I do not own nor have rights to any of the characters contained within this story.
I do however lay claim to the character Kamutsu.
Chapter 8 – The Legend of the Band of the Blade
As Ron and Yori walked into the small but crowded snack shop adjacent to the hotel several people turned and stopped eating momentarily. After all, it wasn't every day that two figures, one dressed in a white ninja suit and the other in a black similar outfit casually walked in to get a cup of coffee but being busy Go City commuters on their way to work everyone soon returned to their meals as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
Ron guided Yori to the only empty booth located the back of the shop. As soon as they were seated Ron started looking at the menu mentally checking off the several items he was going to order. Yori simply sat deep in thought, the story she had to tell Ron had been more of a superstitions legend to her until a few minutes ago when she had seen the Band on Ron's wrist and felt its power. She wanted to get all of the things she had heard straight in her mind before starting her story. She had considered waiting until she could contact Sensi and then have Sensi deliver the story but she knew that Sensi must have known that she would recognize the Band, and since he had not warned her not to speak of it, he must have felt that she was qualified to deliver the story…. And the warning.
While Yori was deep in thought the waitress had arrived and not giving the strangely clad pair a second look had started taking their order. When Ron had finished ordering the waitress started looking around then looked at Ron and asked "Will the other six people be joining you soon?" Ron just looked at her strangely and said "Uh… It's just the two of us" he ten directed his attention to Yori and continued "Hey Yori, you gonna order anything?" This brought Yori back to reality and she demurely ordered half a grapefruit and a cup of tea.
When the heavily laden waitress started bring the first of many loads of food to the booth the two young people were deep in conversation. It appeared that the young lady was telling a story but the young man at the table, although obviously paying strict attention to what was being said immediately started pushing unbelievable amounts of the food into his waiting mouth. By the time the waitress returned with her second load all of the previous delivery had mysteriously vanished and the empty plates were stacked neatly as though waiting to be refilled. The waitress simply sighed and thought to herself "Well if he tips as well as he can eat, I may be able to leave early today"
As soon as the waitress had taken their order Yori started relating the story of the Band of the Blade to Ron. This is the Legend that Yori related to Ron that morning.
The Band of the Blade - A legend
Long ago, before the warrior Toshimu had started carving the great school from the rock of Mount Yamanochi, during the time he was still abroad in the land fighting evil in its many forms and freeing the peasants from the yoke of tyranny, he had many enemies. The Lords of the land who ruled by fear and greed had banded together to stop Toshimu from breaking their hold on the land. They had accumulated a great fortune in gold and jewels which was offered to any warrior who would deliver Toshimu's head to them.
Toshimu was aware of the reward and had many times been forced into battle with Samurai attempting to collect the great bounty. Even though the Lotus Blade gave Toshimu great power and superiority over any normal warrior Toshimu knew he was not invincible. After meditating on this for several days high in the mountains of the Northern Provinces it was revealed to Toshimu that he required a traveling companion A companion of great honor and a pureness of heart who was willing to devote his life to the freedom of others.
Toshimu had heard of one such warrior, a young man by the name of Kumatsu. It was said that Kumatsu, although young, was gifted in the arts of the ninja and was using those skills to the benefit of others less fortunate that he. The last Toshimu had heard young Kumatsu was here in the Northern Provinces aiding a village of mining workers who were in a fight for their lives against a great Lord who wanted the gemstones that the miners were retrieving from the mountains. Toshimu knew he must seek out Kumatsu as this young warrior was destined to be his companion.
After several days and nights of endless travel Toshimu came to the top of a mount overlooking the village where Kumatsu was rumored to be staying. The sight that greeted him when he looked down upon the village made him take pause. There, in the center of the village, stood a warrior dressed all in white, holding a sword in the traditional pose of defense. Thundering down on him were a dozen horse mounted Samurai brandishing Katana and Yari, the sword and the spear of seasoned samurai warriors. As the Samurai reached the young warrior he went into blazing action. At a speed almost to fast to follow the warrior sprung into the air brandishing his own Katana expertly. When the horde of attackers had passed Toshimu noted that over half of the attackers were disarmed and wounded while the young warrior looked to be completely unharmed as he turned in place to face the Samurai again. Toshimu was glad of heart upon seeing this; it meant that the warrior was not only highly skilled but that he would not take a life unless all other options were exhausted.
Seeing the result of their initial attack the Samurai had apparently decided not to try another and after reforming their group continued to ride out of the village taking great care not to get within range of the black clad ninja still standing in the center of the square. The young warrior relaxed his stance but did not take his eye's from the backs of the retreating Samurai until they faded from sight swallowed in the dust kicked up by the horses as they left. Toshimu started down from the mount now positive that he had indeed found a companion, Toshimu's hope as he reached the village was that Kumatsu would consider joining him on his journey. As Toshimu entered the village he thought that he would have to seek out Kumatsu but that was not the case. Kumatsu was suddenly standing before Toshimu again in a posture of defense, his Katana poised and gleaming brightly in the afternoon sun.
As abruptly as Kumatsu had appeared, he stopped, his Katana being sheathed quickly and expertly as he bowed deeply in the direction of Toshimu. It is said that Kumatsu greeted Toshimu by name asking his forgiveness for drawing his sword on such a great warrior and protector of the people. It is also said that upon questioning Kumatsu had informed Toshimu that when he saw the sword tied to Toshimu's back he recognized it immediately, for the only weapon that could exude the beauty and deadliness of this was the famed Lotus Blade. And the only warrior worthy of wielding that blade was the great Toshimu.
It is said that the two warriors retired to the shade of an inn and talked for many hours or days, depending on the version of the story you were hearing but all versions agreed on one point. At the end of the conversation the two warriors stood and embraced, forever more together as friend and companion. It is said that as soon as the two men embraced the Lotus Blade started glowing a brilliant blue white, brighter that the afternoon sun and that a small piece of the Lotus Blade separated itself and formed into a glowing blue band. Toshimu reportedly plucked the band out of the air where it was floating and placed the band upon the right wrist of Kumatsu where it fitted itself snuggly glowing the same blue white as the Lotus Blade itself.
There are many stories as to the powers granted Kumatsu by the Band of the Blade but only three powers repeat through all of the stories. It is firstly said that the band gave Kumatsu a speed and agility equaled only by Toshimu himself, secondly Kumatsu was now able to instantly utilize any fighting skill he had either learned himself or simply witnessed, and thirdly Kumatsu was reportedly now able to determine what form any attack would take even before the attack was devised thus he would be forewarned and prepared for any attack before any enemy even devised it.
There are many other powers that have been associated with the Band of the Blade, over 17,000 of them if you were counting, but these three, Enhanced speed, Fighting prowess equaled by none and foretelling the actions of any enemy are the three that are included in every story ever told about the band. There may be others but they are now lost to time.
Toshimu and Kumatsu are said to have fought side by side and back to back from that time until the time that the tyranny that had engulfed the land was no more. The two friends and companions then reportedly retired to Mount Yamanochi where the Great Ninja School now stands carving the school from the rock of the mountain using only the Lotus Blade and the sweat of their brows. Kumatsu is said to have stayed with Toshimu at the school for two years after its completion and then to have gone off by himself into the mountains to seek his destiny. He was never heard from again and the Band of the Blade was lost in the swirls of time and legend. One story remains however that tells of unspeakable horror and it is unfortunately associated with the band of the Blade.
It is said that on evil Lord in a far province happened upon the band in the course of his travels to conquer the lands of his neighbors. When he placed the Band upon his wrist he received great powers which he used to spread terror and death to all who came near him. This went on for a year in which time many thousands lay dead or worse than dead but fortunately the band also worked on it's wearer. The evil and darkness in his heart grew until his earthly body could no longer contain it and one fateful day he exploded in a black cloud, a cloud so black that it is said to have absorbed all light within two miles for a week. At the end of that time there lay upon the land a darkness for ten years where nothing living could grow and anyone entering the area is said to have either run out in great fear or gone mad for the rest of their lives.
That is the legend of the Band of the Blade, able to bestow great powers to the wearer but only the true and pure of heart are able to wear the band with impunity, the evil will die but not before causing death and destruction around them.
After Yori completed her story Ron, who had not only finished his own breakfast but also ate Yori's grapefruit, stared at his wrist wondering which of the destinies was his to follow. Yori finally reached across the table and grasped Ron's arm, now getting used the small shock she received whenever she touched him. She gesture to Ron that it was time to continue their training. Ron followed her out of the snack shop and back to the ballroom never taking his eye's off the glowing blue band encircling his right wrist.
AN:
Had to do this one quickly, I wanted to know about the Band too, this was not in my original outline it just happened and I guess I got carried away.
Whew, glad that's over, never had to invent a legend before. Hope it at least sounds like a legend and not some rambling drivel of a wanna be FanFic writer.
Campy and kDanthe: does that answer your answer about the band? Carefull… not done with it yet.
Userx: Well? Does this get me off a to well beaten path?
All questions about Kim and Ron: Hey, I'm a real KR fan, fear not, but then again…….
Kim will return to the story in a couple of chapters, it wouldn't be a KP story without her.