Toshiro’s blade plows through the
future carcasses in front of him like a knife through water. He spares no effort in terminating all that
stand in his way. His keen, eagle-like
eyes turn sharply and focus on a lone, timid figure standing in the light, thick
fog of the forest enclosure. It is a
woman. Her Kimono sways back and forth
with the incoming visible fog as it passes through her. She shudders as if a thousand spirits are
attacking her. Toshiro raises his blade
with a mad and crazed look in his eyes and then hesitates. “Woman.
If you value your life, you will run and tell your superiors you have
seen nothing.” The woman says nothing
and Toshiro again bellows, “Woman! I
say to you again! Go now and you shall
live! Stay and you join these dead!” The woman’s tears run down her face like
bloody scars. She quickly takes out a
dagger and stabs herself. The woman’s
dead body falls to the floor, dead.
“Stupid fool. I gave you a
chance to live.” Toshiro mumbles,
sheathing his sword. “Master!” A voice cries out, emerging from the dark
fog. Toshiro slaps himself awake as he
escapes out of the daydream--or nightmare he just had. He looks towards the direction of the voice that cried out to him
and lets out a sigh of relief. It is
Miko, one of Toshiro’s hired scouts.
“What is it, Miko? Anything
useful over there?”
“No, Master. Just a few empty houses.” Miko almost stutters as he takes a moment to
take his Master’s intimidating stare.
“No sign of anyone living in
them--at all?” Toshiro presses.
“No Master.”
“Damn. How does he expect me to find the traitors if each place he sends
me I find no one.” Toshiro sighs as he
ties on his bamboo-made hat.
“Master, do you think they know
when we are coming?” Miko states,
handing his master, Toshiro, his sake bottle.
“Can’t see why they would know.
You haven’t told our victims about us, have you?” Toshiro grumbles amusingly as Miko shakes
his head fearfully.
“This is too patterned, my
disciple. These people know we are
coming. It is too reminiscent of what
happened to our last party.” Toshiro
takes a rest on a nearby tall oak. The
events that have unfolded in the last few weeks have troubled him greatly.
The orders from General Kirowa
have not been easy to follow. He has
traversed great distances with his party and he is quickly running out of money
and supplies. It’s the first of its
kind, a roaming samurai-led party of killers.
Normally, Toshiro would never
associate with the scum that are in his party, but he truly and honestly believes
that the Shogun and General’s intentions are good and will bear real
results. “Master?” A curiously annoying Miko interrupts
Toshiro’s concentration. “Yes,
Miko?” “Master, the party has retired
to the nearby village. They await your
next command.” “They went inside the
village? How do they know if there
isn’t a plague or pestilence in that village?
Decent Samurai are so hard to find.”
Toshiro shrugs as he heads towards the village.
Toshiro’s eyes widen slightly as
he surveys the seemingly endless trail of fire and devastation around him and
his group. “Master, this shows no signs
of any groups we know of.” One scout
reported. “Miko--” Toshiro mumbles,
bowing his head. “Inform General Kirowa
that we have found the first piece of the puzzle.” “Master?” Miko scratches his head out of confusion. “He will know what I speak of, Miko. Deliver the message.” Toshiro orders, proceeding to a nearby
dwelling where the wood has not burnt all the way. He slowly places his hand on his sheath. His eyes wander with exact aim throughout
the interior of the hut. Inside the
small hut, there is a slight smell of firewood.