Author's Games: Samurai

Hirotei's Ending # 1

This is Hirotei's first ending, written by ZSB2000. There will be a second one to come soon. Enjoy! I know I did; I had tears welling in my eyes!

Blood dripped off the end of the katana. Pointed to the ground, it rested from its many slaughters.

Another stepped forward, a katana raised from the ground in a challenge. Swift as the wind they sliced through the air, each aiming for flesh. In a clang of defiance, no wound was granted to either.

Each blade was noble; each was formidable. By years of training and practice, the art and skill of the katana had been nearly perfected.

The winner would be dictated by endurance alone...

Ending 1:

... endurance Hirotei did not have. He was skilled. He was clever. He was fast. Something he did not have or seem to acquire was endurance. Patience of the mind was one thing, but it was patience of the body that failed him.

Perhaps it was the age difference between Kyou and Hirotei that posed a threat to the elder. Kyou, in his prime, wielded youth as much as any weapon. Hirotei was by no means old, but he felt that age had not given him the benefit of experience as much as it had stolen his vigor.

He still felt the burning passion to win in his soul. The consequences that rested on him if he didn't motivated him more than anything else. There was no question as to the value of his life. He was afraid to die, but he would gladly take the pain of leaving the world if it meant securing the life of the thousands under his care. But dying is easy, living is harder and that is what his people needed from him – to live.

Before, the responsibility of so many did not affect him. Now, it seemed as if every soul lay on his back... or perhaps that was the fatigue he felt growing steadily after each attack.

Hirotei attacked again, swinging his sword down on Kyou's exposed hand. He expected a block, but instead Kyou raised his arms and plunged his katana into Hirotei.

With a sickening sound, Kyou's katana slid through Hirotei's abdomen.

Pain; he felt so much pain. But even that was nothing compared to the bitterness of his defeat. There was one thing he had to say to Kyou.

He did not spit it in his face, he did not curse him, and he did not step away from him.

Reaching out and grasping Kyou's shoulder, he pulled himself close, further impaling himself. He stared deep into Kyou's widened eyes, "Whatever animosity you have for me, or my people, leave them on this ground. Treat them well, Diaymo Kyou; take care of my people."

Kyou did not have the time to respond before Hirotei felt the life seeping from his limbs. Like all men he pondered what awaited him when his mortal body failed him and his soul moved on.

He feared the unknown. But when he collapsed on the ground with his heart beating its last, he found himself praying for the safety of his loved ones' souls and not of his own.

Yoshitada... Hayakawa... you brought me my honor in this world... the honor of knowing and being close to you... helping you along in this life... I hope for happiness in your future... I hope you appreciate the special things as we do the sakura... May you find sakura... May you find Sakura.

He breathed his last breath and gazed up at the sky. He wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but he thought he could see a single cherry blossom falling; falling to him as life went black for the very last time.

Yoshitada's POV

Yoshitada directed the samurai to regroup and attack the Asai in unity. His katana was resting it its sheath, ready for the fight to begin again.

As the men stormed into battle again Yoshitada took a long breath, regaining his composure to kill.

He drew his katana and let its length and weight seal with his hands, becoming another limb he could wield with strength.

As a ronin he learned certain tricks from ninja and other ronin that he would not have learned in his classic training. This advantage made him inimitable in a fight. However, he did not have the talent and dexterity his brother had. He admired his brother as an innate samurai; a man who was destined to live as one of the greatest swordsman in Nihon not only in skill, but in soul.

Yoshitada was not often jealous of anyone. In fact, the only person he had ever been jealous of was Hirotei. As hard as Yoshitada tried to appear more experienced and knowledgeable, he could not shake the feeling of inferiority. Perhaps it was their age, or maybe it was Hirotei's pure drive to achieving his goals that put him in his shadow. Still, Yoshitada could not be jealous for long. He loved his brother too much to feel sorry for himself. Instead, he strove to protect Hirotei and what he loved.

That is why he had to lie to him. Oda had backed Yoshitada into a corner and the only way to keep his family alive was to go along with it. He had lost too much already to give up any more.

This siege was costing the Imagawa dearly, and Yoshitada could see the despair growing slowly in Hirotei's eyes. He rose in war, but he truly thrived in peace. That was what broke Yoshitada's heart throughout the months he watched his brother. He could not see how great he was because he thought he could never live up to his father's honor.

In Yoshitada's eyes, Hirotei was the best leader the Imagawa could have ever imagined in these times. But what did his service to his people cost him? Yoshitada believed he was seeing it with his own eyes.

After slicing through endless samurai, Yoshitada stopped to see what everyone else was staring at.

It was Kyou versus Hirotei.

Two masters of the katana beat at each other with all they had. Even Yoshitada stood in awe as if he were watching two gods battle in near perfection.

But Yoshitada had come too late. The fight had been going on for some time and he could sense the Hirotei was tiring. Before Yoshitada could intervene, Kyou made a move he could not identify. It was smooth, quick, and nothing he had ever seen. So perfectly executed, his katana slid effortlessly into Hirotei's stomach.

Yoshitada froze.

All his life he'd been the one directing in emergencies; always quick on his feet. Now his entire body betrayed him. He could not move.

He helplessly watched as the man whom he loved, honored, and respected more than his own father grasped his enemy's shoulders and muttered word his last words; words Yoshitada could not hear. They were words that Yoshitada felt he should have heard.

Kyou pulled away his katana and Hirotei collapsed to the ground.

Several Imagawa Samurai charged toward Kyou in rage, deserting their own fight to attack the man who slaughtered their Diaymo.

As Kyou was pushed away, Yoshitada began to notice the feeling creeping back into his fingers. With all of his will he forced his limbs to obey, sprinting to his brother's side in the trampled earth.

"Nīsan!" he shouted as Hirotei looked up to the sky. The sight of his face in peace and resignation made tears sting at his eyes.

"Sakura... May you find sakura... May you find Sakura," he choked out, staring past Yoshitada as if he saw something.

"Nīsan," Yoshitada whispered and rested his forehead on Hirotei's, "Come back to me. Watashi wa anata o aishiteimasu, nīsan."