Real Japanese Swords

One thought on “Real Japanese Swords”

1. Finally, we can be alone. I eye Mikisaburo’s blade as he lifts it up and brings it crashing down wanting to cut my shoulder in half. I smirk as I simply evade it, somewhat thankful that Tadao is distracted enough, not to be a nuisance. Stealing a glance their way, the -pup- is able to at least keep him pre-occupied.
   “Stay still damn it!” He shouts, more like -complain- and I can only grin.
   “I heard when Itou was killed, it took only two stabs.” I can’t help but taunt him. “Didn’t take much to kill a master of the Itto-ryu.”
   “Damn you!” He spits at his blade, “I’m going to really kill you now!”
   “Oh…” I bring my borrowed blade to an arch, “I thought that’s what you’ve been doing the entire time?”
   He lunges and I close the distance between us and thrust my left hand straight for his chest, but he manages to ward my attack and try to cleave my left shoulder.
   “A normal thrust, won’t work against me Saitou.” He sneers, “You need to start getting serious.”
   I narrow my eyes at him, but I -was- serious. Odd that my aim slipped.
   “Kiri Gaeshi!” He shouts, and I smile wryly, such a boastful way to fight screaming the style’s name only Battousai does that. A hard and wide diagonal cut huh? I end up blocking his heavy handed cut easily and roll away. I needed the distance. I must try once more.
   Once again I make for an arch.
   “How many times are you going to try that move against me?” He shouts. “The hirazuki is a dead move against an opponent like me!”
   As many as it takes! And it’s not a hirazuki, you idiot…
   I still my right hand to aim, I -will- execute a perfect inside gatotsu. I can feel the stretch of my shoulder and neck but I will it to -comply-. Mikisaburo charges again, now with his own thrust but mine will be faster! My legs fly from under me and the tip of my blade cuts through the air until it met his flesh and blood spurted out of him. I spear Mikisaburo to the opposite wall. My katana buried deep in his shoulder breaking his collarbone and left him skewered to the wall, his legs dangling from under him.
   Staring at him or rather at the place where my gatotsu landed. I aimed for his head but instead I pierced his shoulder. I grunt in disgust. I could finish this… I go to extract my blade but just a few feet away, I heard him groaning and gasping.
   “I’m going to kill you twerp!” He grunts at Shindou who’s desperately trying to push the blade that’s pointed to his neck. Tadao’s got Shindou kneeling on the ground, his face pinned against a wooden slat! I knew Shindou would be no match for Tadao, that’s why I gave him a real sword to close the wide gap.
   Idiot! I told you to be careful.
   Quickly, without thinking too much about it. I pounce on Tadao and capture his neck in a stranglehold. I pull his face up and squeeze his neck tightly.
   “Now Shindou!” I bark at the Sargeant as Tadao elbows my side trying to escape.
   I grunt, “Use your sword!”
   He looks at me and I glare at him, I can’t hold this giant forever… Ahou!
   You said you’ll finish this!.
   I see Shindou tightening his hand on the sword and with both hands buried it into Tadao’s stomach. But he lets the sword go and I shake my head, realizing that this young man has never killed anyone. I know a stab like that won’t kill a man, so I finish the job for him and break Tadao’s neck with a single violent twist and let his lifeless body drop to the ground.
   I offer him my hand and pull him up. “I think we’re now even.”
   Shindou looks down at the man he -tried- to kill and swallows.
   He probably thinks he killed him, but this is a good as a time as any.
   Still looking dazed, Shindou looks around and comments “The fight’s done Fujita-san.” He sweeps his eyes on the men that were on the ground and his eye settle on a few from the police. “We lost people.”
   “I know.” He’s stating the obvious and the inevitable truth of our job. “Come, you led the police here, you need to organize them back and take the prisoners.”
   Reaching into my hakama, i -finallly- get to light up the cigarette I’ve been saving for months. Taking a long drag, I let Shindou catch up… or rather -wake-up- as I finally assess the damage now that the dawn is slowly breaking. The fires have been put out. We’ve suffered casualties which I’ll need a report. Imai has escaped but we wanted him to.
   “Shindou, I’ll help you organize here but not in the open or I’ll blow my cover and this job’s not done yet.” I step over to where Mikisaburo is sleeping still pinned to the wall, “I didn’t kill this one. Make sure you put him in a high security cell. ” The last thing I want is for Mikisaburo to escape and start causing trouble again, but I couldn’t dispose of him knowing he’d be useful in providing the Police info.
   “Your katana sir.” He tells me in a low voice.
   I take the sword from him, I inspect it closely before placing it back to my saya. “You have many things to do. I’ll expect a complete report when we’re back in the Precinct.”
   “Fujita-san, you have some injuries.”
   “Oh these”, I look at my chest and legs, they’re not too bad but what was really bothering me was my shoulders and of course -that-., “Just a flesh wound but I’ll make sure to stop by the infirmary.”
   Shindou nods slightly, “I think Yagi-san would prefer that.”
   “I know.” And I don’t want to return to her like I did last time. I tap him on the shoulder, “Stop thinking that you just killed a man. It comes with the job.”
   Shindou, “Kill or be killed… Is that it Fujita-san?”
   “Don’t dwell on it. -You- still have work to do.”
   (OOC: End Yoshiwara. Saitou will not immediately go home.)

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