• Eternity. The concept is so boggling in itself, but an eternal life of perpetual combat? I must have been a fool to go for that. Don’t get me wrong, the job has its perks; well I am getting ahead of myself. My name is Dirk, and I am a Hunter. A Hunter of what you ask? I guess you could say I hunt what hunts civilization. What do you fear most? Is it the Demonic Oni ? Or maybe thieves? Trust me when I say that what I hunt puts that fear to shame, and the world is safer knowing no more than that about it.
    -excerpt from a conversation in a geisha house

    Dirk walked into the teahouse with more than a little apprehension. This was the place he was told to be tonight. Though as usual, his orders made no sense to him. Every eye in the room locked instantly onto his 6’5”, 275 lb frame. He knew he screamed ‘gaijin’ from every inch of him, from his flame red hair to his form-fitting black leather armor bearing no clan symbols of any kind. In a belated thought, Dirk remembered the hilt of the very expensive katana protruding over his right shoulder, the kind carried only by nobility. He cringed inwardly as one of the nearest samurai, dressed in the blue armor of the Crane clan, rose and approached him.
    “I would ask what family name you bring such dishonor to by carrying a katana in the open with no clan markings displayed on your person!” The samurai bellowed in slurred, broken English.
    This drill had become too common for Dirk’s liking since he started carrying the katana. His sensei had given it to him as a gift for completing his training to the boss’ satisfaction.
    “I will give no family name, for I do not recognize your authority to demand such of me,” Dirk declared in Japanese, bringing gasps from the nobles and hands to sword grips among the samurai in the room.

    Kino, a Dragon clan noble, was sitting against the wall of the common room when the dark warrior entered. This was bad news, he mused silently. Gaijin just didn’t carry a katana into public places unless they were either prepared for trouble or just stupid. This one definitely looked the former. The look the stranger gave the room said he could probably kill everyone in here without breaking a sweat. So when the Crane rose to challenge the newcomer, Kino started looking for an exit. The warrior’s response to the challenge, however, froze Kino in his tracks.

    Dirk quickly surveyed the room – 6 samurai in addition to the loudmouth in front of him, 10 nobles bearing various insignia and colors, along with the handful of serving girls scattered about. Not bad odds in a straight fight, but the problem was though, they were all human.
    “Alright, open mouth and insert foot, again,” Dirk cursed himself, “now what?” Even if he could win in a straight fight, he wasn’t supposed to harm humans. The boss was a stickler for that Rule above all others. This really left him only one card to play here. Reminding himself that he really needed to work on his conversation tactics, he reached up and drew the katana.
    Though he had tried to draw slowly, the surprised look on the samurai’s face told Dirk he hadn’t succeeded as well as he hoped. For a second the samurai regained his sneer, until he looked at the katana and went pale.
    If the bad feeling Kino was experiencing could get any worse he didn’t want to know. Not only was the stranger speaking lines he hadn’t heard in 20 years, the sword that seemed to teleport to his hand was not one anyone here would feel comfortable having pointed at them. The jade dragon coiling around the hilt and onto the blade marked it as an Imperial Duelist’s blade. The question Kino knew was on everyone mind at that moment, “How did a gaijin get a hold of one of those swords?” The weapon then turned slightly and Kino could see there were gem inlays along the blade as well. Two mirrored patterns of a silver dragon fighting a ruby rampant lion flanked by a pair of strangely familiar double bows in jade, along with an acid-etched inscription that was too small to read from where Kino was currently sitting. A chill ran down the Dragon noble’s spine as he watched the scene before him, little knowing how this chance encounter would change his life forever.

    The fool in front of him started shaking and backpedaling away from him while stammering apologies for the rudeness. Dirk smiled inwardly, he often received that reaction to the sight of his blade. As he returned the blade, he made a mental note to ask sensei about it later. However, one thing Dirk did know was these samurai weren’t going to let this go so easily. If he didn’t do something to soothe this imagined blow to their honor or to incapacitate them, there would be trouble later. The easiest way to do both, in any culture Dirk had seen, was through their mugs. So, walking over to the counter, Dirk deposited 20 platinum coins on it. In a voice loud enough for everyone to hear, Dirk told the owner, “Keep the drinks flowing for all present till these run out.”
    Then, with a gesture to the nearest serving girl, Dirk walked into one of the private dining areas off the side of the common room and closed the door behind him.

    ----
    The serving girl had brought his meal and left in amazement at the platinum coin he had given her for a tip. Dirk allowed himself to relax a little then. He leaned back against the wall with a small groan. Damn, what was the boss man thinking, sending him of few people skills into a house full of nobility? Might as well put him up on the stage and chop his head off right now. After all, mouthing off to a samurai is what got Dirk in trouble 20 years ago too, the day the Fates decided to make him a Hunter. He shook his head at himself. Now was not the time or place to get lost down that path of thought again. He needed to stay alert for whatever was serious enough for the boss man to send him into a place like this.

    Kino sat back against the wall, staring at the door the stranger in the black leather armor went through. The man looked like a gaijin but carried a type of sword made only for Imperial Court sword masters. He was obviously skilled with the blade as well. He was cool under pressure and apparently wealthy. Even though that description could fit the odd adventurer, what baffled Kino was the nagging feeling he had seen the man before. After ordering a drink on the open tab, Kino let himself drift back into his memories to last time he had heard the statement of defiance.
    It was about 20 years ago, back when he had just started his apprenticeship to the house of the tax minister. A provincial lord had reported discovery of small ronin village about 10 miles south of his section of the border. Scouts had reported well kept houses and fields. Preliminary reports also indicated the presence of two dishonored samurai, formerly of the Dragon clan, had taken up residence there. The lord wished permission to expand his provincial border to include the town. His request was approved. A detachment of the Daimyo’s samurai, led by Kino’s cousin, were sent as escort to the tax minister’s envoy. The samurai were to remain there as a frontier garrison. Kino was going to accompany them as a page.
    Upon arriving at the village, there was a small party of armed villagers waiting for the envoy. Uh-oh, Kino remembers thinking, this means trouble.
    “Is your intent escort or resistance?” challenged Kino’s cousin, Mirack Mirimoto. He was after all to be the new magistrate for this town.
    Kino didn’t hear the response over the nobles in the carriage with him mumbling in hushed tones near him. Apparently, this sort of things was common procedure to them. The reaction of the samurai around the carriage told him the nature of the statement however.
    Mirack, sounding a little less than pleased, declared loudly, “These lands are now part of the Dragon clan territory. You will obey or be arrested for rebellion. What family names do you dishonor with this act of defiance?”
    Kino, being the curious 10 year-old, slipped out of the carriage. He took in the scene in an instant. It would be forever seared into his memory. A red haired giant of a man, obviously gaijin, was defiantly standing before Mirack. The two former samurai stood flanking the gaijin and several commoners grouped behind them. The flame-haired gaijin seemed to be speaking for the town, “We will give no family names, for we do not recognize your authority to demand such from us.”
    “Whoa, that guy has either a lot of guts or is a complete fool,” thought Kino. He started moving for a better vantage point when one of the nobles grabbed him and pulled him back into the carriage as the confrontation heated up. As the driver moved the carriage away, Kino saw the two sides clash swords. The battle was brief but bloody. The two samurai were dead and the gaijin captured. The three had been the town’s only real resistance. The rest of the villagers had slunk off to hide in the buildings of the town. The trio had made a good showing of themselves though. 12 of the Dragon samurai lay dead and two others wounded. Most of the damage had been done by the red headed gaijin’s deadly double-edged sword.
    Kino remembered being impressed by bearing of the gaijin as he was lead away to the center of town. He was still standing tall even though he had been betrayed, injured and defeated. The penalty for open rebellion acts was death. Kino never saw the actual body but he heard the announcement of the rebel’s death. Even though Kino had not known the gaijin, an unexplainable sense of loss was felt at that moment. But there was no time to dwell on it; there was work to be done.
    One week later, after the census had been completed, Kino and the other nobles were back in the capitol. There was grave news awaiting them. The day before they returned to the capitol, word had arrived from the provincial lord. Apparently, the newly annexed village of Onoako was found burned to the ground. The report also mentioned every adult listed on the census registry was found beheaded in the village square. There was no mention of the whereabouts of any of the children. The oddest note however was the description of the magistrate’s body. He was missing his right hand and a western double-edged sword, identical to the red haired rebel’s, was stuck down the spine.

    Kino shook himself for thinking foolish. This couldn’t be the same guy, but the resemblance was to close for words. The question of who the stranger was bugged Kino so much he couldn’t even enjoy the drink in his hand. Never one to sit and stew on a problem, Kino got up and headed for the same door the stranger went through.

    ----
    Dirk was so lost in thought that he almost didn’t hear the door to the dining room open. He was fully alert though when he saw who was brazen enough to enter here unannounced. Resisting the urge to draw his sword, he spoke, “Who enters here? I don’t recall asking for asking visitors.”
    “My name is Mirimoto Kino, and I received a very clear invitation quite clearly when you drew your sword at that Crane out front, my good fellow.” Kino knew he was taking a risk being so forward with this stranger. “Why do you bear no clan symbol? Hasn’t Onoako been part of the Dragon Clan lands now for 20 years?” Kino saw the anger flash for a brief moment in the man’s eyes. This confirmed to Kino that this stranger at least knew of the events 20 years ago.
    “I bear no symbols of bondage because I am on no census report anywhere in this country.” Dirk managed to stay calm, somehow. How could this young Dragon Clan noble know he had been there? That town had been destroyed by his hand 20 years ago. The children had been moved to another town far from Dragon lands. Could they have been found and brought back? Surely he would have heard of something like that. No, this one had to have other reasons for having that info. “I would choose your next words carefully, Dragon. The last time that claim was made, many lives were ended.”
    Kino held up his hands in front of him. “I meant no disrespect. I seek information regarding two nagging thoughts in my head. I have a feeling the two are linked somehow.” Kino reached into his pocket as he sat down across from Dirk. “First, I would like to know if you can identify this.” Kino pulled out an amulet from his pocket. It was about 2 inches across and made of mithril . One side of the coffin-shaped amulet bore a jade inlay of the same double bow symbol that was Dirk’s sword. The other side had an engraved symbol of an odd flame with the words ‘From the West to the East, the Wind Blows the Hunt’ overlaid in gold.
    Dirk’s mind was racing. How did this Dragon noble get a hold of an amulet with the symbol of Artemis on one side and his flame symbol on the other? What about the inscription as well? Where did this item come from? Dirk tried to maintain his composure, getting worked up wouldn’t do anyone any good. “Where did you acquire such an interesting trinket?’
    “From my old sensei before he died. He passed it to me near his death since he had no heirs of his own. He said it signified a divine mission. The Western Goddess Artemis entrusted Sensei’s family over 3 generations ago to protect and serve any who bore her symbol. None have been seen, until now.”
    Dirk was so stunned he forgot to breathe for at least a minute. Could this be the reason his orders were to come in here tonight, to meet up with this man? If so, what was the next move? “Well, Kino, was it? How much of the symbol bearer’s mission are you aware?”
    “I know very little of the total picture I am sure. Over the years much of the original mission has likely been lost to time and complacency. On top of that, my old sensei’s mind was not what it once was when he passed the amulet on to me. What I do know is the symbol of Artemis carries some kind of contract with her. The ones that carry this contract are Hunters. The Hunters patrol for something called Daemons, who prey on human souls. I was not told much more than that. You carry the symbol of Artemis on your blade. I take that you mean you are a Hunter.”
    Dirk sipped his drink silently for a moment. Why would this family line been set up then abandoned? Why didn’t the boss warn him about this guy being here if it was mission tonight? The man Kino was staring at him curiously. Damn, what to do? Dirk decided being straight with the noble would probably be best. “Yes, I am a Hunter. You seem to have the basic knowledge of our world. But the basics only scratch the surface of the whole. Before I fill in the gaps, I would ask what your intentions are by approaching me.”
    “Well, that would be my other problem. Are you the rebel leader from Onoako and are you responsible for the demise of said town?”

    -----
    Dirk tensed at the loaded question. How to answer that? Either way he answered could be life or death. It was all dependent on this man’s intentions on the matter. If he was acting as government, he could be trying to draw a confession out of Dirk. Though if Kino was serious about the ‘serve and protect the Hunters’ thing, it could be a test of trust. It could be mere curiosity as well. The situation was much too delicate for Dirk’s taste. He knew the wrong answer could mean crossed blades with this noble. Dirk wanted to avoid that at all costs, especially with all those drunk samurai in the next room. “I am not sure I follow your line of thought. Isn’t that quite a dire charge to lay on someone whose name you don’t even know?”
    Kino held up his hands in front of him. “You misunderstand me. No one cares about the town anymore. The destruction was written off as an Oni attack. I am merely an overly curious tax collector.”
    Dirk had to chuckle at that. “Tax collector, huh? Well, that seems an odd thing to want to know. Looking to collect back taxes or something?”
    Kino fidgeted a moment before answering. “No, it’s nothing like that. You see, other that a few officials in the capital that actually read their reports, there are no others alive that even know the village of Onoako ever existed. I am the last person alive that saw the day Onoako was annexed by the Dragon clan. The day my cousin forced a town to turn on its own and but one stood against it. One who had no other reason to stand but to protect those around him.” Kino slumped his shoulders slightly. “I remember the feeling I got when I watched that fight. How I hated my cousin for paying that barmaid to spy for him. All for what, two samurai who had gotten sick of the clan’s ways and wanted to live in peace? My cousin always thought that those that turned their back on the clan were worse than ninja.” Kino sat back up straight. “I can honestly say I shed no tears upon hearing of his death in the town’s massacre. Nor do I regret the loss of the of the others, except maybe the children.”
    Dirk leaned against the wall, tilted his head back, and closed his eyes. “The children were…relocated. Off to somewhere as safe as I could find at the time. Though they know nothing of Onoako or the deaths of there, courtesy of my boss.” Dirk opened one eye and looked at Kino. “So to answer your question, yes. The man who attempted to refuse the Dragon clan the right to rule free beings lives was me, not that it did any good in the long run.” Dirk sat up and removed his scabbard from his back, laid it on the table and drew the blade out. “The things I find the strangest about our encounter tonight number three. One, the last living witness to the act of betrayal that made me into a Hunter and I meet on the 20th anniversary of said act. Two, the aforementioned carries with him an amulet that, he says, signifies a multi-generational promise to any Hunters he finds. Now these tings could be seen as a powerful coincidence if not for the third detail.” Dirk laid his katana across the table so the other could read the inscription on the blade – ‘From the West to the East, the wind blows the Hunt’.
    Kino’s jaw dropped open when he read the words upon the blade. “You mean this whole craziness that Sensei was babbling about soul-sucking demons and the group that hunts them is true?!?” Kino shook his head and quickly looked around him, embarrassed by his own outburst. Lowering his voice, he leaned forward, “So you are saying you ARE a warrior lost from the paths. That you were brought back by the western goddess Artemis in exchange for your soul to hunt these Daemons for eternity?”
    “That’s it in a nutshell, Dragon.” A new voice came from the window, “Though there are more discreet places to talk of things average humans shouldn’t hear.” Both Kino and Dirk spun to face the newcomer. Perched in the window was a man dressed in loose dark red clothing and a hooded face.
    Dirk stood, sword still in hand, to face the intruder. He could tell the figure was human, but that didn’t mean there was no threat. “Sneaking into a private conversation is a quick way to meet your maker.”
    The figure chuckled as he hoped down into the room ad removed his cloak. He stood about 5’8” with green hair cut short and a strange spider-web tattoo over the knuckles of both hands. He walked over and sat down at the table Dirk and Kino were standing at. Eyeing Dirk still with blade in hand and Kino standing up ready to draw, the newcomer reached out and poured himself a glass of water from the pitcher there on the table. “Now Dirk, is that anyway to greet a messenger from the boss?” He spoke lightly but there was a serious edge to his expression. Reaching into his tunic, he brought out a scroll case sealed in wax and emblazoned with the symbol of Artemis. Handing the case to a confused Kino, he said, “My name is Shosuro Len. I am a blood rite squire. This is your entrance package. Welcome to a whole new world, kid.”