Prologue
The wind blew gently on the otherwise serene meadow where the building had once stood. "No..." Thought Shinoshi. "This is not after the destruction of the building... this is long before it!" Shinoshi was a young man, only fifteen at the time, and was bewildered to see the building he had once called home, and the city that had surrounded it, was gone without a single trace. "This can't be..." Shinoshi whispered in horror. "How can this be!?" he screamed at the top of his lungs, disturbing the peace that had settled into the meadow.
"Where is my house? Where is my city?" He pondered insanely. "This can't be happening!" he cried as he crumpled over in tears. There was nothing in the meadow but the grass on the ground and thee dirt path that lead into the dark forest in either direction. "What do I do now?" he asked himself meekly. He stood, tears dry, and began walking. "I guess the only thing I can do is walk," he said.
part 1
As Shinoshi began his trek through the thick woods, he felt as though he had been there before. Like this was not the first time he had stepped foot in these woods. He walked slowly, on constant edge. He was in a forest with which he was unfamiliar, and he was unarmed. He had great reason to be scared of what could be here. Anything could attack him, be it a bandit, or be it an animal. He wished he had some sort of weapon to defend himself with. “I hope that nothing attacks me out here… if they do, I’m doomed…” he whispered quietly to himself as he continued walking.
He followed the path, which was fairly unused from what he saw of it. It was overgrown in some places, and he didn’t even have anything to get the brush out of the way. He just walked through the brush, getting cut by briars, thorn bushes, and other plants of all matter. Eventually, he happened upon another clearing.
He walked out into it, and looked around for a few minutes before he decided to sit down in the middle of it. He sat down on the ground and thought deeply about what to do. “If I don’t find a river with some fish in it soon, I might not be able to stay alive out here, where ever here is,” he thought sleepily as he started to lie down to take a small nap. Just as he did so, he heard a rustle in the bushes on the edge of the clearing.
He sat up and said, in an excited and scared voice, “who’s there?” a calm, raspy voice said from within the bush, “I should ask you the same. Who are you? What are you doing here in my meadow?” Shinoshi jumped up from fright. “I didn’t know it belonged to anyone, sir,” he gulped. “Well, you look harmless enough,” the voice said again, as the bush rustled a little more. From the bush, a young man, not much older than Shinoshi himself appeared, and Shinoshi jumped back at the sight of him. He was clad in samurai armor, and had a pair of swords at his side. The hilts were blue, as where the plates on his armor.
“What are you doing here?” the samurai asked, annoyed. “I don’t honestly know, sir, I followed the trail from the woods to this place from another meadow. How I got there, I’m not sure. I just woke up one morning, and everything around me was gone completely,” Shinoshi replied. “Well, you seem to have had a rough time. What is your name, boy?” the samurai asked in response. “Shinoshi, sir, Shinoshi Tenakari,” he said in a scared tone. “Tenakari!? I’m sorry, my lord, please forgive me, your exploits are well known throughout this region,” the samurai said hurriedly as he bowed.
“What exploits?” Shinoshi pondered.
Part 2
“Well, perhaps not your own exploits, but those of your family, your family is highly regarded here, it is a great honor to meet one of your clan,” he said, staying bowed. Shinoshi didn’t understand. All he knew of his family’s past is that they were extremely poor, and had always been in hard times. How could they be in such high regard? It didn’t add up. “Lord Tenakari, I see you have no blade,” said the young man, rising, “here, take my old katana. It would be an honor to have you wield it.” He handed Shinoshi the larger of the two swords at his side. “What’s your name?” Shinoshi asked curiously. “My name? It’s Tokenshimi Toshoni, I’m from a long line of proud samurai,” he said, with an obvious zeal of pride to his voice.
Holding the sword of Tokenshimi Toshoni in his hand, Shinoshi felt quite strange. He felt as though he was meant to hold this sword. “I’ve trained in a simple form of kendo, but I’ve never had any training of expertise. Can you train me, perhaps?” Shinoshi asked Tokenshimi timidly. “It would be a great honor, Lord Tenakari,” he said, bowing graciously. When am I, and why am I here? Shinoshi puzzled himself. He had so many questions, and he had no idea of who to ask them. “Token, do you know where my family lives?” Shinoshi asked. “Of course, they live in a small palace near Kyoto, next to a river. Why?” Tokenshimi replied. “I’d just like to meet them… can you take me there?” Shinoshi asked. “Of course I can, but we should go back to my village and restock on a few supplies, it’s a long journey to Kyoto… I also need to get a replacement for my main blade. I can’t fight simply with my wakazashi. That blade is reserved for the warrior’s death,” Tokenshimi said. “Alright, how far away is your village?” Shinoshi questioned. “Not very far at all. It shouldn’t take more than an hour of walking to get back,” Tokenshimi replied.
They walked down the path towards Tokenshimi’s village. After about thirty minutes of walking they both heard a rustling in the bushes all around them. Shinoshi gripped his blade tightly, and brought it up into the position, as he had so many times with his wooden sword he had once wielded. Suddenly, from all around them, thieves and bandits, dressed in light armor and black clothes, dropped onto the path, and the surrounding trees. “Give us all the money you have, and no one will get hurt,” one of the bandits said. “Over our dead bodies!” protested Tokenshimi? “Have it your way then,” the bandit said, lunging at the samurai.
Tokenshimi dodged off to the side, and slammed the blade of his wakazashi into the back of the bandit’s neck, chopping off his head. Another bandit lunged at Shinoshi, who dodged back, then quickly chopped off the arm of his attacker. “AHHHHH!!!” the bandit screamed in agony, clutching the nub that had once been his hand. Shinoshi then proceeded to decapitate the bandit, and then turned to face another group of them, with a steely look in his eyes. It was a look that the bandits had only seen in the eyes of the most hardened killers. “Are you all prepared to die?” a voice that rang maliciously from Shinoshi said.
part 3
The bandits all backed off, scared for their lives. “Who is this kid!?” one screamed in horror. “My name is Shinoshi Tenakari. Don’t forget it, if you live to have that opportunity,” the voice spoke. Shinoshi held the sword in one hand and pulled it next to his forehead, the tip, dripping with the blood of the bandit that he had decapitated. All the bandits took yet another step back, and Shinoshi jumped into the trees, disappearing from view. Tokenshimi stood, watching his younger cohort, amazed and horrorstruck. He had never seen anyone move with such precise and deadly speed. He wants to learn from me? Tokenshimi thought, mouth hanging wide open.
The bandits were going insane below, as one by one, they were being decapitated and chopped up by a shadow. Some fell in half, some fell without a head, and some fell without limbs. They tried to scatter in different directions, but he was far too fast. They were caught and killed quickly, and none of them could fathom the kind of force that was doing all of this. Why had they attacked? Why were they dying? These were the thoughts running through their heads, as they were separated from their bodies.
Within a few minutes, the entire group had been slain. Shinoshi dropped from the tree to which he had first left, and landed gracefully on the ground, looking around to make sure they were all dead. Suddenly, he knocked out and collapsed to the ground.
“Who is this boy?!” were the words that slipped from the lips of Tokenshimi as well. He was amazed, and horrified at the same time. “I’ll ask him when he awakens,” he thought. He picked up Shinoshi and moved him into a small clearing, and set up a camp for the two of them to rest at until Shinoshi awoke.
part 4
Shinoshi soon awoke to the sound of a dying fire, still crackling, but on its last legs. “I have a question for you boy, who are you really? And why do you want ME of all people to teach you how to fight? I am not as skilled as you are. In fact, with your skills, you should be teaching me,” said the solemn samurai. “What are you talking about? I’m no master… I can barely hold the sword,” Shinoshi said, beating down his own abilities.
What is this boy saying? He just killed almost all of the bandits single handedly! How in the world could he not remember that? Thought Tokenshimi inquisitively. “You don’t remember anything that just happened?” He questioned in amazement. How could he forget so fast?
“No, beyond me getting hit by that bandit, I don’t remember anything. How did you scare the rest of them off?” he asked, looking as if the blade that laid next to him had never touched blood in his hands. “I didn’t, you did. You killed them all. After they attacked, you became a shadow and slaughtered them mercilessly. How did you do that? You moved so fast, I couldn’t even see you!” the samurai explained, “that was amazing!”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I was knocked out, how could I have done that?” Shinoshi said, with an almost terrified look in his eyes. He had never harmed anything in his life, how could he have killed? What was going on? Where was he? Moreover, WHEN was he? He was so confused.
“Well, you’re awake now, we might as well continue moving. The village isn’t too much farther away. It will only be thirty more minutes or so,” Tokenshimi said solemnly. They walked down the path, and they were silent.
The path was calm, there weren’t even animals making noise. This disturbed Shinoshi greatly. He had never headed a perfectly silent forest. He was scared, he was very scared. This was beyond reason. A perfectly calm forest? Was their no life here? It was highly unnerving. “Token, why there are no sounds here?” asked Shinoshi. “Simple enough, there is something here that changes them. It makes the animals scared, to scare to make noise. They fear for their lives,” he told Shinoshi. “What do you think it is?” Shinoshi thought aloud unintentionally. “Probably you, you killed more men than I ever have, and the animals here all fear your presence,” replied the young samurai.
They finally saw the exit from the village, and they felt the fire that swept the area. They looked ahead, mouths dropped wide open. “Oh my god, my home! Someone attacked… I wasn’t here to protect them,” he said, kneeling on the ground, stabbing his sword into the ground, “I should have saved been here. Why did I leave?”
“Because we all have a reason and a purpose, and there is a purpose for everything. You left to find me, and you came back to find the sword that you will use to take your revenge, and fulfill your destiny. Also, you left to pass the sword that you bore unto me, so that I could fulfill mine as well, so you see, everything has a purpose,” said another voice that rang eerily from Shinoshi. “Go, get the blade that you came back for, and see the man on whom you will take your revenge.” Shinoshi fell to the ground once again.
part 5
Tokenshimi looked at his cohort, then at his village. “I have to get that sword…” he said, walking into the flames, towards the sacred temple that held the ancient sword of destiny that had guided so many hero’s to their destinies, and so many villains to their fates. He had felt for some time that he would be the next wielder of the blade, though he was scared of what its ancient secrets might hold for him.
He made his way through the roaring flames, and into the temple, where an almost magical barrier surrounded the sword, and kept it from being damaged. He reached into the barrier with ease, and plucked the sword from its perch. As he gripped the sword, a strange power swept through him. He felt as though he held the key to the world in his hand, and he could do anything. He slid the sheathe with the sword into his belt and began walking.
As if some force was doing so, all the flames that surrounded him disappeared as he passed, and the damage repaired. As he stepped out of the temple that had held the sword of legend that was now his, the Shiminoshi, he noticed a man, dressed in perfect black robes, which flowed onto the ground around him, standing there with his own sword drawn. “Are you prepared to die with this village, Tokenshimi?” a voice rang from the tall figure, “this IS your village after all, hand me the sword, and you might live.”
“HOW DARE YOU!” Tokenshimi screamed drawing his new sword, its blade about to be tainted with the blood of the villain. “YOU, YOU WERE THE ONE THAT DID THIS!” he yelled at the top of his lungs. A force pushed out from the sword that he held, and caused all the fire around him to stop burning. “Shut up, you fool. You don’t understand. You will die soon, and I will be the one to kill you!” said the man, who began running at Tokenshimi with great speed.
As the man in black robes rushed forward, and slashed, Tokenshimi dodged off to the right, and quickly countered, but as fast as he could do so, the man blocked his attack and pushed him away. He turned as if standing on a coin, and lunged yet again at Tokenshimi with great force. Tokenshimi quickly pushed his sword upward as the man lunged forward, somehow keeping the hood of his robe on, knocking the sword, still in the man’s hand, into the sky.
Before he lost his chance, Tokenshimi quickly stabbed straight into the man, who, just as quickly, knocked Token’s blade down. They both dodged backwards, and slid, digging their feet into the ground. Tokenshimi had never seen a man with such speed, and he himself had never used the speed he was moving at. The sword of destiny was calling for him. He knew that this was one of the enemies fated to die at the blade. He drew his blade into the mist stance, in which he hung the hilt just next to his head.
“It is not I who will not survive this fight,” Tokenshimi vowed, watching his opponent raising his own weapon into a stance Token could not recognize. They both stared each other down, and the fire continued to spread near the man, and continued to stop near Tokenshimi. It was a duel to the death, and there was no way Tokenshimi would allow himself to die. He knew there was a way… he could feel something strange bursting from within the sword, and, suddenly, a light burst forth from the blade, encircling it. The blade of light!
It was the blade that could cut the darkness of any man, and destroy all evil. “Heh… you seem to have awakened the sword before I could taint it… no matter, I have my own,” the robed man proclaimed. Before Tokenshimi’s eyes, the man’s sword seemed turn solid black. This must be a blade of darkness! The sword that could destroy the good of any soul, and turn the most pure heart evil, if it ever touched their skin! “I refuse to give up and die, or surrender myself to your sinister rule!” Tokenshimi shouted. He lunged at the robed man, faster than he had ever moved, and made contact, before the man could move!
From the wound made in the center of the man in black robe’s body, he seemed to disintegrate. He must have been a demon of pure evil, thought Tokenshimi.
part 6
As Tokenshimi walked out, he heard a ghostly voice mocking him. “You will die one day, I will kill you” rang, as he walked forward, and heard the voice, but did not react. “You fool, I am not dead, you are going to die,” it continued to ring, and Tokenshimi continued not to listen. He eventually reached the place where Shinoshi had fallen, and found him. He was waking as Tokenshimi approached him. “To… Token? Wha... what happened?” Shinoshi mumbled as he awoke. “The village was attacked, and you blacked out again. Its time to get to the Tenakari house lets go.” Tokenshimi said.
They walked down the path out of the thick forest, and towards the place that the Tenakari house was supposed to reside. Shinoshi was anxious. He was ready to understand exactly what was going on. Memories of what had happened the day before all this started flashed through his head. He remembered something strange… a glow that seemed to watch him as he walked through the day, and an odd presence. He had no idea what it was, and still didn’t. He could almost still feel that presence. Was this the guiding hand of fate? Something strange was going on. Was this all some sort of twisted dream? No, it was too real. There were too many factors that showed such. He was in a real place, and this was no illusion. He was now in a strange place, but he had a friend, something he hadn’t had many of back in his old home.
In his old home, he was alone most of the time. Some people seemed to think he was dangerous. How could he be dangerous? He had never harmed anyone in his life. He had always felt empty. He had no idea what was going on. He was in a strange land, yet it was the same land he had always lived on somehow. He couldn’t figure it out. It was as if he was in a different time or even a different universe. This was not a dream; he knew it for sure somehow. He was scared. Nothing had ever scared him this much. As much trouble as he’d had, Shinoshi wasn’t a coward. He was a pacifist for the most part, but had decided that if he was ever attacked he would fight back.
Nothing had scared him more. He kept losing consciousness, and then snapping back with the words of Tokenshimi. He had no idea what was happening, and he had no idea how to stop it. His head was spinning with all these questions.
part 7
They continued walking for several days until they came upon a small village. During this time, Shinoshi had had time to think. This was a time of reflection. He had remembered more, and was pondering what it had all meant. He was confused, of course, and knew somehow that meeting the people named “Tenakari” here would help in some way. He had no idea what it was, but something strange told him that something would click.
The small village they were in was friendly. The people were nice, and, after hearing the story of Tokenshimi’s village, they were more than willing to be hospitable. They gave them food, and rest for the night. Shinoshi and Tokenshimi hadn’t slept in a real bed for weeks, and they had almost forgotten how good it felt.
In the morning, Shinoshi rose early. He wanted to see what else was in this town. The villagers had also seen that Shinoshi was completely unarmored. They took pity on the boy, and gave him a suit of light armor; blue, to match his cohort. Shinoshi approached a group of boys about his age who were just hanging around at the time. “Hello,” Shinoshi said in a friendly manner. The boys looked at him, and they bowed. “You are the one named Tenakari, correct?” one of them asked. “Well, yes, but you don’t have to bow to me…” Shinoshi replied. “It is such an honor to meet you! We’ve never had any visitors of such high prestige,” said one of them.
“Well, my name is Shinoshi, its nice to meet you,” he said. “Well, we best be back to our work,” yet another said, “It was an honor meeting you.” The group of boys walked off, and Shinoshi was alone again. He continued wandering around through the village, and eventually came back to the inn that he had stayed at the night before. He ascended the stairs to the bedroom, where Tokenshimi was just waking. “Well, how long have you been up?” Tokenshimi yawned. “Long enough to walk around the village once,” Shinoshi said, slightly irritated, “You sleep too much.”
They walked out of the inn, saying goodbye to their gracious hosts. They headed for the exit of the town, once again on the path to the Tenakari house. “It shouldn’t be too much longer, Shinoshi,” Tokenshimi assured him, “perhaps another three days if we make good time.
They walked for the rest of the day, retelling stories of their childhoods, though Shinoshi often found he stopping to explain what many things were, as Tokenshimi seemed bewildered in not knowing about them. He was amazed and shocked by some of the inventions Shinoshi told him about. “How can a giant piece of metal fly and humans can’t?” Tokenshimi asked, still amazed. “Technology. It’ll get to that point one day, Token, though probably not in your lifetime,” Shinoshi had replied with an inner chuckle. He had found a friend, something his life had been devoid of for so long. That night, they stopped to make camp, and slept peacefully.
In the morning, they awoke, and continued their journey, but something told Shinoshi that this wasn’t going to be a smooth day like the one before it. Something was different, disturbed. He was on his full alert, and was ready to strike at the first sign of trouble. He kept his hand rested on the hilt of his blade, and he kept his ears and eyes sharp.
They continued on until they found a clearing with a small creak running through it. Suddenly, a group of bandits burst forth from the woods. “Not another set…” Tokenshimi groaned. One of the bandits stepped forward. “So, you’re the ones responsible for killing so many of my underlings? You think I’d let you get away with killing so many of my men without retribution? We’re the strongest men from the group of bandits that attacked you, and we will not lose to a couple of babes, barely out of their diapers,” the bandit said, “prepare to die!”
He lunged at Shinoshi, and he managed to lean back and to the right just enough for the blade to wiz by his head, followed by the bandit. Shinoshi stuck his foot out and tripped the foolish bandit. He hit the ground with a loud thud. “Well, if that’s the best you’ve got, then you’re not worth killing,” the voice rang again. The bandit stood back up and quickly jumped into the trees. Shinoshi sighed, and dodged off to the side as the bandit landed next to him. If Shinoshi hadn’t moved, he’d be in two pieces right now! Thought Tokenshimi excitedly. The bandit was still knelt on the ground next to Shinoshi, and before he could get up, Shinoshi planted a solid kick to the bandit’s side, sending him flying into a tree. “Fool, he should have gotten up faster,” Shinoshi said, turning to the other men, “now, which one of you cares to try next?” They all took a step back. They knew that if they stayed any longer, that they would die quickly. “I don’t want to die!” they all screamed, as they ran like cowards into the forest.
This time, however Shinoshi did not faint when the voice left him. He shook once violently, but that was it. “Hey, where’d they go?” he said, confused at what had just happened. “Well, time to keep going, I guess,” Shinoshi and Tokenshimi agreed.
part 8
In a few more days, they saw the estate of the Tenakari family. “That’s it, Shinoshi, the Tenakari palace,” Tokenshimi said coldly, staring at the palace. “Well, this is where we part ways,” said the samurai solemnly, “I hope you discover your purpose.” Shinoshi’s eyes grew with fear. “Wait! There isn’t any need to leave Tokenshimi,” Shinoshi whimpered, “you’re my friend; I want you to come with me through this. You helped me start this journey, please, help me see its end?”
Tokenshimi looked like he was about to cry from the kindness of this young boy. Shinoshi called him his “friend”… that was something no one had ever called him. He was always just an ally, never a friend. As a child, he never really got close to anyone; he had always been pushed away when he had tried. “Alright, let’s go!” Tokenshimi smiled cheerily.
As they approached the palace, the guards drew their weapons. “Who are you, and what is your business here?” one of them asked sharply. “We aren’t here to harm anyone. My name is Shinoshi Tenakari, and I’m here to see what is going on. I don’t know how I got here, or why I am, and I’m hoping the people here can help me,” Shinoshi spoke up. “You? A Tenakari? I highly doubt it,” Said one of them. “I am a Tenakari!” shouted Shinoshi. “Calm yourself, or I’ll have to restrain you, and that method could go so far as killing you,” said the other, “look, the lord knows how to check for Tenakari. I’ll take you to him. And what of your companion?” Tokenshimi stood to quick attention. “I’m Tokenshimi Toshoni, the samurai. I guided Shinoshi to this place,” saluted Tokenshimi. “Well, I guess you can come then,” the guard replied.
They entered the massive palace, and the mouths dropped. Ancient armors, swords, and tapestries decorated the walls, and many golden statues of dragons surrounded them. They walked into what appeared to be a thrown room, where a highly decorated old man sat in a large chair. “Welcome, Shinoshi,” said the elder. “Hello, it’s nice to meet you, sir,” Shinoshi bowed, “I’m guessing you already know me then…” The old man waved for Shinoshi to approach him, and Shinoshi obediently stood, and approached.
“Pull up your left sleeve,” the old man commanded. Shinoshi did it quickly. The old man inspected it, and waved his hand over it. A tattoo of a blue dragon slowly faded onto his skin. “AH! What’s that!?!?!” he screamed in almost horror. “The symbol of the Tenakari family. It is the only way to be sure if one is of the Tenakari family. I welcome you,” the old man replied, smiling, “We shall have a feast in your honor!”
He called for a young girl, probably around Shinoshi’s age, who was apparently a servant. She was quite attractive, and Shinoshi blushed. “Toneshina, take Shinoshi to his room, and give him some clothes,” the old man said kindly to her.
part 9
As they walked to Shinoshi’s room, there was an uncomfortable silence. Shinoshi had never been comfortable around girls, and Toneshina was no different. She was quite pretty, to say the least. He was nervous all of the sudden, even more nervous than he had been around the Tenakari elder. He couldn’t really speak, but she seemed to be quite happy. She was just doing her job, going about her daily chores. Shinoshi wished he could be that calm. She was about 5 feet 7 inches tall, with dark hair that came down to about half past the middle of her neck; she had blue eyes that just gleamed in the light.
He wanted to get to know her, but had this pain in his chest that held him back. Something kept him from saying anything. Just as he got the courage to say something to her, they reached his room, and she was gone before he had a chance to say anything. The rest of the night before the feast, all he could think about was Toneshina. He was being foolish about this. He had only just met her, and he hadn’t even said much to her. Well, there was nothing he could do. Maybe one day, he’d have the courage to say something to her.
That night, at the feast, Shinoshi was in a rather fancy warrior’s kimono. He was comfortable, and he was glad to have such a warm, large meal in his stomach. “Sir, may I ask your name? I don’t think you ever told me… if we’re family, shouldn’t I know your name?” Shinoshi said quietly. “My name? Ha! You’re quite inquisitive. It’s Shonashino,” the old man said. “Shonashino, I’d like to be trained. I want to learn a discipline of sword fighting,” Shinoshi pronounced.
“Alright then, I will arrange to have you trained. You will start in a week,” Shonashino told him. That week came quickly. He began his rigorous training, and the next few months were a daze. He eventually got up the courage to talk to Toneshina in after about a month in this place. He got to know her quite well, and enjoyed her company. Being around her was like nothing he had ever felt. After about two months of being at the Tenakari estate, he was actually becoming more and more open with her. He could feel it, and Shonashino could see it in him.
One night at dinner, he actually brought the subject up. “Shinoshi, I notice you are spending a lot of your free time with Toneshina. I can see it in your eyes. Ha. You’re in love,” the old man had proclaimed. This hit Shinoshi like a brick, because all throughout the dinner, he had been thinking about her. “AH!” Shinoshi screamed in shear surprise. “Don’t act like no one can tell. Anyone with eyes can see straight through you. Tell her how you feel about her, it’s the best thing you can do Shinoshi,” Shonashino advised him. The next day, Shinoshi decided it. He would tell her.
part 10
As he walked outside to the training ground, his mind raced. And suddenly, he remembered something that had slid away from his mind for over two months. He wasn’t reminded of it by Tokenshimi because he was always busy now. He enjoyed journeying, and only stopped in twice a month, so he could never be there to remind Shinoshi to ask Shonashino why he was here. Well, I’ll just ask later on, he thought. He continued his trek, and he knew he would run into Toneshina soon. He was nervous, and it couldn’t be helped. He approached the area where she always was at this time in the morning, and became even more nervous.
This wasn’t going to be a normal day. He could barely breathe when he reached her. His heart was pounding faster than it ever had. “Toneshina… I have something I’d like to tell you… in private…” he whispered so she could just barely here him. They looked at the other maids in the area, and Toneshina said, with a clear nervousness in her voice, “I’ll be right back; Shinoshi wants to talk to me for a minute.”
The two of the walked into a small hallway, off to the side. “Toneshina, I have something important I want to tell you…” Shinoshi started, very nervously. “Don’t worry, I already I know what you’re going to say…” Toneshina said in a quiet tone, “I feel the same way.” Shinoshi saw tears form in her eyes, and he gently put his arms around her, embracing her. He smiled a gentle smile when Toneshina looked up into his eyes. “Its ok, there is no reason to cry…” he comforted her. They stood there, in that embrace that lasted forever, but couldn’t last long enough. “I need to go. I’ll see you at dinner tonight,” Shinoshi promised her, as he left her warm grip.
He walked away, towards the training grounds, and he was shaking violently. He was still quite nervous, even though he had walked away relieved. He felt strange. Still scared, yet so happy, when he approached the master at the training grounds, he saw this nervousness in Shinoshi automatically. “What’s wrong, Shinoshi? You seem off balance today…” the master said, “You need a clear mind for training, not one clouded and nervous.” Shinoshi shuddered for a moment, and then said quietly, “I’m sorry, master, I know…” The old master looked at his pupil intently. “I get it now… It’s Toneshina. Hah. I should have known,” he said, shaking his head, “Well; we really can’t help that, can we? No training today. Go calm yourself. And there is something else, ask Shonashino about why you’re here. That is something that I can see clearly weighing on your mind.”
Shinoshi walked away from the training field, and towards where Shonashino was working. As he reached the door, he knocked. One of the attendants appeared as the door opened. “Hello Shinoshi, can I help you?” she said with a smile. “Yes, I would like to have a word with Shonashino,” was his polite reply. “I’ll see if he’s busy or not. He honestly might not be. He doesn’t usually do much paper pushing. He’d rather be doing what he is famous for, which is out exploring and saving people. He loved adventuring, and has always felt incomplete since he stopped,” she said, as they walked into the grand waiting room. The attendant walked into the lord’s study, and walked out in a few minutes. “He’ll see you now,” she said, with a smile.
part 11
Shinoshi entered the study of his relative, and was waved to sit down by Shonashino. “Shonashino, can you tell me something?” Shinoshi asked sharply. “Of course, what is it?” his relative replied. “Why am I here? How did I get here? Why did it happen?” he barraged Shonashino with questions. “There is a legend, Shinoshi… of a young boy of a family of great fortune who would one day be slammed into the past where he is needed. It is said that here, he would find everything of which he had dreamed for so long, but would need great courage to survive the trials that he would undergo. It is said that this boy would be of great strength, unknown to himself. The boy, as the legend tells, will save this world, and become its guardian for eternity, never able to return to his former home,” the old man explained, “it is also said that the boy would be born with a blue dragon sewn into his skin, reveal able only by those who know of it. This is how we Tenakari knew that the boy would come from our line. We are all born with that emblem on the left shoulder, and we are all bound to it forever.” Shinoshi’s mouth dropped to the floor. The old man had just explained everything. He now realized that things here were better than they ever would be at his home in the city.
Here, there was someone to love, while back in his own time, as it now appeared clearly to be, there was no one. His parents had both died several years before, and he had been more or less alone since then. He was happy here, a place where he knew he belonged. Why had he even cared whether or not he would be home? He had never really like life there. Then something crossed his mind… “Shonashino, what trials would the boy face?” he questioned. “Many. He would save the world, and he would be bound to protecting this world forever,” the old man said solemnly.
“Now,” the Shonashino said, cheering quickly up, “we should get the arrangements for your young love to stop having to work in menial jobs she does. Toneshina always did seem to be suited for a purpose far more than what she did. Did you know that she is an excellent fighter?” It was strange; she had never mentioned that to Shinoshi. “No, I didn’t, actually. I wonder why she didn’t tell me?” he said. “Well, that’s simple, my son, she didn’t want to show that side of her. She is quite the young woman, and is very multifaceted. She will soon begin training with you on the training grounds every day, since she will be relieved of her duty as a servant. She will eat with us, from now on, of course,” Shonashino finished. “Alright then,” Shinoshi said, standing up, and turning to walk out, “I guess this is goodbye until supper then, isn’t it?” he bowed as he walked out.
He stepped out into the world, with a new sense of its full meaning, and a new sense of why he was here. He was here to save the world, from what, he had no idea. A few months passed, and his love for Toneshina grew greatly. They spent every waking hour together for months. There was hardly a minute where they would let each other out of their sights. One day, about seven months after he told Toneshina of his feelings, something happened.
There was a raid by minions of an evil lord known as Konoshoani. Shinoshi was there when the minions entered, sword drawn, and ready to draw blood if they dared to come near his love. “Touch her, and you will all die!” the voice rang once again. This time, though, something was different. Shinoshi was in full control, even though the spirit that rested in him was awake. He moved at a high speed towards them, with his love at his back. I will protect her! he thought frantically. He stabbed at one of them, and they managed to dodge off to the side, but as soon as they could do so, Shinoshi’s blade had already followed directly to their position, and split the minion clean in half.
He stood, sword held out to the right of his body, clutching his sheathe tightly, and a shadow covered his eyes, “are you all really prepared to be killed?” he whispered loudly enough for them to hear. He launched off to one side, and aimed his blade into one of the raider’s heart. It went in smoothly, and the raiders eyes opened widely and his pupils grew to encompass them. Shinoshi slashed outwards to the right, causing flesh and bone to explode from the force used.
part 12
He turned quickly, eyes ablaze in the excitement of the fray. He was dog piled by a group of the raiders, and hit the ground hard under the extreme weight. He pushed up against the struggling mass, but it was of little use. “Quick, grab the girl!” Shinoshi heard one of them shout. “NO! YOU WILL NOT TAKE HER!” he screamed, pushing away all of the raiders, somehow keeping them all standing… well, for the moment anyway.
Shinoshi lunged back, and started hacking at them. Blood spewed everywhere as their bodies where sliced into pieces. He moved quickly, stabbing, slicing, and generally slaughtering the raiders. After they were all dead, he looked quickly to see if Toneshina was still there, and, to his great dismay, one of them was holding her on his shoulder, and leaping swiftly away. “NO!” he screamed, now flaming in anger. He jumped at the man who was trying to make away with his love, and managed to catch up. He put his hands on both sides of his targets head, and snapped his neck, cracking all the way around, then grabbed Toneshina before she hit the ground. “Are you alright, Toneshina?” he asked with sudden compassion, not heard in his previous words.
“Did he hurt you?” he said, almost in tears, born of rage and compassion. “I… I’m all right, Shinoshi,” she told him, putting her hand to his face, “everything’s alright.” Shinoshi noticed a gash on her side. “You’re bleeding,” he said, ripping off his over shirt, and rapping her wound. “We have to get you to a doctor,” he whispered, picking her up. He carried her to the infirmary in the palace, where he knew they could get the best doctor in the town, who was always on call, just in case…
“Can you help her?” Shinoshi asked, voice steady, though he had a tear in his eye. “Yes, I can. It is a simple wound, it will be easily stitched,” replied the skilled doctor, preparing for the operation. “This takes top priority, doc,” Shinoshi said coldly. “Yes, yes, I know. You love her, and she is the most important thing in your life. You’re a master here, so I have to do exactly as you say,” said the doctor, in an almost whinny tone. “I’m sorry, sir, but as you said, I love her, and she IS the most important thing to me,” Shinoshi said in a tone of sorrow. “Don’t worry about it, Shinoshi,” said the venerable doctor, stitching the wound.
Shinoshi stayed with Toneshina all that night. He held her hand, and had a worried look on his face. He didn’t want to lose her. He had lost his family once before, and he didn’t want it happening again. If only I had been a little faster… I could have stopped this… I could have saved my love from this pain… he thought to himself, crying at her side, gently holding her hand. He looked at her face, she was still breathing. It was late, long after the doctor had gotten done stitching her wound. He prayed that she would awaken soon. He was determined to stay by her side until she awoke.
Eventually, he fell asleep, still holding her hand. Several hours later, she awoke. “Shin… Shinoshi?” she said weakly, looking at her sleeping love. It was about midday when she woke, and she tried to move, but felt a sharp pain in her side, and fell back to the bed, clutching her side. Shinoshi woke immediately, “Toneshina? Thank god, you’re ok…” She looked at him and smiled her beautiful smile, and said, almost jokingly, and smiling kindly, “how long have you been here?” Shinoshi looked into her eyes, his being clouded with tears of shear joy. “Thank god you’re ok,” he said, embracing her. I seem to be the only thing on his mind she thought, as she embraced him.
For the next month, Toneshina was bed ridden, and Shinoshi was right at her side. He never left her side. She finally managed to be able to get out of bed and walk. He walked by her side, catching her if ever she fell. He swore that he would always protect her, even if it was to cost him his life.
In two more months, she was fully healed, and able to move to her fullest extent. One day, when Tokenshimi had returned, Shinoshi planned to go with him and kill this madman that had harmed his love, and told her to wait for him her. “No, Shinoshi, I’m going with you,” she told him sternly. “No, I can’t let you, it’s far too dangerous,” Shinoshi excused. “You can’t stop me, Shinoshi. I love you, and I don’t think I could live without you…” she said in dismay, “I won’t let you leave without me.” She put her arms up in front of the door on the way out. “Well, what can I do…? I know that you can take care of yourself. Alright, let’s go then,” Shinoshi finally agreed.
They walked out of the Tenakari palace, following Tokenshimi, who had seen the Konoshoani palace, and knew the way there.
part 13
The company of three set out, all of them feeling a strange air of mystery and fear. Konoshoani was supposedly one of the most powerful warriors of the time, and was feared throughout the region. Shinoshi kept his vigilant eye on his love, and was determined to keep her from harm. If anything was to happen to her, he felt as though he would never be able to live again. He would no longer have a purpose if she died. He loved her, and didn’t want anything to happen to her.
They journeyed for several weeks toward the west, the general direction of the Konoshoani palace. During the first week, there was much struggle. At one point, they were attacked by another band of raiders from the Konoshoani estate. “We know that it was you that killed out brethren, and you will be the ones to die for it. By the name of lord Konoshoani, we will kill you!” the leader said, rushing at Toneshina.
Shinoshi threw his blade out, and quickly down, slamming the weapon of the raider to the ground. “Touch her, and you lose a hand, hurt her, and you die, trust me, you won’t get close enough to kill her,” Shinoshi said coldly, holding the blade of the raider’s to the ground. The raider struggled to remove his sword from the ground, and Shinoshi pulled up his sword, and decapitated the raider, causing blood to splatter across the ground, and spurt from his neck. The raider fell back in a pool of dark red blood.
“Hey, I can defend myself!” Toneshina said, “Watch this!” she jumped forward, unsheathing both wakazashis from her belt, and slashed one of the raiders into five clean pieces. As the blood splattered across the ground behind him, Toneshina swung both of her swords in a circular pattern and skewered another raider with a forward double stab, splattering blood out of his back. She turned her swords, and ripped them outward, causing a shock wave to resonate from center point, and blood to spill out from both sides. She spun quickly, and slashed the head off of another raider.
Shinoshi watched in pride, horror, and amazement, all at once. He didn’t want her hurt, but she was perfectly capable of defending herself. He was proud of her for being able to do so as well, but he never knew she was so strong. He loved her, and was extremely proud of her. She was probably the strongest woman in the world at the time. He realized that he was just standing there, rather than protecting her, as he had promised, and lunged forward, and in the blink of an eye, about 5 of the raiders had fallen. What he had just done could not be seen, and he smirked in an almost evil way.
“Hey, I’m not letting you two have all of the fun!” Tokenshimi declared, taking on the last group of raiders. His blade erupted in light, and he hacked away at the raiders, causing them to evaporate in a burst of light. From the explosions of light, nothing could really be seen of the battle. “Konoshoani was after my sword when I first obtained it. Remember when my village burned down, Shinoshi? Well, I was attacked by a man robed in shear black, and he said he wasn’t dead, and that he wasn’t going to kill me. I feel that he was there in an astral form. We will kill him soon, I can feel it,” Tokenshimi explained in an almost evil voice.
They continued on through the dense forests, hunting and catching their food, and drinking from rivers, the wind blowing softly on their backs. It wasn’t much farther to the Konoshoani estate at the end of the third week, only another day of travel. The three adventurers stopped in a small clearing to make camp. The moon was full, and the stars were brilliant. Of course, Shinoshi and Toneshina were to busy paying attention to one another to notice the stars. Tokenshimi sat, staring blankly into the fire, thinking… wishing he had his family back. Wishing he had his village back. He had wanted revenge ever since that day, and he still had none to speak of. The travels of the past 10 months and 3 weeks had been simply for revenge. Finding out who it may have been, learning about them, figuring out who they are, finding out where they have been, and finally finding them to deliver the final blow. He had learned of a warrior who could create minions of shear evil, bearing no souls, and being without a sense of truth and justice. The only man capable of creating the thing that Tokenshimi had fought that day was Konoshoani. It was the only thing that made sense.
The next day, awaking to a dying fire, they prepared to leave off, and that’s exactly what they did. They walked for the rest of the day, Shinoshi and Toneshina hand in hand, as they had for the past three weeks. That afternoon, sun setting for dusk, they finally saw the Konoshoani palace. It was shrouded in darkness, and the sun’s light seemed to avoid the evil presence there. What they were about to face, they had no idea.
part 14
As they approached the dark palace, a great fear took control of their hearts. These were the gates to hell. They were standing at the one place where the sun dare not shine, and there was perpetual darkness. Shinoshi approached the door steadily, and sternly. he creaked open the door of the palace and wandered inside, hands on his sword’s hilt. The entrance corridor was dimly lit, as would be expected. The darkness gave off almost a feeling of dampness, and it could be scented in the air. They pushed forward, fear growing inside them as they approached the door to the main foyer.
“I suggest we be prepared for anything,” Tokenshimi advised, drawing the Shiminoshi. Shinoshi and Toneshina followed suit. They all looked at each other, and, seeming as though there had been a telepathic debate on who would open the door, they nodded, and Shinoshi stepped forward to push the door open.
As it creaked eerily, Shinoshi stared forward into the darkness, a look of death on his face. He had his hand on his blade, and was ready to defend his love at all costs. She was all he had ever wanted, and he wasn’t going to let anyone take her from him. If anyone tried, they would be dead quickly. Tokenshimi was finally at the gates of his revenge.
He was here, the palace of the man who had killed everyone. He gripped the Shiminoshi tightly, and prepared for a fight. They all knew it was coming. A fight for their lives, to the death, and it wouldn’t be over soon. This would be an eternal struggle, and Shinoshi could feel it. He knew that it would not end until he himself was dead, and that was a fact. They all stepped forward, only to have several shurikens fly at them. None of them hit, thankfully, and soon, blades were flying out of their sheathes, and the Shiminoshi erupted in light.
The light it cast across the room caused distorted shadows to appear all around them. “Show yourselves, cowards!” Tokenshimi exclaimed, irritated. “Alright then,” an eerie voiced hissed in the shadows, as a dark figure fell from the ceiling. “Here I am, come kill me if you can,” the voice hissed once more. “Toneshina, stay near me. I don’t want you getting hurt,” Shinoshi whispered, as Toneshina grabbed his left arm. He knew she would decrease his ability to move, but he wasn’t about to let this freak hurt her. “Shinoshi… I can defend myself,” she told him, letting go, and, unsheathing her wakazashis, she lunged forward, and took the first slash at the man, but as she did that, he just wavered and turned into a cloud of smoke. “What the hell…?” she thought aloud, watching the smoke separate in wonder. “Toneshina, look out!” Shinoshi yelled, as another shadow fell from the ceiling, grabbing her. “NOOOO!!” Shinoshi yelled, running and screaming in tears, full of rage. The shadow had thrown Toneshina onto his shoulder, and was leaping away. “If you want her back, you’ll have to kill me first, and I’m out of here,” the shadow laughed. “Come back here!” Shinoshi said, following suit, and quickly catching up.
When Shinoshi landed in front of the shadow, he stared into the eyes of his love’s captor, and the shadow knew he was about to die. “Please, spare me! I’m only following lord Konoshoani’s orders!” the shadow whimpered. “You shouldn’t follow orders so perfectly. If you were going to live any longer, that would be a lesson well learned,” the voice rang from Shinoshi, as he brought his sword crushing onto the skull of Toneshina’s captor.
“Toneshina, are you all right?” he said, clutching her tightly, and in tears. “Yes, I’m fine Shinoshi, he didn’t hurt me,” she told him, embracing Shinoshi. “Thank god…” Shinoshi cried.
part 15
They continued on through the darkness, into a hallway consumed by solid black, not sure what was about to strike them. Their hearts raced, and the chill that ran in the air caused a shiver to blast through their very souls. They soon entered a large, damp room, and something was telling Shinoshi that something was there, and he only knew one solid thing about it: it was enormous.
Soon, an echo rumbled from somewhere in the dingy room, and the ground quaked. “What’s going on?!” Tokenshimi panicked. A massive upsurge of stone and earth burst forth from the floor, and a large demon appeared. It towered above them, standing at least 40 feet from the ground. It barely fit in the room, and it had wings. Its skin, which appeared to be covered in scales, was solid black. “What is that thing?” Toneshina puzzled. Shinoshi stood, sword drawn, with a stare of death, of emptiness, in his face. “It’s a dark dragon. They serve dark lords and like to live in places like this,” Shinoshi explained, looking up at the formidable foe that stood in his path.
“You pitiful humans, so eager to die… Why not just give up and run? Then at least you might survive. I can’t guarantee I won’t eat one of you on the way out, though. It’s been a while since I’ve had a meal… though you probably wouldn’t taste too well without a healthy dose of ketchup,” the dragon smirked, as he blew out a bit of smoke from his blackened maw.
“I don’t’ want to slay you, dragon, but I must kill Konoshoani, and if that means killing you, then so be it!” Shinoshi exclaimed, in a calm tone. He drew his sword, and stared down the massive dragon, its scales, scorched solid black from the evil that flowed in its veins. How am I going to kill this thing? Its huge! Shinoshi thought frantically. This was like no enemy he’d ever fought before.
As he stood, feet planted firmly in the ground, staring up at the black mass in front of him. He didn’t know what to do. Nothing he knew of could kill a dragon of this size. His mind raced, and his heart pounded. The world seemed to slow to a grinding halt, and he could here the successive heart beats radiating from his chest. Suddenly, something clicked.
From the back of the boy, now at the age of sixteen, wings sprouted from his skin. He hit the ground, rolling around, and seething in pain. His hands were turning into claws, and his fingernails were growing out into sharp daggers. A tail began growing from his lower back, and his skin turned blue. His teeth grew into sharp points, and he started to feel as if he was getting taller. Soon, he was ten feet tall, and he was solid blue, with massive wings, and a tail that made him 20 feet long, at ten feet in height. He was still relatively smaller than the dragon, but he was one himself now.
“AHHH!!” Shinoshi screamed in surprise. A voice rang in his head, Shinoshi, it is time to reveal your true self. Destroy this demon among dragons. his eyes glowed blue, and turned into slits. He threw his sword down, and lunged at the dragon, as Tokenshimi and Toneshina watched in horror. How did this happen? Shinoshi flew up to the dark dragon and blew fire at its face, melting away part of the scale armor on its skull.
He opened his massive maw and chomped down hard on the dragon’s throat. It screamed in horrible agony, as Shinoshi spat out its bone and flesh. He flew down underneath the stomach of the screaming dragon, and shoved his claws deep into its gut, and ripped out its digestive system. Shinoshi dug his hand into the chest cavity of the demon dragon, and ripped it out with an explosion of flesh and bone.
part 16
The dragon laid, bits and pieces of its shredded flesh scattered across the dark, damp ground of the room. Everything was quiet, and chillingly dark. Another blast of fear shot through their souls, and the dragon moved, blood flowing freely from its massive wounds.
“You think I’m dead? Ha, I won’t be killed so easily!” the dark dragon rumbled. The group of three, blue dragon still standing, staring angrily into the eyes of his corrupted brethren, prepared to fight the demonic dragon once again, as it continued to rise slowly. They could tell that this would be no easy fight. The blood flowing so freely from the dragon started to slow, and his wounds began to repair themselves. It was, as if by some form of necromancy, the dragon was coming back to life.
“You are not of this universe, I presume,” a draconic voice, not too dissimilar from his swordsman’s spirit, rang from Shinoshi. “I have come, and my purpose is to protect my best friend, and my love. Touch either of them, and you will be dead faster than you can move,” the voice hissed. “Well, I see we have one that might just be something close to a challenge, though it’s highly doubtful,” the dark dragon said in a sly tone.
The two stared each other down, each ready to snap at each other. Toneshina and Tokenshimi could feel the tension building in the air, and were afraid for Shinoshi, the now blue dragon that stood in front of them. His life was in grave danger, and Toneshina didn’t want her love to die. She knew she would follow if he did. “Shinoshi!” she screamed, drawing her swords, running at him, and crying, “please, don’t fight him, Shinoshi! I don’t want to lose you!” This drew his eyes to her, and they were full of compassion. “Don’t worry, my love, I will not lose to this pathetic creature,” he said, as she crashed into his side, crying on his scales.
“Are these pathetic last moment’s over, blue one? I don’t have all day, you know,” the dark dragon gripped. “Alright, fine, you’ll die now then,” Shinoshi screamed in an angry tone, gently pushing Toneshina aside so that he could fly up to the dragons head. There, he hovered, staring angrily at the demon in front of him. “you disgrace the dragons, beast. I count you as the lowest creature on this planet, just above Konoshoani, of course,” Shinoshi taunted. “No! It is you who is low!” the dark dragon said as he slashed his claws at the blue dragon, who elegantly dodged out of the way, and flew in close to deliver a blow to the chest of the dragon, clawing the still bare, new flesh away from the area.
The dark dragon continued to swat at Shinoshi, as he continued to dodge everything that the demon threw at him with great ease, slowly tearing away at the flesh on the dragon’s chest. The thick chest plate scales were quickly wearing away, and bone was starting to show. The dragon winced in pain, as Shinoshi began to claw at its rib cage. The dark dragon clutched his chest, and started to move back, away from the slashing claws of Shinoshi’s. he continued to maliciously attack the weakened spot in the demon dragon’s armor, and soon, it deteriorated into cut away flesh and blood.
As Shinoshi delivered a few more blows to the bone inside of the dragon, it burst away, and the heart of the dragon was open to a full attack. Shinoshi flew quickly at the demon, and clawed at its heart, coming close, but missing. The demon had dodged back and to the right, and was moving forward with his left limb to crush Shinoshi under its great force.