Shadows of The Ghost

The Ghost, Set Free

Genso reached the top to find a room had two balconies, one overlooking the sea, the other facing the front of the house. There were two chairs in the middle of the room, each facing towards a particular balcony. Kurai sat in the one facing the sea, a chair next to him, a bottle of sake in his hand, his kwandao behind him, leaning against the back of the chair. Genso sheathed his swords and walked towards the other chair.

He sat next to Kurai, looking out the balcony as soldiers seemed to break through the edge of the forest, riding hard and fast towards the house. He didn't say anyhting as he sat, letting his mind wander. Time seemed to had changed them both differently. Kurai's rage still burned the same, if not brighter, a constant that time couldn't wear down; Genso, on the other hand, had now begun to understand who the man behind the mask always had been, how he now had the reslove to break the promise he had made on that battlefield five years ago, and do what he couldn't have that night.

He watched as Kurai moved, his hand carrying the bottle to his mouth. He took a long drink and then he passed it to Genso. Genso held the bottle for a moment, nostalgia reminding him of the bottle that the four of them carried with them wherever they went, drinking a cup once before and after a battle began and ended. Genso drank, remembering that they hadn't drunk after their last battle.

"You trained them well," Kurai spoke, not looking at Genso.

"Actually, I did very little," Genso replied. "Most of them knew the basics even before I met them." Kurai didn't say anything.

"So it was all a test, Audun, Izom?"

"I wanted to make sure you hadn't lost your edge."

"Why wait this long, though? You could have found me anytime you wanted."

"I had to make sure you were vulnerable. Why do you think I went after your students?"

Genso nodded. "And those soldiers on their way now?"

"To make sure you got a chance to watch your students die before I kill you."

Genso took another sip, signifying the start of another battle, before passing the bottle back to Kurai. He waited until Kurai had brought the bottle to his lips before speaking.

"Looks like you failed there."

Kurai froze, turning to him, but Genso only nodded towards the balcony. Kurai stood, grabbing his weapon as he walked towards the edge and they watched as another set of soldiers broke through the tree line, smaller than the one Kurai had ordered, but making their standing known by plowing through the enemy. Their leader seemed to cheer as he lead the group, and Genso couldn't stop the smile on his face from hearing Audun's voice. Looks like their plan worked.

Genso watched as Kurai gripped the bottle tight enough to crack the ceramic neck, bringing it to his lips and downing the rest in one gulp. Kurai turned, hurling the bottle at Genso, but it sailed past it's target, going over the railing on the other end and into the sea. Genso stood, unsheathing his swords as Kurai walked towards one of the corners of the room, producing a torch which he lit using the kwandao. He walked back to the balcony, his face stoic, and dropped it. Genso didn't need to look to know that the torch was meant to set the lower floors on fire; he had seen the oil trails but hadn't said anything. He just hoped Akai and his students had managed to get away.

Genso managed to banish all thoughts from his mind, focusing on Kurai, who walked back to the other side of the room, his weapon at the ready. They both took up their stance, their eyes betraying any chance of defusing the situation with words. Their faces stoic, they waited, giving the other a chance to make the first move.

Genso readied himself as Kurai charged, the former deflecting the edge and moving in close. Kurai's kwando was a formidable weapon on the battlefield, with long reach and terrifying destructive force, but was worse at maneuvering than a staff. In a close environment like the one they were in, it was a risky choice, and in the hands of anyone less experienced than Kurai, the Genso would have taken their head with the first slash. But Kurai blocked the katana with the end of his weapon, immediately twirling the blade to create some space between them.