Shadows of The Ghost

The Ghost Returns...

They sat around the campfire, under the stars, the only sounds were those of logs cracking in the flames and the crickets singing their nightly tune. There were four of them: Genso, Akai, Kurai and Nekros. None of them spoke for a while before Akai finally broke the silence.

"What will you all do when the war ends?" she asked. That night was going to be their last one spent around the campfire, for tomorrow would be the decisive battle against the enemy.

"Genso, you go first," Kurai told him.

"Why me?" Genso couldn't hide his confusion.

"Because you're most likely to listen to others speak and come up with something cool to one-up everyone."

"That's not true." Genso made a face, despite an inner feeling telling him that Kurai was right.

"Yes, it is. Look at your sword style, all those flashy moves, juggling your blades. No one uses a sword like that."

"That's just how I was trained."

"Will you answer the question already?" Akai thought out loud.

"Sigh." He leaned back, looking up at the stars. "I want to start a dojo, teach students to protect themselves, maybe even pass down the Hi Kenjutsu if they seem worthy."

"Oh God, not a whole group of idiots juggling swords; I doubt anyone will take you seriously." Kurai couldn't stop the grin from spreading across his face.

"What about you then?" Genso smacked him on the arm. "You'll probably go chasing after some woman and end up drowning yourself in wine!"

"That's true! And I won't regret a second of it!" His laugh pushed back the nervousness of the group, but only for a bit.

Genso grumbled, turning to Akai, "What about you, what are the Red Fox's plans for the future?"

"Actually," Akai began, failing miserably to hide her flustered face. "I haven't thought of anything yet."

No one spoke for a moment. Then both Genso and Kurai sighed at the same time.

"What?"

"You started this topic, you could at least have come up with something stupid," Kurai deadpanned. Genso nodded. Akai would have killed both of them then and there were it not for Nekros speaking up.

"I wanted to see the world," Nekros began. "Live a life of adventure, sail the oceans and all that."

"You get seasick, though," came Kurai's retort. "Heck, you'll probably keel over before you set foot on the ship!"

"Let me dream," came Nekros' half-hearted response, as he turned towards the stars and spoke. "Korishma tomorrow, the world the day after."

Genso woke to the sound of the door opening. He watched as Akai walked in.

"Oh, good, you're awake," she began. "Come on, we're heading out. Wear something light." She moved on for the second time that day without waiting for a response.

He stood, stretching, contemplating the dream. He hadn't dreamed of those last few days of the war for a long time, much less thought about it. He pushed away the memory and dressed, putting on his gauntlets and the shoulder pieces of his armour. He walked out, finding the sun hidden behind the horizon, turning the sky a beautiful shade of orange and red.

Akai told him to follow, and he walked with her. "Nekros?" she asked, staring straight ahead.

"Has to be, can't think of any other reason."