The wandering Mountain

It had been more than a year since the day Kuroyama had come home to both of his children butchered and his wife missing. He vowed that day that he would find his wife and kill all those responsible for the death of his cherished little ones. I had taken a lot of koku and many nights beating information from people as he received a name of his next target who might know any more information.

The trail had led him to Unicorn lands as Kuroyama and the trail had gone dead but the focused bushi kept moving looking for any signs not willing to give up. While sitting in an inn he overheard two samurai talked in hushed voices.

"They were all slaughtered. Every last one of them."

The other Samurai listed with wide eyes. "Do the magistrates have any idea what is happening?'

"I heard rumor is was a hungry dead but I thought Gaki didn't actually physically eat people though. And why leave the parents just wounded and dead. Why just eat the children’s flesh" the unnamed samurai swigs his beverage which is beginning to slur his speech just a little "I'm note really well versed in spirit lore though so it might be."

Kuroyama had heard enough. He had fallowed a trail of such incidents to this location always missing the event y a week or more. Standing to his full 6'2" height he walks over to the table and glares down at the two occupants. After a few seconds they realized that something big was blocking their light and looked up a bit started at the huge man when they saw his mon. One of them instinctually went for a sword but Kuroyama just stared at him with a bit of a scowl and e thought better. In a low but commanding voice Kuroyama spoke, "how long ago did this happen and where is the location of the killings?"

"Excuse me?"

In a flash Kuroyama grabbed that speaking man by his Kimono lifting him from his chair. "I want the one doing these murders. Where did this... disgusting act happen?"

The man began to sputter "it.. it was in a small town half a day ride... to the east two... two days ago"

Many thought passed through the Spider's head. He knew he was looking for a lone individual. Physical descriptions ranged too much to actually know what they looked like. The assailant always wore a black cloak and hood though so that was a bit of something. Far fetched tails of fangs and claws were common and from the wounds it just might be possible that the murderer was part beast. Kuroyama drop the man back into his chair and they both flinched when he reached into his bag and tossed a small pouch on their table between them "thank you samurai-san. This should cover you and your friend’s drinks for the night" The massive black clad man left the inn to the dark of the night.

Kuroyama was traveling to the small town where the crime that fit the one that he had been chasing for way too long now when he happened upon what looked to be a small camp a bit ahead as he got closer he heard screams being carried on the wind. Pulling out his ono Kuroyama quickened his pace.

when he reached the camp he saw blood soaking the ground as a somewhat small cloaked figure with long black talons plunged it's clawed hand through the chest of the last adult there as it looks toward the children with a slavering snarl. It growled inhumanly and ripped its bloody hand from the now dead man. as it slowly approached the children who were huddling in fear at the back of their tent Kuroyama ran up with a bellow of rage and swung his ono at the killer.

The axe connected but the target of his fury but it did not fall. It howled and leapt onto him raking at his armor taking chunks of bamboo away. Kuroyama and the beast struggle for soppier grip the beast flung him from it throwing him about 10 feet away. It's growled as he stood and grabbed his weapon then something odd happened. It howled but not in rage or aggression but pain and anguish.

He stood at the ready for more fighting when the creature stood up and removed its hood. The massive man was totally astonished as he looked into the face of the one he was hunting.

His wife...

She fell to the ground and began to sob as Kuroyama could only look on for the first time unsure if his strength could guide him through this.

His wife then spoke "I.. I couldn't face you. Not after what had happened."

Kuroyama spoke with confusion and rage in his heart. "WHAT HAPPENED, WHY ARE OUR CHILDREN DEAD"

Siryoko, his wife, looked down in shame, "A man came into our house. He... had his way with me and fed on our children as I watched. He then left thinking I was dead. I couldn't face you so I went to hunt him down and kill him before I would take my own life. While I was chasing him... Whatever he was I was becoming. He must have passed it on to me. I... hungered. As I killed my way across country trailing him I finally found him. We fought in the woods for hours before I finally slew him and I couldn't help myself, I consumed him.

Still looking down, Whatever he did to me a voice is telling me not to kill myself. I actually can't do it for some reason." looking up at Kuroyama with tear stricken eyes, "it is actually screaming for me to kill you right now," A snarl and growl, "but I won't do it."

Kuroyama now realizes that the monster he has been chasing for much of his journey is the very woman he loves. He would not kill his children's killer for she already had. She then speaks again, "please kill me Kuroyama. End this suffering. I love you. If you love me don't let me live like this." Siryoko then bows her head down into the perfect beheading position.

Kuroyama then walks to her side ono still in head and sets it on the ground next to her. Kneeling down he kisses her forehead, "I love you Siryoko. may you rest well". The huge man stands again grabbing his weapon. With tears in his eyes he swings his ono killing the being he love more than life itself.

After a few minutes of anguished though he hears some whimpering and remembered the two little ones in the tent. Moving to its opening he knelt, "come you can't stay here. This is a place of death now." the children still cowered in the back for a bit but the large man spoke softly. "come I will protect you." The two little ones finally came to him and he lifted them.

Kuroyama had passed a temple to the brotherhood about two days to the south and knew that the children would get a good home there. Upon reaching the temple the huge samurai led his two traveling companions to the temple master and explained the entire ordeal. Seeing how drained Kuroyama was both emotionally and physically with the hardships he had endured over the last year he offered him a place to stay for some piece and self thought. Kuroyama accepted and lived in the temple for a few years helping the local get through everyday life.

...not everyone with rage and pain is a monster.