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| >> Campfire Creative >> Fiction >> Fantasy >> ID #745216 |   |
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| [Introduction]
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Have a chat and get to know the other writers at "Invalid Item"  !In a land of honor, loyalty and courage, three Dark Shogun/Warlords have risen in preparation for a war against each other. Five warriors will answer the call of the people and stand up to fight them. |
 Akira Kureshida (This is not an entry! This is additional information.) You may take this campfire in any direction you please, but stay with the Japanese theme. You do not have to know everything about the Japanese culture, although it is set in a place likened to Japan, it is still a fantasy world. You may do anything with your character from tea ceremonies to kendo training; hot springs or cherry blossom viewing etc. But they must have some skill with the sword and they will have to link with the one of the other characters by the third entry. Although, traditionally, a Shogun was one supreme ruler of the military under the practically powerless Emperor, in this story there are three Dark Shogun. One for each separate part of the country which is broken up into three- the North, the South, and the Center Lands. PLEASE do not have ULTRA POWERFUL, ALMIGHTY, I-can-kill-everything-and-everyone characters! You may have some kind of powers and skillful sword techniques, but keep in mind if you do, it should also be obvious that your character trains hard or is descended from a powerful clan etc. *In Japanese, Kizuato means 'Scar' Everyone is to have some kind of distinguishing scar on them. Character bios The Light Akira Kureshida  *~Name: Nozomi Neki Gender: Female Age: 18 Weapon: Wakizashi- A silver samurai sword about half the length of a katana engraved with a dragon. Appearance: She has long dark hair, a pretty face, with a crimson streak running through her fringes. Nozomi has emerald eyes. She has a scar running down her right arm stopping at the tip of her middle finger. She wears a light pink kimono with cherry blossoms on it. She has a pastel pink obi. Personality: She smiles often and is very congenial. She likes people and loves to talk. She is graceful and loves to work on her kendo skills. Nozomi hopes to find love and one day bring great honor to her family name. Background: Her father was a samurai warrior and she trained with him as the heir to his clan. At the moment she has no love interests. She lives with her mother and father in a small village at the base of a beautiful mountain. In time someone will spread the word of the Dark shogun and that is where her destiny will take the ultimate turn… sunnyclouds *~Name: Yuki Arashi Gender: Female Age: 18 Weapon: A small womanly katana hidden under her obi, but she's actually really good with poison and uses many needles dipped in her very own poisons. Many of them are deadly but most are just to numb or make the victim delirious. Appearance: Short black hair with cascading bangs that go from just above her eyes to at least five inches longer than the rest of her hair when it nears the ears. Her eyes are large for a Japanese and cheek bones distinct upon her pale skin. A thin frame but stands strong and proud. Many scars run down her back from her younger days but not many know about it. Her kimono is midnight blue with classic designs of darker gray. Her obi is a lighter shade of blue. Personality: Friendly, motherly type. She doesn't speak of her past a lot but loves to listen to people who need someone to talk to and has a strong mind against the wrongs of the world. Background: She used to live with her farming parents and helped them out every day in the rice patches but got whipped by her father along with her two older brothers and younger sister. One day, things just became a haze and she found herself standing outside the house with her brothers and sister at her side, watching the house burn before her. In her hand was a torch. Since then, she'd lived with her brothers and the four of them have a food-place running in the center of the city. mirror on the wall ~’Name:’~ Kioshi Shiro Raidon (Second Last of his clan) ~’Meaning of Name:’~ Kioshi = Quiet (Personality). Shiro = Fourth Born Son (Successor). Raidon = Thunder God (Clan’s Meaning) ~’Gender:’~ Male ~’Character Role:’~ Ninja ~’Kizuato:’~ Has a scar symbol of his Clan on the top-right corner on his forehead, two centimetres in width and length. Symbol = ﻺ∫ ~’.Age:’~ 16 ~’.Appearance:’~ 5’5 tall. He has straight dark black hair, though in light a blood red tint runs through. Its length is a bit past his ears, a little untidy, and lies over his head like a spider. He possesses silvery jet-black eyes and wears a long black hooded jacket, with two slits at the back that run up to the lower part of his thighs, with baggy black pants and t-shirt. On both wrists he wears black silver straps where his daggers are kept, woven inside them, and black strap boots. His face shape and eyes is what makes him handsome yet his expressions are mostly straight and he is rarely seen to smile. ~’.Personality:’~ He is distant from people, except with his Master Hiroshi who is old (65), who also carries the blood of Raidon. Kioshi’s only thoughts are secret. He doesn’t trust anyone except Master Hiroshi; they share a special friendship, though it doesn’t stop Master Hiroshi being strict on him. Kioshi is very determined and hard working. ~’.Weapon:’~ Kioshi has possession of a silver samurai sword, a bit less than a meter in length. The handle of this blade is woven in leather of blood red and black that crosses over, and also has a bell tied in red thread around the handle. In the Raidon Clan, using a bell on the handle of a samurai blade allows you to know your faults when in use. It tells the speed and action of the katana. It is said, in the Raidon Clan, that a good warrior will not let the bell make a sound when in use and when the action of the blade has stopped. ~’.Background:’~ Master Hiroshi found Kioshi unconscious when passing through the destroyed village of Raidon, coming home from a trip. He took him in as a child (age 6) when his village had been found burned down and the villagers killed. Master Hiroshi has been teaching Kioshi the ways of the Clan and fighting style of which the Clan used. Kioshi doesn’t know who he is yet, being the successor of his Clan. archyou2 *~Name: Saemon Kigawa Gender: Male Age: 31 Weapon: Katana Group Role: Mediator(skilled more with words than the sword) Appearance: Stands at 5'10 and 145 lbs. Short black hair combed back. Brown eyes. Thin. Wears a formal(not samurai) dark blue robe. Personality: Very serious about most things. Possesses great wisdom and intelligence. No-nonsense. A good ol' "stick in the mud". Background: One of the richer nobles born during the civil war along time ago. He was spared when he was taken away from his manor before it was burned down. Retreated to another village and raised by the mayor. Is well educated and also learned the ways of the sword, though he believes in words over swords. Became a diplomat for the Emperor... nightlegend *~Name: Aya Gender: Female Age: 17 Weapons: Two daggers and her own two fists. Appearance: Aya has long black hair that she keeps braided but refuses to cut and chocolate brown eyes. Her lips are very full and pouty, she has a thin scar on her back. She is quite tall also. Personality: She is fairly energetic when it comes to fighting but mostly very calm otherwise, she has a need to prove herself and to show that she is good enough to all those that think otherwise. She is reluctant to open up, but given a chance and a good reason she will. Background: Aya was abandoned when she was only a year, left on the doorstep of a family with five boys, all older than her. She was lucky enough to be left with a family that took her in. They gave her only a first name since they didn't know her true last name and they did not want her bearing their last name. It is because of the five sons that she learned to fight, to prove to them that she was good enough. The scar on her back was acquired when climbing down a cliff instead of taking the path down, just to show that she could. She was never really accepted into the family, they took care of her but none of them really cared about her, except for the youngest son. He went along with his brothers and taunted her and so on but he was her friend in secret, and helped her with her fighting skills a little. The family is currently trying to find her a husband that will take her off their hands now that she is old enough. The Dark krispyangelz *~Name: Kage Sasayaku (Shadow Whisper) Gender: Male Age: 23 Weapon: A black and gold katana, with a blade that is tinted blue. He has a black dagger. Appearance: Kage is tall and muscular. He often looks intimidating and his expression in battle is usually one of fierceness. He carries his main weapon by his side, with a dagger strapped around his thigh. He wears the traditional armor of a samurai, colored onyx. He has a silver scar running diagonally across his lips. He has spiky grey and ash-blue hair while his eyes are marbled with the same colors. Away from battle, he often smiles when something amuses him and his eyes will glint with little creases of mirth at the sides. Personality: Although he is dark and inexpressive during battle, he has a love for beauty and nature away from it, and his personality is surprisingly kind. He is charming to most people. He takes his training seriously and has a passion for swordsmanship. He loves to draw when he is not fighting. He is sincere and honorable. Background: It is because he is still young that the people around him patronize his ability to take his late father’s role as Shogun of the North. His father was not a respected Shogun, as people often said he did nothing significant for his country, besides courting women and drinking. In one week Kage will become Shogun and he plans to bring his family honor and respect, proving to everyone that he will be the greatest Shogun that ever lived, in spite of his age. fyre *~Name: Kano Sukasa Age: 20 Gender: Male Weapons: His primary weapon is the Naginata (almost like a sword except the hilt is half the length of a spear), but he hides two silver Butterfly Swords (like a short sword) in his robes. Appearance: He has long dark hair down to his waist, tied back to keep it manageable. He wears dark robes, but keeps it open chested. A Japanese character on the back is etched in gold meaning "energy". His eyes are a nondescript brown, unremarkable usually but fiery when he is passionate. His skin is a light shade of brown as well. He has a small scar, the shape of a quarter-moon along his left eyebrow. Personality: His loyalty runs as deep as a one's pocket. Only the most influential trust Kano and that too is a rarity. He is easy going and conversational, usually sarcastic, but rarely ever dark or moody. Kano enjoys befriending everyone, even his enemies which he must defeat, so most find his personality to their liking, minus his easy change of heart in alliances. Background: Kano was brought up as a Sholian monk in a monastery in the Central heart of Japan. When one of the dark shoguns destroyed his home, he used his training and special abilities he had learned as a monk, which consists of martial arts, channeling energy, and talking to the spirits all living things possess, and with those abilities he went to fight the shogun. The Shogun won because of a well placed trap, but he spared Kano seeing as how the boy could be of use to him when he grew older (at the time he was 17), and so decided to employ the boy as a mercenary. Kano took the job readily and has been selling his sword and power ever since... rivalen *~Name: Yami Himura Gender: Male Age: 47 Weapon: A double bladed staff. A dagger sized knife with jagged edges is on both ends of the weapon. It has guilded with gold, but the blades on its ends are black obsidian. Yet, he has a single katana at his side. Appearance: He has long flowing back hair, down to his waist. He does not bother to tie it back like most men. Streaks of silver hair flow throughout the darker strands. He does not look his age, he looks more like he just turned 30, yet his face has a hardened look of a veteran. He is not handsome; his appearance is always formidable and foreboding. He is never seen without his shogun armor, which consists of black and gold plated mail. Personality: His personality is just as formidable as his appearance. He rarely smiles and is quite serious. If he is ever humorous, it's always tainted by a dark quality. He is bent on one thought constantly, and that is domination. Background: He had killed the previous Shogun that controlled the majority of the South, and took over most of the regimen by force. Other shoguns throughout the years had flocked to him for aid and through agreements, found themselves bound to him for a lifetime for what little aid he gave them. He became influential, and only one or two shoguns could even begin to talk about how their power came to match his armies. He is currently at war with Kano in the Center Lands, but fears the man because of what claims he has heard that the man possesses dark powers. hinatahyuga *~Name: Kuma Kasumi – (Clan of the Kasumi- Not a Shogun) Age: 40 Ninja abilities and weapon: A weaker version of mind manipulation (weak minds) compared to his brother. He is able to predict certain future events. Kuma and his kitten share a special power. They are able to connect with each other by Kuma’s strong mind control. He uses a red-handled katana, the blade is stained red with dried blood of all his victims. It is somewhat blunt to inflict more pain than most katanas. Appearance: Red spiky hair and brown eyes. Black material covers the bottom half of his face. He has black rings around his eyes. He never sleeps because continuous predictions come to him in his sleep. All black clothing. Personality: He has an obsession with the Raidon Clan. He hates them because he knows they’re more than good, but figures as they don’t sell their skills, they are useless. He has mysterious hatred towards Raidon and finds it a challenge also to be able to kill them. He is cold blooded and loves to kill for no reason. He has a brother, Keisuke, but brother only by clan, not of blood. He is extremely powerful, most people would do well to stay away. Name: Keisuke Kasumi Ninja abilities: Aim and reflex are brilliant. Manipulation of the mind. His weapons are throwing stars and daggers dipped in poison and a katana, which is blood stained and red-handled. He carries poison. He cannot predict the future. Age: 36 Appearance: He has a raspy voice, and brown hair tied up, which spikes at the back. The bottom half of his face is covered by black material. He has light grey eyes. Personality: Cold blooded like his brother, Kuma. He enjoys killing. Both like to leave blood on their blades from their kills, so the blood hits their nose before another kill. They like to taste the blood of their victims. He disappears at night; nobody knows why. Side Characters Dark Grey kitten: Kurai It belongs to Kuma but no one knows how he got it or where it came from. It has many poisons inside its blood and releases them through its saliva and claws. It is evil and extremely clever. It has a connection with Kuma but it doesn’t seem to like Keisuke. Oni - Kano's brother, assists in the management of the Center Lands at times. Rinna - A beautiful and mysterious mercenary for hire. She may still be alive... Light Name: Hiroshi Raidon (He is the Raidon’s best known warrior) Age: 65 Weapon: The same katana as Kioshi, except a dark blue and black leather handle and same red threaded bell. Appearance: He wears all dark grey clothes and cloak. He has short grey hair with silver jet-black eyes and the same scar on his forehead. Personality: Is strict with Kioshi and strong-minded. Has a good sense of humour when relaxed. Hiroshi believes in Kioshi’s worth but has trouble trying to teach Kioshi to clear his mind. It clouds Kioshi’s training. Background: Hiroshi was a warrior from the last war. He was good friends with Kage’s grandfather at the time. The war ended at the time the Raidon clan was destroyed and slaughtered. Hiroshi found Kioshi unconscious. Hiroshi has kept this a secret from Kioshi and trained him to be strong-minded, which there is no doubt he is. Uyeda Sasayaku - Kage's father. He seems undisciplined and rather brutish but there may be more to him than that. Masakazu – One of Kage’s retainers. Strong and loyal, but bad-tempered. Haru – One of Kage’s faithful retainers. He has been with them for some time. Loyal, congenial and is one of the very few people who can ease Masakazu’s temper. Zoku - One of Kage's youngest retainers. Ari – One of Kage’s lead men. He is loyal and pragmatic. Shinji (24), Takashi (22), Ayaki (16) – Yuki’s older brothers and younger sister. Taro, Masuyo, Yoshi, Akio – Four of Aya’s five adoptive brothers. Somewhat cruel and abusive. Kichiro – Aya’s friend and fifth adoptive brother. Considerate and kind. Ara - Old fortune teller based in the slums of Murama. This campfire is full! ^_^ mirror on the wall ‘We travel, for what feels like an age to no particular location. The roads are unlimited for our feet to pass on. ‘Dwellers,’ who roam the northern roads of Japan, you could say,’ Kioshi thought dully, as his Master Hiroshi slept through the starry night of the early morning, while he lay by the glowing of wood, that was once a flaming fire. ‘…Wasting our time, training for a nameless occasion. Passing through small, poor villages, grabbing what we can afford of rice, and then back to stalking woodlands at night, keeping low profiles. “Patience” Master Hiroshi says…and patience I am running out of.’Kioshi sat, staring at the dying glow of the fire. The morning air was cold and heavy even though no mist was visible. He gathered some twigs from around him and chucked it into the dull warmth of glowing ash. He then looked around, searching for a stick, which he found at the foot of Hiroshi’s sheets and prodded the ash, encouraging it to once again awake the fire that it had been before. But it did not light. Kioshi brushed back his black hair that shimmered red, from his sleep-deprived eyes and sunk back into his thoughts. ‘How long do I have to sit here and wait for the sun to rise?’he asked himself as he looked up at the sky that was half hidden behind the orange leaved trees. Kioshi reached over to his belt and opened a small pouch; inside were two silvery black straps, which he pulled out and tied onto his wrists. He pulled two daggers out from the belt and slid them into each strap. Kioshi then gripped his jacket that lay beside him, put it on with a swing over his shoulders and set off into the woods. After what felt like fifteen minutes, making his way over thick tree roots and low branches towards a nearby stream, noticing that all the animals remained sleeping in the silence. The trees, bushes and shrubs grew lesser as the sound of water crashing against rock made its way to his ears. He pushed aside a branch of a tree and saw the stream flowing endlessly. Beyond from where Kioshi stood, (the branch still held aside with his hand) was a smooth rock ledge. Kioshi walked out onto the rock ledge as his eyes caught something, getting his attention almost instantly. Kioshi had come to the lake to get food, thinking he would have to go fishing the hard way, but was pleasantly surprised to find the fish in this stream jumped out of the water as high as they could, arching through the air and down again. It was as though the fish were competing against each other on who could jump the highest. Having a sudden idea, he lined himself in front of a tree on the other side of the stream and sat waiting, his daggers out and ready. A fish jumped out of the water, lined between him and the tree and as he was about to strike, a second fish jumped out too. Kioshi’s actions were so swift; it would have appeared as though he threw his daggers almost carelessly. The daggers pierced the fish’s necklines and carried them through the air towards the tree with a clunk. The daggers, with the fish wriggling from them, had stabbed into the tree. Both fish slapped their tails against the tree and he watched, as their actions became feebler. Kioshi jumped across the stream with little effort and pulled the draggers from the tree trunk. He took off the fish, which were now dead, and cleaned them in the water of the stream as he gutted them. Before leaving, checking twice that the fish were clean, he pulled a rag from his pocket, placed the fish into it and wrapped them up as he gathered some water from the stream. He pulled a bottle from inside a pocket of his jacket and filled it with water. Kioshi jumped back across the stream and walked back to camp. When Kioshi arrived back at camp, he could see Hiroshi had already lit a fire and sat by it, warming his hands. Hiroshi looked up at him as he neared. He could see he was just about to put on some rice as his eyes wandered over to two thick logs that were placed next to the fire. Hiroshi, having mostly travelled all his life after the last war had died, had learned clever ways to survive out in the middle of nowhere. The rice steamer, which Master Hiroshi made, was placed beside him. The steamer sat underneath a basin, which was a perfect fit for the shape and size of the steamer. Kioshi sat down next to Hiroshi. “O-hayo, Kioshi-san,” Hiroshi greeted sleepily. “Morning, Hiroshi,” he replied. “I was hoping you would bring water,” Hiroshi said, spotting the bottle next to Kioshi’s side. Kioshi placed the wrapped fish in front of him and then handed the bottle to him. “Here,” he offered. “I’ve brought fish for us to eat also,” he muttered. Hiroshi took the bottle, opened it, tipped the water into the basin, pulled off a pouch from his own belt and poured whatever was left of the rice in. He closed the lid. “We’ll have to go into town today to get more rice,” Hiroshi said frowning slightly and turned to face Kioshi. “You didn’t sleep.” He did not look at Hiroshi, and instead fixed himself upon the fire. “I know,” he replied as he held his hands out to it. Kioshi knew Hiroshi was looking at him carefully and was desperate not to catch his eye. Although Hiroshi had caught Kioshi’s need to be left alone and stood up to lift one of the logs up over to the other side of the fire. Kioshi watched him for a moment as he struggled. Master Hiroshi- before Kioshi’s eyes- seemed to look as though he was withering away and looking older more often over the months. “No, leave it, it’s okay. I’ll do it,” Kioshi said, getting to his feet. Hiroshi sat back down and sighed. “Thanks,” said Hiroshi. Kioshi placed the log on the other side of the fire, opposite the other log, and then sat beside his Master as he had placed on top of the logs a metal tray and the rice steamer. As he did, Kioshi unwrapped the fish from the rag and chucked them over the hot metal tray and watched as the rice steamer began to steam. They ate their food in silence and set off to the village of Hokai shortly after finishing. “Put your hood over your head, Kioshi, we want to be quick while being in Hokai – we don’t want to draw attention to ourselves,” Hiroshi murmured as they made their way through the small village of Hokai. There were very few people that roamed the streets, none rich and all peasants, wearing all the same looking shabby rags for clothes. Hiroshi stopped in his tracks as he spotted what looked like a small open shed, selling all kinds of grains of rice. Hiroshi bought a pouch full of rice and turned to leave the store, though as they went out of the shed, a man who had been leaning on the side, caught Kioshi’s eye. The man was tall and his face concealed in shadow from a dark cloak and hood that he wore over his head. Even though Kioshi couldn’t see beneath the hood, he had a strange intuition that he might have been watching them the whole time and still watching them carefully as they passed. Suddenly, the hooded man grabbed hold of Hiroshi’s shoulder. Kioshi had his hand on the handle of his katana before he even realised he had moved. Hiroshi grabbed Kioshi’s hand, though he did not look at him. Instead Hiroshi waited intently; his eyes fixed on the figure in front of him. The man came close to Hiroshi’s ear and began to speak softly, though Kioshi caught every word. “Our allies, the Center Lands are warring with the South. Master Hiroshi, would you be willing to fight in another war as you did with my grandfather?” the man whispered. Kioshi watched as the light fell on the bottom half of the man’s face revealing his lips with a scar running diagonally down them. Hiroshi closed his eyes as he sighed. “Your grandfather was an honorable man, all the Sasayaku Clan were,” Hiroshi paused, “but I have no business with either side. I cannot interfere with their war. I have more pressing matters to attend.” Kioshi's head rushed with thoughts. He couldn’t understand why they could not fight when he had been training so hard and for so long. “Wait!” Kioshi interrupted. The Last Spirit Kano levelled his naginata at the nearest warrior. His sharp eyes seemed to size up the two before him. Steel cut through the misty autumnal air. The steel tip of Kano's naginata slammed against the spear of the first warrior from the South. The second was kicked deftly in the stomach. Kano swirled around, the mist snaking around his body, and crushed the now winded second warrior's face with the butt of the naginata."Katori!" screamed the female samurai, quite a rarity in the fact she was a woman. In the South you would be put to death for such an act. "Ah, no need to worry about him," Kano said in a mild tone, glancing at the man who twitched feebly on the dead leaves and flower petals of the forest. He regarded the female with some sentiment, for he had lost someone once too. "I will kill you!" she swore, and raced forward, her katana reflecting her blazened hatred. Kano regarded the woman still as mildly as before. His eyes not betraying any emotion. She stopped in her charge as if a sudden idea had struck her. Her eyes started to unfocus and glaze over. Her sword fell limply from her right hand. "Kato-" she breathed and fell face first into a slow running stream of water, her blood clouding the once pure water. "And so ends the lives of all who oppose us from the South," a nonchalant voice commented from the side. Kano turned to see his brother, Oni. "It would seem that way," Kano replied. He sheathed his naginata onto his back, his dark robes, still showing him to be a monk of the forgotten order of Sholian. He pulled his dark hood over his face, and walked alongside his brother. "The onslaught from the South is getting bolder everyday. The opposition seems endless, and yet they all fall. Our numbers have barely shifted in casualties." Oni informed Kano needlessly, Kano had heard of it far too many times to care anymore. "You know that is only because we are neutral with the North and the South is cut off from the North and so it has few supplies," Kano pointed out. Oni waved away the explanation. "Rumors seem to be flying about the place about the new shogun in the North..." Oni whispered, suddenly in hushed tones now that they approached one of the many Center Lands outposts made by some of Kano's personal military. Although Kano was not an official shogun of the Central Lands, few dared to oppose him for the title. Those that did found their heads floating in a nearby river. "You mean Kage?" Kano questioned conversationally. His spirits rose now that his mind was off fighting. Oni nodded. "You did some dealings with him in the past if I'm not mistaken..." Oni said. His eyes roamed across the men encamped nearby, they bowed as the two men passed, more out of the fact that Oni was there, few noticed that it was Kano who walked with him, the tell-tale naginata was the only hint since his face was still hooded. "Yes, and once he is shogun, the North will no longer be neutral. It will be allied with the Center Lands." Kano said under his breath so that only Oni would hear. Oni raised his eyebrows in interest. "What of the other powers in the North? Won't they oppose this? If we crush the South..." Oni trailed off as they entered Kano's tent. "Do you think that anyone can oppose our combined forces?" Kano questioned, but he noted the look on his brother's face, "I will not be so foolish as to fight two sides of Japan at once! I have this all thought out. Diplomacy will be used first before anything else. The North would not want my undue attention anyway. I am not the only power of the Center Lands that would itch at a chance to attack if pushed." Oni smirked at this. "I see you have a plan..." Oni said. "I'll be going on a little trip to the North. I feel my presence is required..." Kano told his brother solemnly. He had a small pack around his waist, and the tinkle of gold reached Oni's ear. "I shall lead until you return...and I know what you'll say, don't underestimate the South even while we are in the lead," Oni said. Kano smiled from beneath his hood. He turned and vanished out of the tent. Oni wondered with slight interest what business Kano spoke of however. ~*Sayuri From underneath his hood Kage studied the boy not much younger than himself. He recognised the strange scar on his forehead, realizing that he must be a descendant from the once great clan of the Raidon that were no longer. It disappointed him that the boy was the last, along with the old man he called his master, and that these two powerful rarities were not going into battle with him. The boy called Kioshi suddenly intervened; as a result he received a sharp glance from his master. Kage remained silent, listening. The noise of the village seemed to still as Kioshi fought for his right to join the war. “Why can’t we help the Center lands fight? I want a chance to prove my worth. What have we been training for? This is the opportunity we’ve been waiting-“ Hiroshi growled for him to be quiet. “It is not your place to speak of these matters with me! This war is not ours to fight and you are barely a man, let alone a warrior. What do you know of battle?” Kage could read the regret in Hiroshi’s eyes. “Battle! I know it’s more honorable than stalking woodlands and catching fish.” Hiroshi’s face seemed to redden before he remembered that Kage was still waiting. He bowed to Kage slightly. “Forgive me for the boy’s disrespect. It seems I have been training him too long with the sword and not long enough with his manners. Until we meet again…” Kage bowed respectfully. The old man’s feet crunched the gravel as he spun around to leave. Face-to-face with Kioshi, Kage looked deep into his eyes and saw fierce determination. Kage spoke softly, his voice deep and gravelly. “My home is in the western outskirts of Hokai, near Murama. One bridge over and you will face the first gate of the Sasayaku home. Until we meet again.” Kioshi turned to see the retreating back of Hiroshi and half-bowed to Kage before following him. Kage traced a fingertip over the scar running down his lip. He reached up and drew his hood away. He placed a hand on his sword by his side idly and wondered for a moment if he should return home but decided against it since it was still early in the afternoon. A woman who must have been a decade older than him slowed down as she walked past, staring at him, and gave him a smoldering look. There was only one thing she could have in mind. He scratched his head uncomfortably, smiled slightly and turned away while his face burned. Kage mounted his horse and rode with no particular place in mind towards the south. As the landscape passed by, he marveled at the elegant beauty it possessed. As far as he could see lay vast hills of green grass and like patchwork, squares of abundant crops could be seen with small dots that he identified as farmers working the fields. Even further out in the horizon he could see the line where the land meets the sea and turned his horse towards it. This is the land I love and will protect for as long as I am Shogun, he thought. He came to a beach and dismounted his horse. Leading it along the soft white sand, he listened to the sound of waves, the cool breeze stroking his face. A moving figure further along the beach caught his attention and he stopped. A glint of a sword told him it was someone training, in graceful sweeps of the sword, the figure looked almost as if it were dancing. Curiosity took hold of reason and he moved off the sand, into the thin line of trees that separated the grass and the shore, to stay hidden. Kage tied his horse to a stable branch. He crept along the shoreline behind the trees towards the figure, making sure he was out of sight. As he came closer, the figure took form. He drew in a breath. A beautiful woman with long dark hair and crimson running through her fringes was training with a silver samurai sword. She wore a traditional kimono coloured light pink, with cherry blossoms embroidered into the fabric as though they were dispersed in the wind. She was deep in concentration as she fought against an imaginary adversary. In rhythmic motions she would attack and defend, and then on impulse, she would move into a series of swift and skillful moves. Kage stood transfixed behind a scraggly tree, watching her through the scrawny foliage. He must have watched for another ten minutes before realizing what he was doing. Stalking her. I’m worse than my father. He shook his head. Not worse than his father. Never. But as much as he willed himself to leave the woman alone, he would then persuade himself to stay. A while later, she stopped training and sheathed her sword. She turned to look out over the ocean and tilted her head back, taking it all in. She was leaving. Kage frantically searched for a way to draw her back but resisted, his pride kept him from revealing himself. As she walked away, he felt a tugging sensation inside himself and stepped forward. All went black and he fell forward, taking his first step into the path between worlds. The path between worlds was the road between life and death. This is not right. The path between worlds is for those who are taken by the angel of Death. Did I…die? He swirled around, not wanting to move, around him lay infinite darkness and a road of light leading and twisting into nowhere. He forgot who he was, he forgot his purpose, his life and memory drained away and he was left with his present thoughts, the shell of being. “You’re not supposed to be here,” a tinkling sweet voice said. “Only the lost and gone come here.” And then a girl in the distance appeared, walking away. A familiar woman in a pastel pink kimono with cherry blossom flowers on it. He walked towards her. The path between worlds disappeared and Kage returned home. A Sage of Vega Flames burned and smoldered the air, smoke swirled ominously, obscuring his vision. Yami Himura, a shogun of the South, lie bloodied and bruised against the shattered trunk of a tree. Yami closed his eyes knowing that the spine of his forces that were currently in the front had been broken and soon Kano would be able to advance upon him undaunted.A recent flurry of attacks had been raining down upon the South from Kano's brother, Oni, and so Yami had come with his personal guard seeking to crush the hot blooded samurai who was nowhere near the diligence of his counterpart. The battle had been lost, but Yami and the brunt of his forces had lived. "Kano is not with Oni. Our spies report that he has gone North...alone," Yami's messenger reported. "And our assassins?" Yami questioned. The bloody scene of battle behind him no longer concerned him. Oni's forces were already advancing elsewhere. "Katori and-" the messenger coughed without saying the female's name, "have failed." Yami's eyes burned darkly as if they were embers. "Do they know if he is on foot?" Yami demanded. The messenger stumbled for a moment over his thoughts. "Yes, he is...but we do not know for how much longer. He seems to not want his identity-" but Yami did not linger to listen to the final words. He was already leaping upon a horse that was tied to a spear in the ground. "Inform my second-in-command I shall be attending to other business. I will ride to meet Kano, he must be close if Oni can attack us this soon after he leaves." Yami urged his horse forward as he cut the ropes binding it with a single swipe of his double-bladed staff. "To the North!" the messenger shouted as Yami's horse galloped into the forest. archyou2 "You have need of me, Emperor?" asked Saemon, bowing reverently.They were in the Emperor's palace in Edo. The throne room wasn't as grand as one might think, but the Emperor said he found it likable compared to great throne rooms that wasted money. The Emperor sat on a chair several feet higher then Saemon kneeled. "Yes, my faithful servant Saemon. How long have you been here now?" asked the Emperor. "I have been your Imperial messenger for ten years, I believe," replied Saemon. "And how goes your scar?" he asked. Many years ago, Saemon made visits at the Emperor's command, on suspicions that his shoguns might be rallying against him. He had visited the other two, Kano and Oni, when he came to Yami. Saemon told him of the possible charges against him and Yami let out his anger. A slash to his chest changed the thought of Saemon. Yami threatened him that if he ever told anyone what happened, he would personally seek him out and kill him. Saemon just said that he fell down a hill, a sharp rock sliding past his chest. "It is fine, Emperor," said Saemon, still bowing. "I have another job. Just like a few years ago, I want you to visit the shoguns. I have heard activity among them, and I need you to check on them. I hear Yami is close, so go to him first," said the Emperor. "Of course." Akira Kureshida With the companionship of her gleaming sword, Nozomi practiced her skills in the soft white sand of the beach. She sometimes wondered if she would ever actually use her skills to harm another if the need arose; her heart was too empathic, too compassionate to give her the means to do so. The cool breeze swept across the shore as she replicated every technique she had taken years to train and master. Nearby she could see Mount. Imo rise up into the sky, at the base was her village of Imoto. Her village was considered apart of the North, but sat near the border between the Center lands. Dressed in her favourite cherry blossom kimono, her silver wazikashi sliced into the air as she whirled about and used her imagination to pretend she was fighting against a fierce adversary. She moved into a series of swift techniques but she was being lazy, erratic, and slowed down to slice her sword up into the air, looking at the dragon engraved into the silver blade. It was then that she noticed the reflection of the man in the trees, watching her. Nozomi’s surprise, she hoped, was not obvious and she was sure he hadn’t noticed. His stunned fascination was still visible. She leapt up into the air and executed several fancy techniques just for show. She suppressed a smile and she refrained from looking directly at him, keeping him in her sights using the reflection of her sword. He obviously wasn’t from her own village. His hair was spiked and ash-blue mixed with grey. His eyes were the same colour. She found him somewhat attractive but kept that part of her senses dampened. Why is he staring at me? She’d had admirers before but this was different. It felt almost exhilarating; he couldn’t be much older than she was. She suddenly became very conscious of the long scar running down her arm, from her shoulder to the tip of her middle of her middle finger. Nozomi kept her left side facing him as much as possible, trying not to seem suspicious. She wanted to slap herself in the forehead, feeling immature. It felt like some time had passed and she felt the urge to go home. She was tired and the sun was beginning to go down, the sky was turning orange. She thought fleetingly about what the man in the bush would do. Follow her, perhaps? She sheathed her wazikashi and turned to face the sea, breathing in serenely. She walked away along the beach, towards home. Her stranger stayed hidden. She reached the path through the thin forest that led straight to Imoto. It would be at least another hour before she reached home. She walked quickly, the dry leaves crunching beneath her sandals. Nozomi raised an eyebrow when she saw something small grey and fluffy swish behind a tree. She walked closer. The thing turned around, a tiny grey kitten with emerald eyes. It mewed at her softly. “Oh! Cute!” she said, holding her hand out to the kitten. She leaned down as it came to her; the kitten sniffed at her hand tentatively and then nuzzled her hand. It purred contentedly as she stroked its soft fur. A crack of leaves and sticks sounded behind the large tree where she crouched, shocking her into silence. Her heart leapt as another stick cracked. Did he follow me after all? She heard several more footsteps and decided there were two people, not one. She heard a male voice; it was low and raspy, making it difficult to make out what he was saying. The other voice was deep and clear, almost like water. She looked down at the kitten who looked up at her innocently. She tickled it under the chin and concentrated on making out the words of the voices. The man with the clear voice spoke, he sounded angry, irritated. “I don’t want you to make any mistakes, if someone finds you, a poison capsule in the mouth will do. At least have the decency to die without revealing anything.” The raspy voiced man replied. “You know what I’m capable of. I could’ve taken out the entire clan. They may have been known for their skills, but they didn’t have ruthlessness. I killed practically all of them. If I hadn’t missed-” The other man interrupted. “Well you did and now look how long it’s taken us to find him again.” Silence came between them. The raspy voiced man spoke again. “I will go immediately then to the food-place in the southern slums of Murama. I will find him and kill him there.” All went still and Nozomi wondered what the two men were up to. It was not right for her to have heard the conversation but she believed in fate and now it was up to her to do something about it. But what? She was a samurai’s daughter, not an assassin or spy. They were obviously dangerous and she could end up doing more harm than good but still… She heard nothing, no sudden movements and no voices. Where had they gone? She hadn’t heard them leave. She held her breath. It was not right that she couldn’t hear anything; they would kill her if they found her. The kitten nipped her hand suddenly, and she cried out accidentally. She whipped her head around and raised her alertness, her hand on her sword. She saw blood on her hand where the kitten had bitten her. Wind seemed to pass through the trees and nothing more, silence seemed to envelop her and she felt slightly dizzy. Nozomi forgot all she had heard, all that had happened, the trees swayed around her and then she noticed a fluffy grey kitten with emerald eyes looking up at her. “Cute!” she said. It mewed softly. She was on her way home from training at the beach, like she did every day. Nothing different today. Some time passed as she pet the grey kitten. Something white flashed past her eyes like a ghost, but it must have been her imagination. Her head was spinning and she held a hand up to her forehead. It was then she noticed blood. She held her hand in front of her eyes and stared at it quizzically. Strange…Where did that come from? She shook her head and wiped the blood from her hand. Pain shot through her hand as she did so and she was flooded with the memory she had lost. It all came back to her and she almost fell down. She got up and raced home. As soon as she entered the gate, she went towards the rear of her house to the stable and found her horse, Riku. She prepared him and galloped towards the north as fast as she could, on the road leading through Hokai to Murama. It was some hours before she reached Murama. She had rested her horse twice and darkness had fallen by the time she reached the southern slums of the village. The stars twinkled above and she searched for a food place. She asked a young man as he walked by quickly. “Excuse me, sir, could you tell me where…” she began. He ignored her and kept walking. She tried again with an old woman. “Excuse me, could you please-“ The old woman cut her off. “Yes! Yes! It’s over there. Over there I tell you!” Nozomi’s eyes widened and she backed away from the crazy woman. She tied her horse to a tree not far away and went on foot, her hand resting on her blade for comfort. Walking along the road, she came to a noisy part of town, a building inhabited with loud people, laughing and chatting. Was this the place? She walked in and looked around. She stopped a young waitress who was busy working. “Excuse me, could you please tell me where I can find some food places around here?” The girl looked around. “This is the only one. Can I help you with anything?” Nozomi thought and then nodded. “I’ll just have a table for one, in the corner preferably.” mirror on the wall Kioshi stood transfixed as he listened to Hiroshi and Kage’s discussion. Then it clicked. He felt a rush of annoyance as to why Hiroshi had never told him the war was beginning to awake. He put out an arm to announce his intrusion on the matter. Kioshi turned his head quickly to Hiroshi; his hood fell back as he did and jerked his hand up to pull the fallen hood over, concealing his face. Kioshi felt Kage’s eyes set upon his scar, though when he looked at Kage, his eyes were upon Hiroshi. Kioshi looked back at Hiroshi also.“Wait!” Kioshi said. The sky was dull and grey as Kioshi and Hiroshi made their way towards the woodlands arguing. When they entered the woodlands and walked on, orange star shaped leaves detached from their branches and floated gracefully to the ground as they passed. Kioshi tried to find a reason to make Hiroshi see that this was his chance to prove his worth. Determined as he was, Hiroshi’s expression was hard to make out for weakness. He was remotely calm and straight. “You need to be patient!” Hiroshi said. “This is why I try to teach you to be patient. You don’t think beyond your reason for acting upon such. It was clear of your lack of patience in the village,” he finished. “Why do we live in the shadows! What are we waiting for? Will we always be men that live and train as shadows, hidden amongst everything without acknowledgment?” Kioshi paused. He watched Hiroshi closely, but his words seemed to have no affect. He continued. “Why did you never tell me about the war reawakening, Hiroshi-sama?” Kioshi persisted, his eyes narrowing. “Because of the exact reason why we are having this argument!” he replied irritably. Kioshi felt annoyed. Not only that his attempts didn’t change a thing, but also because Hiroshi hadn’t met his eye through their whole discussion. Kioshi wondered suddenly if there was more to it. When the grey clouds thinned and the sun reached midday they arrived at camp, though no sooner, Hiroshi had walked off to gather wood and insisted that Kioshi stayed. Kioshi sat staring at the ground from the top of a boulder with his face in his hands, thinking of the argument. ‘Why wouldn’t Hiroshi see past my words, my determination - my readiness? I am no boy,’ he thought heavily. ‘My “lack of patience” is nothing compared to his arrogance and ignorance towards me. Doesn’t he believe in my worth? Kioshi questioned himself angrily. A rush of wind passed through the bottom of the earth’s surface, lifting his hair as it did. 'What does it matter if Hiroshi doesn’t? I am the one who needs to believe in my worth,’ he argued, but a fair voice cut between. ‘He has always been kind and is the closest person to a mentor. He taught me the ways of the honourable Raidon clan and I’ve surpassed Hiroshi in many ways.’ He could see his thoughts were returning slowly back against Hiroshi. His mind paused. A heavy feeling started to build at the bottom of his stomach and suddenly felt slightly sickened with himself. Kioshi was grateful for everything Hiroshi had done; though this was something Kioshi had to do…for himself. 'I’ve surpassed the ways of the Raidon clan, regardless. What excuse is there to keep me behind and stay here? What reason has Hiroshi to decide for me? What power does he have over me? Why should I stay here for periods at a time to train for no reason? I’m sure our clan would fight for Japan’s rights and its people's freedom.’ A sudden thought came to him. He removed his hands from his face. ‘…The Raidon clan… They would travel to the Center lands for Japan. I would meet them there.’ His stomach swelled with excitement. ‘I would, for the first time see the carriers of our blood, see my brothers… see my family.’ Kioshi stepped off and away from the boulder; his decision made. He placed his hand to the side of his waist and tore off, with ease, a small pouch containing food from his belt. He bent down beside the burnt out fire, and left the pouch for Hiroshi to collect when he’d return. Kioshi leapt up into the tree branch above him and started to travel west around the borders of Hokai, where Kage’s residence would be. Jumping quickly from one branch to the next, Kioshi, who was feeling free, was stripped of freedom from the sudden thought that everything didn’t make sense. Questions that he once thought made sense didn’t any more since his meeting with Kage. Voices wandered into his mind. ‘Put your hood over your head, Kioshi, we want to be quick while being in Hokai – we don’t want to draw attention to ourselves.’ ‘Master Hiroshi, would you be willing to fight in another war as you did with my grandfather?’ How come Master Hiroshi was asked to go to war? He never spoke of it. Or of our clan… nor my family. He only taught me the ways of the Raidon. Kioshi had always thought it was hard for Hiroshi to speak of his past, but he spoke freely about it with Kage. Kioshi’s mind blanked as a vivid image formed in his mind. Kage. He felt all his answers staring at him through those narrowed ashen-stone blue eyes. Kioshi, feeling anxious, picked up more speed, weaving his way through the branches of the trees, his jacket whipping around behind him. In the late afternoon, Kioshi stared down from behind the leaves at the top of a tree. He came to the front of what looked like an enormous white house, except that there was more than a enormous house inside the gate. Small, well-made houses surrounded it. Kioshi’s interest flared. ‘Were the Sasayaku family a clan? Is this how clans live?’ A towering white wall stood around the enormous house and went for miles around the Sasayaku home - or as Kioshi thought, possibly, the Sasayaku village. “My home is in the western outskirts of Hokai, near Murama. One bridge over and you will face the first gate of the Sasayaku home. Until we meet again.” ‘This must be the gate he spoke of,’ Kioshi thought. His eyes darted on the dirt road and followed it up. He spotted the bridge. ‘Must be.’ Kioshi jumped out from behind the branches onto the path below, landing lightly to his feet like a cat; his hood fell forward, concealing his face. He straightened up and walked up the path to where two guards stood either side of the arched entrance gate. The expression of shock on their faces told him they must have seen him jump out from the trees. They were built men with broad shoulders and wearing the same uniform. Their eyes followed him and narrowed as he stopped in front of them, evidently attempting to see further beyond the hood. The left guard had a kind natured face, full of curiosity, the other looked grunt and ugly and alert. Kioshi looked from one to the other, though with his face concealed it merely made his faceless figure appear to stare upon the enormous white house. “I’ve come to see a member of the Sasayaku family. He said he lived here,” Kioshi said. Both guards raised their eyebrows. Perhaps hearing the youth in Kioshi’s voice surprised them and had expected someone older to speak from underneath the hood. Both guards reached for the handles of their katanas. Kioshi’s eyes shifted from one guard to the other. “What business does a young boy have with the Sasayaku?” the guard on the right sneered. Kioshi was sure the guard on the left rolled his eyes. Kioshi’s eyes narrowed then thinned at the guard that spoke. After a moments pause, not realising that the Sasayaku house door opened, Kioshi slapped the guard across the face. The guard took a few steps backwards, holding a hand to his face. He then surveyed Kioshi with utmost dislike. “He slapped you,” the left guard said, grinning with amusement as he pulled his katana slowly from its sheath and pointed it at Kioshi. The guard on the right glared at the other. “You were being rude-” Kioshi began. But before Kioshi had finished, the right guard pulled his katana out in one swift motion at Kioshi. A figure spoke from the Sasayaku house. The shadow was leaning on the house door. “Leave him!” Kage demanded. Jingle, Jingle. Kioshi had blocked the guard’s sword. The bell on the handle of Kioshi’s katana chimed peacefully as it swung back and forth. His eyes darted beyond the arched gate. The two guards looked over their shoulders at Kage. “Let him through, Masakazu,” Kage demanded. The right guard grunted, gave Kioshi a sneering look and stepped aside for him to pass. “Nice work, Haru, you’ve prolonged Masakazu’s temper.” The guard on the left smiled and bowed his head slightly. Kage walked down the few steps outside the door and down the concrete pathway towards the gate. He was wearing black samurai armor. Kioshi walked inside the gate, meeting Kage in front of it. Kioshi removed the hood from his head, his silvery jet-black eyes twinkling. “Welcome, to the Sasayaku home,” Kage grinned broadly, his diagonal scar visible as ever. Kioshi grinned back. The Last Spirit Kano trudged slowly onward, a soft drizzle of rain had begun to pour. The burning waves of war that seemed to be be spreading were merely a simmer to him, the pure water washed away the lust for battle. Kano tilted his face towards the steel gray sky, letting the water dribble down his face refreshingly.Kano's brown eyes turned away from the sky and rested upon a small gray kitten with emerald eyes. The kitten regarded him quietly, its eyes reflecting nothing. Kano met the blank look of the kitten with his own. Its tail swished rythmically from side-to-side. "I know you," Kano murmured. The kitten hissed and bounded off into the forest, another sound reach Kano's ears. Hooves. Kano made sure he was completely concealed within his robes, and he took care to hide his naginata as well. The rider burst into view along the path Kano was on. Kano's eyes lit up with surprise at whom the rider just so happened to be. His old, "friend", Yami Himura. All alone? Kano thought treacherously. It was an opportunity that one should never pass up. Yami's eyes flicked to the hooded Kano and almost dismissed the man as a beggar but a thought seemed to flare in his mind and he brought the horse to a halt. "Beggar!" Yami said harshly as he dismounted. "Have you seen a man along these roads? Not just any man though...he carries a Naginata." Kano nearly trembled with mirth. "I am afraid not," Kano replied in a lower and coarse voice. He punctuated his sentence with a bad cough. Yami seemed nonpulsed by his words. His double bladed staff was out and ready. Kano did not like how this was going, it would be easier if Yami had his guard down. "You seem far away from any towns to be wandering alone. Besides, a war is stirring between the Center Lands and the South," Yami pointed out. Kano opened his mouth to say something but another figure appeared onto the road, also riding a horse. Yami's attention slid away from Kano, but not entirely. "Saemon," Yami said in mild surprise. Kano regarded the messenger as well. He recalled the visit given to him once. "Yami, I had hoped to run into you," Saemon said as he bowed his head in greeting. His eyes turned to Kano and he nodded as well. Kano wondered if he knew whom he was, but decided since he did not use his name, he had no clue. "Word from the emperor?" Yami inquired. Saemon nodded again, about to explain. ~*Sayuri Kage put his hand on Kioshi’s shoulder and ushered him inside. “I’m glad you came. Although if Hiroshi is anything like my grandfather was, I’m not looking forward to facing his wrath.” Kioshi remained silent. Kage turned to him. “I’m glad I didn’t leave you out here too long, Masakazu is a loyal warrior, but his temper is his worst weakness.”Kage walked slowly through his home, showing Kioshi around. He had no doubt in his mind that the Sasayaku were among the richest and influential in the country. His father was a shogun and in a week he would be taking the role. He wondered if Kioshi knew about his title, or his title-to-be, but the boy never alluded to it and Kage never mentioned anything. The boy seemed genuinely intrigued by the grandeur of the house. He strolled with him along the path leading through the elegant garden and across a small bridge running over a stream. Kioshi looked over the side in interest. Kage smiled to himself. The sun was going down and the light reflected off the trickling water. Further down the stream he could see the lake and the reeds poking out of the water. A heron dipped its beak in the water in search of fish. Kage mulled over in his mind the incident at the beach, what had happened? The path between worlds…he pushed it from his thoughts, he was happy that Kioshi had chosen to join him in the war. As shogun, he wanted to win back the respect his father had lost through incessant gambling and drinking. His father had done nothing as a shogun, Kage would turn that around. Kioshi and Kage leaned onto the side railing of the bridge. “Kage…you said Hiroshi was in the war with your grandfather, what did Hiroshi do? He’s never seemed that great to me…” Kage wasn’t surprised that Kioshi was clueless at just how legendary the Raidon clan were. “Hiroshi was one of the greatest warriors of his time, that is, until he disappeared. I’m not surprised you didn’t know. My grandfather and Hiroshi were close friends, they were similar. My grandfather told me many stories about his time in the war until he died. The Raidon were the most powerful clan in the country. But they kept to themselves; they didn’t sell their skills like other clans did. They lived secluded in their own village, trading with other villages. They were mostly peaceful, but like any clan, they had their enemies.” “What happened to the Raidon clan? Where are they now?” Kioshi seemed concerned. Kage softened his tone. “They were wiped out. You and Hiroshi are the last two. From what I was told, a rivaling clan declared war with the Raidon and in the last battle; both clans wiped each other out. Two survived from each clan.” Kioshi put his head down. Kage placed a hand on his shoulder. “You should be glad that you carry the same blood, you are one of the last. Be proud and lift your head, Kioshi.” The boy looked up at him with fierce determination in his eyes. “I want revenge. Who are the other clan? Who are the last two?” Kioshi pulled his hood back. Kage turned away and peered into the sky. “The Kasumi clan...they were also powerful. My grandfather told me that the only two likely to have survived were the most powerful of both clans. The two brothers, Kuma and Keisuke Kasumi. Keisuke was the younger of the two, he had the ability to control people’s minds. It’s also known as mind manipulation. His older brother had the same ability although somewhat weaker. But he also possessed the ability of pre-cognition; he could predict the future. Could you imagine the power, Kioshi? The Raidon were powerful but how could they fight against enemies that knew what they were going to do before they did it?” Kioshi’s knuckles grew white as he gripped the railing. “It all makes sense now. Hiroshi was hiding us away. He kept us hidden, he told me to keep my hood down all the time and not to draw attention. But I don’t care. I want to fight. I’ll kill them somehow and I don’t care if I die doing it.” “You are strong but you aren’t ready yet and Hiroshi knows it. Let’s fight. I want to see the skills you have, what you’re capable of. Come, I’ll take you to the dojo.” Kioshi and Kage faced each other and drew their swords. They were in the large dojo, ready to spar. Kage nodded and Kioshi moved in to attack. Kage expecting his attack parried the sword away and jumped back on defense. They fought against each other, the clang of metal against metal ringing in his ears. Kage moved back and lowered his sword. The bells on Kioshi’s sword jingled slightly. “Show me a technique; show me the one the Raidon are famous for,” Kage said. He watched carefully as Kioshi concentrated, the red in his hair and the scar on his forehead seemed to glow, as power surrounded his sword. Kioshi ran forward and seemed to run on air, Kage backed away but in a flash Kioshi was behind him; Kage turned around in confusion and found Kioshi in front of him again. Kioshi swiped his sword in front of Kage in a series of movements; the tip of Kioshi’s sword left a trail of light and energy surrounding him so that he could no longer move. A sound like thunder boomed in his ears as Kioshi rained down on Kage with a multitude of sword techniques, each one missing him by millimeters. His purpose, of course, was not to harm Kage but to show him. Kioshi stopped and backed away, puffing. The power withdrew into his scar. Kage bowed in respect. “That is truly a great display of power.” Kioshi smiled. “It took me a while to learn but it’s the one I’m best at.” He bowed in return. “You are definitely one of the Raidon, but…” Kage paused in contemplation. Kioshi looked at him curiously. “But?” “You are nowhere near as good as the most powerful Raidon. Hiroshi surpasses you completely.” Kioshi’s face was one of shock and disappointment and then he composed himself. Kage meant what he had said but not entirely, he had his reasons for saying such a thing. “You have a lot to learn,” Kage said, sheathing his sword. “HEY! Boy!” Kage’s father screamed rudely from the doorway of the dojo. His face was red from drinking and his clothes were old and worn out. Kage repressed his anger at his father’s intrusion and couldn’t help feel anger swell in his chest every time he was in his presence. Kioshi turned and looked at the man in the doorway and back at Kage. Kage felt shame on his father’s part. What a disgrace to the Sasayaku name. “Father…” Kage said quietly. “Come with me, we’re going out tonight. Bring the boy too, we’ll show him what a good time is!” They arrived at the meshi-ya on horse back, Kioshi on a grey mare and Kage’s father on a chestnut one. Masakazu and Haru had also come with them to Akashi to eat and drink and…whatever else his father had planned. If anything, his father probably planned to go somewhere local afterwards to gamble and then a brothel to…Kage shook his head, he can go alone. Inside, the food-place was half-full, the smell of cooking food in the air. Masakazu yelled out irritably: “Give us some sake!” Kage’s father waited a full ten seconds and then yelled out impatiently to a waitress sitting at a table. “Oi! Girl, some sake!” Kioshi had his hood back on as he stayed silent by Kage’s side. Kage looked around at the people; half of them had stopped eating to stare at them. He looked around and his eyes skipped over two dark figures in one corner of the restaurant. On the other side he was shocked to see a familiar face. It was the beautiful girl he had been watching on the beach. He felt his face grow hot, as he sat down on a table with his group. He tried not to stare at her as she ate her food. What was she doing all the way up here? Alone? Kage was usually observant and this time something was strange about the way she looked. From where he was, he could see her face growing pale, sweat glistening on her forehead. Her hand was a strange purple-red color and she was shaking. No one else seemed to notice, the young waitress who had been sitting with her was now bustling around to serve them. Kioshi who sat beside him sipped forcibly at his sake. “Something is wrong with girl in the corner,” Kioshi whispered for Kage to hear. “Uun…” Kage agreed. After his father and Masakazu had left, Kage and Kioshi stayed behind with Haru to sip at their sake. The meshi-ya had cleared out, save the waitress and the girl in the corner. Kage watched as the girl in the corner stood up shakily. The young waitress ran over to her. Kage stood up quickly. “Nozomi!” the waitress cried. The girl struggled to hold herself up and then before she fell, Kage was already there to catch her. “I think it’s poison,” the waitress said, looking at Nozomi’s hand. “I think I can treat it somehow, I just have to figure out what it is. Stay with her, I think I know how to create an antidote.” She ran out into the back of the restaurant while Kage held Nozomi’s head up. Kioshi and Haru stood by. The girl came back a moment later carrying various bottles. She mixed a number of them into a bowl and observed the colour on Nozomi’s hand and the one she had just mixed. Dissatisfied, she used another bowl and mixed something else into a paste. She observed the tiny wound on her hand and applied a small amount of paste. The purple colour on Nozomi’s hand began to fade almost immediately. “I think this one." She went to a table and brought back a cup of tea. She mixed some of the paste into the tea and then had Kage hold her head up. She forced the tea into Nozomi’s lips. “I think this will do…” Kage looked up at her. “Thank you.” The waitress looked taken aback. “Why are you thanking me? Do you know this girl?” “Oh! No…no.” He shook his head, his face heating up again. “She’ll be unconscious for a while, I think. And she’ll need more treatment tomorrow morning. She’ll need to rest somewhere…” “My home is close to here. I have many guest rooms. I can keep her there, you could stay with her,” Kage offered, maybe a little too quickly. The girl thought and then smiled widely. “Sure…I’d be glad to help. Oh, by the way…the name’s Yuki.” “Sasayaku Kage,” he replied. A Sage of Vega "Activity amoung the shoguns?" Yami asked with a quirked eyebrow at Saemon. Saemon glanced at the person who still remained hooded."A trusted friend?" Saemon inquired. Yami shook his head. "Just a beggar, leave us," Yami commanded dismissively. Kano bowed low and complied. He turned and instead of walking down the road, he walked into the forest, and soon vanished from sight. "You seem out and about while the true actions of your campaign lie in the South still," Saemon said speculatively. Yami weighed his words slowly so he would know how to respond. He had his way with Saemon before but he generally tried to be fair with the man. "I am searching for the shoguns as well," Yami lied, an idea had sprang to mind, "Particularly Kano." "Kano is not exactly a shogun...merely one of the prevailing powers." Saemon pointed out. "That makes him as much of a shogun as any of us," Yami said,"Yet, I seek the aid of the others as well to crush the South." "I doubt the North will help you. I hear the new Shogun will be crowned soon," Saemon said, Yami gave him that much, but if Kano was dead who would the shogun turn to but the South? Yami was not about to give away his true intentions of seeking out Kano, not yet. "Why would you seek Kano? Diplomacy during war does not suit a man like you, Himura," Saemon voiced suddenly. Yami's lips pressed together tightly. "I have my reasons. I personally feel Kano and I can come to an agreement of sorts," Yami said, "But Kano is the least of my concerns, the others help is what I truly seek." "Then shall you join me? I go to find the others before reporting back," Saemon said. Yami almost hesitated, but nodded quickly deciding he would find Kano in the North sooner or later. archyou2 "Even though you're a shogun, you're out here unprotected, hmm?" asked Saemon. "It is just to prove my strength. A true warrior doesn't need his guards all the time, or even on a diplomacy mission," replied Yami. That wasn't the answer Saemon was hoping to hear, but it would have to do. They rode their horses back up the Eastern High Road, past Edo and into the North. They had said little on their journey, for they hadn't needed to speak. It was obvious they despised each other. But out of Saemon's position with the Emperor, Yami couldn't kill him, and because Yami had ties with the Emperor, Saemon couldn't have Yami killed. And then the chance arose before them. Or perhaps around them. They had just left a village when bandits, armed with basic swords, surrounded them. There had to have been a total of twenty or so. Specifically, seventeen, but that was neither here nor there. "Who wouldn't have seen this coming a mile away?" questioned Saemon. "I don't suppose you know how to fight, eh diplomat?" asked Yami, taking out his double-bladed staff. A wonderful weapon, Saemon was sure. "Of course I do! But I have another idea," said Saemon, walking in front of Yami. "This'll be good," muttered Yami. "My people! For years you have been oppressed by nobles! They have treated you like garbage while you bow down, grovel, and kiss their boots! Am I correct?" The bandits stood, thinking. Then a few yes's were heard. "Why do you take this life, instead of an honest life?" asked Saemon. A laugh. "Your mind tricks won't work on me," growled a voice. A bandit stepped forward. He was gruff looking and had an eyepatch over his right eye. While the others had basic swords, he had a professional katana. And it looked well made. Saemon looked back at Yami. "Well it was worth a try." Yami sneered at him and swung his weapon around in preparation. Saemon unsheathed his katana. Akira Kureshida Soft, diffused light shined through the walls of the room. She woke up drowsily in a soft bed, a wound on her hand throbbing and her head practically weightless. Where was she? Nozomi looked around. The room was large and ornately decorated, but simple and elegant at the same time as though it were humbling itself to the occupants. It was morning, she had slept through a strange event. She remembered little things- several faces, a hooded young boy, the waitress, and the restaurant. The man from the beach! She almost fainted again, realizing she had seen him twice in one day. She remembered hearing his voice, his strong hands helping her: catching her. She lay back down, not having the strength to get up. She heard the door slide open and closed. Soft footsteps made their way closer. Yuki knelt beside her. “Good, you’re awake. Isn’t this place lovely?” She wandered over to a window and opened it, letting in bright light and an incredible half-view of a garden. Nozomi could hear water nearby. “Where are we?” Nozomi said softly. “The Sasayaku home. Kage Sasayaku invited us both here, he picked you up last night at the restaurant. You were poisoned, I was able to find an antidote,” Yuki said, looking out the window. “Kage…Sasayaku?” Nozomi wondered. “Mmhmm, you might remember, he was with several men. He had blue-grey hair and blue eyes.” Nozomi remembered. How embarrassing! she thought. “Thank you…for saving me,” Nozomi said. Yuki turned from the window to look at her. “It’s alright, couldn’t have let you die at my family restaurant, could I?” she smiled and laughed. “That could have been bad for business!” Nozomi laughed and sat up. Yuki walked over to a cabinet and pulled out some fabric. She brought it over and lay it on Nozomi’s lap. “Here, Kage left this kimono for you. I have one too. He told us to keep it. It’s beautiful, isn’t it? It must be worth a fortune!” Nozomi’s eyes widened. She touched the delicate fabric and ran her finger over the intricate pattern. She had rarely seen such beautiful material, except on the richest of the nobles. Her family owned only one that was incomparable to this one. “It’s gorgeous…” The door slid open and a maid came in carrying food and drink on a tray. The maid bowed and spoke: “This food is to be brought for Nozomi, the honored guest of the Sasayaku. They hope you will get better quickly.” She bowed again and left. “I’ll leave you to eat, my room is next door to the left. I’ve already eaten and gotten the honorable speech,” Yuki laughed. “Take this after you eat, it’s more of the antidote. Oh, if you happen to go wandering, the guest house, which is this one, is in the North-western wing. Don’t go too far, this place is enormous!” She stood and left. Nozomi yawned and stood up. She drank the bitter antidote and ate her food. It was delicious and nourishing. She dressed in the kimono and placed her own on top of her bed. Regaining her strength, she decided to look around the house and thank Kage personally. She slid the door open and stepped onto the verandah. The building where she stayed was in the shape of a “u”. She walked over to the center and came upon a large pond filled with fish. Looking out, she could see several more wings of the house, a structure that looked like a dojo, and a large garden in the middle, separated by a stream. She walked over to the dojo and looked inside. It was made of dark polished timber. She took off her footwear as she entered and looked around. Several expensive samurai swords, samurai armor and scrolls hung on the walls. She left the building and came out to a bridge. The stream ran to a lake in the distance. In the middle of the lake was a small building that wasn’t connected to any bridge. Crossing a bridge, she came upon the main house. It was large and rose up three storeys, the highest storey being a look-out. Several guards eyed her as she passed them to walk into the house. The main house was luxurious, and busy with servants. She didn’t see any people that looked like the Sasayaku, or anyone else she should recognize, as she made her way up the stairs. She felt like an intruder but she was supposed to be a guest. He wouldn’t mind, would he? She came to the last storey, it was bare and open. She looked out over the house. In the northern part of the house, she could see the lake. Connected the main house, to the left, was another building similar to the one she stayed in. She could see the dojo, and the bridge, a smaller lake with birds in it. There was a stable near the front entrance. The front gate was arched and guarded by several men. Surrounding the house was a high wall, and several other smaller gates could be seen. Past the walls of the house, stretched a thick bamboo forest. A footfall sounded behind her and she turned around quickly. There stood a boy who must have been only a few years younger than her. He wore a silver head protector tied around his head with the words “Sasayaku” engraved on it. He smiled a little and wandered to the open window to look out. His hair was black and straight, with a red tint in it. It hung a little past his ears. She stayed silent. He seemed sad, almost brooding, but not unkind. He turned to her. “My name is Kioshi. Kage invited me here. I’m a guest…like you.” She smiled. “It seems he’s not short of guests. He seems like a kind man. Do you know what he’s like?” He shook his head. “Not really, but from what I can tell, he’s kind. I…like him. He sort of…understands people.” She remained quiet and then asked him: “Where is your family?” He studied her face for a moment. “I don’t have any family…I’m just a warrior in training. I hope to get better someday.” “Oh,” she said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know…I’m sure you will get better. If Kage sees something in you, then you must be good.” He shrugged. “I can only hope.” “Sometimes I wish I was born a boy.” He looked at her in surprise. “Why?” She laughed. “My father is a samurai. I’m his only child. I am pretty much useless to him as a woman. Besides…I’d probably be stronger as a boy.” He tapped his finger on the railing. “I don’t think so…you already look strong from what I can see. Fate decided you were a woman, it must have good reason.” She smiled at him warmly. “Possibly. Fate must believe in you too. It sent you here.” Later, as she rested in her room, a soft knocking came at her door. The attractive guy, who could only be Kage, slid the door open and walked in. He seemed shy but refined. She laughed inwardly. He had no idea that she already knew that he had been watching her on the beach the day before. He bowed. “I am Kage Sasayaku. Are you feeling better?” He kept his eyes away from her own. She bowed. “Yes, much better. I’d like to thank you for your kind hospitality. My name is Nozomi Neki.” He looked at her in surprise. “Neki? As in Sora Neki?” She nodded. “Yes, Sora is my father.” He smiled, the side of his eyes creasing in mirth. “Then I am fortunate to have met you. It is a pleasure to meet you Nozomi. I would like to invite you to a tea ceremony in honor of my four guests. I also have an announcement to make. It will be held in about an hour; a servant will come and get you. Please feel free to wear the kimono I gave you,” he said quickly, almost in one breath. She refrained from grinning, he must have rehearsed it. He bowed. “Until then…” He looked into her eyes and she felt something pass between them. A strong feeling absorbed her and she found it hard to think about anything but the feeling. Something strange and exciting flowed through her. Something was forged between them that would last beyond death. She desired to step forward and touch him but resisted. He must have felt it too; he tensed and then turned away. She bowed in return, “Until then.” mirror on the wall After the evenings events of being shown around Kage’s home, fighting in the dojo, going out for the evening and bringing home Nozomi, accompanied by a waitress, Kioshi had never felt more troubled in his thoughts. The news of the Raidon clan and him, being weaker than Hiroshi, had left him in a state of silent hatred towards himself. Kioshi felt he stood in a dark room, locked inside, longing to punch at the walls until his hands gave way and broke, but he stood heavily still, alone. Another troublesome thought was of Hiroshi himself. Kioshi had walked away, mind clouded, and left for the dream to see his clan and family, and both dreams were dead. Kioshi left Kage and the others to Nozomi’s aid, and walked off into his room, locking himself inside. He didn’t get up when someone knocked on his door and didn’t bother to undress. He lay lazily on his bed, exhausted. When morning arrived, he showered and pulled on some clothes Kage lent him. He wore a loose white shirt that was missing a few buttons at the top, and baggy grey pants. Kioshi wanted to keep his scar hidden. Now that he knew the truth of what happened to the Raidon clan, if he was to be found alive he would be killed like them too. As his thought passed, a knock came at the door. Kioshi hesitated for a moment, he wasn’t sure if he was in a good enough mood to talk, but decided to open it. He pressed a hand over his scar and opened the door. Kage stood at the door. He gave Kioshi a short surveying look and a warm smile before he entered. Kioshi closed the door behind him, removing his hand from his face. Kage walked over to Kioshi’s bed, laid down a Kimono, and turned around to face Kioshi. “Here,” Kage said. He pulled a small parcel from his pocket and threw it to Kioshi, who caught it. Kioshi’s eyes flickered from Kage to the parcel. He unwrapped the black material slowly to find that it was part of the gift. He stared at the black head protector, which had written across it, Sasayaku, in silver writing. “It’s to cover your scar.” “Thanks,” Kioshi said, staring at the gift. “Sorry, it’s the only one we own,” Kage said, noticing his hesitation. “Just wear that for now though. I’ll get you one of your o-” “No, it’s fine… thanks.” Kioshi tied it around his forehead; his hair fell over the head protector. Kage seemed to notice Kioshi’s mood and lead him out of the house and into the gardens, stopping at the bridge that crossed over the stream. Kioshi stood and watched the pink and blue lilies drift down the stream gracefully. His silvery jet-black eyes shone deeper. He felt Kage’s eyes watching carefully. Kioshi found himself, when he closed his eyes, standing between two paths, and not willing to take either. He even felt a pleasant hunger to dwell in his silent hatred. Let it eat me away, he caught himself saying. Kioshi remembered himself thinking yesterday morning if Hiroshi believed in his worth. And now he found an answer. He looked down into the stream. His hair swayed as a passing breeze blew by. Kage placed a hand on Kioshi’s head and ruffled his hair in a comforting way. It was a while before either said anything. Everything Kage said affected Kioshi in some way. “I believed in my worth. I didn’t need anyone to tell me if they did or didn’t. But now, I don’t.” Kage watched him, but didn’t speak. “Hiroshi didn’t believe in my worth. And he was right. Everything he said about me was right.” “No,” Kage said finally. Kioshi looked at him. Kage knew Kioshi was hurting mostly from grief, and had a good idea what else he was troubled by. He continued. “Men who need acknowledgment from others are not strong men. Men who need others to acknowledge their worth, do not acknowledge themselves. It takes a strong man to acknowledge their own worth, even if others do not see, as I see, the potential you have,” Kage said, he kept his gaze out over the gardens. “Those who give up on believing in their worth are weak men and will never grow. And I can not see you being one of that sort,” he finished. Kioshi stared at him. “And those who do not acknowledge themselves but have others to acknowledge them, what about them?” “They do not believe in themselves. They’re weak and don’t deserve it. Though I trust you knew everything I’ve just told you,” he paused to face Kioshi, his ashen-blue eyes boring into his. “It’s alright to hurt.” They both stood for a while, looking out over the gardens, listening to the flowing water beneath them, then Kage went inside to leave Kioshi to his thoughts. ‘Kage is right’, Kioshi thought. ‘I did know that,’ he admitted, feeling a cloud of shame fall up on him from his mood that clouded his mind. He still wanted revenge on those men who killed his clan. Kioshi knew what he had to do. As Kioshi turned to leave for the dojo, a figure in the far distanced distracted him. Nozomi. And feeling a rush of sudden change, he went to talk to her first before leaving for the dojo. After Kioshi’s meeting with Nozomi, he felt better. His silent hatred was slowly ebbing away. He stood in the middle of the dojo, clearing his mind, his sword held firmly in front. He moved a few steps forward, parting the air finely with the movements of his sword. The bell swung noiselessly from side to side, only ringing when Kioshi stopped. He stood still. Kioshi then jumped into the air; his scar and hair grew more visibly red. It happened in instant. Everything slowed down, everything that moved around him was slow: blurry. In mid-air, Kioshi lifted his sword and swung violently at the floor, missing the surface by centimetres. A silver energy surged through the sword and its movement. And landed lightly on his feet. Again and again, Kioshi repeated the technique. To anyone who was not at his speed, it would appear almost as though there was three of him appearing and reappearing. He was conscious of his other two selves. He was slowly losing more energy after each try. Kioshi wasn’t going to give up though. He couldn’t. After two hours of training, he stood in the middle of the dojo, eyes closed, panting lightly. His heart grew heavier as he thought of his family, the clan, and Hiroshi. A different and stronger feeling overpowered his mind. His scar shone powerfully bright, his hair a darker red than before. His mind blanked as he lost control of this unique power. His steady katana grew heavier; it shone more silver in the darkened room. He jumped; four of him appeared in a bound circle in mid air. He moved faster than ever. Everything was slower than before. Kioshi and all four of himself swung their katana’s over their shoulders. Light followed the five blade’s movement. The blades lowered to the floor, closer and closer until all five blades hit in the center. A sound like thunder travelled through the dojo and Kioshi was thrown from his position; he slid along the wooden floor, panting heavily. The dojo door opened at that moment. Kioshi sat up, suppressing his gasps and turned to see who stood at the opened door. Kage and Hiroshi stood at the door, looking down at him. Kioshi, who was a little surprised of Hirshi’s presence, stood and straightened himself. “Hiroshi,” Kioshi said, walking to met him at the door. “Kioshi,” Hiroshi replied back, surveying him. Kioshi wanted to say he was sorry, but the way Hiroshi looked at him formally, it seemed he already knew what Kioshi was thinking. It was a forgiving look. “I,” Kage interrupted, “was just telling Hiroshi the plans I’ve made for this afternoon. I’ve arranged a tea ceremony. And also I’ve an announcement to make,” he informed. Kioshi looked up at Kage. “A tea ceremony?” Kioshi repeated, with a hint of anxiety. “Yes,” Kage replied, bowing his head. “Have you been training, Kioshi?” Hiroshi cut in. “No,” he said quickly, “I was about to though.” Kioshi didn’t meet Hiroshi’s eyes and hoped that Hiroshi didn’t recognise his suspicious reaction to the question. “Come. I still haven’t informed the other guests,” Kage insisted. Kioshi noticed his awkwardness as he said ‘guests’. He smiled at him knowingly. Kage shifted his eyes; Hiroshi didn’t notice this though, he was still surveying Kioshi as though he had changed something about himself. As they stepped out into the gardens once more, Kioshi felt a lot of the weight he had been feeling this morning and last night leave him. “Er – I’ll find Yuki and you inform Nozomi,” Kage insisted quickly as they came across the side gate of the Sasayaku house. “No. It’s all right.” Kioshi looked at Hiroshi. “We’ll find Yuki, Kage. You go check on Nozomi and see how she is.” Kioshi looked back at Kage with the slightest look of amusement on his face. “I wouldn’t want you to not inform your guest yourself,” he added. Kioshi gave Hiroshi an agreed look. Hiroshi nodded. Kage stood, mouth open slightly, as Kioshi and Hiroshi exited out the side gate, leaving Kage no option but to tell Nozomi without a word of complaint or excuse. Kioshi and Hiroshi fled the Sasayaku house through the treetops, jumping from one mossy branch to the next. Kioshi figured Yuki would have returned to the restaurant, Akashi. “Kioshi!” Hiroshi called from behind. Kioshi looked back, his hair fell in front of his face against the speed they were travelling. “I think we should walk the rest of the way,” he paused to clear his throat. “We’re not far from Akashi, and it would be unwise to draw attention to ourselves like this.” “Mmm,” Kioshi nodded in agreement. They jumped out from the trees to the path below them. Hiroshi’s eyes moved towards his scar once their feet touched the ground. Kioshi knew it was to make sure his scar was well covered. Kioshi felt his head protector to check that his scar was still hidden. “Kioshi, wasn’t it?” a female voice said. Kioshi looked up, surprised. Yuki was walking towards them. Kioshi nodded in reply. “Oh, well I was just on my way back to check on Nozomi,” she smiled. “I came back here to get some things that I might need to give her.” “Kage Sasayaku has invited you to a tea ceremony at his house this afternoon,” Hiroshi said. “Yes. You’d come, Yuki?” Kioshi asked. “Yes! Wow! Of course,” she said excitedly, holding her hands against her stomach. “Good. Yuki, this is Hiroshi, my master,” Kioshi introduced and turned to Hiroshi. “This is Yuki, Hiroshi. She helped Kage and I out the other night to aid Nozomi-” “I know, I’m aware of the event, Kage told me. Shall we go?” Hiroshi offered politely. “Hai!” Yuki replied enthusiastically, leading in front of them, her short hair swayed gently with the breeze. Kioshi and Hiroshi followed. As Kioshi turned, he caught sight of a grey kitten. It sat tensely by a tree, swaying it’s fluffy tail. It stared at Hiroshi in the most peculiar way. Kioshi decided to ignore it and walked on. Kioshi, Hiroshi and Yuki passed through the front gates of the Sasayaku house, and into the living room. Yuki left to find Nozomi and Kioshi and Hiroshi walked out into the gardens towards Kioshi’s room. It was almost time for the tea ceremony and they needed to prepare and dress. With a little instruction from Hiroshi, Kioshi took the black and grey kimono Kage gave him to wear earlier that morning. It was different, the atmosphere, Kioshi thought. He was excited to do something he had not done before, and was nervous about what to do and not do. Hiroshi was some help, although Kioshi was a little embarrassed when Hiroshi grinned when he had shown what he looked like in the kimono. The look he gave was a cute look. Hiroshi left the room to collect his own kimono to wear, while Kioshi sat at the end of his bed thinking. It wasn’t long before Hiroshi returned with a red and black kimono. And it wasn’t long after that Kioshi, Hiroshi, Kage, Nozomi and Yuki were together beside a boat. The tearoom was across the lake at the back of the Sasayaku garden. Kage seemed impressive to Kioshi in his kimono and Nozomi and Yuki looked breath taking in their kimonos. Kioshi got the impression that they thought he looked cute also. They stepped into the boat, one by one, and sailed off across the calm dark blue water to the tearoom; mist floated on the top of the water’s surface. ~*Sayuri Kage listened to the sweet melody of birds singing outside as he rose from his futon. He hadn’t slept, but had instead lay on his mattress in deep thought and had found himself up and wandering the garden once or twice. He had made several plans for himself, his guests and the land of the North during his unrest. He dressed formally and wandered through the main house in search of various items. In a wardrobe he found two kimono cloths of beautifully woven and decorated fabric. They were light and extremely expensive. He knew the blue one would be for Yuki and the pearl-pink one would be for Nozomi. From his own wardrobe he had taken out some clothes and a grey and black kimono for Kioshi. He also found a head protector. In the south-eastern wing where Kioshi should be, he came to Kioshi’s entrance and knocked softly. While giving him the clothing and head protector, Kage couldn’t help but notice the look of depression on Kioshi’s face. He had seen that look too many times in his own reflection. The garden had always been Kage’s place to think and relax; he hoped it would help Kioshi too. As he talked with Kioshi, he found himself repeating the same words his grandfather had once spoken before. It sounded strange coming out of his own lips, but he hoped it would have some affect. He was growing fond of Kioshi. Silence came between them. Kioshi asked: “Have you seen Nozomi yet? How is she?” Kage paused and felt his face heat up. He couldn’t face her, no matter how hard he tried. He had given the kimonos to Yuki and inquired about Nozomi briefly but that was all. Kioshi studied Kage’s face for a moment and then his eyes widened in surprise. “Wha..? You like her, don’t you?” Kage almost choked. “No! Me? No, never. I’m more…you know, more realistic than that.” Kage scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. Kioshi turned to lean on the railing of the bridge after giving him an ironic look. “I can’t say I’m surprised…she is beautiful…” he said. “And who knows…maybe she likes you too.” Kage coughed. “Hehe. Beautiful, eh? I never noticed,” Kage said before changing the subject. * Later, Kage had taken his horse and traveled into one of the major towns of the North for a meeting with one of his father’s chief retainers. As he walked into the private tea room, people bowed and got out of his way. They knew who he was. Ari, tall and powerful, rose and bowed politely. Kage bowed in return and sat down at the low table, placing his swords by his side. “I’m glad to finally be working for you,” Ari said formally. “I have been under the latent command of your father for some time now; the North is growing weaker as the days pass. I am sure you will have more work for me than he did.” Kage nodded. “You can be sure many things will change under my command, Ari. Only six days until I am shogun, I hope you’re prepared. I strive to do as well, or even better, than my grandfather. He is a figure one can look up to.” Ari nodded. “Your grandfather was a respected man. Under his power, the North prospered and became the prevailing territory for a long time. No one jumped if he did not tell them to. What you need for certain is a number of good warriors, the best in fact, to be the head of a fine army. It may also help us with a few other concerns…” “Don’t worry. I have a plan to obtain some good men.” “I hope you’re planning to share your plans with me. I figure it is why I am here, after all.” “Of course,” Kage smiled warmly. A woman came in and served them both tea nervously. He went on after she slid the door closed. “I’m holding a tournament. I want to give a lavish amount of gold to the winners and offers of recruitment as the head of my new army. I need you to spread your influence; I want nobody in the North to miss this. Of course, there may be problems with the corrupt, I’m sure you will help take care of that. Around five winners should be ample.” Ari nodded thoughtfully and sipped at his tea. He stroked his square chin and a smile spread across his face. “Ah…good, good. Seven days will be sufficient?” Kage agreed. “I leave it in your hands.” Moments later, they were interrupted by a loud crash and a scream. Kage stood quickly, his sword in his hand. His eyes flickered to Ari who was in the same position, watching the door. A moment of silence passed, and then loud footsteps. The door slid open and two men with another man in their possession stormed in. Masakazu and Haru were holding someone; he had obviously already been through some kind of beating. He looked Kage in the eye and sneered. Haru and Masakazu were flustered, as though they had been fighting. “What’s going on?” Kage demanded. Haru spoke first. “We’re sorry to interrupt, sir, but we caught this bastard prying through the main house, we caught him and were going to kill him but we thought you might want to do something with him first. He swears he is a spy from the South but he admits it openly. No one is that stupid unless he really is a fool.” Masakazu agreed and punched the man in the gut. The man doubled over but looked up at him, scowling and smiling mockingly. Kage walked closer to him. “Who are you and what do you really want?” “I want to kiss you.” He pouted his lips and kissed the air. Masakazu fumed and struck him across the face. “Don’t you ever disrespect him!” Kage was growing angry. He looked him in the eye. The man almost seemed crazed. Kage felt a tugging sensation in his mind, the whispering of his senses. He opened up his second vision, an ability that allowed him to see the aura of the soul, and studied the man. It was almost like the path between worlds, but he was only seeing it and he was not actually in it. The colors of indecency and madness swirled around in the man’s body. Kage looked on, disgusted. “Are you from the South?” The man nodded. His colours showed otherwise. “The Center Lands?” The man nodded. “Yep, all of them.” His aura betrayed him. Kage moved his blue-tinted blade up to the man’s throat. “Then you’re from the North?” The colour of truth glowed slightly. Kage shook his head. “What did you want?” “I was looking for you, I wanted to kill you.” Some parts of him declared truth but only half of it, there was more. “What else?” “I was hoping to find some cherry blossom flowers to decorate my home. They’re so beautiful this time of year.” A complete lie. Kage swiped his sword in one smooth stroke. His blade reflected light as he slit his throat. The man gurgled and died, blood pouring from his wound onto the floor. “I don’t have time for your kind of insolence. As shogun I will show no mercy to people like you. If you have no true self, you don’t deserve to live. Some one clean this up. I’m returning home.” Kage wiped the blood off his sword and sheathed it. He said his goodbyes and left. * Kage’s breath caught in his throat as Nozomi appeared in her kimono. She looked more than beautiful. He complimented her and then reflected on the event earlier. He had been cornered by Kioshi to visit Nozomi and then after an hour of pacing and rehearsing his lines, he finally forced himself to talk to her. His words tumbled out in a blur, he couldn’t help it. She intrigued him like no other person. Her eyes though, were mercifully understanding. She was graceful, her voice soft and sweet. Something passed between them, something incredible, but something that also deterred him. It struck him that her presence around him would involve too much danger. He was to become shogun, and as far as he knew, she wasn’t aware of it. It would kill him if something happened to her, especially if it was his fault. So when the moment came, he turned away, as much as he wanted to follow it and see where it led him. * The tea room was old, built at the same time his grandfather had built the rest of the house. It was also the most beautiful of all the rooms, and the least used. It was set in the middle of the lake, in peace and quiet. He approved of Kioshi in his kimono. He looked good in formal wear, although he found it amusing at just how uncomfortable he seemed. Hiroshi was surprisingly accustomed to formal wear. He seemed at ease with grace and formalities, it seemed to surprise Kioshi too. Kage grinned at him and received a grin in reply. Yuki’s sudden need for fresh air surprised him but it didn’t bother him. She should be fine outside; besides, the view was beautiful from outside the tea room, which was something she was probably aware of. “I hoped to celebrate you all as my honored guests. It is my pleasure that you have all decided to join me and I hope we can become friends and allies.” Kage bowed and received bows from them all. Yuki had returned, although she seemed slightly pale and had shaken her head when asked if something was wrong. “I did mention earlier that I had an announcement to make. There will be a large tournament held in the town of Honijo in seven days, I had hoped some of you would like to enter. It may be for any reason; to prove you are the best or to obtain a large amount of gold, whatever the reason, I hope you will enter. Myself, Ari, and Haru will be the judges.” Some of them seemed interested, Hiroshi looked at him sternly and then gave the same look to Kioshi. Kage took an interest in Kioshi’s reaction, which turned out to be good. Kage smiled. archyou2 "Attack!" shouted the bandit leader.The bandits came in, swinging their western short swords. Saemon hadn't known or cared much for western society, but he'd have to admit, the western swords were nice weapons, albeit too heavy. Yami swung his double-bladed staff and into the fray of five, slicing two across the neck almost instantly. Saemon, not much of a fighter, only fought two at time, and others were joining his battle. Saemon stabbed one, only to almost be slashed in the arm by the other one. Yami was doing an excellent job of holding his own. He had already killed six, while Saemon only had one. "The rest of you underlings, go after the skilled one. I have this rich one!" shouted the bandit leader. The bandits stopped and went to flank Yami. "So, who are you, really? You're obviously not much of a trained warrior," he chuckled. "I am a diplomat and mediator to the emperor," Saemon stated proudly, as if the bandits would stop their attacks. "Good. Lots of money," smiled the bandit with a golden tooth and a few missing teeth. The bandit came in quickly, and Saemon was barely able to parry the swipe. The bandit was quick...too quick for Saemon and a slash on his left arm proved it; fortunately it wasn't his sword arm. Saemon charged, swinging his sword around in front of him like a lunatic, trying to get a hit. And he almost had it too. Sort of. They both brought their swords up and pushed hard, trying to push the other one back. And then Saemon felt a piercing in his gut. He looked down and could see that the bandit chief had stabbed him in the stomach with a dagger. It took a split second for the bandit chief to get the upper hand and he pushed Saemon back. Saemon fell, clutching the dagger, and sat with his back facing a tree and he looked up. The bandit walked slowly towards Saemon, smiling and grasping firmly on his katana. Saemon took the dagger out and held it in his left hand. He tried to get to his feet, but failed miserably. Or so he made it look. But this set up allowed him to leap up. One thing about education was that he could think better than a basic warrior. He had a plan. The bandit leader stopped a foot from Saemon and held his katana back, ready to swing. Saemon brought up the dagger and leapt at the man. The dagger went deep inside his chest. The bandit looked surprise, or at least as one could see in his eye. The bandit fell back, and Saemon stumbled to the ground clutching his own wound. Saemon's vision got foggy and faded away as he saw Yami finishing off the bandits. Then it all went black. "Help... hel--" The Last Spirit Kano found himself enjoying the spectacle before him. The carnage after the final bandit had been slain was priceless. Kano rarely reveled in death, yet Yami had fought beautifully. Fluid motions with such a weapon were not overly common. Saemon had not faired as well unfortunately. Yami seemed to be looking for him quietly and found the man within moments. Kano sighed and took this as his moment to vanish once again.Kano was interested in meeting Kage. So much talk seemed to be going around the soon-to-be shogun. He was quite close to the town Kage currently resided in, and it was time pay a visit. Hopefully Kage was a business man because Kano had an offer he was not going to refuse. A soft but chill drizzle had already begun to pour. Kano looked to the sky and let it slide down his face gently. Soon, very soon, great things would happen. A Sage of Vega Saemon and Yami made it to the city. Saemon had stopped the bleeding with Yami's help. All was well. A large crowd seemed to be drawn to a wall. Saemon and Yami glanced at each other, silently agreeing to check it out. Whispers of a tournament reached their ears."Should we sign up?" Yami asked, that's when they both notice by whom it was being held. "Kage...the new shogun," Saemon whispered not believing his luck. "If we get in and win, we could surely impress him and win his allegiance for the South!" Yami's eyes lit up in sheer joy. A plan was already forming, "You should handle the politics of the situation. Find a way to get us to talk to him." "And you'll handle the battle itself, hm?" Saemon also saw the workings for a magnificent idea. They would both forge an alliance, one to play in front of people and one that would be played in shadow. Together with the power of their empreror in the diplomat and the strength of the strongest shogun of the south, they may just be unstoppable if all went well. Unknown to Yami however, Kano also saw they were planning to join the tournament. He would not be one to miss out on the fun either in a chance to destroy all his enemies at once while gaining the most powerful ally he could all in one blow. Akira Kureshida Nozomi turned from the window overlooking the exquisite garden. She had taken a long time to prepare for the tea ceremony; she felt good wearing such a beautiful kimono. As she and Yuki were led out to the lake by a maid, she couldn’t help feeling slightly nervous but excited. It wasn’t that she didn’t know what to do, it was the feeling she had felt with Kage that frightened her. She anticipated seeing him again and being afraid of him was the last thing that she should have been feeling but she couldn’t help it. “Is there something wrong?” Yuki asked, turning to face her slightly. Nozomi shook her head and noticed that something seemed to be bothering Yuki too. “Are you feeling okay?” Yuki gave her a smile and nodded. Nozomi glanced around, and then saw Kage. She smiled at him hopefully. She hadn’t stopped thinking about him all day. He looked incredible in his kimono. As he set eyes on her, his eyes seemed to glisten and then he turned his emotions inward, smiling at her like he smiled to everyone else. With that one look, she realized that Kage was no longer interested. Or if he was, he was no longer willing to pursue it. What had happened between the last time they had seen each other and now? He seemed a little darker than before. Anxiety gripped her and her throat felt like it was swelling up. She no longer wanted to be where she was. “Kioshi,” Nozomi smiled. Kioshi looked up at her. “You look so cute,” she grinned. He blushed and looked down at his feet in embarrassment. His master Hiroshi laughed and patted him on the head. “I don’t think he can remember the last time he wore a kimono. He looks good though, eh?” He chuckled and ruffled Kioshi’s hair. Nozomi laughed. Underneath the surface there was a maelstrom of conflicting emotions. She felt light-headed but her body felt heavy. She glanced at Kage but he was busy talking to one of his retainers. Yuki had gone outside and as she came back in, Kage announced his plans for a tournament. More news to add to her confused mind. As the others talked over it, she wondered if she should enter. I’m worthy of entering. My father is one of the most renowned warriors in the land. I learnt directly from him…I could do it. She closed her eyes painfully. But my father…if I lose I’ll just dishonor the Neki family name more. She gripped the fabric of her sleeve and rubbed it with her fingers. What if my father enters? He might, he’s aged somewhat but still willing to fight for the North. What then? He’ll tell me to go home and stop involving myself in men’s affairs. She put it to the back of her mind. She decided to remain undecided for now. * She wandered through the gardens as the sun began to set, a deep orange and red, like fire burning in the sky. She touched the petal of a rose and closed her eyes. She didn’t want to go home but she couldn’t stay either. She heard someone walking towards her but she didn’t turn around, lost in her thoughts. “Let’s take a walk,” Kage said quietly. “I’d like to show you something.” They had been walking for an hour or so, a steep climb uphill but beautiful. She was used to walking anyway and the bamboo forest was pleasant enough. He hiked up ahead of her, she trailed behind. He was wearing his midnight black armor and his sword. They hadn’t spoken a word since they had left the house. Her hair long hair fell forward into her face as she walked and she brushed it away with her hand. Finally he came to the peak and stopped, waiting for her. She stood beside him and looked past to see the mouth of a cave with a light at the end. She raised an eyebrow at him. “Is this what you wanted to show me?” He laughed and shook his head. “It’s just through this tunnel. My grandfather used to take me here when the sun would set like it is now. It’s a secret though so I’ll only show you if you promise you won’t tell a soul, deal?” She grinned. “Deal.” He led her through the dark tunnel holding her hand. His hand was big and warm over hers, it almost felt tingly. The brightness blinded her for a moment as she got used to the light but as she blinked, she could see the incredible view laid out before her. She sucked in a breath in astonishment. “It’s incredible…” Standing on the peak of a mountain, the land below had never looked so wondrous. The fiery orange-red glow of the setting sun cast its light and colour over the lands, including the green of the bamboo forest and in the distance was Kage’s house and the village of Murama. She’d never seen the Northern lands look so beautiful. She turned to Kage who was silent, to find him staring at the cave instead of the view. Worried, she asked, “Kage?” He turned to look at her. He turned away and stared at the ground. He smiled. “It’s nothing, sorry. I’m just thinking.” He looked into her eyes. “Do you like it?” he asked, turning to face the view in the direction of the sun. “It’s beautiful,” she replied. Nozomi stayed with him for another hour in silence. The sun went down as they stayed together in each other’s company, the warmth of the sun on their skin finally fading. A cold chill swept through the North. mirror on the wall After an eventful night, Kioshi had a lot on his mind. He thought only of the announcement Kage made about holding a tournament. He didn’t sleep much either because it had been his best evening.Morning was peaceful and quiet. He could hear the birds singing outside his drawn window. Kioshi decided to keep to his bed longer. He thought eagerly on entering the tournament, but was sure Hiroshi would decide against it. A moment later, Kioshi’s door opened and Hiroshi came in with a tray of food. He placed the tray onto the desk and strode to the window. He drew it open. Sunshine beamed through the window. Hiroshi turned to Kioshi and smiled. “I have food, Kioshi. We’ll eat outside today.” Kioshi got up. He rubbed his head as he walked over to his closet to grab some of Kage’s old clothes. Hiroshi waited for him at the open window. Kioshi came out of the bathroom wearing a grey baggy shirt, loose black pants and his head protector. Hiroshi collected the tray and they both left out into the gardens and sat underneath a weeping Cherry Blossom near the stream. Once they finished their food they leaned back against the tree. “I have somewhere to go this afternoon,” Hiroshi spoke suddenly. Kioshi looked at him. “I think it’s best also that we stay here longer. Course, I’ve spoken to Kage about it.” Kioshi nodded. “Where are you going?” Kioshi asked. Hiroshi looked across at him. “Business,” he said vaguely. Kioshi’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Business?” Hiroshi nodded and turned away. A silence followed. Cherry Blossom petals fell around them, covering the ground like snow. “Hiroshi?” Kioshi said, having a sudden thought. “Mmm?” he replied. “Do all clans live this…” Kioshi gestured around with his eyes, then said, “ I mean, what are the Sasayaku known for?” Hiroshi looked at him. He knew what Kioshi was curious about. “No, Kioshi, not all clans are rich. Like the Sasayaku, the Raidon clan treasured life and meaning. The Raidon clan didn’t live luxuriously, like this. We kept to ourselves in our village-” he paused suddenly, and continued. “As for the Sasayaku, they have a long line of warriors with good, developed skills. Kage Sasayaku’s grandfather was known for sight beyond man’s body, which made him quicker to react on his opponents’ attacks. “Other Sasayaku have achieved the same. Yet I believe their sight wasn’t fully developed,” he paused, “Power is a mystery of its own. As I have told you before, it can be exercised further, in levels,” he explained. Kioshi was taking in every word. “Do you think Kage has the ability of sight?” he asked wonderingly. “That, Kioshi, you will have to ask him yourself,” he smiled. Kioshi and Hiroshi spend the rest of late morning and early afternoon quietly looking around the Sasayaku home. Both didn’t know everything about the home or where some places were. As it grew later, they kept to Kioshi’s room, discussing the tournament. Kioshi was anxious to ask about entering, but deciding not to. Hiroshi stood. “I’ll see you in a bit, Kioshi. I should not be longer than an hour and half. Business,” he said vaguely again, and he swept out of his room. It was getting much too late. Hiroshi hadn’t returned. He had been gone longer than three hours. Kioshi sat up on his bed puffy eyed. He rubbed his eyes. He thought of going off to look for him, yet he talked himself out of it by thinking Hiroshi could take care of himself. Kioshi drifted off to sleep in his clothing, no longer able to keep awake. He awoke earlier than ever on the thought of Hiroshi, if he had returned. He got out of the clothes he slept in and threw on some cream pants and a pale blue t-shirt; his head protector firmly tied around his forehead. He rushed out of his room to the front door of Hiroshi’s bedroom, which wasn’t far from his own. Kioshi pushed the door open gently, but no Hiroshi slept in the bed. In fact it looked as though no one had stepped foot in it since yesterday. Kioshi restrained himself from panic, yet worry spread through him like poison. He rushed out through the gardens and into the Sasayaku house. Something was wrong, Kioshi knew it, though he pushed it out of his head. Hiroshi had never left Kioshi and not came back. He never kept him waiting. Kage stood in the living room as Kioshi swept through it. He passed him without even noticing. Kage gave a concerned look. As Kioshi set on bare foot passed the entrance gate, panic finally took over. No guards stood at the entrance. Kioshi walked further down the dirt path towards the nearby bridge. Kioshi came to the bridge. On the other side, a figure lay. The figure was indistinguishable from the early morning mist that floated on the earth’s surface. He neared it cautiously until the figure was recognisable. Hiroshi. Kioshi sank beside him. Words failed. He stared into Hiroshi’s dying face. Blood still dripped from his tortured wounds. Kioshi grabbed and held Hiroshi’s hand. Hiroshi looked at him. It pained Kioshi to feel his life force slipping away. Hiroshi squeezed Kioshi’s hand. “I’m sorry,” he said softly. Kioshi let him speak, unable to speak himself. “I’m sorry… that I kept you hidden…I did not have a choice.” Hiroshi closed his eyes tightly from the pain and continued to speak. “I was the happiest when my son, when war was upon Japan… my son had a son. I was the happiest because I became a grandfather…I had a grandson,” he spoke, each word an effort to say. Kioshi fought back the tears that stung his eyes. Kioshi let him continue. “I left my son, and grandson to go to war and fight. And six years later… I returned to find my son and his wife dead… but my grandson survived. He was only six, and I was proud…I was proud of you, Kioshi, my grandson.” Kioshi squeezed Hiroshi’s hand stronger than ever. He could see a tear form in Hiroshi’s almost expressionless face; it rolled down his cheek. “I’m sorry…you knew nothing of your family. But I had to protect you... train you…The Kasumi clan slaughtered our clan. And I too, thinking I was the last.” Hiroshi pulled a painful, triumphant smile. “You are the last.” Hiroshi moved his hand that Kioshi held to Kioshi’s cheek. “Why…you never told-” Kioshi began, except Hiroshi interrupted. “That’s not all, Kioshi,” he paused to breathe. “The great Raidon, who was far superior than any thought, he was your – our great, great, great, great grandfather.” Hiroshi reached agonisingly inside his pocket and pulled out two silver metal bracelets, with a red threaded bell that hung on each. He handed it to Kioshi with shaking hands. Kioshi took them. “This was passed from father to son. It was our great, great, great, great grandfather Raidon’s. We are the carriers of the Raidon blood, and his blood runs in our veins…” Hiroshi’s voice grew weaker. “You are the successor of our clan since you were born, Kioshi…” Hiroshi’s body and face was whiter than before. Kioshi held both Hiroshi’s hand and the bracelets tightly. Kioshi closed his eyes as Hiroshi’s gripped loosened. It seemed he had been hanging on to life all night and could finally rest now that he had seen Kioshi one last time. “No,” Kioshi breathed. “No…” Kioshi looked down at him. He was dead. Kioshi couldn’t speak. He carelessly placed the bracelets in his pocket and lifted Hiroshi’s head off the ground to bring him into a hug. Kioshi then picked Hiroshi’s lifeless body up and ran through the trees, quicker than usual, towards the place Hiroshi and Kioshi spent most. Kioshi was in the forest beyond Hokai. Orange star shaped leaves fell gracefully to the ground as Kioshi buried his grandfather beside the stream of jumping fish. He sat, alone, beside Hiroshi’s grave. None of him wanted or could accept his passing. It just couldn’t be real. Kioshi left Hiroshi’s side and walked back to Kage’s house. It was a long, slow walk. His feet lead him there without even thinking and before he knew it, it was sunset when he arrived. He went through the gate and into the dojo, seeing no one as he passed. Not really thinking, he threw his head protector to the floor and slid his katana out and swung it violently. The bell of his katana never rang. No. Hiroshi’ll come back. My grandfather…Successor…Hiroshi… dead. Anger, hatred, loneliness, sadness and love, all the emotion tore away at him. He couldn’t control himself. He couldn’t take it. Swinging the sword no longer helped to ease anything. The unique power rose more than before. His scar shone pearly red, his ruby hair lifted; a silver aura surrounded him. Kioshi’s mind lost control of all movement, though his conscience called ‘No...No!!!! No!!!!!!’ Everything was going black as his anger surge. Sight failed. A dozen of him appeared around the dojo, slashing at the walls. Ornament’s, scrolls, parchments and weapons scattered, smashed and broken. Electric walls from his blade lit the darkening, destroyed dojo. And Kioshi collapsed, panting; his katana hit the floor. Kioshi wasn’t aware nor cared at the noise he had created. His mind and eyesight slowly came back. Kage charged in and forced the broken, splintered door open. He looked around the dark dojo room interestedly for a second, showing no sign that he cared it was now destroyed. He looked at Kioshi and ran over to him. Kioshi’s silver aura was still visible, yet it faded with every second. Kage put a hand on his shoulder. “What’s-” “He’s dead,” Kioshi breathed, “Hiroshi is dead.” Kioshi pressed his hands over his face to hide himself. “I buried my grandfather.” The Last Spirit "How sad," Kano said at those words. Both Kage and Kioshi looked at the robed and hooded figure which was Kano."Who are you?" Kage demanded, both the men's weapons were unsheathed and ready. A silence that wavered with tension insued. "Just one who happened to be around at such a grevious moment," Kano explained. His words were even, but he was no fool. The destruction of the dojo area testified to Kioshi's potential and even Kano wondered if he could match such skill. "Do you know who did this?" Kioshi asked quickly he was already walking towards Kano, but Kage held the man at bay. "Who? No." Kano said,"But how many, oh yes." "Why were you spying on this place." Kage questioned. Kano smirked from beneath his hood. "The tournament has already drawn undue attention. With the new shogun about to gain power in the North, I am not sure just how wise this decision is." Kano told the men. Each of the men understood the dissension among shoguns and others. "I don't understand why you would be interested in this unless you are working for a shogun." Kage stated. Kano nodded. "I am indeed working under the name of a shogun from the Center Lands. The south and Center Lands are at war as you probably know. Yet, with the strength of the North behind the Center Lands, the South can be stopped. I am entering the tournament to represent the Center Lands and hopefully gain the respect of the shogun." Kano lied. His trap was set. ~*Sayuri He stood with Nozomi looking over the beautiful lands of the North. The sunset cast its orange glow over them, and Nozomi looked more stunning than before. He couldn’t help but wonder if everything he was doing was wrong. He hadn’t even mentioned the word ‘shogun’ around her yet. It surprised him that she didn’t know. But he wasn’t shogun. Not yet, anyway. For the most part of the day he had tried all he could to stay away from her, to stop pursuing her, but his heart took over. His heart had always been his weakness. It would probably destroy him in the end. The sun went down and they sat in the darkness, the skies turning a navy blue. “There is something I need to tell you,” he began. She looked at him. “Tell me anything.” “My grandfather was the General of the North, he commanded the army and took possession of the lands. He passed on his heritage to my father. I am his successor,” he said. She looked away. “I will be shogun in less than a week. You know how I feel. I am in love with you and I would rather not hurt you. My title is not something that is easily disregarded,” Kage was about to continue. “I know,” she cut in. “I already know about you.” She turned to look him in the eyes. “My father has talked with me about you before. Your family name is not unknown. I’ve already accepted your title; I have only been waiting to see when you would tell me. I feel as you do. But it would probably be unwise and irresponsible to pursue it further,” Nozomi said softly. They sat in the dark, watching each other but saying nothing. * Kage sat in the dark, his lamp illuminating the space around him, painting on his easel. An eagle in flight. Frustrated, he slashed the page with his brush, the black ink destroying the picture. He didn’t sleep, his mind whirling with everything; Nozomi, his father, what he would do as shogun, and the tournament. Crickets shrilled, leaves rustled and a cold breeze blew. Another sleepless night. * He sat up, the morning sun warming his skin. The day passed by. No one was around, Kioshi was in his room, Nozomi had left on her grey horse and Yuki had left the house to return to her restaurant. Hiroshi had disappeared also. Kage felt alone. More alone than ever. That night he slept from early evening until afternoon the next day. * He awoke tired and groggy. A retainer came in, a serious look on his face. “What is it, Masakazu?” Kage asked, rubbing his sore eyes. “Some news, sir. It seems the guards on patrol last night have been killed and there is a trail of blood by the bridge. The boy has disappeared and Hiroshi is also gone. We are concerned that they may have also been killed.” Hiroshi? Not likely. But Kioshi… The news shook the grogginess out of him and he was wide awake. “Send out a search. Do what you can; I will be out in a moment to join you.” Masakazu bowed and exited the room. “Have this cleaned,” Kage ordered to one of his men. The mystery outside his home nagged at him. It was just after noon, and no one was around except for him and his retainers. He put a hand on his sword. He turned to Haru. “I’m going into town, I will return soon. If you receive any news, inform me immediately.” He rode on his horse towards Murama. He tied the mare to a tree close by and walked the rest of the way. The streets were dusty and the buildings were mostly old and small. He walked into a side street and into a dirty alleyway. He looked around and entered a small place held together with broken wood. A small hand-painted sign was above the doorway. Ara’s Fortune Telling The room was small and cramped. Glass beads hung from the doorway, a small table with a tray of water sat in the middle and strange objects lined the wall. An old woman wearing tons of jewelry and raggedy clothes sat before him. He smiled and bowed. “Yes?” Ara asked, motioning for him to sit. “I need you to tell me what happened…” “Ah, that is easy; many ripples were caused by that incident.” She looked at her still tray of water and back at him. “The old master, the legend of the country has been killed. It was his time and I had seen it before but…it is still a shame. He was the best there was but his successor will surpass him. Interestingly enough, that is, if you let him go.” “Let him go?” She ignored his question and continued. “I know that in several minutes you will realize this but I will save you the effort. The dark souls of Kuma and Keisuke have been wandering closely of late. They have finally succeeded in destroying him but they believe him to be the last. Protect that boy with all you have, the two are dangerous and will find out about him in all eventuality.” “Thank you,” he said standing, ready to leave. “You will want to know your future then, I presume. You’ll be back in a few days, I may as well save you the trouble since I won’t be here.” He looked at her and then sat down. “My grandfather once came to you and told me his life was never the same again. I wonder if I should find out or whether I should leave it to time.” “Either way… It is up to you but I reveal nothing that will be altered anyway.” “Then tell me.” Ara nodded at him. “Disturb the peace of the water by dipping your right thumb in the heart.” He did as she asked and watched as ripples formed on the surface but did not stop. More and more ripples built up until water overflowed into the tray underneath. She placed her finger in the center and a circle of calm appeared amongst the ripples. She peered in, concentrating. Kage looked in and saw nothing. A flash of an image appeared of him fighting in the dojo. He looked up at her. She clicked her tongue and shook her head sadly. “I suppose the path between worlds has opened up for you once before, yes?” He nodded. “What you aren’t aware of is that it you can will it to open up for you at any moment?” “I didn’t know that…” “But you will, of course, be careful. Only your blood allows you to do so, be wary. Anyone on the outside that you pull in with you will be slowed down in time, they won’t even have time to realize you are gone. You will see their soul and have the power to do to them as you desire. To see all that they cannot see. They will see only what remains in this world while you are in the other.” “Why do you tell me this?” “Because you wanted to know and you will need it sooner than expected…but I do wonder if their lives are worth less than yours...” she trailed off and looked him in the eyes. “I would not look forward to your future.” “That bad, eh?” he smiled. She shrugged. “Be wary of powerful strangers. New and dangerous alliances will be forged but you will not be apart of them. One separate power for each nation and one glint of destruction hang over each. You will not be apart of the alliances, none will. That is all I can tell you. It is not much but it is the truth. Take me into the path between worlds; I would like to show you something.” She reached down and pulled out a foreign object. A silver mirror. “How do I do it?” She clicked her tongue. “You know how. Just hurry up and take me with you properly.” He thought about the path and then felt a black space in front of his mind. It pulled at him and he fell into it. He could feel the old woman’s soul so he pulled it forward with him using the will of his mind. The path between worlds opened up before them both. “Good, good,” said Ara, “you are quick. Nearly as quick as your grandfather. It is a natural gift. Now, you can see my soul?” He looked. She was in ethereal form with swirling masses of colour and energy swirling in her. He could feel each emotion and see more. He nodded. “It is just like opening up the path before my eyes, I have only been here once.” “Have you seen yourself?” “Never.” He felt tentative about seeing what was in his own heart. His own soul would be a surprise to him and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to see. She held up the mirror. He peered inside. In the colours swirling through him, he realized how deeply he felt for Nozomi but how frightened he was at the same time. Longing and a desire to see his grandfather and mother overwhelmed him. “What is that black thing swirling through my head?” “That…is death.” He looked up at her, shocked. “Death?” “Yes. A growth in your brain. It will spread and soon you will die.” It took him a moment but he accepted this. Death was inevitable. “How long?” “Less than a year.” * He spent the remainder of the day writing his will and testament, leaving it safely in the hands of an official. * It didn’t bother him that Kioshi had destroyed his dojo, what bothered Kage was the fact that Kioshi was torn. Opening the path between worlds before his eyes he could see the despair, the anger and the emotions rise and swell. Strength and incredible power flowed inside of him. He did all he could to comfort the boy but found he was practically inconsolable. Kano entered the room; Kage felt his dark presence even before he had stepped through. His eyes could still see the souls of both. He could see all that Kano told truthfully and all that was deceitful. But he would allow Kano to do as he wished. Nothing the shogun did could harm Kage for death was inevitable. He would allow Kano his games. A Sage of Vega Yami had joined the tournament, but Saemon was still undecided whether or not he would follow suit. Saemon was a diplomat, not a fighter."Perhaps you should find a way to meet Kage?" Yami questioned since that would also lead him to Kage. "Yes, but how? I want to be discreet and not merely announce my presence," Saemon told him. Yami considered this. "An explosive entrance is always best!" Yami concluded, he was never one for subtle things. No wonder he would never be in politics. "We will see the best course of action when the time comes. The new shogun is one not to be lied to," Saemon told Yami. The warrior wondered what he could have meant by those words, but decided he would make it a point to tell the truth with anything that may concern the man. Akira Kureshida She placed a hand on the rock beside her and trailed a finger over its surface. Kage sat with her in the darkness, over-looking the land below. She had told him that to pursue their love would be foolish and she had meant it. There was something foreboding in the air whenever she thought about it. But then again, she had lived a sheltered life and out in the world with Kage she felt protected. She was willing to be foolish. Nozomi knew she had to leave the following day; she couldn’t stay any longer because as time passed, she was falling ever deeper.** One of Kage’s maids sent her a message saying that her horse had been prepared. She had spent one last night in his home and was now leaving. Her kimono had been sent home along with a gift for her parents from the Sasayaku family. Nozomi had said her goodbyes to Yuki who left to her restaurant earlier. She then walked towards the wing that Kioshi was staying in. She saw Hiroshi, his master, leaving the room and heading out towards the gate. She waved and he smiled and nodded in reply. She walked in and entered Kioshi’s room to find him sitting at the window, staring out sullenly. He looked up at her, his head-protector around his forehead. Nozomi smiled. “I’ve just come to say goodbye, Kioshi.” “You’re leaving?” She nodded. “I must. Take care of yourself…and Kage for me, okay?” Kioshi paused. “Okay. It was nice…to meet someone like you.” Nozomi laughed gently. “Someone like me?” “I haven’t met any one like you before. Not that I’ve met many people at all…” “It was a pleasure to meet someone like you too, Kioshi. You are a courageous soul; you will do great things.” Kioshi smiled for only the second time Nozomi had seen, the other had been when he was talking to Kage. Nozomi bowed. “You are welcome to visit me any time; I consider you a friend.” Nozomi had gone to the stables. She untied her waiting grey stallion. It whinnied in response happily and snorted, nuzzling her hand with its nose. “Shh…Riku, I’ve come for you, I’m here now.” She had tried in vain searching for Kage to say goodbye but hadn’t found him. She figured that their goodbyes from the night before had been enough for him. As she was about to mount her horse, a voice called her name from behind. She turned around and smiled upon seeing Kage, watching her a few meters away. “I thought you were going to leave without saying goodbye so I came to find you instead,” he said, looking at her horse. She turned to face him. “Oh, no, I came to find you but I couldn’t.” She shook her head, bewildered. He laughed and grinned. “No, it’s okay. I was hiding up in a guest room because I knew you were searching for me.” “Why did you that?” she asked, shocked. “I wasn’t sure if I would say the wrong thing…and then you’d leave and never come back.” “Oh…” Nozomi placed a hand on Riku’s fur. “But I suppose something is better than nothing.” He stepped forward and then rubbed the back of his neck. “Um…good bye, and please take care of yourself. You are always welcome here. If you leave…” He looked up at her, she watched him silently and then he walked forward until they were so close they were almost touching. “…find me again before I lose myself completely.” She eyed him in curiosity, searching his blue and grey eyes for meaning. He embraced her then, fighting his restraint and risking many things. The whole world opened and closed before her eyes then, a rush of intense emotions overwhelmed her and then it was just him. A simple embrace that was more warm and comforting than anything could ever be to her again, a secure place she wanted to find again and again. She cried. He let go, a long while later; reluctance in both of them. She left then, riding Riku, without a spoken word. They had said enough already. ** Nozomi returned to her home, exhausted and sore from riding. She walked into the stables where a stable hand greeted her and took Riku. She walked into her home, leaving her sandals at the door and greeted her mother who was waiting patiently. Her mother who seemed to be growing older rapidly, fussed over her. “We were so worried, Nozomi! The Sasayaku sent us a message a few days ago when you had disappeared for a night.” “Where is Sora?” Nozomi asked. “Your father is in the dojo. You better go to him now.” Nozomi found her father wearing his kimono, practicing with a kendo stick, alone. He stopped when he saw her. As usual, his hair was combed neatly back, peppered with white in his onyx hair that was once as black as a raven’s feather. His face was stern and he was still muscular, despite his years. He was still renowned and Nozomi was still a little girl in his eyes. He had taught her how to fight, even though she was a girl, but it was probably more for his amusement than anything else. He had other pupils that weren’t even family that he took more seriously. Nozomi bowed deeply as he watched her, waiting for an explanation. “Forgive me, father,” she apologized, still bowing, looking at the wooden floorboards. “I was poisoned, it may have been from something in the woods and Kage found me and took me into his home. I was not alone so there could not have been gossip of an affair with him; one of the waitresses who I have now befriended was with me. I am sorry if I have done anything to dishonor our family.” Nozomi bowed again. He gave her one last and piercing look, and then he dismissively ignored her, returning to his practice. She left then, both glad he had not answered and anxious at the same time. She had spent the last few days in the silence of her home. Even the maid spoke more than her parents. Her mother wouldn’t stop giving her worrying looks and her father’s expression was set in stone. Nozomi was growing increasingly bored and lonely. She missed Kage’s home where she had people to talk to. She missed Yuki too. She wondered what Kioshi was doing and was curious to know if he was still with Kage. The only solace and time of peace she had been when she trained on the beach. Her father still instructed her in the family dojo, teaching her the skills but no matter how hard she tried, it seemed he still took his other students, who were all men, more seriously than her. But she knew she was better than all of them. She practiced harder, trained longer and had someone like Sora as a father. There was talk of the tournament, the one Kage was holding, and everyone had expected Sora to join. Secretly, Nozomi wished that he wasn’t. If there was anyone that she would rather not fight, it was her father. He had given her a very dark look when Kage and the tournament were mentioned again in the dojo, and Nozomi had lit up unintentionally. He meant very clearly that she was not to enter. She had waited a few days and had gone over in her mind her plans. She wanted to join the tournament and she wanted to see her friends again. Nozomi turned over in her bed and then decided. She was sick of this place and sick of the looks her parents would give her as though they expected more, something she couldn’t give them. It was night and everyone was asleep. She sat up, determined. She gathered her things together and changed into her usual cherry blossom kimono. Nozomi stared for a long time at the silver katana that matched her wakizashi; the one Kage had given to her family. Its gleaming blade had a dragon engraved into its surface, breathing fury into the steel. It was so light but dangerously sharp. She hid the katana, sheathed and wrapped into a layer of her kimono, the wakizashi inside her bag. As quietly as possible, she snuck from her window onto the garden below and made her way into the stable where Riku was up, as though waiting for her. He snorted and then neighed softly. She saddled him and led him out by hand, walking him, and then mounted when she was a distance from the house, beyond the gate. She didn’t have time to think yet, she wasn’t allowing it, or she might think about going home instead of running away. She could only be bringing more dishonor to her father. Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t notice when a dark figure appeared before Riku, and would have rode over him if he hadn’t scared the horse into bewilderment. Riku backed away, neighing loudly, sounding so much like a horse’s scream, and stood up on his hind legs. Nozomi screeched and fell off his back, plummeting to the ground painfully. Dazed, she sat up to see the figure approaching her, her blurry eyes refusing to focus. She recognized the glint of a blade in the figure’s grip, but it looked dirty in the dark and she coiled in horror realizing it was stained in blood. She reached for her sword but realized that somehow, it had fallen and had been picked up by the stranger. “Wh…” Her mind was threatening to black out. The darkly clothed man reached down and ran a hand alongside her face thoughtfully. She felt the person’s warm breath on her forehead. And then Nozomi blanked out. She awoke to the sound of a sword fight, the clash of steel and the screams of determination that followed. In confusion she sat up and then it all came to her again. Sitting up, she saw the dark figure fighting someone else. She was taken by surprise as she recognized her father. “Sora!” The opponent’s face was half-covered in dark material; an assassin who still worked in the old ways. A shinobi, a shadow that was lethal to those who opposed them. Her father fought on, and then the dark figure gave her one last look, standing back, held his own sword to his nose as though taking in its scent and disappeared. “Nozomi,” her father turned to her when he decided the danger had gone. “If you want to leave then leave. I won’t stop you from following the path you choose for yourself.” He turned then and walked towards home. Nozomi bowed, although he couldn’t see. She found Riku, calmed him, and headed once more to Honijo. mirror on the wall Kioshi listened to Kano and Kage, his anger rising at their words. He stood, looking at the dented floor with his hands clenched until Kano left. Kioshi and Kage remained in the dojo, a dangerous silence followed. Kioshi’s eyes flashed into his with rage. Kage look at him.“Shogun?” Kioshi hissed in a unusually low voice. Kage continued to look at him, regret in his eyes. With his katana in hand, Kioshi walked over to the half-opened door and kicked it out of his way with such force it shattered to bits. In his room, he collected the clothes that he had arrived in, threw them on roughly, slipped into his jacket and left, taking the remains of what his grandfather left. He walked through the bamboo forest that was on a constant slope. Kioshi knew he had no where to go but he didn’t care. He knew how to take care of himself. He thought of his new friends that he made; Nozomi and Yuki. Kioshi thought he should stay with either one of them, but decided against it. He didn’t want to burden them. He walked for hours, then looked back. Kage Sasayaku’s house was just visible in the distance. He didn’t understand why he never bothered to mention he was to become shogun. Not only did it feel that his grandfather left, but his friend too. He cut back the bamboo with the blade of his katana angrily. He spent the night inside the forest. He lay, staring up at the night sky, thinking of his grandfather. Kioshi wanted to live for him and kill his killer, but where would he find such a man? He didn’t have any ideas on where to start looking. He decided that the tournament would be a start. He knew it meant he’d see Kage again, but it didn’t matter. Kioshi was determined to find Hiroshi’s killer, and whether or not it was an excuse not to think of Kage and how much it hurt, he didn’t know at that moment. Tomorrow he would travel west to Honijo to enter in the tournament. Kioshi arrived in Honijo the next day at noon, his hood over his head. The streets were packed. Tents were set up everywhere. He signed up for the tournament and began to search for an Inn to stay at. He noticed a girl against the wall of the street, practicing with a katana. She didn’t stand out against the crowd as others were practicing also. He didn’t know why her presence caught him. She had black hair that was braided and chocolate brown eyes. He saw two guys eyeing her from across the street and they walked over to her. She turned around to them as they spoke to her. One was stroking the handle of his katana. Idiots, Kioshi thought disgustedly. He watched as she reached for her katana, but one of the men had grabbed her wrist and the other pulled out his katana. They both laughed at her. The girl started to yell, drawing attention to herself and the scene was evidently about to begin. The crowd backed away and watched in horror. With her free hand she pulled a dagger from her sash and slashed it at one of them, not noticing the other swing his katana towards her throat. Through the street a ring of metal against metal echoed, and then a jingle of a bell. Kioshi had stopped the man's blade. The man looked curiously at his hooded appearance. Kioshi threatened them in a whisper, his last word clear and normal, kisama. They backed away and rushed down the street out of sight. The crowd began to move as the scene ended, whispering feverishly. Kioshi was sure he heard the girl whisper “Why me…” “Hey!” the girl said angrily. “I could have handled it!” Kioshi looked around at her. “You would have got hit,” he said. Kioshi’s mood had not improved much. “I knew what I was doing. I didn’t need your help,” she said furiously. “You’re welcome,” Kioshi said irritably. And started to walk down the street. The girl followed behind him. “You’re welcome? I didn’t thank you!” she growled, pulling a face of annoyance. “What is your name?” Kioshi asked from in front of her as he walked onwards. “None of your business!” she said. She stopped and marched off, fuming. He smiled in an amused way and entered an Inn. He had no money, but he didn’t plan on paying. He planned to freeload in an empty room. He found one and threw his belongings beside the door. Kioshi had snuck past the owners. He collapsed onto the bed, looking up at the roof, and after a while he fell asleep. He woke at the strange pain in his neck. He opened his heavy eyes to see the girl he had met in the streets standing over him with a katana at his throat. “You,” she hissed. “What are you doing in my room?” “Ah…”he said lazily, “I was…just sleeping-” “In my room!” she repeated. Kioshi looked at the katana at his throat; the blade was on its blunt side. He wondered if she had done that on purpose. “Get out!” she growled. Kioshi didn’t move. He closed his eyes. She pressed the blade harder against his throat. “I have no where to go,” he answered reluctantly. She laughed in disbelief. “I don’t care. Go back home to your family or something.” He looked away from her. “What family?” he retorted. “I have no family.” She lessened the pressure at his neck. Silence. “What is your name?” she asked. “Kioshi. And yours?” he said, shutting his sleepy eyes once again. They itched to sleep. He was tired and it didn’t help his angry mood had not left. “Aya,” she said after a while. “Listen,” she began, “you can’t stay here. I have hardly any money to live myself.” Kioshi opened his eyes. “That’s okay. I won’t be seen.” She frowned as though to say that-isn’t-the-point. “Girls have special needs. Privacy.” “I won’t get in your way,” he said with closed eyes. “In that case,” she said, taking the blade away from his throat. She pointed to the bathroom. He looked over to where she was pointing quizzically. “What?” he said. “You may stay as long as you sleep in the bathroom. If you get found out, I will not hesitate to tell them that you are someone I have never met and that you’re a homeless kid. You stay out of my way, and if you’re hungry, you buy your own food!” “Kid!” he repeated with his voice slightly raised. He opened his mouth in disbelief, but accepted nevertheless. It was the only opportunity he had. He took a spare blanket from the end of the bed and walked into the bathroom angrily, slamming and locking the bathroom door. From inside the bathroom, he could hear her jamming it on the other side. He sat against the wall scowling. The Last Spirit Kano sat idly in a meditative position in a local temple. His eyes gazed at the statue before him. It was a forgotten god that stared back at him. Although no one knew who this false deity once was, the temple remained because of its beauty. Most came to meditate and reflect here.The statue was a male, dressed in flowing robes from the waist down. His torso was bare, revealing many scars along his chest. Kano rubbed his own scar along his eyebrow absent-mindedly. It had been itchy since he had been in the temple. "And so I find you after all," a quiet but deep voice said from behind. Kano pulled air into his lungs silently, wondering how he had been surprised by his unwelcomed visitor. He blamed it on the idol as he got to his feet and turned around. "Yami, you were looking for me?" Kano questioned with a tilt. He was wearing the same robes as before that designated him as a beggar, but had pulled back the hood when he had meditated. "Don't give me that Kano, I should have known it was you on the road that day," Yami sneered. Kano drew out his two butterfly swords which glittered delicately in the lamps' lights in the temple. "Have some decency, Sukasa. No fighting in a temple," Yami smirked. Kano glanced at the few people who eyed his weapons but caught him looking at them and turned away to leave the temple. "Tch." Kano grumbled and put them away feeling this was not the right place or time to fight; not with that statue looking at him. "You have entered the tournament?" Yami inquired. He knew he was giving away the fact that he had by asking, but he also knew that Kano most likely had as well. "I suppose you will fin-" Kano paused as he looked at the door of the temple. His pupils dilated as he saw the unmistakable form of Kuma walking by, followed by a small grey kitten, "Sorry, but our little meeting is going to have to be cut short." Kano walked swiftly towards the door past Yami who followed him with a curious look. You were the last person I thought to see here of all places. Kano thought to himself as he looked into the crowds in an attempt to pick out Kuma. Keisuke must be here as well. I wonder if they know I'm here? Probably. This could change things. Kano stepped into the streets, pulling his hood over his head again. He had manipulated the two men once before and even though that was awhile back they were not ones to forgive or forget. Kano knew the next time their paths met, they would battle him. They were in for a surprise. ~*Sayuri Under the shadow cast by the flaming torch and beams of starlight through holes in the dojo roof, Kage lay back, slumping to the wooden floor, overwhelmed by everything that had happened. He stared through one of the holes Kioshi had made in his fury and listened to the chirp of crickets, watching the twinkling stars amid their darkness and wondered what he was going to do with himself. He had just seen another back turned on him – Kioshi’s. It seemed that no lifetime would allow him the satisfaction of never seeing people walk away from him. He thought about Nozomi and how much he wished to see her again, how much he wished to hold her close and feel the silken touch of her hair against his cheek and smell the faintest scent of wood and snow in the cloth of her kimono. Staring at one of the brightest stars, he held his palm to it, knowing it was looking down on her. “Itsumo and forever, Nozomi.” Kage touched the star with a fingertip. “This is what dreams are made of.” He breathed and sat up, rubbing his forehead with the tips of his fingers. His home was free of all his recently acquired guests now; how quiet would his home become.Kage creased his forehead hearing shouts and commotion in the distance- footsteps running along the paved paths of his estate and a loud crash that echoed through the lands. Torches of light were lit up around the house. It seemed that whatever was going on would require his attention. Kage picked his katana up, straightened his armor and hastened outside where he was caught by two of his guards. The retainers bowed quickly, obviously uncomfortable with the news they were about to give him and uncertain of how to control the emotions that showed on the surface. Kage’s anxiety grew. “Sir, we are having trouble at the East and West gates. Haru has ordered that all guards hold their positions while Masakazu sends for reinforcements from Murama,” the youngest retainer said. “Please come quickly.” They began to walk while Kage was lead towards the Eastern gate. “From what we can see, they are a band of mercenaries. Their forces are strong and we can’t hold them back. The situation is looking impossible for us.” “The situation is never impossible,” Kage said swiftly. “How many of them?” “Around fifty on the outside in the forests at the Western gate. There are around thirty at the Eastern gate but we have more trouble there since they have broken the gate down. They’ve breached the wall already and we’ve sent our twelve to drive them back.” Kage watched as two of his guards raced past him on horseback, leaping over the stream and racing towards the East. “How many of ours in the West?” Kage asked, estimating the number in concern. “Only eight, sir.” So there were only eight or less of his men to hold back a small army of fifty men in the West and around thirteen men to hold back the thirty inside the gate of the East. As they neared, they could hear the sounds of clashing steel, the chime of metal and the screams of determination followed by the cries of the unfortunate. With the number of armed retainers currently on his property and the force of mercenary attacking his home, there was a slim chance of victory for his side. He wondered who they had been hired by and what they wanted. If Kage had his army with him, he would have laughed at the mercenaries, but as it was, there was little time for anything except fighting. Kage saw a few mercenaries on the balcony, held off by one of his largest men swinging around a mace. By the moon and star light given, he could make out the broken gate and the mercenaries fighting his guards with various weaponry. The mercenaries were clothed in miscellaneous outfits, ranging from simple grey shirts to full body armor. In the light of a flame-torch next to the front door of his house, he could see his father fighting against half a dozen mercenaries at once, his katana swinging swiftly, dancing around in a series of skillful moves. Kage was slightly impressed. “I want you to help them while I search for Haru. Do what you can and make sure you seal off the entrances. We want to keep them contained in this area for as long as possible.” Kage ordered the two retainers and then drew his katana from the sheath, light bouncing off the blue-tinted blade. He had already closed the path between worlds before his eyes, not wanting to see their souls or their intentions. There were already a few dead lying on the ground. His men had strength and agility and had trained hard under Ari’s command so many of the corpses lying on the ground would be from the other side. It would be at least another hour before Masakazu could get down to Murama, have the soldiers prepared and brought to the house. As Kage made his way across the second-floor balcony, he was encountered by three mercenaries dressed in navy from head to toe. They carried silver katana while one held two hand-scythes. Kage held up his sword and took on a defensive position, eyeing his opponents carefully. They nodded and the ones with katana moved in. They used basic moves found in kendo but with slightly faster and more complicated variations. The one holding the hand-scythes jumped back and crouched on the balcony railing, his long black-blue hair waving with the slow wind. Kage could see his eyes only, his face was covered in a silky material. Judging from his form, he was the most skilled of the three. Kage cleared his mind and let the darkness envelop him. It was the only way to fight and survive when in battle, he had no time to be corrupted by irrelevant thoughts or feelings. After years of training, Kage had already mastered all the basic skills of sword fighting and fended off both the swordsmen with little effort. It was impossible to attack when fighting off two men at a time so Kage jumped back, blocking off a sword with his own and dodging the other. Out of range, he used the time to draw power into himself and create an illusory image of his form. He cast one where he was standing and transported his real self behind them. In confusion, one took the replica and the other turned around to fight him. Kage had time to kick his sword out of the mercenary’s hand and stab him through the abdomen. Kage didn’t watch him die as he was quick to slash the other man’s neck before he could fully turn around. With Kage’s sharp blade, his head almost came completely off and Kage pulled his sword back in revulsion, blood flicking off the blade in an arch of crimson. Kage looked up to see the mercenary with the hand-scythe’s standing up, ready to take him on. Kage nodded, pulled out the black knife strapped around his thigh and held his katana in the other hand. It would be difficult to block both the scythes with mismatched weapons - a katana and a dagger. It would seem that his opponent was going to have the upper hand. The mercenary leapt down to the ground and without a moment’s hesitation, jumped into attack. Kage fended off two attacks with the dagger as the mercenary lightly and swiftly slashed down in a whirlwind attack from above. In a flash, the mercenary swept Kage’s feet from the ground in a round-house floor kick. Kage fell on his back and his weapons were kicked from his hand. Before he had time to get up, the mercenary was holding him down, the two scythes held over his neck in an ‘x’. Kage sat motionless, drawing power into himself. How could he have fallen into this? With a free hand, the mercenary pulled the cloth down from his face, staring into his eyes with his own deep emerald eyes. Kage was surprised to find that the mercenary wasn’t a man at all, but a woman- a beautiful one, at that. She scowled. “They see Rinna and just because I’m a woman, their faces always change.” Rinna forced pressure into the scythes and then stopped suddenly, the light in her eyes fading. A katana had shot clean through her chest from behind. Kage began to push her off but she disappeared into the wind. He sat up to see Haru holding his katana, his face smeared in blood that was probably not his own. “They have more in the bamboo forests of the West. If our soldiers don’t get here soon, they’ll have the whole property and everyone in it. I had the maids moved beneath the house in the basement,” Haru said, observing the bodies lying near his feet. One of Kage’s guards raced towards them and then stopped, panting. “Sir, we need more on the Western side, we’ve only five of ours left and they won’t last at this rate. They’ve started to knock down the gate.” The guard had several gashes to his body and was obviously exhausted. Kage shook his head, “We won’t be able to get anymore to the West: there are too many leaking in here. Damn it…” Kage’s heart was racing and his mind was overwhelmed. There were so little options available to them and he was finding it difficult to suppress the panic threatening to take over. He needed to focus. At that point, all fell silent as he cleared his mind and the path between worlds opened up before him in its full state, opening a rift that would allow him to step through. He did so and was then met with blackness. He looked around him, gripping the handle of his sword. This was no time to be wasting in this world when he was needed in his own. He noticed strange lights dotted around him, near and far. It took him a few moments, as he studied those closest to him, realizing he could see souls. Dozens of them, placed here and there, motionless but swirling with colours. The closest one to him, he realized, was young Haru and the other retainer, Zoku, in the same position as they were in the solid world. He could see straight through them in their ethereal form, yet they were solid and warm when Kage placed a hand on them. Kage studied them and then realized that they had slowed down in time to a point where they weren’t moving: frozen. Kage stepped back and then turned around to look at the others. Lying down were some of the fading lights of the dead and dying, their essence remained slightly but their souls had already left. Walking towards one of his guards in the distance, and the person he was fighting, Kage got a sudden idea. He took his sword and placed it through the form of the mercenary and watched as something like mist rose up and shattered the light of his soul around the blade. He wasn’t sure of this would work. Kage ran and stabbed his katana through each mercenary, rupturing the light in the souls of the living with a whisper of his own darkened shadow. It didn’t take long as he distinguished each flame of life belonging to his enemies and even those forty-six on the Western side in the forest. Kage saw his father’s soul but refused to look, shielding his eyes as he stabbed the mercenaries closest to him. Kage then found himself standing before Haru and Zoku, to await the outcome as he stepped back into his own world. Perhaps nothing had happened. Kage was met with a rush of cold night air, heaviness in his body and the sound of screaming. Every one of Kage’s guards looked on in stunned fascination as each mercenary mysteriously fell to his death, blood pouring from wounds. Silence followed as each person looked from one person to another in uncertainty. Kage checked the bodies on the ground with his soldiers. “What happened?” Haru asked finally. “One second we were standing there and then everyone is suddenly dead.” Kage shook his head, realizing the enormity in the power he had just discovered. “I don’t know…” A Sage of Vega "I'm impressed," Yami found himself commenting from a point alongside where the battle had just taken place. All the men were dead on the opposing side, and it seemed almost as if nothing had happened. Yet, Yami had followed the events."Kage, is an interesting opponent I must admit," Saemon admitted. "More than interesting, but still not quite sure of his own power," Kano added, he had joined with Yami and Saemon in a truce until the tournament, "It seemed like he was just testing out that ability." "Well he has discovered it now, and that move does not seem blockable," Yami said testily, annoyed that Kano seemed indifferent. "Obviously you don't know your own strength either. I've done something similar," Kano stated blandly. Yami wanted to say he was lying but recalled several occasions where his army vastly outnumbered Kano's and it still fell. Men who survived said it was a massive wave of something, almost like shadows. "Your power is different though..." Yami finally said. "Indeed it is..." Kano said. Yami wondered just how powerful Kano and Kage were for once. Akira Kureshida The sound of the waves resounded off the walls of the dimly lit cave. Nozomi suppressed the urge to curse when she cut her finger on the side of a sharp knife. She ate her fish and was kept warm by the small fire she had lit. As she ate, she stopped suddenly, feeling a strange flutter in her stomach. She looked up. The walls of rock were glistening with moisture from the sea and it was less a cave being an opening of a cliff with space between two sides that was quite large, opening to the sky and sea. She had left her horse grazing outside. She was safer here for the time being and she didn’t want to think about what happened earlier with the mysterious assassin and her father. The stars twinkled as she watched and the brightest one seemed to glow for a moment. Nozomi washed her hands in a small dark spring that had formed close by and then lay down on a smooth rock. “I’m so far away from everybody,” she said to herself in contemplation. Nozomi was rarely alone for long periods of time. I wonder what Kioshi is up to, she thought. And Kage. I wonder if Yuki has considered the tournament… She began to fall asleep as thoughts rolled through her mind. It seemed Kage wasn’t proud of his role as shogun. He had waited so long before he had mentioned it and as far as she knew, he hadn’t said a word to young Kioshi. Young Kioshi and his hidden power…what would become of him, she wondered. When she had stayed with Kage, she had watched Kioshi and him together and something between them had formed that was too great for words. Like brothers, she had decided. She smiled, thinking about it. The one time she had sat watching them fight together in the dojo, she had been amazed by their skill. That of Kage and of Kioshi, for he was greater even then many people that she knew who were many years older. They were both quick at thinking and their reflexes were sharp. For the time being, though, Kage surpassed Kioshi but with time, who knew how things would turn out. Kage was a good teacher to Kioshi and given instruction from him, Kioshi could turn out as someone the whole country would revere. Nozomi woke suddenly, breaking the feeling of sleep that was beginning to drape over her. How terrible if both of them ever became enemies. The country would be in for a dangerous fate if that ever happened. Nozomi had a secret power in her that she had been gifted with at birth. A part of that gift was the ability to read people and know if they could be trusted. That way, she knew who she could depend on and become friends with. The only flaw was that…people change. A few hours later while it was still dark, Nozomi was sitting and gazing into the calm reflective water of the small spring. In it she could see herself and from above, the stars and moon. Nozomi took out her wakizashi and cut off a small lock of crimson hair from her fringe and placed it onto the water. It floated on the surface and then disappeared. A single ripple, starting from the center spread outwards in a circle and then became blank, like a dark canvas waiting to be painted on. Nozomi breathed and then touched it with her fingertip. This trick was something she did rarely. It wasn’t a powerful gift as it allowed only the ability to see the present and not the past or future. An image began to form. Kage, with his blue and ashen hair lay sleeping peacefully in his bed. So strange, she thought, that this kind hearted yet strong man held the power over the whole Northern country. How he would use his power would determine how his fate would go. She watched for only a moment longer and then touched the water again, disturbing the image and it broke like a mirror. Another image began to form. Yuki sat in a room and was peering into chicken basket with interest. She yawned sleepily but pinched herself awake to keep an eye on whatever was inside. Nozomi smiled and changed the image. How innocent and sweet Yuki is, Nozomi thought as the next image began to form. I hope she never loses that. Kioshi, with his cute red-black hair that Nozomi wished she could ruffle, was sitting on the edge of a rooftop gazing over the streets and lights below. He was alone and in deep thought. He looked sullen and Nozomi wondered why. She also wondered why he was no longer with Kage. Why does he look so sad… Nozomi could just make out the sign near his feet. Koko Inn. She remembered seeing it before. It was across the street from an inn she had stayed at not long ago, in the town of Honijo. She would travel there at the break of day, she decided. ** She wandered through the bustling streets where warriors and fighters of all form had already begun to gather and many were training wherever there was room. It was only two days until the tournament and it looked like every hotel, bar and restaurant was brimming with people. She led Riku to a stable that was taking in horses and paid the over-priced fee. Looking around, she decided the place wasn’t even fit for pigs but there was no other alternative and she would check on Riku constantly. She carried her cloth bag with all her belongings and wakizashi inside. The katana was still hidden in her kimono as she fought her way through the crowd to get into the shabby Koko Inn where Kioshi might be. Across the street, she could see the larger and more luxurious Rokuro Inn, but from the looks of things, it wasn’t doing too well even with the tournament nearby. Koko was cheap and a tavern was underneath where many men were drinking and laughing. Some eyed her enthusiastically as she passed but she kept her head down as she hurried to the reception desk. The manager was a middle-aged man and he gave her a sheepish smile as he asked what she wanted. “Have you seen a young boy with reddish-black hair cut up to about here,” she pointed to her ear, “wearing a head-protector around his forehead?” The manager thought and then nodded. “Yeah, I saw that boy. I told him to scram after he started falling asleep at one of my tables.” “Is he still here?” Nozomi asked hopefully. “Yeah, you might find him up there.” He jerked his thumb upwards. “On the roof training. Beats me why he’s bothering. Small kid like that will be smashed to bits with guys like these around.” “Bet on it,” Nozomi said as she began to walk away. She was stopped by the manager. He grunted. “Did you want a room or not?” She thought for a moment. “Ah…yes.” “Well, we don’t have any. Try somewhere else but I doubt there’s any room left with the tournament. You could try the place across the street. You could even have a tea party there,” he laughed hysterically and then slapped the bench, though Nozomi had no idea what was so funny, “and they might charge you a little extra!” He guffawed in bursts of laughter even as she began to walk away. “Oi!” he called after her. She stopped in her tracks. “If you want to train with them, you’ll have to pay a fee too.” Nozomi looked at him and shook her head. “I’ll only be gone a little while.” He grunted in reply and then began to laugh again, wiping a tear. ** Nozomi heard the clanging of metal before she reached the opening to the roof on the third level. The roof entrance opened to a slanted roof top like a platform that had a ladder on the outside leading up to the deeply slanted tile-roof of the highest level. A sharp chime of metal sounded and then it stopped. She heard voices and then the fighting continued as she climbed the ladder. She stood on one of the rungs of the ladder as she watched Kioshi fight against someone around the same age as she was. The girl jumped back, brushed her hair away from her face and then advanced on him fiercely. Nozomi smiled and leaned on the ladder, watching as Kioshi blocked off the sword, standing back. The girl spoke, “You’re not bad.” “This is only the second time we’ve fought, Aya. You can’t know what I am yet.” The girl looked at him in puzzlement. “I just meant to say that you’re quite good for your age.” Kioshi was about to say something else when he spotted Nozomi. Nozomi ascended the rest of the way and stood on the side of the roof. The wind whistled and blew her hair back from her face. She smiled at Kioshi as he walked towards her and then stopped a meter away. She felt like giving him a hug but restrained herself knowing he’d probably prefer to throw himself off the roof than receive a warm, compassionate hug as a greeting. But he had sadness in his eyes she had never seen before. “Nozomi…why are you here?” Aya was sitting down patiently watching the activity below. “I came to see how you are, Kioshi. Is Hiroshi-sama around?” Kioshi’s eyes darkened and he turned away to look over the streets. “Someone murdered him,” he said with his teeth gritted. Nozomi turned away in the same direction and saw the sun rising into the sky. She couldn’t understand how the legendary Hiroshi could have been killed. There wasn’t much she could say. “I’m so sorry, Kioshi. My father talked of him and he fought with him once…I was honored to have met him.” Kioshi said nothing and then changed the subject. “Where are you staying?” She thought. “Nowhere yet. By the way, watching you fight…she I very good but were you holding back on her as you did with me?” Kioshi shrugged and sheathed his katana. “Kioshi!” Nozomi exclaimed. She partly understood why he would do so and said nothing further. He didn’t want people knowing what he was capable of, and in times like these, he was taking a necessary precaution. ** “I don’t really have much stuff,” Kioshi said. “I have some things of Hiroshi’s, my katana and just the clothes I’m wearing.” The room was clean and comfortable with a rug laid out on the floor and seats. It was mostly empty of people except for an old woman who sat snoring in sleep. Aya was sitting across from her, staring out the window. “Where are you staying?” Nozomi asked him. Aya, within earshot spoke up. “He’s freeloading in my bathroom.” She laughed and then both girls looked at Kioshi who was looking slightly uncomfortable. Nozomi stepped up to the oak desk and rang the chime. The manager came out a moment later in response to the soft ringing. He was wearing a red and white kimono and he spoke formally, “Welcome to Rokuro Inn. May I help you?” “I would like two rooms.” Nozomi took out her store of money. Kioshi cut in and pulled Nozomi away a little. “I really don’t have the money to pay you back.” The manager stood by waiting patiently. “Where else will you stay?” she asked. “I’ll just live on my own. I’ll think of something.” Nozomi looked him in the eye. “You should stay here. I will pay for you and I don’t expect money in return.” He looked at her searchingly and then nodded reluctantly. “If…that’s okay with you, I’ll stay here. But I will have to repay you this debt somehow or I would never live it down.” Nozomi laughed. “You can just be my bodyguard for a while. Or you can save my life one day,” she winked. He nodded. Nozomi looked over at Aya who was listening with some interest. “I guess this means I can use my bathroom now,” Aya smiled. “You can share a room with me, Aya. It’s a little nicer than the place across the street. If that’s okay with you,” Nozomi offered. Aya shrugged and nodded. “How will I repay you?” “You don’t need to. Kioshi stayed in your room. Consider it a debt paid for by Kioshi sometime in the future.” As they stood outside their rooms waiting to be let in, Nozomi pulled Kioshi aside. “Kioshi…this evening I hope you will let me join you in your room for tea and a brief chat. There are some things I wish to discuss with you- namely, why you are no longer with Kage.” He looked at the floor. “Sure...there isn’t much to say anyway.” mirror on the wall Kioshi sat with his head in his arms at the table, half in thought and half asleep, unable to sleep in the bathroom with such a clouded mind. He didn’t want to admit it as he was still angry, but he still mis- He smashed his fist on the table. He didn’t miss Kage at all, he told himself. His droopy eyes opened and closed slowly.“Oi, boy!” shouted the manager who stared down at him. “Scram you! Get out of me Inn!” Instead of moving Kioshi waved his hand at him to indicate he heard him. The manager grunted in annoyance and walked off muttering to himself. Not only was he clouded with thoughts, but he was exhausted because he had fought Aya that day. His intention was to see what she could and could not do well, and perhaps teach her if she would allow him to. He didn’t think she would if she found out he wasn’t trying, but it was either that or her get hurt. However there was something rare and valuable about her movements. He remembered Hiroshi telling him once as a small boy that there were many arts. Strength, strategy and ability. It appeared to him that she was more of strategy. Her techniques were limited, maybe because whoever taught her didn’t teach her everything about the art. Her style was better than any he had seen in the streets. Could it be whoever taught her came from an advanced line? “Boy! Get out I say!” The wind blew through his hair, causing it to sway over his face. He sat on the rooftop looking out into space, watching the stars twinkle with all their might. Every now and then he had the privilege of watching stars shot by through the blankness in the sky. Feeling more awake outside than being in the Inn, he enjoyed having no one disturb his thoughts. And if he was thrown out for stepping over the managers toe he would have no place to go. Aya would be happy, he thought. The pained look in his eyes was even more so visible in the dark, and found himself hoping to see a friendly face. Sleep once again came over him in time, but thought he would watch the stars just a bit longer. That was until he saw two figures not far from where he sat, jumping over the rooftops. A man who had the bottom half of his face covered stopped directly across from him and turned his eyes to his. They stared at each other. The second man who didn’t notice his friend stop made his way back over to him and looked at Kioshi too. Kioshi didn’t care who they were, what their business was, or how dangerous they were, but he wished they wouldn’t just stare. They jumped over the few rooftops that separated them, and found himself face to face with the two men; a mixture of contempt and interest in their eyes. The masked man crouched so their eye level was even. “Alone?” he said, his voice not unkind but a cruelness lingered in it. Kioshi didn’t answer, he stared daringly into his eyes. “Speak boy!” the other spat. The crouched man held up a hand to indicate the other to be quiet. “What do you want?” Kioshi said bluntly. The man gave a soft amused laughed. He notice that even his laugh had a cruelness to it. “You caught my interest,” he said with his head tilted, “with those eyes.” Kioshi’s eyes narrowed, wondering what the hell meant. “Have you heard that eyes reflect on ones self?” he continued. “If you look out of them darkly, you become the dark.” Kioshi said nothing. It was true that he had been dark minded for a few days, however, who wouldn’t be if their grandfather died from being murdered or his friend used him. His eyes lowered to the tiled roof. Could he be turning dark? Maybe…Even a stranger saw it through his eyes, but he knew there was more to the stranger than he let on. It just made him angrier. That was what Kage did. He recalled Kage telling him once not to doubt himself, but pushed it out of his mind. Kioshi looked back into his eyes, knowing he watched carefully on how he would react. The man stood, took out a cigarette and lighter from his pocket and lit it. He spoke again after exhaling the smoke, turned his back to him and whispered something to his friend. His friend sneered at him and jumped off the roof onto another, heading in the direction they came from. “Tell me…Your name?” Kioshi stood. “It’s impolite to ask without giving yours first.” He looked over his shoulder at him and said. “We’ll meet again.” Kioshi stared after him even as he left to catch up with his friend. He looked up at the stars once more before returning to his bathroom. The next day Aya and him fought on the rooftop at night until sunrise, studying her movements. He stopped, feeling the presence of another and turned, startled, to see Nozomi watching them. He walked over to her and greeted her, while Aya found something to do in the meantime. He was slightly happier than he had been these past few days. Just last night he had been hoping for a friendly face and here was one. Nozomi had noticed that he was going easy on Aya, which made him feel a little awkward and guilty. Afterwards, if things hadn’t already gotten better, Nozomi payed for him to have a room in an expensive Inn across the road, and Aya too. He felt bad however that she was doing such kind things for him, and had no money to repay her, but he was grateful and appreciated it all the same. Before they entered their rooms, Nozomi had pulled him over and asked if she could join him that afternoon to talk briefly about Kage. He agreed to talk about it but as he entered his room he kind of wished he hadn‘t. Leaning against the door of his room, looking up at the white ceiling he though maybe it would do him good to talk to someone. And out of all the people he could talk to he was happy it was her. But he knew also that it may be unpleasant for his friend to see just how anger he was, and what went through his mind. That afternoon he and Nozomi sat across from each other in a small white room. In front of them was a table where tea was placed. She poured the tea into their small cups. She was in a lovely silk black kimono, with dark red stitching of cherry blossom steams with blossoming flowers on it. Beautiful she was no matter what situation she was in. No wonder Kage loved her. “I see your still wearing that head protector,” she said, putting down the tea pot and lifted her cup. He nodded. “Why are you no longer with Kage? Kioshi look determinedly at his cup. He took it and sipped at it before answering. “I left.” “I see that,” she said, smiling, and sipped her tea. “You left was all that happened?” He put down his cup. “He became shogun,” he said shortly and looked into her eyes. She didn’t look at all shocked by the news, which drew only one conclusion. “You knew?” She nodded. He looked away from her and said nothing more. “It bothers you that he’s shogun?” Nozomi asked anxiously, seeing he was angry. “No,” he snapped. “Then what is it?” Everything he had been thinking and wanted to say to Kage’s face over the past few days came out. He slammed his hands on the table, causing the tea in his cup the splash onto the tables surface. “HE DIDN‘T TELL ME, THAT’S WHAT! HE LET ME INTO HIS HOME OUT OF WHAT I THOUGHT WAS KINDNESS. I TOLD HIM ABOUT MYSELF TO DISCOVER HE ALREADY KNEW WHO I WAS BY MY BACKGROUND. HIS KINDNESS WAS NOTHING MORE BUT GREED AND BECAME A FRIEND ONLY FOR I TO BECOME HIS TOOL IN THIS WAR!” he shouted. Aya, who appeared to have heard him shouting, slid the door t his room open and peered through, rather scared. “War?” she said uneasily. It appeared she knew nothing about the war that was soon to begin, but he ignored it. “I believe he trusted me and I trusted him, but obviously he didn’t or…OR I WOULD BE THERE INSTEAD OF HERE!” “Kioshi, I…I don’t know if that was his intention or not, but I know either way he wouldn’t misled you or lie about you being his friend,” she said, a little shaken, but in a final way. He glare at her and then looked angrily over to see Aya staring at them both and stood. “S-sorry,” Aya said, looking away from his eyes. “Don’t be sorry, Aya. Please come in,” Nozomi said calmly, and looked back at Kioshi to find him no longer standing where he was. A sliding window sounded and she looked over to see Kioshi jumping out from it onto the roof. “Should I go and apologise?” Aya said. Nozomi gazed out of the open window sadly. “No, leave him be.” Once again Kioshi sat staring at the stars, trying to think of anything but what happened. It was a cloudy night. Black clouds passed across the bright moon. He felt a little ashamed, but still angry. He thought maybe after that he could let go some of his anger. He knew Nozomi understood that, and perhaps was her true intention. ‘Thank you,’ he said to himself. All Kioshi wanted to hear was that he wasn’t used by Kage, from Kage. Shogun or not, he thought, letting himself get lost in the feel of the wind, he missed him. Searching through the stars his thoughts wavered over the day he had destroyed Kage’s dojo. He didn’t understand why, but it made him feel uneasy, as those his emotion had blocked out something very important. A man by the name of Kano, he recalled. ‘Hiroshi is dead. I buried my grandfather.’ ‘How sad…’ ‘Who are you?’ ‘Just one who happened to be around at such a grievous moment.’ ‘Do you know who did this?’ ‘Who? No. But how many… oh yes.’ Kioshi opened his mouth in realisation. His identity was no longer secret. He had taken off his head protector then. Kano would surely know another Raidon lived. Idiot! He swore in anger and stood. He wasn’t safe. He had put Nozomi and Aya in harms way without even realising it. “Kuso!” he said, started to pace. It wasn’t safe to bet or not if someone had seen him with Nozomi or Aya, and his friends safety was his first priority. Where was safe? He jumped off the roof and into his room. Nozomi and Aya were talked quietly. They looked quizzically up into Kioshi’s serious face. “We’re leaving!” he told them. The Last Spirit Kano walked silently through the moonless night. Mist clung closely to the ground and limited his vision as he continued closer to the meeting spot. The only light this night was sparsely scattered lanterns and the pale sharp light of the stars.Kano eyed the small flitting figure that stayed just within the obscurity of the mist to conceal its body. Kurai, trying to act as cunning as ever, had followed him around the entire afternoon. He had nearly done away with the small kitten, he wasn't nearly as afraid of the thing as he lead Kuma and Keisuke to believe. He enjoyed it when others thought they had a slight advantage over him, especially when it was more than the reality. Kano suddenly spotted the two men upon the rooftops seemingly discussing something quickly. His ears could not pick up any words but he could only assume it was probably something he knew or would know. He spied Kurai coming out from the shadows, the throwing dagger was between Kano's thumb and index finger, the temptation was almost too much. You'd probably miss! Kano chuckled to himself knowing very well he would not, yet Kurai was loved by Kuma and Keisuke, if those two could ever love. Some other time then Kurai. Kano leapt with a great heave of strength into the air. His jump took him to the top of the roof near Kuma and Keisuke. The two cut off their talk smoothly and turned to face Kano with expectant looks. "Have we come to an agreement?" Kuma asked needlessly, already knowing Kano's answer. "I will ally myself with you," Kano said,"I am sure you know about the tournament and I will tell you as you may also know, there is more at hand than meets the eye." "Of course there is, that is why we are forming this alliance. At times," Keisuke stated mildly,"you can be a resourceful person Kano. This new shogun is our main objective and those allied with him." Kano tilted his head. He had been planning on using this new shogun for his own ends. What were Kuma and Keisuke planning? Kano's mind suddenly went to the image of his brother, Oni, and he wondered how he had been fairing. He had received word that the Center Land forces were winning but Kano did not want to be away for too long. "What will we do?" Kano questioned. Akira Kureshida Part Two: Kizuato ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Interlude We are about halfway through the story and I would like to take the opportunity and give you all a brief overview of each character and what’s happening with the story so far. If you haven’t heard yet, mai is no longer a part of this campfire so hinatahyuga and krispyangelz have helped me figure out what to do with her character and keep the story moving along. Also, user archyou2 may have disappeared but the story will go on and the two writers I mentioned earlier will help me fill in the blanks. I’d like to thank you all for your amazing effort in writing the story, and thank you very much Mai for taking part. You’re all awesome writers and I love this campfire. ^_^ Most of the following you will remember but some things you may have forgotten. Nozomi Neki The relationship between Kage and Nozomi is still much a mystery to them as it is to others. Mostly in secret, they have met and found that they do share some deep bond but are unsure whether they should pursue it, considering their situations. Unlike Kage, Nozomi knows for certain what she feels for him but he is unsure and something dark in Kage will not let him go any further. It may be his drive for power. After a turn of events, including Nozomi being poisoned and taken with Yuki to Kage’s home, Nozomi met several new people and began to form deep friendships unlike any she had had before. She recognized the importance of Kage and Kioshi’s friendship and decided that somewhere in the future, their friendship would determine an ultimate fate. Nozomi has taken it upon herself to leave home and discover what lies beyond it. Always in the shadow of her father and constantly underestimated, she has decided to test herself at the tournament, not to prove herself to others but realize her own capabilities. She is still trying to honor her family name but is having doubts, realizing the amazing power that surrounds her. As she left, she discovered a mysterious dark man and after a battle between her legendary father, Sora, and the man; her father told her to choose her own path which she was immeasurably grateful for. Now independent, she has met with Kioshi and Aya where they await the tournament. Yuki Arashi It is obvious from the beginning that Yuki has formed a close bond with her remaining family. They work in the restaurant that they own based in Murama, and are happy with the daily routine. Yuki, however, is very different. She knows how to fight and she is not afraid to step out and change. When Nozomi steps into her restaurant, Yuki cures her and doesn’t think twice about looking after her even if she has to travel with some strangers to Kage’s house. She stays there and begins to make friends with Nozomi, Kioshi and others there. While the others are inside the tea house, Yuki is faced with a strange dark and powerful man who can read her mind. This event holds shadowy forebodings. Later, in the face of her brothers, Yuki decides to rebel and join the tournament, proving to her dead parents that she is far from helpless. Wandering through the streets, she comes across a kitten that she discovers is not a normal cat. Keeping her distance, she captures the kitten in a discarded basket and takes it to her hotel room where she waits for it to do something. Or for the owner to come looking for it… Kioshi Shiro Raidon At the beginning, Kioshi travels the countryside with his master Hiroshi as a careless and free vagrant. Training for no obvious reason and living without honorable purpose, he becomes frustrated to the point of rebellion. He is confused about his past and his place in the world as a Raidon until they both meet Kage in the streets of Hokai. Kage asks them to fight with him in the coming war but Hiroshi rejects the proposal. Kioshi is more than curious about this man and of his master’s origin. Kioshi, not realizing he was the descendant of a powerful clan wanted to prove his worth and perhaps discover the power inside of him. He ran from the care of his Master Hiroshi and found his way to Kage’s home where he was to be trained in the skills of a warrior and the arts of war. He began to discover greatness with Kage where he was welcomed and was told more about his clan and everything else, compared to his Master Hiroshi who never told him anything. Kioshi was told about the incredible Raidon clan and their destruction by the hands of the Kasumi clan. The last two and the most powerful of the Kasumi, Kuma and Keisuke, survived and the last of the Raidon, Hiroshi. Hiroshi had kept Kioshi a secret from the world to keep him safe from the powers of Kuma and Keisuke. They have yet to discover him but when they do, Kioshi is certain that he will be powerful enough to destroy them. At Kage’s home, he becomes more accustomed to his powers and begins to develop them considerably but hasn’t learned to control them yet. He seeks acknowledgement and will do what he can to get it. Hiroshi finds him and allows him to stay. Kage gives him a Sasayaku head protector to keep so that his identity as a Raidon will also be a secret. At this point the only ones that know Kioshi is a Raidon are Kage because of his grandfather, and Hiroshi. Kioshi finds Hiroshi dying on the other side of the bridge outside of Kage’s house and listens wordlessly as Hiroshi tells him who he is. Hiroshi is Kioshi’s grandfather and with his death, Kioshi is the last of the Raidon clan, the descendant of the greatest ninja that ever lived. Hiroshi gives Kioshi two bracelets that symbolize the Raidon. After burying his grandfather, Kioshi goes back to Kage’s house where he releases an incredible power that destroys the dojo. Kage comes to comfort him but on arrival, a hooded stranger comes in and reveals that Kage is the shogun of the North. Kioshi feeling betrayed and used, leaves without another word to his former friend. Kioshi meets Aya and becomes a free-loader in her room until Nozomi finds them both to pay for separate rooms. He trains for the tournament where he can get the acknowledgement he needs and see if he can find the strength that killed his grandfather Hiroshi. Saemon Kigawa Working for the emperor, Saemon sets out to find out about the activities of the shoguns. Saemon meets with Yami, shogun of the South, first and is then encountered by a group of bandits. He witnesses the strength of Yami but is not as lucky himself when he is cut by the leader. He manages to kill him but falls unconscious. Later, on reaching the city, Yami proposes that they join the tournament to see if they can win an allegiance with the Northern powers. Saemon is unsure of whether it would be wise for him to join the tournament considering he is not a fighter. While he was in the North, he caught a glimpse of the dark powers of Kage. He is yet to see what the shoguns are planning and will keep an eye on them to report back to the emperor. Aya Planning to escape from her adoptive family’s house where she was constantly bullied by her adoptive brothers, Aya said a sad goodbye to Kichiro, the youngest of the brothers and left with a katana that he gave to her. She has no hope in the towns in finding a job as she has no experience and no connections. Alone in a bar, with no where to go and no money, Aya battles her conscience when she considers stealing. A moment later she hears about the tournament where the winner will win a substantial amount of money and she resolves to enter and do what she does best. Aya overhears a conversation about a conspiracy to assassinate the Northern shogun, and is dragged outside where she would have been killed had she not stabbed the man and shouted for help. She wonders briefly whether the others will go ahead with the plan to kill Kage Sasayaku. In the streets of Honijo, she is approached by two potentially dangerous men and is interrupted by a boy who blocks off the sword of a man aiming for Aya’s throat. Sure she could have handled it herself; Aya and Kioshi do not get off on a good start. In her room, nights before the tournament, she wakes up to find Kioshi in her room and places her sword over his throat. With compassion, she allows him to stay but only in the locked bathroom. They train and she wonders about Kioshi’s skills which are far too good for a simple orphan. Training on a roof, Kioshi and Aya are interrupted by Nozomi who offers to pay for their room across the road. Aya accepts to share a room with Nozomi. Later she witnesses Kioshi’s outburst. Aya now awaits the tournament and may come to know both Nozomi and Kioshi better. Kage Sasayaku A deep and intricate character, Kage is a man not to be crossed but still young in discovering himself. He meets Kioshi and Hiroshi first and wants them to ally with him. He is the next shogun, under his father who is giving up the title in a very short time. Always influenced by his grandfather who died six years earlier, Kage is a powerful man and is new in the pursuit of power. He is conflicted by both his warm side and the dark part of himself; he finds it difficult to maintain relationships with his friends and Nozomi but is aware they mean more to him than anything. His friendship with Kioshi is important to him and he feels like an older brother to the young talented boy. At his home where he has his guests: Kioshi, Hiroshi, Nozomi, and Yuki- Kage announces for the first time his plans to hold a tournament. He planned it earlier with his lead-in-command Ari, and hopes to find the strongest warriors to head his army. Later, he and Nozomi reveal their love atop a mountain but decide not to pursue it. Given clues of his power and future when he meets the fortune-teller, Ara, he discovers a tumor in his brain that will kill him in the near future. He writes a will and returns home to find his dojo torn up and finds an equally torn Kioshi on the floor. They are interrupted by Kano who plans to set a trap. Kioshi leaves Kage in anger over his secret kept about his title of shogun and Kage is left alone in his thoughts when his house is overrun with mercenaries. Unsure of where they came from, he defeats them, whereby discovering a new power in him that is darker than anything he has ever known. The power comes from his ability to open the path between worlds and see the souls of all around him. The tournament is now approaching fast and he will be one of the main judges to decide the winners along with his retainers Haru, Masakazu, and Ari. He hopes to see Kioshi and any strength that may help him with his plans. Kano Sukasa Kano and his brother Oni hold the power over the Center Lands, currently the strongest military power in the whole country, which are on neutral terms with the North and at war with the South. If the North rises up against either side, they will be facing a very fierce adversary since the Northern powers are recognized throughout the lands even though they are quite latent. Kano reveals that he has many great powers but he has not shown them yet. At the moment he is traveling around the Northern lands to seek more military power. Yami Himura He found himself joining forces with Saemon for the meanwhile, on a search to find Kano after his Southern lands were practically crushed by the military power of the Center Lands. Yami showed his battle skills after a brief encounter with a group of bandits. He and Saemon decided to join the tournament. He was able to witness a display of Kage’s power and get a glimpse of what war with Kage could mean. The next piece of writing was written by krispyangelz and myself. The character is new to the story and will not be played by anyone in particular, but will be an important part to the story. ~*Name:Rinna Hamasaki Age: Unknown – around 20 Weapons: Two hand-held scythes. As a killer by night, stealth is her greatest weapon. Appearance: Long midnight blue hair. Rinna possesses an incredible but very dangerous beauty with cat-like eyes and defined features. Since she is a creature of night, her skin is pale from lack of sun and this makes her green eyes seem more brilliant. She wears dark navy clothing covering her from head to toe and she keeps her hair wrapped and kept under black cloth. As one of the dark ninja/shinobi, she has no gender that one can see, but once revealed, her feminine beauty is somewhat startling. Personality: Always dark and cold – this is everything she has been taught about being human. She has a bitterness that is evident in her every word and she is ambitious beyond reasoning. She doesn’t care for honor but she is loyal to those that are loyal to her. Unlike Kuma and Keisuke, she does not enjoy killing but isn’t bothered by it either – dealing death is part of her mission. Background: Raised as one of the hidden Shadow children, Rinna knew no humanity from the beginning. Rinna was born half-Chinese and half-Japanese, causing a problem for her mother. She willingly gave her to the hidden Shadow clans, which was rare in those times and rare still. As a ninja, she knew no love, no personality and no real identity – she was raised as a useful killing device and little more. All Shadow train by day hidden in their secret village and work by night if they are qualified. Once you become a Shadow, there is nothing else that you can do. This is life, and life and death is all there is. Rinna was one of the first out of hundreds to rebel against the Shadow leaders and the Emperor and now seeks power for her allies as leader of her Whisper army.   Written by krispyangelz & mirror on the wall & Akira Kureshida It was dark, the perfect time of night to kill without being seen, and to kill without being heard. From the darkest shadows, where light itself seemed to be pulled into a void, the six of them waited for the signal to swoop in and kill the guards surrounding Kage’s main house. Rinna, the leader of the stealth assassins, had her eyes on the guard in front of the entrance. Rinna let her sword catch a beam of light to signal and then pounced like a cat onto the guard who died before he realized what had happened. From the corner of her eyes she saw that the other five had killed soundlessly and swiftly, as they had been taught to do their entire lives. Synchronized killings were a major part of their training. The closest Whisper ninja to her nodded and they dragged the bodies away and kept watch on the perimeter as Rinna went inside to meet with the Northern shogun. Rinna crept along the floorboards with a sound less than a whisper. The halls were empty and she could feel a presence upstairs where Kage would be. Not expecting a visitor. She pressed an ear to the wall and could hear him walk out onto the balcony. She closed her eyes and a soft hissing sound escaped from her lips. She had watched Kage countless times. He was never the same and he exuded something- an aura that she couldn’t name but was drawn to. She shivered and decided to change out of her uniform into something more…appropriate. She found a white silken robe in the room across from Kage’s with faint prints of cherry blossoms on it. She let her hair out and it fell in soft silken wisps of blue-black around her shoulders. The robe was left untied and she wore nothing underneath, her slim body barely covered by the material. Rinna walked through the hall towards the next room untouched by the slight cold and slid the door open. The room was large and bare but beautiful. Kage looked as though he was in the middle of something, drying off his wet silver-blue hair and looked up slowly, expecting someone else presumably. She smiled and titled her head. Kage stood up, startled and began to move towards the bedside where his katana was leaned up against the wall. His shirt was off and his skin was shining from water. Before he could move, she had him frozen in the middle of the floor, his hands in front of him. The balcony doors were open and a slight breeze was blowing through the room making the candles flicker. Kage watched her with growing disgust in his eyes. She was obviously not there for any noble purposes. “Kage,” she said softly, walking towards him. She stopped half a meter away and bowed seductively causing her robe to fall open, revealing her shoulder and her breast. Kage stared at her, unable to move and overtly angry. Her silky hair fell through his fingers. “No doubt you are wondering who I am; why I am here.” His glare told her the answer enough. “The name I gave myself is Rinna. I am the leader of an army stronger than any this nation is aware of. The Whisper army- life trained ninja who know no light. Only darkness and death,” she whispered into his ear. His eyes followed her as she circled him, tracing a finger on his bare body. She stood in front of him, so close she could feel his warmth. ”Do you know how we came about?” He didn’t answer; he couldn’t. “When I was a little girl, just an infant, a secret clan known as the Shadows took me away. Of course, my parents willingly gave me over. Do you know what they do, Kage, these embittered Shadows who take us from our homes and raise us up as nothing more than dutiful soldiers of the night? They steal away our futures, our identities and our lives. And they give us this- a life of night wandering, killing without mercy and no real reason to live. Our lives are worth less than the dust. Me they took away because I was a half-caste child: half-Chinese and half-Japanese. I was a dirty little secret between two reckless lovers of different origins so before the world could discover their dishonor, they gave me up to the Shadows.” Rinna was filled with hatred and spat the last word out like poison. Kage watched expressionlessly. “The Shadows…you wonder who they are. What kind of clan they are. Where they came from. Our origins are right in the heart of our country. We are a secret the Emperor does not want anyone to know. Shadows are an organization of the Imperial Government, working separately from the armies and civilians, killing whoever we are ordered to kill. We are the underdogs, working beneath the feet of the Emperor, working for his power gain. Even dogs are acknowledged and are fed. At least they are given names but us, we get nothing. Yes Kage, even this country has a dirty little secret. Us.” Rinna pulled the robe up around her shoulders and walked to the balcony into the cool night air. She breathed in and then came back where he was still frozen in place. “The samurai and soldiers take all the glory from us. The Emperor sends us out to win the war from the darkness and then his samurai take all the recognition. For once we would like something. What is honor, Kage? A disgusting made-up word reserved for the stupid. We seek acknowledgement. Let the world know of the ninja clans. Let them fear and worship us. There are those that are known, names like Hiroshi, Kuma, and Keisuke. But they aren’t like us. They act with free-will. They have a choice.” Rinna smiled. “My armies are no longer the Shadows. There were those who opposed the rebellion at first; the first of the Shadows, fundamentalists, but it wasn’t long before the rebellion rose and was led by me. We are now the Whisper clans. There are thousands of us, Kage, and we want to finish a contract with your army that was left unfinished by your grandfather.” Kage seemed to react on hearing about his grandfather. “He was ready, Kage, to join forces with us. To take us away from the Shadows and lead us into glory, to freedom and revenge upon the Emperor. The Center Lands and their allies will not prevail. We will crush them together. Your grandfather was prepared to help us. But Shadow members got to him before we could and killed him.” Kage moved slightly and Rinna backed away in shock but he was frozen again. She relaxed and let him use the power of speech, releasing her power from the muscles around his throat and mouth. “He died naturally. My grandfather would never sign a contract like that,” he said coldly. She laughed, high and bitter. “Your grandfather was poisoned by my Master. My very own Master killed him. But no revenge is necessary, I took it upon myself and it was one of the first acts of the rebellion that led us here. Your grandfather proposed the contract himself. He knew who we were and what they were doing to innocent children.” She froze him again and continued speaking. “I want you to join with us. The Sasayaku army and the Whisper ninja. We would be an unstoppable force. More glory and power for both of us.” She leaned forward and brushed her lips on the scar running over Kage’s lips. He watched her with cold, malicious eyes. This was not the common way to make a deal, then again, Rinna was not a common woman. She knew no etiquette and didn’t know that other people considered this indecent. “I watched you and that girl on top of that cliff. You made love to her. A dangerous, reckless love. You never admitted it. Does she shame you so much? Your dirty little secret. I want to be your dirty little secret, Kage.” She laughed, feeling his hot breath on her skin. “I would never join forces with you,” Kage said suddenly. Rinna froze and backed away as he walked forward without hindrance. He had broken her power over him somehow. “Nozomi is not like you. She has something you will never have. She has true beauty. You on the other hand, do not. You were stolen but without knowing it, you are already free. You could make a choice and use your power to save the innocent. You are just too hate-filled and vengeful to realize it.” Her face contorted into an expression of rage. Rinna glanced over at his katana and realized she had left her weapons in the other room along with her clothes. A thump sounded behind Kage and both looked over to see one of the Whisper soldiers walking towards them. “What is this, Rinna, you’re taking your time. You only said you were making a deal with him,” the ninja pulled the black cloth from his face, “not to seduce him.” She let out a soft laugh and looked from one person to the other. “I was making a deal with him. But he refused. And now we must destroy both the Center Lands and the North, my love.” mirror on the wall It had been almost week when they had gone into hiding, but it felt like only yesterday. He lay in the hot spring, remembering their arrival.* “What’s all this about?” Nozomi asked, getting to her feet. “I’ll explain everything later. Now is not the time.” Aya watched a hesitant Nozomi stare into Kioshi’s eyes, his face serious and final, and then her expression changed. There was a desperation of importance in his eyes. “Alright, I’ll meet you both out front. I’ll go tell the owner we’ll be leaving.” Kioshi nodded and turned to Aya as Nozomi left the room. She blinked up at him. He held out a hand to her and she stared at it. “What? No, we just got here, Kioshi.” “Come, Aya! I can’t leave you here. I’ve put both your lives in danger. I don’t let those close to me get hurt because of my foolishness. I’ll protect you both. I owe you both that.” She blinked again, a little scared, and nodded ruefully. Kioshi grabbed their things and took a blanket. * “Where are you taking us, Kioshi? Where is this?” Nozomi enquired. Kioshi had led them into the woodlands outside Honijo. It was dark. All they could see were shadows of tall, skinny, trees. All they could hear were their footsteps and the rustling of leaves beneath their feet. “We’re staying away from all public areas until the day of the tournament.” “Where sleeping outside?” Aya screeched in disapproval. “Yes,” Kioshi replied sternly. “Why are we out here though?” Nozomi said and he didn’t answer. They stopped. He threw down their things and began to pick twigs and wood off the floor of the woodland. “Don’t worry,” he said reassuringly to Aya. “I’ve lived out here all my life, and it’s the safest place for us.” She huffed. “I don’t mind being out here, Kioshi, but,” Nozomi paused. “Kage - he would-” “No,” he said flatly. “But-” “No,” he repeated. “Don’t think I’m just saying no because I’m mad, because I’m not going to deny that I’m angry at him, but we can’t stay there either. I’ll explain everything in a little while. Here,” he gave the pieces of wood he picked up off the floor to Aya. “Are you hungry?” he asked them. They nodded. “Gather some wood, make a fire and I’ll go get us some food. Fish alright?” They nodded again. He flicked his right wrist and a dagger shot out; he caught it and flung it into the earth. “I’ll meet you back here shortly. And it’s best you use that-” he said ushering with his eyes to the dagger, “to make a fire.” * He came back to both girls huddled around the roaring fire. Under his foot a twig snapped and the they turned sharply. He sat down opposite them holding three gutted fish, and three sticks. “Urgh! You’re not going to put those on that are you?” Aya questioned, a look of disgust on her face. He lifted his eyes to her, face expressionless. “Pass me my dagger, please,” he said to Nozomi. He took it from her and began to run the sharp blade over the rough, dirty outside of the sticks. When he finished carving they looked identical to chopsticks except slightly thicker. With the fish in one hand and a stick in the other he wove the stick through the flesh and stuck the end into the ground whilst the other side, where the fish was, cooked inside the flames, and repeated it twice more. Kioshi stood staring at the stars in the sky with his hands behind his back. He remembered his grandfather once tell him that in the mass of stars, somewhere in that there’s a centre, a place most can’t reach. Every body has a centre, like the universe, and like those stars, they’re the obstacles we must go through to get to the centre where our true power lies. “Kioshi, they’re ready,” Aya said from somewhere behind him. He turned and sat down with them, picking up a warm stick and began to eat. “Mmm, it’s good,” Aya said. Nozomi swallowed and opened her mouth to speak but it was Kioshi who spoke first. “We can’t go to Kages-” “Why not?” “Because I’ve been stupid these past few days. Distracted and angry…” he paused, staring at his fish as he rotated the stick, “I didn’t realise I had put both your lives in danger. We can’t go to Kages because-” he lifted his eyes, the light from the fire reflected in them. “there was a man at Kages house after my grandfather died. He knew something about Hiroshi’s death, and he knows my secret. I didn’t have my head protector on then. Not only that, he said he was shogun of the Centre land. Kano his name is.” “You mean, The Sasayaku, Kage?” Aya asked. Kioshi nodded. “I’m sorry I brought you into this, Nozomi, and Aya. I’m not sure how many people know I’m alive, or if no one knows, but either way those who have seen you with me are may be in danger.” “What are you talking about? How are we in danger? How have you put us in danger?” Aya asked urgently. Kioshi looked at Aya carefully. He sighed and lowered his fish. With his other hand he reached to the back of his head and untied the head protector. It dropped to the ground. His silky black, red tinted, hair swayed back and forth over his eyes. Aya’s eyes followed his rising hand. “I’m the descendant of the Raidon clan. The very last,” he said, and brushed back his fringe to relieve a scar symbol only those with Raidon blood had. Her mouth fell open; it was a while before she spoke. “But I heard The Raidon clan was wiped out entirely? How could there have been two of you left and no one know about it?” she asked, confused. “The Raidon clan was been wiped out, but I survived. I don’t remember how. “My grandfather, fortunately, wasn’t there when the invasion came. He found me alive and the village distorted. “I said to you before I had lived here my whole life. My grandfather felt the best place for me was here, hidden and kept a secret until I could protect myself and became as good as he was.” Kioshi looked down so they couldn’t see his face as he reminisced the night Hiroshi died. “But he was murdered,” he said, trying to keep his voice even. “I should have known then, no one was supposed to know we were alive, but someone knew Hiroshi was and that was the result…I’m not close to my grandfathers power level, but I will gain it. And I’ll take the lives of those who took awat my family and the Raidon clan.” “If we’re here with you, we’re still in danger,” Aya said, annoyance in her face. “I know, but if weren’t with me, here, and they knew you were, they’ll be looking for you. It’s too risky.” “What about Kage?” Nozomi asked, a hint of panic in her voice. “They knew you were staying at his house-” “He’s in no danger, Nozomi-” he said reassuringly, “because I’m no longer there and they wouldn’t harm him; he’s shogun and is more than capable of taking care of himself. Besides- Kano wanted Kage to be allied with him.” He stood up with his fish and leant against the nearest tree, facing them. “I’m sorry,” Kioshi said again. “I got you into this, so it’s my responsibility to keep you out of reach from harm.” Kioshi knew those after him are strong; what made him uneasy though was he wasn’t entirely sure he could match their strength- but to protect those he was close to, he’d put his life on the line to protect those he had put into danger. “Anyway,” he said, taking a bite out of his fish. “Get some sleep.” “Ah, Kioshi? We have only one blanket,” Aya said. “You use it to keep warm,” he said to Nozomi and Aya. Nozomi gave him a look of concern. Aya’s expression was hard to tell. * Kioshi didn’t sleep for much of the night. He sat opposite where Nozomi and Aya slept, looking through his belongings and found the two, strange bracelets Hiroshi passed on to him. He knew the greatest used these but had no idea how it to use them in his training. They jingled as he put them back where he found them. He’d try that morning to found out its secret. Aya shifted under the blanket and sat up, rubbing her eyes. He smiled. Nozomi sat up too. “Morning, Kioshi,” she said. “Morning, Nozomi- Aya.” “What were you doing?” Aya shot at him, a look of suspicious on her face. “Nothing,” Kioshi replied. She lay back down and murmured underneath her blanket ‘yeah right’. Nozomi’s eyes were on the food he had got beside him. “When did you get that?” she asked. “Last night,” he shrugged. “Couldn’t sleep.” She looked at him understandingly. “Let’s eat.” * Kioshi sat cross-legged, sharpening his daggers against a rock on his lap; his head protector firmly in place on his forehead. “Kioshi, how are we supposed to wash!?” Aya said in frustration. “Or didn’t you wash while lived out in the sticks?!” she said, waving her arms around at the trees. He looked up at her and grinned. She looked strange waving her arms like a loony. Cute too. He wished he hadn’t though because she gave him very disgusted look. “Are you kidding?” he said, suddenly serious. “Wash? Do you see any water around, Aya?” He grinned again as she stormed off to Nozomi and continued to sharpen his daggers. He was only teasing. Kioshi hadn’t known her long enough to tell, but he wondered if she was more frustrated then normal. He looked up as two pairs of feet stood in front of him. This time it was Nozomi and Aya. “Kioshi, is there any place where we can wash?” Nozomi asked. He nodded. “Yes. Three, in fact. There’s a stream not far from here,” he pointed ahead. “A pond-like fresh-water fall in that direction, but if you’re not game to jump into cold water, there is a hot string where those mountains are. It’s further though.” Kioshi slid the daggers in his straps around his wrists and stood, looking from Nozomi to Aya in thought. “Actually,” he said, a change in thought. “We’ll go to the hot spring. And bring your weapons. I know a place where we can train for the tournament, with more room.” Aya opened her mouth to speak but they all turned around at the sound of running feet. Thousands of them. It sounded almost like a stampede, except the ground did not shake. A large group of fully grown men ran swiftly across the floor of the earth past them. There were sounds of thunks above, Kioshi looked up. Some were travelling through the trees instead of the ground. They were Ninja’s. They were all dressed in black. Some of their heads turned to them in contempt. Kioshi’s and the girls presence did not stop them doing what they’re doing, and they disappeared into the distance. “What was that?” Aya asked. “I don’t know…” Kioshi answered truthfully, a little excited. It was the first time he had seen another ninja, like himself. * After their bath they stood distantly apart from each other in a glade. It was almost midday, he guessed, as he looked up at the sky with a blade in one hand. He looked down into his open hand. There in it were the Raidon bracelets, and he put them on. Nozomi and Aya had already started their training, except for him who was a little lost on how exactly these bracelets work or how they were going to help him with his training. Kioshi lifted his samurai blade and begun to mark X in the air. The little bell that hung on the handle of his blade didn’t ring- the sure sign of perfected use, however the bells on his wrists did. It was his first try so he didn’t expect to figure it out straight away. He tried again and again, with different swift movements and steps, but the ringing just got worse. There was nothing wrong with his sword movement, so why were the bells on his wrists ringing so much? For three straight hours, never stopping to break, he didn’t give up. He was determined to find out how it worked and master it, whatever it was he was trying to master. He could all be wrong for all he knew. The sky was beginning to darken, casting a mixed blue, purple and pink colour sky over their heads, and still Kioshi didn’t stop. He was so frustrated and irritated with the continually ringing bells on his wrists he continued to train. His wrists were tense and starting to hurt. The only improvement he had made the whole day was the speed of his blade. “Kioshi, stop. We should go,” Nozomi pleaded with him for the third time. “No,” he said shortly. “Look, stop being a such an idiot and-” Aya begun. “I’m not going! Go without me.” The temper he had been carrying these few days had returned and was bubbling at the surface. “Fine!” Aya shouted at him. He gave her a quick glare over his shoulder. “We’re leaving without you!” “Kioshi, please…” But he said nothing else to Nozomi or Aya, and they left. He shouldn’t have been cold with them, but he’d make it up to them later. His blade was fast and swift, the bell on it never ringing, but the bells on his wrist were jingling like mad and continued to get worse the darker it got. He wasn’t aware, being so angry, that the strange aura that had appeared around him the night he distorted the Kages dojo was up on him again. In the pitch black he was glowing a misty silver. That was it, he thought, he was going to do the Raidons were most famous for. He jumped into the air, cutting a barrier wall around an invisible opponent. The walls rumbled like thunder and was almost lightning bright He was now so enraged that he had no choice but to stop. He slid swung the blade once more and slid it behind his back, then he leant over, panted heavily, his hands on his knees. * Kioshi spent another day training, and he still hadn’t figured out these bracelets. Annoyed with his lack of improvement he decided to practice hand-to-hand combat. He looked over at the other two. He might need their help, but he wasn’t sure he should. Raidon’s hand-to-hand combat was different to normal hand-to-hand. Their hand-to-hand was really all in defence, and not much attack. Hand-to-hand may have been the only thing Hiroshi hadn’t hit him at the back of the head for getting it all wrong, unlike his sword technics. “Heah!” a young Kioshi had said, slicing the air in two. Hiroshi hit at the back of his head, sending it forward slightly and he pouted. “Wrong… Here,” he pointed at the blade, which was on a slant, and straightened it. “You need to keep the blade straight and let your hands move it.” He nodded. “Again!” “Heah!” Kioshi received another blow to the head. Kioshi smiled sadly, and started to remember something else. Hiroshi sat on a rock, so him and his grandson were eye level. Kioshi was holding up both hands. His fingers were in a fist all except for the middle and index. “Aim here-” he had said, pointing to his neck. “With you right hand. Remember, ‘Move in’ with your right, ‘Corner’ with your left, and strike with your foot.” Kioshi nodded. “Go!” In smooth actions Kioshi sent his right hand forward, and then with his left he tried to hit the same place, and then struck with his foot. Hiroshi chortled, almost hit by his foot. “Very good, Kioshi. Lets see how much you’ve taken in.” “What? You mean like a battle, Master Hiroshi?” Kioshi asked him nervously as he stood up and escorted him away to somewhere more spacey. Kioshi had won two short battles out of five. “Kioshi?” Nozomi said. He was in such a dreamy state he hadn’t noticed her there. “Ah - yes?” “Are you alright?” “Yes- I…I was just about to practice hand-to-hand.” They sat down, watching Aya fight with her blade. Nozomi turned and surveyed the bells dangling off his wrists. “I was meaning to ask you since at Kage’s, why do you carry a bell on your samurai sword? And why have you decided to put bells on your wrists too?” It was a while before he replied. “My grandfather gave these to me…” he replied, staring his wrists. “The bell on my samurai sword though, its purpose is to tell the user of the blade whether or not he is using it correctly. But I have no idea how these work.” “How can you tell from a bell?” “If you’re using it correctly, the bell won’t ring when using the blade, until it stops. But these,” he scoffed, “These won’t stop ringing, even when the bell on my samurai blade says differently. “Nozomi, I’m going to be staying here late…” * That had been their first few days there in the woodlands. Kioshi sat, staring up at the light, crystal blue cave walls from the hot steamy water he lay in. He was relaxing his muscles from a hard days work of training. He could hear the echo’s of Nozomi and Aya’s laughter. © Copyright 2003 Akira Kureshida, mirror on the wall, The Last Spirit, ~*Sayuri, A Sage of Vega, archyou2, (known as GROUP). All rights reserved. GROUP has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work. |
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