A Lotus Blossom

[Kayuni]

This is a story I wrote in the early 90's, on my first computer ever. Ahh, DOS. It's not what I'd call "good" by an means. Read it if you want, and review it. I don't care about criticisms, I doubt I'll be revising this story.

 

A Lotus Blossom

 

The sun rose above the horizon, the dew glistening on the blades of grass, and cries of war echoed from several miles away. The stronghold of Ichigawa, a daimyo of the Asugasa Shogunate. Along the walls of the fortification, many samurai readied themselves for the barbarians who resided in the southern half of the continent. A young maiden, the daughter of Daimyo Ichigawa, stood next to a young samurai, by the name of Jubei Asasuke, who was honing the blade of his katana.

 

The girl made an unhappy gesture, and then began, "Jubei, why must you fight against this foe? You worry me so." "I am sorry, Mai, but it is my sworn duty as a samurai under the lordship of your father, to fight honourably to maintain the rule of your father and the Asugasa Shogunate." With that, he sheathed his katana, and adjusted his plated armour. Mai took a defensive stance and began to object, but Jubei quickly dismissed her, and walked towards the stables, where he would prepare his horse for the coming battle.

 

After arriving at the stables, Jubei fed his horse, and covered in thin sheets of bamboo armour, to protect it from enemies on the battlefield. He mounted the horse, and quickly tapped its head, and guided it to the exit of the city. Once Jubei reached the outskirts of the stronghold, the sound of battle could be heard, and the smell of the rotting dead was on the morning breeze. He nudged the horse on with his boots, and quickly advanced on the battlefield.

 

When Jubei arrived at the heart of the battle, the sun blazed in the mid-day sky, and many warriors lay fallen in the grass. Jubei saw his brother, Nagasa Asasuke, engaged with two mace-wielding barbarians, and surprisingly, fending them off quite well. As Jubei continued on, he saw the sun glint off of the gilded helmet of an enemy officer; obviously high-ranking to have a golden-plated helmet. Jubei charged at the officer, and leapt off his horse in a rapid attack, decapitating the stunned officer, while his several bodyguards were still in awe at this new enemy. Immediately, the bodyguards leapt at Jubei, making themselves easy targets for Jubei's honed swordsmanship. His katana pierced the armor of one of the bodyguards, slashing his skin, leaving him bleeding, barely clinging to life. The second befell the same fate as his officer; decapitation, while the others chose cowardice; and fled from Jubei, only to be struck in the back of the neck by sharpened kunai.

 

Jubei continued on, finally reaching back to the place his brother had been earlier. His brother was still there, with a pile of dead around him. Two more enemies rushed at Nagasa, and as he engaged them, a third leapt from behind with a warhammer. Just as Jubei began to shout to his brother, the warrior brought down the warhammer on Nagasa, shattering his skull. Nagasa fell to the ground, blood pouring out of his head, gurgling out of his mouth. Jubei, in a fury, rushed at the warriors, slicing through each of their inerds, leaving them bleeding to death. He threw himself at the nearest enemies, slicing his way through in hopes of quelling the anger brought by seeing his brother brutally murdered. A second officer was near, again, with a gleaming golden helmet. He had thick armor, and a finely-crafted katana.

 

As Jubei carved his way through the troops, the officer climbed off his mount, and readied himself for Jubei's onslaught. He was his with a quick slash, but successfully parried it, throwing Jubei off-balance. The officer quickly regained his stance, while Jubei was still caught off guard, and thrust his sword through Jubei's neck, followed by the withdrawl of his sword, and a swift kick to the stomach. Jubei buckled, blood pouring out of the gaping hole in his neck, a final gasp escaping his lips.

 

And so, the Asasuke brothers, both fine samurai, were both executed that day, by the barbaric denizens of the South. A nearby stream flowed quickly, as the battle raged, and on it, but a single object floated -- a single, white, lotus blossom.

[EarlStrurxenburgen]

Aww it sounds so sweet..

 

Good job!