User blog:Redknight910/WWYD Kunoichi Jtlol5

I hold my blade up, and ask when her mother died.

"Just over a year ago." I close my eyes and sigh, lowering my blade. My father was killed by an unknown assailant just over a year ago. Today was his birthday. I see the connections line up in her head, and she looks down for a moment.

"Th-that's not possible!" She screams, sounding more like a petulant child than a warrior. "My mother would never have killed the man she was to wed!" This hits me like a hammer. Marriage? My father? If she wanted to marry him, then she had a strange way of asking. His room was a mess, and he got three broken ribs out of the proposal!

"Tha... no. Mother wouldn't have done that... she would never actually hurt him!" The realisation hits us both at the same time. There was someone else in that room. With a growl I sheathe my blade, looking at her. The anger seems to have left her, and now she just looks sad.

"I... I came here to avenge her. To make you pay for her death... but if it was someone else then... then how do I find them?" She falls to her knees, a soft sobbing emanating from her. "I'm sorry mother." I hear faintly. I approach her and put a hand on her shoulder.

We  will  find who did this. I don't know how, but we will, and we'll make him pay for their deaths. She looks up at me, eyes still wet with tears. She shakes herself and nods, getting to her feet.

"We will. We have to. To honour them." She looks at me, and I can see a hint of fear in her eyes. "Whoever it was must have been incredibly skilled. My mother was no weakling." I nod, even in his old age, my father wasn't weak. "Give me a few days. It can't be too hard to find someone with that kind of skill." I nod, warning her to be careful.

I spend the next few days doing little other than training myself into peak condition. Sword, spear, axe and staff, I train them all, preparing for anything. Three days later she returns, late at night in my bedroom window, looking out at the moon.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"I found him..." She says, but she doesn't sound happy. I ask who it is that killed them. "Uriama Matiso." My eyes widen. Uriama the swordwind? He's one of the best fighters in the area, some even say he's a hero. And he's deeply loyal to the order. She's sure?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Yes. It's him, there's no doubt. I... I'm not above saying the idea of going up against him scares me." I step up behind her, putting a hand on her shoulder. We don't have to do this. It's one thing to honour the fallen, it's another to join them in hope for revenge.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"NO!" She screams, spinning around and grabbing me. "I won't let him get away with it! If it wasn't for him she... my..." She breathes deeply, some of the rage going out of her voice. "My mother's first husband was killed by him. That was almost a decade ago. She blamed herself for not being there, and it was my fault she couldn't be with him. She was pregnant with me, and because of that she lost the most important thing to her." She looks at me, her face going from anger to tears.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"It's all my fault. I held her back when she could have saved him. Then she died with her second husband because I was still in training." She takes a shaky breath and pulls herself closer to me. "I thought if I could avenge one of my parents... I might be able to live with the guilt. But now the only one to fight it him and... and I'm scared out of my mind if I don't kill him he'll find me somehow." I hear the door slide open to my room, followed by a chuckle.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"I think you were right, child." A gruff voice says. Turning around I see him, dressed in full gi, sword at his hips. "Pity you won't be able to fight back like your parents. They were quite challenging opponents. And you..." He looks at me. "I wish your old man hadn't gotten in my way. Though he's still the only one to have gotten me with a blade. I suppose you'll share his sympathies." He readies his blade and I do the only thing I can think of. I challenge him to a duel.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">His face lights up with sadistic glee. "A duel? Against me? Foolish child. Very well. You have a training yard, yes? We'll do it there. Perhaps the field advantage will make this interesting. With that he turns and leaves, heading for the yard.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"What are you thinking?!" The kunoichi cries as I go to the armoury. "You can't beat him! No one can!" My father wounded him once. I just need to finish his work. While calm on the outside, inside I'm struggling to contain my fear. How can I possibly fight a suspected hero? He has hundreds of victories under his name. I have a dozen at best.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">I reach the armoury, taking my fathers sword from the wall, grabbing a handful of knives and strapping on my own blade. I step out into the middle of the training yard, placing my father’s sword there, before walking back to my side.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"You have honour boy." The gruff voice of Uriama calls from his side. "It's a pity you'll die here. You show such promise." I stand calmly and put a hand on my blade. First to draw blood wins. He smiles again.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"I only need one strike to kill. When I draw blood, you won't be surviving." I make note, preparing myself mentally. The wind blows softly, whispering around us. "Shall we?" He smirks. I nod, charging forward. He does the same.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">When we reach each other we both swing. I duck his blow, he leaps mine. I turn for the counter, rolling back as the blade splits the hair on my fringe. I shoot forwards with a stab that turns into a slash as he sidesteps. There's a slight darkening around him as he shifts just out of reach. The act surprises me, but I still manage to avoid the next blow. I roll out of the way, then jump over him as he charges me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">He turns to face me, and makes another swing to fend off my counter. He strikes out with his foot, I take a step back to avoid the trip, but that darkness comes again and his foot sweeps me clean off of my feet. I roll to get up, when I feel something cut through my side. I get to my feet, and there's a clear trickle of blood running down my side.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"I win, boy." Uriama smiles, not yet sheathing his sword. So he does. I kneel in defeat. "Honourable to the end. I'm sorry this was necessary. I look up to see the blade coming down on my head. I close my eyes, waiting for it, when I hear shattering metal, and am pelted by shards, some cutting my face slightly.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Opening my eyes I see the fractured remains of the sword around me, and a knife in the ground.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"You battle without honour!" I hear a strong feminine voice call from the roof. "To use the shadows in a duel is unfair, and dishonourable! How about you fight a foe who can match your skills in darkness." I look up to see a host of kunoichi aligned along the rooftop, one standing amidst the others, who all kneel in wait. A shadow envelops her and she is suddenly next to me, a hand on my head.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"You will pay for all you have done Uriama." Looking at him, it's clear that his confidence is shaken by the woman. "Do you fear a battle on even terms, Swordwind?" His face hardens at the jab.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"I fear nothing, monster. I would slay you in front of your entire clan. But you broke my only blade."

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">She throws him another, and he catches it. Drawing the new blade he moves faster than the eye can see, a shadow covering him. The kunoichi matron moves even faster, striking him before one could blink.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">He stumbles, catching himself and blinking in surprise. He turns to see the kunoichi holding her dagger, one hand resting on a second's sheath. With a roar he charges again, and is struck again. The calm grace of the matron is lost to me, as her movements are untraceable to my eyes. This pattern repeats several times before his eyes lock on me. He charges at me, but is intercepted by another kunoichi. The young girl.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">She hits him firmly in the ribs with her knife, before being thrown with a movement and turned on herself. I stand and charge, sword in hand and drive it through him. My blade is real steel, not demon realm, and the wound is lethal. He drops his blade and turns to me, eyes wide and mouth agape. He collapses at my feet. Blood pooling around him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">I feel a hand on my shoulder, and turn to see the matron, her mask pulled down and a smile on her face. "You are honourable, and your actions noble. You fought to defend one of mine, and we will not forget this." She plants a kiss on my forehead. "You will have a place among us, if you so choose." I look at the girl, awe in her eyes, then at the man at my feet. What happens if I choose to not join them?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">She smiles wider, playfully. "Then she will come for you. One day. I doubt her mind will be changed on the matter." I look at the man at my feet. If not for him, would I have even met her? Even if I had, she could have been my sister. With a light chuckle and a sigh, I reach a hand out to her. She takes it, and I pull her up into a kiss.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"So your choice is made then?" The matron chuckles. I nod. I will join her clan, so long as I remain in my own home. She bows. "Of course." With that and a shade of darkness she leaves, all the others following her. All but one.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"I suppose... I suppose I should make our union of-official?" She stammers, trying to shrug out of her already revealing outfit. I put a hand on hers, stopping her. Why don't we go to my bedroom and do this properly? And away from the fresh bleeding corpse. She flushes in embarrassment, stuttering until I silence her with another kiss.

<span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">As I pull away she has a dreamy look on her face. We make our way to my room, and once we start we can't find the sense to stop. The sun's cresting the horizon as we finally run out of energy. We lay in bed, cuddled in each other’s arms, covered in sweat and more than satisfied. For how horribly this all started, I can't think of a better result.