First Opium War

Chapter 10: Brothers In Arms

The samurai swept through the British forces as screams, gunfire, and the sound of steel ripping through flesh raged all around. Chinese recruits died in massive numbers; while only eight thousand remained. They didn't even know why they were fighting. Adrenaline forced them to defend their lives against the sword-wielding warriors, causing them to realize how terrible life and death situations could be. The British used their flint rifles killing only a handful of the samurai, but Japan's warriors were too fast.

          Akihiko Oburo was among them. Previously, he learned that his wife's unborn child belonged to his brother, Kenzou and the thought fueled his carnage in battle. Holding the hilt of his blade with two hands he carved one British soldier's head in half  while another approached him from behind.

          "Bloody cockroach!" Shouted the soldier.

          He aimed his rifle at Akihiko but before he could fire Hideo's finest warrior jumped and spun his body in mid-air, using the length of his blade to cut through the British soldier's torso. He then quickly turned and targeted his next enemy - Itsuya. He rushed at Itsuya while holding his sword down low.

          Mengyu caught sight of Akihiko's advancement. "Itsuya!" She screamed.

          Akihiko swung his blade in a horizontal sweep aiming for Itsuya's abdominal area. The strike would've disconnected Itsuya's torso from his legs but Itsuya used his left foot to kick Akihiko's sword away from him. The force from Itsuya's kick left a bruise on Akihiko's hand which left the samurai in shock because he didn't expect a random soldier to block his attack.

          Suddenly, Itsuya curled his fingers and formed a paw - an offensive stance taught by the Fu Jow Pai masters. Speed graced Itsuya's next strike - Rapid Paw - a three hit combo that he aimed at Akihiko's karuta armor. Akihiko was pushed back by the force of the strike as he saw his enemy form the stance of Fu Jow Pai, confused as to who this boy was.

          "No, Senpai said they died in the first war! But...he didn't even use his rifle." Akihiko thought.

          Mengyu could not stand by and watch Itsuya fight alone. "Itsuya!" She screamed.

          "Oh dear...Oh dear...Oh dear!" Jasper panicked.

          Mengyu closed in with speed as she kept her body down low, anticipating the samurai warrior to counter her. Akihiko raised his blade with both hands preparing his next move on Itsuya but was taken off guard as he saw a girl rushing him.

          "Another one?"

          Mengyu curled her fingers just as Shifu Guang had taught her.

          "Tiger Grab!" She screamed. 

          Tiger Grab - a Fu Jow Pai technique that was meant to grab onto a foe and fling them to the ground. Akihiko positioned  his blade in front of his chest and spun his body toward Mengyu. His blade came flying through the air with the speed of a raged fiend but it was too late. Mengyu grabbed Akihiko's wrist in an attempt to slam him on the ground.

          Akihiko swung his left knee and crashed it into the side of her stomach, causing her to lose her grasp as she felt a sharp pain. He then swung his sword vertically at her in a quick revenge but it was blocked by Itsuya, followed by a straight kick to Akihiko's chest which pushed him back. He growled under his breath in not only surprise but with disappointment because he never expected this. 

          Before he could pull off another move Jasper pointed his rifle at Akihiko's head. "Stop it!" Jasper shouted. 

          Akihiko froze but he didn't cower in fear. He realized he may have been defeated. "You!" He shouted at the two standing before him. "How did you learn Fu Jow Pai?"

          Itsuya turned to face him. "Help us..." 

          "Help them? The British brainwashed lackeys? No, they are different," Akihiko thought. 

          He remembered what Hideo Shen said about those who used Fu Jow Pai and how they were the only ones who had knowledge of their true heritage: that the British burned China's ancestral books and distorted their minds. But if that was the case then why was there two Fu Jow Pai martial artists before him? 

The samurai thought about it for a moment before agreeing. "Follow me. I know somewhere safe." 

          Could the draftees truly trust a samurai who tried to kill them? Just then Itsuya remembered what his father said about Japan - how he must bring them an executive order and unite the samurai with their people.

          "We're right behind you." Itsuya nodded. 

          "We can't trust him!" Mengyu insisted. 

          "This is what Shifu would have wanted!" 

          Jasper lowered his rifle. "Well then...I...guess that solves that? Ha, ha, ha...*ahem*" Jasper joked. Akihiko was about to kill Jasper with his blade until Itsuya explained why Jasper were with them.

          But the war raged on. Numbers from both sides were dwindling. And Akihiko had to get them to safety. 

          "I must go to Senpai!"