Sengoku Period 1583

A dazzling pleasant day was in full bloom over the land, as the summer season was in full effect on this gorgeous afternoon. The vast countryside was engulfed by this radiance of the day, small rivers shine, the soft breeze was sweeping by, while keeping the day cool, and was making the vast trees and shrubbery sway gently with it, as if they were promoting their happiness with this day for all to see.

Coming down a dirt path, flank on either side by vast tall trees, a large body of men travel as the warm sun beamed down on them. The inviting day seems to have to put these men in a fine spirit, as they were jesting with one another on their march down this little dirt path, that would lead to the promise of home and hearth, of warm food and drink, and of bountiful other pleasures.

The men themselves wore simple hakama's, clothe shirts, and woven sandals of various colors, though they were in a poor state. Some of them falling to pieces, and only being held together by loose sewing jobs done by the men themselves. Their grungy appearance didn't bother them at all really since most of it had come from a hard day's labor.

Though their labor wasn't one done in the fields cultivating them to grow food, or working iron over, or even just simply selling their goods. Instead, their labor had been done with great enjoyment, while at someone else's expense. Those someone's had been the people of a small village not far from where they were walking now, who had provided them fresh food, good drink, and some good fun to bring home.

Their labor had been taking these goods, not with money either, but by the force of arms. As these men were arm with Katana's, spears, bows, and sickles. For they were hardened bandits, fresh from a raid on the small village, that had no resistance to provide them, but simply beg for their lives. It did little to help, as these bandits put most of the village to the sword while burning it to the ground, while they took with them huge carts of food and drink pull by oxen.

That was the reason for the men's good men, well that and the other prize they brought along for fun.

"Boy!" one of the men, who had just finish a long chug from his gourd fill with fine wine.

A young boy, who only had recently reach his 16th name day, standing of average height, with long brown hair that was in a need of a trim, with matching brown large eyes, turn around and spoke in a trembling voice. "Yes, boss Yukimura?"

Yukimura, the boss of this gang of bandits, was an imposing man towering over the rest of the group. With a large thick black beard, coupled with his messy greasy black hair. He was built like his arms and legs were made of trunks, which he put to good use. When he wielded his katana, the amount of force he put behind his swing would cleave a man in two, the boy had seen this happen just recently.

As the front of Yukimura's kimono was drench in the blood that he hadn't bother washing off, wearing it like a badge of honor. Yet all the boy felt seeing this, was complete disgust because the blood belong to an old man who had spoken out against Yukimura and his gang when they had gather all the people in the village up during their raid, to which a sword was the burly man's reply.

"We're going to make a man out of you today!" Yukimura roar again, making his men raise a cheer as well.

"Ye…ye…ye…yes sir," the boy reply, while continuing to trudge along.

"Ye…ye…ye…ye, damn me if I didn't take on the most scared street rat in all of Japan. I give you a decent life, teach you to hold a sword, keep you fed. Yet in return do I get ruthless warrior for my trouble? No, just a boy who is afraid of his own shadow," Yukimura said with annoyance.

"Well can you expect boss, he's never even raised that sword in anger. Never felt the elation of cutting someone down," one of the other men in the group said, causing some chuckles amongst the group. Making others voice the agreements to his jest.

Soon others began to poke fun at with their newest member of the gang.

"All the sword is good for is picking his teeth."

"Maybe we should give him bow instead, but he might put his own eye out."

"Heh, maybe he get lucky and hit someone with it if we put them in a good large group."

"Even then he might still miss."

"ENOUGH!" Yukimura said, cutting off any more suggestions from his men. "Will find out soon enough if we can find a use for him."

That brought an end to any more joking to be had, as the gang continue their walk down the dirt path. Their destination was a decent size house some family had built deep in these woods, practically hidden from the world it felt like. It made for a nice base of operations for Yukimura's gang in this newest region they were terrorizing, even better whoever the family that once owned it had looked like they had left in a hurry some time ago, leaving it well stock with goods.

Yukimura now push through his horde of men, to now walk alongside the boy, as he spoke to him. "You're making me look bad, you know that right? If you don't start showing a spine that a man should have, I'll have to make a hard decision."

That made the boy wince, knowing his boss didn't make idle threats, as he reply. "I'm sorry sir, I'm just feeling more apprehensive than usual."

"Why?" Yukimura asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Because of whose territory we are currently in," the boy said.

"You're kidding, the failing house of the Nishizumi clan is making you shit your britches?" Yukimura said with a hearty chuckle.

The boy balk at how casual his boss was about who they were going to be antagonizing with their actions, as he spoke. "Boss, don't you know how fearsome their warriors are. They say they're the finest horse archers in all of Japan, could pluck your eyes out from distances unheard of."

"A bow is a coward's weapon, a real man holds steel in his hand. Let that be a lesson for you when you finally draw that thing against someone who means to kill you," Yukimura lecture.

The boy nodded. "Yes sir, but there's another rumor I heard as well."

Yukimura rub his beard in annoyance but decided to humor his young bandit. "Do tell me this rumor."

"They say there is a woman who fights within their clan. She is said to be an unmatched archer, they say she shot a bandit off his horse at over five hundred chō distance. They say she has cut down a hundred men, moving in a fight like a whirlwind of death with no one able to touch her," the boy said apprehensively.

"Boy's head been fill with the nonsense boss," one of Yukimura's men said nearby.

Yukimura nodded his head in agreement, then turn to his young bandit. "You listen to gossip too much, this woman you speak of is nothing but a myth. Even if she exists, I show her how to properly hold a sword if you get my meaning." While the burly man lick his lips that made the boy wince.

That sent a round of chuckles from some of Yukimura's men.

"Boss, what if they're true, these rumors? She is said to make it her job of hunting bandits like us. We just put that village to the sword, and will make the Nishizumi clan very angry," the boy said again trying to get his point across.

"What the hell do we care if their clan gets angry? I heard their lord lost his royal heir in their last war, which is why his daughter had to pick up a sword, while the old lord withers away in his castle," another of Yukimura's men commented.

Yukimura nodded at that, then spoke. "Their clan was once mighty, but now they're a dying flower, their pedals withering away till their nothing."

"Oh boss, that's pretty good, you sound like an educated man, instead of bandit leader," someone in the group joke, causing a raucous of laughs.

"I do, don't I?" Yukimura boasted. "You can thank that beauty, Miss Yoshiyuki, she was a good teacher, while warming my bed at night."

That made the boy grimaced at the name of the woman who had been Yukimura's favorite for some time. She was a wife to some scholar if the boy remembers right, till Yukimura stumble in drunk into their home and kill her husband, then took Yoshiyuki along with the group.

Even with the mistreatment being handed down to her, Yoshiyuki always seemed to have a soft spot for the boy, acting like a mother to him. She was well educated, teaching him writing and reading, something the boy had never know could be so fun.

Yet fate was a cruel mistress, as one night Yoshiyuki had taken a chance to flee from her predicament, after getting Yukimura blind drunk, then try to make her escape. Though she didn't get far when she ran into the boy who was standing guard. Yoshiyuki pleaded with him to come with her, but the fear of Yukimura's wrath outweigh logic, as the boy called to his comrades of the runaway.

The look of deep disappointment from Yoshiyuki haunted the boy till this day.

She was promptly dragged off by a drunk and angry Yukimura into the night, the boy never saw her again.

"Well, we won't have to worry about warm beds tonight!" Another of Yukimura's men yell in excitement, dragging the boy from his dark memories.

"Damn right! Ain't that right ladies!?" Yukimura roar, looking to the rear of the column, to a wooden cart that was being pulled by an ox.

The cart was filled with other spoils of the gang's raid. That was in the form of the young women who had been taken from their recently destroyed village and now brought along. They all cower in the cart, fearing what was to come from these cruel men. Most were crying silently, as they grieve the dead left behind, be it husbands, brothers, fathers, grandfathers, or sons.

Others sat deadpan, staring into the void, wondering why kami was so cruel to them. All they wanted was to live a happy life, yet all that was taken from them in one instant, leaving them with nothing but emptiness in their hearts.

The boy took in the sight of them, feeling sick to his stomach. As everyone one of them reminded him of Yoshiyuki and her look of betrayal when he ratted her out. It made him unable to ever look a woman long enough in the eye because always he saw her face staring back at him.

"Don't worry, I'm letting you have the pick of them when we get home," Yukimura said to the boy.

"Why boss?! The boy didn't do anything, just sat off to the side while we did all the work," a short man growl loudly, with a deep scar over his right eye. His face pulls into a scowl directed at the boy he had come to hate, for having the boss's favor for some reason.

The gang leader just smile at this subordinate of his, then spoke in a low tone. "I'm sorry Junji, did that sound like that was up for negotiation?"

The small man grimace a bit, knowing he was catching the ire of his boss, then spoke. "Boss, I'm just speaking my mind here, everyone else is thinking the same."

That made all of the group of bandits stop walking, now focusing on their little friend. Each of their face contorting into annoyance, as Junji was ratting them all out. None had any affection for the boy in their group, they did think he was a waste of space, but none were stupid enough to say it seriously, so they always said in a joking manner, never saying it seriously especially in front of the boss.

With a small couple of nods, Yukimura now walk towards his disgruntled subordinate with careful steps, till he was towering over him as he spoke. "Well, I know this is hard for you to accept, but you aren't very useful yourself you know Junji."

"What?" Junji said, leaning back from his boss.

"If you were useful, I wouldn't have to do this," Yukimura said in a calm tone before he show the price for speaking out.

Slowly Yukimura drew his katana from his saya, which was the scabbard holding the blade. The large man pull it out with one hand, then held it in a high side stance, placing his right foot forward in front of himself. The gang leader's eyes were on Junji who was trembling in place at the sight.

"Junji let's play a game, if you can block my sideswipe, I'll let you have two women all to yourself," Yukimura said with a wide grin.

"Boss, come on. I was out of line alright, lets ju-," Junji try to plead.

He was cut off by Yukimura booming at him. "DRAW YOUR SWORD!"

Timidly the Junji did as he was told, pull his katana out as well, holding it up in a defensive stance, though his hands were shaking so bad, barely able to hold it straight.

Around this poor little man, Yukimura's other bandit members began to step back, giving the two much-needed space. For they knew their boss was serious, and his sword swings were on a level none of them could contend with. They didn't want to be caught in the crossfire when he did swing.

"Come now, I won't cheat. Block my side swing with all you might, if you run, I'll get the boys to chase you down," Yukimura threatens, not about to let this go, for he knew his leadership was being tested right now.

Junji said nothing back, the katana in his hand still shaking, which was getting worse by the moment. Every fiber in his very being was telling him to run, since there was nothing to be gain in this, even if his boss was spewing about a very enjoyable reward of two women, that wasn't enough for this bandit to deem worthy of his life.

Yet he stood there, with a shaky katana, holding it in front of him. Since his boss was telling him he was going to attack with a side slash, so Junji held it at a side guard position, though his form would be considered sloppy by a proper samurai, yet this man could care little for proper form, he just wanted to survive.

"Now, don't blink boys," Yukimura said, his smirk turning into a devilish grin.

No one blink, since if they did, they would have missed the sight before them.

As the burly bandit leader struck sideways faster than a man his size should be capable of, combined with the strength of three men behind his large frame. His katana connected with Junji's, the screech of the swords coming together last only a second.

For Junji's katana shattered at the force of his foe's strength, not to mention a better quality sword that Yukimura himself had taken off a wealthy samurai years ago. The quality blade cut right through the hand-me-down blade of Junji, then it cut right across his chest, the blade slicing deep into his lungs and heart.

The small man was dead before he hit the ground, unable to breathe couple with his lungs being sliced open didn't even let him scream. He simply fell over onto his side as his life force drain away, soaking the ground of this poor man who had the misfortune to speak his mind.

"Well guess he didn't want his double women, eh?" Yukimura jokes, flicking his blade to get the blood off, then sheath it home in his saya.

The joke made many in the group chuckle along, while sweat ran down their backs, knowing that easily could have been them if they had spoken out too. While this little display only confirms Yukimura's hold on the leadership role, with no one else wanting to challenge this giant or meet the same fate.

While this was happening, the women in the cart that had witnessed this act, began to cry and cling to one another. As they knew if these men with this cruel to one another, they could only imagine how cruel they are when they finally reach their destination, they just pray more that someone, anyone would come to save them.

"Shut yer yaps wenches!" Yukimura roar again, which only causes the women to cry harder.

"Boss, should we throw him off the road. If someone spots him, they might follow us," someone asks from the group, looking down at the dead man.

Yukimura took one last look at Junji's lifeless body, then shook his head and spoke. "No, leave him for the wild to consume. Were so far into the woods, no one can track us, especially with darkness coming on."

There was a round of agreements, then the group continue, leaving behind their dead comrade to be taken by the wildlife itself. The boy looks on, wondering if that was his fate if he didn't begin to show the group he can kill, he can raid, and he can leave behind his timidness.

"Come on boy, unless you wanna join him," Yukimura said in an intimidating tone.

With a nod, the boy obey, walking along on the dirt path with his band of bandits, men he call comrades, wishing he was stronger, that he could stand up to Yukimura. He wish he could save these poor women from their coming fate, that words could not describe its horrors.

The boy wishes he was a true noble samurai, to have true courage, to be selfless, and virtuous.

That had been a dream long ago, now the boy was nothing more than a demon who feasted on others, stealing their pursuit of happiness. Even if he never raise his on weapon at them, he never raise it to defend them as well.

While he trudge along, the boy remembers a saying he once heard that was part of the samurai code: the decisions you make and the actions that follow are a reflection of who you truly are. You cannot hide from yourself.

With that thought in mind, the boy could not hide now from who he was, he was a bandit and he die as one. That was his path in life, to whatever end…

Though, maybe, just maybe...their will be a time to show who he really wanted to be…that his actions could define who he wanted to be…

XxxxX

Dusk had begun to fall on this summer day, with the promise of a cool night coming on. With what little light remained, made the sky above give off a deep reddish glow.

Coming down the dirt path that had been travel before by a large party, a lone rider rode their horse down it slowly. The figure riding the horse was cover mostly by a large fine blue silk cloak, with white snowflakes sewn into it. A hood cover their face, casting it in shadow, just like the woods around them, as night was slowly coming on.

The rider's horse suddenly stop, then flick its head up and down, a tell tell sign that the beast was nervous about something. Yet the horse's rider simply calms them down by patting the side of the horse's head, whispering pacifying words to its companion.

Peering down the darkening dirt path, the ride caught sight of what was causing their horse to panic. A man lay on his side, a pool of dried blood was all around him that had soaked the earth under him. Even against their horse's wishes, the rider urges the beast to get them closer.

When they had finally gotten closer to the fallen man, the rider jump off the back of their horse, their cloak fluttering as they did. Then they kneel next to the man, checking on him, but the fact was made known quickly that he was dead, his eyes open, but no life remain behind them.

Looking over the man intensity, the rider discern that this was not a villager who had been kill, like the ones they had found back at the small village that had been destroyed by a group of bandits, putting it to the sword, while taking most of the women with them.

This man had the look of a bandit, most likely the one that did it too, judging by his attire. Though it was strange to the rider why he was the only one dead at the moment. Gazing around, there was no sign of a struggle, while it look like he had been sliced across the chest cleanly by a katana, and with a precise eye, the rider could tell it had been a good quality sword too.

"Was there some infighting?" The rider's soft voice came out, speaking to themselves.

A neigh from the horse got the rider's attention, turning back to see their horse was stamping its feet at something. The rider let out an amused huff, then rose to walk over to the spot, to see a piece of cloth on the ground. It was part of someone's kimono, having been torn off.

"Well boy, good find," the rider said, picking up the shredded piece, then notice another one down the road. "Well looks like one of the women still has some hope, leaving behind a trail for me."

Another neigh from the horse seems to spur on its master to hurry up.

"Right, right, come on. These rouges have run uncheck long enough, they hurt our people thinking their judgment will never come," the rider said, then step into the stirrup to lift themselves into the saddle.

Again the rider spoke, their voice low like a growl. "They don't know the wrath of a Nishizumi that is as terrible as a tiger mauling, so let's go boy, time to hunt."

With a kick of the heels into the horse's flank, the horse gallop down the road, following the trail of rip cloth, to save their people, the people who were protected by a Nishizumi.

XxxxX

A merry round of laughing could be heard around the campfire that illuminated Yukimura's men who were drinking their fine liquor. While they took bites of the succulent roasted meat that they had finally finish cooking, which they finely seasoned from the spoils of their raid. Their mood soaring with their success, while also readying themselves for the future pleasures still to come this night.

"Did you see Junji's face, the dumb bastard had it coming," one of the bandit's mocked.

Another man stood up. "Here let me reenact the scene."

The man put on a show for his band, making an astonished face, trying to get an accurate representation of Junji's surprised face when their boss's blade cut right through him. Others began to cheer this man's fine performance, as their laughter became uncontrollable at this point. Nothing in that moment was more joyous for them, with the future raids that might bring them more and more spoils, feeling great confidence in themselves.

Yukimura himself chuckle, as he sat on the porch of this small house they had taken for themselves, as his men hooted and holler in delight. Next to him was a young girl, who kept her head down, letting her long black hair flow down her shoulders, doing her best to be as quiet and unnoticeable as possible.

Turning his eyes toward his prize, Yukimura spoke. "Well girl, don't be shy, you want something to drink?"

"N…n…n…no my lord," the girl spoke in a quiet tone, shaking all the while.

"Heh, you cold my sweet? The only cure for that is a warm drink or a warm bed, choose which one is better," Yukimura said, knowing he was just torturing the girl.

"I…I…I…wish to have none, my lord," the girl said back, saying the lord part as if it might appease the man not to hurt her.

That made Yukimura throw his head back and laugh, then spoke aloud to his men. "You hear that boy's, she calls me a lord!"

That made the men raise their cups to their leader, as they chanted words loud into the night sky. "Lord Yukimura! Lord Yukimura! Lord Yukimura! Lord Yukimura! Lord Yukimura!"

A large smirk crosses the burly man's face, then raises his cup to the air, letting the liquor slosh all over the place. The contents of the drink were being swung around so violently, that it came flying out, and then splash on the poor girl sitting next to Yukimura. A small yelp of surprise escapes the girl's lip at the sudden feel of the liquor on her, soaking through her kimono.

"Whoops, sorry their little flower, gone and drench your pedals. Let me fix that for you," Yukimura said, his voice becoming husky, his raging lust pushing him forward.

"Plea…ple…ple…please my lord, don't harm me," the girl said, drawing her arms around herself.

"If I'm a lord as you mistakenly think I am, then I do as I please as a lord. You have no say in what happens," Yukimura spoke, his face pressing into the girls, caring little for her wants and needs, only his matter now.

It was as this mistaken lord, was moving his hands up to rip the clothes off this flower, did he notice something. His eyes were drawn to the sleeve of her kimono, which was in tatters. It shouldn't have surprise Yukimura, since this girl was from a poor village where most of her clothes would be in such a sorry state. Yet the tatters look quite new to him, prompting him to grab the girl's arm violently to look it over.

After giving it another good look over, the burly man spoke in a low tone. "Did you do this yourself? Don't lie, I'll know if you do."

"Ye…ye…yes," the girl said, holding her hand to her face to wipe her tears away.

"Well, well, we got a smart girl here boys. She's been ripping pieces of her clothes off to leave a little trail behind for someone to follow!" Yukimura roar to his men.

The once merry air that follow the men now went silent. As one they stare back at their leader and the girl, their eyes becoming intense. For a few moments longer, they just stare at the girl, before another round of raucous laugher began, Yukimura himself laughing harder than anyone.

Looking back and forth, the girl who thought she could be no more scared now felt completely paralyzed, not knowing why the men were finding this revelation funny.

As Yukimura calms down, he turns to the girl to explain. "You think someone is going to come to rescue you? Banish those thoughts girl, we took an off-path into the woods to get here, those little bread crumbs are going to be hard to spot in the underbrush."

"I'm…so…so…sor…sorr..," the girl tried to apologize, but stop as she began to cry.

"Ugh, I hate crying women. Toyoharu, you get to have her," Yukimura said in a bored tone.

Toyoharu stood up from the group, a man of average height, with dark brown eyes, with his long black hair bundle up. Walking past some of his jealous comrades, Toyoharu saunters up to the steps to the porch, grabbing the girl's arm and violently pulling her away. Even as she cried, her fighting spirit was on display, as she slap Toyoharu in the face, making some of the men holler at the girl's display of bravery.

Though the slap had little effect on Toyoharu whose head had been rearranged multiple times in fistfights leaving little feeling in his face, turn to look at his boss. "I thought you said the boy was going to have first dibs."

Yukimura shrug at that. "He won't know that. Give him the girl after you're done"

A round of chuckles follows, with Toyoharu nodding with a devilish grin at his boss, then drag the girl off into the darkness of the trees surrounding the house. The men went back to drinking and joking with one another, as Yukimura turn his eyes to the dark sky that was hanging overhead.

Tonight was supposed to be a full moon, but clouds were covering it up.

Thiers no way anyone could follow that trail anyway, especially in this darkness. Though maybe it is best to find another place tomorrow, yea tomorrow will find another place before someone comes sniffing around.

Yukimura thought, feeling satisfied in his thinking that he was safe for tonight, then rose from his sitting position and headed inside the house. Wanting to pick who his entertainment was tonight, though he take his time for sure.

XxxxX

With careful steps, the boy walks along the perimeter of his gang's camp. Because of the darkness, he was relying on a torch to illuminate the forest floor in front of him, so he wouldn't trip over anything. It so far had been a boring patrol, like many times it had been before for the boy, yet it was a necessary job to keep the camp safe. Though he hated that he was also made the first watch it seem like every time.

Pushing past the frustration, the boy kept walking, waving his torch here and there to push back the darkness in front of him, trying to spot anything out of the ordinary. Yet nothing was different than the last time he had come through here, just the same trees and underbrush here.

A sudden cry in the distance got the boy's attention, as he try to focus in. Another cry, this one much louder, making him tense up, a hand gripping the hilt of his katana ready to draw. Fear racing through him, even though he had the resolve to be better, there was no hiding it.

Though with some small courage, he began to walk to the sound of the distressed voice, turning into a light jog. The boy pushes past the trees, letting the noise and his torch guide him. With the cries in the distance becoming louder as he near them, till finally, he could completely hone in on the source of it, then sprinted towards it.

As the boy rounded a tree, he found the source of the sound. A young girl was laying on the ground, as one of the boy's comrades was in the process of undressing himself, it was Toyoharu himself, looking to enjoy himself. Yet now turn to the source of light, which made him growl in annoyance at it.

"What the hell are doing here? You are supposed to be on watch," Toyoharu said.

The boy looks from Toyoharu to the girl with dark black hair, doing her best to cover herself up, while she cries softly. A feeling of sickness in the boy's stomach took over, looking at how frightened the girl was, then turn his eyes back to Toyoharu.

"I heard screaming, so I thought one of you was in trouble," the boy said.

Toyoharu chuckle at the comment then calms down to shake his head in disbelief at his comrade. "Do you think I scream like a damn woman, boy?"

"No, I just-."

"Just what boy," Toyoharu interjected, then turn to the girl for a moment, then turn his eyes turn back to the boy as he spoke. "You mad I got the first choice tonight?"

"No, as I said, was just che-," the boy try to explain.

"Wait that isn't it," Toyoharu said, letting a smug look cross his face. "You wanted to come to play hero didn't you, save the damsel and ride off into the night, weren't you boy."

"Toyoharu, I wasn't tr-."

"Or so I'll tell the boss when I get back to camp," Toyoharu said in a calm tone.

"What do you mean?" The boy said.

The older man steps forward to his young comrade, his hand moving ever closer to the hilt of his katana, ready to draw it out. Watching all this, made the boy understand what Toyoharu was about to do. He was going to kill him, then leave his body out here. While Toyoharu heads back to camp and tells everyone it was the boy who drew his blade first, trying to play hero to the girl or that they got into an argument over who goes first.

"Wh…wh…why would kill me? Were comrades," the boy tries to convince.

"You know Junji was saying what the rest of us are thinking. You're not cut out for this life, you just tag along because you didn't want to starve on the road we found you on. Your, not a bandit, hell your not even a man, just a rat scavenging for food, well I've had enough of it," Toyoharu explains, drawing his katana out, the metal of the blade reflecting off the torches light in a red glow.

"No…please…were…co…comrades," the boy said once more.

"Comrades? How can we be comrades when I don't even know your name? Your just the boy, a nuisance I need to get rid of," Toyoharu said with a shake of the head, then came forward again, his blade ready.

"My name-."

"Don't bother telling me when your about to be dead, enjoy your last breaths boy," Toyoharu said through a laugh, raising his blade in both hands to bring down on his foe.

The boy, watch the blade raise slowly into the air, with everything seeming to slow down. Seeing his death coming down on him, with nothing stopping his once thought of comrade from stopping him. For a moment, he accepted his fate, knowing he could not draw his katana in time, then death would take him while doing no good in this world, but he had accepted that too.

Yet fate was not done with this boy.

Coming flying through the night air, a small rock smack into the back of Toyoharu's head. It didn't have the weight or power behind it to make the man keel over, instead, he just became annoyed. Stopping his swing, he turn over his shoulder to see the very girl that was to be his, had thrown the rock.

Shaking with fear, but her eyes resolute, another rock lay in her hands ready to throw. For if she was ready to die, rather than suffer any humiliation of her virtue. She may not have been a warrior, but she plan to go down as one here and now.

"Why you little bi-," Toyoharu began to say, till he heard the sound of a katana being free from its sheath.

Turning around, Toyoharu took in the sight of the hated boy, brandishing his weapon. It was directed at Toyoharu as the boy spike the end of the torch into the ground so not to be in the way, though little fear ran through the bandit, seeing how the sword was shaking in the boy's hands. There was little doubt in the older man's mind that he would make short work of him.

"Well, let us see what you got," Toyoharu said, then before anyone could blink, he swung at the boy.

"Run!" the boy said to the girl, making Toyoharu once again stop his swing, perplex by the order.

The girl balk at the request, not knowing why this boy wanted to try and save her when he was there watching her village get burn down, her family murdered by his group, and while he watch all the while doing nothing stop it.

"Get out of here! Find help and bring them back to save the others!" the boy said once more.

"The hell are you yapping about, guess you finally showing your true colors boy. Don't run girl, I'll track yo-," Toyoharu began to say but was surprised when the boy came forward.

Caught off guard, Toyoharu block his young foe's small flurry of blows, checking them every time. The initial surprise began to wear off, as Toyoharu could read the boy's clumsy swings at him, to which began to slap away every time with ease.

As the two combatants traded metal, the girl watch on, knowing she was being given a chance to escape. Though hesitation flow through, wondering how far she could get from the bandits, but she had to do something knowing the other captive women would be subjected to whatever atrocity these men would do to them.

Even to a novice like her, the boy was no match for the older man, who would eventually get the upper hand. Yet there was a small chance for her to find help, even as hopeless as that seem, the girl wouldn't waste it.

Gathering herself up, the girl made a break for it.

After checking another clumsy swing, Toyoharu look over his shoulder to see his prize running off into the woods, which made his blood boil. Knowing his night was ruined, and once the boss learns of this, he might kill Toyoharu, since there was no way they could track her down in the dark forest, he only made that threat earlier to scare her into submission, but it was empty.

Turning back to the boy, Toyoharu snarl at him as the two of them lock blades, with their faces close to one another.

"You dumb bastard, you let her go, now I'm going to make you pay for that," the angry older man said.

With a shove, letting his stronger build of a body, now bully the smaller weaker opponent opposing him, Toyoharu put some distance between the two of them. Then he swung his katana in a side swing at the boy hoping to cut him open as the boss did to Junji earlier.

A clumsy side block was the answer from the boy, the blades coming together, with the frightening force of it making the boy's hands shake terribly, making him almost lose his grip entirely on the katana.

Toyoharu didn't give the boy any more rest, as he swung again and again, each time sending the boy backpedaling from the blows. Their clash of swords echoes through the woods each time.

After another blow, which prove too much for the boy to handle, he fell onto the ground floor. With Toyoharu standing over him, with his katana pointed at him, the older man's face illuminated by the torch spike into the soft earth, showing to be as angry as the fire itself.

"Your no match for me boy, I'm going to make sure you suffer for challenging me," Toyoharu said, adjusting his katana in his hand to stab downward.

Quickly Toyoharu brought the sword down for the finishing blow, but only met the soft dirt to his surprise, as the boy roll over, just missing the blade. Then got to his feet shaky again, but determined to buy the girl as much time to get away, to save her from the horror, and for the boy to let his last act define who he always wanted to be, instead of who he thought he be.

A hero, not a demon, someone who was selfless, not consumed by the need for self-preservation.

Finding his courage he never thought he had, the boy came forward again, with a low side swing, that Toyoharu check. Untroubled by his opponent's tenacity, the boy fought on, with side swings and high swings raining down on Toyoharu, who block them every time, though his balance was beginning to be lost by the dogged flurry of attacks. Surprise by the boy's fortitude, but equally, annoyed by it.

Wanting to end this farce, Toyoharu slap a clumsy stab attempt from his foe with his katana, then use the mommet to close in, grabbing the boy's wrist holding his sword, then Toyoharu gave it a hard twist, making his foe yelp in pain while dropping his katana.

Not wasting time, Toyoharu pull back, then stab forward with his blade into the boy's stomach area. Metal pierce cloth, then flesh, and tearing right through till the sword went right through the boy's back. Then Toyoharu pull the blade out, letting the boy's life force leak out, as he fell to the ground crying in pain.

"Well, that proved to be more irritating than it should have. Have to say, if the boss taught you to handle a sword properly, you might have had a chance," Toyoharu said, flicking his blade to get the blood off.

"It…it…it hurts," the boy said through tears and clench teeth.

"Well yeah, your bellies been pierced, it's not supposed to feel good. It's the worse way to go, especially when it gets infected," Toyoharu said, with a cruel smile on his face.

The boy whimper, knowing this was true. Yet he accepted his fate, feeling some relief that for once in his young life, that he had done something selfless and noble. It wouldn't wash away all of his sins, but it would give him something to be proud of when the jaws of death finally took him.

A small painful chuckle escapes the boy's lips.

Which made Toyoharu raise an eyebrow, then spoke. "What's got you in such a good mood?"

"I ruin yo…yo…yo…your fun, and that girl will be safe from a monster like you," the boy said, looking at Toyoharu with a smug look.

"Well, well, you got some fight in you still. I like that," Toyoharu said, deciding he rather finish his former comrade off, as he raise his katana high for the finishing blow.

"Then you may find my fighting spirit more enjoyable this night," A voice calls out to Toyoharu.

Quickly Toyoharu turns his head to see cloak figure standing off to the side illuminated by the torches flames. He could see the mysterious figure had a Hankyu bow around their shoulder, a short bow compare to more traditional ones carried, with their quiver at their back. While also wearing some strange cloak with snowflakes sewn into it.

"Who the hell are you?" Toyoharu challenges, taking a defensive stance with his katana.

The cloaked figure ignores the question, turning their head to the boy holding his stomach, whimpering in pain. The boy crane his head to look at the mysterious figure, but the hood over their face block any chance to see who this was.

"Hey, don't ignore me," Toyoharu growl, then came forward to cut down this mysterious figure.

From the boy's perspective, everything happen almost to fast to keep up with.

The diagonal strike from Toyoharu came at the mysterious figure in a flash, but with graceful feline-like steps, the figure smoothly pull back from the slash. Then pirouetted away from another angry strike from their foe, seeming to toy with Toyoharu who grew angrier with every miss.

"Fight me, coward!" Toyoharu roar.

His wish was granted, as the mysterious figure reach inside their cloak to effortlessly draw their katana, which came out smoothly, speaking to the figures technique, which the boy could pick up on.

With the blade drawn now, Toyoharu smile in satisfaction, then came forward again. His thoughts were that he enjoy this fight, to make up for all his terrible luck with the boy disturbing his fun and letting the girl getaway.

Coming forward, Toyoharu slash at the figure's face, but again the figure dance away, not bothering with a parry. Several more times Toyoharustruck, only to find air being his blades opponent as the mysterious figure continue to dodge the strikes with cat-like reflexes. Never parrying the blows as well again, keeping their sword in a low side guard, as if they were waiting for their chance to counter strike.

Sweat began to bead down Toyoharu's face, his breath coming in short. His arms were beginning to tire from the constants swings of his sword, which was finding no home. While he was seething at this mysterious figure who was toying with him.

"Are you going to fight me?" Toyoharu spoke angrily through his heavy breathing.

"No, that would mean I would see you as a worthy foe, and not a demon deserving justice," the mysterious figure said back.

"Bastard!" Toyoharu yell, coming forward again.

A wild swing from him follow his curse, coming in a downward strike. Yet again the mysterious figure slips the strike, letting the mad man fall for their ruse. As Toyoharu hadn't noticed the tree behind the figure, that now took the full force of his downward strike. The katana became buried into the bark from the force of the swing, with Toyoharu struggling to get it out.

Then the sudden feel of cold steel under his throat could be felt. As the mysterious figure was standing beside Toyoharu, with their katana held in both hands diagonally against the man's neck, looking in the opposite direction.

Fear grip Toyoharu now as he spoke, letting his hands off his blade and in surrender. "Please, let us be reasonable."

"Reasonable you say, when you murder my people and intended to harm that girl earlier," the mysterious figure said.

"Your people?" Toyoharu asks, as a realization of who his foe was, made his mouth dry.

"Yes, my people, the people who are protected by the Nishizumi clan. Do you understand?" the mysterious figure said.

"I do, I do, so please just let me go. I'll leave your land and never come back," Toyoharu said in a frightful tone.

The cloaked figure said nothing back to this, making Toyoharu anxious wondering if they were going to let him live or not. He could call for his comrade's maybe, but then again it is hard to do with a slit throat that would happen in a flash if he gave the cloak figure a reason too. Toyoharu had also realize that he been too cocky, and he knew it now with his death only a clean slice away.

"Look, just let me go. My boss made us do that stuff, if we didn't he would have killed us. It's not like we enjoy bloodshed," Toyoharu again made his case for his life, even if he was lying.

"Look at you pathetic bunch, no better than cattle for the slaughter, that's all your good for in this world," a voice said from the darkness.

Toyoharu's head turn to the source, catching sight of who spoke. It was the very girl he had been given for his entertainment coming forward now, leading a horse by the bridle. Her kimono was fix up and she stare at Toyoharu with a quiet rage.

"That's what you said to us before you kill my husband, my family, and the rest of the village men," the girl said once more.

A feeling of shock ran through Toyoharu, knowing those were the exact words he said before he and the rest of his comrades murder the men in the village. Now those very words were coming to haunt him, as he felt the blade push further into his skin.

"No, I didn't mean it, forgive me, I never wa-," Toyoharu try to plea.

The cold blade against his throat now smoothly slide across the skin. It rip apart, letting forth warm blood, as Toyoharu brought his hands up to his throat to try and stim his life force from leaving his body. To no avail, while he try to scream, but nothing let his lips by a quiet gasp as blood fill his mouth.

Watching the dying Toyoharu began to convulse in the last moments of life, the mysterious cloaked figure flick their katana to get the blood off it, then wipe the rest off with a cloth, before sheathing their blade back in their saya.

The girl came up with the horse in tow, a little skittish at the dying man near it. While the girl spoke to the cloaked figure. "I thank you, my lady, for avenging my husband's death."

"I'm sorry I could not prevent his death, for that, I apologize as your protector," the cloaked figure said back.

"There is still time to save the other women if we hurry," the girl said.

A nod from the cloaked figure follows the response, then turn their eyes to another dying person, the boy, still holding his punctured stomach. He whimper, with the slow embrace of death taking him, but not without suffering all the while. The two women walk over to him, with the boy's whimpers becoming a little louder, fearing they were going to make him suffer for his transgression.

"Ple….ple…ple…please, for…for…forgive me," the boy pleaded.

The cloaked figure turn to the girl beside her, then spoke. "Michiko, was this the boy who told you to run?"

"Yes, though he was also there when they burn my village down," Michiko said, staring down at the boy with indifference.

"Ple…ple…please…fo…fo…forgive…me…," the boy pleaded once more.

A shake of the head from Michiko follows the plea from the boy again, then turns to the cloaked figure once more to speak. "We should leave him to his fate, my lady."

For a moment the cloaked figure stood still, still peering down at the boy who was dying. Then brought their hands up, to pull back the hood that cover their face. As if the clouds had been waiting all along for this moment, they had just begun to break apart, allowing the rays of the moonlight to shine down onto the forest.

The boy was greeted to sight, which could not have been a better last image to savor before leaving this existence.

Standing above him, the cloaked figure had revealed that they were a she. A young girl, looking to be just passing their 18th name day. Her smooth skin was graceful pale that shine with the moon, only enhancing her beauty. Long black hair, that seems to have a blue shade with the light of the moon, and large greenish eyes.

The young women lean down, taking one of the boy's hands in her own, as she spoke. "My name is Nakano Nishizumi, daughter to Lord Masahiko Nishizumi."

A look of surprise wash over the boy's face. The very women he had heard rumors about, who hunted bandits down with great fury. The very women who was said to have slain a hundred men, and judging by how easily she had dispatch Toyoharu, it had to be true. Now the boy wonders what she would do with a monster like him, even if he had not harm those villagers, he was there, watching them get butcher while he did nothing.

The boy waited for the Nishizumi to exact her just punishment on him, closing his eyes all the while.

He waited.

He waited some more.

Slowly the boy opens his eyes to look at the Nishizumi.

Instead of a look of hate or anger, the boy was greeted at the sight he didn't think possible. A smile, that was so heartwarming and inviting, the boy felt the pain in his gut for a moment seem to cease as he was memorized by that smile.

"I can tell you didn't choose this life, am I right?" Nakano said in a gentle tone, her hand moving to stroke the boy's face.

"N…n…n…no, I wa…was…was…taken….th…the…they kill…my…pa…pa…parents,"the boy stutter through clench teeth.

"I'm sorry. Though I'm sure your parents are waiting for you, to take you in their arms once more in another life beyond this one," Nakano said gently again, trying to ease this young one's passing, as much as it aches her heart.

"I wi…wish…I could ha…hav…have…do…do…done something no…no…noble," the boy said.

"You did, you gave Michiko a chance, save her from the horrors of that man. You have shown all the traits that make a good samurai, a virtuous one, not a bandit. That's not who you are," Nakano said, now taking both of the boy's hands in her own, keeping her eyes lock on his.

The boy felt tears come down his face, not of sadness, but joy. For the first time in a very long time, he felt happy, he felt a great weight of burden lifted from his shoulders, and he felt a sense of pride in himself. All because this young girl saw him for who he truly all ways wanted to be, that erase the years of being someone he had hated being.

"Tha…tha…tha…tha…thank yo…yo…you, my la…la…lady," the boy stutter out, his eye's becoming distant as the last embers of his life faded.

"You are most welcome, if you don't mind, may I know your name," Nakano asks.

"Keita Fukaya," he said, saying a name that none of his bandit comrades had cared to learn for years. Now it was told to a stranger, but it felt satisfying to let it be heard.

"It's very nice to meet you," Nakano said, smiling at him, then it drop to sadness, as Keita Fukaya had let his final words out, his name, and now he had departed this world.

Gently, Nakano brought her hands over the boy's eyes, closing them. Mentally she said a short prayer for his soul to be guided, then rose. There was still a job for her to do, with no more time to waste at all.

"My lady, forgive me, but why did you ask for his name?" Michiko said, with a sidelong look.

"So that I remember him," Nakano said looking at her with a small smile.

"Thiers no way you remember him tomorrow, a fortnight from now, or even years. He will just fade from memory, I'm already forgetting him," Michiko said, looking back at the deceased boy.

"I won't forget him. If there is one thing I can never do, is forget anyone, no matter how short our time together was, I always remember their face, their name, and thier deeds, for they all have their stories they wish to tell, but no one listens or remembers, but I do," Nakano said, her face neutral, her voice icy cold, her eyes filled with resolve.

By the tone of the young female samurai, Michiko could tell she meant it. That she did remember everyone she came into contact with, and she carried their stories with her, no matter where she went.

"Yet we must move on, do you remember where the bandit camp is?" Nakano said, moving on to the task at hand.

"Oh," Michiko said in surprise, then focus herself. "Yes, but are there more warriors with you? There have to be thirty or so bandits, arm to the teeth in that camp."

Nakano nodded at that, then unslung her bow as she spoke. "No, it's just me. I left my guard behind to bury the dead of your village or more to the point I use it as my opportunity to escape since they wanted to leave you all for dead."

"You can't take them all on by yourself my lady, it's too dangerous, even as great of a warrior you are," Michiko said apprehensively, with her hands clasp together.

"I know, but I must follow my family's creed to the letter, as a warrior," Nakano said, testing her bowstring to make sure it was steady, then turn to her companion to say the words. "No matter what befalls us, we advance."

Then without another word the young warrior walk off into the darkness to fulfill her duties to her people and her family. For she was a Nishizumi, with victory her sole purpose, because with victory came the protection of those she held dear, and that was the ambition that had been born the day a sword was place in her hand.

Authors Thought:

Well there we are, I've taken shot at writing something completely different, as we leave tanks behind for Katana's. It's a challenge for sure, but absolutely fun to write, as I take a lot inspiration from books I enjoy, like Witcher, A Song of Ice and Fire, and my personal favorite light novel Goblin Slayer. Going back and using these as examples has been so cool, since I've always had an itch to write about this kinda stuff.

I hope you all enjoy this weird take on the Nishizumi family that has a lot going for it so far as I write. Their might be a change in this volume where it will be solely focus on this little short story of Nakano rather than go after other people I had plan to do, so I can get on with the 4th volume quicker and back to Miho and the gang, I'm unsure, but I'll make a decision soon enough.

To reviewer ArashiKazama88: Thanks for always coming back to read, your support is greatly appreciated.

Thanks to those who recently favorite and followed this story! You're an awesome group who continue to support this series of mine.

Again thank from the bottom of my heart for reading, it never gets old seeing how many people read this story, just leaves me without words.

So till the next Author Thought, have great rest of your day!