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War Of Shadows	By : TurtleNinja Category: +S through Z > Samurai Jack Views: 3353 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Samurai Jack, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Hub Four was silent. It was fitting. It matched the silence of our four-day journey. We probably could have just made a teleport, but both of us were mentally and physically exhausted. Neither of us were in any hurry to get to wherever it was we were going next.

We had buried Duncan and every member of his clan a short distance from his castle before we left. We had barely taken the time to eat or rest. Chimitsu wanted me to rest. She wanted me to eat. She did not attempt to make me do either. I was glad. Caring for my own health was last on the list of things I felt necessary. Every step reminded me of the fact that the ground I walked on now held my closest friends in its embrace. Every breath hurt, knowing that they would never breathe again. Every fiber of my being ached with the knowledge that their deaths were my fault.

I did not cry. Not once would I cry in front of Chimitsu, even if I had wanted to. Her own tears had never stopped until we had left the castle. They had silently rolling down her pale cheeks the entire time. Forced to sleep by the lack of strength, I had heard her cry herself to sleep. I think I shed a tear. But I could not be sure. For all the sadness I knew I should feel...all I felt was numbness.

Now we had arrived at the fourth largest city on the planet, hence its name, Hub Four. Central Hub, the city we had been forced to leave after our last encounter with my double, was the largest. After that, there were three other large cities besides Hub Four that I knew about, although I had not visited any of them.

Chimitsu looked to me as we entered the city limits. Her eyes were no longer bloodshot, but I could see the deep sadness in them. We both knew what was to come next, regardless of what had already passed.

We had to move on and continue the fight. Not because of any promise or will of our own, but because it was our duty. We neither one could afford to give up, not after coming this far. If we did, not only would our efforts have been for nothing, but all those children, the clan, the Triseraquins...all of them would have died in vain. That was a dishonor that would rest on my head.

"What do we do now?" I asked.

She shook her head slightly, looking around.

"I don't know," she admitted. "I'm quite sure there's a presence here but..." She sighed as she drew her eyes back to my own. "...Hub Four is a large city and they could be anywhere."

Her voice was so quiet, so gentle. And yet it did nothing to soothe the burn inside of me.

"We must find the next Elemental," I stated, eyes moving over my surroundings.

She hesitated for a moment.

"Jack..."

Slowly, I drew my gaze back to her and she forced a smile.

"Are you ok? Really? You..." She paused for a moment, hesitating. "You don't seem ready to fight."

I watched her, not speaking, then looked away.

"I have no choice," I answered quietly. "What other option is there? I cannot simply lay down and die."

"No," she agreed. "But perhaps...?" She sighed. "There is nothing wrong with mourning if..."

"Chimitsu, please," I interrupted her, realizing too late that I had cut her off. I was well aware of how rude that was, but it seemed my mouth had spoken before my brain had formed words. I looked to her, reading the lines of worry on her face. "Please. I am fine."

She studied me for a moment longer, and forced a smile.

"I suppose that is for you to decide," she relented.

The city seemed oddly quiet for as large as it was. We proceeded slowly, paying close attention to our surroundings. Although the endless lines of cars flying overhead had not stopped, there were few signs of distress, and nothing more than what would be expected of any city this size. There was no sign of any evil force here. There did not seem to be any signs of death or destruction or sickness or starvation. Everything looked...normal.

"This isn't right." I glanced to Chimitsu as she spoke. "This is..." She shook her head. "Something is very wrong here."

I glanced around again.

"Everything appears...normal."

Briefly, my mind flickered back over the works of the other Elementals, and I felt my stomach turn. There had never been any question that they had been at work in the cities they had overtaken.

I realized that Chimitsu was speaking and snapped out of my trance.

"I am sorry, Chimitsu, what did you say?"

She eyed me for a moment, another flicker of worry on her face, then she repeated herself.

"I said I'm sure a spell has been cast here. I can feel it." I glanced around for any signs of destruction. "I know my feeling's not wrong. I know they're here. But I don't...understand it."

Deeper into the heart of the city, we began passing bars and nightclubs, ignoring the threat of the bad neighborhood. Chimitsu and I were neither one afraid of the danger this area held. I kept my katana close at hand regardless, watching carefully for any sign of the last of the Dark Elementals. But there was nothing.

We slipped into one of the secluded alleys, out of view of any potential danger. I was confused. There was a spell here. Chimitsu could feel it. And yet, it had affected no one. I leaned back against the wall, eyes closed and head bowed as I watched Chimitsu pace a few times before settling.

"I don't understand it."

I found my eyes drifting as she continued, down from her face to her breasts and her perfect form, all the way down to her feet. What did she look like under that gown...? I realized where my thoughts were and immediately felt myself blush. I looked away quickly, and realized she was still speaking.

"...other side of the...Jack, are you all right?"

I glanced up at her, met her eyes, and immediately felt something stir inside of me. Had I never before realized just how beautiful those deep, emerald eyes were? She smiled and laughed slightly, and I shook my head, breaking out of the trance she had put me under.

"What?" I asked. "What is funny?"

"That look," she smiled.

"What look?"

"That look you just gave me," she replied. "I've never seen you look like that before."

She leaned back against the opposite wall, arms crossed loosely over her breasts. I caught myself staring again, but this time, I could not draw my eyes away. Her laugh had stirred something inside of me. Something that realized just how badly I needed her. There was a place inside of me that burned for comfort, burned for feeling. I was so numb, so cold, and in her eyes there was...life.

She smiled, watching me.

"Jack?" Her voice was so quiet. "What are you thinking?"

I shook my head as I looked away again.

"I was only..." I stopped myself. "Nothing. I apologize."

She stepped toward me, and I felt something inside of me tighten with excitement as I caught her scent, that sweet, calming fragrance that followed her around. I jumped as I felt her fingers on my forehead, brushing my hair back.

"You're sweating," she observed quietly.

"I know." I spoke before I considered it. But yes, I did know. I knew full well how quickly my blood was heating up. "I..."

"What's the matter?"

I reached up and took her hand, stopping the gentle fingers. My skin seemed to tingle where she had touched me. Slowly, I brought my eyes back to hers and realized just how close she was.

"I..." I struggled. "I have to.."

I took a half step toward her, pushing off from the wall, and kissed her hard. Her eyes opened in surprise, then slid closed again as I felt her fingers intertwine with my own. I could feel my heart beating faster, pounding against my rib cage as I lost myself in her kiss. The pain went away there, and I felt a fire running along my nerves like I had never experienced before.

Suddenly, everything that existed beyond her seemed so trivial. The mourning, the searching, the war...everything. I needed her. Badly.

She moaned softly, her other hand raising to stroke the side of my face and down along my neck as I kissed her deeply. For a moment, it was as if all else simply ceased to exist. No future, no Aku, no Dark Elementals, no war... I squeezed her hand gently and slid my other arm around her waist. I could feel the excitement settling in my groin as I massaged at the small of her back with my fingertips, then moved lower. My pulse was pounding, and I could feel my muscles tense up in anticipation as I held her close against me. Our tongues parried and wrestled with each other as her fingers moved up into my hair.

I suddenly realized then that I wanted her more than anything else at that moment. I wanted to lose myself with her, to feel the intense passion that I had never felt before I wanted to touch her everywhere, kiss her everywhere, to taste her skin and explore all of the hidden places of her body that I had not dared before to let myself imagine. I wanted- gods, I could feel my shaft hardening- to see her naked and spread out before me. I wanted to be inside of her body, gripped by the tight heat that matched the blazing fire in my veins. I wanted to feel her legs wrapped around me, to hear her scream. I wanted...so much more than I had ever had before.

We broke apart briefly to get some air, but I could not let her go for long. I pulled my hand from hers and held her hips, reaching around to cup her rear, trying to grind her against my hardening shaft. She smelled so sweet, felt so soft... My heart pounded wildly as I caressed her, dizzy with the heaviness of the desire I felt. I wanted a bed, but I knew I could not let her go for long enough to find one. No, I was going to make love to her right then and there.

Breathlessly, I broke away from the kiss, leaning down to kiss her neck and throat, my hands resting on her hips.

"Jack..." I barely heard her.

I could feel my fundoshi growing uncomfortably tight around my front as my lips worked over her. My hand rose up her side and cupped her breast, and suddenly she tensed up, pulling back.

"Jack, wait."

She sounded more insistent this time, and I let her go. I was still breathing heavy as I pressed back against the wall, dizzy with lust.

"What?" I managed between breaths. "What is it?"

I could still feel my pulse pounding.

"Jack, this isn't like you," she reminded me. "This isn't you. It's them."

I closed my eyes hard and breathed a few times. I could still smell her, still taste her. My fingers itched to touch her. But I heard her words, and knew what she was saying. The knowledge that I was being controlled by the presence of the last Dark Elemental did not make that control over me any less. I groaned as I pressed my hands back against the wall, fingers scraping the rough surface as they curled inward.

"This spell...is powerful..." I hissed through gritted teeth.

"It is," she stated. "But it has not affected anyone here because it was meant only for you. And..." She hesitated. "I suppose for me as well."

"But it does not...affect you," I reminded her, eyes still shut hard.

"That would matter very little if..." She did not finish.

I opened my eyes to see her standing a safe distance away, and the desire ebbed slightly.

"We have to separate," I managed. "Please..."

The closer she was to me, the more difficult it became to think. Now that I saw her standing a few paces back, I was realizing what had happened, and could feel a blanket of embarrassment settling over me.

She nodded.

"Surely we'll do each other more harm if we stay here with this spell of lust hanging over us than could be done to us alone."

"I will meet you on the other side of the city," I said, relaxing my grip on the wall as I closed my eyes, blocking out the image of her. "If we find nothing then, we go in and try again."

"Be careful."

I watched through half-lidded eyes as she unfurled her wings, taking flight. Eyes sliding closed again, I leaned my head back on the brick wall. Somewhere deep inside of me, I could feel my twin's laughter, and I growled audibly as I opened my eyes and glared at the wall across from me. The laughter faded out, but I was sure it was by no threat of mine, only the ebb and fade of my consciousness to his emotions.

I stared for a long moment at the wall in front of me and breathed slowly, relaxing my muscles. The pressure between my legs was fading slowly, but a quick glance down told me that it was not fading fast enough. I groaned. Chimitsu had seen that. Humiliation over the way I had acted panged through me, but I choked it back. Chimitsu knew that it was a force beyond myself that had been acting. My only fault was the inability to fight it. But I had been unable to subdue the lust as I had been unable to ignore the hunger pangs that had nearly brought me to my knees in the presence of the Woolies.

The remembrance of the Dark Elementals I had already faced brought my thoughts back to reality. I straightened and breathed a few more times, then straightened my kimono. I checked instinctively to make sure my weapon was in place, then looked around me, reacquainting myself with my surroundings. After a moment of hesitation, I walked toward the street again. Now I knew what I was looking for, though I still did not have the slightest idea of where to find it.

Clever these Dark Elementals were. It was beginning to become quite clear that they were the embodiments of the darkside of humanity. They encompassed both the emotions and elements that drove people to despair. Death, Famine, Disease, War, Lust... The pieces were slowly falling into place.

I remained on high alert as I continued on my way. The streets were quiet, and gradually, it began to dawn on me that there was a reason for that. The spell had not only affected me; it had affected the entire city. Now, it was as if everyone had locked themselves in their homes. I could almost smell the sex in the air. I considered that for a moment, then put the thought aside. If they were in their homes, regardless of what they were doing, they were much safer than any of the other victims of the Dark Elementals' spells.

Of course, there had to be people out on the streets. Not every person in the city could possibly be with their significant other. It would not have been logical even if it could be assumed that every person in the city was romantically involved to begin with. It was simply a matter of time before I found those not locked up in their homes. I shifted uncomfortably again and unconsiously reached for my katana, making certain it was still at my side before continuing. I worried much more for the confrontation with the last Dark Elemental than I did for meeting the stragglers.

That was until I met them.

Rounding a corner, I suddenly found myself face to face with a very large group of women. My eyes widened to the size of saucers as every one of them turned, and I felt the gaze of two dozen women travel up and down my body. Suddenly, in spite of the fact that I was fully dressed, I felt remarkably naked. I took a step back, my hand instinctively resting on my weapon, although I knew I could not use it.

"Oooh, look what we have here, ladies." one of them said.

"Mm...a delicious pretty boy all by himself."

I swallowed hard, and felt a cold sweat forming on the back of my neck as they appraised me like a piece of meat laid out on the table for devouring. Even a few alien races were amongst them. It did not seem to make too much difference to them that I was a different species.

"What say you, ladies?"

"I say he's ripe for the ravishing."

My nerves stood on end in anticipation of a fight. Another voice in the crowd was in a language I did not understand. I did not have to have any comprehension of the language to know that it was probably quite obscene. My left hand tightened its grip on the handle of my katana. Muscles tensed as my fingers flexed, but I refused to draw it. I had sworn years ago to never raise my katana against two types of people: women and children. Children, I did not raise my hand to for any reason. Women, I only made the exception to if they had attacked me first and proven they could handle fighting me.

"Ladies..." My voice was entirely too high for my liking, and I cleared my throat as I pulled it back down to where it belonged. "There really is not any reason for this. I am merely passing through."

"Passing through? Why not stay awhile and have some fun with us."

I swallowed hard. How on Earth was I going to get myself out of this one? I was already scanning my surroundings, looking for the safest direction to run.

"Well, I would really rather not, if you do not mind."

That was not going to work. I was sure of that much before I even opened my mouth to speak.

"Oh, but we do mind."

"We've been waiting here for you for awhile now..."

"...and it won't do for our guest of honor to be leaving the party so soon."

There was no way I could fend them off without injuring them, and I was quite sure they intended to attack. I was certainly not going to draw my weapon on them. Even if they had not been women, they were surely innocents, under the influence of Aku's emissaries. They were just as powerless against the spell as I had been. And like me, I had a feeling that these women would all be thoroughly embarassed once the spell wore off, and they realized what they had been wanting to do.

The haze of lust began to fill my mind again, empty desire directed toward a few of the prettier women. I swallowed hard and tensed. I needed to turn away, and run like hell. And if I did not act now, I might not have a chance before they rushed me. If that happened, I could imagine what might happen. It was something I did not exactly want to think about. None of us could afford to succumb to such a twisted, devious spell.

I spun, but did not have a chance to take a step before I felt a hand latch onto first my right sleeve, then my left. My mind raced wildly. A growing part of me wanted to let them tear into me like a pack of hounds. I could feel my pulse race a little faster as that image flashed through my mind. What would two dozen women do with one man exactly? But the instant I realized my thoughts, I forced them back. I needed to get away from here.

I found the strength to break free, leaving both my sleeves behind along with the tie that bound my topknot in their hands. I made certain that my katana remained in my obi as I dashed down the street. Behind me, I could hear them giving chase, yelling at me as I ran as quickly as possible. Each step led me further and further into an unfamiliar city, and I had no possible way of knowing where Chimitsu-chan could have gone. Even if I had known where she should be, I certainly did not know how to get there. I was lost, and becoming more lost with every step. But I had no choice. I certainly could not stay put...

I tore down the streets blindly, twisting and turning down back alleys in hopes of throwing the pack behind me off. But they were much faster, and more persistant, than I could have accounted for. I did not have the time or the energy to run from them forever. Finally, it occured to me that I had one avenue they would not likely follow, and I lifted one of the manhole covers in the street, dropping down into the darkened tunnel. I heard their cries of protest as I ran through the darkness, but they did not follow.

I kept running, no longer for the sake of escape, but in the hopes that I could separate myself from the stench. Now, I needed to get back to the surface. After some time, I reached a ladder and climbed up, looking around. Empty. The streets were deserted here and I found myself back in the seedy area of the city where I had last parted company with Chimitsu-chan. I doubted that she would have gone far. I had to find her. I was no longer concerned about finding the last Dark Elemental. She was far more a threat to me than she was to any of the inhabitants of this city.

I walked down the street with my left hand on my katana, alert to every sound and smell now. I could still feel the ebb and fade of desire as the pheromones high in the air. But the slight dizziness was not nearly enough to drive me to act on those emotions. I had been taught to be in complete control of my emotions at all times. Once again, I felt a hint of guilt and embarrassment at the way I had acted with Chimitsu earlier. I knew she would not hold it against me, but I very much held it to my own fault. I had not expected the spell, nor the intensity of it. I had been so busy looking for signs of destruction and death that we had not been paying attention to the lust that had slowly crept into my mind. Still, I should not have been caught so off guard.

With another sigh, I turned down another street, recognizing it as the one Chimitsu and I had been off of when we had parted company. I knew that I had said I would meet her on the other side of the city, but in no way did I desire to go back the way I had just come from. I knew what awaited me down that path and there was no use in reversing my steps back the way Chimitsu and I had entered the city. She would certainly not be that way.

I closed my eyes, trying to clear my head and think as to which way Chimitsu would have gone after taking flight. It was difficult to focus with the scent of pheramones and spell-induced lust clouding my mind. It took all of my training to force down emotions I had never felt before. It would not have been so unsettling had it not been induced by the spell in a very inappropriate situation.

My meditative focus was broken by the sound of footsteps hurrying my way and I tensed, reaching again for my weapon. They had not followed me through the sewers, but had they tracked me down again? My eyes scanned, and to my utter relief, I saw Chimitsu. I breathed out a sigh of relief, only moments before I came to realize the look of fury and hurt on her face. But she was walking fast, closing the gap between us before I had a chance to speak.

*SLAP*

I gasped and took a step back, blinking hard. It had not even occured to me to react until her hand had already lowered to her side again. It had stung, but I felt more shock than anything, wondering what I had done to drive her to do such a thing. My mind flickered to the events in this very alleyway less than an hour before, but she had not been angry over that when we had parted. My hand raised to my cheek as I stared at her, trying to figure out what I should think or say. Nothing seemed to fit with the angry, furious look on her face.

Finally, I regained my composure, recovering from the shock enough to realize that she was still standing there. She had not moved to walk away or attack again.

"Chimitsu-chan..." I struggled. "Wh-what on earth drove you to do such a thing?"

Her eyes turned ice cold, glaring at me.

"I should ask you the same thing."

I blinked, shaking my head slightly.

"What on earth are you talking about?"

She moved to strike me again, but I raised my arm to block it. I did not grab her wrist, only ducked away from her. Angry tears brimmed in her eyes.

"You and that cheap streetwalker in the alleyway," she hissed, holding her arm against mine. "Looks like you couldn't hold off your temptations for very long..."

I furrowed my brow, absolutely puzzled at her behavior towards me. I had not been in any alleyway with anyone, much less a woman for such a purpose. I had been running like hell from a group of women bent on having their way with me.

"Chimitsu-chan!" It took me a moment to find words. "I have been with nobody!"

She growled, snapping her hand away from me.

"Don't give me that!" she yelled. "I saw you there with her, all over each other in that alleyway!"

"But I..."

"You've been using me!"

Her eyes were filled with tears, and I wished I had the faintest idea what for. Whatever she had seen, it had certainly not been me. And how could she say...? Using her..?

"Why on earth would you think I was...?"

"You just want to use me to get to the Star and get yourself back home!"

My eyes widened at her accusation and I opened my mouth to reply, but she was not through.

"I've got news for you! You can complete this quest of yours on your own!"

"On my own!" I felt a wave of panic mingled with the absolute confusion, and I stared at her, wide-eyed. "Chimitsu-chan, you are making no sense! Listen to yourself! You sound like a woman scorned!"

"Perhaps I've been a woman scorned!" she yelled back. "You do what you've got to do as you wish!" Her voice lowered to a growl. "I hope she was damn good, Jack..."

"Chimitsu, I...!"

"I'm going to find Aku and take him down myself," she snapped back. "Elemental Law be damned!"

With a short burst of wind, she knocked me firmly onto my rump before taking flight, hurrying away into the sky before I could even think to take chase. For a long moment, I did not move, staring up in the sky in the direction she had gone. How on Earth could she accuse me of such a thing? I was utterly hurt and confused. It made absolutely no sense. How could she be so taken with jealousy before even knowing for certain that it had been me she saw? It most certainly had not been me!

I would never have done such a thing. Especially when she was the one I had wanted all along.
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War Of Shadows