Full of trees.. Give or take a little woodlen animal or 50...

*Shi and Akuma ride into the woods on there horses and stop*
Shi: Man, I wonder what Aki is doing so far hmm *looks at Akuma* come on lets go check out Edo really quick *They both start riding into town*

*Aki came out from behind the tree, seeing Tetsuo rushing Hayate, he then decided to do the same, rushing up from behind the ronin.*

*Aki, Haya, and Shimensoka walked into the woods after keeping out of sight in the streets. Shimensoka was leading them towards the area Aki wanted the other generals to meet him at. It was going to be fun crushing Hayate's spirit. Aki smiled to himself*

Hayate, putting a hand on his head to secure his hat, followed the men. He was happy to have found an army...but something did not feel right. Perhaps this was the 'zenshin' Anzai talked about flaring up in Hayate. The ronin shook it off. Alot of times, Anzai's 'zenshin' flared up during false situations. Besides....Hayate's master was long gone.

The ronin continued to walk to the forest.

*Aki was hanging towards the back, following behind the two. They were almost there...*
*An army could be seen up ahead, though not untill they were close would Haya be able to recognize that it was Moritsune's. Once they were close enough...*
Attack!
*The samurai in front came forwards, towards Haya and several hidding in behind trees came out at his sides and behind him.*

Hayate raised an eyebrow at the sight of the uniforms the 'army' was wearing.....it seems an army had been found alright. But it was the army of Moritsune. The ronin had been lead into a trap, but for some strange reason....he simply smirked. He was surrounded by all sides, by many samurai.

"I knew it was a bit too good to be true..." Hayate said. Tipping up his hat, getting into battle stance....and placing a daito on his sheath. Hayate concentrated, waiting for the enemies to make their moves, while planning moves of his own.

"Seems we were tricked, Aki. Heheh...."

*Aki drew both of his swords and moved closer to Haya. He then took a swipe at the ronin's back with his sword.*
We?! We were not tricked. You however... *He grinned*

Hayate's eyes opened widely. He was in a bit of shock....however the emotional shock wasnt enough to freeze the ronin's body. When hearing the sound of the sword cutting through the air, Hayate immediately jumped a bit forward. Narrowly and barely avoiding Aki's blade, feeling it graze across his back, causing some cloth to fly in the air.

"......now I see...." the truth finally sunk in slowly....

The ronin was truly alone, no allies, no friends....nothing but enemies. All he could do is stand ready for battle.....and fight.

*Aki continued to smile* Attack him. *He stood back as the samurai moved forward and attacked. Their blades swiping at Haya, though not going for killing blows.*

Hayate leaned forward, concentrating. Yoshin's voice going through his mind. Hayate has both eyes closed...continued to concentrate. Then the samurai troops came rushing at him, swiping. Hayate opened his eyes.

Then shot forward. Noticing each samurai swung his sword oddly....not going for the kill. They were underestimating him....a grave mistake. Literally, it was one that was going to cause the troops to be put in graves....

Hayate quickly slashed forward, slashing, cutting, easily ripping apart most of the samurai. While remaining uninjured by their pathetic attacks. Hayate's advanced training being evident, right about now.

"...holding back....? Hrmph...."

*Aki's eyes narrowed slightly. They weren't hitting Haya, all they were managing to do was fall to his sword. He motioned for the next wave of troops to attack. If it kept up like this, he was going to have to fight Haya. The other generals also seemed to be taking there time getting here.*

Hayate tipped his hat down low again. Slowly counting all the enemies rushing at him....

8, 9, 10....13...14.....15. 15 samurai rushing at him with their swords drawn. Taking a deep breath in, the ronin slowly began to ponder how he would dispatch them....

One came rushing forward. Slashing forward. Too easy, Hayate stepped back, then sprang forward once the blade missed him. Hayate gave one quick slash on that troop's neck, dropping him. 3 more approached from the side. Hayate raised his sword to block their attacks, while side stepping with fancy footwork to be dexterent. Once he saw an opening, the ronin skillfully slashed his blade quickly. Slicing the chests on all three troops open.

2 charged Hayate from behind. Hayate simply turned around and slashed, quickly. Hayate's slash was so powerful it caused the sword's of the men to crack in half. As well as the flesh on their chest. While calmly remaining focused, Hayate slashed quickly. Making a cut in the wind, using a very basic samurai technique to kill another few troops.

"...hrmph...." Hayate said, as he saw more coming at him...

*Just a few samurai left now. Aki wasn't going to let a bunch of weak samurai troops ruin his plan. He ran forwards at Hayate, one sword aimed at his head, the other sword aiming for his legs.*

Hayate stared coldly into Aki's eyes. After he slashed through another samurai. Staring seriously, staring with hatred.

"I am going to kill you. Enemy. " He calmly said to the newest general. Getting into a stance, and noticing both of Aki's swords...Hayate quickly raised his blade to block the sword aimed for his chest, while he jumped away to avoid the blade aiming for his legs.

After hopping back, Hayate focused, holding nothing back, and sprang forward with a powerful vertical slash. The ronin's eyes, so very cold....

*He crossed both swords, catching Haya's blade with both of his. He managed to keep the swords over his head, though he wouldn't be able to keep that way for long. He glared back at Haya.* I'd like to see you try.
*He then ducked off to the side, pushing Haya's blade in the opposite direction, and taking a swipe at Haya's side.*

"More then happy to fill that request....!"
Hayate, knowing Aki was faster then him, concentrated on being defensive. Swinging his blade to meet Aki's to avoid being chopped up. Hayate knew he could beat Aki....all he needed was the right opening...

There, the ronin remained defensive...waiting for the right time to strike....concentrating fully on Aki.

All of a sudden, 3 darker figures entered the scene....well, they were about to. A laugh echoed through the forest, loudly. A certain red-haired general sprang forward into action....laughing as he unsheathed his two scimitars. Brandishing them with a devilish grin, Zhentig sped towards Hayate.

Showing no signs of stealth, the beserk general screamed as he ran. Fast. Aiming to slice the back of Hayate wide open....

Hayate heard the laugh. The ronin's eyes opened widely, once again. However....due to the fact that Zhentig knew nothing about the element of suprise or stealth, Hayate quickly ducked and rolled away from Zhentig. Dirt covering Hayate's suit, the ronin stood...looking at the red-haired general and at Aki....

damn it....

It's about time. -.- *He grumbled at Zhentig. He'd been waiting for the other generals to show up*
*He then ran at Hayate again, but this time not so much trying to hit him as he was trying to set him up for Zhentig's attack. He swung both swords and Hayate's right side, hoping to leave his left side open.*

Grunting, knowing it was going to get tricky now...Hayate raised his sword to block Aki's attacks, while trying to get ready for Zhentig's attack...

There wasnt much the ronin could do...he had to play pure defense now.

Grinning at the opening, Zhentig rushed forward with his scimitars. Going for Hayate's exposed sides...the general laughed as his swords outstretched, eager to chop away Hayate's flesh.

If that wasnt enough, from some trees, A small spiral of a wind blade shot out towards Hayate as well. Tetsuo stood calmly, with his sword. Walking into view now, having just done a technique towards Hayate. Grinning, the young boy did.

"Hello there, dear dear half-brother!" The spoiled boy yelled, as he laughed.

*Aki moved out of the way a bit, letting the other two get their attacks in. Aki then moved back in towards Haya, trying to bean him in the head this time with the hilt of his sword.*

Another shock went through Hayate's spine. Literally. Tetsuo's technique hit Hayate directly into the back. The small cyclone spiral threw Hayate off balance...

Zhentig's attack got through. Part of Hayate's side was cut open....not a big gash. Due to the fact that both Tetsuo's technique and Aki's hit sent Hayate forward. The ronin tumbled through the dirt, panting. Blood trickling down one side...a large bruise appearing on his back. Hayate growled, and with gnashed teeth he concentrated.

Aiming at both Aki, and Zhentig, Hayate slashed for times with alot of force. Doing the very powerful technique Hiko taught him long ago...

The four winds of hell. The attack that howled and screached through the air, loudly. It took alot of energy out of Hayate....but this situation was desperate.

*Aki'd seen this technique several times before, he'd even been hit by it. As soon as he saw Haya start it, he ducked behind a tree. He knew a lot of Haya's tricks and he wasn't about to let him beat him with them.*

Zhentig almost scratched his head when he saw the technique coming at him. The red haired general was hit by it, and flew backwards high into the air....getting cut pretty badly in the process. Tetsuo simply followed Aki's example, and hid behind a tree quickly.....

After the dust had settled, Tetsuo came and began to rush at Hayate.

Hayate stood panting, blood continuing to drip down his side. The ronin glared at Tetsuo and held up his daito...preparing to block...

From seemingly out of nowhere.....came 3 flying knives from the darkness of the tree. Each knife, coated in some sort of liquid. Mugatou now made his appearence, adjusting his eyeglass in usual Mugatou fashion.

"Pardon my delay...." the doctor said. Standing calmly, leaning agaisnt a tree. He looked at Zhentig, chuckled, then concentrated back at Hayate. While his knives were flying through the air, the doctor pulled his silver string from his ring....and was preparing for more attacking. While Tetsuo continued to rush, with Aki.

shit....!

Knives flew at him. Hayate swung his sword to block them....however one sunk deep into his shoulder. The one that was wounded already....

All it took was one of Mugatou's knives to cause a person huge damage...as Mugatou coated his knives in who knows what....

Hayate fell backwards, his defense totally dropping....becoming totally vulnerable for Tetsuo and Aki....

*Aki ran up behind Haya, seeing him weaken. He figured that the throwing knives were coated with something, since he knew Muga loved playing with all types of drugs. Both of his swords came down to rake Hayate down the back.*

Hayate, groggily, tried to swing his sword to block his back....the attempt utterly failing. Hayate was slashed down the back, falling forward suddenly. The blood flew from the wounds, and the ronin continued to gnash his teeth....cursing Akisu's betrayal as he fell forward.

As Hayate fell forward, Tetsuo laughed and appeared right in front of the lone man. There, the general quickly slashed Hayate across the chest. Working with Aki's attack in good harmony, and grinning at the bloodspray.

From afar, Mugatou checked up on Zhentig. After assessing that the red pyscho would be fine, the doctor looked at Hayate being cut up, brutally by Tetsuo and Aki.

"hey now....remember Moritsune-sama wants him alive....for now...."

After being slashed forward in the chest, Hayate flew back again....falling onto the ground, clutching onto his sword. The drug of Mugatou's knife was what was causing most of the damage....everything was blurring out as Tetsuo, Aki, Mugatou, and Zhentig did whatever they were doing to the ronin.

For once in his life, the man was truly helpless....

He's still alive, Mori just never said anything about him having to be conscious.
*He looked down at Hayate, grinning. This should show the idiot for not listening to him.*

Tetsuo shot a glare at Aki for a second. Correcting him.

"Please...address him by Moritsune-sama....after all, he is the leader of everyone here. But...you do have a point. Tousa...err Moritsune-sama didnt say Hayate had to be concious....heheheheh...."

Tetsuo walked over to the panting, bloody Hayate and kicked the ronin in the ribs. Just for the fun of it.

*Aki followed Tetsuo's example, walking over to Hayate and gave him a few good kicks in the back, mostly in his new wounds, also grinding his foot into them.* Now are the times I miss having a halberd, you could easily beat someone senseless with those. *He grinned and gave Hayate a few more hard kicks*

Hayate gritted his teeth, being beaten by the pain. The noises around him became a blur....he could feel his blood spill upon the earth. Each kick by Tetsuo, each hit by Aki....each one brought an eruption of pain, and a fresh bruise on Hayate's body. Hayate made no sounds of pain, however. No yelps, no yells, no screams. Instead, the ronin gnashed his teeth and squirmed.

The drugs continued to circulate through his body...making the world even darker...Tetsuo and Aki's hits also made the world spin more.

Everything was hopeless for Hayate, right now. He couldnt do anything except get beaten....though deep down, his hatred grew larger. He was definetely going to kill Aki, Tetsuo, Mugatou, Zhentig, Moritsune....if he lived through all of this, that is.

*Aki stopped kicking Hayate. The ronin looked to be out of it.*
Let's take him back to the fortress now. He's been beaten enough... for the moment.
*He sheathed his swords. He looked over to the few samurai that were still alive.* You two, *picking the closest two* take him back to the fortress, the rest of you, clean up this mess. *refering to the dead samurai strewn about.*

Mugatou was busy sewing Zhentig's wounds up. The red haired general twitched pyschotically every now and then. Nothing major. Tetsuo nodded to his small platoon.

"help in the clean up....Mugatou, Zhentig...lets go..."

The doctor and the pyscho nodded. And with that, the carnage in the forest, the plan Akisu had made was a complete success. All that was needed was to have Hayate get delivered to Moritsune...so the warlord could decide what to do from there.

All in all, it was a good bet that Aki would be given some rewards, as well as the other generals....for their complete success and flawless execution. They all marched back to the fortress of oppression.

Moritsune and the small number of his men galloped through the towns of Edo. Dragging Hayate along with them. Moritsune even decided to conviently take the longer, more scenic, route to the forest. One would wonder why...

Finally, the platoon arrived at the forest. Moritsune looked down at Hayate to see how the ronin was....