There was once a legendary Samurai who’s noble deeds were heard far and wide. He would help people with all kinds of problems, from farming to housework to even taking care of the elderly and the young. However, there was also a dark side to the tales. He was nicknamed Yūrei Samurai, Ghost Samurai, because he was able to take out entire armies in a single night without being spotted or heard. People begin to hear that there was nothing he would do, just as long as it involved good food, payment and entertainment. 837Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxWf1lUqy5
A leader of a strong clan began to get his men to search for this Yūrei Samurai; he wanted to hire him for a job which he knew no one would dear take on. Weeks turned into months and near the end of the year the man eventually found the legend in a small village that had been hit by a raiders.
The men could not believe what they were seeing, the Yūrei Samurai was dressed in the finest armour and he wore a demon mask. He listens to their request, looking at them all in turn and shakes his head.
Then an elderly man says, “Your leader has to understand he is not for hire, he chooses his own path.”
“Huh? That is not what we have heard.”
“Then son you have heard wrong. Look at him. He is not just your average Samurai, those swords tell you he is well skilled and that armour tells you he is man of high states. He was no doubt a king’s guard.”
The Yūrei Samurai points a hand to his chest and shakes his head.
The elderly gentleman smiles and says, “In that case you are just a man of high class, yes?”
The men watch the Yūrei Samurai nod a few times and the elder says, “I understand.”
“Wait, you are unable to speak?”
“Now you listen here young man,” says the elder, pointing his stick at him, “You should not be so nosey. Go away, unless you want to stay and help us poor people?”
When the elder begins to cough the Yūrei Samurai escort him over to a small house. The men ask him again to return with them, he just ignores them and continues to help the people. This makes the general tell two of his men to remain behind to help out whilst the rest of them return to their leader.
The two men who remain soon come to realise the Yūrei Samurai was highly skilled in medicine to treat the sick and injured. They are fascinated by the fact he is able to conduct everything without saying a single word. The people have taken to replying for him as though he is speaking.
One of them waits until he is alone in a makeshift infirmary to ask, “How did you know this place needed help?”
The Yūrei Samurai does not respond he just carries on using the pestle and mortar to grind up some leaves.
“Do you have a name?”
“Give it a rest son. He does not have to answer you,” says a woman in a firm voice. “Some men could do with an extra hand catching hens and mending fences. Why don’t you go and help instead of bothering our hero.”
The man does not argue with her; he performs a quick bow, then trots out of the room.
The woman shakes her head and says, “I don’t know young people these days, no manners.”
The Yūrei Samurai nods. He goes on to place the fine powder on to a piece of cloth that has a nice pool of honey on it. He rubs it all together then makes his way across the room to a young man who has a sword injury to his chest. He places the dressing on to it and then binds it.
“Thank you that is already beginning to feel better,” says the young man, with a smile.
The Yūrei Samurai pats him on the arm and gets him to rest.
❀❀❀
Meanwhile, when the General informs his leader that the legendary Samurai cannot be hired, he looks at him all baffled and is shocked to hear he does not speak.
“But the people seem to be speaking for him.”
“Oh how strange. He must have been there a while.”
“I’m afraid it was hard to tell, my lord.”
“It’s all right. Hmm... The question is, how am I going to get him to come to me?”
“My lord, we could tell him we are in desperate need of his help as there is a terrible sickness going around... No, I have a feeling he would see right through our lies.”
“That is a good point Asuka. We need to come up with something that would get his attention. I might as well tell him the truth. I will see him.”
“My lord!” the General gasps, “Are you sure?”
“Quite sure. Fetch my horse I will return with you.”
“Y-yes my lord.”
On the journey to the stricken village, the army make sure to keep their leader surround at all times. However, when they reach it he decides to go alone to speak with the Yūrei Samurai, much to the disapproval of his men.
The leader finds him helping a couple with their sick child, he gives it something to drink which seems to calm it and the parents cannot thank him enough. They both take fright when they see the clan leader dressed in his fine white Kimono and silver armour.
This makes the legendary Samurai place himself in front of them and his right hand grips the handle of his Katana.
The leader quickly puts up his hands and says, “I will not harm anyone. I am here to speak to you Yūrei Samurai.”
The couple watch the masked Samurai point his hand to their home, they quickly bow and head inside.
“Please, all I want is to speak to you,” says the leader again in a soft calm voice.
The Yūrei Samurai folds his arms and tilts his head slightly to the right.
The leader points his hand towards his chest and says, “I am Kudo Hiroto, leader of the Kudo clan. I am in need of your skills to kill someone for me. I know you are not a man who likes to be hired, nonetheless, I am willing to pay you handsomely for the task.”
All the legendary Samurai does is place his hands upon his hips and tilts his head slightly down.
“Ah of course you are wanting details. Well, the person I am wanting you to kill is responsible for the murder of my dear sister. When he discovered she was posing as a man, an officer of his army, he just had her beheaded. I tell you now I did not tell her to do this. It was of her own choice. Now there is something of hers I wish you to find, a journal. It is a small book with a morning star flower upon the cover. Find it and bring it to me, please.”
The Yūrei Samurai shakes his head and moves his right hand in a circler motion.
It takes a moment for Mr Kudo to work out he is wanting more information. He clears his throat and says, “Well, I know she would have kept a record of how many men he has. How many he has on duty at any given time and so on. It will prove she is indeed dead. I will be able to move on with my life, knowing the man responsible for my dear sister’s death has been taken down.
The legendary Samurai folds his arms and shakes his head.
This makes the leader drop to his knees and begins to beg, “Please help me. You do not have to kill anyone, just retrieve the journal, please.”
The Yūrei Samurai shakes his head and starts to walk away. 837Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQ0KLNS1yG
Mr Kudo quickly stands up to drop to his knees right in front of him and says, “How would like it, if this happened to someone you hold dear. To have their life snatched away from them, all because the man in charge is a mindless, blood thirsty killer. All because his wife did not give him a son, he had them thrown out in to the cold. They were found frozen to death. He assassinated his own father and brother so he could become, how he worded it, a better leader. When he is not. The army is suffering, so are the people. He needs to be got rid of before he ruins more lives.”
The legendary Samurai pulls the leader to his feet, then he steps back and nods.
“Really you will help me?”
When he nods again Mr Kudo bows and says, “Thank you, thank you.”
This is when he hears the Yūrei Samurai take a deep breath and he runs the fingertips of his left hand across his covered forehead. What have I done? I did not mean to upset him. The leader clears his throat and says in a soft voice, “Forgive me.”
“I think you have done quite enough young man. Time to leave.”
Mr Kudo turns around to see it is an elderly man, with a long white beard and moustache. He points a shaky hand to the open gates and demands, “Leave!”
The leader nods and he walks away along with his army.
The elderly gentleman goes to the masked Samurai and says, “It’s all right he’s gone.”
The woman who the Yūrei Samurai helped her child comes over holding a cup of tea and offers it to him.
The legendary Samurai pats her on the arm and in a blink of an eye he is gone, leaving them both baffled.
The old man emits a soft laugh and says, “I knew it, he is not human.”
“Do you think he could be some kind of god?”
“He could be. Or he could be something that is very rare.”
The young lady looks at him all confused and asks, “What?”
“Ah now, I have already said too much and I could be wrong, after all, I am an old man.”
“Mr Fujimoto, you are not that old,” says the young lady, escorting him to his home.
“You are to kind my dear. Do not worry our guest will be back soon.”
The young lady waits for the elder to enter his home before she returns to hers.
❀❀❀
A little while later the legendary Samurai is back helping the people. Not a single one of them ask him where he went to, nor do they ask him personal questions. They are just pleased he returned with herbs and a sack of the most unusual rice anyone had ever seen before, for it was a vivid shade of pink.
A lady scoops up a handful of it and asks, “Is this edible?”
The masked Samurai nods a few times and pats his stomach.
“I see. Well, I cannot wait to give it a try,” says the lady with a smile.
The Yūrei Samurai gives her nod then heads outside to fetch more firewood for the hearth. 837Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaH3FOZqFp
Other people bring what vegetables they can to the makeshift kitchen and some even help to wash and peel them.
It is not long before a wonderful aroma is drifting across the village and people begin to form a line outside the doors with bowls held in their hands.
The masked Samurai starts to fill all of them with the pink rice. The others top them with finally chopped white cabbage, carrots, spring onions and a dash of herbs.
Once every persons bowl has been filled the Yūrei Samurai disappears again to reappear just as it is beginning to get dark. He seems to adjust his mask as he makes his way in to the kitchen to wash his bowl.
A man comes dashing in saying, “Thank goodness you are back. I need you... Well in fact my wife needs you.”
The masked Samurai nods and walks quickly with the man across the courtyard to enter a small hut where he can clearly hear a woman is in distress. The man slides open a door to reveal his wife lying on a futon is heavily pregnant.
“Please help me,” she pants.
The Yūrei Samurai places his hands upon her swollen abdomen and whispers, “It is ready to be born. When you feel the pain push with all of your might. Your husband needs to get me warm water and clean cloths.”
The man nods and trots out of the room.
The woman bears down and he says, “That’s it push. I will take a look if that is all right with you?”
“Yes, of course. Can you see it.”
The masked Samurai nods and replies, “Its crowning, just a few more big pushes, that’s it. Breath, between each one. You are doing fine.” He uses a cloth to dry her brow.
The man returns to the room with everything they need, he then takes hold of his wife’s hand and smiles.
“Ah the head is out. Come on you can do it, one more big push. Keep it going, good,” says the Yūrei Samurai as he gently takes hold of it.
“You can do it my love,” says her husband, wiping her bow.
The woman bears down hard and pushes until she hears the legendary Samurai say, “It’s a boy. Well done. I will cut the cord.”
The parents grow worried when the baby does not start to cry and the father asks, “Is he all right?”
The masked Samurai uses a candle to clean the blade of his Tanto and replies, “He is breathing. Come on little one,” giving the baby’s chest a rub and he starts to cry. “That’s better.”
The parents both breath, a sigh of relief and once the Yūrei Samurai has cut and tied the end of the cord he gently hands him to his mother. He goes on to take the father to one side and whispers, “She has lost quite a lot of blood. I will make her a retentive tea.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s no trouble at all. Kitchen?”
“Oh down the hall to your left.”
The masked Samurai gives them both a pat on the arm before he rises and walks out of the room.
“Go with him my love, make sure he can find what he needs.”
“Yes, you are right.”
This makes the legendary Samurai poke his head back in the room and says, “No need I can manage. You stay with them and call me if there are any problems,” giving them a nod before he disappears down to the kitchen to making the herbal tea. He makes sure to add some honey to it as it can be quite bitter.
Once it has stooped for a moment, he takes it through and says, “Here my dear drink at least two cups or more of this, as it will help you to recover.”
The man takes the baby in to his arms whilst his wife drinks the tea which she finds to be nice and not too sweet.
The Yūrei Samurai goes to check on her to see the afterbirth has passed with no problems. He cleans it away and when the lady has finished having the tea he makes sure she rests on clean bedding before he leaves them for the night.
The innkeeper has made sure the room he is staying in has extra blankets as the nights were starting to get colder. The futon has already been made and a nice pile of wood has been placed beside the hearth.
The masked Samurai gets undressed, he puts on the thick night robe and settles down for the night. However, his mind seems to be still be dwelling on what Mr Fujimoto said. If it is truth, it makes him angry, that someone can just kill without remorse. He gets up, puts on his half coat and heads outside for a smoke. He removes his mask using the ribbons to tie it to his belt. He stuff a decretive pipe with tobacco and takes a seat upon a boulder.
I will leave tomorrow as long as the people are all right, he thinks, gazing up at the night sky to see a shooting star. This makes him wish all goes well for not only for the people but also his next mission.
The legendary Samurai begins to feel tired; he makes sure the pipe is out before he heads back and inside and goes to sleep.837Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXDZ3cYYJy
❀❀❀
The next morning the people awaken to a nice sunny day, and a lot of them carry on restoring homes, barns and rice fields. The innkeeper grows a little concerned the masked Samurai has not got up yet. She decides to head down to his room, slides open the door to see he is still fast asleep. She notices he has long black hair has an odd beep blue shimmer to it. The lady just slides the door closed and tells her staff to leave him be.
It is nearly lunch time when the Yūrei Samurai awakens, he sits up rubbing his face and has a stretch; then flops back down and lies there for a moment before he gets up. He is just putting on his mask when a knock comes at the door and woman asks, “Sir, would you like something to eat?”
The legendary Samurai slides open the door and gives her a nod.
The young woman bows and goes trotting of down the corridor to return a moment later with a tray of food along with a pot of tea. She sets them down on the table, pours him a cup of tea before she leaves sliding the door closed.
The masked Samurai removes his mask setting it down on the floor and begins to eat the bowl of fluffy white rice.
Once he is finished, he heads out in to the garden to have a smoke, making sure to keep his back to the building.
All of a sudden there are screams coming from the fields, “RAIDERS!!”
Six men are making their way through the village taking anything they can from food to money. The scared people watch as one by one they are rendered unconscious and what they sole is given back. Each man is tided up and placed in the street.
One of the men comes too; he looks up to see a man dressed in fine armour wearing a demon mask, is pointing the handle of his Katana at his face.
“No, it cannot be,” he says with a voice full of fear. “Y-your Karasu Samurai.”
This makes the legendary Samurai laugh and reply in a soft voice, “Now there is a name I have not heard in a long time. Do you know why I am called that?”
The man shakes his head.
“No? Well then allow me to tell you the story, I help people to clean up after they have been attacked by either rival clans or selfish people like you. I am classed as a divine intervention in human affairs. This all came about when I helped a banished Prince to reclaim the throne and back then because I always appeared in black he started to call me Yatagarasu. I should point out that happened over a century ago.”
The man tries to move away only to discover he is tied up with his fellow men; he leans back and asks, “What are you?”
“What am I? Your worst nightmare,” replies the Yūrei Samurai. “I am willing to release you and your party. Ah, good afternoon gentlemen.”
The other five men all stare at the man crouched before them and they all start to whisper, “Karasu Samurai.”
“I was just telling him, I will release you all providing you never return to this village. Because if you do, I will allow my friend to have his way.”
All the men watch in fear a huge mist creature appears behind him, with glowing red eyes and a forked tongue, holding a large axe in its left hand.
The masked Samurai rises and with one slice of his Katana the ropes around the men fall away.
“I suggest you leave and not come back.”
All six men scramble to their feet and run away.
The Yūrei Samurai sheaths his Katana; he turns around and whispers, “I did not think I would be needing to use you so soon. Kun na sa.”
The people all watch the mist creature get blown away on the breeze, and the masked Samurai starts to make sure they are all right. They all thank him because of his swift actions no one was killed, just a few knocks and bumps.
When he starts to walk away the elder says, “You do what you feel is best.”
The legendary Samurai gives him a nod and replies, “I will return.”
Then in a blink of an eye, he is gone.
❀❀❀
Mr Kudo is seated at his desk reading, he can hear a storm is approaching. This is not uncommon for they happen all year round with the mountains being home to the Storm Dragons. Suddenly a gust of wind blows out the candle. As he tries to light it a flash of lightning lights up the room, which revels there is someone standing just inside the open doorway. This makes him franticly relight the candle. Another flash reveals the person has gone and the next revels him standing right before him.
“Oh it is you Yūrei Samurai,” he says with a sigh. “You are here to take on the mission?”
The masked Samurai nods.
“Then here take this. It is a map to that mad man’s home,” says the leader, holding out a folded piece of paper.
The legendary Samurai takes it, unfolds it to see the place lies not for from this location and gives him a nod.
Mr Kudo is about to offer him a drink, however, the next flash of lightning reveals he is no longer within the room.
“What is he?” he whispers, looking around.
❀❀❀
When the legendary Samurai reaches the outer walls of the madman’s home, he can see guards patrol the gates and the large building. Using the dark and the trees as cover he makes his way inside. Hopping from beam to beam the legendary Samurai makes his way across the rooms until he reaches one that is illuminated. A man dressed in a light blue Kimono is seated at a stone desk that is covered in scrolls and books. The masked Samurai continues to watch him rise and take a turn of the room. When he is over by the far window, the Yūrei Samurai makes his move; he jumps down without making a sound and walks up behind him.
The man feels something cold against the side of his neck, the flashes of lightning reveal it is sword being held by a masked man.
“Who are you?” he asks, watching him step to right so that he is more in the light. “Have you come to kill me?”
The masked man shakes his head and points to the book he is holding.
“This you want it? But it is nothing other than a love story.”
“No, I am after a journal you stole,” whispers the masked Samurai.
The man looks at him all confused and asks, “What journal?”
“From a woman who was posing as one of your men.”
“Kudo Izumi?”
“Her brother has hired me to receive it for him and to banish you.”
The man takes a step back and gasps, “Now hold on a moment! Izumi came to me of her own free will. Their father does not approve of us being together and as far as I know she does not possess a journal.”
The legendary Samurai lowers his Katana and asks, “She is alive?”
“Yes, very much alive. Wait, I will prove it to you,” replies the man, quickly running over to the open doorway and calls the girl’s name.
The next thing he sees a young woman come trotting into the room asking, “What’s the matter my love.”
“Please tell him my dear who you are,” says the man, pointing his hand.
When Izumi sees the masked man, her face fills with fear and she asks, “Who are you?”
“I am nothing more than a myth, a legend. Tell me my dear; you are the sister of Kudo Hiroto?”
The young lady nods and replies, “Yes am I. Oh no, I bet he fed you that sob story about me being beheaded, making out that my dear husband is nothing more than a mindless killer. His father and brother killed, but not by his hand. By a friend they all thought they could trust. My own father murdered them whilst they slept with poison that had been fed down a thread over their mouths. If Hiroshi had not got up to go to the bathroom, he too would have been dead.”
“Then why did he lie to me?”
“Because just like father he cannot stand us being together.”
“Do you keep a journal?”
Izumi laughs and replies, “I have not kept one of them since I was a little girl. I bet he said to you it contained information of my husbands army and their movements and so fourth?”
The masked Samurai nods and replies, “He did. I had my suppositions what he was telling me may not be true. Nonetheless, I went along with it to uncover the truth, and now that I have he is going to be punished for lying to me.”
The young lady grows worried and quickly says, “Please do not hurt him, he just does not understand I am happily in love with Hiroshi. Please tell him to stop this nonsense as it is not the right environment for a child.”
The legendary Samurai sees she places her hands upon a slightly swollen abdomen and continues, “It is due in spring.”
“Congratulations. I will tell him. Good night.”
“Wait, you cannot return in the middle of a storm,” says Hiroshi, “Please stay until it has passed over.”
Just as he had said that the rain comes lashing down and loud crack of thunder rumbles over the house.
“Ah you’re right. I will remain, and you two can tell me how this all started.”
“Gladly,” reply the couple at the same time.
They all take a seat at the table and the couple go on to explain the trouble all began after Hiroshi’s father won the love of a woman both fathers loved; who sadly died shortly after giving birth to a son.
“I am an only child because my father could not bare to have another woman. My brother is in fact my cousin, for he was the son of my late father’s brother who just one day vanished.”
“Vanished? What do you mean?”
The young man looks at the masked Samurai all baffled for a moment and replies, “Well he always liked to go riding in the fields. One day he never returned home. Later on that same night the house was attacked, and the only survivor was his son. A maid brought him here and died of her wounds a few days later. The poor woman had got badly burnt when she rescued him from his cot. Farther raised us as brothers.”
“Who set the house on fire?”
“No one knows. Even the poor maid was baffled and was convinced her master had no enemies because he was a nice man. Father said so himself his brother was a better leader than him.”
The Yūrei Samurai stands up, he places his hands behind his back and takes a turn of the room.
The couple begin to hear him muttering, “This has happened before.”
Hiroshi clears his throat and asks, “When?”
“Oh sorry. A very long time ago, there was a couple just like yourselves in a forbidden love. All because they were rival clans, which started pretty much in the same way as this one... Except it was two men and a woman.”
“I take it, the woman did not like losing the man she loved to another man?
“You are right my dear. Her father could not understand how two men could be in love, until I explained it to him... However, by then the damage had been done. One father was dead. The one I spoke to had lost the sight in his left eye, and the lovers had fled into the mountains so they could be together forever. I should say they did live very happy lives and had thee children. That should be adopted three lovely boys after their parents where lost when a powerful earthquake hit the village.”
The couple smile and Izumi says, “That was kind of them.”
“It sure was. Anyway I have taken up enough of your time and I will be having words with your brother. Lying to me is the worse thing he could have done.”
Before the young lady can ask, will you not stay for a cup of tea the masked Samurai is gone? The couple just look at the empty space he once stood and mutter, “What is he?”
❀❀❀
The Yūrei Samurai arrives back at Mr Kudo’s home, he draws his Katana and points it at the man’s chest.
The leader raises his hands and begs, “Please do not kill me.”
“I do not like it when people lie to me. Your sister is alive and well. She told me the real situation; that you and your father cannot bare her to be with the man she loves and everything you told me about him was also a lie.”
Mr Kudo performs the Kowtow and asks, “Please forgive me. I am sorry I will not do it again.”
The legendary Samurai grabs hold of his chin to lift up his head and says in a harsh whisper, “Next time you lie to me child. I will send you to Kaze no shima.”
The man’s eyes fill with tears and he begs, “Please do not send me there. I am sorry. I was only wanting the best for my sister.”
“And her happiness does not count?”
“O-of course it does and you are right, I should not hold the same grudge towards him as father did. I will apologise to them.”
The masked Samurai pats him on the shoulder and says, “See that you do. Because if you keep doing this, you will not get to see your nice or nephew.”
Mr Kudo dries his eyes and mutters, “What?”
“Your sister is with child. It is due in spring.”
“Oh my goodness... I’m going to be an uncle?”
All the Yūrei Samurai has to do is nod to make the man give him a happy hug and repeats with a happy laugh, “I’m going to be an uncle.”
“You sure are. Now behave yourself and accept her husband into the family.”
Mr Kudo nods a few times and replies all happy, “Yes, yes I will.”
“Good man. Now this is all sorted I will head back to the village.”
The man quickly takes hold of his arm and says, “About that village I have arranged for supplies to be delivered to help them get back on their feet.”
“Why that is awfully kind of you. See there is some good in you.”
There is a flash of lightning, and the legendary Samurai is gone.
“How does he do that?” whispers the young man, staring at the empty space he one stood.
❀❀❀
Once back at the village the masked Samurai heads inside the inn. He takes a nice hot bath and heads back to his room; to discover a nice bowl of fruit has been left for him along with a note that reads, Thank you for all your help today from the Momo no Hanamura.
The Yūrei Samurai shakes his head and whispers, “They do not need to thank me.”
He goes on to take an asian pear from the top and bites into it. It is so juicy he has to quickly grab a cloth to whip his chin.
“Ooh that is good,” he says and carries on eating.
Then there is a knock at the door; he quickly holds the mask to his face and replies, “Enter.”
The door slides open, and a young woman carrying a tray with a one person teapot upon it steps inside.
“I thought you might like a drink,” she says, setting it down on the table.
“Thank you my dear.”
The young lady bows to him, she walks over to slide the door closed and removes her simple Kimono.
The legendary Samurai’s eyes open wide, he quickly places the half eaten asian pear down on the table. He fastens the ribbons upon his mask, picks up the robe from off the floor and places it back around her.
“No, there is no need for you to do this,” he whispers, gently pushing her towards the door.
The lady looks at him all confused and asks, “But I offer myself to you freely. Is it not true you like good pleasure?”
This makes the masked Samurai laugh out loud, he shakes his head and replies, “My dear you should not listen to rumours. Yes, I do like good company and pleasure. However, I never, ever just sleep with any woman who offers themselves to me. I am not that kind of man who would happily have sex with women he hardly knows. You are a stranger to me and also if I remove this mask you will pass out. Trust me, what lies beneath something which will render men and women unconscious.”
The maid puts the robe back on and says, “Scars do not bother me,” her hands reach for the mask.
The Yūrei Samurai quickly takes hold of them and replies, “I am not disfigured. Quite the opposite, I am incredibly handsome, just one peek and you will be on the floor.”
“Really you are that handsome?”
The legendary Samurai points his hand at her and says, “Your face, you do not believe me. Ooh, I am not about to prove it to you my dear. I am telling you the truth. My face is too gorgeous to look upon. Over the centuries I have learned to always keep it covered when I’m out and about.”
“You’re a god?”
“Far from it, my dear. I am something rare. Something of myth and legend. My kind excited along time ago. We all used to live in harmony with one another, until...until...”
The young lady gently takes hold of his hand and whispers, “It’s all right you do not have to tell me everything. Anyway, I will leave you.”
The legendary Samurai watches her walk out of the room. Once she has slide the door closed he goes on to remove his mask and continues to eat the Asian pear. He pours himself a cup of tea and goes to take a seat on the covered walkway to have a smoke to watches the storm pass over. When the masked Samurai begins to feel tired he goes to bed to awaken the following morning when the mist is still covering the garden.
Rubbing his eyes and mutters, “Why am I awake so early? Ah, that’s why.”
There is a metallic taste in his mouth an indicator he needs blood. He quickly ports home to get a nice cup of fresh pig’s blood. He is about to head back when he notices a crystal upon his desk is beginning to glow.
“It has not done that before,” mutters the Yūrei Samurai, picking it up.
A beam of light shoots out of it in the direction of the rising sun.
“Huh? What are you leading me too? Should I even go and find out?”
The legendary Samurai goes on to finish the blood, dropping the cup in a bucket of water. Puts on his mask and decides to follow the beam of light, which takes him further in to the dark forest.
Eventually, a small stone house begins to appear through the gaps of the tall trees that creek and moan in the wind. There are two steps leading up to an open doorway for the door itself lies in peaces upon the floor.
Looking down at the beam of light, the Yūrei Samurai says, “Of course, what you are leading me to lies inside that creep, unsafe building. Meh... What’s the worse that can happen?”
He emits a soft laugh as he makes his way up the steps; he takes a moment to test the floor to discover it is sold and carries on down a dimly lit corridor.
“What are you leading me too?” the legendary Samurai asks, as he follows the beam of light in to a room.
At first it appears empty then the mist clears to reveal a strange cocoon.
“Huh? This is it? The thing you wanted me to find. What is it?”
The masked Samurai reaches out to touch it when symbols appear all over it, they continue on to the floor and walls of the room. Luckily he is able to work out it is some kind of banding spell. The only problem is, will the counteracting spell he knows work.
Slipping the stone in to the right sleeve pocket of his Kimono, he places his hands together and begins to chant, throwing his left hand to the floor. Symbols shoot out in all directions and the cocoon starts to crack.
“It worked... Wait, what have I done? This person could be dangerous... Oh well too late now.”
Large chucks fallaway to reveal a stunning creature with long pale green hair; light yellow skin and dressed in a white hooded robe that has crystals attached to the rim.
“Oh my goodness you are a Light One.”
To be continued...
ns 15.158.61.20da2
