Vicious

 

“Matsu Hinagi was an enormous muscular brute.” Togashi Udon said to the still night breeze as it passed through the friends as they gathered around a smoldering fire to hear a story that the monk did not want to tell. The companion’s dying fire popped loudly in reply. “He smelled of rotten cabbage or a horse’s armpit.” Udon continued as he absently poked the fire.

 

He took a deep breath and looked down at the ash in front of him. “Hinagi’s armor was filthy, his hair was greasy and unkempt. It was like they both were in an ugly contest with his face!” He tried to joke. It failed hopelessly. The fire popped a second time and sparks drifted into the night air.

 

“He had a few missing teeth and a long scar above his left eye that ended in the center of his unibrow.” Udon traced his finger down his own face. “It always made him look angry,” Udon shrugged, “Or maybe he was just always angry.” Udon considered not continuing his story, but he had to get it out. They had to know what this adversary was capable of.

 

“Did I mention he smelled?” Udon sighed, trying to lighten his mood. He shook his head as if clearing off some cobwebs and pointed at Kibagami Kuno, “You have to understand, that was my first impression of a Lion samurai, Kuno-san.”

 

 “I’ve never heard of him. Sound’s like trouble, even for a Matsu. If I read your face right, he scares even you, the monk who taunts oni.” Kuno said, giving his friend a reassuring smile.

 

            Udon smiled weakly and nodded. “Hinagi traveled with this odd ronin. I think he was Hinagi’s disciple. He carried a tetsubo and wore animal hides as armor. His name was Ichiro Mudoto. He was from the Badger Clan. The clan I must deliver this scroll to.” Udon said, patting his pouch that held the scroll the Elemental Master of Fire had given him to deliver.

 

“Mudoto was big like a sumo. He was fat and not as muscular as Hinagi, but from what I saw, he was fast.” Udon said. “Mudoto was not the brightest star in the sky. He looked like he could barely remember his own name, I think. But at least he didn’t smell like Hinagi.”

 

“Maybe Hinagi kept him around to carry things. A packhorse is hard to find,” Floated a light whisper from the seated Soshuro Keshijo, who was currently under the guise of the patch-eyed wandering ronin Shinjoten. The friends laughed lightly as not to disturb the sanctity of the night or that of the tale being told.

 

“How did you meet them, Udon?” asked Suzume Sousha, always direct and to the point.

 

If what Togashi Jensen had said was true, they could all be in danger. Matsu Hinagi was not one to forgive and forget. Udon swallowed. “Well, that is where this story begins, Sousha. Remember how Kuno wanted to hear another story about Togashi Nebiko? Now he’s going to get one. You see, by the orders of Togashi Yokuni-sama, Nebiko and I met up with two Mirumoto samurai at Kyuden Tonbo (Dragonfly Clan Palace). The older bushi was named Yeng. The younger was named Kato and he was in charge of assuring that we all escorted an important Kitsuki courier to Shiro Kitsuki (Last Step Castle).”

 

“It’s not often that the Mirumoto get a request from the Dragon Champion.” Said Mirumoto Yeng as he squinted up at Lady Sun, gauging the time of day. “It is even more rare that the request is something as mundane as this. A Kitsuki courier can’t do his job safely inside of our own lands? A waste of time, I say.”

 

            “That’s enough, Yeng.” Replied the young Dragon samurai Kota. This was his first command mission and he would not have it spoiled by the negativity of a bitter bushi that had just been disgraced in his second drop in rank.

 

            “What say we rest for a moment, Captain?”  Asked Mirumoto Yeng, hardly hiding the sarcasm in his voice. Once they had met with the lone courier early in the morning, the group had set a hard pace that had not slowed at all. “I think the others are getting tired.” He said matter-of-factly.

 

            Mirumoto Kota looked at Yeng for a moment, hands resting on the hilts of his weapons. Then he slowly turned to look at the others. Two Ise Zumi, one a topless female that he could barely look at without having improper thoughts, the other, young and a little wet behind the ears, a sour Dragon bushi, a quiet and skittish Kitsuki courier, he thought, shaking his head. I would rather lead a battalion of mountain goats into the heart of the Shadowlands.

 

With a sigh, Kota replied, “Fine. A short rest.” He looked around quickly surveying the land. Why do I feel like we are being followed? “A very short rest, Yeng.”

 

“Hai. How about over there, under that outcropping?” Yeng pointed.

 

“Fine. We’ll rest there.” Kota replied.

 

“Captain, I would prefer to continue. I am really uncomfortable, knowing the contents of this scroll, I would like to be rid of it as soon as possible.” Whispered the courier into Kota’s ear.

 

“It will be a short rest. Do not worry.” Kota replied. Despite the odd and cryptic nature of this mission, he still felt that they were safe within their own lands. Despite the nagging feeling of being watched, the Dragon lands have always been safe and free of bandits.

 

            They all sat in a circle in the shade provided by the rock ledge overhead. Each person claimed their own rock to sit upon. Nebiko and Udon quickly began providing the others with water from hallow bamboo water chutes that the pair carried. Kota sat with his back straight, his eyes flashing from Nebiko to the path up the mountain. The courier was grateful for the water, and drank it in big swallows. His concerns seemed to ease with each gulp. Only Yeng fidgeted uncomfortably, as if he was waiting for something. They sat in silence.

 

            “Greetings.” Came a voice rounding the side of the rock formation. Two huge men strutted around the side, their hand resting nonchalantly on their weapons.

 

            “Get up and bow when Matsu Hinagi greets you, little Dragons!” said the more muscular of the pair. He was wearing filthy, ragged and pieced together armor that bore the Matsu Mon that hung to the side awkwardly. He carried a rusted yamagatana; a single edged broad sword. Near the tip of the sword on the edged side were jagged teeth, diagonally lined like a saw blade. The sword looked heavy, powerful and well used.

 

The fatter man wearing animal hide armor patted a huge studded tetsubo in his hand. He slowly circled to the other side of the outcropping, his eyes watching like a hawk fixed on its prey. The leather from the grip on his tetsubo creaked lightly as his grip tightened. He absently spit on the ground beside him.

 

“The scroll. Give it to us and no one will get hurt.” Hinagi said in an even tone.

 

Mirumoto Kato stood quickly and snapped, “Are you mad? We outnumber you 5 to 2! Drop your weapons! We are taking you into custody, by the order of-“

 

“Kato-san, I do not believe your odds are correct.” Nebiko interrupted calmly.

 

“How else would they know where to find us under all of these outcroppings.” Udon continued Nebiko’s thought. His directed Kato’s gaze to Yeng, who had a tanto drawn on the courier.

 

The world froze like a calm before the storm. Betrayal, blood lust, duty, ambition, faith, terror and rage hung still in the electrified air. In a flash, the world erupted into motion, everyone moving at once.

 

            Udon threw the remaining water from his open bamboo case at the eyes of Yeng, hoping to catch him off guard and make him flinch. Nebiko’s fans snapped out as she stood to face the silent tetsubo wielding sumo-sized ronin. Kato’s swords flashed in his hands as he took to a natural niten stance, opposite Hinagi.

 

            Udon leapt upon Yeng as soon as the water hit his face. The courier managed to get free as Udon tackled Yeng to the floor. The bushi’s tanto clanged against the rocky ground. Udon struggled to hold him pinned to the ground as his companions fought off their attackers.

 

Mudoto tightened his grip on the leather bound shaft of his large tetsubo and stepped in to meet the small and cat like Nebiko. Shining metal diamond shaped studs lined the sides of the tetsubo, their tips slightly blunted from use. Her twin fans gleamed as the light caught them.

 

“Ichiro Mudoto.” He said thumping the center of his testubo to his chest. Immediately, the mad Badger was on top of her, swinging his huge tetsubo two-handed, down to crush her. Quickly she closed the fan in her left hand and shot it up to block the blow. Using her agility to her advantage she ducked inside following her leading block, close the Mudoto’s body and spun, bringing herself out of harms way. As she spun by Mudoto’s exposed side she delivered a glancing slice across his ribcage. Her attack was almost fully absorbed by his thick animal hide armor. She only felt her fan bite a small part of flesh. Mudoto’s blow crushed her blocking fan. Unable to hold on to it, her fan skidded off to the side. Nebiko managed to keep her balance, but the blow caused her left hand to go numb.

 

“Togashi Nebiko.” She replied with a smile, knowing that she only had a small chance of defeating this brute. Her smile grew as the Badger came in on his two-handed follow through. She activated her Koi tattoo. Her enchanting smile caught Mudoto’s eye as he began to arch is tetsubo in a controlled upward backhanded strike which was meant to catch Nebiko under prone her left ribcage. His strike faltered ever so slightly. It was enough for Nebiko. She just managed to dodge out of the way and take a new stance.

 

Kato’s body flew past Udon and hit the rock wall next to the courier with a dull thud. Udon heard a deep-throated laugh. He looked to his right at Kato’s limp and bloodied body. His breath was labored and shallow, one of his own blades protruded from his ribcage. Udon heard steps slowly coming towards him. Yeng began to struggle more. Udon looked into Yeng’s eyes and saw fear and bitterness, but most importantly, he caught the reflection of Hinagi raising his huge yamagatana over his head, poised to strike. Instantly, Udon rolled off Yeng and felt a gust of wind slice down his back as Hinagi’s blow missed him, but cleaved Yeng’s head in half.

 

Nebiko fluttered her fan in front of her face, her eyes gleaming at Mudoto, trying to further enchant him. But the Badger was interested in only her death. In a quick movement that caught Nebiko by surprise, Mudoto grabbed the top of his tetsubo with his left hand and drove the butt end down onto Nebiko’s right wrist. She heard her wrist shatter and saw her metal fan drop to the ground. Unarmed and surprised at the excruciating pain, she fell to her knees.

 

The sumo sized ronin moved in quickly to finish her off. He swung his tetsubo hard at her face. Incredibly agile, Nebiko arched her back and put her feet to her armpits, flattening herself against the ground. The blow flew harmlessly over her head.

 

As the blow flew past, Nebiko tried to flip up off of her back. The second she put pressure on her wrist she screamed. Her scream was cut short when Mudoto sat on her, pinning her body to the floor. With both hands he raised the tetsubo over his head and grinned down at Nebiko. It was the last thing he remembered.