Chapter 2: Conversation

Kagehisa awoke with a start, springing off his futon like it was a viper. For a while, he lay huddled in the corner, trembling, gasping, trying to catch his breath. His heart was racing like a horse.

You're dead! DEAD! DEAD!

It had now been a year since his grandfather had passed away, and STILL he was here, to torment, to wreck and destroy. This time it had felt so real it had chilled Kagehisa to the bone. Every wrinkle in the old man's face, every hair on his head, all in perfect detail. That leering grin, those malevolent eyes...after one year, they were as real as ever. No. A dream. It was a dream. Just a dream.

He stayed in the corner for a while, knees tucked up to his chin, and tried to force himself to relax. This time it didn't work though. Instead, he started to grow angry. The wretched old man DARED! I'll take this school to where it's never been before, you pathetic old geezer. All you did was sit and whine. Be dead and buried in your shame!

He scrambled to his feet and started getting dressed. No more sleep tonight. He picked up his axe and went outside. There was no such thing as too much practice, after all.

As soon as he left the building he realized he wasn't the only one up and awake. From the training yard came muted grunting, panting and the unmistakable sound of a blade swooshing through the air. Kagehisa knew who it was before the lone figure came into view.

The boy had good reflexes, in mind as well as body. He still couldn't be called anything but an amateur of course, but he had improved a lot during the months he'd been here. He was driven, that was for sure.

"It will be interesting to see how you handle tomorrow, with no sleep tonight."

Taito spun around with a start. For a second, he just stood there, panting.

"I couldn't sleep." As Kagehisa approached him, he continued. "You should talk, by the way. You're up too." He studied the blade for a while before sitting down against a nearby tree, catching his breath.

Kagehisa remained standing.

"This isn't the only night you have been up, is it?" he asked.

Taito studied his blade intently.

"So what's it to you?"

Kagehisa just sighed and studied the stars.

"Look..." Taito said suddenly "...I just don't want to talk about it, OK? I'm just practicing. I want to get better" he mumbled

Kagehisa looked at him for a while. Then he sat down on the ground, placing his axe in his lap. Taito eyed it.

"That's some mean axe" he grinned.

Kagehisa smiled back.

"Yeah. I chose it myself."

They were both silent for a while.

"You must have liked your grandpa a lot." Taito said suddenly.

Kagehisa stared. The boy continued.

"I mean, since you're doing all this for him." He nodded towards the building where the other men were sleeping.

Kagehisa realized his mouth was open and closed it at once.

"... My grandfather...was unjustly treated." he said after a moment's thought. "It's my duty to restore his honor." Honor. He wanted to spit the word out.

Apparently he wasn't as good at keeping a straight face as he thought. Taito was frowning.

"...You didn't like him at all, did you?"

Kagehisa looked away for a second, collecting his thoughts. Then he stared straight into Taito's eyes.

"No."

Maybe it was due to the late hour, the lack of sleep. In any case, Kagehisa found himself telling Taito everything that night. His whole life came jumbling out of his mouth, and every bitter feeling he had ever nursed welled up inside him again. When he was done, he was doing his best not to tremble.

Taito's eyes were open wide.

"Man," he murmured. "But then why...?"

"Because I want to" Kagehisa whispered. Then he started chuckling. "The truth is...if my grandfather knew what I was doing...he'd have been more than furious. And I like it that way. I'll pay my...my 'debt' off to him...but after that – his very memory will be dead and buried." He realized he was spitting the words out and forced himself calm with what seemed like a tremendous effort. Had he just made a fool out of himself?

Taito was chewing on a grass straw, eyeing him uncertainly.

"Did you have a nightmare?" he asked.

The response was a nod.

"Me too."

Silence.

"Don't tell anyone about this." Kagehisa whispered. "Ever."

Taito tensed at first. Didn't like orders. But then he nodded.

When Kagehisa finally got back inside, the sun was just about to rise. Normally, he would have felt a pang of guilt for wasting precious sleep hours. However, this time he felt nothing but relief. Nothing at all.