A/N: Blah, this took so much longer to write and post than I intended. I hate house construction. No computers anywhere. I had the story written for the longest time, but each time I was finally able to get to a computer, the internet was either not working or wasn't working. Okay, enough ranting. Sorry this took so long, but I finally managed to post it. This was a bit harder to write than the others since Kyuzo is...well, Kyuzo. He doesn't talk much, soI had to keep that in mind, plus, when he does talk he says exactly what needs to be said to get the point across. That's dfficult for me so it was difficult to write. Anyways, I have no idea how his characterization came out. I'm too tired and frustrated with computers to care at the moment. Well, I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Samurai 7
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Katsushiro wandered through the woods at the back of the village trying to figure out where the silent samurai was. As he walked along the path, he caught sight of a flash of silver in the distance. As he came closer, he noticed it was Kyuzo.
Kyuzo was silently practicing a kata with grace and discipline. Katsushiro was fascinated by the older samurai's strokes. He continued to watch, mesmerized by the flashes of silver. The whole while, Kyuzo did not even seem to notice the younger samurai's presence even as he finished and sheathed his swords. He began to walk away when he stopped and turned to face Katsushiro.
"What?"
His sudden question startled Katsushiro who immediately became stiff. He decided that it was easier staring at the ground than meeting Kyuzo's stare.
"I…I was told that Shichiroji needed to see you…"
His voice trailed off towards the end as he became ever more aware of the older samurai staring at him. Katsushiro expected Kyuzo to walk away and leave him alone, but instead, he remained rooted to his spot. This left Katsushiro even more uncomfortable.
"Is that all?"
The question caused Katsushiro to look up and meet Kyuzo's gaze. The minute he locked eyes with him, Katsushiro regretted it. Now that he was looking straight at Kyuzo, he found he was unable to look away. Katsushiro sputtered, trying to find words to say.
"I…uh…Well, there is…uh…"
Kyuzo waited patiently, which in turn made Katsushiro more uncomfortable. After what seemed like an eternity of silence, Katsushiro decided to swallow his fear.
"Kyuzo-dono…To you, what is the scent of the battlefield?"
"Why does it matter?"
Katsushiro's voice gradually became more passionate as he attempted to explain.
"Because!...If I only knew what it meant, what it was, then I would be more accepted. Everybody tells me I do not have the scent of the battlefield and I am treated as a child. I don't want that. I am a samurai. I serve and protect and live by my honor. That is why I need to know!"
The thoughts of the times when he felt useless flashed across his mind. He remembered the first time he met Kirara and she did not want to hire him because of his lack of the scent of the battlefield. He looked steadily at Kyuzo who still wore a blank expression though appeared to be a bit more thoughtful. He studied Katsushiro and let out an inaudible sigh.
"It is not a guideline or rulebook. It is something you adapt to. For each, this is different."
He hoped that this would be a good enough explanation, but did not count on it. Sure enough, Katsushiro stared at him utterly confused. Kyuzo figured he had already asked some of the other samurai and had become more frustrated each time he asked.
"The others have their own idea of this. You need your own. Nothing we tell you will help you. Get over it and move on. You are in a wrong time to choose to become a samurai."
From the short time he had known Katsushiro, Kyuzo knew the boy was going to have a hard time fulfilling his dream. The age of samurai was fading into history while the age of merchants began its ascension. But for Katsushiro, he was determined to become a samurai regardless of the odds.
"How can it be a wrong time! Right now, samurai are needed all the more!"
"Exactly. Those who are samurai, not those trying to be one."
He stared at disbelief at the older samurai. Kyuzo's words stung Katsushiro. Since he began this war on the Nobuseri, Katsushiro had felt like he was a samurai. He was fighting for an honorable cause. He killed for an honorable cause. That made him a samurai, did it not?
Kyuzo watched in mild amusement at the younger man's expressions. It changed from anger, to disbelief, to frustration. It was easy enough to determine what he was thinking about.
"What makes a samurai?"
His question interrupted Katsushiro's flow of thoughts. The young samurai looked at the katana at his waist thoughtfully.
"Somebody who follows the code of bushido and uses his sword to protect. A samurai does not fear. He lives by honor and readily dies for his master or cause."
"If that is all, then you will never be a samurai."
Katsushiro was about to object when Kyuzo cut him off.
"Ideals alone doe not make a samurai."
The older samurai reached behind his back and untied his sheath from his jacket. He drew only one sword and rested the other against a tree. The whole time, Katsushiro watched curiously as Kyuzo pointed his sword at Katsushiro's heart.
"Fight."
IT took a few moments for the word to sink in. When it did, Katsushiro became more confused and began to panic. He had witnessed the fight between Kyuzo and Kambei. While he was no expert, he clearly understood that Kyuzo was good.
"Wha-…"
"I thought a samurai does not fear?"
A ghost of a smirk crossed Kyuzo's features and was enough to bait Katsushiro. The young samurai immediately forgot what he was fearing to begin with and let his growing emotions take over.
"I am not afraid!"
"Then fight me."
"Why don't you use both swords?"
"I don't need to."
Being so glaringly patronizing did not sit well. In an instant, Katsushiro charged straight at Kyuzo who stood impassively with his sword at his side. The younger samurai intended to use a draw attack and grew more confident as Kyuzo let his sword arm hang limply by his side. Before he could blink, Katsushiro stopped dead in his tracks. He turned his eyes downward and noticed the tip of Kyuzo's sword pressed lightly against his throat. He trembled as slowly stepped backwards. Only a sliver of metal could be seen from Katsushiro's sheath. He was not even able to draw.
"How…"
"You're slow and let the whole world see what you are going to do before you do it."
Katsushiro now stood some feet away from Kyuzo who had lowered his arm and let it rest gently by his side once again. The young samurai drew his sword and positioned himself into an offensive stance. Kyuzo remained in the same position and already found the weak point. Once again, Katsushiro thrust his sword forward in a quick attack, but again had to stop. This time, his sword was no longer in his hands, but lying a few feet away.
"How do you intend to fight with no sword?"
Though Kyuzo's voice remained as monotonous as always, the growing frustration in Katsushiro made him imagine that the older samurai was mocking him. This fueled his growing anger. He hastily grabbed his sword from the ground and charged again.
"Do you not learn?"
Instead of disarming him, Kyuzo brought his sword to meet Katsushiro. When the blades clashed, Kyuzo deftly flicked his wrist which forced Katsushiro's blade to stop and leave the both of them in a deadlock. The younger samurai continued to push forward while Kyuzo remained still. Katsushiro's efforts were in vain.
"Where is your ideals and honor now? Do they give you strength?"
Katsushiro gritted his teeth. He was using all his might to hold the deadlock steady while Kyuzo appeared to be putting forth no effort. He casually held his sword with one hand and did not even break a sweat. Without even trying, Kyuzo unlocked their blades and knocked Katsushiro backwards. Before the younger man could stand up, Kyuzo had his sword pointed over Katsushiro's heart.
"Do not let this," He tipped his sword to indicate Katsushiro's heart, "Overrule this." Kyuzo moved his sword upwards and lightly rapped him upside the head with the flat of his blade.
"Are you saying I'm too emotional? Is that it!"
"Aptly put."
"So a samurai must deny his emotions to be a true samurai?"
"When did I say that?"
Kyuzo lightly sighed as he sheathed his sword. He began to tie the sheath back onto his jacket while Katsushiro stared at him in disbelief.
"You lack control. Emotions need to be controlled, particularly, on the battlefield."
After securing his swords to his back Kyuzo noted how easily he was able to goad on the fledgling samurai. He could already tell that Katsushiro's emotions and passions would lead him down a dangerous and painful road. From the way Katsushiro's attacks became wilder, the more experienced samurai understood that cold logic and reason was lost on the boy. That in itself was going to be the downfall and growth of Katsushiro.
"What about Kikuchiyo-dono? Nobody ever goes after him and he's what I would call emotional."
The silent samurai lightly snorted at the thought of the farmer turned mechanical samurai. He and Katsushiro were two different reckless forces. Kyuzo faintly shook his head.
"He…is an exception to many things. Never compare anybody to him."
Katsushiro watched the older samurai begin to walk off towards the village. He knew that he was pushing his luck if he kept asking Kyuzo for answers, but he still was not satisfied with what he had been told.
"Alright then, so I need to control my emotions. Is that it? Is that what the scent of the battlefield is?"
The other samurai stopped walking and closed his eyes as though briefly meditating for patience.
"What you lack…is not something anybody else can tell you. Figure it out on your own."
"Wait! How am I supposed to know-"
A ghost of a smirk crept along Kyuzo's features as he looked over his shoulder and stared straight at Katsushiro.
"Your emotions are troublesome. Samurai follow the code of bushido. To truly do this, things are sacrificed."
With that, Kyuzo began to calmly yet resolutely move away from the younger samurai. Katsushiro knew that meant Kyuzo had greatly exceeded his daily word quota and there would be no more discussion. He continued to watch the stoic samurai steadily make his way towards the village to find Shichiroji.
"I thought Kyuzo-dono might be able to make things clearer…but I think I'm more confused than ever."
Katsushiro sighed. He rolled over the things that Kyuzo had told him and then recalled his spar with the older samurai. He remembered the way that Kyuzo only had to use one sword to defeat him and even remained in a neutral posture. He knew Kyuzo was good, but did not truly understand how good he was until a few minutes ago. Kyuzo emanated an aura of control and discipline. Katsushiro envied that control. He then realized how right the stronger samurai was.
"It seems I am lacking many things…How frustrating…"
With all the thoughts whirling around in his head, Katsushiro became more confused and frustrated. In his frustration, he lashed out and punched a nearby tree. He quickly regretted that decision as he rubbed his now sore hand.
"Great job, Katsushiro…I can't beli-…
No, I will not lose myself like this. I don't think anybody needs me at the moment…I think I should meditate to clear my mind…"
He relaxed his muscles and took a deep breath. After slowly exhaling, he walked through the woods until he came upon a small stream. He sat down near the edge, leaning against a rock.
"I need to relax and clear my mind. Then, I will be able to think more clearly."
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A/N:Okay, the chapter is written. Kyuzo is fun, yet so hard to write for. As I said earlier, it's difficult to have him make a point like this one without him getting chatty. I tried my hardest to keep him how I see him to be. He comes off as being in control. Everything about the guy screams it. So, I think he does have emotions, he just keeps them to himself. Additionally, Kyuzo comes off as still following the whole samurai thing, except he's also cynical about the whole thing and the changing times. I think all the samurai are like that. Anyways, who cares now, it's written. I just hope you enjoyed reading it.
There is one more chapter to go. The final chapter will have Katsushiro analyze all the things the samurai had said. Who knows when that will be done. Again, getting to a functioning computer is quite difficult now of days, but hopefully it shouldn't be too long.