Disclaimer:
Me no own story idea. Hiraoku Samura owns.
Please don't sue. Me broke

Sorry to prereader Matt Lewis for not checking 
with him first, but I in a hurry to send out.
Me beg for C&C and MST.

***************************

Chapter 2 - Blood and Guts

                      Kaeri's motorcycle roared through the streets 
of night time Tokyo like a bat out of hell. Hitomi was holding 
Kaeri's shoulder in a death grip betraying her nervousness at 
Kaeri's choice of proper driving speed and hoping that no 
police officer would catch them.

                     She was quite relieved when she saw her house, 
where she now lived after moving out of her parent's house before 
college. They had been rich enough to buy her a house near the 
university.She motioned Kaeri to park her motorcycle in front of 
her home. Much to Hitomi's relief, she finally slowed down to a 
rest at the front of the house.  

Hitomi got off quickly and proceeded to the door while Kaeri made 
sure that no one would steal her bike.

                      They didn't notice the man in on the street corner, 
watching them, his cigarette a beacon of light in the enveloping 
darkness.

             **************************    

                       Kaeri looked around the room while Hitomi prepared 
something to eat. She saw the books on the shelf and decided to take 
a closer look.

' You in college , kid ?' 

' Yeah. History Major.' Hitomi said as she brought some noodles which 
she had heated up. She saw Kaeri sitting on the couch, one of her 
various history books open.

' You went to college ?' Hitomi asked, surprised. From what Kaeri looked 
she thought Kaeri lived with a gang for most of her life.

Kaeri looked up at her smiling.

' Little girl I've been to college several times before you were born.' 

' How's that ?'

Kaeri gave Hitomi the book. There was a picture of a festival. She looked 
at the date. 1956. 

' Look at the lower left.' 

Hitomi's eyes bugged out as she saw Kaeri's face alongside the other 
people in the picture.

' I'm over a hundred years , kid. Granny's over eight hundred.'

Kaeri turned to the food and started to eat as Hitomi looked
about to faint.

              *******************            
   
As they finished their meager meal, Hitomi picked the bowls and put them 
in the sink. When she returned to the living room she saw Kaeri inspecting 
her guns. 

' So, kid, I heard from Granny that you vowed you'd go out and put some 
holes in the people who killed your parents. So who we gonna do first ?' She 
asked casually as she loaded a clip with an audible click and aimed at the 
wall in front of her.

' Three people, Kaeri. Hirawa Yajibei, Miro Tonji and Kage Iori.' Hitomi said 
counting them off with one finger each.

'So, where do they live so we can get this over with ?'

'Um?..' 

'Um, what ?'

Hitomi blushed a bit.

'Well, I hadn't considered about that bit yet.'

' Which means you don't know where they live ?' Kaeri asked as she stood up 
and got her jacket from where it lay on the couch.

' Yeah.' Hitomi answered slightly embarassed.

' Don't worry , kid. I've got a friend who can help.' 

Kaeri walked out of the house. Hitomi followed suit after locking the place up. 
Kaeri was warming up her bike already when she finished. She hopped on as 
Kaeri manuevered her bike around.

' So where are we going.'

' Time to visit the carnival, kid' said Kaeri with a vague smile.

As they roared past the street corner, the man ground the cigarette into the 
concrete and walked up to the house.

************     
       
                         Hitomi walked along Kaeri's side as they went down the 
long line of stalls of the local carnival. Kaeri seemed to be looking for someone 
as her eyes looked around from left to right. Hitomi saw her smile when 
she saw a thin looking man leaning at the side of one of the stalls. He was 
dressed in the clothes that you only see a ringmaster wear. He was turned 
away from them while  he looked on as a child attempted to hit the stacked 
bottles with a ball. 

                          Kaeri approached and playfully hit the man squarely in between
the shoulderblades with a hard pat. 

' How's it going,Chouko ?' she said with a laugh as the man recovered from 
her blow. Hitomi's as he saw the man had mismatched eyes, one green and 
one purple.

' Fine, Kaeri. Just fine. But you didn't have to hit me so hard.' He said while he 
rubbed his back. He noticed Hitomi's surprised look. ' Great , I lost my contacts!' 
he said as he turned around to look for them. Hitomi saw a raven tattoo on his hand 
as he felt for the contacts. With a grunt he picked the lenses and cleaned them 
a bit before he put them on. He stood up and saw Kaeri's amused smile.

'So, Kaeri, what are you here for ?' he said with a scowl on his face.

' You still owe me for Hiroshima. I've come to collect.'

' That was along time ago. Besides the last time I helped you the Yakuza almost 
killed me.'

' Almost, Chouko. You're still tougher to kill than fungi.'

' It's all the same. Try being given cement boots and told to swim in Tokyo Bay.'

' Didn't I save you that time ? Anyway, rich girl here's going to pay for it.' Kaeri said 
as she pointed to Hitomi.

She started to protest but was silenced by a cold stare from Kaeri. 

' If you're not going to help me the normal way, I'll be asking you to do it for this.' 
Kaeri said as she pulled out a medallion from inside her shirt. It was engraved with 
the same tattoo as that Hitomi saw on Chouko's hand. Chouko's scowl was now 
replaced with a considering look as he looked at Hitomi and the medallion. 

' You saying she's going to pay for it ?' pointing to Hitomi.

' Yeah.'

' Then it's a deal. Tell me what you need in my office tommorrow.' With that he tipped 
his hat a bit and turned to leave as he walked down the side of the stall.

' I'll be doing this for Hiroshima, Kaeri. We're even.'
He said as a parting shot as he merged with the shadows.      

********* 

'Who was that ?' asked Hitomi as they walked back to the motorcycle.

' Chouko. An old friend.'

' He's like you isn't he ?'

' Good , kid. You're getting more intelligent. But he's not exactly like me.'
responded Kaeri.

' What's that mean ?'

' He's what's called  a natural. He became like me because of his 
genetic structure. They kicked in when he was twenty.' said Kaeri as
she looked toward Hitomi. It was obvious that she was surprised
at Kaeri's use of the word ' genetic'.

' Hey, I went to college remember even if I don't look like it. Anyway
he's what's called in scientific terms "anti-necrobiotic". Meaning the
process of aging or necrobiosis is delayed. He's been like that for
centuries.'

' Why's his eyes like that ?' Hitomi asked , voicing another of her 
questions.

' All anti-necrobiotics are like that. Because of their genetic structure
they have strange physical features. You should see Chouko without
the facepaint and the hair dye.'

' Are there others like you ?'

' You're a really curious young woman, Hitomi. It's going to get you killed
one of these days. I'll still answer your question, since no one'll probably 
believe you if you told them.' Kaeri flashed a smile at Hitomi making her
visibly uncomfortable.

' There have been people like us across the centuries. Some got to be one 
of us because of genetic structure, but some of us are "artificial" immortals
me a case in point. The kessen-chu keep me alive as long as I have not 
fullfilled the promise that I made to them. I've met immortals who became
what they are by other means. You're a history student, Hitomi, do you
know about Jusenkyo ?' asked Kaeri.

' Yeah. Some weird training ground of cursed pools. It's all poppycock if
you ask me.'

Kaeri laughed. 

' They're real alright. I've seen peopl fall into it and become house pets.
But did you ever wonder why the pools are cursed ?'

' No.'

' There are over a thousand pools in Jusenkyo. All to protect one pool. 
If you fall into it you become immortal.'

The look on Hitomi's face told Kaeri that she didn't believe her.  

' Well, if you don't believe it then don't. I've traveled all over the world 
many times. I've seen a lot of people like me too. You know
of a Himalayan legend about the Sanjiyan-Unkara ?'

' Yes. Why ?'

' Then you know they're an entire race of immortals. They disappeared
quite awhile ago, but I've met quite a few of them.'

' Great. Next you'll be telling me vampires exist.'

' Yeah, they do. I met one in Kyoto twenty years ago by the name of 
Miyu. I was supposed to ask her to join in our little group.'

' Your little group I suppose has the insignia of the raven.'

' Good. Very perceptive of you , Hitomi.' said Kaeri as she pulled out 
her medallion. The raven sigil was clearly seen.

' The raven ,an ancient symbol of immortality. Good choice.'  said
Hitomi as she admired the craftsmanship.

' The Society of The Raven. Immortals all over the world watching  
each others backs to keep themselves secret. Me and Granny were
one of the founding members.'
 
They reached the motorcycle. Kaeri hopped on. 

' I hope you know if you babble about this to anyone I have to kill you.'
Kaeri said with a smile.

'Don't worry. I'll probably end up in the nuthouse if I sais things like that
to anyone.'

The bike roared off into the night.

****************** 
At the airport....

The customs official looked impressed at the man's collection.

' These are some of the best swords I've ever seen, sir'

The man smiled. He would have been quite handsome had it
not been for the large scar over his one eye that was covered
by an eyepatch.

' They should be. I've collected them for a long time.'

' By the way, sir. Your name ?'
 
' Manji. Kurogane Manji.' The man said as he started to pick up
his luggage.

*********************
I make last name for Manji.

As said above, will beg for C&C and MSTs.  


' Writers are the torchbearers of civilization. We're set in a corner only we
can illuminate.Some of us are searchlights, able to cast a beam into the 
far reaches of the human soul.Some of us are candles , barely able to 
sustain a glow against the darkness. Nevertheless the words I write 
are important, because light is additive. Another's light  doesn't diminish
 my own. Our lights together make us stronger.'   
                   - (After much paraphrasing and reaaranging) Roger Martin