I woke up in my bedroom and just sat on my bed for a while. I was still groggy from sleeping, my eyes still a bit heavy. My room was simply a bed and storage areas for clothing. The only thing I had for decorations were oil paintings of famous elemental samurai.
The first oil painting depicted Ryūjin of the Storm. A samurai who was accompanied by his lightning blade, Kaminari-no-Hōken. He was tall with flowing dark hair, wearing blue and yellow armor. His blade was a pale blue, and he was said to have been the fastest samurai to live. Legend has it that he single handedly took out an invading force of 40 men at Teshima Pass. Those who he took out didn't even have the chance to fight back.
The second oil painting depicted Fuyukage Aoi, one of the only female Daimyo class Samurai in history. She carried the blade Hyōrinmaru. The oil painting was of her standing in her winter robes with her blade drawn out. She stood on the icy ground with tied up black hair and her pale white blade. It was said she didn't have to kill in order to win a battle due to her pressure, footwork, and precision.
These were only some of the samurai that I looked up to. It would've been cool to meet them, but Ryūjin was born 200 years before I was and Fuyukage 90 years before I was. I took all of it in knowing it would be a while before I came back to my home. I thought maybe one day, in 100 to 200 years, kids might have an oil painting of myself in their room.
The smell of food came lingering into my room. I was sure that it was my favorite meal! I quickly got up and ran to my closet and grabbed out my clothing. I threw on my black kosode and purple undershirt. I quickly walked outside of my room, sliding the door open, and saw my mother cooking. I was able to see right away because the inside of our home was open concept. Little to no walls, just pillars to keep up the integrity of the home.
As my mother was cooking, I saw my sister desperately looking for some of her school supplies she lost. I walked deeper into the area.
"What did you lose?" I asked my sister.
As she frantically looked, she said almost out of breath, "I need to find my brush!"
She kept frantically opening drawers. She was so frantic looking for it that she didn't even realize she had looked at the brush sitting on one of the stands next to a decorative vase.
I picked up the brush and started to place the end of it on my cheek while speaking to her.
"So what does the brush look like?" I asked.
My sister replied, "I don't know. It looks like a brush?"
"Oh really, it does? I have always wanted a brush that looks like a brush," I said sarcastically.
She stopped to look at me with an unenthusiastic look. She instantly noticed me with the paintbrush and snatched it from me without saying a single word.
"Maybe a thank you?" I said.
My little sister replied in a sarcastic tone back, "Oh, thank you so much, Rei."
I chuckled and went to check on my mother. She turned away from her cooking for just a second to embrace me in a quick hug and kissed my forehead. I might never feel that again, I thought. It was a scary thought.
I walked away towards the chest of my father's armor, attempting to distract myself from the thought. I opened up the chest to see the armor in the same place I put it back. The face guard stared at me. Before I even attempted to eat, I started to put on the armor. The set was complete with the helmet, face guard, chest armor, armored sleeves, shin guards, skirt guards, and thigh guards. I put each piece of the armor on until I was fully covered now. The armor didn't necessarily feel the most comfortable, but I knew that I would get used to it over time.
The armor wasn't just uncomfortable at first, but it was also heavy. Not genuinely heavy, but heavy with the burden of my goals, but wearing it gave me pride. Pride knowing that I was on the road to becoming a real samurai and following in my father's footsteps. My sister and mother walked towards me wearing the armor, my mother tearing up remembering the love of her life trying on his armor. Then there was my sister.
"You look kind of dumb," she said while chuckling.
I replied, "You don't have to lie. I know I look cool!"
"Totally," she said.
I started walking around the house, adjusting to the armor. My mother had seen my father getting dressed on multiple occasions and even helped him. After she helped me adjust the armor, it felt so much better. It felt as if I could actually get into a duel with this armor. As I walked around the house more, I heard a strong knock at the door. My mother went to answer the door as I stood near her to watch.
As she slid the door open, a man stood in front of her in a golden kosode embroidered with red dragons. The dragons swirled around the robe as if they were flying around him. Underneath the kosode was a white undershirt. The man had his hair tied in a top knot with an ornamental hairpiece keeping it together with another dragon in gold. His hair was jet black, and he asked my mother nicely if he could come inside while bowing. My mother allowed the stranger to come inside as if she knew something I didn't. The stranger politely kicked his sandals off before entering the home.
The stranger, once entering, made eye contact with me. He bowed towards me, and I did so back. He then spoke in a voice that was confident but calm.
"Good morning, Rei. I am Karo Masanori Takeda. I work directly under the Shōgun," the Karo said.
I replied, "Good morning, sir. I am Rei Kazehara."
"I know who you are, Mr. Kazehara. Would you mind taking this conversation outside?" the man asked.
I said with confidence, "I don't mind at all."
The two of us walked to the front door and both slid on our sandals. We started walking towards the big garden area of my father's home, and as we walked, the Karo began talking.
"Tanaka came to my home last night, and we shared a cup of sake. He explained to me that you finally had a blade choose you. The legendary Hayato Kazehara's son, Rei Kazehara, chosen by his father's blade," the Karo said.
I had still been in my armor, ready for this situation. My left hand resting on my blade. When he said what he did, my thumb lightly pushed my blade forward.
"There is no need to do that, Rei. I don't plan on killing you. You know I was your father's friend after all, and that is why Tanaka came and spoke with me," the Karo explained.
I replied, "My father never mentioned you?"
"We were young samurai just starting out our careers. I was proud and headstrong. Your father quite literally went where the wind blew him. We were exact opposites. The Wind user and the Fire user. The two of us were tasked with taking on missions for Japan's military together. We were an unlikely pair and butted heads quite often, but over time we drifted apart," the Karo said.
His words seemed genuine. Talking about my father and reminiscing on their memories together really seemed to make him happy as the smile on his face grew bigger.
I asked, "Can you tell me more about my father?"
"I can in due time, but right now that isn't important. Right now we must speak of your role in Japan's military," he told me.
I asked the Karo, "Do I even have a shot in the military?"
"Of course you do. Not only do you have a divine right to join Japan's forces, but you also have a powerful last name. Kazehara. The name emits power due to your father's success. The Shōgun almost has no choice but to recognize you," the Karo said.
That felt like the reply I wanted from the Karo. I wanted nothing more than to join the ranks of the military so I could avenge my father's death.
"I ask only one thing of you, Rei," the Karo said, "Fight me in a duel, please?"
I had only ever sparred with Tanaka. Tanaka made me train rigorously just in case a sword ever did choose me, but to fight an esteemed samurai? I was nervous, but I knew my answer. I had to say yes. Not only for myself, but I had to show the world that I had what it took to change it—no, to correct it. Sparring with the Karo was my first step in achieving this goal.
"I accept," I told him.
The Karo seemed overjoyed. Maybe he hadn't sparred in a while. I didn't think much of it as we walked to my father's training court.
We both stood on opposite sides of the rectangular-shaped court. It was outlined with wood, and on the inside of the wood was heavily compacted clay. I took off the armor I was wearing and gently set it down outside of the court.
The Karo yelled out from across the court and asked, "Are you sure you don't want to keep that on?"
We were just sparring. There was no point in wearing the armor, I thought.
When ready, we both bowed towards each other, signifying the start of our duel. The Karo drew his blade from the sheath. It was gorgeous. The blade was black and red, filled with sparks of orange. As he drew his blade, so did I. The black and purple blade caught the Karo by surprise. Before he even thought of striking, he said, "This isn't the Tenshō-Maru I remember."
I gripped my blade and said, "The blade is no longer my father's Tenshō-Maru. This is my Nageki no Ken."
"So the blade's changed then, huh?" he said. "I can't wait to see its strength."
Something in the Karo standing before me changed. He wasn't the nobleman I spoke to before. It was as if fire itself swirled around him and he was transported back to when he was a young samurai. Determination filled his eyes, and the thought of winning filled him up to the brim. He wasn't just ready. The smile on his face showed excitement.
Quickly, the Karo moved towards me before I could take a step. His blade came crashing towards me, and I rolled. His blade smashed into the ground, breaking up some of the compacted clay. I knew I needed to dodge his attacks. An elemental samurai's innate abilities were enhanced by their blades, which meant his blade was directly enhancing his strength. I wouldn't be able to take many blows head on from the Karo.
I knew I needed to connect with Nageki no Ken fast, but the task wouldn't be easy. I had just received the blade, and this was my first battle using it. The Karo and his blade had a deep connection. I watched as the red and black blade glowed as he took the strike—a symbol of their connection.
As the Karo gained his composure from the strike, I took a deep breath, letting my thoughts align with my blade. As this happened, I could only think back to the memory of my father and the grief I felt when I did. As the grief overwhelmed me, so did it overwhelm the blade. This time it felt different. My grief didn't send me into a spiral. It gave me the resolve I needed to win this duel, and it seemed it gave Nageki no Ken the resolve it needed as well. My blade began glowing purple, and I felt my footsteps become lighter as I walked around the court. I knew the Karo's strikes were powerful, and I knew I needed to exhaust him, which meant I needed to control the flow of this battle.
As I walked around the court waiting for the patient Karo to strike, he said, "I haven't been able to go all out in a while."
He took his robe off and slung it to the side. He now just wore his pants and undershirt. He was stronger than that blow, I thought. This is what I needed. I needed him to be at his strongest and show him an opening. I took a deep breath and ran towards the Karo for a head-to-head blow. As his blade almost crashed into mine, I whispered, "Nageki no Ken, Sure Step."
It was as if I entered a flow-like state, able to see everything my opponent saw and more. The battlefield was my kingdom and I the ruler. As I acted like I would block, I swung my sword down and away, stepping back and around the Karo. He swung down with full momentum, breaking more of the dense clay. My opportunity to strike was now, while he was completely open. I quickly swung my sword towards the Karo, but as if he saw it coming, he was able to block the attack even though his back was turned toward me. I was sure I was going to win.
"You almost got me, kid," he said, smirking.
I was not only caught off guard, but his block was so impactful that now I was even off balance. The Karo stood before me strong.
He said, "Kōen-Maru, Blazing Swing," as he aimed for my legs with his sword. Since my steps were so light and wind helped me predict the battle, I was able to jump just over his blade just before it took out my legs, but soon enough I would come to realize it was no use. Before I could use my ability to get away from him, he was able to take the butt of his sword and hit me in my stomach. The air inside my lungs ran away from me, and I desperately gasped for air. As I was finally able to take a breath and look up at my surroundings, I noticed the tip of the Karo's sword in between my eyes.
"I gotta tell you, kid, I haven't had that much fun since I dueled your father," he told me with a smile.