Mitsurugi: Samurai

Chapter IX

Shagoi Kurma. That was the name of his savior. Master Shagoi was an older samurai, but Mitsurugi wasn't sure how old because he wouldn't tell him. Master Shagoi apparently had been watching Mitsurugi ever since the duel with the gun was announced. It seems he had trained himself in the art of iaijitsu, an art which could counter Tanegishma. He had agreed to train him, but only if he agreed to be taught.

"Jesus? He wouldn't do such a thing. That book is lies, Master Shagoi."

"Mitsurugi, why are you so reluctant to listen or to believe? You hardly believe in your own religion anymore."

"I follow the way of the samurai. I..."

"That is a code, not a god. You used to believe in the Phoenix. Why did you give that up too?"

"She never came. She was not meant for me. I was temporarily insane. I must fight now only to regain my honor and my sword."

"But Shishi-Oh is a much superior sword than that of Korefuji, why risk your life for it?"

"It used it's life to save me..."

"I do not understand....."

"Master, we have both upheld our ends of the deal. I am 29 now, ready to battle any opponent with any weapon. You have trained me well and I have learned of your Bible and the ways of the missionary. I learned, that is all you asked. Now, let us part our ways. I thank you, Master Shagoi." Mitsurugi stood and bowed deeply.

"And I you, Samurai." He bowed back just as deeply, "I hope you will not fail this time, Mitsurugi."

"I am glad that you care so much for me."

"For you? I care for my bet. I tried to bet for the gun, but that just didn't seem right." He grinned.

"Ahh, I see," Mitsurugi grinned, "I must be going."

"Yes," Mitsurugi turned and left the house walking down the path down from the mountain, "The Phoenix will never save you Mitsurugi. Not without faith."

"My lord, the field is set. It was wise of you to charge an admission to this duel my lord. And also to give it a name. The Duel of the Gun. Aww! It's so exciting! Those in disbelief will be put to silence now, won't they?"

"Yes. I suppose they will be. I am very proud of this fight. I don't know what makes him think he'll win this time around though. The first time he was insane screaming about a Phoenix, this time he's quiet, almost surreal."

"They he's spent every second since his lost training for this duel. He is determined to win. What an even more spectacular death, neh?"

"Yes....I just hope he dies. An army of Mitsurugi's versus an army of Otaka's I am not sure who would win."

"Your army, my lord."

"I suppose."

The setting was the same. The same walls, the same tower, the same grass, even the men. It was almost surreal for Mitsurugi, to relive such a moment in time. Before he knew he would win with the Phoenix, this time he knew he would win with his sword. He stood, contemplating his training and the battle to come.

Otaka once again loaded his gun. He remembered the fear and guilt he felt for winning. He hadn't killed the samurai the first time, so he had been sure he would return to kill him. He hardly slept nights, and those he did sleep were spent in sweat and nightmares. Nightmares of a crazy samurai seeking revenge. He heard the footsteps behind him constantly, he heard them now. Who was behind him, who? He couldn't live like this, not anymore. One of them had to die.

"Let the duel...Begin!" The lord's words resonated through the field and the crowd. All was silenced.

Mitsurugi drew his sword holding it in front of him. 'A musket takes about 5 minutes to reload, depending on the gunman. He will have his gun ready to fire, so if you can avoid the first shot, you will have five minutes to charge the field and kill him.'

Mitsurugi was still, his face placid. Otaka sweated nervously, his hands trembling. He squinted his eye. He licked his lips. Why wont the samurai move? Why wont he attack? I cant attack first. I'll...

"Shit" The gun shot rang through the field. Mitsurugi dived the left performing a tuck and roll. He stood back to his feet and squinted his eyes towards the gunman. He quickly grabbed his powder and bullets. Mitsurugi grasped his sword with both hands and moved it horizontally to his side and began to run. Otaka poured in the powder. Mitsurugi came closer. Otaka opened his bag of bullets, but his trembling hands spilt them on the ground. Mitsurugi came closer. He drop a bullet inside the barrel and began to stand up. Mitsurugi rose his blade from behind him up into the air and down across the front side of Otaka. The footsteps stopped.

The lord was furious. He couldn't believe that his best gunman had been killed by a sword and so refused to pay Mitsurugi. Mitsurugi wasn't so much concerned with the money anymore than he was with the return of his honor and Korefuji. Many men in the inn where he was drinking his tea congratulated him. Others gave him death stares, obviously angry that he had helped keep Japan in these times. He did not care. He was samurai and had to preserve their time as long as he could.

Mitsurugi was turned around a second by a man congratulating him and telling him of his daughter who was very attractive. When he turned back around, there was a letter on top of his tea cup. He opened it and read:

"Mitsurugi,

You may abandon your search for Soul Edge. It has already been found. During your time back home, the sword was found and destroyed. The world seemed safe from its evil for the time being, but it wasn't. A knight named Nightmare has found the pieces of the sword and has rebuilt it. He holds it inside a castle where his fellow knights who follow him are building an army so they may conquer the world. I and many other others are banding together to attack them and take back the sword. Since you have now left your solitude and have achieved your victory, come join us. For if Nightmare can conquer the world, that will include Japan. You must join us and help. We need your sword skills. Please Mitsurugi, please help.

Taki"

Mitsurugi placed the letter to his side and drank his tea silently. Then rose, paid, and left for the nearest harbor.

They all sat around a fire in the forest. Great warriors joined together to help save a world they shared. Taki, the ninja from Japan. Sophitia, ordained of her gods. Kilik, a mysterious student of Master Edgemaster. Talim, a young wind priestess. And Xianghua, the bearer of Soul Calibur. These rest of the camp was asleep, preparing to train for battle. The captains spoke.

"Kilik, what of your home? Aren't there warriors there that could assist us?" Sophitia asked.

"No, I do not think they would be able to." He sheepishly shied away from that question every time it was asked.

"Well, we need some more help. We can't storm a castle and defeat Nightmare with Soul Edge with what we've got here."

"I have called Mitsurugi to join us. He is the greatest swordsman Japan has ever known. He is a One Man Army some say."

"And he will come?" Talim asked.

"I hope."