Father or Mother." I turned and flashed him a cold look. "I don't care. You're still a dead man." "Why do you bother, Kaeda?" "Because the Earth wills it." He made no more move to stop me as I walked out into the hall. I found myself having a Slurpee at the corner Seven-Eleven nearly two hours later. I would have liked a beer, but I was still underage. Besides, I needed to be sober for the long drive ahead. Subaru had a lot to answer for, about this 'Dragons' garbage and all. Somehow, I think Sakurazukamori spoke truth in this one. Daybreak came as I stepped out of the store. The hordes of students that poured past game me a feeling of loneliness. A year ago, I was once like that. Now, with Mother gone, it was all I could do to support myself, working as a courier. Ironic. Most students my age would have called me free. Freedom, however, felt like a prison. I walked out when I was greeted by a lithe dog. Grinning, I stroked it's head gently. No living dog, this one. Not by a long shot. "Go home." I whispered. The ghostly creature trotted off to it's mistress, a young schoolgirl, barely in her teens. One of those, I chuckled. One of those very special people. Like Subaru, Shiroi, and Mirei. The first time I saw her, but I felt it was not to be the last. Honor among thieves, I thought. The only thing that keeps Sakurazukamori from killing Subaru outright, and the only thing that kept me from killing him in return. I let the earth speak to me. Rest now, Mother gaia spoke. It seemed a good idea. Let the destiny come if and when it wills. The night will come sooner or later for me. But for tday, I walk in the sun. </pre><p><a href="./">Back</a></p><p><a href=http://www.dreamhost.com/donate.cgi?id=216><img border=0 alt="Donate towards our web hosting bill!" src=https://secure.newdream.net/donate1.gif></a></p></body></html>