Rusted Katana

The joyful people and anime. The country once famous for its incredibly skilled & mighty war was long over, today streets of Japan don't ooze with blood & assassins but relatively a warrior called Samurai or Bushai, today they only exist in movies or history books. The only physical appearance of them today was in the museum and antique stores in the shape of Samurai Armor and Katana up for sale as a decorative item. This story is of one Samurai, rather than one Japanese teen who is obsessed with the history of Samurai. Yuto Koremi, the Great-grandson of Kamei Koremi, whose name is written in the history books in the golden inscription for being one of the greatest samurai & daimyo in the Bakumatsu Era. He was prominent in the neighborhood of Ebisu, Tokyo as well as in his college. Every day Yuto used to go for his MMA & sword training which was made mandatorily by his father as a family tradition. Initially, Yuto didn't like it as much, even though he had caliber & inborn talent but eventually became thoroughly accustomed. At the age of just 16, he was already reckoned as one of the best MMA fighters in Tokyo as well as had exemplary sword skills. But, like every other young superstar with family fortunes and immense fame comes bad luck. He wasn't as blessed as others when it came to human interaction and he possessed an extremely fierce temper. Some said that it was his family's harsh atmosphere while some said it was the pressure upon him. His life was properly scheduled with the morning starting with a bowl of ramen, and juice followed by college, then it was 6 hours of rigorous practice, and the day ended with him doing his meditation. As a student, he wasn't the topper but thanks to his sporting achievement, and one experienced any issues in that area. Eventually, years passed, and he kept on winning MMA championships and competitions, he unexpectedly went to illegal circuits a few times just to see if there was someone worthy in Japan to challenge him but failed to find one as he got so much stronger than his opponents didn't last more than 5 minutes in front of him. On his 18th Birthday, his father called him and said "Yuto, it has been a family treasure and tradition to gift this family Katana of the great Kamei Koremi to the eldest son of the family. Today, as you turn 18, even though you're not the eldest certainly the worthiest." Yuto bowed and accepted the sword, in a traditional Japanese way, he opened the string to reveal the sword. He said, "Dad, it's rusted and what would I do of a century-old Katana when I have the best one in the whole of Japan made with the most superior material." His dad smiled, and said, "Tomorrow morning, I would like to bear your sword to the Arena." He was baffled but agreed to do the same. Later that night, Yuto's father, polished the sword in a traditional Hadori style. The next day they were present in the arena with Yuto wearing his Black Kimono while bearing his sword and his dad wearing a white kimono while wielding his sword. Yuto swiftly pulled his sword and executed the first strike as his dad blocked it with the cover, and he instantly pulled out his sword. As Yuto went for the second strike, his dad advanced a step to the side and attacked Yuto's sword with his own breaking Yuto's sword in pieces. Yuto fell to his knees in disbelief at what he had seen. While his father cleaned the Katana with a cloth. As Yuto still on his knees with confusion in his eyes asked, "How a Katana from the 10th Century destroy this sword which was made with the most superior material and was strong enough to cut a whole tree in one strike, how could a rusted sword destroy this?" to which his dad replied, "Because, unlike you & your sword, this sword wasn't made to fight in a cage for entertainment and against a fighter who was called athletes. On the contrary, it was forged for the Warriors who were called Samurai." He then pointed in the direction of the Samurai Armor and said "Yuto, remember, when you were just 5 years of age, you used to ask your

Grandfather, how would it have been to wear this heavy Armor and wield this very katana and win every single time" he used to say, "Yuto, it wasn't the one the sword or Armor who made the difference, but rather the one wielded it." He said. "I never understood that." Suddenly a voice came from a towering old man who was Yuto's Grandfather who said, "You never understood this because you never embraced who you were but rather thought you were the best. That overconfidence and attitude never made you acknowledge who you are. Your father whom you have merely seen as someone in a black suit working day & night wasn't always this big of a businessman but rather your father is the Last Samurai. "That day, Yuto's whole world changed. Everyone thought that Samurai were gone in the 18th Century, but then he asked his grandfather, "Sofu but weren't they all dead and gone." To which his grandfather replied, "A real Samurai never dies." He went to his father, bowed, and said, "I am ashamed for the disrespect I unknowingly did to you & the family's name." His father hugged him and said, "Yuto, don't say that I was too like you when I was your age but you've to remember, you're my most prized possession. As a father and as a Samurai, I couldn't be more honored to see that you remain natural as well. While rust represents just a chemical reaction, after all, some polishing & respect, restore everything." He smiled, and said "Dad, will you teach me how?" and his father replied, "Surely Son, I have a lot to teach you and a lot of things to restore." They both smiled while seeing towards beautiful Cherry Blossom fall over them explaining to them both all they have lacked as a father and son.