Author's Games: Samurai

Sponsorship Battle Task: Saito verses Ukita

Clan 3: Kairi Saito

Kairi stood under the ever-darkening sky. A storm was coming. A distant fork of lightning flashed to the ground far away, followed by a soft but distinct rumble of thunder. Ever so slightly, she brought her hand down to her side, resting it on her katana's hilt. She knew that the storm brought battle, and with it, death.

She tried to force the memory of her recent dream out of her mind, but Tatsuoki's words kept ringing in her ears: What right do you have to decide when it's the time for someone to go? What right do you have to use that weapon of yours to end someone's life? What right?

She shook her head, as if that would clear the thoughts away, and instead focused on how much she would rather be tracking Toshinaga's would-be assassin. It had been days, and there were still no leads. As much as she hadn't wanted to marry him, she still wanted to know who it was that had tried to take his life. But her father had insisted that she be here instead, helping their clan defeat the Ukita clan. He claimed that it was of "utmost importance" that they were to win, for reasons Kairi couldn't hope to understand. But, seeing as he was her daimyo as well as her father, she had no choice but to obey his orders.

Behind her, an army of roughly two thousand troops stood ready for battle. About half of them were riding horses and brandishing katanas, and the other half bore fine bows and quivers of arrows. In front of them stood a fortress of the Ukita clan. Archers dotted the walls, and armed riders like those of their own army stood in front of the gates.

"Archers, draw your bows," she called, mounting her horse--a black stallion named Uma--and sounding much more confident than she felt. "Aim for the ones on the walls, and take out as many as possible." She paused, waiting for them to ready their weapons, then shouted, "Fire!"

There were muffled shouts as one by one, the archers on the walls toppled. With a cry, the mounted horsemen stationed in the front rushed forward to meet the army of the Saito clan. Instantly, chaos broke loose. The only sound that could be heard was the clash of steel on steel, making a melodic clanging that rose high into the ever-darkening sky. As Kairi swung her katana mercilessly, raindrops began to fall, soaking the entirety of both armies. The sound of lightning and thunder got constantly closer. Still, the fighting continued.

From atop her horse, Kairi felt unstoppable. She cut through the battlefield with ease, slicing down anyone who got in her way. Her katana was simply an extension of her arm that she used to make a path between her and the fortress. For that was her goal: to bring the fortress down from the inside. A spy had reported that the walls were mostly made of stone, but that the rooms on the inside were walled with wood. He claimed that these rooms were where the important generals stayed when they were not fighting. All she needed to do was get inside, light one of those rooms aflame, get out as quickly as possible, and wait for the fire to spread, and the battle would be won for them.

She urged Uma forward through the fighting, occasionally blocking swings from opponents' katanas and returning them with her own. As she rode, she surveyed the scene in front of the gate. It was guarded by three samurai on horseback. She rolled her eyes. The Ukita are making this easy!

By now, they had seen her coming and drawn their katanas. She raised her own, preparing for when she was within range. As soon as she was close enough, all three swung down at her. Quick as lightning, she stood up in her saddle and jumped, twisted a few times in the air, and landed on one of the other men's horses. Without a second thought, she cut his throat and pushed him off the saddle.

The other two were quickly advancing on her, and she could see the fire in their eyes that came from her killing thier companion. They both swung down at her, but she swiftly blocked both their blades with a sharp twist of her own. She spun in her saddle, hitting one of the men in the side and knocking him off the horse. In the same motion, she stabbed the other one in the chest.