Broken

Chapter 15: Slashed

Three people stood beneath the unforgiving sun. Kogoro on one side, Kimaro on the other and a large man in the middle. He was one of the largest, buffest man Kogoro had ever seen. Even with that strange white coat he could tell.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Asked Kogoro in his most menacing tone.

"I just want lodging for a few days until the waters calm down a little." Replied the man the brothers had surrounded.

"No can do." Spoke Kimaro.

"He's right." Kogoro added. "There's been some shady characters running around these parts lately. We can't just let you in on our village."

Both brothers drew their swords at the exact same time.

"I'll ask you nicely one last time." He continued. "Go away or else."

But he just stood there, as if he hadn't heard Ikazuchi no Kogoro's warning. The young swordsman shrugged.

"Suit yourself."

The twin brothers charged at the tall man at the same time and speed. Kogoro slid through the floor an attacked his knees while Kimaro jumped and attacked his shoulders. Both blades went right through their opponent's flesh, yet none seemed to damage him.

"What the…"

But he was never allowed to finish that sentence.

The tall warrior kicked Kogoro on his face, knocking him back while driving his elbow into Kimaro's forehead.

The stranger gently place a white duffel bag he had been carrying all along on the floor and pulled a pair of identical katana. The only difference was that one had a steel blue colored blade while the other one had a yellow-orange glow on it. After a good look Kogoro noticed the small origami shaped crest on the lower part of the blade. Both Masamune no doubt.

"I won't ask you twice."

The man's usually calm attitude suddenly turned vicious and bloodthirsty. But they couldn't just abandon their orders. Despite their fear, the brothers decided to stay and fight, no matter what the outcome. They both attacked relentlessly, complementing each others attacks in a nearly flawless choreographic style. But all their efforts were for naught since their opponent somehow managed to block all of them and even repel them on a number of occasions.

They were getting tired and still no blows had been landed so the brothers decided to use their secret technique. Kogoro grabbed Kimaro by his wrist and hurled him upward with amazing strength. The point was to both attack at the same time with two completely different moves, making it impossible for the opponent to block them. Most of the time enemies just stand there, wondering what should they do until it is too late, but this one didn't. Not only did he retaliate, unlike all of the others, but he was much faster than they expected.

A massive booming sound filled the air along with a blinding flash so bright that Kogoro had to stop until his eyes settled down.

His head thumped hard, but at least he could see clearly after a few seconds. The coated man stood exactly where he was before. A trail of dirt extended from his side though, straight toward a large boulder. At it's end, Kimaro lay unconscious with his clothes and skin badly burned and large bruises all over.

"DAMN YOU!!!" Kogoro yelled at him filled with rage.

He gripped his sword and ran toward the tall man. As soon as he took the first step, however, his foe had somehow already reached him and performed a massive battojutsu with his yellow sword on his stomach. Blood oozed, but out of his mouth, not his torso, since the yellow sword wasn't sharp. Didn't even seem to have a blade. The blue sword however, was sharp on both sides. More frightening still, it was coming at him at a speed nothing short of inhuman. The blade hit the back of the previous one, delivering an impressive jolt of pain that swept Kogoro off of his feet. The guy was so fast that before Kogoro moved even an inch he pivoted on his left foot and performed the same attack on Kogoro's back, stopping his movement. Then as a finishing strike he slid his foot through the ground, sweeping Kogoro off of his feet again and as he fell, attacked with both swords at the same time, sending him flying for a few yards until he finally crashed down unconscious right beside his brother.

"Don't say I didn't warn you." He spoke a he sheathed the last of his swords.

The mysterious man walked a few steps, hung his white duffel bag on his shoulder and disappeared into the forest.

Author's Note: Whatcha think people?! You know, I'm so used to you guys not reviewing that I actually don't care anymore. Anyway, hope you enjoyed it.

PEACE AND LOVE PEOPLE!!! Peace and love…