Act 5: Riches or Honor
The noise from the rain clouds, faded in the luminous starlit night as Kisuke opens his eyes to his new surroundings. Sensing something ominous in the air.
His cozy futon had vanished, along with Momohime, and the temple they resided for the night; was now gone as well.
He was surrounded by dense steam beneath his sandals, on the soft carpet floor.
At first, he thought he was in a rich family manor until he realized that he was in Edo castle, the main keep.
Where in the name of kami am I doing here of all places, Kisuke thought while getting a good look at the area. With his Muramasa sword ready to be drawn if anything dangerous occurs.
He then saw Momohime unconscious alongside Torahime in the far distance. Now that she finish her mission to seal away the Kuzuryuu Muramasa.
She can finally return to the glorious Lord Amitabha, where she belongs. Because she made an agreement with Lord Amitabha, to stay on earth for forty-nine days until her mission was completed.
"This is where we part ways Kisuke. It was going to happen, one way or another. I accepted my destiny and days as princess of Mino and guardian protector of the Kuzuryuu Muramasa sword; it's all over."
Torahime responded while looking back on her life. I felt joy, love, pain, regret, and misery throughout my forty-nine days journey in this world. But it was all worth it in the end.
Just to save my sister, my trustworthy friend, and all of Japan, Torahime thought.
"Kisuke, please... promise me that you'll watch over and protect my little sister through life and death. Whether she needs you or not; stay loyal to her until the very end. Momohime is now your master and you are her servant." Torahime said while her life force was beginning to fade away. Every time she talked her dying words.
"Torahime please don't leave this world without me. There has to be another way." Kisuke responded. Then kelt on the floor beside Torahime, hugging her body tightly, while crying, begging, and pleading for Torahime not to let her soul leave the afterlife.
Torahime used the last of her energy to move her right hand to wipe away his tears and with the last reply. "I will always be with you; in your heart, memories, and dreams Kisuke."
Torahime's eyes began to dwindle and lose their light. As her head lay down on the soft carpet floor, with a smile on her face.
Torahime is now dead, with her body wrapped around Kisuke's bulky arms and chest. As he cries tears of loss and sorrow for the woman he loved the most.
Momohime then awakens from her slumber. Only a few inches from Torahime's lifeless body; she was utterly confused about the events that transpired. After she safely returns back to her body, moments ago.
"What happened to me, where did that villainous Jinkuro wander off to this time?" Momohime murmured to herself while trying to remember what happened before she passed out. As she crawls to her older sister's deceased body.
"Big sister, Torahime please wake up, tell me what happened here? Is Jinkuro truly gone or did the young ninja fail to defeat Jinkuro and he entered the world's ley lines and opened Heaven's Gate and transform into a demon of the sixth realms!?"
Momohime ranted while shedding tears on her face. Shaking her dead sister's shoulder. Believing she might be unconscious or something.
"Please answer me!? My father is dead and I no claim to Mino province. I lost everything I hold dear in my heart, you can't die too!"
Momohime shouted while begging her older sister to not leave her alone in this transcendent world. Kisuke was speechless and shocked by Momohime's desperate ranting and attempts to bring her sister back from the dead. Torahime truly is gone and nothing in this world is gonna change that outcome, though Kisuke.
"Momohime I'm sorry I couldn't save your older sister and I promise to explain everything that happened later. Once we leave the castle's main keep. If all the samurai guards see us near the dead corpse of the shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi. They'll blame us and we'll both lose our heads or probably make us commit seppuku."
"I'm not leaving without my older sister ninja. I would rather die than let her dead body be thrown in the trash or be accused of a false murderer!" Momohime said bitterly while trying not to yell back her rage and sadness about leaving her deceased sister, without a grave or tombstone for her sacrifice.
"I'm not going to abandon her Momohime. You'll disguise as a maid or consort and make a distraction by telling the guards that the Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi is dead, while I carry Torahime's body on my back."
Kisuke pushed open the window seal and was prepared to leave without a trace. He then continues his last words to the princess.
"I'll use the window as an exit. Just give me thirty minutes and I'll be gone, like a thief in the night princess. We'll meet each other at New Yoshiwara, Emon Hill."
'I'll be near the inairguni shrine, with a beautiful woman named Yuzuruha. She has a fox-like appearance with a leaf on the top of her head beside her ears."
"Understood uh... I'm sorry but you never told me your name?" Momohime replied awkwardly. Especially after her sharp tone; after being introduced to the young ninja.
"My name is Kisuke, your new servant, princess," Kisuke responded, after launching out of the window with Torahime on his back and the Kuzuryuu Muramasa stashing away with his assortment of Muramasa blades on his belt.
While he continues to run on the rooftops, trying to depart this godforsaken place that causes these horrible incidents to unfold.
Until he was consumed by mysterious darkness all around him, for some reason. Kisuke started to question where exactly was he located this time and what happened. Until he felt his body warp around his soft futon.
Was it a dream or a memory? Kisuke questioned himself, feeling quite confused by the whole situation, while he was sleeping.
He opened his bewildered eyes, only a little and caught a glimpse of two legs between each other. With two feet on top of a white kimono, laying on the stone tiled floor, a meter away from him. Then he heard a girl murmur something.
It was Momohime and I think she is changing clothes right now. I better close my eyes and pretend I'm sleeping, so she doesn't feel more embarrassed and possibly kill me. Kisuke thought, feeling nervous about getting caught by the princess.
Momohime began to look at the curves that shaped her figure, her upper body down onto her chest, where her small but luscious breasts were developing throughout her fragile physique.
She wandered down to reach past her slim stomach, hips, and voluptuous soft butt to her womanhood. Momohime was taking note of how much she has grown, despite only being fourteen years old.
I'm glad Kisuke is knocked out, so I can change my clothes without any disturbance or awkwardness between me and him.
Especially after I comfort his sturdy body and wipe away the tears off his cute sleepy face. If I ever tell him what really happened last night; we'd be blushing all morning long and I really don't have the time for that type of nonsense, Momohime thought.
If I turn to my right side, then I can position myself to see her thighs or ass maybe.
But there is also a high chance she'll sense that I'm awake. Which means… do I keep pretending to sleep or should I turn to take a peek of her thighs despite the risk, Kisuke thought as he takes a long pause to think?
Momohime then stopped looking at her body and started to don her pure white long-sleeve Hanjuban. (A Hanjuban is a waist-length kimono top, similar to a cloth undershirt. It's worn beneath the kimono.)
Then she adjust her short-skirt peach-colored Furisode kimono of which the sleeves changed to yellow at the ends so the sleeves can feel more comfortable during her travels.
Then she heard Kisuke turn his head to the right side while sleeping. That was a close one, he just turned his head, Momohime thought, feeling a little frightened by his sudden reaction a while ago. Because he could've seen her thighs again.
She ignored him and continue to tie the teal sash(obi) around her waist, which had yellow flowers printed on it.
She slipped on her pair of purple stockings, coupled with black socks and zori sandals. Finally, she placed her red hair comb is placed on top of her hair and two patches of sakura flowers are set on both sides of her head just above her ears.
Oh great kami, what should I do!? I want to see her change so badly, but if she finds out that I peeked, the morning and breakfast time will be super awkward.
You know what fuck it, if she sees me peek, that's her own fault for not changing outside so I won't see her in the first place. Kisuke thought while fidgeting his legs a little and opened his eyes without any regrets.
"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up," Momohime said suddenly surprising, Kisuke who open his eyes to see a fully dressed Momohime.
"No, no, it's okay Momohime; but could you just wait outside or turn your back while I change my clothes please," Kisuke replied feeling disappointed in himself for trying to look at the princess while changing her clothes.
"I'll just turn on the other side, so I can pack all our tools and equipment," Momohime responded, as she began gathering their items and putting them inside the knapsack. "Yeah sure. While I'm changing my clothes, maybe you could cook some rice balls with tofu on the side. Then I'll make us two steamed yams for a snack on the road; in case we get hungry."
"No problem. Besides, we gonna need our strength and energy when walking back to Edo main trail, to get some real food."
"Maybe you could figure out an idea to get us a first-class or second-rate inn for us to stay for the night and morning. Because there is no way I'm gonna sleep outside in the wilderness or sleep in a cheap inn again, like last time when we both had to stay outside for one night."
"Then three weeks ago you rented an inn with bed bugs, peeling walls, and arguing neighbors talking about killing each other during midnight," Momohime replied, feeling completely horrified by the memory while she was using the campfire to cook some breakfast for herself and her companion."
"Don't worry, that isn't gonna happen again. Also just between you and me. That inn was creeping me out too, so don't feel scared about me renting another cheap inn again, okay Momohime." Kisuke said while pulling up his pants and putting on his dark blue shinobi robes.
"Okay I'm done with our breakfast, are you finished changing yet?"
"Yeah I'm good, you can turn around now. Also, could you hand me a rice ball too?" Kisuke replied while standing on his knees, waiting patiently for his breakfast.
"Here you go Kisuke," Momohime said as she handed the warm rice ball to him.
"Thank you for the food," Kisuke said, with his hands clasped together for a short prayer before eating and Momohime did the same as well.
After that Kisuke began cooking the two yams for their trip on the road. While he was cooking, he started to reminisce about his past camping in the woods.
I remembered the last time I was so hungry that I skipped being thankful for the food and Momohime was so pissed off for my lack of respect, that she didn't talk to me for a couple of hours.
Kisuke thought as he thinks about the little moments with Momohime, while he finished cooking the yams.
Kisuke and Momohime both finish their food and pack the reminding items as they start preparing for the new day; leaving the abandoned temple behind, as they walk down the temple's stone stairs.
Holding each other hand, side by side, ever since the last incident with Momohime almost slipping off the stairs last night.
Momohime and Kisuke eventually traversed the luminous forest as the rays of sunlight were breaking through the dense forest and canopy of trees. Both of them found the return journey back to Edo, boring without any worry or trouble whatsoever.
While trying to enjoy the serene forest and killing time by talking about their travels in the past and taking a short snack break.
Until they reached fields of lush grass. The sky overhead became a little cloudy as they grew closer to the Edo entrance gate, along with guardsmen, on the right and left sides of the watchtower stone wall.
They got a personal check from the guardsmen patrol and continued to walk inside the city. Until they crossed a water bridge and then sat on an empty bench so they could eat. When they were done eating, Kisuke asked Momohime a particular question.
"Hey Momohime, I've been thinking; maybe you should hide your appearance while we're traveling across the land finding Muramasa swords. The public already put a bounty on my head, which is why we should try to keep your identity hidden as much as possible."
Kisuke paused for a moment while digging his hands in their sack of tools and gears. To show Momohime his special item of hiding in plain sight. He pulled out a type of samurai straw hat, with small holes and bloodstains on it.
"That's why I always come prepared, with my trusty woven hat to hide my eyes and face. When I'm leaving town or hiding from the Iga clan ninjas and samurai, who want my head."
Kisuke put on the woven straw hat in front of Momohime and said "So what do think is pretty nice right?" Showing a smug look on his face.
Trying to act cool in front of the young princess. Momohime gave a short sigh at the little ninja's attempts to look handsome and cool while telling vital suggestions on their mission.
She replied. "I agree Kisuke, that we should try to hide in the shadows when searching for Muramasa swords. But maybe you could give me an undercover name when we're out in the public first."
Momohime stops talking for a short moment. While getting a look at Kisuke's ridiculous and dirty straw hat for a moment. Feeling displeased by Kisuke's carelessness.
"Take off that filthy woven hat please; that hat doesn't look like it has been cleaned in weeks! People might think your a poor streetwalker or something."
"Okay, okay I'll take it off and buy a new one then," Kisuke said while getting off the bench, looking around, for the nearest store that sells straw hats for cheap. "Ohhh no you won't, we need that extra money to rent ourselves a nice inn to stay for the afternoon and night," Momohime said while pulling on his ear a little like she is her girlfriend or guardian.
"Then what do you suggest we do? my lady?" Kisuke replied with a sharp annoying tone and a pouting face. She didn't have to pull my ear. As if have no sense of hearing, though Kisuke.
"I can sew and stitch your woven hat. So it can look good as new. Maybe add some colorful flowers as well, maybe it will get rid of that serious look on your face." Momohime said with a teasing look on her face.
"You are not putting flowers; inside my woven hat Momohime!" Kisuke said with a serious expression on his face.
"Yeah whatever you say Mr. cool ninja," Momohime said, ignoring his threat and getting back to the main question.
"Anyway what type of codename did you think, for me?"
"How about Sakura Nakano?"
"No. I may like cherry blossom trees and pedals, but I don't want to be named after one, okay."
"Then, Akari Nakano?"
"I don't really like that name either."
"Damn, you sure are picky on choosing fake names!?"
"Well the ones you choose for me, don't really fit my appearance okay? Try thinking long and hard about a codename for me."
Kisuke started thinking about a codename, while Momohime was drinking out of her bamboo water flask. After five minutes Kisuke finally thought of a good undercover name that even Momohime will love.
"Okay, last try. How about Mina; Mina Nakano."
"I love it! Mina Nakano sounds like a pretty codename for a princess like me." Momohime replied with a grin on her face and replied.
"Thank you Kisuke." While giving him a friendly hug. Kisuke enjoys the heartwarming hug from Momohime for a short while. Until both their stomachs growled for hunger After their long trip back to Edo.
Momohime felt a little embarrassed when the people saw her affectionate hug towards Kisuke and their suddenly growling stomach as well.
Will the embarrassing moments ever end, Momohime thought? As she separated from Kisuke, feeling depressed and shamed with all the people laughing and murmuring under their breath.
Kisuke nervously scratched his head and then got off the bench again and held his hand out for Momohime to hold it.
"Hey Mina-chan; let's get out of here and eat some dango, with a side order of tea, my treat," Kisuke said with a smile on his face despite the citizen's funny looks.
Momohime sighed and responded while reaching out to hold Kisuke's warm hands and replied. "Lead the way my ninja." with a bright smile on her face.
Kisuke and Momohime walked one block to the nearest tea house; they both enter through the small curtains and sat down on a small pillow with a tablet beside them.
As they wait patiently for the maid or waiter to take their order. "The maid and waiter sure are taking their time. We have been waiting for a few minutes, Mina." Kisuke said, complaining about customer service.
"Well can you blame them? The customers here are rude and disrespectful." Momohime replied, feeling completely uncomfortable and disgusted by these bastards.
"Where are my dango's."
"Coming sir."
"What took you so long, you stupid bitch."
"Please forgive me, sir."
The maid said an annoyed look on her face. No thank you, no appreciation for my hard work? It's supposed to be an era of peace and harmony. But some men have no consideration for lower-class citizens or peasants.
I wish somebody, anybody, could kick these scumbags out of my parent's tea house soon.
"This sake taste like shit, bring me a better brand fast bitch, or I'll ask my close friends, to close this tea house permanently."
"Yes sir, I'll get you a special sake, just for you." The waiter replied, feeling completely miserable about work today. I even have to give up the sake I saved for tonight. To these despicable people, the waiter thought.
"Better hurry up, dumbass. Because the clock is ticking and time is money!"
"Sorry for the long wait sir and madam, may I take both your orders?"
"How much food can we get with this?" Kisuke replied, handing out the money in got left.
"Sorry, but all you and your girlfriend can get with those loose changes is two cups of water and two dango's. I suggest going somewhere else maybe."
"First off; she isn't my girlfriend, she is my friend. Second, I got something better than money, if you get your ear a little closer to me."
"So what is it?"
"I'll get rid of all these scumbags for you if you give me and my friend forty dango's...Do we have a deal?" Kisuke murmured to the maid woman."
"How about twenty dango?" The waitress said as she made gestures, of the offered deal and the number of dango.
"No way, I'm not going twenty dango lower to kick all these losers' asses? Take it or wait for an opportunity to arrive lady."
"Where is my sake boy!"
"Coming right up sir!" The waiter said while running to the customer, until he slipped and spilled his sake drink on the rude customer's face, by accident.
"Uh-oh...I'm so sorry sir, I'll get you another sake on the house."
"N-no, that isn't good enough, how about one finger or two should fit the bill!"
"Say what!?" Two rogues grab both his arms and put him, face down on the table, with his hands stretching out. "Please it was an accident I swear."
"Hold still you fool. I might cut off more than just a finger!"
"Please anyone, save me!"
"Please sir, save my older brother!"
"do we have a deal, then? forty dango, for me and the lady here."
"Yeah, sure, whatever. Just save my brother already!" The waitress said panicking in a frenzy.
"Stand back Mina-chan; things are about to get ugly in this tea house!" Kisuke said while drawing out his Muramasa sword. While Mina waits outside, on the small wooden benches.
"Hey scumbag; stop wasting your time on this boy. And face a real ninja in battle!"
"Stay out of this kid. It's none of your business!" The thug said as began to draw out his sword, along with his companions. Feeling quite annoyed by the child's big nose in other people's problems.
"Actually it is my business. Because getting rid of you deadbeats is gonna score me and my partner some food for breakfast and you guys are on the chopping block."
Kisuke said nonchalantly, as he was almost about to draw out his Muramasa blade.
"The Azure Dragon." Until Momohime went back and interrupted the upcoming fight.
"Kisuke, promise me that you won't kill these thugs. They may be huge assholes, but they don't deserve to die because they were being super rude."
"Okay Mina, I won't hurt these scumbags too badly. So they won't reach the river sticks." Kisuke promised with a grin on his face when he turned his head to respond to Mina.
"Yo pretty girl. Once we're done kicking your boyfriend's ass, why don't you and I grab a drink together, just you and me ayy?"
"No thank you, I have faith in him. By the way, he isn't my boyfriend, he is my bodyguard and friend. You may now continue your fight boys."
Momohime bowed her head, as the sword battle was about to commence. The first thug rushed forward with his blade drawn out and sliced downward to cut Kisuke's shoulder.
But Kisuke parried the attack with his sword and perform a somersault backslash attack on the thug's head with his blade still sheath, so he won't kill anyone. It instantly knocks him out, and he lay unconscious on the floor defeated.
"I can take all you weaklings on with my sword sheath. So bring it on, you bunch of scumbags."
"You gonna regret what said, you cocky bastard. Kill him!"
The second thug made a quick dash with his sword, to pierce straight through Kisuke's stomach. Kisuke dodge the assault and went behind his backside and strike his arm left and broke it, as he screams in pain and agony.
The next ruffian attacked Kisuke's right side horizontally and Kisuke dodge the attack and low-slash the man's leg and sprained it. So he won't move.
"Come on is that all you got you pussy! I was kinda expecting a little bit of a challenge?" Kisuke said feeling unimpressed by the thug's sword combat style.
"Are you stupid or something? My Uncle is the right-hand man of the Shogun and if word gets around about your exploits. You won't live long enough to see the sunset."
"This is the Edo period; an era of peace and prosperity. The age of swinging a sword like some type vagabond or ronin is over and dead."
Kisuke got tired of his idealistic nonsense. So he just cut his toupee with his sword. This fool thinks he can scare me with stupid taunts!?
I face ninjas, demons, samurai, and curse monsters that are nowhere near his level of status. Kisuke thought.
"Didn't you hear a word I just said!?"
The thug said while his face was sweating nervously. By his unfazed expression.
"I don't really give a shit to be completely honest; besides you could be lying for all I know. I'm here for you and to kick your thug's asses, so I can get some food, no more, no less." Kisuke responded trying to reason with these punks.
"What makes you think, we'll do as you say."
The cowardly thug said with a grin on his face as his two comrades start to upward stab him from behind. Kisuke had already seen this coming and parried both attacks and strike a painful blow to their neck.
They both went paralyzed unable to move for a while.
Kisuke then punches the cowardly thug in front of him, in the face and instantly knocks him out. Kisuke then cracks his knuckles a little and threateningly said. "Who wants their next ass whooping!" With a killer look in his black onyx eyes.
"I'm not getting my bones broken over this shit. I'm out of here!"
"Fuck this shit I'm out."
"Sake isn't worth fighting over this maniac!"
The gang gathered their wounded and injured and left the scene without looking back at the intimidating ninja child.
"Mina I defeated the scumbags, you can come out now."
"That has to be a new record for you Kisuke. You beat those thugs in 4 minutes I think."
"Your bodyguard does this sort of thing all the time?" The waitress responded feeling quite surprised and astounded by the boy's skills at such a young age. And his tendency does such violence to gain necessities like food.
"Most of the time; when we run out of money or a rude crowd of men being disrespectful to another person's establishment. We take advantage of the situation to gain profit or obtain extra food, water, and shelter."
Momohime explained accurately, about subtle ways they make money.
"That also includes booze, Mina-chan. Remember that last time when all the men in the bar were drunk, including me? So I made a deal with the owner."
"If I kick these guys out for an extra couple of gorges of sake for the journey. It was a crazy brawl in my opinion." Kisuke replied
"That wasn't necessary Kisuke, you completely wreck the whole bar that time. There were broken chairs, tables, glass, and alcohol everywhere on the floor."
"I'm just glad you didn't destroy this nice little tea house," Momohime said, feeling relieved that the ninja didn't go on a rampage, like last time.
"It only happened once and awhile Mina-chan, I learned to restrain my strength, especially when I'm not drunk." Kisuke turn to the waitress and requested their meal.
"Anyway, I got rid of our rude guests and now we can feast on sweet dango, with a side order of tea," Kisuke replied, as they both wait for their snack to arrive, as promised.
"Here is your forty dango's as promised, with two cups of jasmine tea." The waitress said as she and her brother lay the food and tea on the table.
"Thank you for saving me, young ninja." The waiter said as he bowed his head, as a sign of gratitude. "It was nothing personal, just business my friend," Kisuke replied as began to drink some of his tea.
"Humble, yet also kind; there still hope for you, yet Kisuke," Momohime responded to Kisuke. Maybe the boy has a chance to be so much more than just a killer in the eyes of the public.
Momohime thought as she contemplates Kisuke's future. Until he started to stuff his face with dango, glazed with warm syrup. Or maybe he just wants to live his life naturally, Momohime thought.
"Hey Mina-chan, your dango are gonna get cold if you don't eat them fast," Kisuke said.
"Oh…right, thanks for the food," Momohime said as chapped her hands together to give thanks to the Buddha offering and began to eat the sweet treat.
"Mina once we're done eating, let's look for a nice inn to stay in for the night." Kisuke murmured to Momohime ear.
"Understood, I just pray that isn't an inn with rats or bugs crawling on the walls or floorboards," Momohime murmured with a short sigh.
Eventually, they were both done, eating their dango, and left the tea house. While saving an extra piece of dango, when they're searching for an inn to stay and rest.
"Please come again." The owner and his employees said their goodbyes, as the ninja and his accomplice leave the tea house through the front door curtains.
Dear fans, I like to inform you all that Muramasa: Battle, bath, bonds. Will continue during December and January. Now that I'm on my winter break in college. So be prepared for all of the action, excitement, and emotion of this series.
Kisuke will be using at least three Muramasa swords, because if used just one every single time. Then it just gets boring for the readers in my opinion. I was thinking of him switching three Muramasa swords in each battle.