A Different Perspective

After a sounding board session with my wife I have found more webs to weave. I also was inspired and encouraged to write some chapters from the perspective of Yokiko.

Yokiko: daughter of Warabe and Takara and sister to Koji. She is in her late teens.

I have never written from the perspective of a young female character before but the challenge intrigues me. I also feel this adds a new level of interest and better rounds out my list characters that are focused on.

Current Progress: 31,145 words

The Warriors of Teroushima

These are some of the people of the land of Teroushima. You will read about them as they endure and fight through the events that unfold before them.

Aron Ozirashu: Grandmaster of the Kage Clan (Special Note: This character was named and reinvisioned to honor my friend Aaron "Ozzie" Rhoda who passed away April 2013)

Asumi Miyamosho: Wife of Mikoto
Banok: Ashigaru of the Hikar Province
Iwao: Haku (Doctor) from the Nagan Province

Kachimi: Shinobi of the Kage Clan

Mikoto Miyamosho: Samurai of the Nagan Province

Onishomu Nagatashi: Samurai of the Nagan Province

Warabe: Ashigaru of the Hikar Province

Zatanaga Yoshimo: Samurai of the Nagan Province

The Way of the Warriors

This novel is tentatively titled "Bushido: Zendou - A Path to Righteousness".
 Bushido loosely translates to "The way of the Warrior."
Zendou loosely translates to "Righteousness" or "Justice".
Righteousness is one of the pillars or creeds within the code of Bushido and in this novel I intend to highlight the journey of several warriors searching for what they believe to be right and just. When I say warrior it doesn't just mean Samurai (often what people think when they hear Bushido). Warriors are anyone striving through difficult life events and coming out on the other side.

Ashigaru, Samurai, Shinobi, men, women, children, old or young can all be warriors if they don't loose heart.

Prologue Excerpt

Here is an small portion of my prologue as it currently stands.

“I can understand that.” Hikaru stated then he paused a moment before speaking again. “So you say that I am your last province?”

“Yes, I am just following the Emperor’s instructions and I meant you no offense.” Ichiro assured him. My father may have meant offense though.

“None taken.” Hikaru said and dismissed the idea with his hand “But I am very curious why you have been sent to visit all the Daimyo of Teroushima.”

“As you may have heard my father is very ill and he does not believe he will survive.” Ichiro explained. “He offered me the chance to be the next Emperor.”

“Congratulations Ichiro…” Hikaru began to exclaim but Ichiro held up a hand and chuckled slightly.

“No, I didn’t want the stress,” or to be slowly assassinated like my father. “That stress is killing my father, so I refused.” Ichiro continued. “He understood, but it took some convincing.”

“Then why did he ask you to visit us?” Hikaru said as he stroked his chin.

“My father has asked me to deliver the Gifts to the Daimyo of each province.” Ichiro said. “These were given to him by the nine provinces, upon the unification of the Empire.”

“Why would he do that?” Hikaru asked.

“He believes that if I am not to follow his footsteps then the person to acquire the nine gifts from the Daimyo will have earned the right to be Emperor.” Ichiro said with a sigh. “Until then, I must play the role of acting Emperor.”

“That would be a massive undertaking…” Hikaru stated as he seemed to be puzzling something out in his head. “I would imagine several of the Daimyo would really pursue this endeavor.” Hikaru folded his hands as his thoughts appeared to focus. “What is the gift you have for me?”

“Before I give you the gift, I am also to speak with your citizens about your rule. If I am not satisfied with the responses, I am to give the gift to a more worthy individual.” Ichiro explained.

“Surely that won’t be a problem.” Hikaru said as he smiled widely.

“I don’t expect it will be, Uncle.” Ichiro said.

 “Well I do have a gift for you, Ichiro.” Hikaru said. “It is no secret that you have a love for all the women.” Ichiro grinned. “So I have had a special room prepared for you upstairs.”

“Then if you don’t mind…” Ichiro said as he began to stand up.

“By all means, my Lord.” Hikaru stated as he motioned to another shoji door. The door slid open and a loosely clothed woman stood in the doorway. She quickly turned, walked upstairs and disappeared around a corner.

Ichiro bowed on his way out of the room and swiftly followed the woman. As he rounded a corner on the stairs, he found her kimono on the floor. He paused, and then quickened his pace. True to Hikaru’s word, the room was ready for him and so was she. She was already completely undressed.

“What is your name?” Ichiro inquired.

“No names.” The woman said. As she drew closer, Ichiro noticed a circular scar near her collar bone. The scar was out of place on her otherwise unmarked flesh.

“Not many beautiful women have scars like yours, what is the tale behind it?” Ichiro asked.

“An arrow, now no more questions.” The woman insisted.

“I like to get to kn-“She pressed her finger tips on his lips and pulled him further in to the room with her other hand. She then slid the door shut.

*****

A samurai clad in gold and red o-yoroi, flying a nine flamed red sun upon a banner of yellow gold, sat upon a horse. The samurai traveled to many towns, one in the mountains, one on the coast, one in a lush forest, one on a plain surrounded by rice patties and fields, and one at a crossing of roads. He made many people happy, promising to help them cast off the evil men that demanded their loyalty through fear and force. He fought this evil in every manner he could. He used diplomacy, bartering, and when he had to, he fought.

People scrounged for all they could just to give him nine multicolored boxes: one of blue and teal, another of a rusty brown and dark orange, a third box of red and cloud white and a fourth of green and tan. The samurai looked over the gifts and began to open the one of blue and teal. As he did this a woman appeared behind him out of swirling darkness and stabbed the samurai in the back with a tanto.

*****

Ichiro woke from his sleep and sat up. A dark room was all that surrounded him. Why did that dream fell so real? He felt next to him and was relieved to feel the woman still sleeping there. He slowly rose from the bed, walked to the window and slid it open. There was a faint grinding noise as the window slid. Ichiro curiously ran his finger through the window track. He felt some dirt that had made its way into the track, hindering its slide. Ichiro rubbed the dirt from his fingers as he looked out across Karu from his high vantage. The seabirds had become quiet and the smells hadn’t been able to climb this high. He looked down to see the courtyard below and noticed something peculiar. The moonlight had shown one of the clay shingles was cracked and out of place right below his window. There was also some dirt scattered around the broken shingle. Ichiro’s eyes widened with realization. Forgive me fath- Realization turned to pain as a piece of metal appeared, as if from inside his stomach. A black hand covered Ichiro’s mouth as he was slowly being lowered to the floor. He didn’t feel the blade enter his back as much as he did when it was removed. The pain was so unreal to Ichiro that he forgot how to scream, all he could do was make gasping sounds as shaking took hold of him. I knew something wasn’t right. Oh kami it hurts. Ichiro felt a quick breeze enter the room and he saw the window slide shut. He never saw anyone. He crawled over to the bed to find the woman still asleep. Ichiro shook her.

 “Please…wak..ke..up…” Ichiro pleaded. Her eyes opened and looked around unsure of why she had been disturbed. Then she saw Ichiro’s shaking and the blood. She opened her mouth to scream. Ichiro mustered the strength to cover her mouth.

“If you …sc…scream they will…c..c..come and blame …y..you. Leave cit….ty and ta…ta..take my h..horse. It is…w ..what Hik..k..karu needs. Horse is Em…p..peror’s gift of suc..c..ss.ssesion. G..go!” Ichiro pushed her as hard as he could then the strength left him and his body went limp.

Experimenting

This blog may be something I pursue further as I write my book.

Current Progress:
25,756 Words out of my 75,000+ Word goal.

I may also post small stand alone excerpts from my book as time goes on.