Chapter 2 : To Mold a Weapon
Deep in the hills of the mountains north of their village, they lived. A small hut had been previously erected, and they did their best to make it feel like home. It still paled in comparison to the village.
"Wake up my son," Musashi's voice echoed in Ryo's ears as he drifted toward consciousness, "we must begin."
Ryo rose, wiping the sleep from his eyes to realize that the sun had not yet risen. "But father," he protested, "it is so early!"
"You will become accustomed to having only a few hours sleep," Musashi said on his way out the front door, "now come."
Throwing himself from the sheets, Ryo dressed hurriedly and dashed out the door towards his father. But when he had crossed the threshold into the morning air, his father was no where to be seen. Trees were scarce around the humble little house, and there was nothing but grass for at least fifty yards in every direction. The horizon was blocked by large silvery-grey mountains on all sides, and their abode seemed to be the only residence for miles.
Ryo became confused. Where had his father gone? He had only been out of his sight for a few moments. He took a few steps forward, frantically whipping his head about, searching desperately for his father. A slight breeze blew around him, rustling the dew soaked grass. The highest arc of the sun peeked between two mountain peaks, casting an orange glow over the round hillside. A sound to his right caught Ryo's attention, and after returning his eyes forward, he saw his father. It was as if in seconds he appeared somewhere he hadn't been before. As previously determined there was nothing around for him to be hiding behind.
Startled Ryo asked, "Father! Where did you go?"
"I never left my son," Musashi calmly replied.
"B-but I couldn't find you"
"Where did you look?"
"All over the place!"
"Did you? You obviously didn't look everywhere or you would have known I was here all along."
Ryo furrowed his brow in miscomprehension. What was the purpose to this? Something had changed in his father he knew. He was not smiling. He seemed somewhat rugged compared to his usual appearence. His arms folded across his chest, and bore his eyes into his son.
After a few uncomfortable moments for Ryo, Musashi broke the silence, "Son, what is the best way to keep an enemy from killing you?"
Ryo's eyes wandered in thought. What kind of question is that? What was the meaning of all this?
"The answer son," Musashi continued, "is to make him believe your not even there."
Ryo still did not speak.
"Do you understand?"
Ryo nodded.
"Now that we have no home, and our clan has been destroyed, we can not depend on anyone but ourselves for protection now."
Ryo nodded once more.
"I will not be around forever, and you must carry on your familie's honor. I know now that it was foolish to trust anyone. I will not let you make that same mistake."
Ryo's eyes fell to the grass, watching them ripple like a lake in the wind.
"Learn from me my son. I will teach you all I know, and you will surpass me. At that time, you will be ready to leave these mountains and show the world the ways of a true ninja."
Ryo looked back up at his father in realization. A ninja! I am to become a ninja, he thought, I will be like my father.
"Come," Musashi interrupted Ryo's thoughts, "we have much to do."
Deep in the hills of the mountains north of their village, they lived. A small hut had been previously erected, and they did their best to make it feel like home. It still paled in comparison to the village.
"Wake up my son," Musashi's voice echoed in Ryo's ears as he drifted toward consciousness, "we must begin."
Ryo rose, wiping the sleep from his eyes to realize that the sun had not yet risen. "But father," he protested, "it is so early!"
"You will become accustomed to having only a few hours sleep," Musashi said on his way out the front door, "now come."
Throwing himself from the sheets, Ryo dressed hurriedly and dashed out the door towards his father. But when he had crossed the threshold into the morning air, his father was no where to be seen. Trees were scarce around the humble little house, and there was nothing but grass for at least fifty yards in every direction. The horizon was blocked by large silvery-grey mountains on all sides, and their abode seemed to be the only residence for miles.
Ryo became confused. Where had his father gone? He had only been out of his sight for a few moments. He took a few steps forward, frantically whipping his head about, searching desperately for his father. A slight breeze blew around him, rustling the dew soaked grass. The highest arc of the sun peeked between two mountain peaks, casting an orange glow over the round hillside. A sound to his right caught Ryo's attention, and after returning his eyes forward, he saw his father. It was as if in seconds he appeared somewhere he hadn't been before. As previously determined there was nothing around for him to be hiding behind.
Startled Ryo asked, "Father! Where did you go?"
"I never left my son," Musashi calmly replied.
"B-but I couldn't find you"
"Where did you look?"
"All over the place!"
"Did you? You obviously didn't look everywhere or you would have known I was here all along."
Ryo furrowed his brow in miscomprehension. What was the purpose to this? Something had changed in his father he knew. He was not smiling. He seemed somewhat rugged compared to his usual appearence. His arms folded across his chest, and bore his eyes into his son.
After a few uncomfortable moments for Ryo, Musashi broke the silence, "Son, what is the best way to keep an enemy from killing you?"
Ryo's eyes wandered in thought. What kind of question is that? What was the meaning of all this?
"The answer son," Musashi continued, "is to make him believe your not even there."
Ryo still did not speak.
"Do you understand?"
Ryo nodded.
"Now that we have no home, and our clan has been destroyed, we can not depend on anyone but ourselves for protection now."
Ryo nodded once more.
"I will not be around forever, and you must carry on your familie's honor. I know now that it was foolish to trust anyone. I will not let you make that same mistake."
Ryo's eyes fell to the grass, watching them ripple like a lake in the wind.
"Learn from me my son. I will teach you all I know, and you will surpass me. At that time, you will be ready to leave these mountains and show the world the ways of a true ninja."
Ryo looked back up at his father in realization. A ninja! I am to become a ninja, he thought, I will be like my father.
"Come," Musashi interrupted Ryo's thoughts, "we have much to do."
