Love of the Samurai

Chapter 5

It was turning dark, the perfect time to begin my plan. I returned to my room and searched around to find some black clothing and thread. I sat at my head dresser and took an hour to quickly sew a black suit. I heard footsteps outside so I hid the suit in my wardrobe, blew the candle out, and slide into my futon. I heard the door slide open and found Mei peering in to confirm I was asleep. She slid it closed and that's when I made my move. I put on the suit and wore a ponytail with a black headband. On my way outside I went into my father's room and grabbed a sword off his rack and dashed outside.

I ran outside and hopped onto my horse. Since leader Shori Sato killed him, his clan must've taken his armor. I pat my horse and galloped towards clan Sato territory.

~~~~~~

Once I reached the Sato castle, I walked around to find the nearest open window and snuck in. I crept around the hallways to figure out which room my father's room was in. I slid open each door by a millimeter and peeked in. The entire castle was so dark and silent, that if I walked on a squeaky floorboard I would be a goner.

After opening almost 50 doors, I found a storage room, filled with treasures from other clans they've defeated. I looked into the dark room and it was there. My father's armor, hung on an armor stand. I slid open the door all the way and right when I was about to walk in...

I suddenly felt the cold touch of a sword push against my throat. My brain told me to reach down for my sword but my body wouldn't respond.

"You should know it's rude to cross enemy territory, lady Takada."

My body couldn't move from the shock, but I was able to slightly turn my head so I could find out who that mysterious figure was behind me. As my eyes adjusted I immediately realized who it was.

The clan leader's son Shori Sato.

"Y-you killed my father..." I managed to say.

He asked, "Yes, and why are you here?"

I answered, still stuttering, "G-give me back my father's armor."

"And why should I?" He taunted, his warm breath blowing against my ear, "As for you... I could keep you hostage and wait till morning so Marius, Sou, and I could agree on who's killing the daughter of the Takada clan, or I could kill you right here right now."

All I could say was, "You bastard..."

"Just for that, I think I'll slit your throat right this second." He threatened and pressed his katana against my throat so much that I was bleeding heavily. I started to shed tears as he released the katana from my throat and aimed it so it can swipe my head off. I closed my eyes, embracing the painful death I was about to experience, when suddenly.

SMACK

I opened my eyes and saw Shori on the floor coughing up blood. I noticed a silhouette in the darkness but as I focused more the silhouette was... Fuma. He ran up to me and immediately noticed the blood on my throat. He ripped off a piece of his yukata and wrapped it around my neck, tight enough to keep the red substance in place, but loose enough to keep it circulating. He then turned around to face Shori.

He said with the most serious tone I've ever heard out of him, "Don't you dare touch Yuuko-chan again."

Shori stood up and wiped the blood from his lips and glared at Fuma, "Who's going to make me?"

Fuma pulled out his katana from its scabbard and readied it at Shori, "I will."

In response Shori picked his katana up from the ground, revealing my blood stains on it which made Fuma growl in rage, "If I win, lady Takada dies. If you win, you can have her back."