Samurai's Quest

Samurai's Quest Vol 1: The Path of the Body, Mind & Spirit

Author: Elijah G. Peters

In a time long ago, an epic tale about the wonders and nature of the world by their high and mighty rulers. A tale of a book, a sword and a spirit that any warrior will learn from time after time. A tale of a samurai, a ninja, a sumo, a geisha, an onmyo, a yokai, kami and more. In an epic journey throughout Japan, a samurai who fights for peace, lives to protect and serve humanity from greatest threats and evil combined. They use their strategies and skills to protect the weak and the defenseless. A ninja strikes quietly from the shadows and protects humanity with sheer skills, strategies and espionage. Yokai are spirits from different territories of Japan. They are either friend or foe as long as they are distant towards humanity. Both warriors have managed to endeavor a number of victories with both strategies, tactics, magic and spirituality through the studies of Budō. The balance between good and evil remains, as long as there is a well-trained soul that cleanses the world of evil.

Chapter 1: Family and Honor

Training Battleground

May 5 1980. Tōshō-gū, Tochigi Prefecture. A beautiful place where the cherry blossoms flourish and bloom around Japan. Inside the temple are the Oniniwa siblings: Otonashi and Shizuka. The two shared a strong bond and are in training by their father's arms. They were equally skilled and disciplined. They stop there, looking at which one will move and attack first, which, fueling their Ki. Apparently to balance their bodies and souls. While still standing, no one moves, but Shizuka looks at her brother's foot as he is about to make his first move. He jumps and attacks his sister, but Shizuka deflects his attack and both have stalemated each other.

(Shizuka):"That was fun, Otonashi."

(Otonashi): "It was." When suddenly, their mother and father, Kuma and Okami, enter the dojo, congratulating their children. The two siblings shared a solemn bow.

(Okami): "(Chucking) Look at you two. I've never been so elated to raise such fine children." Kuma hands out tea to her family.

(Kuma): "You kids must be hungry for all those hours of training. Well, I hope you two save room for dessert." It also shows the spirit wolf and spirit bear of their respective parents. Before they eat, they must first bow with utter respect to their respective gods: the Three Wise Monkeys, who were founded by their ancestor, Oniniwa Yoshi.

(Okami): "Legends says that Yoshi was the man with utter silence, because his legacy was corrupted by his fierce and jealous rivals who set him up. His knowledge of Mazaru, Kikazaru and Iwazaru, had passed on to the Oniniwa family for generations. May his spirit find peace."

The Oniniwa Family respectively eat with grace.

(Õkami): "This is life, isn't it? Due to the honor and love of my family, I should have endeavored the true meaning of the samurai." Otonashi and Shizuka looked at each other in utter silence. Okami says that he will show them the true way of the warrior. That means the art of Bushido.

(Küma): "You are such a sweetheart, Okami. The way you think about Bushido, it reminds me of the time of how you and I have been together since we got married." By tomorrow, Okami and Kuma will bring their kids to the outside world before they pass on. They somehow are reluctant to do so because they have not even finished training yet. But, Kuma tells them it will be fine; they'll meet lots of people around Japan, whether their villagers, doctors, royalties or more. Something Shizuka and Otonashi are excited about.

Tour Around Japan

The Oniniwa Family began to go touring, where they will soon learn the knowledge of every place when they get older. They take a trip on horse back to Tokuza City; where Okami met Kuma at the same spot at the teashop, he even mentioned that they had a wonderful time together, so much, it adores their children; next, they go to a blessing trip to Kyoto, where they visit the shrines and temples to learn Zen meditation and mushin from their own masters who was honest and humbled from time-to-time. The kids are excited about it and want to learn about it from their parents as soon as time comes. Next, they head toward the Tea Ceremony where they all understand emptiness was considered the most effective means to spiritual awakening while embracing imperfection was honored by a healthy reminder. Kuma will teach them how to make a great tea once they come here, soon. And last, they take Otonashi and Shizuka to Cherry Blossom Valley in Tokyo. But, they went all the way up the mountain to show them the true cherry blossom: The Cherry Blossom of Serenity and Spirituality, much to their excitement. Kuma explicitly states that when her and their father came here, they saw the entire view from up here. A flashback shows how the two came here 14 years ago. Every year the two get to see the view, they will also see the beautiful season changing: summer; autumn; winter and spring. Nature and the spirits brought them here to see the miracles of the people and humanity they protect and serve. Also, it was the day when Okami looked at Kuma and told her that she is the cherry blossom and he was the petals that bloom around the city. He even says to her before they got married: "You are my quest." And then, they shared their first kiss.