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After 10 Years
It has been 10 years. 10 long years. 10 long years have gone by since Ken'ichi Tanaka became a samurai for the Shogunate. 10 long years have gone by since Ken'ichi left his home, family, and friends and after 10 long years he has finally returned. 10 years, it's only 2 words, but such a long time. Long enough for one to kill 200 people. Enough to earn a nickname, Hitokiri Kyokami, long enough for the people that Ken'ichi has trusted for 10 long years to betray you. It is long enough for a man's life to change forever.
Ken'ichi arrived at the place that he had left 10 long years ago. After 10 years everything still seems the same though. It seemed as though this was the only place on Earth that Ken'ichi was welcome. You see, just 3 weeks ago Ken'ichi was a samurai for the Bakufu (shogunate). He had killed many people earning the nickname Hitokiri Kyokami. But the Bakufu tried to force Ken'ichi to do something that he did not want to do. Ken'ichi left the Bakufu, and was marked for dead. The Bakufu put a
$100,000 price on his head. THey labled him a traitor. Ken'ichi had become a ronin. A masterless samurai. A wandering samurai. Vagabond. Unwelcome nearly everywhere he went. Except for Choshu, the place where he grew up.
Ken'ichi knocked on a door. It was the house that he lived in when 10 long years ago. A woman answered the door. It was the woman that he left behind 10 long years ago. His little sister, Kasumi Tanaka. She had long black hair and blue eyes. her blue eyes got bigger when she saw Ken'ichi. "Is that you Ken'ichi?" asked Kasumi. "It is." replied Ken'ichi. "Are you home for good?" asked Kasumi. "I am" Ken'ichi replied. "Come inside" she said. Ken'ichi followed Kasumi into the house. His grandfather Kenji Tanaka sat in the corner. "So the fool has finally returned to us" Kenji said. "I don't recall ever saying that I was ever leaving for good" Ken'ichi replied. "Come lets take a walk" Kenji said to Ken'ichi.
Ken'ichi and Kenji stepped outside. The two were slilent for five minutes. "So Ken'ichi, why have you decided to come back to us" Kenji asked. "My friend decided to leave the Shogunate" Ken'ichi explained. "The Shogunate doesn't like deserters" Kenji remarked. "I was the one they chose to carry out the assassination. I refused of coarse" Ken'ichi explained. "And so you have been marked for dead" Kenji observed. "Yes" Ken'ichi replied. "You were a fool to ever fight for them" Kenji said. "I know" said Ken'ichi.
The two walked by a familiar building. It was a restraunt owned by Ken'ichi's friend's parents. "Does Enishi's parents still own the tavern" Ken'ichi asked. "No, Nanashi is getting rather old. Enishi is in charged now" Kenji explained.
Chapter 2
Leader of the Patriot Faction
Ken'ichi entered the building. The restraunt was not to crowded. Ken'ichi sat down at a table. A waitress passed by Ken'ichi's table. In the blink of an eye Ken'ichi grabbed the waitresses arm. "Sake please" Ken'ichi said. "Yes right away" she said. A lot of people's heads turned toward Ken'ichi, who's hand moved faster than the blink of an eye. "Oh and one more thing" said Ken'ichi, "Is Enishi Sato here currently. "He is" said the waitress. "Would you please have him bring the sake?" Ken'ichi asked. "I will" she said.
The waitress left. A man with in the corner caught Ken'ichi's eye. He was carrying a daisho. He had been staring at Ken'ichi ever since he grabbed the waitress's wrist. What could he want?
At that moment someone arrived Ken'ichi's table. Ken'ichi looked up. It was Enishi Sato. Ken'ichi's childhood friend. It had been 10 long years since he last spoke to Enishi. "Who are you?" asked Enishi. "An old friend of yours" said Ken'ichi. "Oh my gosh. Is that you Ken'ichi?" Asked Enishi. "It is" replied Ken'ichi. Enishi sat down with Ken'ichi. "It has been such a long time" said Enishi. "It has been long" said Ken'ichi. "I see you are carrying a sword Ken'ichi" Enishi observed. "I have been a samurai of the Shogunate for the past 10 long hellish years" Ken'ichi explained. "Everyone has missed you" Enishi informed Ken'ichi."I know" said Ken'ichi sadly.
After Ken'ichi finished talking to Enishi he decided to return to his home. He was half way there when he noticed someone following him. It was the man from the restraunt.
Ken'ichi turned around. "What do you want from me" asked Ken'ichi.
The man then drew his katana and slashed at Ken'ichi. Ken'ichi quickly reacted and dodged the attack. Then Ken'ichi drew his kodachi and took it into both hands and stood ready. THe attacker attempted to attack again. Ken'ichi raised his sword. Ken'ichi attacked the blade of the attacker slashing it into, also slashing the attackers shoulder open. "I'll ask you again, what the hell do you want from me" Ken'ichi shouted at the man. "I see you live up to your reputation" THe man said. "What the hell are you talking about" asked Ken'ichi. "Through various sources I have learned of your situation. You have become the most wanted man in Japan and have earned the nickname Hitokiri Kyokami" said the man. "What of it?" asked Ken'ichi. "My name is Akira Yoshida I am forming a faction here in Choshu to destroy the Shogunate. I come offering you a chance for revenge on those who betrayed you" Akira explained. "I see. Unfortanately I do not wish to live my live fighting in these wars" said Ken'ichi. "I see. IF you change your mind you can find me" AKira explained as he fled.
Chapter 3
Tragedy
Ken'ichi returned to Kasumi's house before everyone woke up. A note was pinned on the door.
Ken'ichi
A bedroll is in the floor. That is where you will sleep.
Kasumi
Ken'ichi went to sleep. He began to dream. He was walking in a field. Dead bodies lay all around him. Some were Ishin Shishi. Some were samurai of the Shogunate. Some of the faces looked familiar as victims of Ken'ichi when he was a samurai of the Shogunate. Then he saw a grave stone ahead of him. He approached it. The name written on it was his own. Then Ken'ichi looked around. The dead bodies laying on the ground started to rise. "Ken'ichi, you took our lives away from us" they said to him. "Now its your turn"!!! Ken'ichi woke up to Kasumi's face. "Good morning" she said. "Good morning" Ken'ichi replied. "What's wrong" she asked. "Nothing" Ken'ichi replied. "Tell me Ken'ichi, why did you leave us" asked Kasumi. "I was walking on the streets once, and I was attacked by bandits. But a man saved me. His name was Kondo Isami. He was a samurai of the Shogunate. His skill was incredible. Then I asked him to teach me. He made a promise. He would teach me his skills if I became a samurai of the Shogunate. I agreed. When fighting for the shogunate I saw the horrible things that they had done." Ken'ichi explained to her. "Japan has changed so much over the years, and yet Choshu is the same as it has always been". THe two heard a knock on the door. Kasumi answered. It was Kenji. "Greetins grandfather" said Ken'ichi. "Greetings to you to" said Kenji, "Tell me why are you carrying that kodachi"? "it's for protection, I am a deserter. "The Shogunate will not forgive me easily" Ken'ichi replied.
The two heard a knock on the door. Kenji answered. Ken'ichi heard Kenji talking to man. "Who are you" asked Kenji. "We are samurai for the Shogunate, we have reason to believe that you are housing a deserter" the man said rather rudely. "Maybe we are, either way, you are not aloud in this house" said Kenji. "Such arrogance" said a man. Ken'ichi sensed the swing of a sword, the sound of a scream, and the smell of blood. Ken'ichi walked into the room.
Kenji's body layed slashed in half by the door. Two men were standing be side it. One had a drawn sword dripping with blood. Ken'ichi turned to the man. "I assume you two are looking for me" he said to the man holding the sword. "I guess your the deserter. I don't mind sending another man to hell" the man said to Ken'ichi. "You will never kill again" Ken'ichi said as he drew his kodachi. The man slashed at Ken'ichi. Within the blink of an eye Ken'ichi rose his sword in jodan position slashed at the man's blade cutting it in half cutting the man's hands off. Then Ken'ichi turned to the second man. The man began to run. Ken'ichi chased after him. The man ran through the crowd. Ken'ichi had a hard time keeping up with him. When they emerged Ken'ichi tripped over a woman's foot. Ken'ichi through the kodachi into the back of the man's head severing the mendulla. His body hit the ground instantly, and a trace of life. Ken'ichi returned to his home. But he was horrified at what he had come home to. Kasumi was alive, but witnessing the death of her grandfather, she had gone insane. "I am sorry Kasumi. This is all my fault. If I had never became a samurai in the fist place none of this would happen. I will repent for my sins, and so will the Bakufu" Ken'ichi promised Kasumi.