Samurai; Lost in the Time Rift 1.1

By Jimmy Loong

April 2013

 

Part 1

The Cavern

1.1

The cold icy wind from Ishikari Bay during winter can be very cold as it was snowing most days during then. The inlet of the Sea of Japan on the western coast of Hokkaido, Japan. The Ishikari River, about 275 mi long, flows generally southwest from the mountainous interior of the island into the bay. The name of the derived from the Ainu term ishikaribetsu or it mean the greatly meandering river, which describes the flow of its lower course. Inundations usually occur twice a year, after the thaw of spring and the rains of summer. It primary Ainu settlements and the Shogun set up an outpost here, with a small warrior army detachments including the samurai. Most times they handled the pirates clashes in the area, but at other times, they just patrol the farmlands.

The small retinue of warriors made their way on the road alongside the beach towards the town on Otaru, in the prefecture of Hokkaido. The twelve warriors was led by the Taisa ( Captain in rank ) Juno Mori on foot; once a proud warrior from the Palace Guards in Edo, but now reduced to this cold icy land as Border's Guards five years ago. His rank may had justified him a horse but the prefecture was a poor one then, that even this luxury was excluded for his comfort. He was flanked by the Gunso ( Sargeant ) Tana Mita; who had followed his leader upon the exile, now leading a donkey with their personal loads. Once Gunso had said; even the donkey would suffice when the horse was not available.

They have with them the ten young samurai with the ranking of Hohei ( young inexperience warriors ) who was leading the sedan chair carried by two slaves. Each Hohei was armed with their daisho (katana and wakizashi ), kami ( bow ) and the quiver of arrows, with the yari that lengthens over their height. Behind the sedan was six more slaves carrying the three litters that hold their personal effects. All of them are swatted in the thick clothings against the cold air.

They were accompanying the local Teishin ( Courtiers ) of the Shoguns, also banished here for failure to meet the expectations of the Shogun. He was forbidden by order not to commit seppuku, but to served his penance on this prefecture. The man was hand carried in the Norimono, a type of sedan chair used by higher class citizens in feudal Japan.

"The weather is as bad as the last one we had last winter, huh." Gunso Mita does not asked questions, he only gives statement. He had been a Gunso for over ten years now, but never got beyond this position as he was not diplomatic person. If a wrong was done, he would raised his words to that and never stepped down from it. The man with a height of under five feet holds a square body frame that bursts with energy that made him one of the toughest Gunso in the realm. Unlike his esteemed trainees under him, Gunso Mita carried the daisho (katana and wakizashi ) as befitting of his rank, but he prefers the yari more. The yari; the Japanese spear with the two feet length narrow diamond shaped blade on the five feet long staff. He was a master of the art of Sojutsu, the art of wielding the yari. Both of them had their hair shaped into the narrow band of the samurai class on top of their head

"Old dog, you yelp too many times nowadays. Maybe I ought to feed you to the sea." Taisa Juno always rebuked at his Gunso but they shared a deep understanding for their years of working together. Taisa Juno was taller than his Gunso by half a head but held a slimmer frame. It was mistaken by many of former foes for his weakling profile, but the body was build for speed and strength. His skills with the katana was renowned in the Palace, and many shuddered had to challenged him.

"Hai, Taisa." Gunso Mita replied back with irate in his tone. "I am old and you have never aged since the last five springs have passed."

"I have, Tana." The Taisa spoke to his old friend. "But I hide my wrinkles better than you."

"Hai, the stubble on my chin grows faster than my age." Gunso Mita laughed out with a cheerful burst.

"How fare our Teishin? Asleep as usual I believed in there. He sleeps anywhere and everywhere." Taisa commented on their care as he moved on. Juno had been assigned to take care of this man for over three years when the Shogun deemed him worthy of the task. The Teishin was not a difficult person to handled as long as you know his whims and aches. One of them was the need to travel to the local Lord's castle for the one a moon discussion. He hated that but it was his duty to represent the Shogun. His only delight was the treats that would be given to him by the Lord for his attendance. It also covered his need to report the unneeded news to the Shogun.

"If Teishin walks with us, it would an endless walks on this road, as he moved slower than the heavy women." Gunso replied with a hearty laugh. "I wished to be back soon, to sample the new grinding stone. I have many blades to sharpen, including this one."

Gunso Mita clutched his own crotch to showed he misses his wife back home. But then the sight before them on the road soon diminished their laughter for lined in front of them were twenty men with various weapons.

"Bandits!" Gunso Mita shouted out as he held onto the yari with both his hands. Taisa Juno hesitated and preferred to use diplomatic means to evade bloodshed. The Taisa held out his hands to signaled the warriors to protect the Teshin while he and the Gunso meet the bandits. Two of the Hohei had drawn the yumi ( bow ) with the arrows notched on the string.

Slowly Taisa Mori approached the bandits with his trusted friend. He counted among the twenty men; only five are considered worthy opponents. The others are cannon fodder to the battle. He singled out the leader, a tall warrior covered with a loin cloth and half torn shift over his chest; exposed at the waist. He had a his thick robe over his shoulders that he wore to cover himself from the cold. The leader also held in his right hand the naginata; three feet of sharp blade locked onto a four feet length wooden staff. To the leader side, was one other with a bald head tied with a red cloth over his forehead and dressed the same like leader, but he held a long wooden staff named as bo. The bald man had a long curved knife on his waist belt.

"Konichiwa, Samurai." It was rare for one to greet the Samurai in that manner, as it was unheard of the commoners to even speak unless spoken to. "I am Kato, a simple farmer who need to speak to your Teishin. He owes me my master his dues for the supply I had delivered to him."

That was the leader who addressed the samurai warriors. One of the young Hohei charged out with his sword half drawn but the sudden move by Gunso with the blunt side of the yari stopped the fool.

"Nunto, back to your position! The Gunso barked at the young Hohei who slowly made his way back to the pallenquin. Taisa Mori stepped forth to confront the bandit leader, but he was halted by the protruding bo. He swept that away and stopped in front of the leader.

"Impudent fool! How dare you address me? Who is your master by ranking?" Taisa Mori shouted at the leader as he drew on his katana under the thick robe. Its customary of the samurai to exert major punishment for insults.

"Hai!" The leader stepped back with his naginata now placed at the neck of the Taisa. "Your blade may not saved you, samurai."

"Hai" Taisa Mori acknowledged the leader, "But you are also no better off."

The katana half drawn had marked the exposed torso of the so called leader with its intended streak of slash should its owner moved the wrists that was holding the hilt of the katana.

"We have each other at a disadvantage. Perhaps if we could discuss the next better option." The leader smiled at the Taisa while taking a step backwards and pulling back the naginata. Taisa did the same and then faced his attacker.

"Commoner, your name and your master's name."Taisa Mori asked of the bandit.

"Commoner? I may be one but everyone called me by my name, Edo; a farmer now. I am without a master. He died in his sleep last night. But before he died, he asked me take over his estate." The rest of the farmers laughed out loudly. "Me, the unworthy one inherits his estate. Such an unusual task for me."

The farmers all laughed again at the joke made by their leader but Taisa Mori was not excited about it. He had drawn the katana out and had it pointed towards the leader but again the leader had it deflected on the swing with the naginata. This time it was a not play for words but a play of skills and determination. For every strike done by Taisa Mori, it was well defended by the leader. The others had joined in the battle with Gunso leading six Hohei to fight with the nineteen other farmers.

One Hohei went down on being assaulted; the katana deflected the sickle drawn on him but the back blow of the bo, caused him to lose his balance and he was pierced in the mouth by another farmer with a long blade. He was not the last as another went down too on being cornered by two pitchfork.

"Move the men back. Gunso! We are outnumbered." Taisa Mori gave the order as he steppe back. "Bento, Sun; released the arrows."

The archers found their aims to be good as they hit two farmer in the neck and another one was to fall before the other farmer withdrew. One of them who was retreating looked out to the sea and exclaimed.

"The sea devils coming! Susano-ô protect us." Both the samurai and farmers looked out to the bay and saw the thick mist flowing in strong from the sea.

"So its true!" Edo shouted as he abandoned the fight to rushed towards the mist with his naginata swinging blindly. "I come for you, monster. To avenge my family name."

Edo was stopped in his rush as he dropped the naginata to clasped the hands over his head. He then fell onto the ground, rolling and cursing in pain.

"What manner of lies are these?" Taisa Mori shouted out but the mist soon covered all of them on the road. Just as the mist covered them all, an eerie sound was heard. It was the sound of bells and whistles with high notes that pierced their ears to their mind, making them dropped their weapons.

Hohei, slaves, and farmers all held their hands over their ears but it was no protection as they all collapsed down on the ground. Soon none was seen standing as the misty cover enveloped them all. Once the mist had passed, there was no one left on the road to be seen.