Hibiki stood in the center training room, where all of the Shirai Ryu sat in a circle. He looked over them like the commander of an army. His voice carried great weight across the room, into the ears of many, patiently listening. "As you know, the Lin Kuei have murdered a man whom they believed was an agent of Shirai Ryu, placed as a spy, amongst their ranks. Since no one in our ranks is willing to admit that the spy was placed by them - we can only assume; that he was not. Regardless; the Lin Kuei see this as an act of conflict on our part. And they may seek retribution. Even if they did not - believing that they've killed a spy, that they've killed one of our own, leaves them with a lasting sense of accomplishment. We cannot let this stand. I say we attack the Lin Kuei temple. Kill as many as we can."
A hollow murmur spread across the room, it quickly fell silent once again. A bearded man, whose face was bent with solid suspicion spoke; "What of women and children? The families of these warriors?"
"We kill them too..." said Hibiki.
"Should we kill your children then?" A voice floated in from across the room, seeming to echo back the other way. The warriors eyes fell on Hanzo Hasashi, standing where others sat.
Hibiki was offended, the tradition was for warriors speaking to do so one at a time, but he lamented; "I have no children."
"I do." Hanzo said. "Do you know what I would do if someone took my child away from me?"
"Nothing if you were dead." Hibiki said.
"Enough..." Daichi, the oldest man, was in attendance. He held up his hand. As a former member of the Shirai Ryu, his legacy and advice are invaluable to everyone in the room. His authority is not official - but his integrity is. "The Lin Kuei temples do not house women; their wives should not be in attendance... Their girls should be at home, but their boys could be training. - The ones who are old enough... Hibiki is right..."
"Thank you sir!" Hibiki said bowing.
"SIT DOWN!" Daichi's voice was deep and demanding; the exact opposite of the weary voice in the speech preceding. He continued on, as if uninterrupted: as Hibiki sat, "...They cannot be allowed to believe they've killed one of us. It gives their clan too much strength. -- The Lin Kuei was once an honorable enemy. Now they destroy much of what they themselves once stood for. We cannot follow this same path, and destroy ourselves from within. The slaughter of innocent women and children WILL NOT be accepted. Any one who branches off from the training grounds, into the village, or a stray... family member... should be far from reprimanded, he should be destroyed."
The younger bearded man, spoke again, "Before we attack, I think it necessary to make clear, of what age is a man?"
"Thirteen." Said Hibiki.
"Sixteen." Hanzo quickly substituted.
"Sixteen... Is acceptable. Though any number seems low to me now." Daichi said quietly. Hanzo and Hibiki bowed once again to the elder, as the meeting concluded.
Hanzo's sandals sunk into the soft earth as he stepped outside. The clouds fell just in front of the sun. Causing a beam of light to shine down on the village. He looked to the peak of the mountains, where snow covered the surface and the Lin Kuei temple. Knowing he was going to have to make his way to the top, and fight the greatest of his enemies, in their most comfortable state, while he was weakened, made him question - for the first time - his joining the Shirai Ryu.
Hanzo's drinking buddy, Ayumu, patted him on the shoulder. "How are things?"
He thought about the danger his life could be in, and the grief it would mean for his family if something were to happen. "Terrible," he said as they begun to walk, "have you ever done something for your family, that you regretted much of later?"
"Hmm... Yes." Ayumu said.
"What?" Hanzo asked quietly.
"Sleeping with the flower girl next door."
Hanzo slapped Ayumu across the chest, "I said FOR your family... Moron."
"Oww... I think my heart just skipped a beat" Aymu rubbed his chest feverishly, "She always provided flowers FOR my wife. When we were done." He said with a smile.
"Pssshh." Hanzo ignored his friend stupidity, thinking it an all too common occurrence.
Hibiki approached from behind, calling to Hanzo, "Hasashi! Hasashi!"
"What does he want?" Ayumu asked.
"I don't know," said Hanzo, "and I'm not sure I want to..." When Hibiki got close enough, he stopped catching his breath, and seemed reluctant to speak, "What?" Hanzo pressed.
"I wanted to say that I respect... your opinions... And that I-- well, yes, that's it; you were right - I'm glad you stood up, and I respect your opinions."
"Well I do not respect yours." Hasashi said coldly. "Respectable men think before they speak not after. Those who declare war on children do not deserve to give or receive admiration. To me you are the soulless shell of a walking man. Respect from you is like gold from a peasant; they don't give it, because they don't have it..."
"You don't even know me." Hibiki defended. But it would do no good.
"I know enough. Now leave here before I cut you in half..." Hasashi placed a hand on his sword. "GO!" Hibiki walked away, with his head down. Furious, upset, shamed, Hanzo couldn't tell. But he couldn't care either.
Kenshi woke to the sound of water trickling against rocks. Dampened in one submerged ear. He rolled over, feeling his muscles pull against his will. The pain was amazing. He could feel the large gash on his back tingling as the water flowed between it. There were many more cuts and gashes that he could not feel. His muscles were like solid rock, weighing down his bones.
The darkness.
He wasn't sure; was this darkness his, or the caves? His head rolled to his left, and tiny light formed in front of him several feet ahead, it was bright, and continued to grow stronger as he looked on. To his astonishment, it did not appear to reflect anywhere. The inside of the cave never became visible, only the light. Which took on the shape of a sword. A Katana.
He forced himself rolling over, with his hand and elbow digging into the rocks, he lifted himself halfway; into a sitting position.
Turned toward the sword leaning further, but knew he would have to stand. Even as his joints popped the anger and determination and even curiosity won over, he pulled himself up. And was more out of breath than he had ever been in his life. Approaching the sword, he leaned down; expecting his hand to find nothing, other than more rocks once it reached the ground. Instead a dark shadow of a hand closed around the handle of the weapon. He held it in front of him. Realizing that it was indeed real.
"Kenshi ~ This sword is your birthright." a voice spoke, it felt like a thought, to Kenshi, but more powerful "Within this steel, rests the souls of your many ancestors."
A half dozen faces, European, and Asian, flashed in his mind's eye, the one constant; was the sword. They had all carried it. He even saw a vision of himself. His body beaten, clothes torn, standing; a dirty bloody mess, in an empty cave, holding the sword. The vision fizzled away, with a hiss and his world was black once again.
"Who are you?" Kenshi asked.
The voice did not answer.
"Who are you?" He asked again.
And again, the voice did not answer. Because; he knew the answer.
"Restore my sight!" He pleaded desperately. He fell to his knees. "I see nothing of beauty without my eyes - the world is cold, and painful. What good is silence without scenery? What good is noise without foundation? The world as I know it, is my eyes! Give it back! Please..." he wept quietly. Shamed by his tears, and his fearful outburst. The silence only made him feel lonelier.
"Your sight is gone. I cannot replace it, but I can guide you." The sword glowed brightly, illuminating a beacon for him to follow. It led him out of the tomb and into the wild. He felt the wind sweep against his face as he emerged. The beacon vanished. "That is all I can do.' He couldn't tell if the thought was his or the voice.
And he collapsed.