Samurai I: Rise of the Emperor

[Lycurgus]

"These are dark times" Daimyo Hayabusa said turning to face the other men in the room, who were sitting cross legged on the floor. Hayabusa was the youngest of the Samurai Council, the others all having served on the council for decades. Even so, Hayabus was still considered middle-aged being in his mid-thirties.
"These are indeed dark times Daimyo Hayabusa," Daimyo Kaze replied, "our worst fears have been realised, the Shogun will attempt to overthrow the Emperor and sieze control of the Empire for himself."
"This cannot be permitted," Daimyo Yumi said, "the Shogun already has plans to dismiss the Samurai as guardians of the Imperial Family. Our spies tell us that he plans to stage a rebellion and blame it on the Samurai."
The oldest man, who had been sitting quietly listening to the conversation develop sighed, the others looked towards him expectantly. "We must act in the best interests of Japan," the old man said, "it has always been the way of things for the Emperor to reign on Earth as the representative of Heaven and the Shogun to administer Earthly matters. This is the way it has been since the the Japanese first came into existence. The Shogun has grown corrupt, he wants to proclaim himself Emperor, this cannot be."
"We can't stand against the Shogun!" Daimyo Hayabusa exclaimed.
"We must" the old man calmly replied.
"That is treason, the samurai swear loyalty to Japan and the Shogun" Hayabusa said, still in a raised and passionate voice.
"The samurai do indeed swear loyalty to Japan" the old man replied, "but we must also remember the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor is Japan, he embodies all that is Japan and its people. The Shogun rules with the blessing of the Emperor who has the blessing of Heaven, our loyalties are clear, we must protect Japan from the Shogun."
"Your wisdom is indeed clear master, my apologies for doubting you" Hayabusa said.

"My lord Shogun, we have news that the Imperial Family are preparing to flee the city" Daimyo Kuroda informed his master.
"They cannot be allowed to escape, we cannot assume complete control of the Empire with them still alive" Shogun Nekura replied.
"Yes my lord" Kuroda replied, standing up from his position on the floor, bowing and then leaving.
The Shogun walked over to the window, the thin walls of his chamber doing little to conceal the gale that was blowing outside. His gaze fell away to the distance to the temple of the Zen Samurai, otherwise known as the Bushi; they alone amongst the samurai could stop him. They adhered strictly to their code of Bushido and he knew that they would not permit him to assume the Emperor's throne. A smile crept across his face as he thought of how he would crush them with his own band of Samurai, the Inuzamurai. He had trained a band of Kuroibushi to serve him and him alone, the samurai of the noble houses would quickly fall into line once the Bushi were out of the way and he had taken the Mandate of Heaven.

"Divine Tenno I seek permission to bring you important news" Daimyo Hayabusa said as he bowed long and deep before the Emperor.
"Speak" the Emperor commanded.
"Divine Tenno, Shogun Nekura has recruited a band of samurai to him that seek to destroy the Imperial Family and place the Shogun on the throne. They have forsaken the Bushido and pledged to destroy the Bushi."
"This is unfortunate news you bring to my ears Daimyo Hayabusa, but we are already preparing to flee the Imperial City for Edo in the north."
"Divine Tenno, I fear that you may not be safe even in that loyal city, the Shogun has agents everywhere and ninja have been recruited to end your life."
"The ninja are indeed without honour if they would stand against the Mandate of Heaven Daimyo, but where else can we go?"
"Divine Tenno, I would take the Imperial Family deep into the countryside, to th Holy Mountain where the Bushi can provide protection."
"Very well Daimyo, we shall go to the Holy Mountain."

"My lord," Daimyo Kuroda started, "Daimyo Hayabusa of the Bushi was seen entering the Imperial Palace less than an hour ago, he had a band of Bushi with him."
"The Bushi have sent him to take the Imperial Family to safety, they know that all is lost if the Imperial Family die" The Shogun replied as he paced his chamber before turning his back to Kuroda and leaning against the window, staring out. After a short pause he said "Take the Inuzamurai and deal with this situation."
Daimyo Kurodoa bowed, "Yes my lord" and left the room.

"Daimyo! Daimyo!" the young samurai shouted as he came running into the audience chamber.
"Silence!" Hayabusa shouted, "you are in the presenc eof the Emperor!"
The young samurai stopped and bowed very deeply, "Dive Tenno, my humble apologies, I did not mean to offend your sacred person with my rash actions."
"You are forgiven, now inform us of the meaning of your presence here" the Emperor replied.
"Divine Tenno, I bring news from the city, a band of samurai carrying the banner of the Shogun is marching towards the Imperial Palace" the young samurai informed him.
"How many are there?" Hayabusa asked.
"Approximately a hundred Daimyo" came the rpely.
Hayabusa's face took on a troubled look, the Konoeshidan, the Imperial Guards, were well trained, but no match for a band of samurai warriors and he only had six samurai with him. "Divine Tenno, I must urge you to go with my young Deshi here, I will remain in the palace to try and give you time to escape."
"Daimyo Hayabusa you are indeed a loyal and noble warrior, the Bushi are blessed to have you in their ranks" the Emperor said as he gathered his robes around him and prepared to leave.

The guards at the gates to the palace stepped forward when Kuroda appraoched them, the Inuzamurai at his back. "Daimyo, what is your business here?" one of the guards asked him.
"Stand aside, we are here on behalf of the Shogun to take the Emperor into protective custody, he is in danger and must be taken to a safe place."
"We cannot permit you to enter the palace Daimyo, you have no permission to ent ..." the guard was cut short as Kuroda quickly unsheathed his sword and dispatched the guard in one quick movement. The other guard readied his spear and started backing off towards the gates. Kuroda pounced! Leaping high into the air with his sword raised above his head he gracefully twisted as he flew threw the air to avoid the guard's spear and plunge his sword into the guard's skull. The razo sharp sword, striking with Kuroda's fantastic strength, sliced through the guard's head, shards of skull splintering away as the sword drove depe into the brain. A squelching sound erupted after the ferocious crack of the skull being broken as blood and brain bubbled from the wound and sprayed Kuroda.

The Emperor ran along the corridors of the palace after Hayabusa's Deshi. The Emperor's wife and son joined them along the way with a few retainers, dashing from their rooms to join in the sprint towards the eastern wing of the palace. They could hear shouts ringing out from outside the palace and screams soon filled the air along with the clash of metal on metal.
The small band soon reached the servant's quarters where the palace Chamberlain uncovered a passageway leading to the city outside. The Imperial Family adorned servant garb and stole into the passageway along with their servants and the young samurai.

Hayabusa thrust his sword into the stomach of the inuzamurai standing before him, the man's blood gushing out like a river. Pulling his sword from the man's broken body Hayabusa wuickly took stock of the sitution; the Imperial Guard were being routed, they were no match for the superior skills of the inuzamurai. Everywhere he looked he saw the palace guards being cut down, the gardens turning red with their blood.
"Daimyo!" shouted Yari, one of the Bushi defending the palace, "the Shogun's samurai are too many, w emust retreat!"
"Fall back to the inner sanctum!" Hayabusa shouted across the gardens.
The Bushi and what was left of the palace guards fought a retreat back inside the palace towards the throne room. Haybusa stood in the doorway, smashing an inuzamurai's skull to pieces, sending one of his eyes rolling out of the socket as the palace gaurds fled inside for safety. The doors were pushed shut and furniture propped against them to barricade the door. Outside the inuzamurai were smashing against the heavy golden doors with a makeshift battering ram.
"Daimyo we cannot hold out much longer" Yari informed him, blood and sweat pouring down his face.
"I know, but we must hold out as long as we can to give the Emperor time to get out of the city."

The small band of raggedly dressed 'servants' quickly made their way towards a nearby coaching house. The owner looked a little shocked when the ragged 'servants' handed him a bag full of gold for his horses, but didn't ask questions when he saw the sword one of them was carrying.
The horses galloped out of the city as quickly as they could, carrying their precious riders with them towards the lone mountain in the distance.

"Stand back!" Kuroda ordered his samurai as he stepped forwards and removed his glove. He closed his eyes and put his hands together underneath his chain as he concentrated upon the doors in front of him. His eyes hsot open and his fist charged through the air towards the wooden hinges. His fist came into contact with the thick wooden hinge in a resounding thunderclap of energy. The hinge cracked and fell to pieces on the ground. Kuroda calmy replaced his glove on his unmarked hand.

The palace guards stepped back with a shudder as they heard another almighty crash and saw one of the golden doors begin to gently sway before falling backwards into the room. Standing in the doorway was Kuroda, soake din blood and guts and brandishing his sword. There was a silence before Hayabusa let loose a scream of "Banzai!" and charged at Kuroda. Kuroda screamed something dark and twisted before launching himself towards the oncoming Bushi Daimyo.

The sound of their two blades smashing into one another resounded throughout the room, mesmerizing both sides into watching this struggle. Kuroda let loose a scream as he jabbed two fingers towards Hayabusa's soalr plexis, sending Haybausa hurtling backwards across the floor. Spring to his feet Hayabusa raised his sword just intime to parry Kuroda's lunge at him. Haybusa pushed into Kuroda, their swords grating upon each other. The struggle was fierce and both men fell back gasping for air. Hayabusa took a standing leap into the air, backflipping over Kuroda and dropped quickly to his knees as he swiped with his sword. Kuroda leapt up in theair to dodge the blow and came back down twisitng around, his legs flailing towards Hayabusa, who lent back at an impossible angle, still retaining his balance.
"You cannot win!" Kuroda mocked, "The Bushi are a dead order, the Inuzamurai are the future!"
"Your arrogance blinds you Kuroda, you were once a good samurai who upheld Bushido" Haybusa responded as he struck forward with his sword, only to have it parried by Kuroda's.
"Bushido is for the weak, the strong take what they want" Kuroda screamed, his anger exploding forth as his blade came crashing down on Hayabusa again and again, the Bushi Daimyo quickly parrying the blows.
"You are angry that you were turned down by the Zen Samurai Kuroda, you were never strong enough of spirit for the Bushi!" Hayabusa responded. Kuroda's eyes lit up with the flame of rage and he pressed forward, raining blow after blow down upon Haybusa. The Bushi Daimyo gingerly moved backwards, parrying the incoming blows as they fell.
"You do not realise the power that the Shogun has, he isn't restricted by Bushido. We have access to abilities you can only dream of!" Kuroda gloated.
"Those abilites are learned through the sufferring of others, they are evil and have no place amongst the samurai!" Hayabusa retorted.
The pair continued to trade blows, the surrounding spectators stood tranced by this martial ballet. Hayabusa backflipped towards the stone outer wall, his fist smacking the stone blocks, sending chunks of rubble flying across the room towards Kuroda. Kuroda cried out as he raised his arms to protect himself from the shards of stone tearing towards him, but a large chunk smashed into his cheek, shattering the bone flooding his eye with blood. Clutching his mangled face Kuroda staggered forwards, his sword trailing beside him, Hayabusa looking blurry in the distance.
"It is over Kuroda, you and your Shogun are finished" Hayabusa said calmly, "tell your forces to stand down."
Kuroda looked at Hayabusa through his blood soaked vision and was filled with hate; hate for having been humiliated infront of his men like this and hate for the Bushi. "Never!" he cried out as he smacked the supporting pillar next to him with his outstretched fingertips. The thick wooden beam splintered into a million shards where Kuroda had hit it, peppering the room in a hail of sharp splints. Men desperately tried to shield themselves as the splinters embedded in their flesh. The beam creaked as it began to fail, the roof above rumbling as it began to cave in. Hayabusa glanced around the room, he knew that everyone would be killed if the roof collapsed. Without a thought for himself he raced towards the beam and summoned all his strength and inner focus. Slowly he pushed the beam back upwards, propping up the roof.

"You fool, your pathetic dependency on Bushido has doomed you" Kuroda cackled as he wiped away the blood from his eyes and plunged his sword into Hayabusa's back. The Bushi Daimyo gave out a gurgled cry as blood filled his lungs and rolled out of his mouth.

The inuzamurai quickly fled the room as Hayabusa's spirit left his body to join the spirit of the Emperors.

"Grave news Daimyo" Daimyo Kaze said saddened, "Daimyo Haybusa has fallen, the Shogun has taken control of the Imperial Palace and proclaimed himself Emperor."
The old man sighed deeply and thought to himself for a moment. "There is still Hogo, Daimyo Haybusa's young Deshi. I sense him, he is strong and good, his adherence to Bushido will keep the Imperial Family safe."
"We must flee the city Daimyo, the Shogun's forces will soon attack the Zen Temple."
"We shall go to the Holy Mountain, make the necessary arrangements."

The concluding part to follow soon ...

[Paddy]

thanks, a good read

[Lycurgus]

The great Zen temple was filled with people running back and forth making ready the evacuation. Daimyo Kaze stood on the steps of the temple directing the samurai as they organised the carts that would take them from the city. Kaze's gaze suddenly shifted as his ears detected the rhythmic sound of marching. He could see in the distance a great cloud of dust sweeping up into the air and he knew that the Shogun was coming.
Quickly Kaze ordered the samurai to stop what they were doing and prepare for battle; there would be no escape for the Bushi.

The Inuzamurai tore through the streets of the capital, their heavy boots pounding on the pavements. Kuroda marched at the head of the column along with Shogun Nekura, their black armour glinting in the sunlight.

Kaze and the other Bushi Daimyo stood on the steps of the Zen Temple along with the other Zen Samurai. The two groups of warriors stood facing one another for a few moments before Nekura stepped forward and addressed the Bushi Daimyos; "Surrender and you will be spared, there is still hope for you if you pledge allegiance to me, I am the Emperor."
Kaze shouted back "You are an usurper, you can never be Emperor!"
"Hold your tongue Bushi or I will cut it from your head!" Nekura threatened in a low menacing tone.
"We will never surrender to you Nekura, you have abandoned Bushido and turned to a path of evil, you are working against the Mandate of Heaven" Kaze cried out.
"The Mandate of Heaven lies with me, I have been granted the abilities beyond your comprehension, my forces are invincible!"

The Bushi Daimyo looked at one another, resigning themselves to the fight that lay ahead. The old man raised his arm and let it fall sharply; a volley of arrows screamed through the air from high up on the temple steps and dropped like barbed rain down upon the inuzamurai below. The thick armour of the inuzamurai deflected most of the arrows and they now marched forward, screaming obscene war cries and brandishing their swords.
The Bushi drew their swords and steadied themselves on the temple steps. They watched as the inuzamurai crashed forwards like an ominous dark wave until eventually they broke over the temple steps and battle was joined.

Steel clashed with steel as duels broke out across the front steps of the temple. Kuroda was in the thick of it, cleaving Bushi with his sword, hacking at their limbs, using his hands to pull their organs from their bodies. The inuzamurai fought with an animal savagery that shook the Bushi.

Kaze found himself up against a large inuzamurai who quickly pushed the Daimyo back against the steps. As the brute advanced on him Kaze rolled across the steps and leapt to his feet. His attacker turned round to be met with the sharp point of Kaze's sword, the last thing he felt was his heart being pierced open as the blade was pushed through his chest.
Kaze looked around him, seeing that the Bushi were being decimated he ran up the steps and leapt straight into a throng of inuzamurai below him. His body twisted in the air, his sword twirling round as he landed in the middle of the enemy, their limbs quickly falling off as the razor sharp blade sliced through them like butter. Suddenly he felt arms around his body as he was grabbed from behind, another inuzamurai stood before him with sword poised to strike. The old Daimyo focused his mind upon his body and as the sword thrust into him it miraculously missed his organs and seemed to cause him no pain and little blood loss. A quick smile crept over his face as the startled inuzamurai looked at the sword still sticking in Kaze's body.
Kaze slackened his muscles and wriggled out of the vice like grip he was held in before grabbing the sword sticking in his stomach and ramming it through harder so that it jutted out of his back and straight into the gut of the inuzamurai who was standing behind him. The attacker in front of him drew his fist back, but wasn't quick enough to prevent Kaze from blocking his strike with one of his own, grabbing the attacker's fist in the air. A flick of his wrist and Kaze had broken his attacker's wrist at such an angle that the bone was poking out, the hand hanging like a useless lump.
With his attacker in shock Kaze pulled the blade from his body and rammed it into the stone steps before using it as a balancing point, from which to spin around, smashing into the surrounding inuzamurai with his feet, sending them falling down the steps.

The Bushi used the time Kaze had bought them well; they pulled back inside the temple and prepared to defend the doorway. Suddenly a horn was heard in the distance; all turned to see a large cloud of dust and several banners approaching the city. A cheer went up from the Bushi as they made out the Imperial Banner of the Emperor and several banners belonging to various Daimyo. Nekura knew when he was beat, sensing defeat he ordered retreat.

"Divine Tenno, your fortunate meeting with the loyal Daimyo on the road to the Holy Mountain has saved not only the Bushi but perhaps all of Japan too" the old man said.
"Daimyo it is I who would thank you, your order protected me against almost certain death and you defended the city against dread opponents at great cost to yourselves."
"Divine Tenno, the Shogun was not killed; he will try to resume the battle when he can. We know that he has sympathisers in the Southern and Eastern towns and villages" the old man said.
"We must continue the battle until Nekura has been defeated and order restored to the Empire; evil such as his cannot be allowed to continue."
"Divine Tenno, it is the advice of the Bushi that you take command of the Empire and abolish the position of Shogun" the old man said, "it is too dangerous to allow ordinary mortals the task of managing the Empire in case they should repeat Nekura's evil and challenge the Mandate of Heaven."
"I take the advice of the Bushi seriously Daimyo, but I must have a Shogun, it has been our way since the First Emperor. I rule that the position of Shogun can only be given to a Bushi and that you shall be the new Shogun."
The old man smiled, thanked the Emperor and bowed gracefully.

The next ten years were a time of war as Nekura's forces battled the Emperor's. Thousands were killed as the opposing armies swept across Japan. Finally Nekura's forces were beaten back to their stronghold in the southern Osakan hills. The armies of the Emperor surrounded the stronghold and Nekura knew that he would have to give battle or be starved to death...

The armies drew themselves up facing each other, their banners fluttering gently in the wind. The Emperor sat astride his warhorse and gazed out over the battlefield, he could sense the fear in his men's hearts. This was no ordinary foe they faced, these were inuzamurai; all trained in the art of war and able to rend a man apart with the same effort a normal man would take to kill an insect. The Emperor turned his horse to face his troops, "My loyal soldiers, you have given your Emperor victory after victory against the evil that has infested our lands for the past ten years, I ask that you give me one more victory. I know that you are fearful, these are inuzamurai and they have been trained in the dark arts, but we have the Bushi at our side and they will shine with the light of Heaven. Do not despair for evil will be vanquished this day!"
A loud cheer went up from the ranks of samurai standing on the hill before the Emperor, their swords shining brightly as they held them aloft.

Nekura grimaced as we gazed out over the Imperial Army before him, he was outnumbered ten to on, but he knew that the enemy feared him and his inuzamurai. He knew that each of his warriors was the equivalent of ten normal samurai; he had reason to be hopeful that today would go well. He raised his sword and brought it down again, the signal his troops had been waiting for. Silently and eerily the inuzamurai marched towards the Imperial Army.

Kaze blew on his horn and sounded the advance; the Emperor waved his sword and pointed it towards the oncoming enemy force. The samurai of the noble houses brandished their swords and grimly walked forwards.

The two armies marched towards each other at walking pace before breaking into a light jog and then a full sprint. Battle cries echoed across the hill as the warriors closed their distance. The sound of the armies smashing together resounded through the hills, echoing outwards in a great wave. The battle was joined!

The Imperial Army found the inuzamurai hard opponents to best, they fought with great strength and their training in the dark arts sent the Emperor's samurai flying through the air or left them convulsing on the ground from atemi strikes to their chi points. The Bushi were in the thick of the action, cutting a path through the enemy ranks towards Nekura.
Kaze could see the Shogun sitting atop his horse in the distance, "Coward!" Kaze thought to himself as he saw Nekura sitting there whilst his men fought for him. Suddenly an inuzamurai appeared in front of Kaze, the elderly Daimyo had barely enough time to raise his sword to block a ferocious blow that sent him to the ground with a thud. The inuzamurai was a powerful and highly skilled warrior and Kaze found himself on the defensive, but the old Daimyo was strong in his belief in Zen and remained focused.
Kaze soon had his attacker at a disadvantage as he used his martial prowess to batter down his defences. With a lighting quick lunge Kaze imbedded his sword through the inuzamurai's eye socket, skewering his eye ball and puncturing his brain. A simple twist of his wrist and the sword was pulled out again. The corpse fell to the ground with blood gushing from the open wound like a fountain.
The Emperor also saw Nekura and his anger soon overcame him as he charged forward, his horse scattering the soldiers. Nekura smiled as he saw the Emperor riding towards him; with one blow he could end this battle and the war! He drew his sword and charged forwards, screaming for help from all the dark gods he knew of. The Emperor's golden armour shone like the sun as he thundered across the battlefield, his sword gleaming with holy authority. Some swore that they could see an aura of light around the Emperor and one of darkness around Nekura; others dismissed such stories as the over active imaginations of Bushi too immersed in their religious teachings.
The two men met in the middle of the battlefield with a fury few had seen the like of before. The Emperor swung his sword at Nekura time and again, bashing at Nekura's dark armour. Nekura returned the blows, hiss word clanging against the Emperor's brilliant armour, which radiated the sun's light. As the two men fought the Emperor suddenly caught sight of one of his sons; it was his younger son Kano. The Prince had been thrown to the ground by the inuzamurai he was fighting and had dropped his sword. The Emperor cried out as he saw the inuzamurai plunge his sword through his son's chest and into his heart.
Nekura seized his chance; he lunged at the distracted Emperor, catching him at the neck where there was a small gap in his armour. Nekura's dark blade pierced the Emperor's flesh and tore out a chunk of his neck. The Emperor grasped at his ragged throat, desperately fighting for breath as blood seeped from the wound. Nekura smiled and let out an evil cackle as he watched the Emperor flail helplessly, drowning on his own blood. "You have been abandoned by Heaven and now I shall take your throne!" Nekura mocked.
The Emperor fell from his horse, blood running from his throat, a horrible gurgling sound emanating from him as he tried to cry for help.

Kaze was racing across the battlefield towards the Emperor; he had seen Nekura strike him down. Decapitating the last of the inuzamurai standing in his way he knelt down beside the Emperor, his face filled with horror at the sight of the wound.
"So the great Daimyo Kaze has come running to save his master" Nekura laughed, "you will soon join him in death!"
Kaze gazed up and Nekura sitting on his horse and let out a piercing scream that caused those nearby to freeze with fear; Nekura himself felt a pang of fear as the Bushi Daimyo hurled himself into the air, thrashing with his sword at what seemed like an impossible speed. Nekura desperately tried to parry the incoming blows, but they were delivered with such strength that he was knocked from his horse.
Kaze stood over him, his sword raised high above him in preparation for the final blow. Nekura grabbed a handful of dirt and hurled it at Kaze's eyes, the Daimyo cried out and stumbled backwards rubbing the dirt from his face. Nekura had gotten to his feet and slashed at Kaze, but the old Daimyo was too quick and parried the blow. Kaze got in close, pushing against Nekura with his sword, forcing him back. Nekura reached out his hand and quickly jabbed his fingertips into Kaze's body sending the Daimyo into a spasm.
Kaze had to summon all his inner strength to break free of the spasm in time to deflect Nekura's sword, the sound of hard steel clashing ringing out as he did so. "Your abilities are impressive Daimyo Kaze, but you are no match for me!" Nekura cried out as he thrust and slashed at Kaze.
"You are arrogant and corrupt, the evil powers you serve have blinded you to reality Nekura" Kaze retorted as he parried Nekura's blows.
Nekura had Kaze's sword pinned down in a parrying move as he darted his hand with lightning speed towards Kaze, but Kaze intercepted the attack and caught Nekura's hand in time. Kaze's fingers pressed into Nekura's hand, finding sensitive pressure points, leaving Nekura's hand numb with pain. Nekura clutched his hand to his chest as he backed away from Kaze, his sword held in a defensive position.
The two men circled each other, measuring each other; assessing each other for weakness. Nekura was the first to move, leaping high into the air and bring his sword down with the full force of his body. Kaze gingerly stepped out of the way and extended his sword to catch Nekura. Nekura quickly twisted his body in mid-air and caught the intended blow before it could land. Kaze quickly moved in on Nekura, his outstretched fingertips coming into contact with Nekura's armour, the force of the pressure exerted being felt inside Nekura's body. Nekura doubled up in pain as he felt his organs convulsing, giving Kaze the opportunity to smash his sword down upon Nekura's helmet. The helmet ruptured under the force of the sharp blade and Kaze's sword stuck in Nekura's skull.
Nekura felt his head explode in pain, but he quickly focused and soon the pain had become a dull ache. He lunged out at Kaze's legs, catching the Daimyo off-guard as he believed Nekura mortally wounded. Nekura's hand chopped into Kaze's lower leg, breaking the bone with a sharp crack. Kaze let out no scream of pain as his leg buckled and he collapsed; he was focusing on reducing the pain he was feeling as Nekura got back to his feet.
Nekura grabbed Kaze's hair and plunged his sword into the side of the elderly Daimyo's head, the force of the attack propelling the sword clean through the skull and out the other side. Nekura pulled on his sword and dragged it through Kaze's skull and out of his face. Kaze keeled over dead.
Nekura smiled at the sight of the dead Daimyo before him and brought his sword to his lips to taste Kaze's blood. As he licked the blood from his sword blade he felt a sharp pain in his back, looking down he saw a sword pushing out of his stomach. Nekura staggered forward, dropping his own word on the ground. Turning to see his attacker he was met with the sight of the Emperor, half staggering himself, still clutching his throat.
Nekura dropped to his knees, the Emperor's sword protruding from his gut, blood seeping from the wound to trickle from the hole in his armour. Nekura struggled to focus his mind, to block the pain and pull the sword from his body. The Emperor pulled a dagger from his belt and advanced on Nekura, stumbling with pain as he raised his arm for the killing blow.
Nekura summoned all his remaining strength and jumped to his feet, his hand stretching out to catch the incoming blade. Holding the blade in his hand Nekura smiled at the Emperor before throwing it back at him, imbedding it in the Emperor's hand, which he had raised in a desperate attempt to fend off the attack.
Suddenly Nekura's attention was diverted to a young samurai running towards him screaming "Banzai!" and brandishing his sword. Still with the sword jutting from his body Nekura spun round to face this new attacker. The young samurai was Hogo, Daimyo Hayabusa’s Deshi; although he had great promise he had barely seen twenty summers and still had not completed his training, but still he leapt at Nekura without fear. Nekura moved too fast for him, even in his weakened state, and the young samurai found himself caught in Nekura's vice like grip. Nekura pulled the young samurai towards him, onto the point of the sword sticking out of his stomach. The young samurai gurgled something as the sword blade pierced through his armour and tore his body open. He could feel his insides shift as the blade cut through his organs. He could feel the blood oozing from his mouth as he started into Nekura's cold dark eyes.
"You pathetic little creature, don’t you know who you are dealing with?" Nekura whispered to the young samurai.
Summoning his inner strength the young samurai answered "Yes, my master Hayabusa told me what a monster you had become. My name is Hogo, remember it for it will be the last name you ever hear!", before he spat blood into Nekura's face. Losing his concentration momentarily Nekura let go of Hogo as he wiped the blood from his face. Hogo pushed himself against Nekura and slid off the sword, blood flowing from the now exposed wound.
Clutching his stomach he fell, gasping for breath and looking for his sword that he had dropped when Nekura had impaled him. Nekura kicked Hogo in the face sending him flying backwards. Nekura lent down beside Nekura told him "Now you are going to die, I will enjoy killing you almost as much as I enjoyed killing your master."
Suddenly Nekura felt himself moving backwards, dragged by a pair of strong arms that held his own to his side. The Emperor's blood soaked hands were grasping him as tightly as they could, the Emperor using every last vestige of strength to hold on to Nekura. "Kill him!" the Emperor shouted at Hogo.
Hogo shook his head to try and regain his senses, the blood loss and his ruptured organs were causing his sight to become cloudy as he drifted towards unconsciousness. "Kill him!" the Emperor shouted again.
Hogo looked across at the pair, Nekura struggling against the Emperor, trying to escape. Hogo grabbed a sword lying on the bloodied ground and crawled over to the struggling pair in front of him. Nekura pulled his right arm free and reached for the dagger fastened to his belt. Hogo screamed "Banzai!" as he drove the sword deep into helmet, finding the eye slit perfectly. The sword embedded itself in Nekura's skull, snapping off and leaving broken blade hanging from Nekura's face.
Nekura's body shuddered for a moment as his brain began to shut down, then he was still. The Emperor collapsed behind him, the loss of blood finally overcoming him.
Hogo fell onto his back, gazing up at the sky, the harsh sound of battle carrying on around him...

[Lycurgus]

Postscript...


Hogo survived the battle, but only just. His training as a Bushi was not fully complete and he did not have the full control over his body that the Bushi learned to develop. Luckily his abilities were great enough to ensure that he remained alive long enough for a doctor to reach him.
The Emperor died from his wounds, but his remaining son survived and inherited the throne. Along with the Bushi Daimyos he decided to accept new powers over Japan's secular affairs with the Bushi being given responsibility for the military under the position of Shogun.
The remaining inuzamurai were routed and fled. Most were hunted down and killed by the Bushi over the following years, but one managed to avoid capture, Kuroda. He remained hidden and took on an apprentice to pass on the ways of the inuzamurai. He ruled that from that point on the inuzamurai would only ever consist of two, a master and a pupil, so as to remain undetected by the Bushi.
Japan entered a new period of prosperity, the despotism of the Shoguns having been replaced with a fully functioning monarchy with the


No doubt you will have noticed the obvious leanings towards Star Wars, this is very much deliberate. I saw Episode III last night and it inspired me to give this story a decidedly Jedi flavour. I hope you enjoyed the story and comments, as always, are very much appreciated.