It wasn't a sunny day but it was warm. Small birds darted around the garden, playing their own game of case. I helped loaded the carriage with Zenko. Why do they need so many things? I thought tying up the last heavy case. The carriage stood on the gravel path leading to the gate. Its dark blue paint shining in the sun, speaks of emerald green decoction glittering.
"Daddy." I heard Kimura cry out running down the stone steps towards me.
"Hello Kimura." I said smiling. "What's the funny look for?" I asked wondering what was going on.
"I'm not Kimura." She said, "I'm Kazuko."
"Really?" I asked playing along. I knew it was Kimura because I could hear Kaede calling Kazuko inside the house, telling her to hurry up and get ready. "Well that's a shame." I said teasing her. "Because I had a bag of sweets for Kimura I better go and give them to her." I pulled out a paper bag filled with ruby red boiled sweets. I chuckled as I saw my daughter face change, not sure what she should do.
"Next time you might be able to catch me out." I said patting her on the head and handed her the bag of sweets. Kimura looked confused, not sure whether she should be happy for the sweets or disappointed that her trick did not work. I turned to face the steps, waiting for the others to come out, I could hear them coming across the singing floor.
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It didn't take long to say our goodbyes; I stood at the gate waving at the carriages, as I grew smaller heading to the world outside of Hagi. I felt glad that Hana had come and took Kaede and the girls' way while Akio was lose was in the city.
I turned sharply as I heard the floor cry, but I was quickly relieved to see that it was only Kenji and Kori standing in the doorway. I made my way up the steps, turning before I closed the door. I noticed a cloaked figures watching from the other side of the coat. I turned back and headed inside, as did the sun she settled in its cloudy grey nest.
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Akio chuckled to himself. No distractions now then. He thought grinning behind his hood. Pulling his cloak closer to him the first rain drops fell lightly on to the cobbled pavement. Turning Akio headed down a dark narrow allay making his way back where he was staying.
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I lifted my sword, Jato above my head I shouted as I road in to battle, banners and shouting behind me encouraging me to go on. A horn sounded. Then a gun shot. Suddenly I was standing on a bridge watching another battle end. Images off all my struggles and battles filled my head as I tossed and turned. A forest. A river. My house. An ear-piecing scream sent my body jolting in to reality. Let when I laid down listening I could not hear anything. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down.
A loud shriek sent me sitting up. It took me a few seconds to realise it was the floors song. Someone was in the house. But who? I got out of bed quickly. What should I do? Get Kenji, Kori? I was thinking rapidly. A weapon? I was quickly distracted from my thinking as I heard the floor cry out again. I ran down the hallway. I leaped from the top of stairs, landing lightly on my feet, the floor not making a sound, and immediately turned invisible. A cloaked figure stood with his back to me.
"I know your there Takeo."
Akio! I thought standing their weapon less.
Akio removed his cloak and stood there in the dark fighting robes of the tribe.
"I believe I have a task to do."
"You haven't changed Akio." I said
He chuckled and reached for his knife. His eyes were fixed on my face and I knew he was hoping to confuse me with the Kikuta sleep, but I was sure I could withstand it. We held each other's gaze for several moments, neither of us able to dominate the other.
"I'm going to enjoy killing you. And then giving Kori his punishment for disobeying the tribe."
"And what about your punishment?" I said
He drew a knife, and I dived sideways, shouting for Kenji to come. The last time I fought with Akio we were both barehanded. He jumped after me trying to get the knife into my chest, but I moved quickly, slipped from his grasp and kicked at him from behind. Hearing him grunt I leapt backwards and shouted for help.
Akio just laughed and dashed forward again. I was surprised at how much he had learnt since I had last fought with him. I jumped backwards and split myself. The second self jumped back, while I drove my fist towards Akio. I ducked down as he swiped at my head and leaped back as I heard a door creak open upstairs.
I felt someone land next to me. Turning I saw it was Kenji. "Take this." He said before turning invisible and dashing at Akio. This was the second time I had fought with Kenji in this house. I took the swords, Jato. I had not fought with Jato since I lost my fingers and it felt slightly weird in my grip. I swung Jato high aiming at Akio. Akio saw me coming and went invisible as I missed him. But now that I was armed he was more wary of me. I had a moment's breathing space. I split myself again trying to distract Akio from the singing floor. I knew Kori was making his way down to see what the noise was about and I didn't want him to get hurt. But it looked like Akio too had heard the floor as he turned to face the stairs.
"Don't worry Kori your punishment is going to some as well." He said coldly
I heard Kori land and I swung my sword again aiming for Akio, but I sliced his second self. He had gone after Kori knocking him in to the wall. Picking him up by the collar I was not sure what Akio said to him before he threw him in to the other room but I heard Kori gasp as he landed.
I had a sword a little longer than Akio's knife and it gave me a slight advantage. We drove each other across the floor and it cried out under our feet. I ducked as I heard the whistling sound of throwing knifes. Kenji had thrown them towards Akio. I split myself to dodge them but Akio saw me and he drown his knife towards me before I had a chance to escape or attack.
I felt the cold metal knife blade drive in to my arm. Then the warm blood trickling down my arm mixing with sweat. I slumped to my knees holding on to my arm. The pain was terrible and the blood just kept coming. I hand already lost my some of my fingers and I hoped my arm was not going to be gone too. "Takeo!" I heard someone shout but when I looked up everything was black. Slowly I slumped to the floor. I just need a little rest. I thought then I should be able to fight again.
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A/N: I beat your wondering what's going to happen how? Poor Takeo what's he going to do now. Sorry to end it on a cliffhanger but it will make more sense in the next chapter, which if I keep on my little trail of thought, you might not have to wait long.