The Last Duel

It's September 18th, 1861. It's the Tokugawa era. My name is Tojiro Senma and I am a ronin. I've wandered endlessly looking for a worthy opponent to test my sword but it seems as if everyone I run into is nothing more than a coward holding a piece of metal. I hear the wind whistle as my hair blows in front of my face, breathing in I can smell the clean scent of fall coming. I left home last winter after a sickness fell on my town. Once I realized I wasn't going to be able to test my sword there anymore I left. Nothing else is as important to me than being invincible under the sun. My sword will become known throughout all of Japan. But someone stands in my way, as I continue walking I hear footsteps rushing behind me. The leaves crunch harder as they approach me faster. Who could it be? I get in my stance, clenching my sword ; "whoever it is, is pretty bold for challenging me all the way out here"

I think to myself. "Ryohei Ueda of the Ueda gang, you have the right to remain quiet, let us take you in peacefully !!" police? What are they doing out here, and what do they want with Ryohei-kun? I think to myself as I approach the officers, "Im sorry but you must be mistaken, we are from the same dojo however i am not Ryohei Ueda", what would police want with Ryohei? Did he do something?

Me and Ryohei went to the same dojo and trained together. We were the best ones there, we were truly invincible under the sun but after the incident with his family he left and I haven't seen him since. There's rustling in the bushes, what is it? "Regardless of that we must take you in, as the shogunate must review your crimes and give you a fair punishment" the police men say in unison. 'Did you not hear me the first time i said i'm not Ryohei" i say in an irritated tone, the rustling gets louder as me and the police me continue to argue. Someones watching us, and they're giving off some pretty lethal blood lust. I need to keep my guard up. It's quiet for a split second, nothing but the rustling of the trees and the chirps of birds and the running of the water in the river, but the second only lasts for as long as it is said, A second. In one quick motion I see Ryohei with nothing but a smile on his face as he jumps from the trees swinging his sword down on one of the officers nearly killing him. I unsheath my sword and swing my sword in a very intricate motion killing two of the officers. Why was Ryohei here? And why were officers after him? What exactly did he do? The only things running through my head as me and Ryohei take on the remaining officers, as I look at Ryohei while we fight together I see nothing but a smile on his face and realize that he's never changed, as a soft smile grows across my face.

"Brother, oh how I've missed you!! It's been years how's my little Tojiro been" Ryohei says after taking another sip of his sake as he teases me because i'm a lot smaller than him, "i already told you to stop calling me little, did you forget we were both strong back then" i retort back to Ryohei. "Well you're not wrong about that, '' Ryohei says as he laughs, taking another sip of his sake, after our fight with the police we fled west and decided to traverse to Hiroshima and stay here for the night. It was Ryohei's idea to come to this bar as i dont nearly like coming to these places as much as he does, "OI !, bring us some more sake will ya, and make sure its warm a nice present for me and my long lost brother" Ryohei shouts, "yes sir" the lowly worker says. "Sir? Why would he be saying sir to Ryohei, he's nothing more than a customer." I say as I scan the bar thoroughly noticing that most of the people in here are shady characters, some looking to be bounty hunters while others look to be ronin and gang members, just where in the world did Ryohei take us" I think to myself. "So brother, what brings you to this side of town huh? Looking for some women '' as he laughs cracking up immensely. "No, i am merely in search of a strong opponent to test my sword on as everyone i've come in contact with was far too weak and nothing more then dog crap beneath my shoe.'' I say responding to Ryohei's question, "A strong opponent huh, you'll find a lot of those around here especially in a place like this' ' as he grins after taking another sip of sake. "You know Tojiro-kun i heard some interesting news about you recently" he says putting his cup down gently as his smile fades crossing his hands, "is that right, mind queuing me in on what kind information or news you might have heard about me" i say intrigued by his statement, i look around me as i continue to scan the area. It seems most of the men have disappeared and it's just the two of us in here, what is going on here. "There's a bounty on your head Tojiro-kun", my heart sinks "A bounty, it couldn't be there's no way i had already apologized to the shogun and his wife for what happened, it was nothing more than an accident." I thought to myself hastily, "Whatever you did must have been pretty serious if the bounty is 20 ryo" (20 ryo = 8 million yen or $60,000). "20 RYO!! It couldn't be, i did everything, i apologized, i bowed my head, i lowered myself for those people just for them to turn their backs on me.'' I thought to myself, "How about you cue me in on what it is you did for them to make the bounty so high?" Ryohei asks, still staring at me deeply.