Episode 1: The Goze I Once Loved
The birds chirped their morning tunes as the sun broke over the mountains as Mugen entered through the gates of a small, but lively village named Sanhoi.
A beautiful shining river ran through the middle of the town with what looked to be a prison, but most of the people were out around the river itself as men and women worked to catch fish and get supplies from up river, while the children splashed around.
Mugen hopped off the back of a horse drawn wagon and tossed the driver a few mon. "Thanks for the ride." He was well rested from the long nap he took on the way and ready for the day, but first...a drink.
A bar and inn caught his eye as they always do, just off to the left of him. He made his way into the small tavern that was scattered with tables and full of chatter as he caught a few looks before taking a seat at the bar. "Oye tender! Sake!"
"Right away!" The barkeep said as he got Mugen his order and slid a pitcher down to him with a cup. He poured himself a cup as he heard the sound of a shamisen being tuned.
Chun Chun!
Mugen's eyes lit up at he heard the song that the woman started playing. He turned to the see the stage area, where a young girl sat playing a song that he knew all too well, a song he could never forget.
"Kuzuno...ha...no...Kowakare...ooooniii..."
The girl's hair was long and silk like and her skin shined in the spotlight. Her fingers slid up and down the neck of the shamisen as she sung the sad song with closed eyes. Mugen's eyes imaged the woman they Fuu, Jin and himself met in the past.
"I have nothing against you personally…This path is the only path I can choose."
Mugen remembered his battle with her and her superior skills in their first battle.
"Tell me…who the hell are you…?" Mugen asked as he stood from the crimson water, bleeding from the deep wound in his side.
"What I can't see I can sense." Sara said to him calmly.
"What?"
"Inside of you, looms a simmering storm of hatred and rage…but perhaps what I'm actually sensing is sadness. It's as if…you've never once been loved by anyone…It's as if…you're just like me…"
He could see her image perfectly as he watched the girl play. A tear almost came to his eye. "Sara..." He said to himself quietly.
"Beautiful, but sad is it not?" A man said next to Mugen.
Mugen looked over at the man. His black hair was spiked backwards and a scar on his cheek was visible. Mugen looked back at the girl playing as he downed another cup of sake.
"I'm guessing you are a traveler of some sort?"
"What does it matter to you?" Mugen said as he wiped his mouth and poured another cup.
The man smiled. "Just wondering myself. I've been traveling with my sister over there since we lost someone close to us."
Mugen turned back to him. "That's your sister?"
The man nodded as he watched her play. "Yes. I've been looking for someone now. I kept missing them, but I think I'm close now. Real close."
"I'm looking for a friend of mine as well." Mugen said as he heard the last of the song. The tavern gave applause to the girl as they dropped money onto the stage.
"I'm sorry," The man said. "I haven't introduced myself yet." Mugen looked at him. "The name is Kosen."
"Mugen."
Kosen smiled as he took a sip of his sake. "It's a pleasure to meet you Mugen." The girl walked over to them and handed Kosen some of the money.
"For you brother." She said as she looked over to Mugen. "Hello."
Mugen put on a sly grin. "Hello."
"This is my sister Sina. Sina, this is Mugen."
Sina bowed to Mugen. "Pleasure to meet you."
"By the way Mugen," Kosen said as he looked back at Mugen. "Where are you headed?"
"Yoshida."
"Perfect, because we are headed toward that area." Kosen took another sip of sake. "You wouldn't mind us joining you on your way there?"
Mugen sat back and thought about it. He took another shot of sake and looked at Sina. "I guess you both can if I can hear that song at every place we stop and play at."
"Done." Kosen said. "Glad to join you Mugen."
"Very glad." Sina added.
xxxx
Night came quickly, bringing cool winds and the songs of night creatures. Mugen, Kosen, and Sina checked in at a pricey Inn after a long day of sharing stories. Mugen for once found himself opening up to Kosen, telling him stories of his travels and battles at the amazement of Kosen. It was a nice time and there was only more to come for Mugen, much more.
Sina turned to them before she headed to her room. "I'm headed to the hot springs, alright brother?"
"Right." Kosen said as Sina went off.
Kosen and Mugen entered Mugen's room and saw the two comfortable futons. "Nice place…" Mugen said as he looked around.
"Sina's talents are amazing and allow us to afford things like this."
"And you?" Mugen said as he sat his sword down. "What do you do?"
"I used to be a farmer, but me and my sister wanted to look for a special person to us and she wanted to take her show on the road so I decided to join to protect her."
"How nice of you."
Mugen smiled as he entered his room he looked out at Kosen. "How bout ordering up some sake and joining me at the springs after Sina's done?"
"Alright" Kosen said as he walked into his room across from Mugen's.
Mugen closed his door and turned with a big smile on his face…
xxxx
Sina slipped into the steaming hot springs. Her body tingled some as she submerged herself into the hot water. She sighed in relief as the water warmed her up. She looked up at the star lit sky and sensed a presence nearby.
"You can come in if you want to Mugen…"
A few quiet seconds passed and Mugen jumped in the water. He shook the water from his hair and looked at the girl. "You aren't embarrassed or anything?"
"Why would I be?"
Mugen looked at her body. It was perfect. The same as...
Sara...
"So who is it that you are searching for Mugen?" Sina asked as she looked at him.
Mugen looked back up at her face and then laid back. "I'm looking for a friend of mine." He said looking up at the stars. "Her name is Fuu and the dumb broad keeps getting herself in some shit. I always have to bail her out." Mugen looked at Sina. "And who are you and your brother looking for?"
Sina looked at the water. "Just this person who means a lot to my brother. This guy that he always wanted to meet."
"Tell me something Sina."
"Hm?" Sina looked at him.
"Happy people don't sing that song. I knew someone who sung that song and had a horrible past." Mugen looked at Sina. "So what is your reason to sing?"
"I lost my sister not too long ago. She meant the world to me, but suddenly she disappeared."
"So you are looking for her?"
Sina looked at Mugen once more. "No, someone else."
SPLASH!
Mugen and Sina looked over at Kosen who looked at Mugen. "Couldn't wait to see my sister naked Mugen?"
"Well I'm caught." He shrugged his shoulders.
"It's alright, I don't care and as you already know she doesn't." Kosen said as he got the sake tray from the side of the spring. "Sake?" He offered over to Mugen.
"Thanks." Mugen said with a smile as he took a cup of Sake. "You sure are generous Kosen."
"Karma my friend, karma. Those who do right by others are granted good luck and fate is good to them."
"Or so they say." Mugen said with the shot of sake. "So what's the plan for the rest of our night? More sake and some women?"
"Sina here is going to put on a show tonight. Here at the Inn for the Magistrate and his men." Kosen said with a sip of his sake. "They heard of her talents and would love for her to perform for them."
"Hmm, I guess I'll join you in watching then." Mugen said with another shot of sake. "Are you going to be playing that song again?" He asked Sina.
"Yes, I will be." She replied politely.
"Good…It reminds me of someone that I knew once…"
xxxx
Most of the town gathered in the event hall of the Inn. Sounds of laughter and drinking were all around as the people were very festive. The Magistrate sat in balcony seats with his men, overlooking the stage below.
Sina stood near the stage with Mugen and Kosen, making the final preparations to her shamisen. She took a deep breath and looked at Kosen. "Kosen…" She said, almost in worry.
"Oye…Everything is going to be alright Sina. It will be over quickly and I'll be here waiting for you just like always." Kosen said as he put a reassuring hand on her shoulder and smiled.
It warmed Sina's heart and put her at ease as she smiled back at him and looked at Mugen. "Here I go."
"Knock em dead." Mugen said with a sly grin.
Sina stepped on stage and made her way out to the middle as the spotlight shined on her. The crowd applauded for her as she was locally known well around the surrounding areas.
Mugen found himself once more amazed by her presence on stage. "Man, you're sis sure is a crowd pleaser Kosen." He waited for a response, but didn't get one. "Kosen…" He looked over to see Kosen wasn't next to him. "Kosen?" Looked around for Kosen and saw him exiting out the back.
"What is he doing?" Mugen walked out the same way and tailed Kosen towards a waterfall and disappeared in the mist. Mugen followed through the mist and came out to the lake of the waterfall.
"So you've found who you were looking for." Mugen said with a grin.
"Yes I have..." Kosen stepped out of the mist across from Mugen with a staff in his hands.
"Why?" Mugen asked as he unsheathed his sword. "Did someone pay you to knock me off? I have a lot of people that probably want me dead."
"Because it was you," Kosen pointed the staff at Mugen as two blades came out the side and one from the top. Mugen's eyes grew wide. "You killed my sister..."
"Sara..." Mugen said in surprise. "Sara was your sister?"
"She told me to not follow her path because it was one she had to walk alone…But how could I just sit back after hearing her being slain to a lowlife like you…Mugen." Kosen's kind and caring demeanor was long gone and only cold hatred and drive for revenge toned his voice. "Now I shall avenge her." Kosen said as he swung the Kama-Yari around him.
"Kuzuno...ha...no...Kowakare...ooooniii..."
Sina could be heard in the distance playing her song, almost as a signal to start the battle. Kosen spun the Kama-Yari around him quickly, the sound of it cutting through the air came to Mugen's ears as he blocked the attack, but felt the power that Kosen had in the strike. Mugen stumbled backwards, but caught his footing and focused once more on Kosen.
"I will say this…" Mugen looked into Kosen's burning eyes. "Your sister's skills were incredible even for someone who was at a disadvantage."
Kosen rushed at Mugen once more and swung, but Mugen dodged the attack with ease, leaving the blade to cut through a large rock.
Mugen rushed into the inside of Kosen and swung his blade at Kosen's neck. Kosen swayed back and ducked under another strike from Mugen. Mugen swung once more, cutting Kosen's shirt open, exposing the small slice in his skin.
Kosen jumped back and looked at his shirt and the small amount of blood pasted to it and back up to Mugen. "Eh..."
"Maybe I should hold back some?" Mugen taunted with a smile.
Kosen grinned as he rushed at Mugen once more, spinning the Kama-Yari around his body at high speeds. Kosen lashed out with an array of attacks from all angles that Mugen barely dodged, but was met with a barrage of unorthodox attacks from Mugen.
Kosen evaded another swing and stepped back. "Your skills aren't on par with Sara's…" Kosen went back on the offensive. "There's no way someone like you could have beat her!" He yelled out in rage.
Mugen's vision started to blur some as he rolled under an attack. He rolled to his feet and blocked a near fatal blow from Kosen. Their blades pushed against each other's, trying to gain the upperhand.
Mugen's vision started to really blur out as he couldn't make out Kosen's face or his surroundings. "…The hell?" He cursed as he blinked hard trying to regain his sight.
"What's wrong Mugen? Can't see? Are you going blind...?" Kosen pulled back. "LIKE MY SISTER!" He swung once more. Mugen pulled up his sword and blocked at the last second, but he was knocked back to the ground. His cheek was sliced open and blood ran down it.
"What the fuck did you do to me you dick!?" Mugen closed his eyes. The blurry vision started to give him a headache.
"I poured a drug in your sake that blinds people for up to twelve hours." Kosen laughed. "Now just a little taste of the world my sister had to live through. To die in darkness and not see it coming."
Mugen stood to his feet and held his sword out in front of him. Everything was very dim even with his eyes wide open as all he could do now as listen for the footsteps of Kosen.
Kosen moved in and swung, but Mugen jumped back almost avoiding the attack. Mugen felt his side cut deeply and he stumbled backwards to the ground. "Ahhh!" He screamed in pain. He felt the blood seep through his bloods and pool out on the ground.
It's the same as before…
He remembered that he was wounded the same way against Sara in their first bout, but Fuu wasn't here to save him and even so, Kosen wouldn't show mercy like Sara did.
Kosen moved over to Mugen, raising his Kama-Yari up to impale Mugen. "And now for my revenge. For Sara..."
"The fish...They appear to understand their situation by the water that flows around them. Without opposing the water flow, letting the body go with it. Then it's possible to catch them."
"DIE MUGEN!" Kosen yelled in victory as he came down on Mugen with the blade, but only found dirt as Mugen moved his head to the side. Mugen swung his leg around and tripped him, while rolling back onto his feet. Kosen fell, but quickly got to his feet.
"Rrrraaaahhhh!" Kosen rushed at Mugen and swung wildly at him with no disregard to technique, but Mugen dodged every attack with ease. "Why?" Kosen said in frustration. "Why can't I hit you?!"
"Because it's just like Sara told me, you dumbass." Mugen responded. "I can sense every attack before you make it."
"I'LL KILL YOU!" Kosen screamed as he jumped in the air and swung the Kama-Yari down at Mugen. Mugen jumped back dodging the blade and jumped forward onto the staff. He slid up toward Kosen.
Kosen's eyes grew wide as he saw Mugen sliding toward him. "What?!"
Mugen's blade shined in the moonlight as he swung, cutting through Kosen's chest and landing gracfully. There was a moment of silence before the sound of blood spraying from Kosen's body was heard. Kosen fell to the ground on his back, looking up at the moon lit sky.
Mugen tried looking around, but it was useless. He couldn't see, but the music from Sina still played the sad song.
"I..." Kosen said weakly. Mugen turned to him and knelt down next to him. "I...loved Sara...and said that I would...protect her." Kosen spat up blood. It dripped down his chin and neck. "I heard that...you killed her...So I wanted...revenge."
"Your sister wouldn't have wanted this." Mugen said. Kosen looked at him with dying eyes. "She could have killed me, but stopped her blade as mine hit." Tears came to Mugen's eyes. "I...I never felt love before, but in the heat of that battle she was the only person I met that understood me. I took her life, but lost someone who could actually see me for who I was…even though I never cared to find someone who I could call close…" Mugen looked back at Kosen. "Shit...I loved Sara the moment I killed her."
Kosen formed a smile through his pain. "Too bad...she was used...We could have met under better circumstances."
"When you see Sara," Mugen said as he dried his eyes. "Tell her that I'm sorry…and that I miss her."
"I will...Live on Mugen...Live..." Kosen slowly closed his eyes and took his last breath.
The music ended and the crowd cheered.
Mugen stood to his feet and walked forward, but felt light headed. He stumbled some and finally fell over. He couldn't see, but didn't care. If he died here, he died on his own terms. Maybe he deserved this, after all he didn't have the best karma.
"S-Sara..."