Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own characters, the Last Samurai and all including characters and even the title of the story belong to their respective owners. I make no money off of this story. This is simply for entertainment and my own brain dumping purposes.
Prologue:
Katsumoto sat in his usual sunny place in the grass overlooking the village, deep in meditation. Recently, his mind had been troubled with the schemes of Omura and his attempts not only to modernize Japan but how aggressively he seemed to be taking the voice of Katsumoto's student the young emperor away and attempting to rule Japan from beneath him. Omura was a viper who hid beneath the rocks and leaves waiting to strike. He knew it would not be long and he had a sense that his destiny was upon him. But he swore that until his last breath he would serve his emperor, the boy he had helped to raise and whom he loved almost as much as his own son. He had always been troubled by how much the young divine one longed to see Japan brought into the modern world. Katsumoto's heart ached at how easily the young emperor could be swayed into throwing away the traditions and values that had kept their country for over a thousand years.
He tried to clear his mind to find peace. Maybe that would help him to find a solution to the problem at hand. But then a vision began to appear in his mind's vision had been plaguing him for months now. He allowed the vision to wash through his mind like a cool wave as he sought to figure out its meaning. He stood in a forest filled with morning fog, his warriors with him, all dressed for battle. They stood in a circle fighting an angry white tiger. But the tiger even though wounded and outnumbered refused to yield or accept defeat. It fought viciously until the very last moment of its life. Katsumoto watched the great beast struggling to stay standing all the while roaring and swiping at its foes, and he wondered at it. Why did it refuse to give up even when it was clearly beaten? Why did this vision keep appearing to him? What was its purpose? What lesson was he to learn from it? The tiger turned it's yellow eyes towards him and released an angry roar.
Suddenly he heard a sound behind him and quickly turned around. The sound was like a roar but different, softer. He did not pull his sword because he did not sense danger. Out of the fog came another white tiger. He didn't know how but he knew this tiger was a female. She was small and her stripes faded to a light brown almost unrecognizable in contrast to the dark black stripes of the male. She was thin with her hip bones showing and her fur slightly ragged and torn. He could see scars covering her back and sides. She had seen in many battles and hardships. The male tiger behind him released another angry roar as the female trotted up and stopped right in front of Katsumoto. He could tell she was tired and had been on a long journey. She released a sound that sounded like a moan, a pleading sound and he couldn't determine if she were calling to him or the male. But what struck him most were her eyes. He had never seen such blue eyes on any animal or man. They were like a clear blue sky. As bad of shape as this little female was in, she was still beautiful. She didn't look at him in anger, or hatred. She simply stood there whiskers forward calling out to as if she were trying to sooth the male, or beg him to release the other tiger. Katsumoto opened his eyes causing the vision to disappear and once again he was sitting on the hilltop overlooking the village.
Author's note:
So I have to admit. The Last Samurai is one of my all time favorite movies and for quite literally years I have wanted to do a fanfiction for it. I am a huge fan of Ken Watanabe and especially Hiroyuki Sanada. But the reason I waited was until I could come up with a story line worthy of my favorite movie and my favorite samurai. This story is going to be different from others I have done. It is going to eventually be rated M and it is a slow burn among other things. For the most part it is going to stay accurate to the movie. So I hope you enjoy this story! XOXOXOXOXO