It was small and lonely, but still held that familiar warmth so precious to
her. Only a candle lit up the entire cabin, its rays casting shadows over
the one single room. Like ghosts trying to convey a message, the shadows
danced across the bare wood wall, always changing, always speaking without
a single sound. And like a ghost, she walked through it all, concentrating
not to make the old wood sound. Her eyes set on the old man peacefully
sleeping in the only furniture in the cabin. The bed. The bed where he has
seen his five children be born. The bed where he has seen them grow up. The
bed where he has seen his wife take her last breath. And in it, he probably
wished he would pass away. But not her. She will not let his wish come
true.
"Why can't a daughter be good to his aging father, and simply walk in here knowing this is her home?"
She stopped and relaxed her stance.
"Do you wish me to pass away soon with all your sneaking around?"
"No, father," she said. "I did not mean to wake you, either. I just came to leave something for pick up later."
The old man sat up in his bed. His face showing age to its full extent. His fatherly smile showing his role in the home, but held back enough to show a secret was hidden between father and daughter. He opened his arms, and welcomed his daughter into them as he kissed her cheek.
"Father, I want to leave these here. Later, I will sell them, and I will have more than enough money to buy you a good home."
He laughed at her youthful ideas.
"Daughter, why do you always have these dreams of moving me from here? This is my home, and I am content. If you wish to please me, give the items you carry to the clan. Someone else deserves them more than I do."
"The clan deserves nothing!" Her voice filling with spite. "We risk our lives, and yet he does not remember the services that your have rendered him. Fifty years! Fifty years, father! How does he repay you? By lodging you, your entire life and family, within these four walls. Never giving you a chance to escape."
"Daughter," said the old man, his soothing voice trying to reach inside her. "I do not want to escape. And I did not join the clan, for what it could do for me. But for what I could do for others in worse situations than I. That's the clan's purpose. Nothing else is."
"Even so," she said, breaking away from his embrace and standing by the old door. "I grow tired. I grow tired of the work. I grow tired of the endless needs. I grow tired of him. I grow tired of it all."
"Then simply leave. Breakaway from it all, and live a content life."
"You mean like my sisters? Never! I will not become a maid, living until the next farmer comes along and offers pigs for my dowry. I will not do that, father."
She slammed the door open and fled across the cold night.
[Friend.]
The old man turned to the voice speaking. It was an apparition. A specter wearing silver samurai armor was sitting, cross-legged and meditating on the floor. Its face covered by a white skeletal devil mask. At its belt, hung a glowing katana.
"My lord," said the old man as he bowed his head in respect. "Please forgive my daughter. She is young, and is still to live the hardships of life."
[And she is still to learn from them.] Said the unmoving specter. [Tell me something, friend. Why, after seeing 3 generations of the clan, are the daughters always the ones that bring the largest burden on a father?]
The old man laughed, his toothless grin expressing true joy.
"My lord, I do not know," said the old man wiping a tear from his eyes. "But daughters, I can tell you, are the more numerous in any family. I see, soon, Japan been overrun by women."
The specter did not move at all, but a laugh was heard across the lowly lit room, resounding a while.
[What I need are good men,] said the specter. Its laugh turning into a soft chuckle and slowly dying out. [Even now, the clan is divided between the two sexes. And what I do not wish anymore are outspoken girls. Always challenging my authority with their opinion. How I long for the day where warriors were few, and women, fewer.]
At this, the old man turned away from the specter, shielding his face in shame.
[Why do you hide from me, old friend?] The specter asked.
"Forgive me, my lord, but I am ashamed for not giving you my son as one of your own."
[Nonsense. Your son is a good man, and he has become quite a farmer. Do not disown him because he did not follow in your footsteps.]
"But my lord, all I gave you, in the end, is a daughter. One that brings you problems, and always rebels against you. Even now, I see in her heart the seed of greed. It shall be her downfall."
[Then let her downfall be her own, and do not take part of it, friend. Should her greed begin to take root inside the clan, then I will have no other choice then to destroy them.]
"My lord! Please!" Screamed the old man, throwing himself before the specter. "She might never live to the expectations of the clan, but she is a good daughter. She truly is."
The specter stayed quite. The old man stared at the warrior, seeing how concentrated the being was. A soft glow emitted from it, giving it an eerie aura. Its eyelids were closed together, but inside, the old man saw, the eyes were moving. That meant that where ever the warrior truly was, something was beginning to break its concentration. It was about to leave soon.
[Your daughter will not die, my friend. But a crime must not go unpunished. It is the clan's law that it be so. And when the time comes, Kunimitsu shall pay the full price.]
The old man bowed when the words were spoken.
"Thank you, lord Yoshimitsu."
But when the old man rose, the warrior was gone.
=====
Yoshimitsu opened his eyes and began to listen. Softly and delicate were her footsteps. If she had not defied the clan, he would have been proud of her. But her self-serving arrogance and greed were weaknesses. And in the clan there was no room for weak members.
"What wonders did you see during your travels Kunimitsu?"
She jumped down from a branch, and landed in front of Yoshimitsu. Both were wearing full fight outfits, but their concentrated poses expressed everything else but battle. Yoshimitsu sat at the foot of a tree, his sword resting at his side. Kunimitsu, sat down, bowed, and crossed her arms. Her dagger dangling from her belt, her hair tightly divided into 2 pigtails, running from the back of her gold demon mask to her back. Between them stood a small candle, giving the only light to that secluded part of the forest.
"The American desert is truly a wonder. The heat is immense, but dry enough to not perspire. Water is only needed every few miles to survive."
"And did you encounter anything interesting?" He asked waiting for a change in her voice.
"Nothing at all," she responded calmly. "Who would have thought that a country as rich as America, did not actually conduct business with money or gold, but rather paper. Useless, worthless paper."
"Perhaps they may not have the usual forms of transactions as we have, but those 'useless, worthless papers' as you call them might have been the key to far greater riches than both you and I would have imagined."
"Maybe so, but the clan is not a business society."
"True, but did you at least do what I sent you to do?" He asked. "Did you follow Mishima's men?"
"Yes, but it turned out nothing. The treasures had already been stolen."
It was exactly what Yoshimitsu expected from her. A lie. And it would be her last one.
"But it seems you encountered some impediments. Your mask is dented."
"Just a small encounter with someone unimportant," she said as she lightly touched the damaged mask.
"Perhaps you are getting clumsy Kunimitsu."
"Perhaps you should be careful of what you speak Yoshimitsu."
"Perhaps I should cut off your tongue for speaking to me in such an insolent manner. And even your hands for stealing from the clan!"
Kunimitsu immediately moved her hand to grab her dagger but stopped as she felt a stinging touch on her neck. She turned her eyes to Yoshimitsu who was holding the katana against her.
"You have shown the clan a lack of respect for the last time Kunimitsu," he said "I promised your father I would not kill you, but you will not go unpunished."
She heard some rustling behind her and instantly jumped out of the way. Two throw-knives missed her. She turned and looked towards the source of attack. Three shadows moved among the branches, silently approaching her.
"Leave, Kunimitsu, and never come back." Yoshimitsu said. He did not turn to face her, but just pointed his sword at her. "This shall be my gift to your father. That I give you a chance to escape, before I set Meemitsu, Boamitsu, and Kiao on you."
She knew she was overwhelmed, and without a word she performed a backwards somersault. Before she had even touched the floor, she vanished into thin air.
Yoshimitsu waited a couple of seconds, and slowly lowered his arm. He bent down towards the candle, admired its beauty, took a deep breath, and from his mouth emitted a purplish gas. The candle started to melt instantly, its light fading into darkness. And with it the remaining four ninjas.
=====
The old man sat kneeling on the floor, crying.
"My daughter," he said. "Why have you dishonored me so?"
=====
Big thanks to Meemitsu. He created www.manji-clan.com Without it, I would've been lost about some characters' information.
That reminds me! There use to be a site www.jun-shrine.com It already closed down, but kudos to Little Pony for such a great site, and one of the motivations to getting me hooked on Tekken. I miss the card game!!! If anyone knows where I can play it, let me know!!!!!!!!!
Tuqui-tuqui
"Why can't a daughter be good to his aging father, and simply walk in here knowing this is her home?"
She stopped and relaxed her stance.
"Do you wish me to pass away soon with all your sneaking around?"
"No, father," she said. "I did not mean to wake you, either. I just came to leave something for pick up later."
The old man sat up in his bed. His face showing age to its full extent. His fatherly smile showing his role in the home, but held back enough to show a secret was hidden between father and daughter. He opened his arms, and welcomed his daughter into them as he kissed her cheek.
"Father, I want to leave these here. Later, I will sell them, and I will have more than enough money to buy you a good home."
He laughed at her youthful ideas.
"Daughter, why do you always have these dreams of moving me from here? This is my home, and I am content. If you wish to please me, give the items you carry to the clan. Someone else deserves them more than I do."
"The clan deserves nothing!" Her voice filling with spite. "We risk our lives, and yet he does not remember the services that your have rendered him. Fifty years! Fifty years, father! How does he repay you? By lodging you, your entire life and family, within these four walls. Never giving you a chance to escape."
"Daughter," said the old man, his soothing voice trying to reach inside her. "I do not want to escape. And I did not join the clan, for what it could do for me. But for what I could do for others in worse situations than I. That's the clan's purpose. Nothing else is."
"Even so," she said, breaking away from his embrace and standing by the old door. "I grow tired. I grow tired of the work. I grow tired of the endless needs. I grow tired of him. I grow tired of it all."
"Then simply leave. Breakaway from it all, and live a content life."
"You mean like my sisters? Never! I will not become a maid, living until the next farmer comes along and offers pigs for my dowry. I will not do that, father."
She slammed the door open and fled across the cold night.
[Friend.]
The old man turned to the voice speaking. It was an apparition. A specter wearing silver samurai armor was sitting, cross-legged and meditating on the floor. Its face covered by a white skeletal devil mask. At its belt, hung a glowing katana.
"My lord," said the old man as he bowed his head in respect. "Please forgive my daughter. She is young, and is still to live the hardships of life."
[And she is still to learn from them.] Said the unmoving specter. [Tell me something, friend. Why, after seeing 3 generations of the clan, are the daughters always the ones that bring the largest burden on a father?]
The old man laughed, his toothless grin expressing true joy.
"My lord, I do not know," said the old man wiping a tear from his eyes. "But daughters, I can tell you, are the more numerous in any family. I see, soon, Japan been overrun by women."
The specter did not move at all, but a laugh was heard across the lowly lit room, resounding a while.
[What I need are good men,] said the specter. Its laugh turning into a soft chuckle and slowly dying out. [Even now, the clan is divided between the two sexes. And what I do not wish anymore are outspoken girls. Always challenging my authority with their opinion. How I long for the day where warriors were few, and women, fewer.]
At this, the old man turned away from the specter, shielding his face in shame.
[Why do you hide from me, old friend?] The specter asked.
"Forgive me, my lord, but I am ashamed for not giving you my son as one of your own."
[Nonsense. Your son is a good man, and he has become quite a farmer. Do not disown him because he did not follow in your footsteps.]
"But my lord, all I gave you, in the end, is a daughter. One that brings you problems, and always rebels against you. Even now, I see in her heart the seed of greed. It shall be her downfall."
[Then let her downfall be her own, and do not take part of it, friend. Should her greed begin to take root inside the clan, then I will have no other choice then to destroy them.]
"My lord! Please!" Screamed the old man, throwing himself before the specter. "She might never live to the expectations of the clan, but she is a good daughter. She truly is."
The specter stayed quite. The old man stared at the warrior, seeing how concentrated the being was. A soft glow emitted from it, giving it an eerie aura. Its eyelids were closed together, but inside, the old man saw, the eyes were moving. That meant that where ever the warrior truly was, something was beginning to break its concentration. It was about to leave soon.
[Your daughter will not die, my friend. But a crime must not go unpunished. It is the clan's law that it be so. And when the time comes, Kunimitsu shall pay the full price.]
The old man bowed when the words were spoken.
"Thank you, lord Yoshimitsu."
But when the old man rose, the warrior was gone.
=====
Yoshimitsu opened his eyes and began to listen. Softly and delicate were her footsteps. If she had not defied the clan, he would have been proud of her. But her self-serving arrogance and greed were weaknesses. And in the clan there was no room for weak members.
"What wonders did you see during your travels Kunimitsu?"
She jumped down from a branch, and landed in front of Yoshimitsu. Both were wearing full fight outfits, but their concentrated poses expressed everything else but battle. Yoshimitsu sat at the foot of a tree, his sword resting at his side. Kunimitsu, sat down, bowed, and crossed her arms. Her dagger dangling from her belt, her hair tightly divided into 2 pigtails, running from the back of her gold demon mask to her back. Between them stood a small candle, giving the only light to that secluded part of the forest.
"The American desert is truly a wonder. The heat is immense, but dry enough to not perspire. Water is only needed every few miles to survive."
"And did you encounter anything interesting?" He asked waiting for a change in her voice.
"Nothing at all," she responded calmly. "Who would have thought that a country as rich as America, did not actually conduct business with money or gold, but rather paper. Useless, worthless paper."
"Perhaps they may not have the usual forms of transactions as we have, but those 'useless, worthless papers' as you call them might have been the key to far greater riches than both you and I would have imagined."
"Maybe so, but the clan is not a business society."
"True, but did you at least do what I sent you to do?" He asked. "Did you follow Mishima's men?"
"Yes, but it turned out nothing. The treasures had already been stolen."
It was exactly what Yoshimitsu expected from her. A lie. And it would be her last one.
"But it seems you encountered some impediments. Your mask is dented."
"Just a small encounter with someone unimportant," she said as she lightly touched the damaged mask.
"Perhaps you are getting clumsy Kunimitsu."
"Perhaps you should be careful of what you speak Yoshimitsu."
"Perhaps I should cut off your tongue for speaking to me in such an insolent manner. And even your hands for stealing from the clan!"
Kunimitsu immediately moved her hand to grab her dagger but stopped as she felt a stinging touch on her neck. She turned her eyes to Yoshimitsu who was holding the katana against her.
"You have shown the clan a lack of respect for the last time Kunimitsu," he said "I promised your father I would not kill you, but you will not go unpunished."
She heard some rustling behind her and instantly jumped out of the way. Two throw-knives missed her. She turned and looked towards the source of attack. Three shadows moved among the branches, silently approaching her.
"Leave, Kunimitsu, and never come back." Yoshimitsu said. He did not turn to face her, but just pointed his sword at her. "This shall be my gift to your father. That I give you a chance to escape, before I set Meemitsu, Boamitsu, and Kiao on you."
She knew she was overwhelmed, and without a word she performed a backwards somersault. Before she had even touched the floor, she vanished into thin air.
Yoshimitsu waited a couple of seconds, and slowly lowered his arm. He bent down towards the candle, admired its beauty, took a deep breath, and from his mouth emitted a purplish gas. The candle started to melt instantly, its light fading into darkness. And with it the remaining four ninjas.
=====
The old man sat kneeling on the floor, crying.
"My daughter," he said. "Why have you dishonored me so?"
=====
Big thanks to Meemitsu. He created www.manji-clan.com Without it, I would've been lost about some characters' information.
That reminds me! There use to be a site www.jun-shrine.com It already closed down, but kudos to Little Pony for such a great site, and one of the motivations to getting me hooked on Tekken. I miss the card game!!! If anyone knows where I can play it, let me know!!!!!!!!!
Tuqui-tuqui