I got the horn not the reed
I got the cards not the luck
I got the wheel not the truck
But hey I'm big in Japan I'm big in Japan
But hey I'm big in Japan I'm big in Japan...
Chapter Two: Nightfall
Kenji headed for the shrine to cool off some steam. He had heard that a moment of meditation a day actually benefits a samurai's growth. There, he met Toyoko. A mysterious-looking man in pink.
"Hello, stranger. Would you like to know a great secret?" Toyoko asked.
"Alright." Kenji said, now very interested.
"No, I don't think I want to tell you."
"Tell me or I'll murder you."
"Alright, I'll tell you what. I'll fight you for it. You win, I'll tell you the secret. You lose, I'll kill you."
"Fair enough."
The two drew their swords and were soon fighting. Innocent bystanders wanting a quick prayer began to turn back. The swords became less and less sharp by the minute. Finally, Kenji managed to slit Toyoko's wrist and he dropped his sword.
"You've got quite a wrist for fighting, there. Alright, I'll tell you. If you ever need to break into the Kurou mansion, there is a secret door in the back of the building. Just hug the right wall and you'll find it. Right, I'm off to get this treated."
Toyoko vanished without ever taking his sword back.
"It won't be long now... it won't be long..."
Don stared down at the stream below the bridge. He was heavily bandaged. Kenji slowly approached Don.
"Leave this place." Don ordered.
"I can't do that." Kenji replied.
"Let me help you."
The frail Don drew his sword and then screamed in pain. He was too weak to fight Kenji. Kenji laughed and walked away. Back at the village, Kenji noticed something despicable. A man in red bullying a poor old man. The man in red was from the Akadama Clan, the Kurou family's rival. The two families were preparing for a battle the next day.
"Hey, apologize, old man! You bumped into me." He laughed.
"I didn't do anything." The old man cried.
Just then, a policeman arrived on the scene.
"Hey, be careful when attacking an old man. You might kill him." He laughed.
Kenji was disgusted by this display. He felt he should be the only one allowed to beat up old people. He ran over to them with his sword out and ready for violence. The man in red left the scene. Inokashira approached slowly.
"You! It is unforgivable to disregard the Sword Prohibition Act. Show me ten yen and maybe I'll let you go."
Kenji, greatly insulted by this order, showed him his finger.
"Fool!" Inokashira drew his pistol. Kenji didn't fear him. He simply cut off his hand. Inokashira screamed in agonizing pain.
"JOSE!" He screamed. Just then, a large, oafish man approached Kenji.
"Leave." Kenji ordered.
"Okay." replied Jose as he walked away.
"NO, YOU FOOL! KILL HIM!" Inokashira cried.
Jose lifted his iron hammer and tried to hit Kenji. Kenji dodged it and Jose accidentally hit Inokashira in the chest. As he did this, Kenji made a big slash across Jose's back.
"Jose, let's get out of here!" Inokashira cried.
"Yeah, good idea." Jose ran away.
"Wait, don't leave me with this maniac!"
Kenji simply walked away.
Suzu, who was out picking vegetables, noticed her grandfather in severe pain.
"Grandfather! You are hurt." Suzu cried.
"Don't worry, my dear. I just fell down." He replied. Suzu took him inside.
A big, strong man had seen the whole thing.
"The Kurou family, the Akadama Clan, and the officials are all corrupt. It's always the weak who are abused."
Just then, he noticed Hyuga, who had also seen the whole thing.
"What is he doing here?" He cried with horror.
The moon was out and glowing brightly. Kenji walked through the village when a reluctant Suzu approached him. She obviously wanted some help. He just ignored her and headed straight for the Kurou mansion. It had previously occurred to him that the Kurou family were considerably rich. So, he thought it might be fun and exciting to rob them before heading to Tokyo.
On his way there, he encountered a strikingly beautiful but visibly deadly young woman. She was all dressed in red and was not in the slightest way Japanese.
"Hello, my name is Chelsea. Where are you going?" She asked.
"Why is it your business?" He replied.
"Do you know who I am?" She shouted.
"No, I don't. I don't really care either."
"I like you. Come with me."
"Where?"
"I am a member of the Akadama Clan. I am secretly going to the Kurou mansion to assassinate Tesshin. Will you fight with me?"
"Yes. Yes, I will."
This was convenient, seeing as Kenji had no idea where he was going.
They arrived at the Kurou mansion just minutes later.
"Right, I'll take the front. You take the back. There's a door round the back that way." She directed him.
"Sounds good." Kenji replied as they separated.
Kenji kicked open the back door, made a right turn, then a left, then another right, and then straight to discover Don struggling to walk straight with a chest full of money.
"You!" Don shouted.
"And what exactly are you doing?"
"This is for Suzu! So she can leave the pass!"
"Not anymore."
"What?"
And with that, Kenji stabbed Don right through the heart. He was no more. Kenji sheathed his sword, took the chest, and left Chelsea for dead. But foolishly he took a wrong turn and walked into a death trap. The shrine was just ahead. He heard voices. A man and a woman. But of course it had to be Murasaki and Inokashira. They noticed Kenji and stopped him.
"You! What are you doing here?" Murasaki ordered.
"Leaving." Kenji replied.
"Did you hear what was going on here?" "No." "I don't believe you." "Wait a minute," Inokashira said. "I recognize you... yes! You're that bastard who attacked me!"
But just before Kenji could draw his sword, Shiretoko appeared.
"Madame Murasaki, what are you doing here? And what are you doing with Inokashira at such a late hour?" Shiretoko demanded.
"Well, I... uh..." Murasaki could not think of a good enough explanation.
"Oh, come on. She was plotting against the Kurou family." Kenji mocked.
"Is this true?"
"Well...but look! He has Tesshin's treasure! Let's forget about this whole thing and just kill him!"
"I'll deal with you later, boy. Murasaki, let's go."
"Never!" Inokashira shouted, giving them away.
"Damn."
Shiretoko drew his sword, Murasaki drew hers, and they were fighting.
"JOSE!" Inokashira cried.
Jose, the oafish henchman, heaved his sword at Kenji. Kenji raised his sword into Jose's gut. Jose slowly bled to death. As Inokashira began to run off, Kenji stabbed him in the back, killing him. With nothing to do and being the sadist that he was, Kenji joined in the sword fight. Since he loathed infidelity, he was fighting with Shiretoko. The two of them were such skilled swordsmen that Murasaki was dead within seconds. Kenji went for the gut and Shiretoko beheaded her. It was all over.
"I hope... we have done the right thing." Shiretoko was worried.
"Don't be upset," said Kenji. "She was a whore working against you. We have definitely done the right thing."
"Right. Now, I am taking the chest back with me and I never want to see your face again... wait a moment. You were at the restaurant today. You're the bastard who stabbed Tsubohachi."
"That's right. And?"
"Listen to me, boy. I will forget this but I expect you to leave this pass by tomorrow morning. If I ever see you again, I will not hesitate to kill you. Understand?"
"Understood."
"Good night."
The two went their separate ways... for now.
End of Chapter Two.