AKAME ASSASINATION (19)
ENDO PREFECTURE, COMET YEAR 2916 (1706)
This happened quiet a while ago, many years before Gil or Catherine or any of the main characters were even conceived. The land of the East sun was place crawling with lots of war and famine especially during this time.
Regardless of which village or major town you happened to find yourself, you will get extorted. If not by the elders then by Samurai who could always be seen loitering around pubs and pleasure districts any time of the day regardless of their status or which faction they were hired by.
Yes truly what a time to be alive, whether you were a man or woman. Although one could say that women had it worse in these times, those who say this would be right in their reasoning simply because women were seen as nothing more than housewives or geisha. But there was another group of people who led the country to be like this.
No, these people didn't work as a collective so they weren't the Yakuza (Mafia). Rather they were individuals from different towns and provinces who would go to great lengths to do just one thing. Make a name for themselves. Not with words, not with political standings, but rather with swords.
Endo is the capital city of the land of the rising sun, although back in those days it was called Kyoto and I suppose even now people still technically refer to it as that. But regardless, this being the capital city there were lots of miracles to be beheld.
Women on the streets selling silk robes they bought from caravans, fish filled markets, military men walking around with Katanas strapped to their wastes, maybe mercenaries looking for their next job offers within the city.
One would assume if I were to make a name for myself then this would be the right place to do it, right?
And if you assume that then you would be right for the most part, that way of thinking is what brought men (and women) from all across the country. Everyone converged here.
NICHIRO STYLE DOJO
The sign for this particular dojo swung on its wooden post as people walked in and out of the compound of the great Sazanami Nichiro. A doctor and swords master, his skills are said to be the best throughout the land. His pupils even called the style that was derived from another style called the Iai style the Nichiro style.
The dojo was vast and like many other traditional dojo's its floors were made of oak wood that shimmered brown when polished. On the walls were names written in kanji probably names of the students who had passed through the dojo successfully.
"You there, has everything been arranged?" Nichiro by this time was around 64 years old, and his appearance showed this with the amount of gray hairs on his face and his wrinkled face. He spoke to a group of 4 girls that stood in front of him.
Three of the girls were around 14 or 15 but the last girl seemed not a day older than 8.
"Well?"
"Yes Sazanami-San, we…we have arranged everything as we were told." One of the girls gave a small bow.
"Good, it is about time we acquire a new set of students. Right Seto?" He was speaking to his son who stood behind him.
"I suppose so. Although I have doubts they will be able to keep up with your fast paced swordsmanship." His son praised.
"Oh Seto, its been years since I was the greatest swordsman around. Now the title has been taken by the sword master. I can't swing a katana like I used to."
The conversation seemed as though it was becoming deep so the girls decided to take their leave. Well all except for the youngest, who just stood there staring as the two men continued talking.
"mh?" Nichiro noticed her eventually, "What are you still doing here Nell?"
"Oh. Nell wanted to hear more of Mr. Nichiro's praises." She responded with a bubbly expression.
"Ho! Nell, if that's so you could stand there an entire lifetime and I still wouldn't be able to tell you all of my father's great achievements." Sato responded.
"Sato, you make sound as though I am one of the many founders of this land."
"You might as well be…" Sato would have continued but this conversation was cut short when another member of the dojo came in.
"Have the students already arrived?" Nichiro asked, "Isn't it too early though?"
"Well, I wish, however there is a boy out here who demands to speak to the owner of the dojo."
"A boy?"
"Yes, white hair and emerald green eyes, perhaps you know him."
Nichiro thought, "I do not, do you Sato?"
"No father, anybody with naturally white hair is a rare sight even among the Saikyo clan who are known for white hair." Sato replied.
"What if he is from the Saikyo clan?" The man asked, "It could explain it."
"You referred to him as a boy right?" Nichiro asked.
"Yes sir."
"All members of the Saikyo clan are women, there are no men." Sato answered.
"Seriously, I thought that was just a myth?"
Nichiro gave the two a pat on the shoulders, "Well we won't get the answers standing out here." He then turned to Nell, "Nell why don't you go to your sisters, I'll tell you my stories tonight okay?"
Nell smiled, "Really!?"
"Yes."
"Nell can't wait." She ran off into another room.
"Shall we let him in?"
Sato and his father nodded as the man went out and opened the main gate. The two watched patiently as a figure walked from the gate, across the yard, climbed up the steps and set foot into the dojo. The boy did not wear a classic swords man attire. Instead he wore some sort of trouser (They had no name back for it in the day) that concealed his legs, on his feet were white cotton socks concealing his feet.
Curiously, on the boy's back was a big Katana that seemed to be twice his length and three times his size. He had long white hair that he tied like a pony tail.
"They said it was a boy." Sato whispered to his father.
"Yes I do remember them saying that."
"Who is the owner of this dojo?" The boy asked, he was all smiles when he asked this.
"That would be me dear girl." Nichiro answered.
"Huh?" He seemed offended, "Hey I'm a boy."
"!"
"But I'll let it slide for now old man."
"Old man, have you no respect for Sazanami Nichiro?" Sato came on the defensive.
"Its quiet alright Sato, let's hear the boy out."
"I couldn't give a rats ass about your name, all I care about is fighting strong folk. Are you strong old man?"
"Is he strong?" Sato scoffed, "You truly must be stupid, he is the strongest in Endo once the strongest in the entire continent."
"So I hear, but you look really rough. So I might consider fighting someone else. What about you baldy?" The boy turned to Sato.
"Baldy!?" Sato reached out to grab the boy.
SWOOSH!
But the boy moved at such a great speed. From the outside looking in, it would appear as though his hand went right through the boy.
"Man you guys are weak." The boy turned around, "Guess I'll take my business elsewhere."
He was about to walk down the steps.
"Child." Nichiro called out.
"?"
"You are in search of strong people are you not?"
"I am."
"Well you will find no one stronger in Endo than the students of the Nichiro style." Sato completed his father's sentence. "If you want I could fight you myself."
"Nah I'm good." He waved them off as he continued to descend down the stairs.
SWING!
Suddenly multiple blades were drawn at his neck.
"You don't think you can just walk away." One of the men said his blade near the boys neck.
"Especially after trying to insult our sensei."
"Yes, why don't we show you just how strong we are. A good whooping should do just that."
TWO MORE CHAPTERS TO GO!