*A red sun rises*
*I go to my ancestors*
*Will they welcome me?*
Chapter 10 – Seppuku
=Sunrise, Canterlot Dungeon=
(Aketoki's PoV)
/watch?v=ni6jCddebo8
Aketoki held his hooves out as Hanayo helped him into his kimono while he prepared himself mentally for what was to come. An hour ago he and she had both been praying to the Shinto deities, the Great Divines, and whatever other deities existed that they did not know about. They had both been praying for a successful duel that ended in his favor, but from different points of view.
Hanayo had been praying for fate, luck, and whatever else could possibly aid him in his duel with Hogeki Ninman. He, Aketoki, had been praying that Hanayo would not take her own life so soon after they were married; he wanted her to live a long life even if he wouldn't be there to share in it.
As a Samurai he was prepared to die, and death was always expected and even anticipated every single day of his life. He was taught never to go into battle hoping to live, but to go into battle prepared to die.
Which is precisely why he and Hanayo were burning incense inside of his helmet, so that if the day came that he met death, and his head was severed from his body, his opponent would be greeted with a sweet scent. It was a tradition they would maintain, no matter where they were. Since they had tarted going down this path, they had to maintain as many traditions as they could just to feel like they were still Samurai and Onna-bugeisha.
Another tradition that Hanayo started this morning since assuming her position as his wife was to help him prepare for the upcoming battle. It was traditional for a wife to help her husband prepare for a duel by dressing him in his armor and proper attire, as well as making sure that his helmet was properly scented for the occasion. His task while she helped him was to prepare himself mentally for his battle to come, by thinking back on his life, thinking of how he has come to this moment, and how he can move forward.
He and Hanayo had gotten the incense with the help of Princess Celestia's translator, and at her request a strip of cloth, some ink, a brush, and a special pole to create a Sashimono. She had already finished the design, their clan's symbol of the Nimaji, and only needed his armor to finish the final preparations.
The translator was waiting outside with the four guards to escort him out of the palace. Why a mere translator was able to command the respect and loyalty of these guards, as well as have almost free reign in the palace, was beyond both of them. He was able to procure these supplies for them within minutes of Hanayo asking him, with the help of the palace servants. She was so busy helping him prepare that she only had time to put on her own Kimono.
=Repeat song if it ends by this point=
Several minutes later Hanayo finished placing the last of his armor on him, and only his helmet and the Sashimono that lay on the floor next to his swords. He faced his wife with a calm mentality and watched as she picked up his helmet and placed it on his head, tying the chords together to keep it secure. Once his helmet was secure she took the Sashimono and strapped it along his back so that it could be seen by all who looked upon him. Finally she bent down and picked up his swords and held them out for him to grab as respectfully as she could.
He nodded and grabbed the swords, and strapped them to his side. "I am ready Hanayo-Tsuma." He told her.
She nodded in understanding, and went to grab her Naginata, but was stopped as he held her hoof back. "Why do you stop me Aketoki-Shujin?"
He shook his head as he looked at the Naginata now. "I do not need your Naginata for this battle; my swords will fight this for us." He said as he let her hoof go.
"But what if you need another weapon, you know Aketoki may have one final…" She started saying, before she became silent and simply nodded. "As you wish…"
"I know you are afraid… it is a natural feeling, you worry about my success in this duel and wish to give me any help you can give." He said comfortingly. "However now that you are my wife, I must now protect you and our clan honor. We both have our duties and I forbid you from attempting to participate in this duel in any form. I ask you to stay and wait for my return, here at the palace, where you will be safe until the duel's conclusion."
She glared at him, but not in anger at what he said, but frustration. "You know I hate the thought of you going into a battle without me." She said. "We have fought together many times, side by side and against one another. Why would you have me hide like a frightened Ashigaru's wife?"
This time it was his turn to give her a glare. "Because you are my wife and because it is my choice that I ask you to remain here." He told her sternly. "Do not make it an order, I ask you to remain here Hanayo-Tsuma."
She glared at him, trying to hide the tears building up behind her eyes, but couldn't conceal them for long. Yet she nodded and bowed submissively to him. "As you wish, Aketoki-Shujin."
Knowing that there was only one thing left to do before he left he walked to his wife, tilted her head toward him and kissed her gently. They were like that for a minute before he ended it and nodded to her, and she nodded as well.
The time had come.
He took a deep breath and stepped out of the dungeon, and was promptly surrounded by the guards who had been keeping watch. They walked up the stairs into the main hall and from there to the front gate which led from the palace to the city.
He looked over and watched as his wife put a length of cloth on the floor and sat down on it, just as Princess Celestia and Luna exited the palace to watch them. "Doctor, do you know where this duel is to take place?" The Princess asked the translator, but without him to translate, he still didn't understand a word they were saying.
"According to Hanayo the duel is to take place near a stretch of trees north of Canterlot." The translator said. "The conditions are simple, winner comes back to claim Hanayo as his wife. Loser is never seen again."
"Those are rather strange conditions Doctor, how can these Sengoku Ponies keep these promises that they will never again be seen?" The princess called Luna said.
"Well… just believe me when I say that it works out!"
While they talked Aketoki turned and prepared to leave the palace to head for the duel site, his heart full of determination and courage. He was about to engage in the most important duel of his life, this time it would determine whether or not he or Hanayo would live or die. He had to win, if for no other reason than because Hanayo needed him to win. If Hogeki discovered what they did last night, he would sever her head needing no other reason.
But the real reason he was fighting this duel, was to finally ease all of Hanayo's fears. For all this time since he left she was forced to wonder if he would return to her alive. Then she was forced to face the fear of being married to another samurai when she wanted to marry him. When they fled she was afraid that they might not make it to the safety of Kai. After they were separated she was afraid that he was dead and that she might never find him. Now she was afraid that he might lose this duel, and all that they accomplished last night will have been a wasted effort.
He turned to give one final look at Hanayo, before he noticed the odd shape in the folds of her Kimono. He raised his eyebrows and walked over to her and put a hoof in the Kimono to reach and feel the object. Had he tried that before last night, when he was not her husband, she would have kicked him off her, and stabbed him until he died. However because he was her husband he had this right, and despite her blushing and clear embarrassment at this act, allowed him to feel the Kaiken, her small knife that she carried along with her Naginata for defense.
"I know why you have that hidden Hanayo-Tsuma." He whispered to her while the Princesses still talked to their translator. "I wish you would have more faith in me…"
She didn't look away from him, but the regret in her eyes was evident of her disgrace. "I have tried many times to put my faith in… anything… but as I told Hogeki before and I meant what I said." She told him. "I am yours… and yours alone Aketoki-Shujin. Only you may touch me… only you may have me… only you may have my love… and I'll only live with and for you. I made my choice last night Aketoki-Shujin, I am and will forever be a Nimaji, it will be your offspring I'll raise and teach the ways of our clan. If the only way to keep that promise is to… use this on myself… than I will not hesitate."
/watch?v=DtAto11566k
He nodded and pulled his hoof out of her Kimono, before he turned and looked determinedly at the opened gateway. "I'm going now!" He shouted for all to hear.
The translator nodded and followed behind him as they headed out of the palace. "Why does Hanayo not bid Aketoki farewell sister?" He heard Luna ask her sister Celestia as they left. "Would she not want to wish him good luck in his duel?"
"I don't know Luna; there are some things we will never understand about these Sengoku Ponies." Celestia said.
He walked through the city with the translator guiding him, because he was still unfamiliar with the streets of Canterlot. As he walked the ponies that had come to fear him all got out of his way, some rushing indoors to avoid being seen, while others only noticed him at the last second and sped off in any other direction besides his Yet there were a few who looked in awe at his appearance, most notably the Sashimono that flapped as he walked by them. Wherever he went eyes were drawn to it first, and only once they looked at him directly did they either flee or marvel at him, before they fled.
"You certainly have made quite the image for yourself here in Canterlot!" The translator said as he tried his best to smile at those around him, even as they fled the scene.
"It matters not… once Hogeki Ninman is dead Hanayo and I will no longer have to linger here." He said calmly. "We won't have to frighten these peasants anymore by our appearance."
"That's nice but in all honesty do you know where you are?" The translator asked now as they turned a street corner, frightening even more individuals that spotted them. "You are in another kingdom that Japan has never encountered, with a culture that is about as foreign as you can possibly get. Where in all of Equestria could you possibly go where you 'wont' frighten ponies?"
He didn't really think of it that way, but now that the question was asked, where could he and Hanayo go where they wouldn't offend or frighten these peaceful ponies? "I don't know…"
Seeing nothing else to talk about, they just kept walking for nearly two hours before they left the city behind them. Now Aketoki's heart started pounding as each step brought him closer and closer to Hogeki's chosen battlefield. He could see the stretch of trees in the distance, and sure enough standing in plain sight, sticking out like a cherry blossom tree in a wheat field was Hogeki Ninman.
Like Aketoki, Hogeki wore a Sashimono on his back, his clan's symbol blazing and gleaming on the banner like a crystal in dirt. The look on his face showed the determination and desire to win that Aketoki was feeling upon seeing this foe.
"Well, good luck Aketoki, I'm not to interfere with this duel in any way by your customs." The translator said.
"I wouldn't want any to begin with." He said as he stepped forward toward his enemy.
=Canterlot Palace=
(Hanayo's PoV)
Hanayo waited calmly for her beloved Aketoki to return and claim her. She was embarrassed that the princesses might have observed Aketoki reaching into the folds of her kimono, but didn't care if they did or not. He had that right, and she had no regrets giving it to him.
Now all she had to do was wait for the duel's outcome so that she could determine her fate. Would she live the life she wanted to live with Aketoki by her side? Or would her life end this very day, in a matter of hours? Either way, this duel would determine her fate once and for all!
She had but one regret as she sat patiently behind the gate to the palace, and that was that she was not there beside her Aketoki, as he fought for their future. She had chosen this path by fleeing with him from Takasaki, making him a Ronin, and ruining what future he might have had serving under the Hojo. Yet neither she nor he minded, as long as they could be together.
-Aketoki… I'm waiting like you said… and I'll keep waiting for you to return from this duel!- She thought happily as she imagined what their future will be like when he returns.
As she thought this, a sudden bright light appeared directly behind her, and before she could turn and see what it was, she was engulfed in the light.
"You are required…"
=Canterlot Throne Room=
(Celestia's PoV)
"Well sister, what are we to do with those two?" Luna asked as they entered the throne room alone.
"I don't know, they clearly love each other and are willing to do whatever it takes to stay with the other." Celestia said as she thought carefully. "We could offer them sanctuary in our kingdom, perhaps Aketoki could teach the palace guards more defe…"
She was interrupted by a bright light that suddenly appeared in front of them both.
"What the!" Luna declared, before they were engulfed by that bright light.
"You must attend…"
=Sweet Apple Acres=
(Applejack's PoV)
"Alright Granny I'm head'n out to town!" Applejack shouted as she started leaving for Ponyville.
As she closed the door behind her a sudden bright light appeared right in front of her, so bright that she had to squint just to protect them.
"What in the name of Celestia…" She started saying, before the light engulfed her.
"You shall witness…"
=Ponyville, Hooves family home=
(Ditzy's PoV)
"So when is dad coming home?" Sparkler asked Ditzy as she carefully cooked her breakfast muffins, making sure they didn't stay too long in the oven.
"He said later today Sparkler, so probably sometime near lunch." Ditzy answered.
"So what was the big emergency that Princess Celestia needed this time?" Sparkler asked.
"They just needed him to translate something, it wasn't all that important, but they still needed…"
Just before she could finish talking a bright light appeared in the kitchen, so bright that they couldn't see anything without squinting their eyes.
"What's going on?" Sparkler shouted as the light engulfed them both.
"You are involved…"
=Above Ponyville=
(Rainbow Dash's PoV)
"Alright I'm making good progress for my practice flight!" She said as she sped over Ponyville. "Sweet, I beat my record by two seconds! Now let's see if I can beat that record again by three!"
As she performed a U turn in mid-air, a bright light appeared in front of her, and because of her speed she could not avoid colliding with it!
"What in the name of…"
"Speed isn't needed…"
=Aketoki's PoV=
"So Hogeki… once more we stand face to face!" Aketoki declared as he faced his enemy, prepared to defend himself at a moment's notice.
"Indeed, once before you attempted to escape me, back at the border of Kai!" Hogeki declared, pointing a hoof at him. "You escaped me because of forces beyond my control, but not this time Aketoki! This time you will not escape my blade, this time you will feel my blade's steel cutting off your head. Your helmet was severed from your head last time, this time I'll make sure the rest of your head meets the same fate!"
"We'll see about that…" Aketoki said as he stood on his rear hooves and drew his katana.
/watch?v=LEMKzSrSaTI
As Hogeki mirrored his actions, a series of bright lights appeared off to the side, and in a flash several mares appeared, a few he recognized.
"What the…" Princess Celestia declared.
"Where are we?" Princess Luna asked.
"Doctor?" Derpy, the translator's wife said.
"Dad?" A younger purple unicorn said.
Among these ponies were an orange mare, and a blue Pegasus mare, whose names he did not know.
"Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, what the hay's going on?" The blue one said.
"Ya I was just leavin home when this light thing appeared!" The orange one said.
While they all talked another light appeared, this time way above them, and with it four sliding doors that Aketoki recognized as those he had seen frequently in Lord Hojo's castle.
(Celestia's PoV)
Celestia and all of those gathered near this stretch of woods looked up at the bright light and the strange doors that appeared in front of it. As the doors appeared, fake clouds appeared above the doors and seemed to float around it, as if it were a painting come to life. "What the…" She said as the doors slid open, allowing the source of that light to appear.
"FEAR NOT, THOSE WHO HAVE GATHERED HERE, FOR NO HARM SHALL COME TO THEE…" A male voice declared. "From across the waves of time and lands most distant and strange, I sensed the souls of two mighty warriors, clashing upon foreign soil. Unable to turn away I have come forth to seek out the answer to this question, of what two mighty souls seek in this trial by combat. I ask this question now to those two with swords drawn, are you two the ones that have caught my attention to this most peaceful of lands?"
Celestia glanced at Aketoki to see his response, and was shocked to hear his words as clearly as though they spoke the same language. "What if we are, who are you?"
In response the light dimmed, and through the doorway a pony garbed in the same armor that Aketoki wore, but with streaks of gold and also wearing two swords, stepped forward as though the air were solid. Two wings, marking him as a Pegasus, told him that he had a white coat, but everything else of him was concealed or covered by armor. A glowing fan of pure gold with a strange symbol upon it concealed the pony's face, but despite the fact that she couldn't see the face, she felt a surge of power from it that she only ever felt once before.
From herself, when she nearly sent The Professor to the sun.
"To the two souls that have caught my attention, I have come here to bear witness to your test of honor by trial of battle, for in my time there are no such contests of such proportions as yours." He declared, turning his head to look at Aketoki and Hogeki, still concealing his face with that fan. "You ask the question of who I am, allow me to put your curiosity at ease. Know this then who asks this question of you, and forever remember my name and rank!"
He finally closed the fan to reveal his face; he had silver colored eyes, a strong looking face, with a unicorn's horn protruding from his forehead, and on both sides of his cheek, a symbol of two crossed swords with a phoenix in flames behind them. "Lord of all Samurai, The Fourth Shogun of Japan in The San Era!" He declared in a voice so full of power, that nearly all those gathered besides Luna, Celestia, and The Doctor were forced to their nears by its sheer power. "Tenshi Sābanto, Master Swordsman of Perfect Balance!"
-He's an Alicorn?- Celestia thought as she looked at the powerful stallion floating above them. –A Sengoku Pony as an Alicorn?-
"The Shogunate, what's a Shogun doing here of all places?" Hogeki yelled.
"I thought there hasn't been a Shogun in Japan for years." Aketoki declared.
The Shogun, Tenshi Sābanto, started to float down toward them, extending his wings out and still radiating with power. "Aketoki Nimaji, loyal Ronin of the Nimaji Clan, and Hogeki Ninman, loyal Samurai of Hojo and Law Enforcer of Takasaki." He said, and this time both of them stood at attention. "I have gathered all that have come to know you over these past few days, so that they and I may bear witness to your contest… but not here… we need a more… appropriate setting!"
He opened his fan and its glow grew brighter, and everything around them faded into shadow, before being replaced by a beautiful landscape that they had never seen before in all of Equetria.
They had been transported to a location, where instead of a forest surrounding them, there were only a few beautiful trees with pink leaves drifting down in the gentle breeze. To their right there was a vast body of crystal blue water that glinted like a field of diamonds in the setting sun. To their left an endless expanse of grass, and behind them a single large mountain that stretched far into the sky could be seen.
"Where are we Princess?" Applejack asked in awe.
"A more appropriate setting if I had to guess." The Doctor said in amazement.
"Whoa…" Rainbow Dash said as the pink petals fell in waves near them.
"Cool…" Sparkler said.
"So where are we?" Luna demanded.
The Shogun floated down, and before he landed a dais appeared for him to sit on, complete with a comfortable pillow and even two flags with his symbol upon them. In front of him were additional pillows behind a very low wall, apparently separating them from the two warriors Aketoki and Hogeki. "This is the gathering place of all warriors' souls, the resting place of the greatest of Samurai." He declared, pointing his fan at both Aketoki and Hogeki. "I have brought you here so that you need not hold yourselves back, now you two may battle to your heart's content. But this is more than just a contest between your skills, you two are fighting for more than just honor, and we are still short one spectator. So without further ado, allow me to bring forth the one you both are fighting for…"
He held his fan for a moment, allowing it to glow momentarily, before he smacked the fan on the floor. Instantly a burst of light appeared beside him, and Hanayo, appeared, seated atop a small pillow. "The fair maiden you both are fighting for, the object of your love, Hanayo, daughter of the Kusaji Clan!" He declared, and Hanayo turned to look at the Shogun in amazement. "Now that the stage is set, and the cast is complete, let the final curtain of this act rise. Now let us bear witness to the battle to decide the one whom Hanayo shall be married to!"
Both Aketoki and Hogeki bowed respectfully to the Shogun. "Hold it Mr. Shogun; you can't just decide a mare's love life like this!" Applejack said angrily.
"Yea what Applejack said, Hanayo doesn't want to marry this Hogeki!" Rainbow Dash said in agreement.
"That is not your concern Applejack and Rainbow Dash of Equestria." The Shogun declared. "This contest is for them to decide, all three are in agreement over this contest. Hanayo of the Kusaji has made the challenge, Hogeki of the Ninman has agreed to the terms, and Aketoki of the Nimaji has taken up his swords to defend her. Now it is up to them to decide the outcome! Which brings me to the rules concerning you three…"
He turned to look at Celestia, Luna and Spakler. "Us?" Luna asked.
"Yes… I have bent time and space to allow you all to come here, as well as understand one another temporarily." He said seriously. "However I have also made it so that you three cannot use your magic while in this space. This is a contest of swords, skills, and individual strength. Your magic is not permitted here, so do not attempt to aid them in any way, for your spells will fail before you can cast them."
"So we can't use magic here… I guess we have no choice…" Celestia said as she glanced over at Aketoki as he examined his sword. "I just hope Aketoki knows what he's doing."
"Now… take your seats so we may begin this contest…" The Shogun said.
They all nodded and took seats on the pillows in front of the Shogun and Hanayo.
Moments later the two, Aketoki and Hogeki, faced each other with hoofs upon their swords. "Are you two warriors ready?" The Shogun asked them, and they both said yes at the same time.
(Aketoki's PoV)
/watch?v=p-YfP5UUSMY
The Shogun raised his fan and with a resounding smack on the floor shouted, "BEGIN!"
"I am Hogeki Ninman, servant of Lord Hojo, Heir to the Ninman Clan, and Law Enforcer of the town of Takasaki, my father as well as Hanayo's father has granted me permission to execute you for attempting to steal my bride from me!" Hogeki yelled as he drew his Katana.
Aketoki responded with his own call, drawing his katana as he did. "I don't need such reasons for what I do; I am Aketoki Nimaji, last and only remaining surviving member and head of the Nimaji Clan. I am here to defend my beloved Hanayo, from a proposed marriage that she has asked me to protect her from! I will also claim vengeance for the death of my entire clan, at the hooves of the Ninman!"
As they stared at each other, a single leaf crossed in front of them and slowly, ever so slowly landed on the ground. That was the signal for them both to charge. Their swords met, and the clash of steel upon steel rang out as both tried to use their sword techniques to gain some advantage. Yet for each strike that one blocked and the other threw, they both matched equally.
As Hogeki came down on him with a downward sword strike, he parried and dodged to the left. Then Hogeki tried a sideways swipe, using his sword to try and sever his neck, but he ducked and tumbled to bring himself around behind him. Finally Hogeki grabbed his sword with both hooves and jabbed forward for a horizontal strike. That was where Aketoki broke Hogeki's stance by using the grip of his sword to throw off the sword's strike!
Believing he was triumphant he turned it into an attack, but suddenly felt something sharp jab into his stomach! Stopped momentarily he looked down to see Hogeki's short sword poking through his center armor, drawing a small amount of blood.
"How…" Aketoki gasped as he pushed Hogeki back, giving himself room.
"AKETOKI!" Hanayo shouted fearfully.
He looked up and saw that Hogeki was wielding both swords, his left hoof holding his Katana, and his right his short sword. "Niten Ichi… you know how to use that style?"
Hogeki grinned as he spun his blades to mock the wounded Aketoki. "That's right; I'm proficient in the two sword style of Niten Ichi, something you were never taught!"
"Hey he's cheating; he's using two of those sword thingy's!" The orange pony shouted angrily. "Shogun Pony, you aren't just going to let him get away with that are you?"
"SILENCE!" The Shogun shouted, smacking his fan on the floor. "Let them fight!"
Aketoki wasn't worried, but he still had no idea how he would defeat such a technique, for he could use both swords either offensively or defensively. He however had only his single sword techniques to rely upon. How could he defeat a technique he had never faced before?
As he gasped for breath, his vison granted him a view of the spectators, in particular his wife, Hanayo Nimaji. The thought that, he had to win this fight, gave him a strength that far surpassed anything he had felt before. He took one breath, and it was as though the pain of his wounds faded away as he let his breath go. He looked at Hogeki, determined, and unafraid of this strange technique, and in his lack of fear, he charged head on, catching Hogeki off guard.
Hogeki's Niten Ichi style of fighting was difficult to fight against, but as the battle lengthened, Aketoki noticed that there was a slight difference in how the two swords shifted. When Hogeki attacked, he used the Katana to do so, and the shorter sword to defend, but never both at the same time. This gave Aketoki an idea, as he tumbled away, and used his sword to cut part of his armor's strings so that it would break off.
-Now hit where I need you to…- He thought desperately, because if this failed he was as good as dead.
"HAH, I have you now!" Hogeki shouted triumphantly, jabbing down on the strip of armor that Aketoki had loosened. "What…"
As he struck, the armor slipped off and threw Hogeki's sword strike off target, and the added weight threw off his timing. Aketoki took the chance to turn his blade around, and jabbed behind him, catching Hogeki in the lower shoulder, where his armor was weakest.
The contest was decided, as Aketoki turned and watched Hogeki staring dumbstruck at the blade, even as he let his swords fall to the floor. "Impossible… you defeated me…" He said. "How… how could you have won… you couldn't have known how to defeat my technique. You never saw it before today… I should know… I had my ninja observe you throughout Lord Hojo's campaign…"
Aketoki pulled his sword out, sheathed it, and turned to face Hogeki. "I had no idea how to fight it, but that didn't matter to me. This was a battle to determine the outcome of Hanayo's future. If you had won… she would have killed herself." Aketoki looked over at the Shogun, and beside him was Hanayo. "She would never accept you as her husband; she would sooner die than accept you. I had no choice to win, if either of us wanted a future in which she lives. So there was no other outcome that any of us could accept… and you know that is true! The real question is how could I 'not' lose?"
"I see…" Hogeki said as he fell to his knees.
The Shogun nodded and smacked his fan on the floor. "The contest is decided, I declare the victor to be Aketoki Nimaji, of the Nimaji Clan!"
/watch?v=ejtZOPL6iYE
Aketoki nodded and walked toward his prize, his beloved wife Hanayo Nimaji, but as he did he hear Hogeki whisper something.
He turned and saw Hogeki shakily getting to his hooves, and glaring at him. "What are… you doing… finish me!" He whispered. "Finish what… you started… I have nothing left to live for now… I cannot go back to my father with this disgrace, nor can I face Hanayo's father and tell him that I lied about her being abducted. So finish me now Aketoki Nimaji, take your vengeance upon my clan… you will not get another chance like this!"
"I will not kill you… because you are not my true enemy." Aketoki declared. "Though I blame and hate the Ninman for killing off my clan… I have learned to forgive them. For if they did not… I would not have met and fallen in love with Hanayo Kusaji… and she would not have fallen in love and become my wife. So no… I will not kill you!"
Hogeki nodded, and slowly removed his chest armor, and grabbed his short sword, before giving him a pleading look. "Then aid me… I cannot go back in such disgrace… the dishonor… is too much for me… after all I have done…"
Aketoki nodded in understanding, and swiftly drew his Katana and stood over Hogeki. "I will aid you then."
(The Doctor's PoV)
"Hey what are they doing?" Rainbow Dash asked. "The fights over, what's going on with them?"
The Doctor knew what was about to happen and decided to explain the situation. "Hogeki Ninman apparently has suffered such disgrace with both losing this fight, and other things, that he cannot live another second without winning Hanayo Kusaji." He explained. "So the only thing left for him is a life of shame and disgrace, or to retain his honor and accept death. The only way that can happen is for him to perform what is called Seppuku, ritual suicide."
"Whoa hold your hay, you sayin he's about to kill himself?" Applejack asked suddenly. "What kinda crazy code is this Samurai thingy? He don't needa die to regain his honor, even if he did bad, he don't hafta to kill himself!"
"Not to Hogeki, he can't live like this…"
(Aketoki's PoV)
Aketoki held his stance… and waited for Hogeki to make his final words.
"I walk in shadow, in light I stand like a tree, in death I can sleep…" Hogeki whispered as he took one final look at Hanayo. "Promise me that… you will take care… of her."
Aketoki nodded. "I will do nothing less…"
Hogeki smiled as he closed his eyes, and pulled his dagger with all the speed and strength he could muster. Once the dagger penetrated his stomach, he pulled it up despite the excruciating pain he was feeling.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Aketoki shouted, and swung his blade down, severing Hogeki's head, and ending his life once and for all.