Karucha-Shokku
Link concentrated hard. Very hard. It had been only moments ago that he had accepted Gounomono's training. True, his methods were a bit odd, but he was willing to do whatever it took. Link swung his sword and sliced the empty air around him. Again he swung his sword, kicking up the dust from the old man's Zen garden. Gounomono stood by and watched, observing the many openings he was leaving. The enemy would surely spot these openings and annihilate the boy. After seeing more of Link's battle poses, the old man saw enough, "Alright. That will be all for today." Gounomono sighed as his apprentice withdrew his sword and followed him inside. "Come, I'll get supper ready."
Link walked into the household, hoping that his slick moves were enough to impress him. As he walked in, he felt the sharp smack of a staff across his legs. That's right. Link stepped back outside and removed his boots as he rubbed away the pain. Must be a picky old man thing. Link sat himself near the table as he looked around the household. For an old man, he sure kept a lot of weaponry. So many blades and blunted clubs, it was amazing that this would be kept near a shrine. "Sensei, why do you have all of this weaponry?"
"When I was young, I used to be much of a warrior as you." Gounomono walked back into the room with food. "But now, it is time to eat." Gounomono looked at Link's perplexed face as he stared at the food. "This shall be the first part of your training."
Link put on a fake smile and continued staring at his…interesting dish. Raw fish…and seaweed. Uh…interesting. Link proceeded to grasp the sushi with his fingers, but a chopstick immediately showed him otherwise. "OUCH!" Okay, use those stick things. I get it. Link picked up the chopsticks and attempted to use them, only to clumsily drop them onto the floor. Link tried again, only to snap them in twain. Frustrated, Link stabbed the sushi with what was left of his chopsticks. "Why must I learn any of this?!"
Gounomono calmly walked outside, admiring the beauty of nature. "The elements, all contain a spirit that guards it. Your medallions represent three elements of nature and three elements of the soul." The old man pick up sand from his garden and let the wind carry it. "In order to control these elements, you must first learn how to summon these spirits. They do not take kindly to foreigners, so you must learn all you need of our culture to communicate with them." Link reached into his sack and pulled out the six Sage Medallions. How could spirits from another nation possibly know how to activate the Sage's power? It was something he had to work for to find out.
Morning arose, and Link staggered out of his uncomfortable futon. It was barely dawn when he walked outside and breathed the fresh air. "Ah, I see you're awake." Link turned to the figure next to him. Seeing the old man was no surprise now. "Good. Now we can begin training." Link sighed as he pulled out his sword out of his sheath. "No, you won't be needing that. There is one of your weaknesses." Link looked confused as he replaced the Master Sword. "You rely too much on your weaponry. Should there be a time when the enemy attacks and you have no weapons, what then?"
Link was speechless.
"Come. Put this on." Gounomono handed Link a bandana. "Now, I shall be teaching you the art of fighting empty handed." Gounomono reverted into a fighting pose as Link did the same. Hours passed by, and Link was learning fairly quickly. By then, Gounomono instructed his student to put the bandana over his eyes. "You cannot always depend on your eyes. You must learn to sense danger before it attacks." With that, Gounomono started to throw small pebbles at Link. Obviously not ready, Link collapsed in a hail of small stones. No. He couldn't let that happen. Link staggered back up, blocking the projectiles. If this is what it was going to take to stop this evil, so be it.
~*~
"You…did…WHAT?!" Oni's angry voice roared as the slender figure in front of him stood unmoved. "I ordered you to kill that boy. Did you not understand your orders?"
Mitsukai stood motionless and silent.
"Why did you not do as I said? Answer me!" Enraged, the warlord struck the ninja to the ground. Mitsukai staggered upward, ignoring the fresh scar on her cheek.
"…"
"You have killed many before and you have never once failed me. Explain yourself!"
Mitsukai closed her eyes and thought of her recent past. Her service under Oni Ryuujin was a short one, but her bloodshed was much more gruesome than any other soldier in his army. She remembered all those who were slaughtered, or rather sacrificed, for the greater good of her lord. Men. Women. Young children. Nobody had ever escaped her deadly skill, until now. "He…he's not like the others."
"And why should that matter?"
"I…I…" Mitsukai was at a loss for words. She admired him, but such a statement would mean certain death. "He is an honorable warrior. He deserves an honorable death."
"Well," Oni turned to his throne and pondered, "That is understandable. However, I've known you for being quick and efficient. Do not disappoint me."
Mitsukai bowed. "Rest assured, he will perish."
~*~
Twilight arose as the moonlight glistened onto a female figure dashing through the forest. Finding refuge in the trees, the woman flipped upwards and effortlessly ran across the branches. She leapt from each branch until she rested on the top. She scoured the town below, searching for her prey. Suddenly, she felt a rush of fear and hesitance surging through her mind. A voice echoed in her mind, pleading endlessly.
No. I
can't do this. This is not who I am.
"Do not deny yourself. I am a ninja. I am trained to kill."
Sorrow started to cloud the back of her mind as she remembered her past kills. My God. Those helpless people. How could I have done such a thing?
"It was for the greater good of my lord. No sacrifice is too great."
Stop it. Stop it! This isn't me! I am not a ninja! I am not a killer! I won't let you control me like this!
"SILENCE!" Mitsukai screamed at the top of her lungs, trying to force the voice out. "You are only a figment of my memories! My past means nothing! I am Mitsukai. I am a loyal servant to Oni Ryuujin. What he wants is my only desire." Mitsukai drew her katana and pointed it toward the town. "He will die."
No…oh please no. I won't kill him.
"You have no choice. I control your every will." Her dark robe melded with the shadows as glowing eyes opened behind her. "Find him. Do whatever it takes, but I shall shed first blood." Shadows leapt from behind her and took form of ninjas. As her followers rushed to the town below, Mitsukai stood back, observing her army. "I'm so sorry," she muttered, "Please forgive me."
~*~
A blonde youth walked into the Zen garden, a bandana covering his eyes. Cautiously, he turned and faced all the directions around him. He stood still, letting the wind caress his body. Suddenly, he snapped his arms in front of him and swatted away a small rock. He turned and snapped into another blocking positioning, repelling yet another rock that would have knocked him out had he waited a second longer. He swung his arms in several more positions at lightning speed. When he returned to his starting pose, hundreds of pebbles fell to his feet. Gounomono smiled and softly clapped as Link took of his bandana. "You learn quickly. I am impressed."
Link wiped the sweat off his brow, pleased with his improvement. "Yes!" he silently said. Link walked inside after a good day's work and started to relax, until Gounomono pinched his clothing and sniffed it.
"Another thing you must learn…good cleansing."
Confused, Link lifted his arm and took a whiff. Ugh. I guess he does have a point. Link had heard about Japanese public baths, and had figured this would be the perfect time to go to one. "Should we go out to the town?"
"I suppose." Gounomono never liked going to the cities, but he knew when it was proper. "Come. I'll take you to the place I go."
Ah…finally. A nice warm bath. Link sighed with pleasure as he let the warm water soak in. No sooner had he got in, Gounomono yanked him right out and slapped him. Argh! Again with the pickiness! Link held onto his towel as he went to another room and traditionally rinsed himself out. So he was becoming Japanese. Not as bad as I thought. After satisfying the traditions, Link went back to the bath and back to relaxing.
"I must warn you on one thing, Link-san. Do not go over to the other side of the wall. There you will find pain and suffering far greater than that of your Ganon."
Link was puzzled as Gounomono left him alone. Exactly what did he mean by that? Link took a look at the barrier and started becoming curious. Oh well, one look couldn't hurt…
"EEEEK!!! HENTAI!!!!! EEEEK!!!!" Several women were relaxing in a bath until they noticed the young pervert looking over the walls. Frightened, one of them grabbed a heavy wooden bucket and threw it at the boy while the rest screamed pervert, "HENTAI!!!!!"
"I warned you about that." Gounomono walked down the street dragging behind him an unconscious boy with a large bruise. After arriving at a nearby creek, the old man thrust the boy's head into the water. Link woke up sputtering. "Now you understand my warnings?"
Link nodded nervously as he coughed up water. Slowly, he stood up and shook all the water from his face. What a way to end this day. Link was about to leave until he felt something. A sort of twinge warning him of some imminent danger. "Did you…"
"Yes." Gounomono completed. "They're at the shrine."
Two figures dashed to the isolated shrine, hoping it wasn't too late. When they arrived, the suspicion was right. A band of ninjas had broken down the torii (the gateway to a shine that's supposed to ward off evil) and have started destroying the shrine. The intruders spotted the two figures and immediately jumped from the roofs. As Gounomono and Link posed to fight, the ninjas drew their numerous weapons. Crap. The one time I don't have my sword. Sensei better have hidden it. One of the ninjas advanced forward, whirling kusari gama, the chain scythe and another advanced carrying a ninja-to, their prized sword. Gounomono immediately countered by jabbing both ninjas with his walking stick. Two ninjas surrounded Link and attacked. Link grabbed the fist of one and flung him into the other. Link ran into the shrine trying to find his sword, but more ninjas blocked his path. Link posed as all three ninjas drew shruikens, the infamous throwing stars. Link was struck by many of the bladed weaponry, but it would take more than that to stop him. Link lunged into the air, kicked one ninja in the chest, bounced off, and simultaneously punched the other two. He grabbed the arm of another ninja and threw him into the floor, revealing the hiding place for his sword. Gounomono, however, far exceeded Link's skill. With lightning speed, he defeated all the ninjas surrounding him using only his staff. Link wiped his sweat as he grabbed his sword and proceeded to take care of the rest. After defeating them all, Link noticed a shadow in the trees that had not entered the fray. So there you are. Link ran to the forest and called out the shadow's name. "Mitsukai! I know you're here. Show yourself!"
At once the female ninja jumped from the trees and into the open. "I see you figured it out. Very impressive." She drew her katana from her scabbard, "As I've promised, the next time I see you, I will kill you." She dashed at Link and started attacking as she did before, but this time Link was ready. Link was able to block in such a way that his sword had blurred into a metal barrier. Mitsukai was surprised by this maneuver and thrust her katana into the center. Link dodged it quickly and locked blades with the ninja. "You've been taught well, but don't you think it will save you now."
"I really wouldn't count on that." Link swung his leg under Mitsukai, which caused them both to cast their blades aside. Mitsukai stood up as she saw Link in a fighting pose.
"Very well then. I'll kill you with my own hands and feet." Mitsukai spun and threw a punch, but Link dodged it and swept her feet from under her. Mitsukai propped herself back up as she dodged another one of Link's sweep kicks. She flipped into the air and landed onto her opponent, back flipping into her starting pose. Link was a bit dazed by that hit, but the feeling went off quickly as he blocked a punch. Link caught Mitsukai off guard as he drove his elbow into her spine. Mitsukai countered by rolling onto her side and kicking Link. When the two were both upright again, Mitsukai thrust her leg toward Link. Link smiled as he quickly grabbed her leg. He then took a firm hold and swung her body around before throwing with full force. Mitsukai staggered up, determined to finish what she started. She threw a punch, then several kicks, but neither was able to hit her opponent. Link found an opening as he forced her back toward him and pinned her limbs. He took a quick jab at her jugular, which cut off her airflow. It was over.
"So, care to try again?" Link slowly released Mitsukai and turned her onto her back. He jabbed at jugular again, releasing her air. Mitsukai huffed wearily as she found herself at the mercy of her target. "I should kill you right now," Link said as he picked up his sword, "but I won't." Link picked up her katana and returned it to its owner. "Now go."
Mitsukai was shocked. If she were to die, she would've at least died with honor. You will regret this, hero. Silently, she threw several egg grenades onto the ground, and then disappeared.
Link scowled at the fleeing woman before running back to the entrance to the shrine. All the ninjas that had fought his master were either dead or fleeing. The bodies surrounding Gounomono evaporated into smoke, leaving only their dark garments. "Sensei, are you alright?"
"I'll be fine young one. Now, clean this place up. There is something else I need to do." Gounomono walked into the garden, leaving Link with a huge mess to pick up. Link groaned as he started to pick up the cloaks.
~*~
"Do you think he could be the one?" Gounomono meditated as the incense burned in the air. A soft wind blew, and shapeless masses started seeping from nature itself. The masses whistled from the water, the cemetery, the sun, the shadows, the forest, and the fire before whirling into the sky and taking shape. Six voices answered the query of the priest.
"Perhaps. But I still do not know if he is ready to learn our secrets."
"I don't trust him. He's a foreigner. I don't
see how he can help."
"Oh will you lighten up? He's different from the rest. I think he just might do it."
"Yes. We
should learn to accept him. He might be
the one who can stop the suffering."
"At least one of them. But what of the other? Should we not wait for the other half?"
"There's no time. We must train the yin. I say we teach him the power of the elements while there is still time. And by the fire of my soul, I am sure that the yang will come. Only time will tell."
Having said their decision, the spirits departed, rejoining the elements from which they came. I pray that you are right, o great ones. Gounomono walked from the altar of the shrine and back into the household. Tomorrow, it will be time.