Chapter I Recovered files of the past - part I
Around the midpoint of the 15th century to the inception of the 17th century was an era known as the Sengoku-Jidai or Sengoku Period, this had began several centuries before feudalism began in Europe and before Tokugawa Ieyasu expels all foreigners from Japan. This period of time, much like feudalism was a time of upheaval and turbulence. Hence the reason this period is often referred to as the Warring States Period. A period of continuous war and violence, yet some villages and possibly cites even were untainted by the wars. At this time it was when Kyoto-shi was still Japan's capital but after Oda Nobunaga's reign.
During the said time period, a small village lay near Edo, the de facto, unofficial capital of Japan. The village, Hinata, was sparsely populated by rice farmers, cattle herders and was governed by consensus. The village was located in Sōshū Province. The food grown was only to be consumed and was not sold for profit, because the village was self-sufficient and isolated from the rest of the world. There were few guards yet there were many skilled swordsmen residing in Hinata.
At the head of the council were the elders, Urashima Kojirō and his sister Hina, the grandchildren of the Feudal Lord Urashima Keisuke. Living with Kojirō and Hina was their grand-nephew Keitarō. Orphaned as a child, his parents were killed in battle during a conflict between the Urashima Clan and the Oda Clan, which was when most of the members of the Urashima Clan were wiped out. But now peace dwells within Hinata, for it remains unaffected and unscathed by war. The remaining members of the Urashima clan reunited in secrecy but disagreements within the survivors resulted in a schism into three major groups. One in Hakodate, Hokkaidō, one in Nagoya, Aichi, and one in Kyoto, any others were spread all throughout Japan and further. But because the Urashima were hated by other more prominent clans they would be hunted on sight. So they decided to take on a new name, this being Shimura, the name of Keisuke's mother.
Kojirō and Hina were highly respected by all residents of the village, but the main reason for their respect is because they are Urashima who were to be feared. Keitarō though neither an elder nor a councilor, he was still respected because he was an Urashima, but he was respected also because he was an artisan in arts, carpentry, and in metal working. Being a member of the Urashima Clan he was also taught the ways of the sword under the school of the unnamed style, commonly known as Urashima-Ryu. By age four he was taught basic martial arts and swordsmen training. By age six he was able to control his ki energy and utilize it in martial arts. By age nine he finished martial arts training. By age ten he mastered in Dakentaijutsu. By age twelve he completed his swordsmen training and held his first real sword, the Ominous Blade. An obsidian shade gleamed from the blade; it was one of the Urashima's prized possessions before it was passed down to Keitarō. It was a heavy Nodachi, but nothing Keitarō couldn't handle despite its size. And by age fifteen he excelled past mastering horsemanship.
Aside from being a fast learner Keitarō was a kind, hardworking eighteen year-old boy. But in spite of his skills and talents, he isn't all that bright. He doesn't really know much past his arts. Along with his kindness he is quite shy when it comes to other people besides his uncle and aunt. But he was able to make friends, nonetheless. His friends since childhood were Masayuki Haitani and Kimiaki Shirai. Haitani, who was a year older, the son of one of the town guards met Keitarō when his parents fled to the village when the town they previously lived in was burned down. Shirai, Haitani's best friend, met Keitarō under similar circumstances because they had lived in the same town. Shirai is the same age as Keitarō, his parents were shopkeepers in his old town, but when they moved to Hinata they became rice farmers. His only female friend, Matsudaira Motoko, moved to Hinata to escape from war as many of the villages residents did. But unlike Shirai and Haitani she was four years younger than Keitarō.
Motoko, like Keitarō, was also taught the ways of the sword under the school Shinmei-ryu, but unlike Keitarō she hasn't mastered in her training and only practices Kenjutsu. Motoko harbors great respect for Keitarō, because of his skill and not the fact that he is an Urashima because she actually knows nothing about his past. She knows even less about her own past because when she arrived in Hinata she was but an infant.
With her skills aside, when it comes to appearance she is known by many as the 'Raven-haired Beauty.' When not practicing or when out of town she wears a purple and pink kimono with a flower and butterfly design embroidered in it. But when training, she often wears a white Gi and red Hakama and has her Bokken or Shinai at her side. When it comes to her attitude she is normally well-mannered, quiet, and kind, but at times she can be quite arrogant, boastful, and loud. She lives with her aunt and uncle but she refers to them as her actual parents. Neither of her foster-parents practice Kenjutsu, but they practice under the same school.
Motoko's family origins root back to a prominent clan known as the Aoyama clan, who merged with the Matsudaira Clan. Many would have kept their name of Aoyama but those disloyal took on the name of Matsudaira. Regardless of what had happened their whereabouts remains unknown after their decline.
Her aunt, Mayumi Matsudaira, rather then practicing Kenjutsu she practices Kyūjutsu. Her Yumi is composed of seven-piece hickory laminate core, bamboo sides, front, and back. Mayumi is able to ride a horse while wielding her bow and aim accurately at moving targets. Her uncle, Katsuo Matsudaira practices Sōjutsu while he uses the Yari but can also use a Naginta. His Yari had a Sankaku spearhead made of a combination steel and tungsten and can and will penetrate most armor.
Aside from that the Aoyama are a very proud clan as was their ever rivals the Urashima Clan. Many Clans flourished after the decline of the Urashima Clan, in particular the Oda, the Matsudaira, the Date, the Uesugi, and the Honda clans. But as a counter many clans perished due to the decline most of which were smaller and less prominent clans.
Because of the village's isolation technology progresses slowly, most of the farmers lack the equipment to grow crops well so many of the villagers starve, most villagers go their entire life without learning to read, yet many others can. But members of the council can read and write, and have the basic nutrition necessary. Having this said, the villagers do lead happy lives, without a care in the world. This is the main reason people all over Japan gather here to live.