Prologue: War

Hi! This is my first fanfic.

The story's setting is the mid-1500s, during a time in feudal Japan called Sengoku ("civil war") when were was a lot of violence, rebelliion, etc.

I know there are a million names for the characters in YST...Anubis especially has a problem with this. So, to clarify:

His birth name is Koma Toshitada. Anubis is a samurai so when he comes of age he is given an "adult" name, which is Anubis, and this name will be used throughout the fic. Since Shuten Douji means "red sky child" I decided it should be his nickname.

A katana is a samurai sword. The samurai were required to carry two katana at all times.

Enjoy!

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The wind whipped his auburn hair around his face. Toshitada stared at the path between the hills below him, knowing that if he stayed he would be a boy forever. He couldn't be a boy forever. He had no right. Father slaughtered himself, and the boy knew it was not only his duty to take his father's place on the front, to avenge his death by fighting against the Minamoto, but also it was his duty to prove that he was not the mangy half-breed his own clan judged him to be. I am going to be a great warrior, he thought. And no matter what my clan says, I will bring honor to my name.

"Shuten!"

Toshitada looked over his shoulder. Asuka was running toward him. He cursed. He didn't tell her himself he was leaving. It would be too much for the both of them.

"It's true," she panted, scowling at him. "You're leaving."

"I have no other choice," Toshitada retorted.

"No choice?" she repeated scathingly. "You're only fourteen. You won't even come of age until spring."

"Shut up. You're only twelve."

"Excuse you, but am I the suicidal one? What would your father say? All you have is a breast plate and a wooden stick! The enemy won't kill only because they'll be too busy laughing."

"My father was killed." Toshitada spat bitterly.

Asuka fell quiet. The only sound now was the dead leaves blowing around their feet. "I'm so sorry. I didn't…"

"It's not your fault," he said impatiently, "I just….I just need to do this, okay? Don't act like I'm gonna die."

"You will die," she said bitterly. She pointed at his stick. "You can't fight with that."

Toshitada shrugged. Father had put off his samurai initiation ceremony for his sixteenth birthday until the two katana had been purchased, because swords were very expensive. "I'll find something else on the way."

"And what if your great-uncle is too stingy to grant you two swords?" Before he could answer, she unhooked one of her own katana from its belt and held it out to him.

He stared at it, speechless. "You're giving it to me?"

Asuka sighed impatiently. "I have Suiko, you take Umeiyo. Give it back after you're discharged."

Toshitada accepted the sword graciously and bowed. "I—"

A burning sting on his lips brought Anubis back to consciousness.