+----+ Chapter 12: Swordsman vs. Swordsman - A Fight to the Death! +----+
Sei Ma gaped at the scene. Kosame was one of Reikai-Kakumei's top soldiers. To be so easily defeated.... Higher up in the stadium, a screen buzzed to life, and displayed the score gained for that round....
A Three.
Reikai's fighters were furious, screaming out curses an insults from all angles. The only one who stayed silent was Tsuki Odori, who slowly stepped forward and spoke....
"You Reikai-Kakumei truly have no honor.... I shall fight next. Bring out whoever you will.... so that he may die."
Sei Ma scoffed. "You want death? Then so be it! Bujin Waraji will be your opponent!!!" The doors of the stadium suddenly split in two, and fell to the ground with a loud -thud!-. A solitary figure walked into the stadium, a katana on one hip, a smaller Wakizashi on the other. His silver hair was tied up in a knot on his head, the loose clothing of a wandering samurai covering his body. A fierce glint in his eye showed that this young man was an experienced warrior.
The wind began to whistle softly, the only thing audible for several seconds. Then, the wind slowly began to pick up, swirling around both fighters with the viciousness of a hurricane. And, in a split-second, they vanished. Sounds of swords clanging began to reverberate throughout the arena, a vicious battle going on at speeds untraceable by the eyes. Both fighters sprang backwards after a while, each panting softly. Finally, it was Bujin who spoke.
"Your skills.... are impressive. I commend you, from one warrior to another. But now...." he sheathed his katana, spreading his legs shoulder's width apart, and bending his knees, each hand reaching for a blade....
".... It will end."
With a chuckle, Tsuki responded, "So.... an 'Iainuki' attack, eh? Very well...." He drew his second katana, and positioned both his arms to his sides, extending one leg forward. Meanwhile, at the other end of the stadium, Kiyou asked, "Iainuki? What technique is that?"
"Iainuki is a powerful technique," explained Shinrai, "meant to slay an opponent with a single sword stroke. The user sheathes his blade and, pressing it against the back of the sheath, draws it at super-speeds, cutting through an opponent. But such a technique is remarkably obvious.... He must have something planned."
Crying out mightily, Tsuki began to charge for Bujin. In an instant, his opponent vanished, and Tsuki raised up one sword diagonally.... blocking the attack from Bujin. But he was then greeted by a sharp pain in his rib - Bujin's Wakizashi was buried in him, slicing into his body. He managed to grin, and said, "Good.... move. One Iainuki.... after another.... Unfortunately for you...." And he clutched the blade of the Wakizashi with his bare hand, dropping one of his swords, and thrust it back into Bujin's stomach, sending him backwards in pain.
".... I'm used to pain like that." Still gripping the Wakizashi tightly, Tsuki tossed it aside and picked up his own katana. He was surprised to see that Bujin had charged at him, and only barely blocked the fast and furious strikes from his foe's sword using both of his own. A punch from Bujin knocked him backwards, and he took this time to jump to the side to avoid a charging attack. With a swift swing of his katana, Tsuki completely disarmed his opponent, and was met with a kick to his shin. As he fell to one knee, Tsuki heard a small chuckle.
"My skill with a sword and my skill with fists are one and the same. Even if you disarm me, I can still defeat you, no matter whether or not you have a sword. Now.... prepare to meet 'Seite no Jutsu' - the 'Art of the True Fist!'"
Slowly rising to his feet, Tsuki gripped his swords even tighter. "So.... Let's do this then." He sheathed both his swords, before drawing them out backwards - gripping the hilts tightly, the blades mere inches from his arms. Looking up, he smiled at Bujin.
"In a straight fight, you would have the advantage, true enough.... but I won't let it come to that."
Bujin scoffed, "What are you planning, anyway? No matter what technique you use, I'll survive it and counterattack. Why bother? Give in to death, and accept your fate." Letting out a hearty laugh, Tsuki smiled broadly.
"My fate? You mean your fate...." And he charged straight for Bujin. Taisho spat out the saké he was drinking, yelling out, "For God's sakes, Tsuki! Don't attack him head-on! He'll slaughter you!" Bujin grinned, and nodded his head in agreement before going into a defensive stance.
Tsuki's charge soon reached Bujin, and he narrowly passed him by, With a grin, Tsuki called out, "Kaiten Rai Kenjutsu!!!" before spinning around at a high speed with both his blades extended. Bujin cried out in pain, blood spilling out of multiple wounds, before collapsing in a heap. Everyone in the stadium was struck with shock - Taisho dropped his saké jug, shattering it, and the silence of the moment with it.
Breathing heavily, Tsuki explained his maneuver. "'Kaiten Rai Kenjutsu' - or, the 'Revolving Thunder Swordskill,' is the succession technique for my sword style, Zantou-ryuu. By charging at an opponent, you catch him off-guard, making him think that you'll strike once you reach him. But instead, by passing the opponent ever so slightly, their guard is completely shattered, making a quick strike possible. He probably never knew what hit him."
".... I see. Brilliant maneuver."
All eyes turned to a bloody Bujin, standing up haggardly, gasping for air. "It's.... not over.... yet...." With unreal speed, Bujin dashed over and grasped his katana firmly in both hands before sheathing it and readying for an Iainuki attack. Tsuki was still in shock that Bujin still had so much stamina after being hit with his succession technique, but managed to compose himself.
Tsuki crossed both his katanas in an 'X' shape in front of himself, one leg extended for a charge. "One move, winner-takes-all, Waraji-san?"
Bujin's answer was to charge and draw his blade. The speed of the attack was incredible, and it collided head on with Tsuki's blades, straining against them. Grinning, Tsuki cried out....
"Zanken!!!"
And in an instant, Tsuki uncrossed his swords, shattering Bujin's katana and leaving a deep 'X' shaped wound on his torso. Bujin fell backwards, his limp and bleeding body heaving with the mere effort of staying alive. There was no doubt now - the battle was over. Tsuki sheathed one of his swords, and raised the other high above his head, ready to deliver the final blow. Shinrai cried out for him to stop, but the blade swung down swiftly.... before stopping just above Bujin's head. Silently, Tsuki sheathed the blade, and began to walk away.
"D-Damn it all.... come.... back.... here...."
Turning around, Tsuki saw that Bujin was raising his hand towards him, his eyes silently accusing him of treason.
"I-I lost.... by all rights.... you must.... take my life.... D-Do it now, dammit all!!!"
"...... No," replied Tsuki, "I won't kill one with such a great gift of swordsmanship."
An anguished cry escaped Bujin's lips. "The code.... of Bushido.... demands my death!"
Angrily, Tsuki yelled out, "If you seek death so much, do it yourself! Bushido be damned.... I won't kill you, and that's my final decision."
High above the stadium, Sei Ma was in shock. TWO of his champions had lost?! But the next fight would be different....
Sei Ma gaped at the scene. Kosame was one of Reikai-Kakumei's top soldiers. To be so easily defeated.... Higher up in the stadium, a screen buzzed to life, and displayed the score gained for that round....
A Three.
Reikai's fighters were furious, screaming out curses an insults from all angles. The only one who stayed silent was Tsuki Odori, who slowly stepped forward and spoke....
"You Reikai-Kakumei truly have no honor.... I shall fight next. Bring out whoever you will.... so that he may die."
Sei Ma scoffed. "You want death? Then so be it! Bujin Waraji will be your opponent!!!" The doors of the stadium suddenly split in two, and fell to the ground with a loud -thud!-. A solitary figure walked into the stadium, a katana on one hip, a smaller Wakizashi on the other. His silver hair was tied up in a knot on his head, the loose clothing of a wandering samurai covering his body. A fierce glint in his eye showed that this young man was an experienced warrior.
The wind began to whistle softly, the only thing audible for several seconds. Then, the wind slowly began to pick up, swirling around both fighters with the viciousness of a hurricane. And, in a split-second, they vanished. Sounds of swords clanging began to reverberate throughout the arena, a vicious battle going on at speeds untraceable by the eyes. Both fighters sprang backwards after a while, each panting softly. Finally, it was Bujin who spoke.
"Your skills.... are impressive. I commend you, from one warrior to another. But now...." he sheathed his katana, spreading his legs shoulder's width apart, and bending his knees, each hand reaching for a blade....
".... It will end."
With a chuckle, Tsuki responded, "So.... an 'Iainuki' attack, eh? Very well...." He drew his second katana, and positioned both his arms to his sides, extending one leg forward. Meanwhile, at the other end of the stadium, Kiyou asked, "Iainuki? What technique is that?"
"Iainuki is a powerful technique," explained Shinrai, "meant to slay an opponent with a single sword stroke. The user sheathes his blade and, pressing it against the back of the sheath, draws it at super-speeds, cutting through an opponent. But such a technique is remarkably obvious.... He must have something planned."
Crying out mightily, Tsuki began to charge for Bujin. In an instant, his opponent vanished, and Tsuki raised up one sword diagonally.... blocking the attack from Bujin. But he was then greeted by a sharp pain in his rib - Bujin's Wakizashi was buried in him, slicing into his body. He managed to grin, and said, "Good.... move. One Iainuki.... after another.... Unfortunately for you...." And he clutched the blade of the Wakizashi with his bare hand, dropping one of his swords, and thrust it back into Bujin's stomach, sending him backwards in pain.
".... I'm used to pain like that." Still gripping the Wakizashi tightly, Tsuki tossed it aside and picked up his own katana. He was surprised to see that Bujin had charged at him, and only barely blocked the fast and furious strikes from his foe's sword using both of his own. A punch from Bujin knocked him backwards, and he took this time to jump to the side to avoid a charging attack. With a swift swing of his katana, Tsuki completely disarmed his opponent, and was met with a kick to his shin. As he fell to one knee, Tsuki heard a small chuckle.
"My skill with a sword and my skill with fists are one and the same. Even if you disarm me, I can still defeat you, no matter whether or not you have a sword. Now.... prepare to meet 'Seite no Jutsu' - the 'Art of the True Fist!'"
Slowly rising to his feet, Tsuki gripped his swords even tighter. "So.... Let's do this then." He sheathed both his swords, before drawing them out backwards - gripping the hilts tightly, the blades mere inches from his arms. Looking up, he smiled at Bujin.
"In a straight fight, you would have the advantage, true enough.... but I won't let it come to that."
Bujin scoffed, "What are you planning, anyway? No matter what technique you use, I'll survive it and counterattack. Why bother? Give in to death, and accept your fate." Letting out a hearty laugh, Tsuki smiled broadly.
"My fate? You mean your fate...." And he charged straight for Bujin. Taisho spat out the saké he was drinking, yelling out, "For God's sakes, Tsuki! Don't attack him head-on! He'll slaughter you!" Bujin grinned, and nodded his head in agreement before going into a defensive stance.
Tsuki's charge soon reached Bujin, and he narrowly passed him by, With a grin, Tsuki called out, "Kaiten Rai Kenjutsu!!!" before spinning around at a high speed with both his blades extended. Bujin cried out in pain, blood spilling out of multiple wounds, before collapsing in a heap. Everyone in the stadium was struck with shock - Taisho dropped his saké jug, shattering it, and the silence of the moment with it.
Breathing heavily, Tsuki explained his maneuver. "'Kaiten Rai Kenjutsu' - or, the 'Revolving Thunder Swordskill,' is the succession technique for my sword style, Zantou-ryuu. By charging at an opponent, you catch him off-guard, making him think that you'll strike once you reach him. But instead, by passing the opponent ever so slightly, their guard is completely shattered, making a quick strike possible. He probably never knew what hit him."
".... I see. Brilliant maneuver."
All eyes turned to a bloody Bujin, standing up haggardly, gasping for air. "It's.... not over.... yet...." With unreal speed, Bujin dashed over and grasped his katana firmly in both hands before sheathing it and readying for an Iainuki attack. Tsuki was still in shock that Bujin still had so much stamina after being hit with his succession technique, but managed to compose himself.
Tsuki crossed both his katanas in an 'X' shape in front of himself, one leg extended for a charge. "One move, winner-takes-all, Waraji-san?"
Bujin's answer was to charge and draw his blade. The speed of the attack was incredible, and it collided head on with Tsuki's blades, straining against them. Grinning, Tsuki cried out....
"Zanken!!!"
And in an instant, Tsuki uncrossed his swords, shattering Bujin's katana and leaving a deep 'X' shaped wound on his torso. Bujin fell backwards, his limp and bleeding body heaving with the mere effort of staying alive. There was no doubt now - the battle was over. Tsuki sheathed one of his swords, and raised the other high above his head, ready to deliver the final blow. Shinrai cried out for him to stop, but the blade swung down swiftly.... before stopping just above Bujin's head. Silently, Tsuki sheathed the blade, and began to walk away.
"D-Damn it all.... come.... back.... here...."
Turning around, Tsuki saw that Bujin was raising his hand towards him, his eyes silently accusing him of treason.
"I-I lost.... by all rights.... you must.... take my life.... D-Do it now, dammit all!!!"
"...... No," replied Tsuki, "I won't kill one with such a great gift of swordsmanship."
An anguished cry escaped Bujin's lips. "The code.... of Bushido.... demands my death!"
Angrily, Tsuki yelled out, "If you seek death so much, do it yourself! Bushido be damned.... I won't kill you, and that's my final decision."
High above the stadium, Sei Ma was in shock. TWO of his champions had lost?! But the next fight would be different....