Author's Games: Samurai

Battle Task 3: Toshihiro Ukita attacking Hirotei Imagawa

Clan 15: Toshihiro Ukita

Soft light filters through the trees, creating elegant patterns of darkness and light on the forest floor, twisted hues of colors interlacing and separating, then coming together once again. The light bounces around the forest, greeting the bright green trees and the vibrant pinks of the cherry blossoms, and then projecting onto the ground, bringing the color with it. This earthen rug is interrupted by the shadows that walk upon it. Toshihiro looks down and sees his shadow lying on the ground ahead of him, marching in time with his own steps.

The small Ukita army marches dutifully toward the Imagawa clan, led by Toshihiro's uncle, a powerful fighter, but an arrogant man. He marches ahead of them, shouting orders in a booming voice. Toshihiro keeps himself at attention, head pointed forward. He is the perfect example of a hallowed-out man. He keeps pace with the group, attempting to avoid notice. Toshihiro is so focused on performing perfectly, that he doesn't notice the dip in the ground ahead of him, and steps into it, tripping and almost falling flat on his face.

All of a sudden, his injured ankle begins throbbing, and then screaming. He cries out at the shock, only for a second, but it does't matter. He has been noticed. He falls back in line, glancing down to see a hint of blood beginning to form a the opening of the wound. He breathes in, then breathes out, with tension in his shoulders.

"Ukita. Step out of line," orders the booming voice of the newly appointed Diyamo.

Toshihiro steps sideways, carefully leaning on his uninjured ankle, wincing slightly as one of the men roughly pushes into him with his shoulder, causing him to put weight on the injured ankle that has now obviously reopened. The pain is almost debilitating, but he pushes through.

"Ukita. I see your ankle is injured, but that is no excuse. Next time something happens, you will not be so pathetic as to call out. Understood?" He says, staring down at Toshihiro.

"Yes, Dyiamo." Toshihiro forces out.

"Wrap your ankle and fall back into line," He states emotionlessly, and begins walking away. Then, ge seems to change his mind. He turns sharply on his heel and strides back.

"No wonder your wife couldn't stay alive very long, living with a husband as weak as you," the Diyamo remarks offhandedly, tossing a bandage to the ground.

Toshihiro spoke through gritted teeth. "Very funny, Diyamo."

"It wasn't a joke." The Diyamo pushed past Toshihiro, making his way back to the front.

Toshihiro clenched his teeth and wrapped his ankle tightly, still seething.

He rejoined a line at the back of the group. A young Samurai stood next to him.

"By the way, I thought you were a great Diyamo," the young man whispered.

For a moment Toshihiro didn't respond, but then he whispered back, "Arigatou."

From that moment on, he walked with a little bit of life back into his step.

***

A couple hours later, they were halted by the Diyamo.

"Everyone is to create a circle in the trees around this clearing. Do not let yourself be seen," was the message passed back through the ranks as we disband and create a perimeter.

Moments later the call came from the booming voice of the Diyamo.

"Close the circle! Quickly!"

Every Samurai rushes forward and a circle closes around three generals and a few guardsman. Toshihiro raced forward, quickly coming face to face with the tip of a guard's katana. He backs up one step and draws his own blade. The swords crash and Toshihiro presses down with as much force as the guardsman presses back. Suddenly his blade slips and Toshihiro jumps to the right to avoid being cut. Toshihiro bounces forward and jabs inward, piercing the retreating man's armor and making a small cut in his stomach. He suddenly doubles over and Toshihrio brings his sword down on the opposing Samurai's head. Tohsihiro swallows and grimaces, and tells himself that it was necessary.