Nightblade

by Ryan Kirk

  “Everything I did was to protect someone who couldn’t protect themselves.”

  “Which is exactly what I’m doing, just on a scale you can’t seem to comprehend.”

  The steel and frustration in Akira’s voice penetrated through the haze of anger surrounding Ryuu’s thoughts. He thought through all his actions and tried to assume Akira’s perspective. In a flash of insight, he realized that Akira’s actions weren’t much different than what he would have done. If he had to choose between mass chaos and the death of a few individuals he would have chosen the same path. Abruptly, his anger cooled.

  “I see.”

  Akira, not being able to track Ryuu’s thoughts, was surprised at the concession. He was surprised at himself as well. He realized he had been expecting to die, and had spoken much more openly than he was used to, even with his closest advisers. He had inadvertently created a bond with this boy.

  Ryuu was still muddling through his thought process, and Akira turned it to his advantage.

  “So, what are you going to do?”

  Ryuu looked up. “Well, I came to you to tell you to stop hunting us. If you weren’t going to listen, I was going to kill you.”

  “That was your solution?”

  “Not perfect, I admit, but it would have gotten the job done.”

  Akira shrugged. He enjoyed the blatant disregard for authority the boy held. “It might have. Everyone will be searching for you now.”

  Ryuu examined him. “I think the plan still holds out. I have no ambition for power, nor any desire to serve a master other than myself. I would like to lead a peaceful life and explore the origin of the sense to greater degree. Orochi gave me some leads before he died.”

  “He spoke to you then.”

  “Yes. He seemed to believe I was a lot stronger than I think. He gave me some directions on how to continue my training.”

  “To what end?”

  The question paused Ryuu for a moment. “I guess I’ve never really thought about it. I’ve always trained to be stronger simply to be stronger. I suppose it’s for times such as these when strength is necessary to protect those who I care about.”

  Akira nodded. “You haven’t yet figured out a purpose for your life then?”

  “I’m not sure there is a purpose to an individual’s life.”

  Akira glanced from Ryuu to his map back to Ryuu. “We all have purpose, whether we pursue it or not.” He paused. “Would you consider working for me under the same conditions I had with Orochi? They were generous terms.”

  Ryuu shook his head. “Not just because of how I personally feel about you. I’ve seen decent men be party to horrible actions because they tied their honor and their obedience to another man. The peace of a Kingdom isn’t worth the suffering Takako experienced. I think being party to that helped kill Orochi in the end. Better to be free and responsible for your own actions.”

  Akira found himself liking the boy more and more. He was reasonable, if perhaps too young to understand the ways of the world. He found himself more curious. “Do you believe you will be able to live in peace even if you and I part today less than enemies?”

  Ryuu shrugged. “I hope so, but it would be naive to assume that just because I hope so it will be. Shigeru often worried that those who lived by the sword would be fated to die by it. Perhaps it is true. It is pointless to predict the future. What is important is that what I want at this moment is peace.”

  “Are you sure you won’t consider working for me?”

  Despite himself, Ryuu grinned just a little. It was nice to be appreciated for one’s talents. “Yes.”

  “Where will you go, and what will you do?”

  “I wouldn’t tell you for the world.”

  “You know I will send spies after you. You are far too dangerous a man to leave wandering around my Kingdom.”

  “I may not stay in your Kingdom. But you are welcome to send any spies. They will risk their lives, and I suspect they won’t be able to track us anyway.”

  “What if I need to contact you?”

  The corner of Ryuu’s mouth turned up just a bit as if he found the idea amusing. “Akira, I leave you alive today because you have convinced me you are not out to kill me or Moriko, and you will leave us in relative peace. But we are not allies. If your claims are true about why you rule and what your goals for ruling are, then you are a man best left alive, and perhaps are best suited to pursue a Kingdom for all. But that will not be my fight.”

  Ryuu turned to leave, but Akira spoke before he could begin his egress. “Do you really think you’ll be able to do it?”

  Ryuu glanced back quizzically.

  “Do you think that as a warrior, you’ll be able to find a life of peace?”

  As Ryuu looked at Akira, he couldn’t help but think that this young man, just barely of the legal age of a soldier, had the eyes of a man who had seen much, much more. “No. I suspect the sword will continue to find me. But we are defined by our actions, and what kind of man would I be if I didn’t at least attempt to live in peace?”

  Akira nodded. He understood this boy, and somehow, this boy understood him better than a whole reception room full of nobility and courtiers.

  “I wish you the best of luck. While I will try to keep track of you, you have my word that no harm will come to you or the girl on my account. Perhaps you’d do the kindness of not killing any messengers I may send.”

  Ryuu grinned and suddenly went from a sage to a young man in an instant. “Depends on how good-looking they are.”

  With that he was out the door. Akira started to track him but found that he had disappeared into the emptiness. It was a pretty impressive skill.

  Akira grinned despite himself. He and Orochi had understood each other and respected each other, but he liked that boy. He had a feeling that some day he might see him again. Perhaps not. Either way, from the bottom of his heart, Lord Akira hoped he would find peace.

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  Thank you,

  Ryan