User:Majushi/Of Sons and Fathers

Of Sons and Fathers, by Majushi (April 2009)

Somewhere north of Renga Mura, four days ago.

Tadahashi stumbles as the arrow bites into his shoulder. Driving through the pain he grips his grandfather’s blade tighter as he rolls to cover behind a nearby boulder as two more arrows fly just past his head.

His breath is coming sharply now and he tries to focus as he scans his surroundings for the rest of his party. To his left he can see his father and gunso, Kitsu Taka, slumped behind a thick tree which already has several arrows sticking out of it.

The bandits had taken the small scouting party completely by surprise and Tadahashi quickly offered a prayer that some of the five Lion on the ground nearby could be saved. Bracing himself he broke the arrow shaft jutting from his shoulder in half, a small groan escaping his lips.

He looked to his father for guidance now, and has his eyes caught Taka’s the older man nodded and made several quick gestures with his hands.

Tadahashi understood, closed his eyes for a moment and tried to remember what he had seen before diving for cover. There had only been four bandits, but all were rumoured to be expert marksmen. The five dead or dying Lion nearby were an attest to that Tadahashi thought grimly.

The bandits would surely have moved slightly, but a convenient tree a few paces ahead and to the right of the boulder would provide him with sufficient cover to reach the first bandits without being hit. He could not remember what his father had for cover but trusted in his father’s ability. He had taught him all he knew after all.

Tadahashi looked to his father again, and Taka smiled for a moment.

It seemed strange to see his father smile again, and he could not remember the last time. Definitely not since his mother had died six years ago.

Tadahashi steeled himself and as his father sprinted from his cover Tadahashi made his move. As he reached the tree he had remembered an arrow struck it and he continued his sprint, barging into the archer who had just fired at him. The bandit fell to the ground as Tadahashi continued his charge at the next bandit bringing his blade around in an arc severing the man’s right arm above the elbow.

Tadahashi turned leapt at the first bandit he had hit as the man was rising to his feet, running his blade through the man’s stomach all the way to the hilt. A wet gurgle escaped the archer’s lips as Tadahashi drew his blade out and turned to face the remaining two.

Tadahashi bit back a scream as he saw his father, on his knees with two arrows jutting from his chest.

He had killed one of the other two, but his strength had failed him now. The remaining bandit, the leader of the bunch, was standing behind Taka, sword raised to take the gunso’s head, apparently oblivious to Tadahashi’s existence.

With every last bit of strength he could muster Tadahashi hurled his grandfather’s sword, striking the bandit in the back. As the bandit turned angrily to see who had thrown a sword at him, Tadahashi was already on him. Wakizashi drawn he swung at the leader frantically. The leader’s blade bit deep into Tadahashi’s right thigh, but the young Lion ignored the pain and struck back cutting deeply into the bandit’s neck almost severing the head.

As the leader fell to the ground, Tadahashi’s breath caught and he ran over to his father. Taka smiled at his son as he arrived, a drop of blood running down from the corner of his mouth.

“Well done son.” He rasped. "You reminded me of your grandfather today."

Tadahashi examined his fathers wounds, neither arrow in the chest appeared to ahve struck a vital organ. Tadahashi frowns as he discovers a third arrow protruding from the lower right side of his father’s back.

Looking back at the path his father had taken to get here Tadahashi could see there had been no cover. His father had been the bait, drawing as many arrows away from his son as possible.

Retrieving his satchel where it had fallen Tadahashi pulled out bandages and began tending his father’s wounds. If he could only stop the bleeding the nearest village was only an hour’s ride away and the shugenja there was and old friend of the family. Satisfied with the work on his father he quickly ran over to check the other Lions.

All dead save one, and he would most likely not survive the ride to the village. Nevertheless Tadahashi retrieved the horses and loaded his father and the other Lion on a horse each before riding as fast as he dared with the wounded.

-

Kyuden Ikoma, present day.

Tadahashi is in a the small chamber, staring blankly at into the distance out the only window.

“There was nothing you could have done to save him, son” a familiar voice says, and Tadahashi looks around to see his father.

Tadahashi rises to his feet with a wince as his thigh remembers the cut not fully healed.

“I should have ridden faster, father. I did not wish to push to hard for your sake.”

Taka smiles and puts a comforting hand on his son’s shoulder. “His wounds were too grave.”

Tadahashi looks back out the window and is lost in thought once more.

A knock and the sliding of the door announces an arrival and Tadahashi turns to see a young servant girl who curiously peers around the room for a second. Acknowledging the servant, she tells him it is time.

The walk is short but uncomfortable with his right leg almost giving away with each step, and left arm in a sling to support the strapped-up shoulder. The servant is leading the way while his father is just a step behind him, as if waiting to catch his son should he fall.

“You have earned this recognition, son.”

Tadahashi frowns, but says nothing. As they approach the main audience chamber he can hear a buzz from inside the room quiten down.

The servant motions for him to enter as she slides open the door.

Tadahashi enters and an Ikoma courtier near the door moves to the center of the room.

“My lord and assembled guests. May I introduce Kitsu Tadahashi, son of Kitsu Taka, son of Kitsu Iyaken. The killer of the renowned bandit leader Hirosaki and sole survivor of the recent attack on a scouting party.”

Tadahashi turns his head back for a moment to look at his father, who is no longer there.

As Tadahashi looks back into the room he sees the approaching Ikoma Daimyo, smiling broadly, and the Kitsu Daimyo to his left with a curious look on her face.