Sakura Blossoms

Chapter 1

By: Icesyvey

Kyoto - Spring 1860

Mamoru opened his eyes, sensing someone else in the room. In a heartbeat his hand grasped the hilt of his katana, dark eyes focused on the man across from him. After a moment he slowly stretched his legs out in front of him, and lowered his sword to his side once more.

"Shino, you know better than that. I could have cut your head off." Mamoru said as he stood up and looked around the room he used in his family's home.

The young man who was now kneeling by the door of Mamoru's room, smiled up at the older man. Both had black hair, high cheekbones, eyes that slanted slightly at the corners and full lips. While Shino's mouth and face had smile lines around it, Mamoru's had lost that trait many years before.

"You could but have but I know that you wouldn't, Mamoru." Shino replied as he sat up, fixing dark green eyes on his brother. "Father has asked to speak with you, he is in the forge."

Mamoru nodded while he adjusted the strings of his hakama. Then he settled the katana at his waist and walked past his brother. He paused a moment in the doorway to ruffle the younger man's hair before continuing on. As Mamoru silently made his way through the outer hallway of his home he let his mind wander.

He was tired of the battles, of taking the lives of people that challenged the ideas of change. If the new government the imperialists were trying to build ever went into effect, it would mean a better life for all. Even if he had to give up the sword he lived by. That is what he truly believed, with every fiber of his being. That is why he had chosen to fight on the side of the imperialists instead of the Tokugawa.

It had been seven years since the westerners had first ordered to have the ports opened for commerce. Mamoru could understand the people's fear of change. He could even share some of it, but if change did not come they would be left vulnerable to the people of the west with their large ships and guns. At the age of twenty-five, Mamoru had been serving the imperialists for three years. Before that he had fought alongside the Tokugawa. Many of his friends had been slain by the other side, and some even by his own sword.

He had given up everything in his past to be able to help form the new government so his nation and the country he loved would grow and change. He hoped that under the rule of the Meiji, people would be treated fairly. He would see that it happened, even at the cost of his own life. Mamoru frowned slightly and gripped the hilt of his sword, he would see the Meiji come to power again.

He realized that he was standing at the door to his father's forge and fell to his knees. He bowed his head on his hands in front of him.

"Father you asked to see me?"

Tsukima Chiba turned from the forge at the sound of his eldest son's voice, paused a moment and then responded.

"Yes Mamoru please come in."

Mamoru sat up and opened the door. Once he was inside he closed the door again, taking a kneeling position across the room from his father. Tsukima did not look up at his son as he lifted his hammer and began to pound at the steel in front of him. Sparks flew and landed on the dirt floor. Tsukima continued to hammer and fold the metal before him, every time careful not to let air or dust in. Slowly the metal became thinner and longer. Nothing but the sound of his hammer on metal and the hiss of the forge fire was heard in the small room.

It was a comfortable silence, one that had been shared between father and son for many years. Due to the fire that always burning the forge room was always extremely hot. Mamoru had always been fascinated by his father's craft, so he sat and watched as Tsukima created a wonderful blade from what was once a piece of raw ore. A loud hissing sound brought Mamoru back to his senses and he looked to see his father setting the new blade into the water.

"It is a wonderful blade father." Mamoru said gently.

Tsukima looked at his son and sighed softly. He was getting old and was becoming tired of making weapons for death. "One of my greatest works..." Tsukima said softly as he lifted the now cooled metal from the water and began to sharpen it and polish it.

"Father, while I like to watch you work, why did you ask that I come?" Mamoru asked the question that had been plaguing him all morning.

"Umino said that you were in another battle last night," Tsukima said, his hands still working the metal lovingly.

Mamoru's midnight eyes widened slightly and he bowed low; Umino was Mamoru's childhood friend. A friend that, like Mamoru, fought to see the Meiji Restoration, and Umino was also Tsukima's apprentice.

"Yes father, I ran into an assassin of the Tokugawa. They ran off before I could finish the battle." Mamoru said, still in a bowed position.

Tsukima looked at his son's prone position and sighed. Setting the blade on the anvil, he stood and walked to Mamoru's side to look down at his son's dark head.

"I remember when you and Umino used to play in here as children, how you learned the art of swordsmanship and also sword-forging from myself and your uncle. I do not agree with you being a part of this battle, but it is not something that is in my hands. I will make sure that you have a sword worthy of rebuilding this country. All you need to do is to make sure you are alive to use it." Tsukima said, then stepped around Mamoru's form and opened the door. The screen slid closed again, but not before Tsukima uttered the words, "Mamoru.. always remember why it is you fight."

Mamoru sat in his bowed position until he heard his father's steps move down the hall. Slowly he straightened up and looked at the unfinished sword on the anvil.

"Why I fight?" He said to the empty room, his mouth set in a grim line as he stood slowly. "I fight so that someday the wars will end. I fight for a better government, for an end of the shogunate."

Mamoru turned and exited the forge. He stood in the outer hall for a moment, allowing the warm morning sunlight to bath his face.

"I know why I fight father..." He said, his wrist resting lightly on the Tsuka of his sword.

"Usagi, why do you fight?"

Usagi looked over to the woman that was walking next to her and frowned slightly, pondering the question. Why did she fight? The easiest answer was because her master asked her to. She looked around the street they were walking on; children still played, men and women still worked in this time of war. Laughter filled the air and Usagi looked ahead to see a group of small children kicking a ball around. What was she fighting for? She tilted her head back and closed her eyes for a moment, still thinking about the question.

The easiest answer was because she was told to, but was that her true reason? Usagi fought the imperialists because if she did not, the way of life she, and everyone else knew, would change. The west would come and change the nation of Japan forever, and like most, change scared Usagi. She didn't really believe in the Tokugawa, but her master was a loyal lord to the Tokugawa shogunate, the government in charge of this warring nation at the moment.

"Usagi?"

Usagi opened her eyes again to see her companion looking at her strangely, "I am sorry Makoto. I was thinking about the question you asked me."

"Did you come up with an answer to it?" Makoto asked as she sidestepped a small child.

Usagi smiled at the boy as he ran by. She wondered if Makoto realized she had just lost her wallet. She looked down at the wakizashi that she was carrying; she had noticed a crack in the metal this morning, and was going to the sword smith to have it repaired.

"I fight because it is what your father, my master, asks me to do. My family is honor bound to serve yours." Usagi smiled at the taller woman as they approached the weapon smith's hut. "It is how it has always been."

Makoto frowned at her young friend as they continued to walk, "That does not mean it is the correct way. If you were to fight for the Meiji you would be free once the revolution was over."

"What is freedom, though? Even after the revolution, when the fighting has stopped and if the Meiji is once again at the power, it does not mean that things will change instantly." Usagi responded. She let her eyes focus on the dark spaces between the shops as they walked.

Makoto sighed and looked at the woman next to her, Usagi Tsukino served Makoto's father because it was expected. Because the Tsukinos had been serving the Kino clan for decades. Long before either Usagi or Makoto had been on the earth. Usagi had strange blonde hair and blue eyes, she was small and never seemed to laugh or let her real emotions show through. Makoto sighed again as they approached the weapons hut. She waited outside while Usagi ran in and dropped off her sword.

Usagi looked around the shop as she moved further in and eyed the different types of weapons, katana, wakizashi, tanto. Usagi picked up one of the small daggers that were probably just as strong as her wakizashi and tested the edge by running a finger along the blade. She watched as a small amount of blood welled up on her finger, then stuck it in her mouth to suck on it.

"May I help you?"

Usagi smiled as she lowered her finger and put the dagger down, making sure no blood had gotten on the blade, "Yes, I need to have my wakizashi repaired. I am afraid that it was cracked," she explained, holding her weapon out to the man.

He took the weapon and slowly slid it from the sheath taking a look at the deep crack in the blade. He frowned and flipped it easily in his hand, lifting it closer to his face to get a better look at it.

"I can repair this, but it will not be today." He said re-sheathing the sword

Usagi sighed softly and nodded, "Of course. I will pay whatever is needed to make sure that I get it back as soon as possible."

The old man nodded then turned around to walk into the back room. Usagi took this as a dismissal and exited the shop. She squinted at the bright sunlight then looked around for Makoto. The other woman was no where to be seen. Sighing Usagi started to search for the other woman. Usagi spotted Makoto by a pond not far from the weapons shop. The other woman was standing under a large sakura tree. The wind picked up suddenly and some petals floated to the ground next to them. Usagi watched them with empty blue eyes.

"It is amazing, in this battle torn city, the sakura trees still bloom." Makoto said, catching one of the falling blossoms in her cupped hand.

"If you say so Makoto," Usagi said still watching the petals fall. Almost like blood from the sky.

Makoto Kino sighed at her friend and let the flower fall to the ground near their feet, "You are always so gloomy." she said as they began their trek home.

"Sorry it is merely the way I am." Usagi responded as she quickened her pace. She did not like being unarmed. Usagi felt very exposed without the familiar short sword. It didn't help the situation either that the daughter of her master was with her.

"Makoto we should hurry home." She said and grabbed the other woman's hand as they broke into a run.

Usagi cursed under her breath as she noticed that the kimono's narrow skirt hindered her steps as she hurried Makoto through Kyoto. She had an un-easy feeling that she couldn't explain. She hurried faster almost dragging the other woman on the ground behind her.

"Usagi, stop!" Makoto yelled, yanking her hand from the other woman's.

Usagi looked back to see Makoto covered in dirt and other things, the beautiful blue kimono with the star design ruined.

"I am sorry Makoto, but I feel that we should return home." Usagi said almost pleading with Makoto.

"I am fine with that, as long as you let me walk on my own." Makoto said brushing her hands down over her kimono, trying get some of the stuff off the delicate cloth.

"Of course Makoto, I am sorry." Usagi said

Makoto smiled at Usagi and the two began to walk at a much slower pace back to the Kino home.

Usagi sat in a group of twelve men as she listened to her master explain what would happen in just a short period of time. As she looked around the group she noticed was the only woman there. Her hand dropped to the katana at her side and she sighed softly. She missed her wakizashi, though she could also fight with the longer sword.

"Usagi when the carriage comes into to sight I will need you to jump onto the roof." Atsuo Kino said.

"Yes master," Usagi said bowing to him.

"Your job will be to kill the Meiji officials inside, while myself and the others take care of the gaurds." Atsuo continued

Usagi nodded, ignoring the sneers from the men she was seated with. They didn't like her but she didn't care. She stood and bowed to Atsuo, "Master I will prepare for tonight."

Atsuo nodded then turned back to the other men and began to speak in a hushed voice. Usagi closed the door behind her and stared up at the moon for a moment before she walked out into the yard and sat down on the stone bench by the fish pond. She watched as a large koi swam to the surface then ducked back under. She turned as the men emerged from the room, they were still speaking in low voices.

An hour later found Usagi crouching on a tree branch over the road the carriage was supposed to pass on. Her long blonde hair had been braided and tied off with a dark ribbon. She sighed softly, letting one leg hang over the branch while she waiting. Suddenly she could hear the crunch of carriage wheels on the street. As the carriage drew closer Usagi jumped lightly onto it. She was dressed in a black kimono and black hakama- a pair of simple pants usually worn over a kimono to allow better movement. The outfit had been made to allow her to blend into the shadows.

She unsheathed the katana and without looking to see if the others were doing their jobs, she swung down onto the step and hung there for a moment before she pulled the door open. Inside would be one guard, and the meiji official, she knew. The carriage jerked to a stop as the rest of the group started to take down the gaurds.

A sudden slash from a katana brought Usagi's thoughts back to the situation at hand and she jumped back landing in the street crouching slightly. Out of the carriage stepped a tall man holding a katana. But it was the person behind the man that caught Usagi's attention.

"Makoto?" Usagi asked in a soft voice.