Fan Fiction ❯ Mitsurugi: Samurai ❯ Chapter IV ( Chapter 4 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Mitsurugi: Samurai
Chapter IV

He had trained hard for the past four years. His mastery of the sword was unseen in any other samurai of the time. His movements were like that of a god, and just as powerful. Any sword became in his hands became a sure sign of death to the man facing him. And his mastery of the bow was almost as exact and quick as his sword fighting. And while he did spend much time on the cliff overlooking the village training, but not all of it.
Mitsurugi sat on the edge of the cliff, looking down to the village below, his arm wrapped around a beautiful young woman. The setting sun shone on their loving faces as they stared deeply into each other’s eyes.
“Taka, I…”
“Heishiro, you know my father wont let me marry a samurai. And now he..” Her eyes began to tear and she turned her face.
“He what?”
“He’s forcing me to marry. To marry a coward of a man, but who’s fields are large.”
“He wont!” Mitsurugi stood, his hand on his sword, “It wont happen! I will ruin the wedding and I shall take you for my bride!”
“You cannot. He is taking us far away, and is not telling me where we are being wed. It is a great honor for a peasant’s daughter to marry a lord, and he wont have it ruined.”
Mitsurugi turned quickly and pulled out his sword. As he did, a dozen men came over the hill, armed with swords, spears, and bows.
“We are from Lord Inuka. We are to now take the fair Taka away to be wed. Do resist us samurai, you can predict your fate.”
Mitsurugi gritted his teeth and almost growled as he slid the sword back into its scarab. Taka, eyes well wetted, walked over to her escorts.
“I shall remember you in my heart and mind, Heishiro.”
“I will find you! I will not let them do this!”
“No, I’d rather you live than dying to rescue me. I have accepted my path, now do the same.”
“I cannot.”

Mitsurugi paced through the small room, talking to himself and making plans. His master, Master Shonto, sat silently, meditating. The night’s harsh winds blew through the open door chilling both of the men.
“Mitsurugi, close that door. An old man cannot stand such bitter cold.”
“It helps me think.”
“Close it!”
Mitsurugi hesitantly, but quickly went over to the door and closed it tight.
“What am I to do, Master? The woman I love is about to be wed, and I know not where or when.”
“You know these people better than I. Who would he tell? Who would know?”
Mitsurugi sat in front of his master, both of them with their legs crossed, pondering what the answer was.
“The old men at the tea leaf stand! They know of everything.”
“Good, then you ask them in the morning and leave then.”
“No, I ask them now.” And then Mitsurugi rose and ran out of the house.
“Close the door!”

“Where is the wedding?” Mitsurugi yelled into the old man’s face. The old man had just woken rather violently to the young samurai standing over him with his sword drawn. This just wasn’t how people awoke and understandably, he was a bit dazed.
“Well, what do you mean? Who’s wedding?”
“Taka and Lord Inuka’s!”
“Oh well, I believe I heard the rumor…”
“I do not need rumors! I need answers!”
“In Gobi, the town just north of here! Now, please, let me sleep in peace.”
“Thank you.” And as quickly as the samurai appeared, he was gone.

Mitsurugi sat atop his horse, looking across a wide river whose rocks and ripples glittered in the moonlight. The bridge had been burned, and there was no telling where another was. There was but one thing to do. Mitsurugi dismounted his horse, secured his sword to his side and began into the river.
The river’s flow was not strong, but the bed was deep and there was no way a horse to cross. Mitsurugi struggled across the river, for it was indeed wide and formidable. But then, something unexpected happened, the current picked up. The rivers current began to quicken and strengthen as Mitsurugi was almost across. His furiously paddled his arms trying to keep himself from going down to far. His eyes filled with water and mud, he couldn’t see where he was swimming, and could only tell he was going the right direction by the rushing water. Luckily, he grabbed onto a rock large enough for him to sit and wiped of his eyes.
He stood and looked to the other side. It wasn’t far, and there were stones leading over there. But they were small and placed far from each other. It would take a great man to make it to the other side. A man of courage and strength, and determination.

Mitsurugi stood behind a tree, looking out to small encampment. It seemed they were going to temporarily stay her until the wedding judging by the make and style of the tents. He slowly crept towards a tent in which he saw a female figure, but as he did, a noise in the forest behind startled him. He ran forward and lunged into the tent. It indeed was that of his love’s.
“Heish..” She was cut off by Mitsurugi’s hand covering her mouth. His eyes tried to scan the surrounding area, but the tent cut off his view. Then, hand reached into the tent and then a man sprung forward, his stomach wrapping itself around Mitsurugi’s sword. Mitsurugi pulled the man in and turned him over. The dead man was dressed all in black with his face covered and a short sword in his hand.
“Ninja.” Mitsurugi pried the sword out of the dead ninja’s hand and handed it to his lover. “It will only take a few minute for them to kill them all the rest of the people in the camp.” The two waited, sitting in silence. There were a few muffled screams, but it didn’t sound like there was much resistance. The footsteps came near their tent. Mitsurugi gripped the handle of his blade tightly, then jumped out. He first sliced one man with a horizontal blow, then lowered and rose his blade under another then sliced down again on the last man.
Mitsurugi looked around. Were there no others? He stood silently, without breathing trying to hear if anyone else was there. He heard nothing. “ARRGHHHH! Come out you cowards and fight me!” A single man stepped out. He wasn’t dressed in the black like the other ninja. In fact, he was dressed in samurai armor.
“So, young Heishiro, you have become quite strong I see.” Mitsurugi squinted his eyes and a look of confusion filled his face.
“Yomomitsu? But, what are doing with ninja?”
“Making money, what else? I was hired to kill Inuka’s new bride. And so here I am. But the true question is, why are you here?” Mitsurugi stood strong, his sword in front of him, he face ready for battle.
“Oh, oh I see. You two, you are both from Bizen, weren’t you?” He asked, stepping forward.
“Draw your sword!”
“You, you love her don’t you? Oh, what sweet, bitter irony,” he said beginning to laugh, “The same man who killed your father, killing your love! O my, I do feel bad for you boy. Now step out of the way and let me finish.”
“No.”
“I should have figured I’d have to kill you. I was hopping you’d commit seppuku and then leave me alone. But seeing as you wont,” Yomomitsu pulled out his sword and the two began to circle. Then each charged each other with blades in the air. The two blades came down and met each other, then began to push against each other. “You quite a strong boy, aren’t you?”
“I am not a boy, and I am not going to lose.”
“I beg to differ.”
Mitsurugi let Yomomitsu win the stalemate, but ducked to the side and used his sword to force Yomomitsu’s into the ground. And as he tried to pull it out, kicked him in the shoulder knocking him down to the ground.
“Do not kill me, just let me commit seppuku, do not let me die like this. Die like a begging worm. Let me keep my honor.”
“You have no honor.” The blade rose, came down, and back into its scarab in one quick motion.
“It is done.”
“AAAHHHHH!!!” Mitsurugi turned and ran, but it was to late. All he saw was the silhouette of a man stabbing a woman then running out of the back of the tent.
“Bastard!” Mitsurugi ran after the man, and sliced a large slit in in his neck, then ran back to his fallen love.
“Taka, Taka,”
“Heishiro? Is it you? I cannot see.”
“Yes, its me.”
“Leave Heishiro. It is too much to see both me and your father die.”
“I cannot.” She smiled and laughed a little. Her face shone as she smiled, all her radiant beauty present right there. That was the last look on her face.

“Where are you going?”
“I am leaving, Master. My training is complete, as you have said.”
“Yes, but not your learning.”
“It will wait. I cannot stay here any longer.”
“Fine, then, please, take these books. And it that room you shall find your father’s sword, armor, and lineage. Remember, train yourself. Invent moves, modify them as to more quickly and effectively kill enemies. And remember these, you father’s words. ‘Beware the young and weak, for they will grow and become our master’s.’”
Mitsurugi nodded and walked into the room Master Shonto pointed to him. He stood before his father’s armor and swords. He kneeled and closed his eyes.
“Father, I honor you.”
Then he took up the sword, armor, and lineage and left.