"So..." Ryuu started, looking to the bandage around his midsection.
"When are we gonna get a chance to fight these guys?"
"Before we can do anything." Yuudai spoke, looking up to his frineds.
"We need to know where they're nearest camp is. They couldn't have gotten too deep into Japan in five days." He threw out his plate, and walked over to his gear.
"Well, we should go scout out town. I know a trail leading to a cliff where we can see the whole place." He spoke, grabbing his swords, and walking west.
The group walked for 15 minutes on end, until they finally got to a steep climb. When they reached the base, Yuudai led them slowly up to the very edge.
It was home. After all these days, they finally got to see it.
And it disgusted them. Most of the buildings had been sacked, and red flags with a golden bird with it's wing raised high swayed in the wind all over town.
He knew that insignia.
"That sign..." He thought. He knew it. But from where?
"The Mon Oda!" He yelled inwardly.
The Mon Oda was the vilest clan of Shogun warriors to have ever walked the dirt of Japan. They killed innocents, sacked towns, and brought death and agony to those who opposed them.
And they were back.
"They seemed to have four camps set up, on for each corner of town." Shin clarified.
"They have guards roaming up and down all the major exits." Zuki ibserved.
They all looked to Yuudai for what to do.
"We need to get back to camp. I have an idea."
"So what's the plan, big man?" Hiroshi asked, finishing up his lunch.
"Well, if we are ever going to rescue our parents, our friends, and all of Japan, then... you guys are going to have to learn how to fight." He spoke, rising up from his seat with Zuki's help.
"C'mon, get rid of your plates and put out the fire. I know a place where we can train." He picked up his swords, and headed through the bushes by the camp. After about 5 minutes of walking, they came out to a clearing.
"It's beautiful." Zuki breathed. Beautiful it was. The grass was greener here, and the sounds of birds and other animals could be heard echoing through the forest.
"What is this place?" Shin asked, talen aback by the odd sight.
Yuudai smiled, "This is where me and my Grandfather would train. I had a lot of good times here..." He thought back to his early teens, and the great sword fights he and his Grandfather would have.
"So uh... what now?" Ryuu asked nervously.
"Patience, old friend." Yuudai sat himself on the warm fall grass, getting into a meditating position.
After not hearing anything else from thier leader, they repeated what he had done, each getting into the same meditating position, and awaiting their next orders.
"Thank you." They heard from Yuudai, once each was seated correctly.
"Now, I need all of you to empty your mind of all thought. Only then, will you find true peace. Just breath, slowly, and all of your questions will be answered."
They sat this way for nearly two hours, just meditating. They only stopped when Yuudai noticed a change in the wind direction.
"Wind's from the east." He exclaimed over the sound of roaring wind.
"There will be a storm tonight. It would be best to leave now, and head back to the cabin."
Yuudai seemed to be acting a bit differently now. He seemed... calm. For the first time in a long time, his stress vanished.
"But isn't their a bunch of dead dudes in the cabin?" Shin asked.
"I took care of it early this morning." He yelled, cutting through the brush on his way to the cabin.
"How did you know there was gonna be a storm?" Hiroshi asked when it began to rain.
"Instincts, I suppose." He answered, removing his jacket.
He threw it over Zuki's shoulders.
"It's probably gonna be a while before we get there." He said to her.
"Thanks, Yuudai-chan." She responded, smiling.
The minutes passed slowly, until,
"You guys remember a day like this from when we were kids?" Shin asked.
"Yeah." Everyone but Zuki replied.
"What are you guys talking about?" She asked.
"An old story, Zuki."
They were just boys back then. They were walking through the woods, looking for an old treasure an older kid told them at school. They never found it, but it was still an adventure they cherished for years. It lasted four days, no parents, no chores, just friends and the outdoors. It rained the whole time. But they never stopped looking, even when lightning struck the ground they walked over.
"What reminded you of that, Shin?" Yuudai asked.
"An old song by Bump Of Chicken." He answered smiling.
The five looked to each other, each knowing the exact song he was talking about.
"2:00am, at the railroad crossing, carrying a telescope on my shoulders," He spoke, as the lyrics just started flowing through his mouth.
"The radio tied to my belt tells me it shouldn't rain today," Yuudai broke in.
"Two minutes later, you arrive," Hiroshi jumped in, thinking of the good old days.
"Carrying way too much stuff on your back," Zuki smiled.
"Are you guys serious right now?" Ryuu asked. He had never been good at singing.
"C'mon, doc. Don't be shy. We're just killin' time." Shin spoke.
He smiled, as the core line of the song came next.
"Now let's go star watching, and start searching for comets," The five sang together.
And like that, they sang, until they finally reached the ol' creeky wood Cabin.
"I'll chase the comet we call "the present" together with you." They finished.
"Alright guys, who's ready for dinner?" Yuudai asked, heading into the kitchen.
"I'm ready for a nap..." Shin breathed, faceplanting into the couch.
Everyone changed into their clean clothes, and Yuudai was preparing dinner, when Zuki walked in.
"Zuki?" He asked, noticing she was still in her wet clothing.
"I didn't bring anything else with me..." She explained.
"Well, I don't really have a solution for you, unless you're ok with wearing something of mine?" He proposed. He hated to see her like that, all cold and shivering. He had to do something. Right?
"C'mon, let's get you something to change into." He spoke, leading her into his old room.
"Alright guys, dinner's ready." Yuudai called.
The three other men walked into the kitchen, and took their seats at the large table.
They were shocked when they noticed Zuki was in Yuudai's favorite black shirt.
But they decided it be better not to say anything.
"Itadakimasu." They each spoke before digging into their plates of Venison and Rice.
"I was thinking," Yuudai started, before shoveling the food into his mouth.
"We should head into town tomorrow. Scout it out." He proposed.
"He's right." Shin spoke.
"We can just sit here and do nothing while those monsters are taking over our country." He supported. This was their home, and they swore to protect it.
"How about we train in the morning, and go in at night." Hiroshi asked.
"At least that way, we'll be less visible if there's anyone still there."
"I see no problem in that." Yuudai spoke, looking to Zuki.
"I'm all for it." She said, looking to Ryuu.
"Then it's agreed." He decided, smiling as he looked out to his friends.
"Then everyone's gonna need their rest. We begin at first light." Yuudai instructed, walking off to his old room.
He couldn't sleep. The thought of rushing into the heart of an enemy base, guns blazing, gave him a rush.
He decided to do a perimeter check around the cabin, checking on everyone.
Walking into Zuki's room at the end of his round, he came across a beautiful sight.
She was so beautiful when she slept.
He pulled the blanket up to her chin, gave a kiss on her forehead, and left the room.
He walked out into the living room, and went down into the secret space: If they were to be trained, it would be with the proper gear. Besides, it was already almost dawn.
After carrying up all of the gear to be used tommorow, he went out into the spring air, and meditated until dawn.
At the first ray of light, Yuudai went into Shin's room. The boy was halfway off the bad, his head touching the floor.
What a kid.
He walked up to his childhood friend, grabbed his legs, and threw them off the bed, making a loud "Thumping" sound.
"Hey man, what's the deal. Don't you guys now a civilized way to wake up someone?" He complained, rubbing the back of his head as he rose.
"The early bird gets the worm, right Shin?" He asked sarcastically.
"Yeah, I guess..." He replied, slowly walking up to his dresser.
"Get dressed and wake up Hiroshi and Ryuu, time is not to be wasted today." Yuudai instructed, walking out of the room.
He headed back to her room, where he found the prettiest of sights.
She was so beautiful when she slept. He almost didn't want to wake her, but he knew better.
He kissed her lips, and watched as her eyes opened slowly.
"Good morning, sunshine." She spoke, stretching her arms.
She then noticed the bags under his eyes.
"Yuudai." She spoke in a deeper tone.
"How long have you been up?" She asked.
"I haven't slept." He confessed.
"Damnit, Yuudai! Out of everyone here, you need the most sleep." She really was worried about his health. Ever since he got stabbed, she's been... different.
"Don't worry about it. Come, it's time to train." He nudged her.
The five met up in the kitchen, where Yuudai made breakfeast.
Afterwards, they trekked through the woods, until they once again found the beautiful clearing in the woods.
"Alright, guys. No time to waste." He said, walking into the center of the clearing.
"You will address me as Sensei when we are training. Understood?" He asked.
"Yes, Sensei." They all replied.
"Good." He spoke, unfolding a large piece of clothe, containing an assortment of weapons.
"Here I have a large piece of clothe containing an assortment of weapons"-lol
"Of all shapes and sizes. Pick one you feel suits you, and once you have chosen, sit in your meditating position." He instructed, laying his chosen blade down in front of him, and sitting down in his meditating position.
When he felt all people were ready, he gave his meditation instructions, and they meditated for a good 20 minutes.
"Alright everyone." He interrupted, standing himself up as he waited for everyone else to do the same.
He walked passed each of his friends, handing them a belt.
"Sheath your weapon if you haven't already, and attach the scabbard to your belt like so." He instructed, taking his sheathed blade, and tying the loop around the mouth of the scabbard.
"Now, for the test of speed." He smiled.
"HAI!" He exclaimed, pulling his sword from the scabbard in one quick movement, with inhuman speed.
"Now, let's see how fast you can unsheath your weapon." Yuudai spoke, watching as his friends tried their best.
None did as he did, but a few came close.
"Good." He complimented.
"Now do it again." He instructed, taking many sighs from his friends.
"Do you want to save Japan?" He asked.
"Yes." They answered.
"Then do it again!" He instructed once more, watching as his friends pulled their weapons from their scabbards with quick movements.
"Again!" He instructed yet again.
"As if your life depended on it!"
They were good. Very good, in fact. But not nearly good enough.
"One more time! With as much speed as your wrists can give!"
He paid attention to their movements.
For this wasn't as much of a test as it was a way to observe their techniques individually. They needed to learn. And quickly.
"Come, my students, we're burning daylight."
They each followed him to the center of the clearing, and when everyone stopped moving, he brought his weapon down upon Shin, who managed to block the oncoming strike with his Katana.
"Good, Shin." He complimented before releasing his blade from the struggle.
"Thank you, Sensei." He replied, sheathing his sword.
"And this is why I had you repeat it so many times." He explained.
"You never know when someone could sneak..."
"UP ON YOU!" He yelled, swinging at Zuki, who's blade instantly met his.
"Very good, Zuki-san." He smiled.
"Thank you, Sensei." She replied, smiling back.
He released himself from the block, and turned to look at his "Students."
"Now, to learn true swordsmanship." He told the group of teens.
"Follow my movements as best you can." He instructed, swinging and blocking with his sword, as if dending himself against an invisible foe.
The group moved in sync, never missing a beat. Together they yelled. Together they jumped. Together they swung,
Chopped,
Kicked,
Punched,
Blocked.
He taught them everything he knew. It was in this way, he thought, that his Grandfather's legacy would live on. Within the steel of their blades, and the blood in their veins.
For Samurai they were. And forever will be.
Hope you guys are enjoying this so far. I know I am!
Thank you all for reading, and goodnight.