Chapter 10 - Resolve

Either the Daimyo's samurai or the mountain robbers couldn't have enough experience to predict the outcome of this battle accurately. Nor could they have known that the conversation of two old men on the morning of the same day perfectly described the inner workings of this conflict.

On the morning of that day the lord of the Asano family orders his daughter:

"Maki, bring tea for us."

She bowed slightly, stood up, walked to the fusuma door, slid it open, bowed again, and left, closing the door again.

"Very well, my dear colleague, what brings you here? You commented on a high number of Daimyo samurai walking the streets, but is that all?"

"Why, since when do I need a reason to visit an old friend? You said you didn't mind if I came here once in a while. Besides, your tea is delicious!"

"That's right Abe-san, forgive me, you can come whenever you want. Besides, you do me the favor of keeping me informed in these strange times we live in and for that, I am grateful to you."

"I am not doing you any favor, my old friend. Have you forgotten that I owe you a debt? By you, I was saved and I will do my best to repay you."

Lord Asano smiles, respectfully lifting his mood, not laughing at such a serious matter as a debt, yet still showing tenderness at the exposure of such memory.

"That was a long time ago..."

"Oh, you're making me feel old!"

They both laugh.

"Well, what news do you bring me this time? More rumors of war?"

"What impressed me was not only the number of samurai but the condition in which they were in... They looked like great warriors and were well-armed."

"They were in the condition of great warriors? interesting."

"That's right!"

Asano lays his hands on the still empty tea table in front of him. His gaze becomes thoughtful and the memories evoked in his mind, which were once happy, become something different.

"Hmm... I understand how good weapons and armor can raise the status of a warrior, however, I believe there is something more to it... a moment perhaps."

"A moment?"

"You see, Abe-san, back in the days when I was still a young fool I watched a phenomenon happen several times...something that defined for me what a great warrior is."

"Are you saying that the quality of the warrior goes beyond disciplined training and weapons?"

"Exactly. I believe that... Regardless of good conditioning, rigorous training, and well-made weapons and armor, a man does not become a complete warrior until that moment..."

The gentle, receptive gaze of this gentleman turns icy and sharp. It pierces the mind of Abe-san who immediately understands the meaning of the following words:

"Until the moment the battle is about to begin it is impossible to know the true nature of a warrior. He may be physically strong, but if he is a coward he will run away. He may be well trained, but if he fears death his body will become rigid, and he will die without ever using what he has learned. He may have the best weapons, but the desperation of a weakling will make him throw them to the ground and he will retreat."

A pause in the conversation occurs as Abe, the balding elderly man sitting on the opposite side of the table, feels a shiver go up to his arms, travel up his neck, and dance on the back of his head. He quickly regains control and clears his throat with a noise:

"Ha-hum..."

Asano continues:

"That moment is when a warrior reveals his true nature. The truly prepared show unwavering concentration at that moment. That's the phenomenon I've witnessed several times: a much less prepared warrior excelling because his mind was the strongest."

.....

That afternoon on a mountain road, warriors are waiting for the right moment to resume their attack. The strongest and most experienced go forward to confront the enemy. One of them makes a joke to disguise his impatience:

"If you keep looking at me like that I'll end up falling in love with--"

KA-PLAU!

His phase is interrupted by one of the ends of a Nunchaku crashing into his chin, causing a loud sound. His head is thrown back. And he stands still in this position for a second.

Mai delivers the first attack. Her precise words mark the end of all conversations. Her concentration is absolute.

"You talk too much."

She pulls the Nunchaku under her arm and exhales sharply, her eyes focused on the enemy in front of her. Her mind breaks her awareness of the second he remains disoriented, turning it into milliseconds of opening for the next attack. She seizes this chance.

Mai's initiative not only grants her the first blow of the battle. She pins her sword to the ground beside her, freeing her other hand. Her Nunchaku dances in the air in small, quick arcs, hitting a sequence of powerful blows to Masaaki's belly, ribs, and neck.

He spits blood and kneels on the ground before her, bringing his hands to his belly. He makes all kinds of noises, and finally screams:

"YOU...YOU WILL... PAY FOR THIS!"

She gives one last Nunchaku blow to his head, making him faint.

In silence, Mai takes up her sword again and casts a glance at the warriors at the rear of the formation.

The one closest to her backs away. Two of them tremble and drop their spears. One archer fumbles and shoots an arrow upward, which makes a big arc and lands on the side of Saito Daisuke's foot. He looks at Mai a few feet to his right and a brief smile forms at the corner of his lip.

He turns his face to Yuji just ahead of him, and Kaito who protects him with a bow and arrow. Then he takes his hand off his Wakizashi, again underestimating them.

A few meters away, Fujiwara and Bou understand why Soda Katsumi is such a famous samurai. As this man positions himself for battle, he seems to have doubled in size. His presence became something else. His Kabuto helmet and red armor reflect the sun, and his Nodachi raises above his head. Posture simply impeccable, at this moment it is impossible to attack this man.

Fujiwara instinctively knows this and waits for his opponent to attack, positioning himself sideways and placing his Masakari ax in front of his body. His only clothing is a fundoshi, a complete contrast to his opponent, covered in armor from head to toe.

Without taking his eyes off Soda, Fujiwara reaches back with one hand and Bou hands him a second Masakari ax straight from the huge weapon basket next to Minamori.

If Mai's words put an end to all conversation, it was Yuji's angry shout and advance that started the real killing spree, for this side of the road would be painted red soon after.

.....

On the other side, Gojo recovered from Naoki's attack and learned his lesson: You can't look away from such a strong opponent. Now he resumes the offensive with his big Zambato sword.

After several blows, both take heavy damage. She deflects the warrior's blade, and in response slams her staff into Gojo's mouth, causing him to step back. He spits two teeth on the ground.

"Pretty good... for a thief!"

He holds his sword differently, and quickly advances on it and tries to decapitate her, however, Naoki is agile and tilts her body and forces a quick step back. The tip of the blade makes a long, horizontal cut across her forehead, covering her face in blood.

"You have more than one style?! Hahaha... I have to admit, I didn't expect that from a brute like you."

The two become increasingly bloodied, yet seem happy. The use of brute force and fighting for life is a common thing for them. They both love to fight, and no matter how bad the situation gets, they can't help but enjoy the moment.

Naoki shouts and runs toward Gojo with his club in hand. He does the same with his Zambato. As they collide, the two weapons surprisingly break at the same time: the club being cut and the Zambato's blade breaking.

They face each other, laugh briefly, drop the handles of the broken weapons, and pour a relentless rain of punches at each other.

.....

A scarred boy stands in front of a captain and his horse. The resolution in Haru's eyes earns not only the disdain but also the respect of his opponent. He would kill or be killed, simple as that.

The captain climbs down from his mount, bringing his spear with him.

This time Haru does not try to kill him as he gets off his horse. No... that would not be enough for him. This thirst for revenge would only be quenched with a fair fight. With the humiliation that comes from complete defeat. In truth, the boy no longer knew if killing this man would be enough. The sick thoughts of a mind twisted by hatred can not be underestimated. For the first time, Arata Haru longed for someone's suffering. Defeating him in a duel was only the beginning of the long death this man would suffer if he fell into this boy's hands. If he could, Haru would torture him and even feed on his flesh.

Maybe one day.

The two positioned themselves to fight, staring at each other. Hideo arrives soon after, joining Haru. He looks at the captain and says to his friend:

"Up close he doesn't look that strong..."

This proud member of the captain's guard replies:

"Said the filthy mountain thief."

He rests the handle of his spear on the ground and puffs up his chest.

"You guys don't know it yet, but you're dead. You're trapped, there is no escape this time!"

A silver blur flashes in the captain's vision. He instinctively swerves to the side, but the tip of Hideo's spear enters the skull of his horse that was just behind.

The animal falls, letting out a horrendous noise, and dies as the thief pulls his spear back. A spray of blood paints the ground as if rolling out a red carpet for the main event.

Haru walks down that carpet.

"It is you who will not escape."