CHAPTER I: THE FEMALE BATTOUSAI

As with most nights, the moon sends a glow about the land; its soft touch caressing the ground with the light of a pale sun. The light reflects off of the expansive palace of Hiroto Masuma, a powerful business executive with more dirty money than skin. The guards are illuminated in this light and are given the appearance of apparitions in the night; as they rigorously patrol the area of their master, a slight wind picks up from the east, and none of them notice the red haired female rush past them into a nearby covering of trees.
She was told to keep the casualties on this mission to a minimum as too much bloodshed was bad for business. The young lady was born Mayumi Himura, but it has been so long since anyone called her by that name, she has to remind herself every once and a while to keep from forgetting. Himura's katana glistened even in moonlight almost as if to share her desire for the shedding of blood; she smiled behind closed lips, for she was a left handed swordsman, and that always put her at a distinct advantage.
According to the blueprints of the castle, there are four people directly in the path of her and her target. She licks her lips together as she has no intention of avoiding them or being stealthy about; the inheritance of the Hiten-Mitsurugi style of swordsmanship allows her speeds that rival gods. The moon seems to turn red as she begins to advance calmly towards her target, and the guards jump at her trap. The first guard is dead before he draws his blade; Himura strikes with her blade with a single swipe across the throat. The other two turn almost simultaneously and run out to attack her; Himura parries the first clumsy strike and trips the guard with a well-placed kick to the ankle. The next two guards strike both at once; Himura blocks one with the iron sheath from where her katana resides, and other with a vertical slice downward. In one swift motion, she spins towards the guard who she parried with the sheath and removed his head from his shoulders with the katana; then she thrust the sheath into the other guard's belly and pins him to the wall with it. Knowing that he happens to be pinned to the door she needs to enter, she kicks the sheath all the way through the guard, and the door opens revealing a shocked Masuma and another guard. Maybe, she could show a little mercy, but then again: "mercy is for the weak", her mentor's words ring in her ears. Himura grasps the katana in her left hand and hurls it 30 feet from her current position into the chest of Masuma; the katana buries itself down to the hilt in his chest. The guard seems so shocked but not surprised; he kneels before Himura and says, "My name is Kenshiro Umita; I was contacted by your people yesterday, and I am prepared to join your cause." "Good answer my friend because if my master cannot have you, then no one can," replies Himura. Umita smiles and leans back wondering if this is making the right decision. The dai-katana