Old World Part 1-Chapter 2: The Journey Begins

Days soon turned to weeks, which in turn turned to months. Anthony's wounds had fully healed. He packed up the things he accumulated while living in Stephanie's house. She was happy to finally get out and go somewhere else in the world. After checking to see if everything was all right in the house and after getting all the money she had saved up, Stephanie came out onto the porch carrying bags full of clothes and other supplies.

"We really won't need all that. It would only slow us down." Anthony said after he saw her.

"Hmmm, maybe you're right." She replied after looking the many bags in her hands.

Stephanie went back into the house and returned with nothing. She walked down the stairs and started through the town. Anthony followed behind her, watching all his surroundings. People working at shops, selling various wares and services. Vendors shouting about how their goods are superior to their competitors. Stephanie and Anthony saw a sushi stand and decided to stop there. The old man that was there running the stand was kind to them.

"What'll you have?" The old man asked.

Stephanie thought about it for a second then ordered for her and Anthony. The old man smiled as she laid the money on the counter. He turned and started slicing up fish and pulling out his rice and wraps. He soon turned back around and put the order in front of them.

"Thanks a lot." The old man said.

The old man smiled at Stephanie and bowed to Anthony. Anthony, though confused, bowed back.

"So, what's this place called anyway?" Anthony asked while eating some sushi that they bought.

"Nagatomi, it's about four towns from Kirasagi." Stephanie replied with an informative tone.

"Oh, ok. How long will it take to get to Kirasagi?"

"Hmmm, around eleven days."

"Wow, I was thinking around two but alright."

Stephanie laughed, "We're headed to Minoki now."

"Is that a big city?"

"Not really, just a village. We can rest for the night there at least."

"So, we should be there by nightfall, right?"

"Yeah, It's not too far away."

Once they got out of town, Anthony and Stephanie started down the road to Minoki. Anthony started picking up rocks and skipped them down the road. Stephanie looked at him and laughed. He smiled back at her. Many people walked past them, looking busy, some talking to themselves. Up ahead, someone started shouting.

"Please help me!" A girl yelled out.

Anthony ran past Stephanie to the woman that was screaming. Six men had surrounded her.

"Come on baby, I just wanna talk." Said one man while the others laughed.

The man grabbed at her robe. She quickly turned away and slapped his hand. He drew his katana and grabbed her robe again.

"Now you gone and pissed me off. I'll show you what happens when you don't cooperate." He said.

"I suggest you back away from that woman." Said a voice from the background.

Another man walked up. He was dressed in a white robe and had a bandana around his forehead. Two spikes of hair came from behind it and reached down to his cheeks. He had a white-handled katana at his side. His hand steadily hovered over it.

"You wouldn't want any trouble." Said the white robed man.

"Oh yeah? Who the hell are you?" Replied the other man.

"I'm a swordsman from Nerokawa. Now leave that woman be or you will pay with your lives."

"Ha, a two-bit samurai, huh? Let show him a thing or two boys."

The other men laughed and drew their swords. The white-robed man stood there, his hand over his sword as they surrounded him. Anthony bent down and grabbed a rock. Stephanie looked at him and grabbed his arm.

"Don't interfere. Let him handle it." She said with a worried tone.

"This isn't right. I have to help him." Anthony replied.

"Don't try to be a hero Anthony."

"I'll give you one last chance to keep your lives." The white robed samurai said to the men.

"Heh, Screw you. This girl here is mine." The thief replied.

The samurai drew his sword and slashed through the thief's wrist, as fast as lighting. The thief stood there as the woman stepped back, his hand still clenching onto her robe. The thief screamed out in pain as blood sprayed from the nub where his hand once was.

"Kill him! Don't just stand there you cowards!" The thief called out, while trying to stop the bleeding.

The other men hesitantly charged at the white-robed samurai. He quickly dodged two attacks and returned with four of his own. Two of his slashes met the arms of his two attackers. The other two were dodged. Anthony stood back, waiting for a clear shot. One of the thieves charged at the samurai, leaving the gap Anthony was looking for. He launched the rock as hard as he could at the man's head. The rock slammed into his temple, causing him to fall to his knees. Anthony ran up to him as fast as he could and unleashed a powerful kick into the side of his head, knocking him out. Anthony grabbed the man's sword and ran next to the samurai.

"Looks like you could use a hand." Anthony said.

"I can handle these callow thieves myself." The samurai replied.

One of the other men slashed at Anthony. He dove forward and slashed the man's kneecaps. The man fell to the ground screaming in pain. Anthony quickly stood and ran at another man. He slashed powerfully at him, but the man turned in time to block his attack. The thief returned with his own attack but Anthony sidestepped out of the way. Anthony then countered with a slice to the side of the thief. The thief fell to his knees as blood spewed from the open wound.

The last thief attacked the samurai. He quickly ducked and slashed at the thief's legs. The thief blocked the strike and returned with a slash to the samurai's body. The samurai jumped back as the sword swung by him. He then sprinted toward the thief and slashed at him three times. The thief blocked the first two but took one strike to his stomach. The thief fell just as the samurai stopped running and sheathed his katana.

The samurai walked up to the woman. She sat there staring at the hand gripping onto her robe. He drew a small katana from underneath his other sword and slashed the fingers off the hand. She woman screamed as the hand fell to the ground. He smiled at her and offered her his hand.

"Let me help you up, Miss." He said kindly.

"Thank you so much, samurai." She replied as she took his hand.

The samurai pulled her up to her feet and brushed off the dirt on her outfit. She smiled at him and gave him a hug. Whistles could be heard in the distance. She looked at him.

"Don't worry about the police, I'll tell them what happened." She said.

"I thank you, Miss." He replied.

She then looked over to Anthony as he started to eat some sushi. Stephanie laughed at him as the woman walked up to him.

"Thank you so much, Hero." The woman said to Anthony

"Hero?" He asked.

"Well I do not know of your name, but you were my hero today, so that will be your title to me."

"Thank you." Anthony said smiling.

"No, I thank you." The woman bowed.

Anthony stood for a few seconds, and then he remembered to bow. He bowed twice laughing and apologizing. After the police let him and Stephanie go, he looked over to the last policeman there and saw the white robed samurai. He looked over to Anthony as the policeman asked him a few more questions. Once the officer left, the samurai walked over to Anthony.

"You are a skilled warrior, yet you haven't ever used a sword have you?" He asked.

"No, I haven't." Anthony replied.

"Hmmm," said the samurai as though he were lost in thought, " you are headed to Minoki, are you not?"

"We are."

"We?"

"Yes, me and her." Anthony motioned to Stephanie.

"I see. I shall accompany you there then, if you allow me."

"Sure, I don't see nothing wrong with that."

"I thank you."

"What is your?" name?"

"Romero, and yours

"Anthony, this is Stephanie."

"It's a pleasure to meet you two." Romero bowed.

"Same here." Said Stephanie, returning the bow.

"Oh, yes, nice to meet you too." Anthony said while bowing.

The three of them walked for a few hours. After awhile, Anthony started messing around with Stephanie. Every so often she would laugh and try to hit him. Romero walked on silently, watching the other two and the people around them. His hand never left his sword's hilt. They traveled until dusk. The city of Minoki soon came into view. It was a mid-sized village. The lights shining though the darkening land. People could been seen coming in and out of the village, some with bags or boxes. Others with horse drawn carriages filled with both boxes and bags.

As soon as they reached the town, they headed directly to the inn to rest. Anthony and Stephanie got a room as Romero ordered his own. They both watched him walk away from the innkeeper and go straight into his room.

"He's a little different, don't you think?" Stephanie asked.

"Yeah, there's something about him. I wonder why he wanted to come with us." Anthony replied.

"Well then," Stephanie grinned, "go find out."

Stephanie pushed Anthony to Romero's door. She giggled as he looked back at her. He knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" Asked Romero

"It's Anthony, I want to ask you something. May I come in?" Anthony replied.

"If you must." Romero opened the door and let Anthony in.

"I wanted to know why you chose to come with us."

Romero stared into Anthony's eyes, searching for impurity. He then started to talk again.

"I had a dream the other day." He said.

"What was it about?" Anthony asked.

"There was a tiger, without claws or teeth. Many hunters attacked it, yet the tiger easily killed every one of them. During our battle today, I saw that same tiger within you."

"I see. What do you plan to do then?"

"I will follow you to see if there is some purpose to this."

Anthony stood and bowed. He then headed to the door. "You're welcome to stay with us as long as you want, Romero."

"Thank you." Romero said after bowing back.

Anthony walked out of the room. He stood in the lobby for awhile then walked outside. People walked by, busy with their errands before all the shops closed. Anthony watched them as a memory flashed through his mind.

I can see it in your eyes, Anthony. You've got the eyes of a tiger. A wild beast. Us beasts got to stick together.

I have to see if Daniel survived, Anthony thought. He heard footsteps behind him. He quick spun around, ready to attack, until he saw Stephanie. The lights from the street reflected off her beautiful skin, making her look as if she were an angel. She smiled at him.

"You're too tense." She said.

"You keep sneaking up on me, making me tense." Anthony replied, laughing.

Stephanie smiled at him softly. "I know you must be tired."

"Yeah, I'll sleep in a little bit."

"Don't be up too late, we have to leave early tomorrow."

"Alright."

She smiled at Anthony as she turned and went back to the room. Anthony turned back to the street and saw a man standing there, staring at Stephanie. Anthony gave him a hard look. The man looked at Anthony and turned away. He then walked off. Anthony went to a sushi stand across the street and ordered. He turned and watched the guy disappear among all the people in the street. He heard something come from his side. He turned and looked at the shopkeeper and laughed.

"I'm sorry. Here you go." Anthony said, paying the money he owed.

Anthony ate the sushi at the stand then waved goodbye to the clerk. He then crossed the street and went back into the inn. Anthony waved at the clerk at the counter and went inside the room. Stephanie was already asleep. He smiled and got into his bed. He soon felt tired and drifted off into sleep.