After Sakura Wars
Part 3: Kaleidoscopic Fighter
By Shirogami
Chapter 2: Bojutsu, Art of Stick Fighting
Lilly is raging after she heard that the gangster want to strip off her clothes, it is the most shameful thing for any woman in the world to do it. Lilly grips her Bo hard enough, as she is preparing herself to fight for her pride. And everyone around can feel her anger from the way she stares at her enemies.
When the men point their gun at the girl, the half-drunken leader yells at them, "Fools! You want to spoil the toy or something! Get her without your guns!"
"But boss, she got a weapon." One of the followers says.
"Are your balls only for decoration? Just get her!" The rude leader trashes the beer towards his followers and orders.
While clinching their knuckles hard enough, they start to surround the female fighter. It is making Lilly to become more tension because she needs to be aware almost everywhere for attacks. Eventually, one of the men takes the first move from her right. On instinct, she pulls her stick back with her right hand, it swings towards the charger's face and wields him away from her. But at the same time her act leaves her left side wide open, the rest notice it and charge at her.
Noticing the danger soon enough, Lilly bends down to avoid them first, then thrust one's chest with the Bo's edge on her left by sliding it. Seeing her in lower position, three men immediately grab the chance and charge at the same time. Using her nimble and light body, Lilly stabs another Bo's edge on the ground, and then jumps up to make the boys catch nothing but each other; after that she steps on one of the head to pulls out the Bo, followed by thrusting on another's head and jumps away from the group.
As soon as she reaches the ground, another man almost reaches her and the range is disadvantage for any Bo's attack. Lilly quickly throws her Bo towards her opponent. The charger stops on impulse and catches her Bo horizontally, Lilly immediately grabs at the center of the Bo and pulls it back, while she is performing a double step kick on his stomach, then she stabs the Bo back on the ground to smooth her landing by spinning around the Bo like a snake. Finally, she stands straight, performs Kensei and takes a deep breath, then back to Fudo Dachi.
It all happens too fast, and it is too late for the boys to regret because most of them are defeated by Lilly. It angers the leader and he finally stands up. "You sure is a strong bitch I ever seen."
Lilly stares at him and says, "And you are the most disgusting bastard I ever knew." Then she points her Bo towards him and continues, "Now, it is your turn."
But, without a blink of eye, a shadow is appeared from the leader's right and it catches Lilly's Bo. When Lilly is confused for what is actually happens, the leader was aiming at her with his gun on his left.
"Now, are you going to dance for me or not?" the leader says while he is biting his cigar. Looking at her weapon, Lilly finally know what is happened. Actually the leader used his whip and caught her weapon so she could not fight anymore with it.
"Not good!" While she is still confused for the incident, the remained followers are standing by her side now and all of them show her nothing but wicked smile. Knowing Lilly is in danger now, her partner, Peter quickly runs towards her but he immediately been pushed away on the ground. "Peter!" While Lilly tries to struggle for getting back her weapon, two men lock her arm and force her to release the Bo.
"Well, well, you're sure a hot snake I ever seen, but it looks like you are little bit too hot." Keeping back his whip, the leader throws out an axe that hangs on his left to the boys in front. "Boys, chop off her arm."
"!" The sudden statement shocks everyone include the one who are ordered. "But… but boss…"
"Her arms troublesome, and besides…" after he blew out clouds of smoke, he bites back his cigar and says. "Snake doesn't have arms." Just when the followers are still in confused, the leader throws them a stare that almost stops them from breathing.
He is GOD DAMN serious! And he DEMANDS it!
As one of the men is picking up the axe, the other one holds Lilly's right arm straight, while another men is holding the girl and making her bends on the floor. "Let me go! You pervert!" Lilly tries even harder to free herself, but it is useless, and the executioner is walking near her, raising high his axe. "Please… don't blame us for this." Then he starts to chop down.
Lilly closes her eyes sadly, she is waiting silently for the pain and the fact of losing her arm. Lilly is praying that none of this ever happens. Now, even a strong woman like her ever wants somebody can save her out from all of this, someone who is strong enough to get those bastards let go off her. "Hyahh!" A scream is heard over the silent night and Lilly feels even harder to hear it. But then…
"Huah! My hand! My hand!" It is an expected yell, but strangely, it is not from Lilly, it is from the man who was trying to chop down her arm just now. Lilly looks at him and notices that a dagger is stabbing his palm. It also surprises Lilly for her arm is still with her, and the axe drops just a few inches away from her feet.
"This is as far as you can go, man. Couldn't you just be a little bit tender to ladies?" By following the way where the sound from, all the attention falls on the leader. But it is not the leader who stops the mess, the voice from the one on his back. When they observe carefully, there is a blade lying by the leader's neck, his huge body almost covers the intruder who is wearing a mask on his eye to hide his identity.
But among the fallen men, the one who is the nearest to him starts to get awaken and notices the situation. He quickly grabs his gun and points at the intruder's head. At first it shocks Lilly and rejoices the gang, but not until the intruder cuts the gun apart by just raising his left arm and faces his another katana on his face. "Don't even… think about it." His warning becomes even more effective when he just glanced at the gunner fiercely.
"Who… who are you?" Because of the disadvantages, the leader asks slowly.
"Just someone who hates your way. Now, get you men and your ass out of my sight." The intruder warns him, then he turns his right katana a bit and continues, "Or you prefer to leave you head here?"
Although the leader is feeling really pissed off, but he has no choice and leaves the crowd with his followers. While he is leaving, he turns at the masked man and says, "I won't let you get away with this! I will be back!"
After all of them are gone, the masked intruder finally walks to Lilly and the others. "Are you okay, Lilly?" he asks.
"That voice? Shiro…" Just when Lilly speaks out his name, Shirogami shows her a sign of keeping quiet, "Shh… we will talk later. But first, get them to somewhere more comfortable." Shirogami helps Peter to get on his feet while Lilly helps her father.
Later in the evening, after Shirogami took off his mask and got everyone in his rest, he finally gets a chance to talk with Lilly about the incident.
"Shirogami, I was really shocked when I knew it was you who got that jerk. I hadn't been expecting a weak patient like you could done all of that!"
"Neither to I, I also never expect a girl like you could play such skillful Bojutsu. It was really amazing."
"I learned from a master when I was traveling with my family. He said that my nimble and good foundation of aerobics is suitable for his art." Lilly explains while she is giving Shirogami a cup of warm coffee. "But, it looks like you kenjutsu is not bad too. I only see the traces of your arm when you cut the gun and warned that man."
"Hmm… well, that is the best I can do. Sneaks and surprise attacks." Shirogami is hiding his real ability.
Lilly chuckles and says, "Well, may be you shall be a ninja instead of a samurai. Huah… I am going to get some sleep. Good night, Shirogami."
"Good night, Lilly. Have a nice dream."
"There is no better dream than my arms are still with me, hehehe… Oh yeah! Now I know what I have forgotten to do." Then she walks back to Shirogami and kisses his cheek. "Thank you for saving my life, Shirogami. Thank you very much." Then she returns to her sleeping place.
Sitting outside the wagon, Shirogami is looking at the silent sky. The full moon shines brightly upon the land around Shirogami and his unsheathed katana.
"Even I tried hard to get everyone out from my problems, but it seems like I cannot avoid at all. Am I right, buddy?" Looking at Shirahatori and MuYing, Shirogami remembers the time when Lilly was been attacked.
A few hours ago, while Lilly was fighting with the gangsters
"Well, it looks like she can handle it on her own." While Shirogami is observing the battle, he loosened the bandages on his head and arms. Shirogami tried to hold his knuckle and rotating his arm. "Good, now I can go on my journey. But I need to inform her first, and better return her a favor as well… ARGH!" Suddenly his head is burning like hell and he held it as hard as it is like going to blow. "What the…" Shirogami quickly look at his katana and noticed Shirahatori and MuYing were shivering.
"Ensign, ensign!" a feminine voice calls.
"Urgh… I am… here again…" Shirogami noticed that he was in his world of memories. He was standing at the saloon where he saw Sakura and Kohran previously. And then he saw a woman dressed with sexy purple kimono was sitting near the table, calling 'another Shirogami'.
"Yes?" After he had closed his room, 'Another Shirogami' walked to her to see what was she called for.
The woman pointed 'another Shirogami' to her back, then said, "Can you massage my shoulder? I am very tired after that practice." Then the woman leaned on 'another Shirogami's chest and gave him a chance to look at her curve of bosom clearly. Holding her shoulder to support her and balancing himself as well, 'another Shirogami' could not stop his face from blushing like a red apple.
"I… I don't think this is a good time now, Sakura is waiting for me downstairs."
"Ara ensign, it is rude for a gentleman to reject a maiden's request." Then she stood up and faced him, with her arms ringed his neck, continued, "Let that country girl keeps on waiting, now you are mine, ok?" her brave act not only surprises 'another Shirogami', but also the 'hallucinated Shirogami' who could not believe himself that he would fall into woman's beauty spell that easily.
"Please… my dear… brave ensign…" The woman said while her face is closing to his. 'Another Shirogami' swallowed a gulp of his saliva and his heartbeat was racing like hell.
"Dear! Have you done yet? We are going to be late for the shopping!" Suddenly another woman was shouting for her beloved. 'Another Shirogami' quickly woke up from the situation and replied, "I am coming now! Please excuse me." Then he ran to Sakura who just reached his room.
"Man… I almost got him. Well, may be next time." Then she sat back and enjoyed her teatime.
"Now I wonder who is the real me." Just when 'hallucinated Shirogami' was thinking, he noticed the female who tried to seduce 'another him' just now was looking at the picture of 'another Shirogami'. He could hear her whispers. "Ensign, although you had chosen her, my heart will always be yours. It is because you are the only man who ever treat me as a normal people, not a rich girl from a wealthy family." After that, she kissed at the photo, then kept it back.
"I am sorry if 'I' had disappointed you." 'Hallucinated Shirogami' said.
All of the sudden, the environment trembles and Shirogami knew it was not a good sign for him. The quake followed by a great bright light and it brought Shirogami back into reality. But it was not finished yet, as he heard Lilly was shouting and he looked at outside through the curtain. He saw Peter was being beaten aside and the gangsters were holding Lilly's arm.
"Lilly!" His katana shivered even stronger and warned Shirogami to take action.
"Okay, buddy! Let's do it." Since he was afraid of letting anyone recognized him, he took a mask that was hung on the pole and disguised himself.
"Well, I think I just hang around here for a little longer, since you showed me a sign." Shirogami looks back at the full moon while he is gripping his katana. "I just hope it will not end up in the bad way."
End of Chapter 2
Author's note:
Greetings. Shirogami here and thanks for keep reading. I don't owe any character of Sakura Wars / Sakura Taisen. But I do own this story.
'Kensei' in this fiction is a word used in the technique of Bojutsu. When it is performed, the user will stand still like an archer and align the Bo with his forward line of vision, rest the Bo lightly on his bend left upper arm and hold it as if he is pulling back on a bow and arrow. These information are gathered from 'Way of Stick Fighting – Shintaido Bojutsu'
Thank you very much, Silverblue Dragon for the non-stop support and also allowed me to use your name in my fiction. Man, you are great friend and I really appreciate your help!
Please R&R, no matter good or bad. See you in future.
