The Chisa-Katana's blade gleamed in the sunlight as I glided a soft cloth down its length. The warm spring day had me in a good mood; my fever was finally gone, and after long two months of training, I was able to regain the strength that my broken leg had lost. I was finally ready to challenge the Battosai once again.
Watching the sun glint off my blade, I thought of the Sakabato. I slowly brought my hand over a dull blade, disgusted at the dishonor I had done in defacing my father's swords. However, no amount of dishonor could match to the one I would face if I had fought the Hitokiri Battosai in an uneven fight. I refused to win if he couldn't even hurt me. I smiled as I carefully examined the back edge of the two blades. The backside of his sword was still deadly, and that gave me hope that there was still a killer underneath his new face. I was still at an advantage with my style alone however. That was the beauty of the Katti style. It made use of all parts of the sword, including giving the blades razor sharp edges on both sides. It was more of an eloquent dance of death then a sword fight. A dance I had perfected at just 13 years of age.
I looked up at the tall figure approaching me. He was walking softly on the grass up the hill outside of the small village we had stayed near. Kimaru carried a basket full of rice and vegetables, the wonder of what he was planning on making for lunch brought an even larger smile to my face.
"I'm glad you're already up and playing with your blades." He said sarcastically rolling his eyes for an added effect. I laughed and returned the swords to their respected sheaths.
"Well I already got my exercise in for the morning," I said with a laugh, "I had to do something while I waited for your slow butt to get back here with my food." Kimaru laughed as he put the basket down by the fire pit he had constructed.
"I'm sorry your highness, I wasn't sure if you were up to keeping down your food today, I wanted to be positive I bought food your precious stomach can handle." I snorted a laugh and looked up at his eyes. They were distant; something was bothering him deeper then what he was making me for lunch.
"What is it, Kimaru?" I asked, looking up at him as he crouched by the fire pit. There was slight look of nervousness in his eyes before he gave me a questioning tilt of the head.
"What do you mean?" he asked innocently, testing to see where the conversation was going to go. I smiled and gave him a look that told him he knew what I was talking about.
"What's bothering you?" I finally asked, "Don't lie to me either, your no good to me if your mind's somewhere else when we're in a fight." He looked down at the stew he had started to cook, and smiled sadly.
"You know me too well, you know that Utasi?" he sighed as he stirred the rice, "When you went to challenge the Battosai, do you remember the other man that was there?" I looked to the sky and thought for a minute.
"You mean the fighter, the guy wearing the white right? What about him?" I asked. It was odd that a guy like that would catch Kimaru's attention like that. I remembered that he did seem to recognize his name, but it was odd nevertheless. The ninja looked at me.
"You didn't recognize him from anywhere?" he asked with a sad smile. I shook my head.
"What do you mean, should I have? He's only a kid, it not like I should have known him from the war or anything, is he famous or something?" Kimaru laughed.
"No, no, nothing like that, but are you sure you don't remember from the war?" I turned my head to the clouds above and tried to remember back. I thought about the orphans, but I had known them all so well. I remember seeing all of their precious bodies torn apart inside our house. I knew that it wasn't any of them, I had personally buried them all. Kimaru watched me intently waiting for the memory to surface. Finally he sighed, deciding to let out some more information.
"Think of Captain Segura's men…" he said with a smile. I looked back into his eyes, wondering why I had thought of the orphans first, Kimaru had never seen any of there faces.
"Suzo's men?" I wondered out loud, "but that fighter was too young to be one of his men, unless he was one of those two kids…" my voice trailed off and my jaw hung open as I saw Kimaru's bright grin spread across his face.
"It can't be…" I whispered in awe. Kimaru nodded proud that I finally remembered.
"When I first saw him I thought I was going insane, but after I heard that kid say his name, I was certain. He still has that same look in his eyes; a strong determination with a hint of that dangerous arrogance of his."
I smiled as I nodded, "He's grown into a fine young man." Kimaru looked down to the bit of ground he was turning up with his foot.
"And thank the Gods for that," he murmured, "He actually survived, I thought he taken with the rest of them…" his voice trailed off at the painful memory. Putting my katana back into its scabbard, I rose up and put my hand on my guardian's shoulder, I knew how much those memories hurt.
Kimaru looked up at me with a smile, the pain falling behind a mask we all learned to wear so well.
"You're healed," he said with a smile, "and your swordplay is now what it used to be." I nodded matching his smile with one of my own.
"Yes." I stated solemnly, "I am ready to challenge the Battosai once again.