Helikaon
02-11-2006, 05:50 AM
Hey was bored so decided to write a story its not finished yet.. should be quite long. Opinions and constructive criticism is welcome.
Ren looked into the cold, dead eyes of his friend, there was no mistaking it, his friend was the traitor, he had betrayed the entire clan. The pain was unbearable, the shame felt for his dead friend, but in Ren's eyes the fire of the question still burned, why did he do it? There seemed no logical reason why his best friend in the whole world would betray the clan that he grew up in and loved. But still the evidence was overwhelming, it was to this final confrontation that the trail of evidence had lead him.It saddened him to think that it was him who was put in charge of this mission, he , who had to kill his best friend, in order to protect the clan from ruin and sure defeat. Ren pulled the blade from his friends lifeless corpse , wiping the blade on his leg, he got off the ground. He studied his friends face, remembering the memories of freedom, that at this very moment seemed so long ago, yet it was only last spring that he had laughed so carefree with his friend in the meadows of the wildflowers. The rain continued to fall down on the roof of the silent Onagi household. The rain dripped down Ren's sweat covered face, into his eyes, but this warrior didnt blink away the drops but let it hide the tears of anguish that came with those carefree memories.
Ren recalled the events that had taken place on the rooftop running the images through his head, he had spotted the traitor coming from the map room in Tesaki's house. The traitor saw Ren watching him from the rooftop and had tried to flee, towards the exit of the town, but half way there Ren had caught up to him on the Onagi roof top,
'Stop Tessan! there is no point running. The clan now knows your identity, You cant hide!' Ren yelled over the down pour now falling from the sky.
Tessan turned and faced him, his eyes locking onto Ren's in a fierce glare.
'I don't care that the clan knows my identity! It doesnt matter anymore, ive suceeded what i needed to do in order to acomplish my mission' Tessan yelled. I put my hand on the hilt of my katana.
' Give up Tessan! You cant fight the clan. Why are you doing this? You know the punishment for traitors!' Ren Yelled
Tessan also put his hand on the hilt of his katana.
' You want to know why im doing this? Im doing this for a better cause! The clan brainwashes you with what they think is right, but i have discovered that the clan pulls the wool over our eyes! You think you are fighting for a Just cause! Ha!' he spat on the ground 'Dont make me laugh!' he yelled
'But Tessan this is your cause too!' Ren yelled over the ever present rain.
'Not anymore, not now i know the truth!' he yelled
'What is the truth Tessan?' Ren yelled
'If you want the truth, go to the Nightflower, now enough talk' he yelled, and drew his sword.
'Fine you leave me no choice!' Ren yelled and drew his sword.
They charged eachother across the long rooftop, the puddles of rain splashing up as they ran. The blades sang there shrill sound that echoed through the silent village as they met eachother with fierce resolve. Ren knew his friend would be a worthy opponent, for they had sparred together for most of there adult lives, Ren normally getting the better of his more timid friend. But as they continued to fight on, its became clear to Ren that his friend had held back his real skill. Tessan's skill far surpassed his own. His friend was like a graceful swan, easily deflecting his strength relied blows and flowing between his moves with regal grace only beheld to the most masterful of swordsman. As the fight continued it became apparent to Ren that if he didnt do something soon he would die on this rooftop. He had to do something unexpected, for his arms were growing tired and had nearly slipped on his last block. He went in for an attack on the right side of Tessan knowing his friend would be able to deflect the blow with ease, and after being deflected Ren showed an opening for his friend to bait him to attack him, his friend took the bait and lashed out with his sword, as Ren expected this he took the blow onto his right shoulder. The sword impaled his shoulder, and Ren saw the look of surpise flash across his friends face, but it was too late, he had the opening he needed and striked with a downward blow, severing his friends sword hand. Tessan dropped down to his knee's in agony. A look of shame crossed his face, but was quickly replaced by a look of sadness.
'Looks like you win my friend,I must admit im surprised, but the clan is already doomed' He weezed, through his panting.
He looked down at his kneeling friend.
'Although you dont deserve an honourable death for what you have done to the clan you were always my friend so i shall give you one'
Ren stood behind his friend and handed him his sword. In the proper ceremony he reversed the blade on himself and stabbed the blade into his stomach and pulled up. His body slumped to the ground. Ren still remember the smile that touched his lips before he did it.
The blood flowed quite freely from the wound in Ren shoulder, he took his sleeve and tore off a strip of cloth to wrap his wounded shoulder in. He thought that it was a pretty deep wound and left to itself it would either get infected in the winter environment or he would die from blood loss. He decided the best action was to wake up the medicine lady. He climbed down off the roof, meanwhile studying his surroundings, of the small town. The town was encircled by a thick wall of sharpend pines creating the perimeter defence, enough to defend a small town. Outside of the wall was a large forest of pines spanding fifty kilometres in every direction. A perfect cover for an attack. The town wasnt situated in exactly the best defensive postion, Ren thought. It would be quite easy for an enemy to sneak up in any direction. Ren and Tessan were the assigned warriors in this peaceful town controlled by the Tetazaki clan, one may ask why samuarai are assigned to such a peaceful town. Well a peaceful town is the best place to keep the war plans for the summer. Who would suspect that the Tetazaki clan would hide there plans in a small, peasant town off to the far south. Ofcourse the clan never counted into the equation Tessans betrayel, No-one would have suspected that, for the fact that Tessan wasnt careful enough to hide his presence, he left too much evidence. The clan began a immediate investigation and chose me as the chief officer. It all came down to this night, this last move in which we would uncover the traitor. Now it seems that, the plans for the summer have been revealed to one of our rivals, its had to say which though, but now it was up to Ren to travel to the capital to warn the clan of the betrayel and the plans.
The sun that rose the next morning spoke of ill omen to anyone setting out this day. The previous nights wound still throbbed with pain on Ren's shoulder, but the medicine lady had done a great job of cutting off the bleeding. Ren knew that this would be a long journey so he set out for the market to buy supplies and anything else he may need along the way. The market was as usual a bustling place with friendly faces of both shop keepers and peasants alike. He returned to his lodgings to fetch his belongings and his pack, before he went he thanked the medicine lady one last time and said goodbye to some of the friends he had made during his stay in the town. He set out when the the sun had reached its zenith in the sky.
He travelled for three days in the cold forboding winter condtions, but the snow made it hard to cover much distance in the short amount of time that he had of light. On the third day he came upon a forest, but as soon as he entered this forest he could tell there was something different, something strange about this forest that set it apart from the others that he had crossed on his journey. The sounds of the forest were the same, but he got that ever present feeling that he was being watched, he scanned the tree's looking for any watchers but there seemed to be none. He shook off this feeling counting it as only his imagination. He kept walking but the feeling returned and stronger, he entered a clearing. Three dark shapes appeared as if out of thin air, clutching the trees surrounding him. They looked like they were dressed in the garb of an assassin of sort, dressed all in black but for a purple flower on there back. Ren had keen eye for the different clan's symbols but he had never seen this symbol before. They dropped to the ground with the grace of cats, each drawing his sword. Ren thought that this didnt look like a welcoming party, so he drew his sword aswell. Ren flew at the first opponent and was met with a block to form a cross with there swords, each one trying to over power the other but Ren knew if he kept this up he would stabbed in the back by one of the other assassins. He dropped to the ground on one leg and sweeped a low kick, dropping the assassins legs from under him and stabbed the assassin as he dropped to the ground. The other two rushed at him together and Ren only had a small time to recover from his previous move before having to block and deflect both the assassins attacks. Ren knew that if this kept up he wouldnt be able to sustain for long. Ren ran towards the tree's knowing that they would have less of an advantage if he stayed in the trees rather than the open ground. The two assassins ran after him. When he reached the tree's he faked to go left and quickly turned on the first assassin, he didnt have enough time to react and took Rens blade into his stomach. He quickly withdrew his sword and met the second assassins blade, the second assassin made a quick assault on the left side of Ren, but Ren deflected the blow and kicked the assasin in the head, momentarily stunning his opponent enough to put his sword through him. Ren dropped to the ground panting, the wound on his left shoulder was throbbing more from all the extra excercise that it had to do. Ren knew that these assasins hadnt been any ordinary ones, these assasins were trained to kill silently yet they had good skill with a sword, which is very unatural in these times. Any of the clans assasins would have had much less skill than these. He recalled the purple flower on the backs of the assasins garbs, the flower could only have been one thing, this made Ren shiver, words from the grave, he remembered Tessans words 'If you want the truth, go to the Nightflower'. It now dawned on Ren that this nightflower, a group it seemed, was now after him.
It took Ren a while to realise that there was someone behind him, watching him. He quickly got off the ground.
Ren looked into the cold, dead eyes of his friend, there was no mistaking it, his friend was the traitor, he had betrayed the entire clan. The pain was unbearable, the shame felt for his dead friend, but in Ren's eyes the fire of the question still burned, why did he do it? There seemed no logical reason why his best friend in the whole world would betray the clan that he grew up in and loved. But still the evidence was overwhelming, it was to this final confrontation that the trail of evidence had lead him.It saddened him to think that it was him who was put in charge of this mission, he , who had to kill his best friend, in order to protect the clan from ruin and sure defeat. Ren pulled the blade from his friends lifeless corpse , wiping the blade on his leg, he got off the ground. He studied his friends face, remembering the memories of freedom, that at this very moment seemed so long ago, yet it was only last spring that he had laughed so carefree with his friend in the meadows of the wildflowers. The rain continued to fall down on the roof of the silent Onagi household. The rain dripped down Ren's sweat covered face, into his eyes, but this warrior didnt blink away the drops but let it hide the tears of anguish that came with those carefree memories.
Ren recalled the events that had taken place on the rooftop running the images through his head, he had spotted the traitor coming from the map room in Tesaki's house. The traitor saw Ren watching him from the rooftop and had tried to flee, towards the exit of the town, but half way there Ren had caught up to him on the Onagi roof top,
'Stop Tessan! there is no point running. The clan now knows your identity, You cant hide!' Ren yelled over the down pour now falling from the sky.
Tessan turned and faced him, his eyes locking onto Ren's in a fierce glare.
'I don't care that the clan knows my identity! It doesnt matter anymore, ive suceeded what i needed to do in order to acomplish my mission' Tessan yelled. I put my hand on the hilt of my katana.
' Give up Tessan! You cant fight the clan. Why are you doing this? You know the punishment for traitors!' Ren Yelled
Tessan also put his hand on the hilt of his katana.
' You want to know why im doing this? Im doing this for a better cause! The clan brainwashes you with what they think is right, but i have discovered that the clan pulls the wool over our eyes! You think you are fighting for a Just cause! Ha!' he spat on the ground 'Dont make me laugh!' he yelled
'But Tessan this is your cause too!' Ren yelled over the ever present rain.
'Not anymore, not now i know the truth!' he yelled
'What is the truth Tessan?' Ren yelled
'If you want the truth, go to the Nightflower, now enough talk' he yelled, and drew his sword.
'Fine you leave me no choice!' Ren yelled and drew his sword.
They charged eachother across the long rooftop, the puddles of rain splashing up as they ran. The blades sang there shrill sound that echoed through the silent village as they met eachother with fierce resolve. Ren knew his friend would be a worthy opponent, for they had sparred together for most of there adult lives, Ren normally getting the better of his more timid friend. But as they continued to fight on, its became clear to Ren that his friend had held back his real skill. Tessan's skill far surpassed his own. His friend was like a graceful swan, easily deflecting his strength relied blows and flowing between his moves with regal grace only beheld to the most masterful of swordsman. As the fight continued it became apparent to Ren that if he didnt do something soon he would die on this rooftop. He had to do something unexpected, for his arms were growing tired and had nearly slipped on his last block. He went in for an attack on the right side of Tessan knowing his friend would be able to deflect the blow with ease, and after being deflected Ren showed an opening for his friend to bait him to attack him, his friend took the bait and lashed out with his sword, as Ren expected this he took the blow onto his right shoulder. The sword impaled his shoulder, and Ren saw the look of surpise flash across his friends face, but it was too late, he had the opening he needed and striked with a downward blow, severing his friends sword hand. Tessan dropped down to his knee's in agony. A look of shame crossed his face, but was quickly replaced by a look of sadness.
'Looks like you win my friend,I must admit im surprised, but the clan is already doomed' He weezed, through his panting.
He looked down at his kneeling friend.
'Although you dont deserve an honourable death for what you have done to the clan you were always my friend so i shall give you one'
Ren stood behind his friend and handed him his sword. In the proper ceremony he reversed the blade on himself and stabbed the blade into his stomach and pulled up. His body slumped to the ground. Ren still remember the smile that touched his lips before he did it.
The blood flowed quite freely from the wound in Ren shoulder, he took his sleeve and tore off a strip of cloth to wrap his wounded shoulder in. He thought that it was a pretty deep wound and left to itself it would either get infected in the winter environment or he would die from blood loss. He decided the best action was to wake up the medicine lady. He climbed down off the roof, meanwhile studying his surroundings, of the small town. The town was encircled by a thick wall of sharpend pines creating the perimeter defence, enough to defend a small town. Outside of the wall was a large forest of pines spanding fifty kilometres in every direction. A perfect cover for an attack. The town wasnt situated in exactly the best defensive postion, Ren thought. It would be quite easy for an enemy to sneak up in any direction. Ren and Tessan were the assigned warriors in this peaceful town controlled by the Tetazaki clan, one may ask why samuarai are assigned to such a peaceful town. Well a peaceful town is the best place to keep the war plans for the summer. Who would suspect that the Tetazaki clan would hide there plans in a small, peasant town off to the far south. Ofcourse the clan never counted into the equation Tessans betrayel, No-one would have suspected that, for the fact that Tessan wasnt careful enough to hide his presence, he left too much evidence. The clan began a immediate investigation and chose me as the chief officer. It all came down to this night, this last move in which we would uncover the traitor. Now it seems that, the plans for the summer have been revealed to one of our rivals, its had to say which though, but now it was up to Ren to travel to the capital to warn the clan of the betrayel and the plans.
The sun that rose the next morning spoke of ill omen to anyone setting out this day. The previous nights wound still throbbed with pain on Ren's shoulder, but the medicine lady had done a great job of cutting off the bleeding. Ren knew that this would be a long journey so he set out for the market to buy supplies and anything else he may need along the way. The market was as usual a bustling place with friendly faces of both shop keepers and peasants alike. He returned to his lodgings to fetch his belongings and his pack, before he went he thanked the medicine lady one last time and said goodbye to some of the friends he had made during his stay in the town. He set out when the the sun had reached its zenith in the sky.
He travelled for three days in the cold forboding winter condtions, but the snow made it hard to cover much distance in the short amount of time that he had of light. On the third day he came upon a forest, but as soon as he entered this forest he could tell there was something different, something strange about this forest that set it apart from the others that he had crossed on his journey. The sounds of the forest were the same, but he got that ever present feeling that he was being watched, he scanned the tree's looking for any watchers but there seemed to be none. He shook off this feeling counting it as only his imagination. He kept walking but the feeling returned and stronger, he entered a clearing. Three dark shapes appeared as if out of thin air, clutching the trees surrounding him. They looked like they were dressed in the garb of an assassin of sort, dressed all in black but for a purple flower on there back. Ren had keen eye for the different clan's symbols but he had never seen this symbol before. They dropped to the ground with the grace of cats, each drawing his sword. Ren thought that this didnt look like a welcoming party, so he drew his sword aswell. Ren flew at the first opponent and was met with a block to form a cross with there swords, each one trying to over power the other but Ren knew if he kept this up he would stabbed in the back by one of the other assassins. He dropped to the ground on one leg and sweeped a low kick, dropping the assassins legs from under him and stabbed the assassin as he dropped to the ground. The other two rushed at him together and Ren only had a small time to recover from his previous move before having to block and deflect both the assassins attacks. Ren knew that if this kept up he wouldnt be able to sustain for long. Ren ran towards the tree's knowing that they would have less of an advantage if he stayed in the trees rather than the open ground. The two assassins ran after him. When he reached the tree's he faked to go left and quickly turned on the first assassin, he didnt have enough time to react and took Rens blade into his stomach. He quickly withdrew his sword and met the second assassins blade, the second assassin made a quick assault on the left side of Ren, but Ren deflected the blow and kicked the assasin in the head, momentarily stunning his opponent enough to put his sword through him. Ren dropped to the ground panting, the wound on his left shoulder was throbbing more from all the extra excercise that it had to do. Ren knew that these assasins hadnt been any ordinary ones, these assasins were trained to kill silently yet they had good skill with a sword, which is very unatural in these times. Any of the clans assasins would have had much less skill than these. He recalled the purple flower on the backs of the assasins garbs, the flower could only have been one thing, this made Ren shiver, words from the grave, he remembered Tessans words 'If you want the truth, go to the Nightflower'. It now dawned on Ren that this nightflower, a group it seemed, was now after him.
It took Ren a while to realise that there was someone behind him, watching him. He quickly got off the ground.