It was a sunny day in Jin. A man was out of bed. Putting on a white Kimono with black paint over it. At the back, the symbol 忠 (loyalty) was painted too. black bottoms. Putting on his white sandals with his white socks. And straw hat on. Rolling his shoulder back as he got out of his dojo.
He was met with his warriors sparring with wooden blades, some shooting arrows, as well as one of the generals while walking.
"Yoshio!" The general grinned. Yoshio tipped his hat. "Tengen."
Yoshio looks at one of his men with a wrong stance and get kicked down to the ground. "Hey! This is a fight. Not yoga. Fix your stance." He shook his head, the ronin dying of laughter at his comment, he continued to walk.
"Yoshio," A man called. Dashing over to him. "Sugi has not returned. And We found out Ryu left too."
"The day before the ride?"
crossed his arms as he narrowed his eyes. "Bastard."
He closed his eyes, sighing. Pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Men!" He chants. And his men immediately turn back, "Ryu has left. He was too soft to swing a sword." He bit into his champloo, keeping it into his mouth as his men groaned and booed at the news.
"Who wants to leave?" He called out again. And everyone stood silent. It almost the wind was a blade itself. "Good. Sugi will have to catch up. And We ride within the hour for Gakido..." He turned The men continued their noise, and Yoshio sighed. "Incredible that a woman has more balls than a army of men." He muttered.
Meanwhile. Yumi galloped on her horse. "Nothing but men with innate energy imbued weapons…." She looked up. "I wonder what Sugi has done for her to become a ronin. And a blind one."
"Hey!" A Soldier with his group calls out to. In horse as well. And Yumi reached for her Katana. "Stop right there!" He yelled. Yumi paused. Her hand on the hilt. She glared for a moment. The men took that moment to hop off the horse. "This does not have to bloody, Samurai."
She got off her horse. "Blood was on those people too." She unsheathed her sword. Her hood moving as she went up to them.
She blurred in speed as she got close. The first soldier swung up but Yumi parried down with a spin and the man swung again.
But this time he caught his arm in a arm lock.
Throwing him overhead before slashing his chest.
Another came with a spear but she side stepped and with her sword in reverse grip with both hands. Stabs him in the side.
This process was long, It was almost like every mile had a challenge. On her horse or not. She fought the men of the army. And none were left for mercy's embrace.
For example, A tanto man comes in. But she puts his arm down and slices it off. And spins the opposite direction to parry another man's attack. Launching the enemies hand back. And she gets low on the ground Before unsheathing and striking with lightning.
Meanwhile. A ronin with the description that Susanoo mentioned. Flies down and stabs a man with their Katana deep into the shoulder. And cuts his head off with another Katana.
They quickly rolls out of the corpse and gets behind another immediately.
Their Katana's sharp blade cutting deep into his abdomen. And dragging and ripping the swords cut for him to face them. Grabbing him by the throat with a spin and stabs him in the guts with the other Katana in reverse grip.
And quickly side rolls and grabs their Tanto and stabs the third guy through the jaw. Snapping his neck as they violently twists his neck with the Tanto.
They got up from their stealth kills. Cutting through the air as the blood flies off of their dual Katana. Sheathing both of them.
It was army territory. And they casually walked forward.
Above her? Yumi. She looked a bit surprised. Who has that much skill to kill 3 people in seconds. And so dishonorably. She was hesitating on killing one below her. The one that was looking at the body. "Someone is here!!" The man yelled.
She looked at her arm. Unleashing her hidden blade. And she looked forward.
The Ronin already caught her presence. Even with their black round steel hat covering their vision. But they didn't say anything. She zapped away.
Leaving Yumi with the words of her uncle in her mind. "Face your enemy as the sun faces the earth— without the shadow."
Yet, she couldn't. These men had slaughtered innocents. If she faced them head to head. Others would see. She needed blood without sound.
The man went for his horn to raise the alarm.
But she wouldn't let him. So, she leapt.
Her hidden blade stabbed him in the head. Putting his neck in an arm lock as she's on her back with the man in a chokehold. The blood on the ground made a puddle as the sounds of multiple stabbings were made. Violently.
There was a few gurgles and tears from the man. But once they stopped. She crawled backwards as her hands were drenched in blood. Gasping. She looked at them. And then at the reflection of the blood. She quickly wiped her hands with the mud. Wiping her face with her sleeve. Her breathing ragged. "Hmph." She gritted her teeth. "Forgive me, uncle." She took a deep breath. I had to do what was done."
Yumi stealthily hides behind the wall of a tavern. Looking inside. While men speak. Suddenly, and with no noise.
A woman appears. playing the flute while crossing her feet on the table leaning back.
Softly, she stops for a moment. With her other hand she has a bounty poster with a man's face
the man comes to ask. "playing flute for the deadman." And he looks genuinely concerned before asking. "who's the deadman?"
She doesn't respond. And the man narrowed his eyes as he observed her for a second.
"Ma'am. I'm gonna ask you to leave." The man responded.
She stopped playing the flute. Slowly looking at him.
"You'd have to kill me for that." She lifted her head. Resuming her play.
The general pauses to look at his men. And they laughed.
"Listen, young lady, I don't think this will be a fair fight—"
Before literally anything happens. The flute literally flies past him at insane speed that cracks the wall behind the men. Literally cleaved into the wall.
And the man is frozen in shock. Slowly looking back to look at it.
And Sugi is already up with her Kusarigama. "No." The man looks behind. And she leans her forward to show her face a little more clearly. "It is not."
The man growls. And everyone gets up. And yells as he steps back.
"Attack!!"
She grins as she spins it and bends it with her hand in such a way that the Kusarigama seems to dance around her from all angles. Swinging diagonally, vertically, and horizontally, bending the chain like water . the sickle it's blurred by the sheer speed.
A mercenary comes in but she stabs his side with it and yanks him close with it.
She pulls out her Katana and holds it in reverse grip as she spins back and lands her Katana perfectly straight to stabs his throat. Leaving the man choking on her blade. Grabbing it and reaching out to her. Making Yumi gasp softly.
But Sugi grins And spins around ripping the Katana off his throat.
and grabs her other Katana as another comes in and slices one in the chest and another slice with the other Katana to slit his throat.
An enemy comes in with a dagger. She quickly swaps for a polearm and sidesteps the downward stab and twirls the polearm down to stun the enemy with a hit to the head that knocks his head down.
Before stabbing him in the guts. Lifting him and Charging him into the wall.
Another one comes in and goes to punch her. But she tilts her head to the side and moves back. Whipping the Kusarigama and stabs the sickle into wall.
Than scraping it horizontally against the wall and slicing two of the enemies head off.
Another one comes behind and she quickly grabs her polearm and sheathes it as she ducks under the enemies katana.
she pulls out dual Katanas. Parrying another Katana with hers, and slicing with the second Katana. And she stabs him with both blades. And kicks him and sends him flying.
And then throws her Polearm at the man's jaw and it flies straight through his jaw and through his head. Right next to her flute. Yumi who was watching it all go down. Has her jaw dropped. "Incredible." she muttered.
Sugi smirked. "Did you like the tune?" She asks jokingly to she grabbed her polearm and flute.
As if nothing happened. Sugi cackles with laughter at Yumi's word as their horse do the walking for them.
"Elyngard? The Athena legion? Is it true Dante looks like a grandpa for his white hair."
Yumi looks at her a little sheepish me "No…. If anything he's quite handsome."
Sugi chuckles. "I'll bite. Is he strong?"
Yumi nodded with a smile. "Very. A clever man too."
Sugi looked over at Yumi. "And what about you? What are your powers?" She tilted her head.
Yumi sighed. "I am a ghost. As in the air itself. I can phase through offense and defense."
Sugi smiled. "Ah, so it's true." And Yumi raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Innate powers are given off your identity and reputation. You are a ghost of our people. Something unbelievable, needing faith. You are here, but you're hiding in the fabrics. And now you strike from the shadows. It's only natural that you have such power."
Yumi looks surprised. But she only looks forward. "Hm. I did not know that."
Sugi grinned. "Good kill, by the way. We wouldve had to fight our way of there."
Yumi looked away. "I am not proud of that kill. I did what I must."
Sugi nodded. "The people of this island thought you died alongside your family. It proves my point that you're a ghost."
"And how did you get your powers? You were a student in a school of commoners. I would escape for lunch to just talk to you."
"I do not have powers." Sugi says serious. "My blindfold allows to me feel and see echolocation. I can move at the speed of sound cause of it. And my wrath's innate energy imbued into my weapons."
"Wrath for what?" Yumi asked concerned.
"I am tired of this island. It's gone so bad, that Tsukinoshima. Moon island. Is the island of the sun goddess. I have seen many people die. The least I can do is take out as many men and get myself the money to get out of here."
"After the war, I can take you with me, if that's what you want."
"Thanks, but I'm already building a fortune to sail over there."
Yumi smirked. "Just so you know, the Greek don't play fair."
Sugi grinned. "Ha. I'll let them pick their deaths."
"I came to ask; I'm looking to start a war for this island. Lord Takao is in hold of Amaterasu for being a traitor. I intend to stop her. And i need help finding more people."
Sugi looked over at her. "You found the right person. My leader has an army of men himself."
Yumi raised an eyebrow. "Who is your leader?"
Sugi looked forward. "Yoshio Kuranosuke. Leader of the Ronin. We—"
"Help!!" A man yells. And the two snap their heads. A man was in a chariot of horse. With a group of men on them and one control the horse. And of the few men.
Was a old man with a creepy mask and had a huge long sword. But he teleported off. Running into a vast land of red spider Lili's.
"It's one of Amaterasu's men!" Sugi yelled as the two galloped. Yumi snarled as the bridge of her nose curled.
"I got him! Get the villager!" She unsheathes her sword. Riding one handed. Getting in front of the horse as she slashed it And than going for the man. Leaving Sugi to fight the soldiers as the chariot breaks down And Sugi calls out to her. "Yumi! damn it!"
The man slowed down. Hearing the horse galloping close. He turned back slowly.
Yumi jumped off her horse and rolled to her feet. She unsheathed her Katana. It was bloody. A fierce look on her face.
"Are you a coward!?" Yumi yelled as she walked over to him. putting her blade between her arm. Swiping the blood off. She grits her teeth. And the man chuckled.
"Do you know who I am off of my voice..?" He took off his mask. And Yumi was shocked. "Lord Kinich. You were of Tsukoyomi's legion. And now you're of the enemy?"
"I was not gonna lose my head like the others." He looked down. Unsheathing his Odachi
Yumi took a deep breath. And with hesitation. She got into stance. "You'll still lose it. You're a traitor, you'll die a traitorous death."
"I am no longer lord Kinich. I am Kinich the hungry." He gets in stance as well.
The two lunge at each other. Slamming their sharp weapons against each other. "I'll get your powers and send you to the Tachibana clan. " He grinned.
Yumi broke apart first. Thrusting for a blade in the chest. Kinich side steps and swings down. Yumi rolls out of the way and swings horizontally. The old man recovers with an upward swing.
But she parries and spins as she digs her Katana into the ground to launch mud which hits his face and spins around again with a slash to the stomach.
And in return gets a stab on the leg. But it's nothing she can't fight back against. She starts phasing in and out before she unleashes a lightning slash. But he tanks it to his Odachi and spins around and unleashes it back. Making the spider lilies move like crazy.
Yumi grunts as she sent flying back. "What the hell!?"
Kinich grins. "I ate a person with that technique too."
Meanwhile. Sugi put someone's sword down and climbed on their back with a spin past them and stabs them through the back of the neck. Making them Cough out blood as they fall down. And Sugi hops off as she looks over at Yumi. "He's strong. But She doesn't listen!"
She dashes over to her as Yumi barrages him with lightning slashes until he's overwhelmed and can't block or parry. Flying everywhere. And once he's stunned.
She dashes over to him and stabs him in the gut. Putting him on his knees. And she immediately rips it out of him. Putting the Katana to his chin as he whimpers. She just stands still. Her face unreadable. "…Where is lord Takao?" He lifts his chin up.
"Yumi!" Sugi reached her. Looking at the defenseless legionnaire. "Did he say anything?"
"I'm in the process of that." She says coldly. Grabbing the Katana with her other hand too.
"He is in Ten… realm of the gods. Captured by the goddess. She wants you to come to her."
Yumi raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
He chuckled weakily. Putting his hand on the blade. "You'd have to ask her—" before he says anything else. She grabs the hand on the blade. Scraping
The blade against his fingers as he screams in pain. "You bitch!"
"For what does she want me there!?" She yells. But the man seemed betrayed. And he got his Odachi and swings at her. But Yumi already stabbed the Katana at his chest. Ripping out of him through the shoulder up. She shakes the blood off of her Katana.
"Farewell, traitor." She sheathes the Katana. And Sugi looked surprised. "Are we really going to bring this war to her?"
Yumi glares at the dead body. "We will not leave the man with his words in his mouth." She walked away. Her look was almost beast like. "Horse!" She called. The horse came flying with a neigh. And Sugi watched a little concerned. "You don't right as honorable." She said as she herself got on her horse.
"Honor was old on this war." She galloped away. As well Sugi.
Meanwhile at Amaterasu castle….
Lord Takao is on his knees. Tied up. He glares at Amaterasu. "You are a disgrace to the gods."
Amaterasu opens her eyes slowly — they glow like embers beneath water. A faint smile touches her lips, but it is neither kind nor cruel.
"You know, my mother in Law told me that…. Izanami." She walked up to him. "Days after I told Tsukoyomi that we should just survive together…. instead of bragging about our legions, and have no hierarchy. He disagreed on honor. He did not want to sacrifice anything for his power."
She looked at the necklace she had around her neck. Her reflection shining. "I swallowed my words. I wanted him to take me back. But he never gave me a second chance. I never felt so… disrespected. So insecure of who I was. I wanted his attention. So the goddess of death. Was swallowed to her own duty." She looked at Takao with a grin as she chuckled. "I killed her. And that pissed off Tsukoyomi. So we had a war."
"But I decided to fight him not with honor. But with my necessity of power. So he can feel how I felt. Powerless. I sent every man at his mortal captain's village. And I slaughtered everyone." She pulled back. A sly smirk on her face. "Well… almost everyone. Because of you!" She slammed her hands against the bars. Trying to get the samurai to flinch. But he didn't.
"And well… I took my actions for him to appear… and he still hasn't." She cupped her cheek. He furrowed his eyebrows "You are insane…"
"I mean… I gave her a chance." She walked back to her throne. "But she didn't want to take it."
She sat down and crossed her legs. "Now she is enemy number… two."
"Lady Tachibana will save the island from you!" He cried. And Amaterasu laughed. "You men are so silly…" she put a hand on her mouth. "She is a Samurai. She has honor. She will not sacrifice anything. Not for one." She leaned back comfortably. "I just want to break her spirit. And I don't have to do anything… not a single. Sacrifice. I've had fun in that… I could understand why Tsukoyomi never gave away anything his." she trails a circle on her thigh.
"Oh well." She got up. "It's either her or Tsukoyomi." She smiled cutely. "It's up to them."