The Ways of Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryu

Chapter 2

The Training of Kakunoshin

I could notice the cherry blossoms bloom in the glaring eyes of the eternal earth. The sun no longer set to bring resistance to the arrival of a new dawn.

Its natural forthcoming brought a vivid sense of uncertainty. What could the new day bring? A hope, or maybe even a revolution that could end the petty disputes

of angered men whose lives were enraged by warfare. I was told to let my mind grow strong and that my swordsmanship would follow soon after. The teachings

of Hiten Mitsurugi are useless if not used for a greater purpose. I have not even lifted a sword these 3 months I have lived with Hiko. Soon I will be ready

to take on the teachings of this powerful sword style and become more than a legend. I will be the one to set a new era where man will live in peace, not haunted

by his own shadow in the depths of his paranoid mind.

Out of the doors of a small hut came hiko dressed in his usual mantle and black under shirt. He glared at me for a moment before calling me over.

"Kakunoshin! You have your head in the clouds again dont you! Today is the day we start training."

He pointed to a sword lying just by the edge of his hut.

"This is the Shirasaya Nihontou. You should become accustomed to this sword because you will use it often."

I took it in my hands and felt the sheer power of it.

"Thank you, master."

"All right Kakunoshin lets begin! Swing your sword at me with full power."

Without reluctance I dived forward with the sword. Hiko shrugged the attack off like it was nothing as the force of the block sent me flying across the ground.

"Put more feeling into your sword, I sensed a weakness in your movement so I exploited it. Now come at me with full strength!"

Once more I took the sword in both hands and struck down upon hikos sword, only to be countered and cut across the shoulder.

I held my bleeding wound as my breathing became heavier.

"You fool, you attack with no strategy. When you enter a battle if you swing about aimlessly, your sure to get yourself killed!"

Hiko became upset as he thrust the butt of the sword into my skull knocking me back several feet before hitting a bed of rocks.

I would not give up. I stood again this time using the sword as a crutch to prevent myself from falling.

"Kakunoshin, it looks as though you are ready to begin your real test. I can see that your will power is strong enough to withstand the grueling training

of the techniques of Hiten Mitsurugi"

Hiko took a small cloth from his hut and threw it over to me. "Wrap this around your shoulder and It should stop the bleeding."

I took the bandage and applied pressure to the deep gash in my shoulder.

"You will learn all the ways of Hiten Mitsurugi. The principles behind this art and the power of it. It is the most powerful sword style and its name translates

to the sword of the soaring heavens."

"The first technique I will teach you is Ryu Tsui Sen."

"It is a powerful slash descending from above and is one of the most basic principles you will have to learn."

Hiko demonstrated the move by leaping high into the air and striking a tree with his sword. Nothing seemed to happen but as he began to walk away the tree

split in two large pieces. I stood there in complete amazement of the power and execution of this one attack.

"Kakunoshin, that one move is enough for today. You still have much to learn." Hiko was suddenly interrupted by a voice that called behind him.

It was a boy dressed in ragged clothing out in the middle of nowhere. "You are Seijuro Hiko the 12th, are you not?

"That is correct," replied hiko smoothly.

"I've come to seek your training. You helped save our village from the bandits not too long ago and both my parents and siblings are grateful for that.

Master hiko I want to become strong so that I too can defend my townspeople from the torment of those barbarians. Please I beg of you I cannot

return home." His eyes began to water and his entire body looked frail as if he had journeyed a thousand miles for my masters guidance.

A moment of silence stood still in the air but was quickly broken by his response.

Master Hiko walked toward the boy and put his hand on the childs head. "My dear boy I have room for only one pupil. But if you so desire to become my

pupil then I can not turn my back on you."

"Tell me, what should we call you."

"I am Hyoue Nishida. I am honored to be your pupil."

He walked over to me soon after and muttered something that to this day proves my distrust of him.

"You will not succeed. I will be the successor of Hiko Seijuro. Watch your back you filthy boy."

I couldnt belive what I was hearing. Master Hiko sensed the tension and quickly broke our conversation.

This time hiko spoke to us both. "You two will endure the hardest training possible. One of you will be able tosucceed me and become Seijuro Hiko the 13th.

The other will fall by my blade. Everything will become much clearer later on. For these next 10 years you will work hard and learn the deepest secrets of

Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu. Which one of you will succeed? Thats for you two to find out.

This is the second chapter of the tale of hiko seijuro. If you notice Hyou Nishida is the master of Amakusa Shougo, the son

of god. I put him in there because in hikos past it was mentioned that he too wanted the title of Hiko seijuro the 13th.