Okay…I’m seriously panicking right now! All I wanted to do was go to modern day Japan! Now Nobunaga’s soldiers are about to kill me!!!
Maybe I can through a rock at them or something….Oh who am I kidding, I got to get out of here!!
I ran out of the loft and I heard the soldier’s footsteps close behind me. I ran into the forest, trying to weave in and out of the trees….until a strong hand grabbed me!
It’s all over….The hand pulled me onto a horse and the horse took off running.
I found myself wrapping my arms around this person as we rode away. This person was dressed in samurai armor. < “Who are you?”> she asked calmly.
< “My name is Bryan.”> Holly crap…I can speak Japanese! < “And I’m kinda lost.”>
< “My name is Katsumi…and I think you should move up.”> With that, she jumped over me and landed where I was originally…she had switched places with me!
< “Guide my horse…I will ward off our pursuers.”>
I dared a look back…to see the soldiers chasing us on horses!
I focused my attention on riding the horse (I only have limited knowledge about horses…. I saw a Discovery Channel program about how to ride one once…I think).
As we rode, I heard the clashing of swords behind me; Katsumi must be fighting them already. After a few clashes, the soldier went down….then another came riding up to us.
Once again, Katsumi took down the soldier. Suddenly a horseman came out from behind a tree in front of us….trying to cut us off!
< “Katsumi!”> I yelled. < “In front of us!”>
Katsumi still sounded calm as she told me to duck. As I did, she blocked the soldier’s attack…but I felt her lose balance. She fell off the horse and into the night….
I have to get her back! I struggled to stop the horse and turn it around, but when I did, I dashed back for Katsumi. Jeez…she is fighting five men!
She was blocking, dodging and slashing…she was holding her own against these men.
By the time I got to the scene, she took down two men. When she heard her horse, she jumped on behind me. < “Go.”> she said. No argument there!
~
I’m in a bed again….but now I don’t want to open my eyes! But I’ll have to do it sometime…..nope still not home.
I was in a room with a table that had food on it. I sat up and looked out the window. It was in the morning….maybe I should AAAAAHH!!!
< “Katsumi!….you startled me!” > I said, clutching my chest.
< “Sorry.”> She replied.
She was sitting in the corner, just watching me. This was the first time I actually got to see her face….it was a very angelic face. Her hair wasn’t in a bun either….it was long and jet black….it went down to her shoulders. Wow…she looks very pretty (you would never expect her to be a samurai!)
She told me that after we lost the soldiers I fell asleep. She took me to this Inn in a village just a few miles shy of Kyoto. Then my thoughts went back to the night before….what the heck happened?
< “Oda’s sword, Husahe was stolen by me. Kenji helped me, but tried to take it for himself. I escaped with it before he could do anything. The swoed the source of his powers…without it, Nobunaga is just a man. With his powers gone, he can no longer continue his quest to conquer Japan…his life might as well be over.” > she said.
Total Amazement!!
I never knew that Husahe had powers! Aw man this is cool! And this woman stole it…she must be cooler than I thought!
< “Wow…so you actually have Husahe? That’s amazing!”>
< “No…..I lost it.”>
Amazement Shattered!!
I was dumfounded. < “L…lost it….how?” >
Katsumi looked at me like I had stabbed her. She got up walked out the door, slaming it behind her.
Wow…I really have a way with the ladies don’t I?
< “Katsumi, wait!” > I called out as I went to the door. <”I didn’t mean to- AAAAHH!!
She suddenly opened the door…startling me again! Jeez….How many times am I going to clutch my chest today?
< “Sorry.”> she said yet again.
She suddenly stuck her hand out to me. < “ I feel like I haven’t introduced myself properly to you yet. My name is Katsumi Isamu. Nice to meet you.” >
I shook her hand. < “My name is Bryan Nelson…nice to meet you too.”>
For the first time since I met her, she smiled….I think I’m gonna blush…
< “So you said you are lost?”>
We sat down on the bed and I told her about what had happened to me…and how I really wanted to get back. After I told her this, she was silent for a moment.
< “Tanshinfunin.” > she said finally.
That’s a long word….It means transfer (I still don’t know how I can understand it though).
Again, she fell silent.
I was just about to say something, when she suddenly stood up. She (almost) startled me again… < “I know what I must do…. I have been tracking Nobunaga’s sword and I believe I have found it….It’s in Kyoto. I have also learned that Minoru Kaito lives there.”>
< “Who is that?”> I asked.
< “He is the only person in Japan to know the art of Tanshinfunin. He is hard to get to though…he is protected by the emperor’s elite guardsmen. As we speak he is in meditation…he has been so for ten years. “> she answered.
Jeez…for ten years? That’s like….a lot! This guy is pretty hard-core….but he is my only shot at getting home.
< “Okay…lets go!”> (I’ve always wanted to say that….)
To be continued…..
