Chapter 1
" Captain Sagara! Captain Sagara!" A child's voice rose in the woods. Sagara Souzo stopped his quick walking and turned around to see the moron yelling in the middle of Tokugawa Bakufu territory. A young boy with naturally spiked dark brown hair came into view. He stopped in front of his commanding officer as drops of sweat dripped down his small forehead, onto his little nose, and dripped down to the floor. The boy gasped for air with his hands on his knees to sustain his fragile body from collapsing.
" Sir. there. is." The boy said between long strokes of breath.
" Sanosuke, catch your breath first then talk. How can I understand you while you spit your words out?" Sanosuke wiped his forehead and took a big, long breath and exhaled it quickly. He smiled up at his captain and saluted.
" Sir," the small soldier took a small breather, and then continued. " We are being followed by samurai, sir."
" How many?"
" About ten, sir." Souzo placed his hand under his chin in thinking position and looked down at the young lad.
" Tell your comrades to quicken their pace. Our hiding house is up ahead, over the ridge," the leader commanded.
" Would that be wise, captain?" A man intruded from behind.
" What do you mean?" Sanosuke asked Hishida Baiko- the second commanding officer of the Sekihou Tai.
" Because, young one, our running will lead them to our safe place. It would be smarter if we fought or hid for the time." The black- haired bearded man looked at Captain Sagara and flashed him a grin. " It seems that you are loosing your touch."
" That's why I have people like you to tell me when I'm wrong." The men smiled at each other fondly. You could tell these two have known each other for a long time.
" Alright then," Souzo crisply broke the warm environment. " Sanosuke, take Baiko's command and spread the word. We're attacking."
" Yes sir!" The excited Sanosuke saluted and began to tell everyone about the attack, but of course in a whisper, for he had learnt his lesson from before. It seemed to Sanosuke that Souzo's eyes always told all. It's more staring than talking that made his captain wise.
As he spread the word each man drew either his katana or tachi and hid into the bushes beside the trail. Darkness began to fall upon the forest and Sanosuke layed on his stomach with his hira zukuri at hand. Right beside him, his best friend Tsukioka Tsunan held the same type of blade, but was more focused than his excited companion.
" Here they come," Captain Sagara hissed beside them. Exactly ten samurai thugs of the Tokugawa Bakufu came on horseback with only their katanas equipped. A man at the front held his hand up and stopped the group. He looked around puzzled, then looked at the man beside him.
" I thought you said they stopped here!" The man yelled in frustration.
" M-m- maybe they ran off somewhere." The nervous samurai stuttered.
" Fat and stupid. It can't get any better than this," Tsunan whispered to Sanosuke and the boys started to giggle. Captain Sagara flashed a smile then quieted the boys down.
" What was that?" The samurai leader barked. " Go investigate!" Five of the men got off their horses and unsheathed their katanas and began to walk toward the bushes. Suddenly Sagara Souzo's howl came from the bushes and tons of other howls followed and the Sekihou Tai leaped from their hiding spots and massacred the samurai, along with their horses, in record time.
Night came and the exhausted Sekihou Tai finally arrived at their destination, Captain Sagara's house. Once there the men went into an underground shed built by Souzo's parents to hide the army. Rice was fed to them along with a couple of strips of meat, and sake to satisfy the soul. Sanosuke and Tsunan drank hot tea instead. Their young age forbade their lips to touch the alcoholic drink.
After a nice hot bath, Souzo changed into a clean kimono and hakama from his younger years. He walked into the underground safe house and told his men that the baths were ready to be used and clean clothes were put for each, then he turned back into the house and joined his family in the kitchen.
" Zo-nii! Zo-nii!" A small girl of about five years of age jumped up into Souzo's arms. Her black silky hair was braided into two even braids and tied with pink ribbons that matched her white kimono with pink blossoms. Streaks of tears ran down her rosy cheeks and her deep black eyes looked at her older brother in happiness.
" Zo-nii you're late! You said you would be here two days ago!" The little girl complained in a sunshine voice.
" Now Hikaru, get off your brother and come eat!" Sagara Hanako commanded her child.
" Alright." she wiped her cheeks with her small pale hands and kissed her brother on the cheek. The girl jumped down and sat at the table where she began to eat her portion of the rice and sweet meat.
" Come sit, Souzo. You must be tired from your long journey," Hanako suggested to her fatigued son. Souzo sat beside his sister and began to eat slowly.
" Any trouble?" Sagara Shunzo asked in a paternal tone.
" Only a couple of samurai. They were taken care of." The son replied.
" Was the place cleared?"
" No, we fled after the killings were made."
" You should be more careful, son. The Tokugawa Bakufu aren't stupid and will eventually find you. Don't make the mistake-"
" -Of leaving your tracks everywhere, I know." Souzo finished for his father. " You told me a million times."
" Then why do you keep leaving your trail where the enemy can find it? Do you want them to catch you?" Shunzo hollered, angry at his son's calm tone and sloppiness. Souzo slammed his chopsticks down on the bamboo table and stormed out of the kitchen. Shunzo massaged his forehead then continued eating.
" You shouldn't have told him that, anata. He's quite proud, you know that," Hanako soothed her husband. Shunzo sighed.
" I know, but I'm afraid it's those mistakes that are going to get them all killed."
Souzo sat outside in the wooden veranda drinking some hot sake. The sliding door opened and out came Hikaru. She sat next to her big brother and sighed.
" Ok, what is it?" Souzo asked her with a smirk.
" Why do you and papa always fight when you're here?" The small girl asked in concern.
" We just don't agree on certain things that's all. Let's not talk about it. It'll ruin the taste of the sake." Hikaru smiled up at her brother and layed down on his lap. She placed the tip of the sleeve of her kimono in front of her mouth and yawned in lady-like fashion. Souzo gave out a hardy laugh at his sister's manners. She smiled, placed her hands beside her face, and closed her eyes.
" My beautiful sister, soon you will grow into a beautiful woman and you'll marry some great man. I hope that day never comes, my dear imouto, because I want to keep you for myself. I'll be greedy and take you away and make you marry one of my men. I'll keep you under my wing where the Tokugawa Bakufu can't find you and pollute your mind," Souzo whispered into Hikaru's ear. She smiled as her brother stroked her now loose hair, and happily fell asleep. Souzo took a sip of his sake. It had suddenly become sweeter.
" Captain Sagara! Captain Sagara!" A child's voice rose in the woods. Sagara Souzo stopped his quick walking and turned around to see the moron yelling in the middle of Tokugawa Bakufu territory. A young boy with naturally spiked dark brown hair came into view. He stopped in front of his commanding officer as drops of sweat dripped down his small forehead, onto his little nose, and dripped down to the floor. The boy gasped for air with his hands on his knees to sustain his fragile body from collapsing.
" Sir. there. is." The boy said between long strokes of breath.
" Sanosuke, catch your breath first then talk. How can I understand you while you spit your words out?" Sanosuke wiped his forehead and took a big, long breath and exhaled it quickly. He smiled up at his captain and saluted.
" Sir," the small soldier took a small breather, and then continued. " We are being followed by samurai, sir."
" How many?"
" About ten, sir." Souzo placed his hand under his chin in thinking position and looked down at the young lad.
" Tell your comrades to quicken their pace. Our hiding house is up ahead, over the ridge," the leader commanded.
" Would that be wise, captain?" A man intruded from behind.
" What do you mean?" Sanosuke asked Hishida Baiko- the second commanding officer of the Sekihou Tai.
" Because, young one, our running will lead them to our safe place. It would be smarter if we fought or hid for the time." The black- haired bearded man looked at Captain Sagara and flashed him a grin. " It seems that you are loosing your touch."
" That's why I have people like you to tell me when I'm wrong." The men smiled at each other fondly. You could tell these two have known each other for a long time.
" Alright then," Souzo crisply broke the warm environment. " Sanosuke, take Baiko's command and spread the word. We're attacking."
" Yes sir!" The excited Sanosuke saluted and began to tell everyone about the attack, but of course in a whisper, for he had learnt his lesson from before. It seemed to Sanosuke that Souzo's eyes always told all. It's more staring than talking that made his captain wise.
As he spread the word each man drew either his katana or tachi and hid into the bushes beside the trail. Darkness began to fall upon the forest and Sanosuke layed on his stomach with his hira zukuri at hand. Right beside him, his best friend Tsukioka Tsunan held the same type of blade, but was more focused than his excited companion.
" Here they come," Captain Sagara hissed beside them. Exactly ten samurai thugs of the Tokugawa Bakufu came on horseback with only their katanas equipped. A man at the front held his hand up and stopped the group. He looked around puzzled, then looked at the man beside him.
" I thought you said they stopped here!" The man yelled in frustration.
" M-m- maybe they ran off somewhere." The nervous samurai stuttered.
" Fat and stupid. It can't get any better than this," Tsunan whispered to Sanosuke and the boys started to giggle. Captain Sagara flashed a smile then quieted the boys down.
" What was that?" The samurai leader barked. " Go investigate!" Five of the men got off their horses and unsheathed their katanas and began to walk toward the bushes. Suddenly Sagara Souzo's howl came from the bushes and tons of other howls followed and the Sekihou Tai leaped from their hiding spots and massacred the samurai, along with their horses, in record time.
Night came and the exhausted Sekihou Tai finally arrived at their destination, Captain Sagara's house. Once there the men went into an underground shed built by Souzo's parents to hide the army. Rice was fed to them along with a couple of strips of meat, and sake to satisfy the soul. Sanosuke and Tsunan drank hot tea instead. Their young age forbade their lips to touch the alcoholic drink.
After a nice hot bath, Souzo changed into a clean kimono and hakama from his younger years. He walked into the underground safe house and told his men that the baths were ready to be used and clean clothes were put for each, then he turned back into the house and joined his family in the kitchen.
" Zo-nii! Zo-nii!" A small girl of about five years of age jumped up into Souzo's arms. Her black silky hair was braided into two even braids and tied with pink ribbons that matched her white kimono with pink blossoms. Streaks of tears ran down her rosy cheeks and her deep black eyes looked at her older brother in happiness.
" Zo-nii you're late! You said you would be here two days ago!" The little girl complained in a sunshine voice.
" Now Hikaru, get off your brother and come eat!" Sagara Hanako commanded her child.
" Alright." she wiped her cheeks with her small pale hands and kissed her brother on the cheek. The girl jumped down and sat at the table where she began to eat her portion of the rice and sweet meat.
" Come sit, Souzo. You must be tired from your long journey," Hanako suggested to her fatigued son. Souzo sat beside his sister and began to eat slowly.
" Any trouble?" Sagara Shunzo asked in a paternal tone.
" Only a couple of samurai. They were taken care of." The son replied.
" Was the place cleared?"
" No, we fled after the killings were made."
" You should be more careful, son. The Tokugawa Bakufu aren't stupid and will eventually find you. Don't make the mistake-"
" -Of leaving your tracks everywhere, I know." Souzo finished for his father. " You told me a million times."
" Then why do you keep leaving your trail where the enemy can find it? Do you want them to catch you?" Shunzo hollered, angry at his son's calm tone and sloppiness. Souzo slammed his chopsticks down on the bamboo table and stormed out of the kitchen. Shunzo massaged his forehead then continued eating.
" You shouldn't have told him that, anata. He's quite proud, you know that," Hanako soothed her husband. Shunzo sighed.
" I know, but I'm afraid it's those mistakes that are going to get them all killed."
Souzo sat outside in the wooden veranda drinking some hot sake. The sliding door opened and out came Hikaru. She sat next to her big brother and sighed.
" Ok, what is it?" Souzo asked her with a smirk.
" Why do you and papa always fight when you're here?" The small girl asked in concern.
" We just don't agree on certain things that's all. Let's not talk about it. It'll ruin the taste of the sake." Hikaru smiled up at her brother and layed down on his lap. She placed the tip of the sleeve of her kimono in front of her mouth and yawned in lady-like fashion. Souzo gave out a hardy laugh at his sister's manners. She smiled, placed her hands beside her face, and closed her eyes.
" My beautiful sister, soon you will grow into a beautiful woman and you'll marry some great man. I hope that day never comes, my dear imouto, because I want to keep you for myself. I'll be greedy and take you away and make you marry one of my men. I'll keep you under my wing where the Tokugawa Bakufu can't find you and pollute your mind," Souzo whispered into Hikaru's ear. She smiled as her brother stroked her now loose hair, and happily fell asleep. Souzo took a sip of his sake. It had suddenly become sweeter.