Foreign Honor: Chapter one

Chapter 1

My father told me that I was born late. That I had been born only years before that I would have made a great warrior. He was sad for me that I would never know what it was like to serve a lord and dedicate my life to combat. But despite telling me that all of these things were gone, I was still trained in the ways of the sword, and taught bushido. My father was a kind and wise man, who believed that every man had the right to a full belly. The lord he served was a casually brutal man, who accepted my father for the balance and forethought during council. But with Tokugawa Shogunate in place, warring had come to an end. For men like me, and my father we knew not what to do. I left my home years ago, simply using my sword for it’s intended purpose, to protect. I’ve heard that my father has since perished, there have been many rumors as to how this came to be, but one constant exists in all these stories, that when he fell his honor was intact. The man had lived his share of years, I would mourn his death had he not lived such a beautiful life.

1858 Spring

Naoki walked down an old dirt road. The sun above was bright and there existed no clouds to veil the light and a gentle breeze calmed the land. The light crawled into the wrinkles on Naoki’s face giving him a youthful appearance. He was arriving in a quaint village that smelled of lavender. The town was filled with life, as people talked and went about their daily lives. It was a nice thought to think the town could be peaceful, but Naoki knew better. The peace here was naught thin sheet of paper to obscure the truth. He found himself a restaurant in which to fill his empty stomach. The table he chose was in the corner, so that he could look out at all the other louse that filled the place. Given a few moments a man came up to his table. “Hello sir. What can I get you?”

Naoki was silent as he reached into his robe, pulling out his coin pouch. He opened it placing a few meager mon onto the table. “Whatever I can afford.”

The waiter chuckled nervously. “It’s hard out there for a samurai huh… I’ll… I’ll get you some rice.”

Naoki wasn’t about to argue, he simply nodded as the waiter walked off. He waited amidst the rest of the rabble and after a collection of minutes a small bowl of rice was placed in front of him. Naoki nodded to his waiter and began to eat. So far he had run into no trouble, in his experience that just meant things would be worse later on, not that he wasn’t a bit optimistic that his stay would be uneventful.

With his rice done he placed down his bowl, and at that moment a cloaked figure walked in. The patrons turned to him as he strode past the tables to the counter. His head tilted downward. Naoki closed his eyes and listened to his whispers. “I’d like to get two bowls of rice to take with me.”

The waiters voice was dripping with antipathy as he replied. “Sorry no.”

“I need them quite bad, I’ll pay double the cost plus compensate you for the bowls.” the rough voice replied.

The waiter sneered for a moment. “I said no American.”

The room grew still, eyes still focused on the American and the waiter, wondering just how things would play out. The tension was taught, it wouldn’t take much for it to break. The American seemed to be thinking over his words carefully. “Someone’s life is at stake.”

A man wearing the traditional two swords stood up. “Didn’t you hear the man? No sale.” The man put his hand on his sword and stepped away from his table. The American turned to look at him. Slowly, the sword was drawn from its sheath. He made no movement as the blade was lifted and took off the hood so that everyone could look at his face. He wore a vicious and stern expression that was merely accented by his deep wrinkles and chin stubble, his hair was colored of rice and pepper. He had warriors eyes, could never mistake such a look, it was only with great restraint that the man in front of him lived. The American’s intense gaze forced his antagonist to twitch slightly and form beads of sweat on his brow.

The room was silent, as they waited for the two of them to move. But finally the tension was broken as Naoki stood, clearing his throat. He strode to the front, standing beside the American and looking at the waiter. For a few seconds he was simply silent, but finally his deep voice kindly requested. “Two bowls of rice.”

The room was silent but eventually the waiter simply nodded and walked to the back. Minutes passes, the room frozen in time. It seemed it was not until the waiter had come back that the room could breath again. He placed the two bowls on the counter. Naoki hit the westerners arm with the back of his hand. “Pay the man.” A coin purse was raised and placed on the counter. Naoki picked up the two bowls and turned, heading toward the exit. The American stood for a moment before stepping to the side of the blade that was facing him and following. Naoki turned to the American as he stepped outside, holding out the two bowls he had purchased. The American looked down, and accepted the bowls before looking back up. “Thank you.”

Naoki simply turned and lifted his hand. “Yeah. See ya.”

“Hold on.”

Naoki stopped and turned, looking back casually. He said nothing to let the man know his attention was held. “I would like to repay your kindness.”

“It’s not necessary.” Naoki replied.

“You’ve got no money.” The American said. “The least I could do is pay your next few meals.”

The samurai stared back, suspicions floating in his eyes. “How did you know?”

“Everyone here jingles when they walk. You are absent of this.” He replied simply.

After a moment Naoki simply sighed. “You got me. Lead the way.”

“Don’t say it like I cut you, it’s simple courtesy.” The American replied as he turned to lead the way.

Naoki was led up a dirt path to an old shrine. A monument to a bygone era. Wood rotted and cracked, fallen to disrepair. Once, men would pray to the gods when they needed guidance. This was the generosity that humans were known for. When no longer needed, left alone and let  decay. Countless jewels buried in the sands of time. The American approached the door and slid it open. The inside was in as good a shape as the out, it was dark and dusty the only golden hope poured in through cracks in the wood.

“Kokoro?” The American inquired as he stepped in. After a moment, a small child peered out from behind the offering box. She stood up and waved. “Old man! You’re back!”

He nodded as he sat down in the middle of the room. Chuckling to himself as he held up one of the bowls of rice. “You ever doubt me?”

The girl smiled sweetly as she accepted the bowl and sat down. “Everyday old man.”

He laughed again. “Hey now, I’m hurt when you say things like that.”

Naoki was silent, but the girl did eventually notice him. She simply blinked at first before looking to the American. Who simply replied in nod. She placed her bowl on the ground before turning and bowing to him. “Good day. I am Kokoro. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Naoki bowed in kind. “It’s good to meet you Kokoro, I’m Naoki.”

The American put on a fake pouting face. “Hey hey, you’re never that polite to me.”

Kokoro turned to him and stuck out her tongue before turning and picking up her bowl of rice. The American grinned stupidly for a moment before turning. “I suppose I should have introduced myself earlier. I’m Wyatt.”

Naoki sat down, lifting his hand and rubbing his chin in thought. The two others paid him no mind as they ate their food. He looked around the area, at the child and at Wyatt. Thinking silently to himself. Eventually Wyatt disturbed his thoughts. “What’s with the look?”

“I’m just wondering why you hid the girl instead of bringing her into town, and why an innocent man would want to hide their face.” Naoki’s eyes went from the girl and locked onto Wyatt. Expecting an explanation.

Wyatt simply blinked at first. “Well. You’re no idiot.”

Naoki didn’t return a response to Wyatt’s observation. Wyatt sighed, placing his bowl down and rubbing his cheek with his knuckle. “Alright… Here’s the problem. The Kokoro is being hunted.”

Naoki glanced over to the girl. Her eyes were cast downward, she was placing her bowl on the ground, pushing it away from her, then, remained motionless. Naoki turned his eyes back to Wyatt. “How did she run into you?”

“I was working with under a general of Matsudaira. I had been contracted to help maintain the training regiments of police forces in the region. But I did speak with the general on occasion. I don’t know why, but one night he approached me asking that I would be sure to care for his daughter should something happen to him.” Wyatt turned his head away so that he could look out a crack into the sunlit world just outside the dark walls. “As you can imagine I didn’t see anymore than his corpse after. I went to his estate and immediately picked up his daughter. His wife seemed to know that I was coming. She gave me money and wished me luck.”

The room was silent as Wyatt’s eyes turned downward to the floor again. “I’ll never forget the look in her eyes. It was a desperate and sad look.”

The silence was too much for nature to bear so it was broken by distant cicadas. Naoki's throat rumbled in thought as he stroked his chin thoughtfully. Finally he sighed. "I can tell you're no liar."

Wyatt didn't seem moved by the thought. He simply continued to stare down. But suddenly both of their heads raised. Kokoro looked at the two of them, wondering what had happened. "What's going on?" She asked.

The two remained silent. The sound of the forest died and Wyatt turned toward Naoki. "It appears our friends from resturaunt have come."

Naoki nodded in response, and the two of them stood up. Naoki's left hand rested on the sheath of his sword and Wyatt's retreated underneath his cloak. Kokoro watched as the two of them headed for the door. "Hide." Wyatt simply said as Naoki opened the door and walked out ahead of him.

The two of them stepped out into the sun, and on the path there were five men, silently bickering with each other. "There's no point in being quiet." Wyatt said to grab their attention. "You've already given yourself away."

The men turned furrowed brows. The one in the middle of them stepped forward lifting his fist as he spoke. “Wolf! I knew it was you.”

Naoki looked to the man that stood beside him. “Wolf?’

Wyatt nodded. “My last name in english is Wolfe which translates to wolf here.”

“Interesting.” Naoki simply replied.

“H-hey! Don’t talk to each other like I’m not here!” The man yelled in anger.

Wyatt turned back toward him. “Don’t worry Gessai. We haven't forgotten you.”

“Don’t speak my name so casually!” Gessai responded, only seeming to grow more irate with each passing second.

Wyatt seemed confused. “How else would I address my student?”

“You’re not my master anymore!” He replied as he reached down to his waist putting his hand on his sword and began to draw it.

“Remember!” Wyatt said loudly, stopping his action cold. “Remember what it means to draw that your weapon.”

Gessai’s rage seemed to have subsided. His brow stayed furrowed but only slightly. His eyes suddenly became quiet with thought. Wyatt stared back with stillness matching the earth beneath their feet. “If you draw that sword you offer both of us to death, and once an offering is made death must take one.”

The man sighed and closed his eyes a moment. Silence hung in the air for a few minutes. But when Gessai’s eyes had opened he made an offering to a god, drawing his sword at the same time.

Wyatt stared back as the other four followed suit. Naoki spoke in a calm tone. “You’re not going to draw your weapon?”

Wyatt simply shook his head. Naoki nodded in understanding. Wyatt began to walk to the right and Naoki began to walk to the left, trying to make sure they couldn’t be surrounded. The maintained a four meter distance between them. They then simply stood in silence. Gessai stood staring, he seemed to grow angry with each passing moment. “Draw your weapon!”

Despite the demand the two of them only stood. Wyatt had a wide stance but Naoki stood leisurely, his arm hanging off his sword. This did not help to temper Gessai’s anger. “Fine then! Die like dogs!”

Two of the men charged at Naoki while the other two and Gessai went for Wyatt. Naoki stepped to the side of a vicious swipe, removing his hand from it's resting place and delivering a open handed strike to the side of his opponents head. As the man fell behind him the other came in from his side.

Wyatt removed his cloak and in a  lightning move threw the garment toward Gessai. The wind splayed the cloak open, obscuring their vision from each other. Unsure of where to slash Gessai held a moment, wanting to make sure he didn't cut down his comrades. But the ploy had it's desire effect as suddenly it moved forward as if it was possessed by an angry spirit. Wyatt's fist connected with the help of a cloth veil. As Gessai fell backward Wyatt's fist opened and closed, his fingers snagging the fabric.

The man fell down behind Naoki. He began to stand up but not before Naoki leaned backward to avoid a sword swipe. He lifted his leg, kicking the man in the stomach causing him to drop his sword and curl over. Naoki turned toward Wyatt.

Wyatt spun throwing the cloak at the man on his left. Thinking that he was ready for the trick the man lifted his sword to block his face. But Wyatt continued to spin until he was facing the other way, lifting his foot and kicking backwards into him as his fist went forward into his final opponent. The warrior who was kicked stumbled backwards in Naoki's direction who grabbed him and threw him over his shoulder.

With the five men lying on the ground in Naoki stepped back, while Wyatt ran into the shrine. He came out moments later carrying Kokoro. "Lets go!"

Naoki nodded and held a moment to watch the assailants, making sure that none of them were getting up before running after Wyatt into the woods. After a bit the two of them stopped in a clearing. They remained silent for a moment, listening for distant foot steps. Naoki stood straight, looking to Wyatt. “Never seen that sort of style before.”

Wyatt kept his eyes in the direction they had come from. “Thanks I guess?”

“What I mean to ask is what was it?” Naoki said again.

Kokoro seemed to have grown tired of being carried silently “Is it safe to talk now?”

Wyatt smiled as he lowered the girl. “Speak in hushed voices.”

The girl nodded to her protector. Wyatt held her hand and began walking, still away from the direction they came from. Naoki was silent for a few moments before following. Wyatt turned his head to acknowledge he was speaking to Naoki. “There is a sport where I’m from called boxing, It’s the base of my martial style.”

“I’ll admit I’m surprised.” Naoki said as he looked at Wyatt, his eyes scanning down past his officers coat to the pistol that hung on his hip. Wyatt turned, following Naoki’s eyes downward. He simply nodded once before turning his head forward again. He could see the disgust in his fellow warriors eyes.

Naoki followed the two for a few minutes, but eventually stopped. "I suppose this is where we'll part. Kokoro turned to look at him. "You don't have to go do you?"

Wyatt smiled as he looked at the samurai. "Yeah, why don't you hang with us? I could pay you well."

Naoki shook his head lightly. "No thank you."

A frown formed on Wyatt's lips. He understood what sort of disdain someone like Naoki would have for him. But he still sighed as he pulled out a coin purse. Naoki shook his head "I said I wasn't interested."

Wyatt laughed lightly. "This is for the food. Remember?"

Naoki seemed hesitant but eventually he accepted his payment. He was broke and wasn't going to get by without some money. So he accepted it although begrudgingly. Wyatt smiled, bowing to the warrior. "Farewell for now. I'm sure we'll meet again."

Naoki bowed, but it really was only out of courtesy and nothing more. Kokoro bowed the the samurai. "Thank you for your help Mr Samurai."