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3 months ago, far away from the Shikoku, across the ocean, somewhere in the capital city, Hena-kyo (Osaka nowadays), there was a great dojo which housed the famous Itto-Ryu (一刀流）. Today was important to the dojo. Because their leader Saito Ebi (齋滕 幻一）was going to step down after the election of the new leader.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclCEfy7pd5
The rule was simple. All the candidates inside the dojo would compete against each other with wooden sword and the winner would be selected. The prize was not just the leadership but the marriage of the beautiful daughter of Ebi, Saito Takako as well. That was why most of the young samurais, though mostly far from comparable with their major opponent, were keen to join the competition. They were more than happy to grab a little to none attention from the girl even for a few seconds.
And their major opponent was the best apprentice of Ebi, Kusama Shinichro. He had defeated all of the candidates and was waiting for the announcement from Ebi. But his eyes had not be taken away from Takako, who was shyly peeking from the back of her father.
”Wonderful! Shinichiro! That is wonderful!” Ebi was clipping while stepping forward. “And may I announce today’s winner? My successor,”
”Wait ~~~~” Suddenly a young samurai emerged from the crowd. His name was Miyazaki Asuka. He joined the dojo less than 3 years and was never outstanding in terms of swordsmanship in the eyes of Ebi. But his charisma and attractive appearance did manage to capture the heart of the beautiful Takako. And she could hardly cover up her delightful expectation in her doe-eyes when she saw him.
”Well, well,” Shinichiro felt contempt for the challenger, “never expected you the late comer! I almost forget your name, Miyazaki?”
”…..you will never forget my name from now on!” The handsome boy pulled out his wooden sword. His kimono could not cover the hulking body which the muscles were still quivering!
“! (HE LOOKS DIFFERENT!)” Shinichiro was not a vain person. His samurai instinct exhorted him-
Avoid confronting Asuka!
“Awww~” But the exclamation from Takako had sent him a twinge of envy. The only means to suppress the jealous rage was to beat Asuka hard right now.
”Let me teach you how to pay respect to your seniors!” Shinichiro charged and swung his sword like a thunder onto his opponent.
In terms of swordsmanship, Shinichiro was far superior to Asuka.
The essence of Itto-Ryu (一刀流）was the extreme power of each blow that managed to keep the opponent busy to block or to dodge instead of to counter attack. Shinichiro had perfectly demonstrated that in his last match. Asuka could only just block his blows at first.
But as his attack went on for more than fifteen minutes, without making any injury to his opponent, Shinichiro started feeling panic as well as exhausted physically.
Asuka’s face lit up with a evil glee. He aimed at the last blow of Shinichiro and made his first strike onto the fuller of his sword.
It was unpredictably strong that it cracked his sword into halves. Just when Shinichiro realized what had happened, Asuka made his second blow- 【Whim Cut】(一念斬）a master stroke of Itto Ryu that only a few candidates could perform perfectly.
Crick!
Everyone could hear the cracking sound of Shinichiro’s sternum as the sword hit on his chest. Shinichiro spitted out blood immediately and felt unconscious on the mate.
Everyone, including Ebi, was stunned. Until Asuka bursted into weird laughter, Ebi was woke up and announced in his trembling voice,
”Congratulation. Miyazaki san. You, deserve the name of my successor!”
Miyazaki Asuka’s ecstasy made him deaf to everybody's hustle. His dream had finally come true.
HE BECAME AS STRONG AS HIS BROTHER!
That night, after the celebration, Asuka left his fiancée and the dojo and walked alone to “the pleasure quarter”(yukaku 遊廓）He entered a performance theatre. Group of dancers were singing and playing on stage whereas another group of yujo （遊女）（prostitute)were luring and enticing a RONIN sitting underneath,
A muscular young man, spitting, laughing wildly, speaking foul languages recklessly and petting unashamedly the girls around.
Asuka walked in the front of him. The Ronin stared at him and shook his head and pushed the girls away while standing up. But he kept wearing his frivolous smile on his face.
They, the Ronin and Asuka, were akin!
”Huh? BROTHER? Aren’t you sleeping now with your chick? What the fxxk are you doing here?” The Ronin asked rudely.
Asuka didn’t say anything. He made a sign to invite his brother to go outside with him.
The Ronin picked up his enormous GOLDEN EKU on the floor and followed Asuka outside the “play-house”.
They walked along the Kami River to a dried river bend with least people around.
“Ryuoshi, you should have brought those elixirs for me, right?”
”Asuka…..”The Ronin took out several big marbles from his kimono. Asuka couldn’t wait to grab them from his hands. Ryuoshi signed and said,
”You be watchful of these damn things! They can fxxk you up easily!”
”Tell me another! Brother! Don’t you SAINTS live with that things for long? I don’t give a darn of what you think of me! I know what I deserve!”
Asuka disdained Ryuoshi’s reminder and continued,
”Father can eventually reveal his gratefulness on my success. Unlike you….a shameful BASTARD SON!”
Surprisingly, Ryuoshi was not pissed off. He smiled and put his hand on his brother’s shoulder and said,
”Our LORD has his watertight plan laid down already. All we have to do is to follow his mastermind without making a damn spasm. Apart from being your BROTHER, no matter you like it or not, I will ERASE you from his plan if you make a damn shit.”
Asuka didn’t fight back. He knew that Ryuoshi did mean it. SAINT 5 were like the HOUND of the Royalty, they had been working closely with the Ringleaders that would perform any dirty jobs on behalf of the Royalty, including internal affairs.
”I will make it with those ELIXIR, just like the SAINT 5.” Asuka turned around was about to leave.
”Huh. BROTHER. Don’t be fooled by the damn folks. WE WERE BUILT DIFFERENT…..!
And your Father, I have promised him to NURSE you. So don’t set me up by messing yourself around.
Even though I don’t like to, I will still pick up the shitty pieces if I have to.”
Ryuoshi is holding those BLACK MARBLES in his hand. He doesn’t hesitate to take them right now. He is just associating the conversation with Asuka with these dangerous drugs.
”……….Asuka, you damn fool! You don’t even know what these things mean to you future!”
He swallows one and the familiar convulsion and tingling through his spine lasts a minute until he is shocked by the extreme reaction SAYAKA is experiencing right next to him,
Her whole body is cramping painfully on the ground while slobbering and whining like a stray dog.
”Sayaka! What the fxxk is going on?” Ryuoshi rushes to pull her up and tries to shake her consciousness back.
”………” Sayaka gradually regains her sensation.
”Damn…..you take TOO MUCH!”
”I don’t care…..” she sits upright and stretches, making some horrible cracking sounds, “I don’t care! I just need to win!”
Ryuoshi helps her to stand up and speaks with all his fervour, “MORNGA was reported to have gotten her job done, though not perfectly. But it should have weakened the Successor seriously. We should now have the winning hand! Sayaka!”
”I don’t care….” Sayaka is still murmuring to herself. The two elixirs she has just taken may still be interfering her nerves.
“I just need to win!”
The night hawks are shrilling before the first beam shoots up from the East.
Youta and his shogun and army are stationing at several strategic military strongholds around the city fringe. His heart sinks though his clear voice is still encouraging and determined.
He looks towards the East.
Youta is not the only one doing so. Two people are standing on top of the city wall, waiting for the dawn to arrive.
”She will come back. Her word is her bond!” Ai says.
Motoya doesn’t reply. Because he doesn’t need to. He holds the Holy Blade tight. Ready to fight and to win with his sole partner.
To the first light, at dawn, look to the East!
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