A Samurai's Honor

Chapter 5 Eliminate

A hissing sound could be heard by Vincenzo similar to a highly compressed air leaking out of an air tank. Despite the dust and debris, he could see the purple lights flashing in the distance and he smiled to himself as in his mind Perceval was finally going to show his true colors. "Everything you stand for is a misconstrued lie, the people fear you just as much as they would a monster. It pains me to a degree you wouldn't be able to understand that the cities I have watched grow and fall become held in the grasp of your corruption. It is light that purifies correct yet I always found my brother's darkness more pure and honest than my light. I am sorry Yami please forgive me for spoiling your perfect swordsmanship with my lackluster skill." Hikari monologued to himself.

"Ha! You sound like a crazed chicken on the brink of death, it's time to end this," Vincenzo yelled as he rushed through the clearing debris cloud towards Hikari. "Rend," a simple word and technique as Hikari's lade flashed at speed so great that it pulled and warped the matter around it, and in a single flash, Vincenzo had his right arm cut clean off. Blood sprayed from the wound and his mouth as Hikari quickly recovered. "I missed," he stated simply ashamed at his failure. 

"METEOR SWARM!" Vincenzo invoked suddenly summoning a large volley of meteorites that fell towards the Earth like rockets. Hikari switched his stance back to his usual of two hands on the hilt of his sword as his breathing changed. "Flash," this technique of his own instantly sent him into the heavens to meet the meteorites head-on. Hikari was having none of this and simply wanted to save Sophie he would end things here. "We never got to test this did we Yami," Hikari mumbled to himself before he thrust out his free hand. "Vermillion!" summoning the sword of Perceval to his free hand he gazed up at the meteor swarm as he began to fall. He recited a verse he knew all to well.

"To be a swordsman is to walk a line between life and death. Neither enjoying the act of killing nor being able to enjoy living. The life I have chosen is one of sorrow and shame, may my blade ring out for those to smile one more day, and may the last day I say be followed by a goodnight," the two blades each glowed opposing shades the one in his left an inky black, the one in his right a bright white. For anyone who was watching Hikari, it seemed as if he was a solar eclipse as he flashed a brilliant warm yellow before being engulfed in a comforting void like black. 

"Goodnight Vincenzo," Hikari whispered as he walked past Vincenzo as if he wasn't even there. Suddenly the darkness cleared and with it, the meteors as well as Vincenzo were simply erased from reality. The townsfolk looked on at the samurai in shredded clothing and tattered robes in awe. It seemed that he was a god but the way he walked was one of sorrow and shame. His head hung low indicated by the hat pointing to the ground as he walked past the buildings and people he was unable to protect no matter how hard he tried. "Even after all this time I still can't keep up with any of you," Hikari said as he made his way towards Sophie the townsfolk keeping their distance yet still following.

When he returned to the dreary basement the ritual had clearly stopped and Sophie looked to be asleep on her knees. "Maybe not entirely," Hikari whispered to himself as he unchained the girl and scooped her up into his arms. She stirred slightly when picked up. "Huh Hikari where are we, and why are your clothes so messed up," she asked seemingly still half asleep. Yet she would never know the relief that washed over Hikari as he realized she had no memory of what had happened to her. However, Hikari's words caught in his throat as he couldn't think of anything to say to this little girl, he shouldn't worry her about himself, thankfully when he exited the basement into the city streets in the perfect time for sunrise he didn't exactly need to answer. Sophie looked out across the magical scene as there were tons of people staring at the two of them. 

Slowly at first the crowd began to applaud and cheer as they praised the Samurai. "Who are all these people," Sophie asked as she looked out from Hikari's arms. "They are cheering you on Sophie clearly, for being a mage, adventurer, and most importantly yourself," Hikari said somehow turning this into a lesson of sorts. "Oh, thank you Hikari," the girl said as she hugged the animated set of armor as if it was a real person. Although he did not say it aloud Hikari did think to himself, "No thank you, Sophie."