Saturday, January 10, 2004

Chapter 7: The Mysterious Samuri! Assassin Attack!
numbers in brackets are for footnotes...


Let’s take a break from our bunch of heroes and their pile of ash which used to be Bob the screamer of help. (I did my research; this is what his name was. It’s amazing how stealing village profiles comes in handy.)

The city of Mantra Colapadadle (pronounced col-ap-a-dad-le) is the roughest town on the Mirror. Many people won’t even go outside without a hired bodyguard. Bodyguards are very expensive, and the cheapest will only manage to get you to the corner shop and back.
The newest bodyguard is a young man known only as Pain Absolute. Pain was brought up by no one, thus he’s a natural loner. However on his 13th birthday a man approached him with a proposition. The man is, or was Yojimbo Amidamaru. A legendary Samurai, who is rumoured to have never lost a single battle. His sword techniques take years to master, but he thought it would only take months for a certain 13 year old boy…

5 years ago in Harusame(1)…

The rain hit the floor faster and harder as the seconds ceased their existence. A woman walks to her home quickly so the basket she carries won’t get wet. A man smoking looks up to the sky and then slowly walks away with his hands in his pockets.
A crack of thunder was heard above, as the rain became harsher. Everyone who chose to ignore the rain went to his or her homes or places of shelter. All except a lonely young boy who remained seated on the hard floor with his back leaned against a wall. His face buried in his knees.
What little could be seen of his face showed that he was miserable. A lifetime of unhappiness, this boy had never had parents, they were believed dead. He’d not allowed any orphanage or foster carers to take him in. He’s a lone wolf, and that’s how it was to stay.
A creaking sound was heard towards his left. He looked up to see what it was. Someone had came through the wooden doors that mark one of the four entrances of Harusame. The man’s head was hidden in under a straw hat. He wore red and white robes and on near the man’s waist was a long katana.
He approached the young boy. And said:
‘Your life has no meaning. You sit there hoping someone will solve your problems. I can do that.’
The boy lifted his head and looked at the man’s face, with amazement in his eyes. It was hard to tell if the boy was crying or if it was just rain. The man extended his arm.
‘Come and realise your destiny!’
He lifted the boy to his feet. ‘Come. You will be my apprentice and I your teacher.’

A group of men started to come down the street. The leader stood forward, and shouted:
‘Yojimbo Amidamaru, we’ve been sent to kill you!’
Yojimbo took of his hat and looked at the leader of the assassins then smiled. ‘So be it.’ Yojimbo said confindently.
The first assassin ran towards Yojimbo screaming, Yojimbo as quick as a flash unsheathed his United Dragon silver blade and slashed the assassins mid section.
Yojimbo stood right and smiled at the group. ‘Who’s next?’ Yojimbo said while almost laughing.
The leader said: ‘Leave him to me!’
He threw three kunais at Yojimbo. He leapt in to the air and slit the leader's throat.
‘Flee, your better has been beaten.’ He said to the other assassins.
The remaining assassins ran away, one nearly fell over. ‘It will be a hard journey but someday you’ll thank me...’


(1)Harusame= Spring Rain


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