Fro Ninja; Hi guys. It's the Fro Ninja here, with another entry. So now I'm going to be trying out a new series, which I had originally planned out for a one shot, but because I kept coming up with ideas for, I decided to expand upon it. Just a quick background, this takes place in a setting inspired by the late years of the Japanese Edo period, but not exactly set in that traditional era, so please don't be surprised if there is some modernized taste to the story, i.e. dialogue, characters, and settings. Anyway, without further ado, let's get started!
Somewhere in the Nagano prefecture
Third Person perspective.
The wind flew past on this short tree, and clear blue sky remained as dull as ever to the young hero to be.
Even though a mere apprentice, the young man has already managed to gain the wisdom that lies beyond his years. He sat on the bark of the tree, overlooking the entire valley with pack of small fruit by his side, planted neatly next to his sword. His eyes remained closed to the world, while his heart was absolutely open to all else. After all, such is the way of the samurai to have a keen sense of everything around, and being a boy of ten years old is no exception to the rule.
His hair bristled up and flowed as the wind came around yet again. His arms and legs come together as his mind belonged in a trance. He had meditating for the past day now, eager to find at least some kind of sign of the so called 'destiny' that awaited him. Such were the words of several of the people he knew, including his grandfather and his own brother, all with disapprovals toward his choice in life. From going the life of an incarcerated slave, to an escapee, to poor farm boy, now to a penniless wandering swordsman's apprentice. But of course, what else could a young man of color hope to aspire to be in a foreign land such as this? He often said to himself. This was the best thing. Yes.
"Huey-dono!" A voice could be heard at the bottom of the hill coming up to his position. A young boy with flushed face ran up to Huey, flustered and out of breath from the long run that stretched easily over mile or so.
"Yes, Caesar? What is it?" Huey spoke softly to his attendant, despite still being in a deep trance. He has learned to do so by separating his sense of self along his sense to everything else around him. Meaning he could still hold a conversation with someone while still deep in his meditation. His master referred to it as simply being the center-point of everything, as the universe flows through you.
"Afro-sensei has called you back! He has said that you have been gone far too long for a simple meditation session."
"It's because of him, I'm here in the first place. He told me to look inside myself to see where I lie as his apprentice, and as a samurai."
"Yes indeed he did. But then he said, and I quote "Not to randomly go the deepest part of the valley to take a nap for a day." To be honest sir, he kind of meant you should just...take a walk or something for a few hours and head back. We were supposed to report back yesterday for our new assignment."
After listening to his prattle, young Huey opened his, and returned from his trance. As he stood up from his seat, and grabbed his sword, he looked over the valley for second time, or possibly his third time. He sighed deeply.
"Is something the matter, Huey-dono?" Caesar looked puzzled.
"It's only been two years since I left my family and became the apprentice to the Number Two samurai. I still feel like I have so much to learn despite seeing so much in my travels."
"One would normally think that even the greatest of adventurers has seen the entire world on their journeys, and that they would know themselves as well the world around them."
"That's a misconception. An adventurer sets out because they wish to discover the part they could not during their many years growing up, and their times of self-identification. But there are still adventurers that could explore every corner of the world and turn over every stone for the purpose of self-discovery, and yet still not find even a hint of their true selves. Then their need to travel becomes vain and empty to them, and becomes their only method of coping when it comes to dealing with their problems. To run away from them.
I still remember the life I had before coming here, and despite not traveling anywhere, I was informed of its purpose several times every time a whip cracked my flesh. Now, because of my new life, I've been given a new purpose, but I'm still nowhere close to figuring it out."
"Isn't it your duty as a samurai, to fulfill the needs of others though?"
Huey scoffed.
"What need is there for a wandering foreign that is loyal to no lord? He's as useful as the powder used to clean his blade. To be used once, and simply cast aside until a new one comes along."
"...I see you've been reading satirical haikus again..."
"Eh, its a passtime."
"Dynamite-dono always said to never trust somebody that puts a philosophical message on a piece, and say they're right. It's always 'think' you're right."
" There are no such things as good ideas? Is that what you're trying to tell me?"
Caesar shrugged. "I'm not the one who said it...In any case, we really should be heading back now."
Huey nodded to his attendants idea, and so picked up his sword and began to walk down the hill. As he took his steps, the wind began to blow even furiously. The young one picked up on this as he looked out at the clear blue sky, and saw that strange events were about to occur. Ones that would most likely be the answer the questions he had been seeking these past few years as a warrior.
An hour later, back at the camp below the valley.
Huey and Caesar managed to navigate through the forest safely, but not without coming upon the notice of several traps laid about in the clearing. Snares, foot traps, and rope captures. All essentials to a survivalists expeditions. Soon the two came upon the white tent set up below the valley's surface, right near a crystal clear lake. Despite them making it back, there was little to no sign of a person's presence to be found anywhere in the area. Huey's first instinct had him immediately go on guard, by having his sword directly in his grasp, and going directly into a defensive stance.
"Huey-dono?" Caesar looked puzzled at his sudden reaction.
"Shhhh. Quiet..." Huey slowly scanned the area with his eyes, and dragged his feet around the campsite. There were barely any signs of disturbance among the flora. Not a single creature stirred either despite they're being signs of a fresh fire, warm blankets, and pure tent along to match. Something was definitely wrong here. "Hmmm...this feels like..."
"SUEY!"
"Caesar, look out!"
And just like that, the young apprentice's instincts were right on point, as a sharp voice was belayed out from the thick bushes coming from the forests. In that instant, Huey quickly turned around with his steel bared in front of him, to find it met with the steel of another. The two blades remained in a deadlock for a few seconds.
"Huey-dono! Wait! That's-"
Suddenly the opponent's blade went for a deathblow, by giving out sharp center stabs from the tip, all of which Huey was able to dodge with ease. Eager to go on the offensive, the young samurai jumped up high in the air and came down with a vertical slice ontop of his opponents sword, which was cleanly blocked.
Still seeking the opportunity, young Huey continues with his string of air attacks that came from right to left, all of which were blocked by his adversary. Seeing a whole in his string, they quickly launch a surprise horizontal slash towards Huey's side. Thinking quickly, Huey rotated in midair, and planted his foot down in the middle of the attack, landing cleanly on the blade. He then slid down along the curve to deliver a blinding kick with his foot to his adversary's face, which unfortunately was grabbed by a hand at the last minute, and ended being thrown a few feet away from him.
He quickly managed to recover from his rolling fall, by launching off of his back and stopped his trajectory by stabbing his sword in the ground, going back immediately into his defensive stance. Pretty soon, a heart snort came from his opponent, who then nodded in approval.
"Hmph! Not bad for the apprentice of the Number Two!"
Huey sighed as he he sheathed his blade.
"Black Dynamite, how many times are going to try and kill me to try and signify the point that I'm insignificant as a swordsman compared to your unrivaled swagger?"
"As many times as it takes young brotha! Where in the beejeezus, did you run off to last night?! We couldn't find you for days!"
"Sensei told me reflect on what I wanted to do as a swordsman, and reflect on my destiny as a samurai and what can it meant to me."
"He told you to take a walk, and think about your future boy!"
Caesar then got between the two, trying to calm both of them down.
"Please sirs, please! Can you not do this is front of the Number Two? You are disturbing him."
Huey and B.D. then turned around to find Afro sitting against a tree a few feet away. His expression was as concrete and indifferent as always. The wind blew past his flowing hair and white Number two headband as he finished chewing on an apple. Huey walked up to his master and bowed respectfully to him.
"Sensei. I've returned from my meditation. I have thought deeply about what you asked me to, but I still have yet to find the answer. I don't know whether or not I'm ready to be the warrior you want me to be just yet. If it's all right with you, I would like to remain an apprentice just a little longer, just until I finally sort things out. I also hoped that I can-"
Afro then held his hand out, interrupting the sentence of his young apprentice in the seems. He then pulls out a blunt and starts to smoke. He took about two puffs before he started to speak again.
"I told you to look inside of yourself, and discover your purpose as a samurai, and reevaluate yourself as my apprentice. It's been 2 years since you followed me from your home, leaving your brother and grandfather behind. Do you feel you've made any progress since then?"
"I'm sure I've made progress in this field."
"Is that right?"
" Hai, sensei. I am ready for the trials that await me."
"We shall see soon enough. For now, we must report back back to headquarters for our next assignment."
B.D. Then kicked a nearby tree in frustration.
"AW MAN! Don't tell me that we gotta get orders from that fake honky again?! I swear everytime that boy speaks, I gotta make sure I hold up a mirror to make sure my mouth isn't moving! It's absolutely ridiculous! What white man you know sounds like that?!"
Caesar walked over to gather up camp equipment, while Huey decided to clean his sword before they would leave. Afro took a few more puffs before getting up out of his spot to calm B. Dynamite from his rant. The sound of the rushing waterfall went off in the background as everyone else was performing their own duties. A few minutes later, everybody else had gathered all of their belongings. Before they got ready to move, Afro had pulled Huey aside.
"Yes sensei?"
"Here." Afro then handed the young man a long white headband. He gazed at it with awe and surprise as it was made in a similar fashion to his own."It is the official seal that you are my student. You will not be able to hide that fact, nor should you do that, in the first place. But know that with this headband , people will know that your teacher is the Number Two, and so will consider you an similar threat to that of myself. But I am positive that you will be able to come to terms with it"
"Are you saying that it will be my responsibility to succeed the title of the Number Two someday?" Huey said as he tied the headband around.
Afro then karate chopped his apprentice in the forehead, still keeping a straight face.
"...Don't get too hasty. You still have to kill me first..."
Even while rubbing his head in pain, he still looked up to his master in admiration. and Caesar then signaled them over to proceed back on their path. They all began to walk casually through the forest while wind blew even stronger as they departed. Soon after they left the campsite, a figure with flowing white hair and sunglasses appeared in the tree, with a presence that made it seem like he was always there. He took several puffs out of his blunt while blowing the smoke out of his nose, and taking up a cunning smile.
"Damn Afro. What the hell is you thinking man?!" He then took another puff of his blunt. "You know to high hell and back that boy ain't ready! This world ain't kind to nobody, especially a young nigga that ran away from the white man when he was just a babe. How you goin act in a country that has no home for a brother with a sword?"
Two hours later
At the Coffee and Cream company
"DAMN!" A hoarse voice sounded off in the small building that sat in the middle of a busy intersection of a small village. The voice came from a caucasian looking man with dark red hair and a money grubbing scowl. Despite his though his voice was one that would often deceive people despite his appearance. He walked around in a loose business suit, with a open neck shirt and rolled up dress pants, along with a steel chain around his neck and silver hoop earrings to match the style. He took a big swig of the giant bottle of sake that sat near his desk, and then returned to his seat in the middle of the room, where his grandfather's three employers had been seated in lotus positions, waiting for him to calm down from his outburst. He called himself an avid businessman, the villagers called him a loud white man, others referred to him as Ed Wuncler the Third."So you mean to tell me that it took you muthafuckas THREE DAYS, to get back from a simple pay and order assignment out west?! What the fuck?! I mean, it's not like I asked you niggas to get me a sugar cookie from Edo, or some shit! I just asked you to give a sick muthafucka's wife some medicine in the next village over, and it took you three days to do it?! That's three days worth of muthafuckas that came in here, askin for help and shit, and you niggas was nowhere to be found! I mean...WHAT THE FUCK?!"
All three of them remained silent in the badgering, as it was all true. Save for B.D., who was on the edge of teeming anger.
"Listen up you belligerent honky. We did as you asked okay?! It's not our fault when shit like this hits the fan. I mean it's bad enough that we barely get business, but the fact that a family of white men set up a delivery business in a foreign country, not knowing what the damn place is called, or what language they speak, might be discouraging to some if not all."
"Whatchu sayin it was a bad idea?"
"Of course it was a bad idea! Do you know how confused people get when they see black sounding white boy in a business suit giving orders to three brothers with swords? Every part of it is bad."
"Now see, there's yo problem Black Dynamite. You don't have enough confidence in the vision of this whole thang! You trying to make it seem like it's an abomination that should never be in fucking cognitive thought, when Granddaddy says we're getting along just fine."
"If by getting along fine, you mean running favors for farmers and barely making five ryo doing so, then yeah, I say we're doing splendid so far!"
The room suddenly became silent.
"Are you being sarcastic with me?" Ed Wuncler asked with taking another sip of his sake.
"Of course I'm being sarcastic ya jive turkey! This is a horrible prospect! Even little Huey and brother Afro here agree that this is some bullshit!" Huey and Afro pondered the thought for about a few seconds, and then looked away into space as if to feign ignorance. "Come on! You cannot sit here and just accept that this is good business practice."
"Does it matter?" Afro spoke calmly. "As long as we get money from the work that we do, what is there to complain about?"
"There's plenty to complain about! What samurai are supposed to do, is help people in the name of honor, glory, and all that othr bullshit! This is just servitude! Wasn't the reason we got out of that pisshole of a country was to find something different in our lives. To make sure we wouldn't have to be tied down to what some fat honky tells us to? Afro, you were the only one who came from a different walk of life, since you were the only brother here that was actually raised in this country, you don't think you should be doing more of an effort to help the people out in their time of need, when they need it?!"
Afro stood up from his seat and looked at in the face with unwavering eyes.
"What use is there defending the people of a country that is seeking to abandon their own identity for the sake of foreign influence? In these kinds of situations where everything is aimed towards change, money is the only thing you can rely in times such as these."
"It's BECAUSE it's times like these that the people need us more than ever. What makes you think we're going to get anywhere with some ignorant jackass like this one leading us at the helm?!"
"You muthafuckers!" Ed Wuncler slammed his bottle on his desk, taking out a knife from one of the drawers and then attempted to throw it at . In that moment, Huey grabbed the knife as it darted straight forward toward his face at the last second, and then put it in the confines of his robes. "...Yeah...uh...you go ahead and keep that, but yall might take a different tone you find out the job I'm about to lay down on ya, and I guarantee, it's going put us up to da big time." All three of them stared at their employer with doubtful eyes as he strolled around the room with a gleeful face and a piece of parcel in his hand."I tell you what, those sweaty Nobunaga bastards over there in Owari wish they had a job this hot! I'm telling you man, we sitting on a gold mine with this job!"
"Can you just tell us what the goddamn job is before I have to snatch the piece of paper out your hands?"
"Okay, okay, okay. So get 'dis right? A country to the west of here is supposed to sending a foreign diplomat here in a few days to discuss negotiations with the emperor about opening up a trading post with the local businesses to try and make some dough. If everything goes smoothly, other countries besides Uncle Sam will be able to exchange goods with Japan freely and shit. Your job, is to escort the diplomat safely to the capital, safe and sound. Safely. You feel me?"
Huey spoke up after pondering the description. "Wait. Another country is seeking trade negotiations with the capital? Is that even allowed? The emperor just admitted foreign trading policies not that long ago, and white people are already beginning to flood the capital. Why would they risk bringing in another country for that purpose, let alone an unknown one at that?"
"Most likely the emperor wants to prove that Japan has learned a lot from its isolation by attempting to manage foreign diplomacy. When you spend the majority of your life by yourself and on the other side of the fence, you start to think about things little Huey." Black Dynamite gripped his fist with passion as he spoke.
"Yeah! What he said and shit! Now, they haven't gotten back to us yet on how much in total they were gonna pay us for this job, but the estimate that they sent over to us is about...let's see..." Ed Wuncler then took out an abacus and started to fiddle with it. His eyes strained as he moved it back and forth and up and down, without actually knowing how to use it. "Carry...the one...multiply by...man this is some bullshit! I'll shoot the beejezus out the mothafucka that invented this damn thing!" He then looked at the three and held his hand toward them."What the hell might I ask is wrong with using yo hand to count?! Look how simple dat shit is! One, two, four, five! That shit is easy! Then some hairless son of a bitch had to go and make it complicated and whatnot! Man! I can't believe this! This is some grade A..." While Ed Wuncler ranted on, the three watched in horror at what they were witnessing. A white man, who couldn't perform simple math. Tragic, they thought.
In the middle of it, Caesar came over with a piece of paper taken out from his knapsack and handed it to the samurai.
"Here you go sirs. I guessed this sort of thing would happen, and so I prepared an estimate based on my own calculations ahead of time."
Afro looked at Caesar with stern eyes. "So you knew about this?"
"Yes I did. But I was under strict orders from Wuncler-sama's father to not disclose the information until you arrived back from your mission. Technically speaking, the request for the escort came in about a few days ago while we were on the previous assignment. I'm certain he was being considerate and didn't want to distract you from your current itienerary."
grunted. "Distracted nothing! That honky is always springing things on us at the last second. It's the reason why we can barely get any work done with the requests that we already get!"
Huey took a look at the estimate. After glossing over it for a few seconds, his tired eyes flashed with vigor.
"Are you serious? This much, for a simple escort to the capital?"
"Yes. And that is only a rough estimate. They have even agreed for a down payment of 6,000 ryo."
"Just who is this 'diplomat' that we're supposed to be protecting?"
"Apparently, they are a person of great influence back in their country and commands large role within international affairs I'm told, but I haven't been told anymore than that unfortunately."
"So since we're being told last minute about this, when are we supposed to ship out on the job?" asked Caesar.
"You will have to ask Wuncler-sama about those details, for I am afraid I don't have all of the answers myself."
turned around to see Ed Wuncler still arguing with himself. By now, he has already made about four holes in the wall, from his unbridalded rage. His arms flailed around like that of a child as they struck pretty much everything in sight, from furniture to people.
"Can somebody stop this fool before he hurts himself, and we end up out of a job?"
Afro then walked over the raging Ed, and with a quick movement of his hand, he quickly withdrew his blade and brandished it to his face, with the steel practically kissing his neck. In that moment, Ed had ceased his behavior, and calmed down from his rage, with him swallowing furiously from the reflection the blade gave him of his clean face.
"...Calm down."
"Shit! Aight, aight. Imma stop! But y'all get my point when it comes to people that keep on fuckin with me!"Afro then sheathed his blade and walked back over to his spot. Soon after catching his breath of relief, Ed walked back to his ruined desk and sat back down, and regained his somewhat calm posture."Anyway. Dis job also entails certain risks that you guys might need to be aware of."
"Those risks being?" Huey asked.
"Once you start escorting this foreign diplomat, everything and everybody that has a line of rational thought will be after them. Trying to kill em and hang them up by their intrails. You know on some graphic as hell shit."
"Is that right?"
"It's indeed correct. Not only that, according to our scouts, there have been numerous sightings of bandits and local ronin spotted in the local area that have been attacking a number of passerbys and killings. Word is that a large group of escaped prisoners have formed a gang, and even set up a blockade on the path going towards the capital, also add to the fact there are bound to be some corrupt government officials trying to make sure that the diplomat doesn't reach the emperor by the appointed date, which is three days. Even the local shogun has taken an interest in this affair. Preparing soldiers easily exceeding over the hundreths scale." Caesar said with a grim face. Before long, the room had filled with a brooding aura, with everyone remaining silent. Only the serene sounds of the outside could counted as their attitudes toward the mission, and how this would play out for them.
"...So...this is..." Huey hesitated to finish the sentence, knowing what the end result was.
"Yes. Basically speaking, it's a suicide mission."
Everyone pondered the description with silence. A single escort mission that drew many risks for simply existing in its entirety. No survival was guaranteed. The choice was simple if one look at it in that manner of thinking. Simply bring whoever was to be protected to the capital for trade negotiations, avoiding all possible dangers within the duration of three days. The company that the worked for, wasn't exactly known for their quality of getting jobs done, nor reeling in jobs that produced effective amount of pay, but they had to receive income in some form or manner. It was no luxury at all, simply a means to keep their mouths fed, and to keep their ever yearning sword arms sated in the best way possible. While they didn't have much understandable reason to refuse the job, they were ultimately given the choice of how to proceed. Even though it didn't seem like that first.
Out of everyone in the room, the only one that would truly be called to consider his options was young Huey. Despite walking the path of the warrior, he had been remained at several turns that he is still a boy that possess his entire life in front of him. He then recalled something Afro told him during the first year of being his apprentice. A warrior has the gift of two senses. To be able to face any fight and challenge with unwavering will and strife. And to be able to predict the outcome of any fight just by reading the air around his opponent and the environment. The minute you're able to do this, you can take any action that you deem worthy of taking.
"Well? Whatcha y'all wanna do?" Ed asked all of them as they pondered their options.
grunted with confidence. "Well, it's something that makes us money right? What's the worst that could happen to us than what we went through before we came here? I just gotta make a few arrangments to make sure nothing goes wrong back home while I'm gone. Afro, Lil Huey. I'm gonna leave you to it."
"Wait, are we taking the job?" Huey asked.
"Well I know I am. The Whorphanage isn't making money like it's supposed to, so I gotta figure out a bigger supply before the landlord runs us out, and I'm gonna make damn sure that doesn't happen. Plus, I know Afro is gonna be coming along, ain't you?" glared at Afro who had been silently pondering himself. He then returned his glare with a stern expression, and simply nodded. "Alright then. I'm gonna head out on my way. I'll see you jive turkeys tomorrow!"
After that he walked out of the office and went on his way.
"Aight! Then that's that! See you muthafucka's tomorrow at 7 sharp! Now if you don't mind, I got some geishas coming here in about an hour, so make yo asses scarce! Caesar, you know!"
Caesar bowed in acknowledgement and escorted them both out. "Well then, I will see you gentlemen tomorrow then at the gate. The charge will be coming within the hour, so please be prepared."
Outside of the office.
Once they stepped out of the building, the sun had already begun to set beyond the horizon. The organge glow had filled the sky with a rich sense of enlightenment to some, as it signified the end of a fulfilling day for merchants and farmers brought in their reins and triumphs for the day as they as all began to head home to their families. Afro and his young apprentice gazed out toward the sunset as it beamed into their eyes.
"Sensei. What should we do now? Are we going to train some more?"
Afro silently shook his head, and pointed off in the distance.
"...Go home to your family. You may never see them again after this mission."
"With all due respect sensei, me and my family aren't exactly on the best terms as of late, especially when it comes to my dedication for the sword. They don't believe that believe a boy, let alone a young black boy, could ever be something other than what he was born into. I told my grandfather what I wanted to do with myself, but he didn't want any further explanation other than the obvious. In truth, I don't even know if I deserve to see them again after breaking away from the rules they set for me. I'd feel better just passing along the next morning without having to-"
All of a sudden, Afro struck Huey in his face, launching him a couple a feet from his position. He held his face together and tasted the blood that ran down his mouth, as his teacher looked upon him with unwavering eyes. Despite taking a strike that could knock an average man unconcious, he simply stood up from the dirt with an amicable demeanor, and returned his master's gaze.
"...Go and see them. Now."
"Alright then...I'll go." Expecting some sort of acknowledgement, Afro simply turned around and headed in the opposite direction."Sensei! I'll meet you tomorrow at the gate!" Huey yelled out at him as he walked off. Huey managed to drag his feet on the path that lead to his former home. Many emotions swirled in his head concerning future events, but one thing was for certain, his future and his life would be set on a permanent turnabout.
Fro Ninja; Well that's all there is! Please comment, favorite, or like if it's not too much trouble. See you guys in chapter 2! One love!