Blade: Phantom of the Sands of Time
Part 1: Master Samurai, it Begins
Chapter Three: A Hero is Born
A month has passed since Ishikawa Tao fell in battle. His son, Ishikawa Jin, now wears his father's white armor, red cape, and carries his father's katana, the katana of the Ishikawa family. Jin's left eye was lost in combat and now the young Ishikawa swears he shall cut down Date Hotei of Yoshimitsu's army.
To the north the forces of Togukawa Saika march on toward Sekigahara. Honda Ukita and Yi Hishomori march together toward Sekigahara as well. From the South Sea forces under Otani Eukawa, Heiachi Yosomatsu, Sami Gomei, and Eto Tekiso sail to land to march to Sekigahara. Currently marching westward is Commander Alexandras Nicholaus, who, little does he know, is marching right into the allied forces of Emperor Toyotomi Hidosai. The greatest battle the echidna race has ever seen shall soon commence.
*************************************************************
Date: March 13, 1603.
Time: 8:00
Commander Alexandras Nicholaus's main force
Commander Alexandras sat astride his white horse as he looked over the land ahead. It was a huge valley with a village in it. He was deep in the valley now. On every side were mountains. He was checking the plains when suddenly banners rose from the plains. He then heard the familiar sound of cannon balls incoming. About thirty yards behind him the ground blew skyward. Bodies flew as his troops screamed.
"What the hell was that?!"
"It's a trap Commander sir!" A troop yelled. "They were waiting for us!"
*************************************************************
Date: March 13, 1603
Time: 9: 34
Lord Honda Ukita's camp within Sekigahara Village
Ukita's cannons fired from behind barricades. He sat on his command dais watching. "What is there position?"
A man standing next to him turned to him and bowed. "Ushi Naga's forces are slowly marching toward us threw our cannon fire my lord."
"When they are within our cannon's dead zone bring our rifle's to bear. We'll blow their fucking heads off then." Ukita said coolly. He waved his command fan and the man bowed a second time and ran off to pass the order.
"My lord!"
"What is it?"
"Lord Fushimitsu Gamei has arrived with military aid."
Ukita stood. He walked over to a man in silver armor with a helmet that had horns curving forward. They looked at each other and smiled. They grabbed each other's right hand and shook hard. "It's good to see you Ukita!" Gamei was a burly echidna of brown fur. He had black eyes and a rugged muzzle.
"It's good to see you too Gamei. It has been to long!"
"Too long indeed. It is a shame that we meet now in a time of war against foreign enemies!"
"It is, but now that you are here Gamei we shall push back those Russian bastards and send them back to their frozen lands!"
Gamei laughed a deep laugh. "Indeed dear friend. We shall force them all the way back."
*************************************************************
Date: March 13, 1603
Time: 10: 27
Southeast of Sekigahara Village in the open plains.
Ishikawa Jin sliced man after man with the Ishikawa sword. His cape flapped about him as he rode through the battle field, on it was the mon of his family. His white armor shone in the sun. His helmet had a piece of metal that covered his left eye so that he didn't have to expose his lost eye.
Near him was his brothers slicing any that opposed them. Jin kicked a young samurai in the muzzle and broke it. He finished the kid off by slicing his head off. "These fools think they can actually oppose us!" Guo said laughing.
"Don't get cocky brother!" Jin yelled as more died. "They can turn the tide you know!"
"Yes dear brother I shall be careful!"
*************************************************************
Date: March 15, 1603
Time: 13:42
Lord Honda Ukita and Lord Fushimitsu Gamei's position
"They still fight on." Gamei said as he looked at the battlefield. Cannons fired off in the distance to the north.
"Pathetic I know." Ukita said shaking his head.
"My lord!" Ukita and Gamei turned about as a messenger threw himself on the ground panting.
"Yes?" Ukita asked raising an eyebrow.
"Chui Ishikawa Jin is requesting he be sent out. He has found Date Hotei's position and wishes to crush him."
"I'd rather he don't."
"Let him." Gamei said laughing. "Ishikawa Jin is that white furred echidna is he not?"
"Hai."
"Then let him. He can kill Date."
"Fine. Send word to Chui Jin that he has permission to take our brigadiers and flying fullisades out."
"Hai."
*************************************************************
Ishikawa Jin charged with horse men and women he had with him. He finally caught sight of Date Hotei's brigade. "Prepare to die Date Hotei!" Jin leapt off his horse and brought his katana out of its saya. Date brought his spear up for a block. Lucky for him Jin had missed, but had sliced Date's helmet off. Jin landed on the ground as his cavalry clashed with Date's.
"I see your back young Ishikawa."
"I am no longer the young Ishikawa but am the leader of my house hold. You took my eye Date Hotei. Now I shall take your life!"
Before Date could make a remark he was being attacked by Jin. Jin finally knocked the tiger off his horse. Date pushed himself off the ground as Jin swiped the grass he had been on. Date stabbed forward as Jin spun on his heel and blocked. He pushed the spear aside and charged within Date's guard. Date dropped the spear and withdrew his katana.
The two fought on in the field as their troops went at it. Date and Jin struck and countered, dodged and pushed.
Date was beginning to realize that the young master of the Ishikawa house was gaining on him with every stroke of katana. Finally Jin swung low which Date blocked but he didn't block Jin's kick to his left temple. The shot left Date's hearing ringing. Date had just enough time to regain his hearing and focus to see Jin's katana swing in on his neck.
Jin's sliced Date's head clean off the shoulders. Date's troops saw and gasped. They quickly dropped their weapons and dropped to the ground on all four.
*************************************************************
Date: March 15, 1603
Time: 22:45
Lord Honda Ukita and Lord Fushimitsu Gamei's position
"Date Hotei has been slain!"
"What?" Fushimitsu Gamei asked as he ate at the piece of boar he had.
"Someone has slain Date Hotei." Honda Ukita said as he smoked his pipe. "I wonder what soul did it." Ukita was answered when Ishikawa Jin came riding into camp with a sack around his waist. He dismounted then removed his helmet. He kneeled before his lord and opened the sack. Out of it came the familiar orange head of Date Hotei.
Gamei and Ukita were at a loss of words. Ukita's pipe fell from his mouth and Gamei dropped the slab of boar he had been eating. "I don't believe it." Gamei said in his gruff tone.
"You're the one that killed Date Hotei?" Ukita asked.
"Hai Ukita-sama."
Ukita and Gamei looked at each other with the same expression, fear.
*************************************************************
Date: March 18, 1603
Time: 5:02
South Point Ridge, Seven Miles off Sekigahara Village
Jin, Guo, and Chuyuang sat astride their horses in the early morning. Fog had rolled in last night at midnight. Colonel Lu Chang-sha was passing through this area and the Three Brothers of Oath were going to ambush his ranks alone.
"The fools." Guo muttered as he pulled on his gloves a bit to make sure they were on securely.
"Only fools march in the fog." Chuyuang added.
"No. Fools march in the open with banners waving when they have no strength to fight. A smart leader moves his men in the fog, but a smart leader would take precautions as to watch for ambushes." Jin stated whispering as he wanted to make sure they weren't heard. Jin watched very carefully and listened to any noise. He heard what he wanted. A twig snapped and booted feet could be heard. Jin signaled to his brothers and the three drew forth their bows. They fired out two arrows per bow. Screams could be heard as men died. They placed their bows back over their backs, unsheathed their katanas and charged.
Guo made contact first with his nagita by chopping a man's torso off his legs. Chuyuang was next when he took two heads off with his favored twin katanas. Jin followed suite by taking an officer down from his horse. The fighting went on for some time until they majority of the unit was dead. The rest turned south and ran off the road and into a forest. The three gave chase.
When they were deep in the forest they found the remainder of the unit but they also found a rifle brigade waiting. "Ready!" The three went to turn their steeds about. "Aim!" They spurred their horses into a gallop. "Fire!"
Rifles roared in the early morning.
*************************************************************
A figure ran through the forest. He was panting from a lack of air. He was running in full armor. His cape was torn, his helmet missing, his chest plate dangling on one side do to a ripped strap, and his katana at the ready.
Thirty figures ran behind him, all armed with rifles.
Jin hid behind a tree and sheathed his katana quietly. Something inside of him had changed. His mind was beginning to think differently. He knew he was going to live to fight another day, but his followers weren't.
Jin pulled his bow off his back and readied an arrow. He touched the end of it to the string and lined the shaft on his finger. He pulled back very carefully. He peaked out from behind the tree and raised the bow. Jin took aim and when he found the target he wanted he released the hawk feathered arrow. The arrow flew twenty yards through the forest and into an echidna's throat. The man coughed blood up and fell forward dead.
The others looked at him in wonder. Another one screamed out as an arrow went through one ear and out the other. Another fell with an arrow in his left eye and the tip barely poking out of the back of his head.
Jin moved on as they looked about. He placed each step carefully to mask any sound to keep them confused. When he was well away from his old position he fired again and took out a man with a chest shot. The remaining twenty-six looked about in confusion. They fired out in all directions. Jin hid behind a tree. Some of the shots clipped the tree he was behind and others around.
The troops heard something fall and were satisfied. What they had shot was a deer. Jin smiled a wicked smile. This was going to be too easy.
*************************************************************
The twenty-six troops walked along through the forest. They rested in an opening on some fallen trees. One walked along and leaned against a tree. They talked and laughed at the three they had shot down. Guo had gone down with many shots while Chuyuang had been shot right off his horse.
They laid there rifles in a row along a log and talked on. The one leaned against the tree pulled his hand away and looked at it. His hand had sap on it. He stepped away from the tree and looked at it.
"Hey!"
"Huh?" He looked over his shoulder.
"Got sap on your uniform!" The others laughed. The man turned his attention on the tree. It was a large tree like most of the trees in this part of the forest. He noticed a line carved deep in it. He looked at it carefully. He noticed it touched another line which touched another. It oddly enough formed a door. Just as he stepped to it the door blew open and out of it came Jin. He sliced the man's head off clean. The other's screamed out and scrambled for their rifles, forgetting they had katanas and the rifles were less effective in close quarter combat.
Jin sliced another man down then withdrew his bow. He fired fast on them and knocked the numbers down to twelve by the time the first grabbed his rifle and had it loaded. Jin threw the bow at the man and it went into his chest. He screamed in pain until Jin took his head. Finally the others brought their katanas to bear.
The first leapt forth and swung high. Jin ducked and upper swung cutting the man deep from the groin to chin. Jin quickly stabbed the next before he could act. The third came in and went to stab as Jin withdrew his katana from the body. Jin got the man's arm with his free arm and broke it with a well placed twist. Jin then took the man's head off clean.
The fourth and fifth went down to neck stabs. The six, seventh, and eighth went to being sliced in half at waist, chest, and shoulder to opposite hip.
Jin removed his tanto and flung it into the ninth's chest. He then pulled an arrow out and stabbed the tenth in the neck. The eleventh went down to a stab into the chest and then being sliced in half.
Jin smiled a devilish smile.
*************************************************************
Date: March 20, 1603
Time: 6:28
Sekigahara Village
Ukita and Gamei watched as Jin finished placing the thirtieth head onto a pike. The thirty heads belongs to the thirty rifle men he slew in the forest seven miles south of here. Date Hotei's head also rested on a pike. Gamei pulled Ukita aside.
"What is it Gamei?"
"I fear Ishikawa Jin."
"Why is that?" Ukita asked.
"He is a strong soul but a great issue of concern to all around him."
"Why is that?"
"He smiles with the devil's mouth. His eyes are ever watching now. He sleeps less and watches any that walk by like a cat watching its prey. He fights with a new reason."
"And what is that reason?" Ukita asked beginning to understand his friend's fear.
"He fights to kill, not to protect."
End
Next time
Chapter 4: The Last Battle, The Last Stand
Part 1: Master Samurai, it Begins
Chapter Three: A Hero is Born
A month has passed since Ishikawa Tao fell in battle. His son, Ishikawa Jin, now wears his father's white armor, red cape, and carries his father's katana, the katana of the Ishikawa family. Jin's left eye was lost in combat and now the young Ishikawa swears he shall cut down Date Hotei of Yoshimitsu's army.
To the north the forces of Togukawa Saika march on toward Sekigahara. Honda Ukita and Yi Hishomori march together toward Sekigahara as well. From the South Sea forces under Otani Eukawa, Heiachi Yosomatsu, Sami Gomei, and Eto Tekiso sail to land to march to Sekigahara. Currently marching westward is Commander Alexandras Nicholaus, who, little does he know, is marching right into the allied forces of Emperor Toyotomi Hidosai. The greatest battle the echidna race has ever seen shall soon commence.
*************************************************************
Date: March 13, 1603.
Time: 8:00
Commander Alexandras Nicholaus's main force
Commander Alexandras sat astride his white horse as he looked over the land ahead. It was a huge valley with a village in it. He was deep in the valley now. On every side were mountains. He was checking the plains when suddenly banners rose from the plains. He then heard the familiar sound of cannon balls incoming. About thirty yards behind him the ground blew skyward. Bodies flew as his troops screamed.
"What the hell was that?!"
"It's a trap Commander sir!" A troop yelled. "They were waiting for us!"
*************************************************************
Date: March 13, 1603
Time: 9: 34
Lord Honda Ukita's camp within Sekigahara Village
Ukita's cannons fired from behind barricades. He sat on his command dais watching. "What is there position?"
A man standing next to him turned to him and bowed. "Ushi Naga's forces are slowly marching toward us threw our cannon fire my lord."
"When they are within our cannon's dead zone bring our rifle's to bear. We'll blow their fucking heads off then." Ukita said coolly. He waved his command fan and the man bowed a second time and ran off to pass the order.
"My lord!"
"What is it?"
"Lord Fushimitsu Gamei has arrived with military aid."
Ukita stood. He walked over to a man in silver armor with a helmet that had horns curving forward. They looked at each other and smiled. They grabbed each other's right hand and shook hard. "It's good to see you Ukita!" Gamei was a burly echidna of brown fur. He had black eyes and a rugged muzzle.
"It's good to see you too Gamei. It has been to long!"
"Too long indeed. It is a shame that we meet now in a time of war against foreign enemies!"
"It is, but now that you are here Gamei we shall push back those Russian bastards and send them back to their frozen lands!"
Gamei laughed a deep laugh. "Indeed dear friend. We shall force them all the way back."
*************************************************************
Date: March 13, 1603
Time: 10: 27
Southeast of Sekigahara Village in the open plains.
Ishikawa Jin sliced man after man with the Ishikawa sword. His cape flapped about him as he rode through the battle field, on it was the mon of his family. His white armor shone in the sun. His helmet had a piece of metal that covered his left eye so that he didn't have to expose his lost eye.
Near him was his brothers slicing any that opposed them. Jin kicked a young samurai in the muzzle and broke it. He finished the kid off by slicing his head off. "These fools think they can actually oppose us!" Guo said laughing.
"Don't get cocky brother!" Jin yelled as more died. "They can turn the tide you know!"
"Yes dear brother I shall be careful!"
*************************************************************
Date: March 15, 1603
Time: 13:42
Lord Honda Ukita and Lord Fushimitsu Gamei's position
"They still fight on." Gamei said as he looked at the battlefield. Cannons fired off in the distance to the north.
"Pathetic I know." Ukita said shaking his head.
"My lord!" Ukita and Gamei turned about as a messenger threw himself on the ground panting.
"Yes?" Ukita asked raising an eyebrow.
"Chui Ishikawa Jin is requesting he be sent out. He has found Date Hotei's position and wishes to crush him."
"I'd rather he don't."
"Let him." Gamei said laughing. "Ishikawa Jin is that white furred echidna is he not?"
"Hai."
"Then let him. He can kill Date."
"Fine. Send word to Chui Jin that he has permission to take our brigadiers and flying fullisades out."
"Hai."
*************************************************************
Ishikawa Jin charged with horse men and women he had with him. He finally caught sight of Date Hotei's brigade. "Prepare to die Date Hotei!" Jin leapt off his horse and brought his katana out of its saya. Date brought his spear up for a block. Lucky for him Jin had missed, but had sliced Date's helmet off. Jin landed on the ground as his cavalry clashed with Date's.
"I see your back young Ishikawa."
"I am no longer the young Ishikawa but am the leader of my house hold. You took my eye Date Hotei. Now I shall take your life!"
Before Date could make a remark he was being attacked by Jin. Jin finally knocked the tiger off his horse. Date pushed himself off the ground as Jin swiped the grass he had been on. Date stabbed forward as Jin spun on his heel and blocked. He pushed the spear aside and charged within Date's guard. Date dropped the spear and withdrew his katana.
The two fought on in the field as their troops went at it. Date and Jin struck and countered, dodged and pushed.
Date was beginning to realize that the young master of the Ishikawa house was gaining on him with every stroke of katana. Finally Jin swung low which Date blocked but he didn't block Jin's kick to his left temple. The shot left Date's hearing ringing. Date had just enough time to regain his hearing and focus to see Jin's katana swing in on his neck.
Jin's sliced Date's head clean off the shoulders. Date's troops saw and gasped. They quickly dropped their weapons and dropped to the ground on all four.
*************************************************************
Date: March 15, 1603
Time: 22:45
Lord Honda Ukita and Lord Fushimitsu Gamei's position
"Date Hotei has been slain!"
"What?" Fushimitsu Gamei asked as he ate at the piece of boar he had.
"Someone has slain Date Hotei." Honda Ukita said as he smoked his pipe. "I wonder what soul did it." Ukita was answered when Ishikawa Jin came riding into camp with a sack around his waist. He dismounted then removed his helmet. He kneeled before his lord and opened the sack. Out of it came the familiar orange head of Date Hotei.
Gamei and Ukita were at a loss of words. Ukita's pipe fell from his mouth and Gamei dropped the slab of boar he had been eating. "I don't believe it." Gamei said in his gruff tone.
"You're the one that killed Date Hotei?" Ukita asked.
"Hai Ukita-sama."
Ukita and Gamei looked at each other with the same expression, fear.
*************************************************************
Date: March 18, 1603
Time: 5:02
South Point Ridge, Seven Miles off Sekigahara Village
Jin, Guo, and Chuyuang sat astride their horses in the early morning. Fog had rolled in last night at midnight. Colonel Lu Chang-sha was passing through this area and the Three Brothers of Oath were going to ambush his ranks alone.
"The fools." Guo muttered as he pulled on his gloves a bit to make sure they were on securely.
"Only fools march in the fog." Chuyuang added.
"No. Fools march in the open with banners waving when they have no strength to fight. A smart leader moves his men in the fog, but a smart leader would take precautions as to watch for ambushes." Jin stated whispering as he wanted to make sure they weren't heard. Jin watched very carefully and listened to any noise. He heard what he wanted. A twig snapped and booted feet could be heard. Jin signaled to his brothers and the three drew forth their bows. They fired out two arrows per bow. Screams could be heard as men died. They placed their bows back over their backs, unsheathed their katanas and charged.
Guo made contact first with his nagita by chopping a man's torso off his legs. Chuyuang was next when he took two heads off with his favored twin katanas. Jin followed suite by taking an officer down from his horse. The fighting went on for some time until they majority of the unit was dead. The rest turned south and ran off the road and into a forest. The three gave chase.
When they were deep in the forest they found the remainder of the unit but they also found a rifle brigade waiting. "Ready!" The three went to turn their steeds about. "Aim!" They spurred their horses into a gallop. "Fire!"
Rifles roared in the early morning.
*************************************************************
A figure ran through the forest. He was panting from a lack of air. He was running in full armor. His cape was torn, his helmet missing, his chest plate dangling on one side do to a ripped strap, and his katana at the ready.
Thirty figures ran behind him, all armed with rifles.
Jin hid behind a tree and sheathed his katana quietly. Something inside of him had changed. His mind was beginning to think differently. He knew he was going to live to fight another day, but his followers weren't.
Jin pulled his bow off his back and readied an arrow. He touched the end of it to the string and lined the shaft on his finger. He pulled back very carefully. He peaked out from behind the tree and raised the bow. Jin took aim and when he found the target he wanted he released the hawk feathered arrow. The arrow flew twenty yards through the forest and into an echidna's throat. The man coughed blood up and fell forward dead.
The others looked at him in wonder. Another one screamed out as an arrow went through one ear and out the other. Another fell with an arrow in his left eye and the tip barely poking out of the back of his head.
Jin moved on as they looked about. He placed each step carefully to mask any sound to keep them confused. When he was well away from his old position he fired again and took out a man with a chest shot. The remaining twenty-six looked about in confusion. They fired out in all directions. Jin hid behind a tree. Some of the shots clipped the tree he was behind and others around.
The troops heard something fall and were satisfied. What they had shot was a deer. Jin smiled a wicked smile. This was going to be too easy.
*************************************************************
The twenty-six troops walked along through the forest. They rested in an opening on some fallen trees. One walked along and leaned against a tree. They talked and laughed at the three they had shot down. Guo had gone down with many shots while Chuyuang had been shot right off his horse.
They laid there rifles in a row along a log and talked on. The one leaned against the tree pulled his hand away and looked at it. His hand had sap on it. He stepped away from the tree and looked at it.
"Hey!"
"Huh?" He looked over his shoulder.
"Got sap on your uniform!" The others laughed. The man turned his attention on the tree. It was a large tree like most of the trees in this part of the forest. He noticed a line carved deep in it. He looked at it carefully. He noticed it touched another line which touched another. It oddly enough formed a door. Just as he stepped to it the door blew open and out of it came Jin. He sliced the man's head off clean. The other's screamed out and scrambled for their rifles, forgetting they had katanas and the rifles were less effective in close quarter combat.
Jin sliced another man down then withdrew his bow. He fired fast on them and knocked the numbers down to twelve by the time the first grabbed his rifle and had it loaded. Jin threw the bow at the man and it went into his chest. He screamed in pain until Jin took his head. Finally the others brought their katanas to bear.
The first leapt forth and swung high. Jin ducked and upper swung cutting the man deep from the groin to chin. Jin quickly stabbed the next before he could act. The third came in and went to stab as Jin withdrew his katana from the body. Jin got the man's arm with his free arm and broke it with a well placed twist. Jin then took the man's head off clean.
The fourth and fifth went down to neck stabs. The six, seventh, and eighth went to being sliced in half at waist, chest, and shoulder to opposite hip.
Jin removed his tanto and flung it into the ninth's chest. He then pulled an arrow out and stabbed the tenth in the neck. The eleventh went down to a stab into the chest and then being sliced in half.
Jin smiled a devilish smile.
*************************************************************
Date: March 20, 1603
Time: 6:28
Sekigahara Village
Ukita and Gamei watched as Jin finished placing the thirtieth head onto a pike. The thirty heads belongs to the thirty rifle men he slew in the forest seven miles south of here. Date Hotei's head also rested on a pike. Gamei pulled Ukita aside.
"What is it Gamei?"
"I fear Ishikawa Jin."
"Why is that?" Ukita asked.
"He is a strong soul but a great issue of concern to all around him."
"Why is that?"
"He smiles with the devil's mouth. His eyes are ever watching now. He sleeps less and watches any that walk by like a cat watching its prey. He fights with a new reason."
"And what is that reason?" Ukita asked beginning to understand his friend's fear.
"He fights to kill, not to protect."
End
Next time
Chapter 4: The Last Battle, The Last Stand
