They reached the Takagi estate just as the first drops of rain started to fall. The presence of Saya, the only daughter and heir to the Takagi family functioned as the most powerful "permit" for safe passage. Initially they were wary, but the Takagi's familiarity of Ryuji as Takashi Komuro factored into their swift and smooth entrance followed by a warm welcome.
The men under the command of the head of the Takagi family and Don of the right wing political association, Souichiro Takagi and his wife Yuriko were far superior than the yakuza they encountered in every facet. Their whole compound was more a military state than a compound. They were all dressed in military uniforms previously worn by soldiers of the former Japanese Imperial Army and they felt as if they had just time traveled back to World War II.
"I guess we made it safely." Saeko said with a small smile on her face. She was donning a kimono lent to her after a shower until her clothes dried.
"No, not yet." Ryuji shook his head in disagreement. Her flushed, slender neck peeking out of her ever-lustrous hair made his libido stir, but he tore his eyes off of her which was waiting for a compliment on her appearance, keeping himself in check. "Missions are only done when and only when we make it back safely unharmed. Right now we finally just made it halfway. The only reason we've been welcomed with open arms is because the Takagis and I know each other well and because they owe me big-time for delivering their daughter. That being said, we also have a proverbial bomb that will jeopardize the trust they have in me; several, in fact."
"Bomb?" Saeko frowned quizzically.
"To begin with, neither Christine or I are one hundred percent pure, thoroughbred Japanese. Luckily, I look more Asian despite being a hybrid and I can hide my blue eyes with these colored contact lenses, but she isn't so lucky in that regard. All it takes is a good, long look before she gets made. Needlessly rubbing them the wrong way with this sensitive information will fuck everything up."
"But Don Takagi is a man of honor. And like you said, they owe you for saving their only daughter. It would seem unbecoming of him to reject such people."
"While you may assume correctly, I don't like dealing with maybes if I can help it. I'm not ready to assume that fully without insurance, which is why I am going to cement the familiarity with the Don further."
"How?"
"That," Ryuji said as he turned, revealing a toothy grin, "is where you come in, Saeko. You come from an old Japanese family that's well-versed in Japanese martial arts. Since this organization is comprised of right wing ultranationalists, there is no way they won't show respect and admiration for such a pure, graceful lady raised in the land of the rising sun. We use that to our advantage. He will definitely want to speak to you. Personally. Just wait."
They sat in silence for about fifteen minutes until two men escorted them to a Japanese style guest room separated from the main building. Just as Ryuji had expected, Souichiro Takagi was sitting there on a cushion, with a rack holding a pair of swords and behind it a large calligraphy scroll hanging on the wall. His slightly tanned complexion and chiseled features had an imposing air about him, making him worthy of the title samurai. All that was needed was a page sitting next to him, and he would look like a daimyo. "I would like to personally give you my thanks for delivering my daughter safely."
The duo sitting across from him said nothing and bowed their heads.
"Sir, if I may. Why are we here?" Saeko asked.
"I was told that Master Busujima's daughter commands mastery of the sword no less than the great Sanako Chiba. I simply wished to have the pleasure of meeting such a lady. Officially." Saying this, Souichiro took the sword on his right side and placed it in front of Saeko. "What do you think of this sword?"
Saeko tentatively reached for the sword whose grip and scabbard were of a vermillion hue and lifted it up carefully with her sleeves covering her palms.
"It is alright, you may touch it. You will not taint the sword's power."
"Then by your leave." She gently took hold of the grip and revealed the blade. Once the weapon was fully out of its scabbard, Saeko let a small gasp escape, immediately realizing the make of the blade. "This is…an extremely rare specimen you have, sir."
"So you see it?" The corners of Souichiro's lips rose in joy as she proved herself to indeed be the kind of woman as the rumors said.
"A shallow curvature, a kogarasu style make of the blade with a double edged tip. Shouju Kanemasa. This a Murata blade, is it not?"
"Excellent, as I thought. Indeed, this is a blade made during the mid-Meiji era by order of major general Murata known for the Murata rifle at the Tokyo Artillery Arsenal. It was said that this blade could split a pig's skull in half without even the slightest nick.
"Thank you for the opportunity to lay eyes on such a masterpiece." Gently putting the sword back in its scabbard, she was about to place it in front of Souichiro before he stopped her with a hand.
"That belongs to you now."
"I mean no disrespect sir, but I cannot accept such a thing without good reason."
"I have two. Firstly, as I have said before, for the safety of my daughter. Secondly, I have received instruction from Master Busujima in the past. I would like you to keep as a token of my gratitude and appreciation."
"The former reason aside, if that is the case, then this is something you should be giving to my father rather than me."
Upon hearing this, Souichiro slapped his knee as he laughed heartily. "Spoken like a true member of the Busujima family. You are not subtle."
"Forgive me for that."
"As you have probably guessed already, but I am giving you this because of my own foolish daughter."
"It is true that I have saved her life before, but both she and I are here, alive and well, because he took the lead." She shifted her gaze to Ryuji who had not said a word or uttered a sound since they arrived. He sat stock-still like a rock.
"Oh?" Souichiro's gaze followed Saeko's.
"Don Takagi, it has been a long time. I believe I was still in elementary school when I last saw you?"
"I believe so. Time certainly flies like an arrow. You have grown into a fine young man."
"Thank you for saying so, sir. I am glad to see you are alive and well."
"I knew you were no mere child when we first met, but now I see it clearly. You have….something that far exceeds anything I have ever seen in anyone your age."
"I am but a greenhorn compared to you, sir." Ryuji shook his head with a smile plastered to his face. "Now that we have gone through the formalities, I must apologize to you."
"For what?"
"As a youngling I was born and raised by the kindness of a family who took me in as their own, guided by them, learning to survive and fight for over a decade surrounded by gunfire and steel, and ended up here in Tokonosu. My true family name, and true given name is Ryuji Mikage. I would like to offer my humblest apologies for deceiving you and your family thus far." Straightening his back, Ryuji bowed his head until his forehead touched the tatami mat and kept it there until Souichiro broke the silence.
There was a tense pause, and the silence hanging in the air was thick and heavy as if the very air they were breathing had increased its density and viscosity. "Very well," Souichiro broke the silence, "I accept your apology, on one condition. You will have a bout with me using real weapons."
"Don Takagi, that is simply not—"
"If that is what it takes, then I will accept." Ryuji cut Saeko's protests off as he answered.
"Follow me." Taking the pair of swords on the rack, he followed Souichiro. Saeko scrambled after them with the Murata blade in hand. Once they reached the dojo, Ryuji removed the kevlar and firearms and stood in front of Souichiro who handed him the shorter wakizashi. "Are you ready?"
"As I will ever be." The very moment Ryuji drew his weapon, Souichiro's blade was already upon him. His eyes teeming with killing intent were as sharp as the weapon he wields. Taking two quick steps back, the blade harmlessly passed the tip of his nose. He dodged the following attacks with equal deftness.
Punching and kicking were out of the question, and blocking such strong strikes was bound to chip any blade, irrespective of its make. Twisting his body slightly to the right, Ryuji dodged another attack and suddenly stepped in. Having been released from the weight of his gear, his body was able to move twice as fast, if not more, which surprised even Ryuji. His agileness was a deadly combination paired with the short and more wieldy wakizashi, enough to make Souichiro himself sweat bullets.
Not only in swordsmanship but in any martial art, distance is one of the most important factors to be considered in order to win. If one cannot fight in a distance advantageous to them, the fight prolongs needlessly, depletes stamina and ultimately lead to defeat. Knowing this, Ryuji stepped further in without so much as flinching or blinking as a blade being swung at full force whistled past his face.
Souichiro had power, speed, and spirit.
Ryuji countered that with speed, consecutiveness of attacks, and his incredibly flexible flair for combat.
Every time their blades clashed, it seemed like sparks would fly with every slither of steel on steel. This was no longer a simple bout, it was a full on attempt of two men actually dedicating their every move into taking the other's life; and both of them were laughing. They were reveling in this high level, high stakes battle.
"Powerful. You are indeed powerful. While it is far from a traditional style, you are elusive as mist, yet fierce as a demon. I sense not an inkling of doubt, no hesitation."
"I'm enjoying myself here too, immensely, and now it's free game. Allow me to bring another blade into the mix." Drawing the knife strapped on his left thigh, Ryuji bent his knees, dipping into a lower stance.
"You are an interesting one, through and through." Their blades crossed once again, with even greater strength and speed. The massive, undiluted fighting spirit and killing intent of the two men enveloped the dojo like high tides, making Saeko's hair stand on end in a mix of both awe and terror as the atmosphere itself was trying to crush her. Yet she could not take her eyes off of them.
Finally, Souichiro's strike knocked the wakizashi out of Ryuji's hand and his blade whistled through the air before stopping a hair's breadth away from his left side. "A tie." Ryuji nodded. If Souichiro had followed through with that strike, he would have been rend asunder, but he would have died as well. The knife point was hovering between the ribs, just above the heart. His other hand forming a nukite stopped just short of the Adam's apple. "Taking me with you. Very bold."
"We all begin dying the moment we take our first breath. Death is but a walk in the park for me."
Pleased with the answer, Souichiro nodded several times. "Very well. As per our agreement and in consideration of your intrepidness, I will look over your deception of me and my family. Take the wakizashi with you as well; a prize for your prowess. You are welcome to stay until the rain stops."
"Thank you, sir." Leaving the two, Souichiro walked out of the dojo. Once sure that he was well out of earshot, Ryuji began cackling and howling with mad laughter as he clutched his stomach.
"Um….Ryuji?" The sudden change which she had never seen before made Saeko shift uncomfortably as she nervously called his name.
"Ho-ly FUCKING SHIT! Oh my GOD, that was FUCKING AMAZING! Did you see that? DID YOU SEE THAT?! FUCK, my juices are FLOWING RIGHT NOW! HOO-RAH!" Ryuji continued to laugh and frolic about like a child who had just gotten off his first ride on a rollercoaster withe the excitement yet to wear off. Once he had finished laughing, he picked up the wakizashi and placed it in its scabbard as he did with the knife. "Now then," he spoke reverting back to his usual casual but calm demeanor, "our insurance is in place, so let's go back to our rooms now, shall we?"