I stood myself up and began brushing off the dust from the clay. In front of me stood the Karo. I bowed toward him in good faith knowing well I lost the duel.
"There is no need to bow," he said. "Make sure when we're alone you call me Masanori."
I felt honored that someone so strong showed me such respect.
Masanori continued speaking, "I want to personally sponsor you, kid. From now on you will be a full-fledged samurai in Japan's army, and you will work directly under my orders."
This is everything I wanted. I wanted to join the military and I wanted a sword to choose me. In the matter of two days, I had achieved both of those dreams. It seemed as if all of my training with Master Tanaka also paid off. I was able to somewhat hold my own against Masanori and also tap into the power of Nageki no Ken, even if I wasn't the best at it. I knew I had much to learn, and I felt as if I could do so working under someone who fought side by side with my father.
Masanori chuckled and said, "You know, that was a scary move you pulled while sparring. The only reason I knew to block it was because your father used to pull the same thing in training and on the battlefield. Seems as if the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. We definitely need to refine your abilities, but I think you'll do just fine."
"Thank you, sir," I replied.
He replied back to me, "Didn't I tell you to call me Masanori?"
I chuckled a little bit and said, "Sorry, Masanori."
"No worries, kid," he continued. "We need to leave rather immediately. You need to pack your things and tell your mother you are leaving on my orders."
I didn't have much time to say goodbye, but I suspected my mother knew that from this visit after she saw my sword. I told Masanori that my goodbye would not take too long and walked toward the front of the house a little slower than usual. This goodbye would be rough. After the death of my father, I had been closed off and spent most of my time at Tanaka's. I hardly spoke to my mother, and now I was just leaving. I didn't know where this journey would take me, but I felt as if I had wronged my mother due to my own personal vendetta. She was also hurting. Maybe even more than me, and I never decided to see it.
I kicked off my sandals at the front door. My mother instantly came toward me.
"What happened?" she asked. "Why is your robe so dirty, and what was that noise?"
I smirked and said, "We were just having a friendly duel, is all."
"It hardly sounded friendly," she stated.
I tried to find the words to say to my mother. What did I say? I finally thought of something, and as I went to speak she cut me off.
"I know you're leaving, Rei. I don't want you to, but I also never wanted your father to either. You two are both so headstrong," she said gently, grabbing my shoulders. "Don't forget to write your sister and I letters, and don't worry about us. We have made it this far. We will see you again, son."
My mother embraced me in the tightest hug. The warmth of her love radiating. She knew exactly what to say to me, and I knew deep down she understood the love I had for her and my sister.
My mother let go of the hug.
"We love you," she said. "Don't keep the Karo waiting."
I replied, "I love you too, Mom. I will come back to visit."
I quickly grabbed the storage box that carried my father's armor—now my armor—and stuffed extra clothing inside. I began dragging the box out, smiling toward my mother, yelling out, "Goodbye!"
As I was dragging the box and looking at my mother, a voice came up from behind me.
"Hello, sir," the soft-spoken voice said. "I can take that for you."
I jumped out of fright. The voice snuck up on me.
A smaller young kid, probably the same age as myself, was the one speaking. He looked almost innocent, as if not yet touched with tragedy. He wasn't just innocent-looking, but he seemed happy.
I asked him, "Who are you?"
"Oh, I apologize. I am Karo Masanori's Koshō," he explained. "It's great to meet you, I am Daigo Shiba," he said as he bowed toward me.
I replied, "It's nice to meet you. I am Rei Kazehara," I said as I bowed back.
"I know who you are, sir. I'll be taking your luggage now. I already have your armor on the horse carriage," Daigo said.
I grabbed the other side of the luggage. It was large, and I didn't want him trying to pull it to the cart on his own. We argued, and he told me I didn't need to help him. I insisted on doing so, however, and kept helping.
As we got to the horse carriage, Masanori was already waiting inside with the door propped open. The wooden craftsmanship of the carriage screamed status. It was beautifully carved, and the maker took time and put effort into the carriage. The same gold dragons on Masanori's robe were on the sides of the carriage to symbolize it was his.
Masanori yelled out of the carriage, "Can you two hurry it up? We have a lot of ground to make in a short amount of time. I also have important matters to discuss with Rei."
Both Daigo and I helped each other loading my armor back into the chest and placed it into the back of the carriage. After we got done, Daigo smiled and said, "Thanks for helping! I'll be controlling the carriage, so I will most likely see you when we get to our destination."
"And where is our destination?" I asked.
Daigo replied, "It's best if we stop talking and get on our way. Karo Masanori will explain everything to you on the ride."
I grabbed onto the wooden carriage and lifted myself inside. Cushions lined the interior of the carriage. Red felt lined the walls. Once we were inside, we weren't able to be seen by the outside world except for the windows built into the doors. I got comfortable and sat there awkwardly as Masanori gazed out of the window from the bench seat directly in front of me. He was back in his robe that he slung off during our bout. The carriage began to move forward, and I looked out of the window just to glimpse my home one last time. I didn't know when or if I would see it again, and I wished I had stayed there more after my father's death.
"It's not easy leaving your home," Masanori said. "I remember when I left to start my journey."
I asked, "Does it get easier?"
"I don't know," he said calmly. "I still miss my own family home sometimes. Don't think I will ever stop missing it."
Samurai were depicted to be cold-blooded and without emotion. Masanori showed me that these depictions were wrong. Samurai were human too, and it was okay to show emotion once in a while. Even he longed for his past.
I asked, "So where are we going?"
"Just outside of Hiyoshimura. That's where Japan's largest military base resides. It was strategically placed there outside of any city limits just in case of invasion. Regular people, the lifeblood of Japan, don't need to see battle," Masanori explained.
I pondered on Masanori's answer as he continued to speak.
"As of right now, no one except myself, Tanaka, and yourself knows of the truth when it comes to your father. Of course his killer does, but if he were to know that you know, our entire plan would be blown," Masanori said.
Surprised and a bit angered I asked, "So you know about my father's death? If you were his friend why have you been so silent?"
"Hold your horses kid. Remember that I am aiding you when it comes to joining the military. When I figured out about your father's death it sickened me. He was one of the best warriors I ever had the pleasure of meeting, but like yourself I can't allow my emotions to outweigh my objectives. That's something you too will need to learn as a Samurai," Masanori explained.
I was thrown off. Masanori knew of my father's assassination and it didn't feel as if it were an important topic. I sat there silent as Masanori continued to speak.
"As of right now, you need to be patient. The Shōgun will be reluctant when he first meets you. You need to act as if you don't know anything. He can't read your anger on your face, or you won't make it long. Working directly under me gives you the biggest upper hand, and in due time I will be by your side when you bring back glory to Japan, Rei," Masanori stated.
Not showing my anger was going to be tough.
"How long do I have to wait?" I asked.
Masanori said, "Didn't I tell you to be patient? Your father went with the flow of things. Be vigilant and on your guard always when around the Shōgun or anyone he knows, but tap into your father's ability of nonchalance. He was able to track an entire room and watch everyone's movements while still acting as if he didn't have a care in the world."
Masanori paused. He sighed and then continued to speak.
"I mostly need you to gain strength. What I am about to tell you is so greatly hidden from Hiyoshimura's residents because they never feel the effects. Hiyoshimura is the hub of samurai and their families. Money is constantly funneled into the city, but mostly into the military. What do you know of Japan's current state of war?"
I replied, "From what I know, we are winning. Pushing back the Mongols to the point where some are surprised they haven't surrendered."
Masanori chuckled and continued speaking, "Well, you would be sadly wrong. Japan is on the cusp of defeat. The Mongolians have an ally in China, and ever since China joined the war our forces have dwindled, and almost all of Japan's money has been funneled into the military. Military leaders and their companies are in shambles and do not know what to do. The number of elemental Samurai is at an all-time low. It used to be that we had thousands of elemental Samurai, and now we barely cling onto one hundred. Cities around Japan are crumbling, crime is at an all-time high, and the homeless rate has skyrocketed. Japan is losing, and not by a little."
"So where do I fit in?" I asked.
Masanori said, "You are the son of one of the greatest elemental swordsmen to live, and after our spar, I believe with just a little bit more training you might even be able to surpass your father."
Masanori paused and looked back out of the window. It seemed as if he was trying to find the words, and once they came to him he asked me a question:
"Will you set aside your vendetta? Will you attempt to change the course of this war and save Japan and all of those who live in it?"
It wasn't easy. I almost didn't see the whole of Japan when thinking of my father's death, and I had been behind a curtain this entire time, blind to the real world. I had to stop hesitating. I had to set aside my personal feelings. The grief and pain that Nageki no Ken and I both feel will never go away, but we would have to use that grief to achieve a new goal set before us. I wouldn't let the home of my mother, sister, and Master Tanaka collapse.
With a newfound determination I answered Masanori, "I will do whatever it takes to save Japan."