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In late summer a young lady, the daughter of an Emperor who rules a small kingdom, have found themselves caught in the middle of two clans. The young lady took it upon herself to search for the legendary Masked Warrior, for she knows he is the only one who can help them. She discovers from people of a local village he is often spotted patrolling the border after the village, he is protecting, was hit by raiders. On the dawn of the following morning the lady rides out to the hills and waits. The lady’s eyes keep a surveying the horizon for a black horse and rider who is dressed in light blue wearing a metal demon mask. All she can see at the moment is a storm is fast approaching. Lightning flashes across the dark clouds and it starts to spot with rain.
It does not seem long before she is seeing just that. This makes her quickly dismount and stab her long sword in to the grown so the blade reflects in the light. Then she drops to her knees and waits.
The thundering sound of the horse’s hoofs across the hard ground begins to slow to a trot as they approach her.
“My dear, that is no way to treat your sword,” comes a man’s slightly muffled voice.
The lady looks up and begins to weep. “My lord, I am so pleased I have found you. I am in need of your help.”
Yūrei Samurai drops to one knee in front of her. “Here, dry your tears, my dear, and tell me what has happened.”
The young lady takes the cloth she that is being offered and uses it to dry her eyes. “I am Himiko daughter of Emperor Takahashi of the Yamato clan. My life and the lives of my people are in danger, for we are going to be attacked soon by the Emishi Clan.”
The Masked Warrior gets the lady to rise, then he hands the long sword to her.
“All right let’s get going,” he orders.
The lady returns the sward to scabbed dangling by her left thigh and the masked hero helps her on to her horse. Himiko waits for him to mount his magnificent steed and together they ride off over the hills.
Yūrei Samurai sees the kingdom lies right in the middle of the two clans. The high outer walls that surround the kingdom bear the scars of the recent attacks by the Emishi Clan. Men are busy fixing the upper section of one wall near the entrance that is being guarded by two men dressed in fine amour. They bow to the princess as the large gates begin to creek open allowing them to enter.
The Masked Warrior follows the young lady up the street and watches people quickly returning to their homes, before the gentle rain turns heavy.
Himiko shakes her head and gets her horse to move faster along the street towards the castle.
The white three storey wooden building stands out against the backdrop of grey sky and walls of the other buildings that surround it. The guards rush over to take hold of the horses reins so Yūrei Samurai and the princess can dismount and head inside. A maid helps them to remove their boots and Himiko goes on to lead the hero through the building.
The Masked Warrior watches a maid slide open a highly decorated door that has been painted with cherry blossom trees and the young lady steps inside.
The moment the Emperor and Empress see the great Masked Warrior enter the room they perform the Kowtow to thank him for coming to their aide.
Yūrei Samurai goes to them and gently sits them up. “Please there is no need for you both to that. I am always happy to help anyone. On the way here I saw the location of this kingdom is not ideal being right smack in the middle. I gather from your daughter you are part of the Yamato. That leaves me questioning, why have you not asked the leader of the clan for help? Why seek me out?”
Emperor Takahashi rises and explain, “Well, because our leader is not exactly approachable. Also he is a very man running the clan he has founded.”
“Still you are part of his clan, therefore he should listen to all of his people, no matter how small their kingdom is. I am more than happy to alert him of your situation?”
The Empresses rises and answers, “Yes please, as I am sure a man of your reputation will get further than the gate.”
The Masked Warrior emits a soft laugh. “Ah, that depends on the leader and most importantly what he has heard,” he explains in a soft voice, “as you mortals have spread some pretty wild stories about me. Still I am willing to give it ago.”
The couple bow to thank him and hear the masked hero emit another soft laugh.
“Oh, do not thank me yet and I too might not get anywhere.”
“We understand,” answers Emperor Takahashi with a smile. “Please.”
Yūrei Samurai sees the man is gesturing his hand to a table where a nervous maid is pouring cups of tea.
“Oh dear, I am afraid to tell you I cannot remove my mask for my shear beauty will have everyone within this room lusting after me,” informs the Masked Warrior. “I swear to you, I am not making it up.”
All the mortals expressions turn to a mix of shock and amazement to hear it is true. Himiko begins to feel sorry for him having to live for all eternity not being able to show his face to anyone.
Yūrei Samurai places his slender hands behind his back and walks around the room. “I need to see what kind of defence you have against the Emishi Clan and what I can do to strengthen it.”
“Daughter, show him the map,” suggests Emperor.
The princess nods and shows the hero through to a small room that contains a model of the castle and the surrounding area. She watches him lean down so his masked face is level with the building and his eyes reflect blue as they look across to the mountains and hills.
“I see they have a tactical advantage, they can easily use those mountains to hide in,” states the Masked Warrior, rising up. “I could send out a flock of birds to scare them.”
Himiko wonders how they could be scary and questions, “Birds are not scary… Unless the ones you summon are, right?”
The hero winks his left eye and emits a little giggle. “They are quite big and not exactly pretty.”
“Ah, now I understand,” replies the young lady with chuckle to her voice.
Yūrei Samurai points his hand at the map. “I can also have a guardian standing by at the edge of the forest. I will also see what the leader of the Yamato will do to help you. Once the storm has passed over I will pay him a visit.”
A loud rumble of thunder rolls over and the flashes of lightning makes both of them close their eyes for a moment.
“Ooh that was good,” remarks the Masked Warrior as loud crack of thunder echoes around the castle.
“My, I do not think it could rain any harder,” says the young lady pointing her hand to the window.
Outside the heavy rain is coming down in sheets and there is even a mix of hail. The courtyard has been turned in to a shallow pond.
“Yes, it is proving to be a good and much needed storm,” remarks the hero looking around. “How’s about I remain in here to have a drink?”
Himiko gives a sharp nod then trots out of the room to return holding a cup.
“Thank you, dear.”
The young lady leaves him to it and makes sure to warn the staff of what the Great Warrior is not wearing his mask.
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Yūrei Samurai goes on to remove his mask and drinks the sweet tea. He notices some documents lie on another table near a window. They rang from maps, to weapons, armour and food lists.
Then his eyes are drawn to the food supplies list and it is clear they are running low on rice, vegetables and herbs.
Just how long has this conflict between them and Emishi Clan been going on?
The Masked Warrior drinks the last of the tea and puts his mask back before he leaves the room. He returns to the family and asks that very question. The Emperor and his wife look each other as they try to recall.
“Nearly two years,” answers Himiko with a bit of hesitation. “Well, almost three.”
Yūrei Samurai takes hold of gently by the shoulders. “What? Why did all wait so long before getting help?”
“Well, we thought the leader of our clan would help,” replies Emperor Takahashi and his expression turns worried. “When it never arrived we just defend ourselves.”
“I see. And now things are getting worse you come for me.”
“In all honesty, my lord,” announces the Empresses, “we did not expect you to help when you have your own kingdom to protect.”
The Masked Warrior takes hold of her hand. “My dear, you should have come for me sooner, because the kingdom is not mine. I was just protecting it from raiders. Who, come to think of it, have not hit in a very long time. Not since I unleashed my guardian.”
“That is twice now you have mentioned this guardian,” implies Himiko her eyes filling with intrigue. “Just what is it?”
Yūrei Samurai claps his hands together, then begins to utter a spell and throws his left hand to the floor. In an instant a circle incarnation appears and out of the centre rise a set of long black horns. They are closely followed by the top of head which is covered in red hair. A six fingered hand emerges out of the black to light grey mist and slaps down on the floor. It is quickly followed by three more as the creature lifts himself out of the portal.
“Zhǔrén, wǒ gāi rúhé wèi nín fúwù? (Master, how can I serve you?)”
The Masked Warrior performs a slight bow and explains in Mandarin, “Yīnyǐng, I was just introducing you to the new mortals I am protecting. This time from the Emishi Clan.”
“I understand, Master and tell them I happy to protect them as well as you.”
“I will be sure to let them know, when they have gotten over their shock.”
Emperor Takahashi has placed himself in front of the women to protect them from the large beast. It must stands over seven feet tall and appears to be wearing a pair of shorts made from skins sewn together. All that is going across his broad, dark red chest is a thick strap, that holds the double bladed axe to his back. The top two hands start to wave at them whilst the lower two seem to be moving in an odd patten.
Then a portal opens in the floor and best jumps in to it.
The hero moves his hand from his abdomen outwards in a half circle and the incantation upon the floor vanishes. “That was Shadow my guardian,” he explains turning his hand in to a fist, “who is, by the way, pleased to protecting you all as well as me. He may look menacing, I can assure you he is very gentle.”
“We believe you,” responds the Emperor with a hit of worry to his voice.
The Empress and her daughter perform nervous nods in agreement.
“Please do not be afraid of him and trust me all the creatures I summon are perfectly harmless they just look different. This is only because in their world we are the ones who appear alien,” expresses Yūrei Samurai making a set of whitish blue butterflies appear.
The Great Warrior knows they always seem to clam mortals after one of his more terrifying beasts has appeared. He does not have to be an empathic to see the pretty butterflies are working their magic. It is not long before the happy expressions upon their faces with a nice hit of wonder returns.
Himiko allows one of the butterflies to land upon her hand. This is when she can really see it is not real, that it is a drawing with rough edges and not perfectly round circles upon each wing.
“It is lovely,” she says with a smile watching it flaps its wings. “You truly are amazing, Yūrei.”
The Masked Warrior slightly bows and responds with a soft, “Thank you.”
The Empress gives her daughter soft tap on the arm. “Stop, you are embarrassing him,” she whispers and shakes her head.
Emperor Takahashi clears his throat and gives the hero an uncomfortable smile.
Yūrei Samurai places his hands behind his back and all the butterflies fade away. “It is me, I never know how to take a compliment. Anyway, let’s hope once the Emishi Clan also see my guardian, they will run away in fear.”
“Yes, we can only hope,” agrees the Emperor with a nod.
However, the Masked Warrior is not paying attention to them, he trots over to window to age out of it.
The Eternal is watching the lightning, some is perfectly normal for the type of storm, where others are not. It is clearly being made by a Storm Dragon because there is a hint of red tint to the folk lightning.
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