Sonogo sā

Leo wasn't' sure if the armor tightened around his body was too tight or maybe it was his own nerves. It didn't help to be staring out his kawari kabuto, he could only vaguely feel the hair of his helmet in a sheen of pure black color. It was a common design for the group who designed their own helmet. Usagi had teased him and said that he only wanted that design to make up for the fur he didn't have. He was grateful not to be sweating through his armor and to abandon the chainmail to allow a little bit of air. the only parts of him exposed were his biceps and even those were covered by metal sode and kote reached his elbow. He hated the fact his armor had to be custom made to accommodate his shell, and it meant the armor on his chest armor wasn't as thick, his plastron made up for that.

His eyes glanced down the lines, rows of samurai. Their sasshimono with white, three black circles to blaze their village call.

Jokes that had been passed between friends had died upon the rising of the green flag. Murakami's own system of communication on the battle field. Other villages might have their own way, but in this method no one could guess their plan and intercept.

Green meant approach.

But Leo couldn't see that in his position, alteast he couldn't see the village that had so desperately called for their help. He glanced to Usagi , on his left, the only sign of their 'differences' was Usagi's mouth covering that latched to the front of his mask, and the horns on his kabuto. Onyx eyes glanced over from the darkness of his helmet before turning back to the front .

Leo faced forward taking a moment to run his hand up and down Kaze's neck. His eyes' fixed on the one indication of their goal, their location. The thick trail of smoke in the air.

A Yellow flag

"Redi!" the shout filled the air, bounced between warriors. The unison of drawing blade. Leo drew his own. Some people thought it was just foolish of him to have two katanas and reject a wakiashi.

He had his own way.

He drew his second blade. The smell of smoke hit him, thick nauseating.

But the trick was to balance the two planes. Of the dangers in the next day, even the next second. To know your life could be snuffed out forever. And to know what your rewards were beyond the battlefield

To to think of what was waiting

"Redi!" From his left from Usagi

What he had risked his life to reunite.

"Redi!" from his own lips.

For their family

(#)(#)(#)(#)

Pain

It was a casual acquaintance, it wasn't as though Dorinbo had ever hit him, or that he suffered from bullying. Though there had been a skirmish with a traveling family's son, one of the village's samurai had stepped in. He didn't even get in trouble but the old samurai; he remembered having his scalp rubbed and an old voice on his ear before Usagi drug him away. But, despite himself. The words stayed with him

"Don't be so willing to go to war."

But they never truly sank in. Not when he was a child, not when he dreamed of being a samurai or when he attended the old samurai's' funeral. Not when he attended. Not when he left the safety of his home to seek out his family. Not when the Ookami and Komori attacked the village and he threw himself into battle, despite his inexperience. Not even at the battle of Reddomedou.

But somehow the two were related, blinded by his own ideas of glory, drowned by innocence.

Leo almost missed that bliss

It was better then this, knees dragging the dirt, his skin losing their color long ago in comparison to the mud that now covered it. Misery. Grief. Shame. Humiliation twisted together in sickness. Pushing the last of the dirt over the body of Kaze. Over the Kimono he had refused to pull off his body. But he refused to let any scavengers have their way with Kaze's body either.

Maybe this was insanity, the pulsing pain in his head. Burying the body of a beast, rather then the warriors who had tried to kill him.

Leo's hands pressed into the dirt, squeezing the mud between his fingers. Was it still raining? He couldn't tell, he was too cold. Too numb.

Too empty

His fingers caught onto his mask, dragging them from his eyes before his palm pressed against them. But he wasn't sure what comfort this would bring other than shutting out the sight of the world around him. With his compromised hearing it was falling into darkness.

It was the closest thing he was going to get to peace.

A snapping branch, like bone, drowned the silence along with the sound of panicked unison of birds in flight. Deep breathing, heavy labored. Leo drew his head from his hand. To the noise that was causing such a disturbance.

A large hunched over form obscured the moonlit sky. Its back muscular and bunched like a mountain, bare patches of skin could be seen between its tan fur. A jaw agape and hanging like some sort of fool, cloth hanging from its body torn form recent growth

Akai.

One that had been recently bit, maybe with in the month, just in the middle of the intense swelling transformation that marked a Akais descent into madness. Why here? Akai was in the other direction, it was how they worked. Anyone bitten would start to head for Akai forest. For what reason no one knew. They'd make it just in time to lose most of their vision to overgrowing moss.

Then Leo remembered the blood at his feet, of the creature he had buried

This Akai was hungry, he wanted meat.

Leo's hand tightened over the mound he had just buried, but his body reminded him of his downfalls. Of the battle he had just endured and the exhaustion plaguing him

But nothing was louder than the heartbeat in his head

His hand snatched his sword from its place on the ground; the black drip of mud fell from the blade that would normally disgust him. Despite having been raised with the rule of ALWAYS keeping your sword clean he was sure his family would forgive him for his negligence. A rumble escaped his throat, barely making words, barely audible on his ears."

"Sonogo sā."

The words rippled across his lips. Forcing his legs to a standing position despite his bodies screams of protest.

But he was stronger then that.

He slid his leg back, digging his bare toes into the ground, while his knee bent, drawing his sword up to line with his face.

"Sonogo sā."

The creature's head tilted to the side for a moment, maybe the last remains of its mind were trying to tell it to steer clear. But it stepped closer

But Leo wasn't' going to die

Not here

Leo's grip tightened, till he could feel the skin of his palm tear, a scream from his lips

"SONOGA SA-"

There was a flash of metal, the Akai screamed as its heavy swollen body hit the ground, blood swelling into its patchy fur. A figure standing next to him

Father?

NO, neither of his fathers, this creature supported a long bears, long hair tied back in a ponytail and leaned on a staff, though his free hand allowed a katana to hang from his fingers. and a familiar mane that could only be from one creature.

A raion

The raion

"I am sorry I didn't get to you sooner, Im a old man, its harder for me to keep up with you young folk, especially with my bowels."

Bowels? Why was he talking about bowels? Wait, the old raion was approaching, Instinct told him to raise his blade-

But somehow he knew better

"I am not here to hurt you,"

Leo's knees shook, before he could stop himself he hit the ground, his blade sank infront of him to keep him up, panting heavily in a meager attempt to reclaim the breath eh had been holding.

Something warm fell over his shoulder, his skin ached from the contrast but made no attempt ot remove it.

he was too tired

He was too empty.

A hand fell on his shoulder, a gentle touch just enough to wake hm from his tire. He could'nt stay awake, not for long.

His grip on his sword began to fade, slowly sliding down into the dirt, but the hand remained. Just as darkness claimed him, he heard one last thing

"I , Katsuichi, am your ally."

Translation:

Samurai Armor: Dō is the main 'armor' worn by samurai. it's the chest piece and the main thing

Kawari Kabuto: it's a type of helmet that became popular during the Edo-Sakoku period ,where Leo and his family lives. It's a fancy style of helmet that depicts animals demons, horns, or even fish. Acutally, 'Kabutos' inspired Darth Vaders Helmet.

sode: Metal shoulder armor

Cuirass: pigeon breast armor,

kote: armored sleeves

Sasshimono: poles attached to the back of samurai armor to wave flags with their clan symbols

Redi! :Ready!

Sonogo sā: Come on then

Raion: Lion

Note: Katsuichi is the lion from the Usagi Yojimbo comics, he was Usagi's teacher and known as the Mountain hermit