The Rebirth of Yotoden
chapter 1
by Ayanosuke
Chapter I: First Enigma
July 2, 1582. It had been awhile since the the battle of Nobunaga and Ranmaru. Two years of aminosity and sorrow seemed like hell for eternity....but not enough to erase the loneliness Ayame had. Walking through the woods still wearing her ninja clothes and a cape over it, she felt the hotness of the sun falling down on her as she began sweating. It seemed like weeks now since Ayame was traveling around in Japan. But even so, she had traveled in this country before. Ayame stopped at a nearby river and pulled out her water canteen. As she filled it up, she notice that a shadowy figure appear in the woods. Ayame stood still as she reached for her weapon, wondering if she was going to be attacked by bandits again. A lone traveler stepped out into the sunlight and looked straight at her. A woman's voice came out.
Woman
Um, hello......are you also a traveler?
As she stood there in silence, Ayame seemed a little shy. But somehow she managed to say "yes" to her. Then the woman pulled of her hood and revealed her face. She had dark purple hair that was tied up in a ponytail. Her face was pale but seemed at its normal skin color. Her hazel eyes gleamed in the sunlight as she narrowed them straight at Ayame. She smiled at her and bowed slightly.
Woman
Konichiwa. My name is Maika Hatanabe. And you are?
Ayame
Oh, my name is Ayame Hayami.
Woman
Where are you from?
Ayame
I come from Kasumi Village in Shinano.
Maika
Shinano? The village of the three Shadow Schools?
Ayame
Yes. And you?
Maika
I come from the main village Hurai. That's in Edo (Tokyo).
Ayame
Edo? That's where you live?
Maika
Yes, I was born there.
Ayame
I was born in Shinano also.
Maika
That's good to know. But why did you leave Kasumi?
Ayame
It was destroyed about two years ago.
Maika
Oh. I'm sorry to hear that.....
Ayame
So what about you? Why did you leave Edo?
Maika
That's something I can't tell you. It invloves pressure and tragic events right before the Civil War ended.
Ayame
Oh, come on. I told you why I left Kasumi. You can at least tell me your story.
Maika
Well....
Ayame
Please?
Maika looked at her and thought for a minute about wanting to tell her the reason why she left Edo. She turned around and kept thinking. Then she sighed deeply because she was hiding something from Ayame. In the meantime, Ayame was waiting for her answer. Maika turned around and finally spoke.
Maika
Okay. I guess I can tell you. You seem like someone I can trust.
Ayame
Alright. How about we camp here for tonight?
Maika
Here? Sure, why not? We're both travelers anyway.
Ayame
(nods) Right.
Soon the sun began setting and Maika had made a fireplace near the river. Then both she and Ayame sat down putting their hands to the fire to warm themselves.
Ayame
This is great. I never thought I'd camp out again.
Maika
I guess you've been doing this for awhile.
Ayame
Once I did, but that was it.
Maika
Oh.
Ayame
So anyway, Maika, what made you leave your hometown?
Maika
(sighs) When I was young, I was always pressured by father to become a great clothes maker.
Ayame
A clothes maker?
Maika
Our family has been in the clothes making business for years. My father wanted me to run the business for him since I was his only daughter.
Ayame
Did you refuse his offer? Or did you take it?
Maika
At once I did, but then I realized that this was my only chance to have fame. Besides, it was my only hobby. I was so good at it. So I took over the business...that's when my father died during the Civil War after I turned seventeen. My mother was afraid the take care of me by herself since she didn't know how to raise a child be herself. Later on, she died of an unknown sickness. I was by myself this time. Then I went to see my friend Katsumi and told her about what happened after I took over the family business. She seemed pretty upset about it and told me that I had no choice but to continue with my life without my parents around. I didn't seem very confident about that...so I went see my other friend Haruka. She's known to have helped people who were in need of her assistance.
Ayame
Can she help me out? This person you call Haruka?
Maika
((widens her eyes)) You sure? There's a huge price you might have to pay if you ask her for help. A very huge price.
Ayame
If it involves my life then I'll accept. Whatever the cost may be....I'd rather die than be alone.
Maika
Alone? What do you mean?
Ayame stared down at the fire and frowned. An image of Sakon appeared in the fire, smiling. Tears ran down her cheeks as the image began to fade away. Maika noticed her face and gave her a hankerchief to wipe her face. Ayame, grateful of her respect, takes the hankchief and wipes her tears away.
Maika
Was it someone you loved?
Ayame
Yes. His name was Sakon. I fell in love with him after the two years of fighting Nobunaga Oda during the Civil War. But then he died trying to save my life even though I was carelessto think about living. All my life, I wanted to be like my brother and become a great ninja just like him. And I guess after his death I wanted to join him. So I accepted my destiny, which was falsely foretold in our village, and represented the Kasumi ninja clan after it was completely destroyed. But everytime I fighted, someone would die. I was so angry at Nobunaga that I didn't realize that I was tricked into destroying him. After the Civil War ended, Sakon said that he loved me. When he died, I realized my love for him too. But I waited too late to tell him that.
Telling the story made Ayame cry. She put her hands on her face and sobed loudly. Maika, hearing this, went over to Ayame and put her arm around her shoulder. Ayame clinged to her and still sobbed. They held each other close. Suddenly, a strange feeling came over Maika and she looked down at Ayame who was crying. She gently touched her raven hair and held Ayame by the shoulders. They faced each other, both with sadness in there eyes.
Maika
That was very tragic, Ayame. I never thought you'd suffer so much. However, I'm sure Haurka can help you out with your problem.
Ayame
((smiling)) I'm glad. Thank you.
Maika
That's okay. Haruka helped me.....I'm sure she'll help you.
They still stared at each other's gaze. Ayame felt something come over her as she drew close to Maika. Her lips suddenly pressed hers as a sensation grew over her mind. Maika's eyes widen because of this and pulled her away. She began to stutter.
Maika
W-w-what was that for??? Why did you kiss me??
Ayame
Gomen nasai! I didn't know what came over me. Please forgive me.
Ayame bowed slightly for forgiveness. Maika smiles a little, knowing that Ayame was feeling real lonely. She pressed her lips against her and they stayed like that for a long time. The sun had already set and it was nightime. Meanwhile Ayame and Maika was eating their dinner.
Ayame
One question: does Haruka live with someone?
Maika
No, like you she's lonely. She never had a guy to be with. But she never mentioned about her parents being dead or missing. You see, Haruka's not someone you'd expect her to be. She's different...very different..... That's why she lives alone.
Ayame
Oh, poor Haruka.
Maika
I can tell you where she is, but you'll have to go there by yourself. I can't go with you since I'm going to another village.
Ayame
Why not?
Maika
It's personal. While my father was still alive, he put me under a marriage proposal at the age sixteen. I'm marrying someone from Kazuma Village. My father said I needed to marry so then I could have kids in order to keep the family business running.
Ayame
Oh....I see.
Maika
Hey, I know how you feel. But don't worry someone might come along, male or female, whoever. But just remember that life goes on, even if you've lost a loved one. It's not your fault Sakon's dead. Everyone has their own fate or destiny. No one lives forever. That's how life is. Remember that, Ayame.
Ayame
I will, thanks.
Maika
No problem. Anyway, you'll find her deep withing the mountains of Kawagoe. Her home looks like a temple but it's actually a shrine. When you walk, it'll be toward your right near a river. There's three roads that are splited up so you should go to the middle one and that'll lead you to Haruka's shrine. It's called Kita Gaijin-no-Miko.
Ayame
Okay. I'll remember that.
Maika
So how's the food?
Ayame
Delicious! You cook good.
Maika
Thanks, I'm an expert at cooking. ((yawns)) It's getting late now, I think we should go to bed.
Ayame
Yeah, I have a long day tomorrow. Good night, Maika.
Maika
Good night, Ayame.
Maika put out the fire after Ayame went to sleep. The moon shined brightly and the stars twinkle rapidly. Maika was still up though, as she heard rustling noises coming from the bushes. She got up and went where the noise was.
Maika
Hello? Is anyone out there?
Suddenly a shadowy figure popped out from the bushes and walked slowly over to Maika. Part of the figure stepped into the moonlight and showed only a woman's dark purple eyes. Maika saw them and gasped in horror. She backed away slowly, knowing who eyes they were.
Maika
It's you! Why now?
Woman A
You failed me, Maika. You were suppose to get to Kazuma Village without letting that bystander notice you.
Maika
Please let me live! I didn't mean to disobey you. I just trying to acting friendly, nothing more.
Woman A
Do you have any idea who she is? She is a Shadow Warrior of Kasumi. She's dangerous to anyone who comes across her.
Maika
I didn't know.
Woman A
I'm afraid I must kill you know.
Maika
No, please don't! No!
But it was too late. The woman grabbed Maika and instantly killed her by slitting her throat. Maika laid on the ground while a puddle of blood spilled near the river. Then woman stepped over to Ayame's body and picked up her weapon, and disappeared into the darkness. Meanwhile, some of the blood got into the river and ran down the stream. Another woman stood by the river and saw the blood. She gasped and ran into the woods. Then she suddenly disappeared. Later on, in the morning, Ayame woke up and yawned. Then she noticed that Maika was missing.
Ayame
She must of woke up before me.
She got and looked around for Maika, calling out to her.
Ayame
Maika? Maika, where are you?
She kept calling out until she noticed a puddle of blood on her left.
Ayame
Blood?? What.....?
She looked over the puddle and saw Maika's dead body. She gasped in horror and ran over to her.
Ayame
Maika! Maika! Wake up! Please don't die! Maika!
But it was already too late. Maika was dead. Ayame held her in her arms and cried, realizing she was more than a friend to her. Later she buried her body and packed her things up. But then she noticed something was wrong. She went over to her bag and saw that her sword was missing. Someone had stolen her Sword of Sorcery. Angered by this, Ayame picked up her bag and got up. With one last look at Maika's grave, she began to walk through the woods, starting a new journey towards Haruka's shrine. After that, she was going to find out who killed Maika and stole her sword. But for now, she had no choice but to rely on her instincts since she was had nothing to protect her with. With a long sigh, Ayame disappeared into the darkness of the woods as the sun began to rise. This began the day of a new journey for Ayame.....without her Sword of Sorcery.
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End of Chapter One: To Be Continued......
chapter 2 >>
Ayanosuke
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