Honor of the Ken, Part II (381 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 2 on 9 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Anthony Locascio (View user info) at 2004-03-27 01:28:50 EST
http://www.ubersite.com/m/28464 Part I
When Kazuya left Hiruko's line of sight, he knew immediately that he might be dead before he could turn around again. His swords were the only thing filling his vision as he dove, praying that he could get to them and at least have the opportunity for one cut, one chance at taking his friend, now dire enemy, with him.
His hand closed upon the hilt of his katana, the sword he had drawn and sheathed so many thousands of times since his father had given it to him. In an instant, he pivoted on his knees, shouting his battle cry as his iai ripped open the air in front of him. He expected to be dead a moment later.
Kazuya had not moved from his spot, except to draw his blades. In his left, he held the ninja-to, a tanto dagger in his right.
"You always had a fine iai," Kazuya remarked, sarcasm dripping. Hiruko lifted himself from his kneeling stance and drew his wakizashi into his left hand.
"And I was foolish enough to think that you simply would not stab an old friend in the back," Hiruko snapped back, creeping fear beginning to overtake him. Kazuya had always been a superior swordsman, and in the tight confines of the shrine, the lack of room gave the ninja's shorter weapons a decided edge.
"You are correct in that. You are a traitor, and for that, I will stab you in the face, so that your children will weep when they find you."
"Have you gone mad, Kazuya? The Daimyo has done nothing to deserve your loyalty! His fields cannot feed the ones who tend it. How long before you yourself go hungry?"
"I am paid in gold, not rice, Hiruko. In five months time, Lord Sokyu will control all the southern provinces, including the Kestrel Cove."
Hiruko laughed in scorn. "There are no fish in Kestrel Cove, Kazuya. None worth eating anyway."
Kazuya laughed in return. "Ever the fool you always were, more concerned with incompetant peasantry than the proper scope of a would-be ruler, which is land. The Kestrel Cove has no fish, but it has something much more valuable. The birds leave huge deposits in the caves and on the rocks, from which the alchemists can distill black powder."
Hiruko recoiled in shock. Black powder meant that Lord Sokyu could field cannons, and the southern provinces were also rich in iron ore.
"Sokyu means to topple the Shogun?" Hiruko whispered, aghast. Kazuya laughed.
"And the new ruler will need a leader for his ninja," Kazuya finished. "But fear not, you will not have to see such a day, nor will your descendants. Lord Sokyu has invoked the Rite of Cleansing on your line."
If Hiruko had thought himself staggered by what he had heard so far, he wished now that he were deaf. The Rite of Cleansing meant that he and his entire bloodline would be killed. His elderly father, his aunts, uncles, his children....
Kazuya cackled, raising his blades up before his masked face. "Fear not Hiruko, your children still live. They will see the look a traitor has on his face after he dies, so they will know you in the afterlife, to blame you for their disgrace."
Hiruko tensed, gripping the leather handle of his sword. He searched for words, knew there were none, and then leaped forward in his first cut. In his ears, he heard someone screaming in rage, and in the instant before their swords collided, he realized it was him.
User Reviews
Submitted by Jungle_Jimanee (user info) at 2005-05-06 10:37:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by backsagainstthewall (user info) at 2004-03-27 06:12:16 (#)
Ranking: 0
Anime sucks.
Fool
Submitted by smokymtcsw (user info) at 2004-03-27 22:27:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Who is not giving this a plus two! Idiots
Submitted by creep_firebombing (user info) at 2004-03-27 10:21:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Awesome, but make them a little longer. I don't want to have to track down like 46 of these things to get the whole story.
And don't worry about those assholes that review with "WTF I'M NOT READING ALL THAT!!1!". They're usually one step away from illiteracy.
Keep up the good work.
Werd.
Submitted by domenad (user info) at 2004-03-27 10:07:19 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Heimdallsman, coming from you, someone who has composed so much good stuff, that's a real compliment. Thank you!
Submitted by OutLaw (user info) at 2004-03-27 09:20:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Ok i'm not going to even begin to go into what the hell was wrong with the below flame. I just hope everyone has the intelligence to realize it.
Submitted by backsagainstthewall (user info) at 2004-03-27 06:12:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Anime sucks.
Submitted by hcp28 (user info) at 2004-03-27 02:03:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
awesome... but where are hte robots?
Submitted by Heimdallsman (user info) at 2004-03-27 01:48:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Good, good. Keep going.
Excellent writing.
--HeimdallsMan
Submitted by OutLaw (user info) at 2004-03-27 01:34:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I liked it.