Collection

Avenging Honor

Pronouncing names/unfamiliar words:

Meiyo (may-ee-oh)

Tsukaite (sue-kite-a)

Chūjitsuna (chew-g-sue-na)

Hogo (hoe-go)

Sojiro (Sew-gee-row)

Otōsan (oh-toe-s-on)

Chan (ch-on)

San (s-an)

(Alt. Title: Honorable Revenge)

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I'd always wondered in life if anything I did would amount to a pile of dirt. I doubted it. Still, I couldn't help but feel satisfaction, even now with my head about to be disconnected from my body. Not a healthy state of being mind you. I suppose I should've reflected on the deep mysteries of life sooner, but I can't help but feel . . . peace. I accomplished my goal, and that's all that matters.

As the hired muscle shoves my chin roughly on the block of wood, the executioner takes a mock swing trying to find his mark. I watched the crowd in front of me and for the heck of it I smile and give a little giggle. Who cares anyway, right? This time the executioner takes his ready stance. This time it's for real. I take a deep breath before looking towards the sky. If anything I want that to be my last sight.
Of course as the highly sharpened axe falls, the cliche begins. What's the saying? 'I saw my life flash before my eyes'. Yeah that's the one.

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"Meiyo-chan!" My elder brother, Tsukaite, called. I looked up from my repetitions and saw him running towards me, some sort of parchment in his hand. For a brief moment I thought about throwing the dagger I held in my hand at him, but the last time I did that he nearly killed me. Better not.

"Niichan, what do you want?" He frowned slightly as he came up to me. However his enthusiasm returned soon enough.

"I've been accepted! The Hogo* is allowing me into their ranks!" I smiled at his excitement, hiding the nervous fluttering in my stomach.

"Wonderful, good job Tsukaite-san! Have you told Otōsan?" Tsukaite's smile fell and his eyes shifted nervously.

"No, he and I . . . don't see eye to eye on this." He said cautiously. I frowned. When had this started? Father knew it had been Taukaite's dream to be in the Hogo Corps. Seeing Tsukaite's nervousness I smiled again.

"Maa, maa, niichan. It'll be fine. In the meantime, help me practice?" Tsukaite looked at me with gratefulness in his eyes. He nodded and tugged one of my daggers from the target it was in. Even though it had gone hilt deep, my brother didn't seem to have any trouble pulling it out at all. I promised myself I would be that strong someday. Tsukaite looked at me and grinned mischievously.

"Spar?" He asked. I shrugged and nodded. Before I could even flinch, he had moved and I felt a cold prick on my throat. That was when I elbowed him in the gut and swiped my own dagger. Close combat was where I had the upper hand.

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It was late the night of Tsukaite's approval that I heard loud, angry voices from my room. Father had been quiet and grim at dinner, making the general atmosphere one of distress. As the arguing intensified, I found myself sneaking to the entrance hall of our home. There stood Father and Tsukaite both tense, with weapons drawn and hackles raised.