SAMURAI

CHAPTER 14: The Lost Pearl

    "Kill them all!" 

    The harsh, hoarse screams I had heard on ships resounded again. The shouts of the golden skull pirate leader from the midst of the pirate crowd that surrounded us.

    The screams were met with cheers from his men. The tips of all sharp weapons pointed upward. The m******e was about to begin. It won't be long before the flood would come over us. As our next fateful life was at stake, a high screeching sound followed by dense shadows leaped from the horde of attackers.

    “Hold on! Hold on! "

     He was standing right behind us, facing one meter from the attacker. Long swords and short swords were drawn in both of his hands. The red silk hakama pants combined with the white kimono and the red haori shirt he wore indicated that the man with the shrill voice was from a wealthy samurai class. The straw sandals looked new.

    Our shock was not over yet, as if the rescue troops sent by God Hachiman from the sky, dozens of red shadows also jumped from the horde of attackers. The red silk Hakama pants worn by dozens of shadows looked like strawberries raining from the sky.

    I counted thirteen samurai and twenty samurai with long spears around the outermost part of our protective wall from the rampage of the pirates. The long, sheathless spear that was pointed at the pirates made them retract.

    The five of us plus three of Shiraishi Michiyasu's bodyguards were confined in two circles. One inner circle contained thirteen samurai swords and the outer circle contained dozens of long-speared samurai. My heart was beating normally again seeing the incoming reinforcements.

    "Hold the attack!" shouted the golden skull leader from the center of the line. The hoarse voice drew closer.

    The pirate horde opened up to make way. A large, tall body stepped across the horde. His hair was long and messy. The leader of the golden skull pirates wore the typical samurai hakama pants and haori kimono. Its bright yellow color competes with its gold dentures as the hideous face opens its mouth wide. Large machete shouldered on the right shoulder.

    Behind him, a row of three stout men followed. The haori in red, blue, green, and skull images of the same color indicated their identity. The three of them had the appearance of samurai with long and short swords. The four pirate leaders didn't want to be left behind in the battle party that was coming.

    The golden pirate leader gave a thunderous cry. “What is this Hiki Tomomune? Do not interfere! They have killed many of our men!”

    The rescue samurai groaned angrily. His face could not be seen because he turned his back on us. But when his name was mentioned, my heartbeat as fast as the breath of the galloping Arab horse.

    "Don't say my name in front of them, Jinbo!" replied the samurai.

    Late. Goro shouted in surprise. "Ha? Mister Hiki ?!”

    "Mister Hiki?" Michiyasu was no less shocked.

    Before we knew what was going to happen, the first circle and the second circle merged. Dozens of long swords and dozens of spears turned around aimed right at our chests, stomachs, and heads. The shadow of death evaporated. The Hiki clan looks familiar with Jinbo, the leader of the golden pirates.

    Hiki Tomomune confronted us. The pale-faced middle-aged man with protruding cheekbones looked at us with a strange change of eyes. 

     "Throw away your weapons!" he ordered.

    Still bewitched by surprise, we didn't move. A flash of swords moved swiftly. A samurai bodyguard Michiyasu who was standing closest to Hiki Tomomune collapsed with his neck hanging open. The lick-faced samurai’s long sword was covered in blood. Two other bodyguards screamed for his dying friend before his breath stopped forever.

    "Y-you ... bastard!" Michiyasu growled furiously to see one of his men die in one fell swoop.

    Hiki ignores Michiyasu's anger. His slanted eyes with b***h eyeballs stared at us all. "Throw away your weapons!" the order returned.

    Not wanting any other samurai to die in vain, we had to throw away our weapons. Except for Goemon.

    "That fan too, sissy Samurai!"

    Goemon inflamed. Upset, he threw his fan. The end of the fan shaft made of metal sinks to the ground.

    The samurai called Hiki Tomomune faced us. He smiled derisively.

    "Why? What is wrong?" asked Goro, unable to think.

    Hiki Tomomune laughed.

    For me, it's all over. There was nothing more to cover up. The oath was cut. Heaven's decision had answered my uncertainty all this time.

    Of course, I knew who the samurai stood in front of me with dozens of his soldiers. He had been the link and provider of information about Japan, the strengths of the Kamakura government, and the details of the weaknesses of the Shogun and its Shikken. He was a group of embittered samurai who wanted to sell their country with the lure of power!

    There was no doubt. The Hiki samurai clan wanted to take more trust from pirates by killing other samurai with their own hands. He wanted to convince Jinbo and the chief pirates of the red, green, and blue skulls that they had the same interests; Take over the Kamakura government.

    Before he answered, I opened my head cover, answered Goro's question firmly. “He is a traitor to your people! The Hiki Clan samurai family!"

    Those slanted eyes widened at me. His white face was getting paler in the light of the moonlight. As if he saw a ghost come back to life, he rubbed his eyes, making sure that the person he had been seeing in the past four years was standing in front of him.

    "Y-you ... No way ...." He shook his head, shaking the reality in front of him.

    I smelled an opportunity. I tried to speculate. "Yes! I am the Knights Templar. Ilkhanat Soldier!" I shouted.

    The hum of bees echoed out like a hum, bursting into the silence that had resided. Jinbo and the other three pirate leaders pulled back.

    As poor pirates crossing the middle of the sea without seeing the boundaries of the State, they must have heard of the greatness and cruelty of the Ilkhanat Army. Especially the greatness of the Knights Templar army.

    My intimidation continued. “If just one hair leaves my scalp, I guarantee our troops will storm your territory. Have you not heard how Hasashin's fort was destroyed? Baghdad and other countries destroyed? That's what will happen if you kill me.”

    Jinbo looked doubtful. I could not give up a golden opportunity. It was better to face the thirty-two samurai of the Hiki Clan than to fight thousands of pirates.

    I met with resistance. “Don't believe what he said! He's been banished from his army. He is the traitor of his country!" shouted Hiki Tomomune before I continued.

    Fiercely my index finger pointed to the samurai's face. “You are the traitor! You invited us to destroy your own country. You know I am the son of Robert Eracles, Kublai Khan's favorite general.”

    Hiki Tomomune gasped. He was unable to continue his rebuttal.

    Out of nowhere, a woman's voice was heard loudly interrupting our debate. "The Hiki Clan is traitorous!"

    It was not the defense of death that made my life rise from trance for a moment, but, the voice that had changed the course of my life was what made me willing to bury all my dreams.

    The tall, slender figure walked gracefully over. The girl strolled in her wedding dress. Her clothes were sparkly embroidered with gold threads. Crown with diamond diamonds adorned her head hit by the moonlight. Her long, jet hair was let loose in the sea breeze. Her nose was sharp, her eyes were big and her eyes were jet black the color of her hair. His skin was olive, glowing like marble. That hanging chin with lips full of flushed red was what had been always greeted my dreams, which have made me throw the past.

    She looked away when our eyes met.

    Her index finger was fixed on Hiki Tomomune's face. "Yes. He is a traitor of this country,” said my goddess Afro Thena.

    Hiki Tomomune. “Y — you. b***h! I have treated you well! This is your reply? I will kill you!"

    Dewi Afro Thena replied flirtatiously. "What? Do you want to kill me? To kill the future wife of Prince Jinbo, the ruler of the island of Oshima?”

    Jinbo groaned fiercely. He let out a scream of indignation to hear his future wife being insulted.

    "Aya!" Shouted Michiyasu.

    Ah, her name was "Aya". Tomoe Gozen's granddaughter. Her name was Tomoe Aya!

    Why did that handsome samurai know her? There is a pinch of strange taste that crept up my heart. Jealous?

    Tomoe Aya snorted and gave a glanced to Michiyasu. Feeling that his call was ignored, the handsome samurai bowed his head. Shame maybe. However, my heart was screaming with joy! My smile widened.

    As if I had a fresh breeze pumping my veins, I shouted excitedly. “Jinbo and the pirates who rule the seas! We have nothing to do with you! Let the samurai problems be resolved by the samurai."

    I brought the night air of Oshima beach into my lungs for a moment. I continued my intimidation, “Forgive us for killing your friends. I just returned the favor to these samurai, who helped me adhere to the sea because of an accident. In exchange for the lives of your friends, I will ask the Great Kublai Khan himself to send gifts to all of you. Yes! All of you who have teamed up with Khan's special envoy, the son of General Eracles, will receive gold gems and the most advanced weapons of this century!”

    My speech was greeted with great fanfare. Cheers roared. They consumed my brag. Of course, it would be better to defend the Khan's special envoy with gifts of gold, gems, and hundreds of slaves of various nations than to accept destruction.

    At Jinbo's orders, the pirates regularly retreated. Tomoe Aya returned to her position, standing beside Jinbo. I should admit this woman is smart. For more believable, she grabbed Jinbo's, clung to the arm of the rough-bodied man, and whispered affectionate words in his ear. Jinbo laughed lecherously. My heart was burning.

    “Get back! Let them solve their problems,” shouted Jinbo.

    There was no argument from the pirates. They took a step back. Me too. More precisely, I moved closer to Tomoe Aya. But, she did not pay attention to my presence.

    Goro, Saburo, Goemon, Michiyasu, and the two remaining bodyguards prepared themselves. They took another sword. Michiyasu wields two long swords. His two hands tightly gripped the hilt of the two swords. The radiance in his eyes filled with anger as he stared at Hiki and his thirty-two-subordinate samurai. Goemon took back his fan. 

    All my siblings were ready with their respective weapons. Six samurai faced the thirty samurai of the Hiki clan.

    There was no cue like a battle, Goro and the others actively took the attack. They overran dozens of samurai who were locked up. Metal clinking clashed together with the crowd's cheers. Jinbo pranced as Goro knocked down two samurai at once in one stab.

    Three other pirate dreamers indulge in the amusement of the offering for the bride and groom. The three of them gaped at how the high-class samurai were fighting. Between horror and fear, they imagined that if this samurai warrior with high swordsmanship invaded their nest, it was certain that their nest would be destroyed.

    As I expected, the six samurai of Kyushu would be better off choosing the thirty-three Hiki clan samurai as opponents than facing thousands of pirates. They were able to serve well the attacks of dozens of samurai who were imprisoned. The circle is divided into four. Goro faced Hiki Tomomune, assisted by his five samurai bodyguards. Saburo, Goemon, Michiyasu are confined in separate circles.

    Up to sixty breaths, my samurai friends still survive. One by one their opponents collapsed with open wounds. The two remaining bodyguards of Michiyasu seemed unable to hold on. Two swords against five long spears seemed troublesome. At the count of seventy moved, two of Michiyasu's bodyguards collapsed with their spearheads piercing the heart, lungs, and stomach. Blood soaked the sandy ground.

    Michiyasu was getting mad. Two of his swords spun into a windstorm, pounding on his five attackers, continuing to tackle the other five. While croaking he cut down the three assassins of his bodyguards in a vicious sword blow. The three assassins of Michiyasu's bodyguard follow the path of death.

    The training I received from the three great masters allowed my eyes to see the movements of the samurai. I have to admit, Hiki Tomomune is a great fighter.

    I once felt how fast Goro moved with a bamboo sword. At that time, Goro only took out a fraction of his ability. This time, with a real sword plus his full power and killing intent, he became like a war god. Jumping swiftly, stabbing, turning then following with a deadly blow. Wherever the direction of the blade moved, screams of pain followed by pathetic moaned. Without mercy, he cut down the thugs.

    Saburo did not want to lose either. He was violent like his adopted brother. His swordsmanship was different from Goro's swordsmanship style. Even so, he could dance to keep up with Goro's movements.

    A shrill scream sounded heartbreaking as the tip of Goemon's fan sank through the neck, breaking his attacker's throat bone. The pink fan turned blood red. The image of a flower that was beautifully painted on the cloth waving the fan's body was out of shape. No more wind-seeking blows. Each flick turned into a s***h and prick.

    Goemon opened his fan while parrying the sword, immediately closed the fan, then stabbed it as a powerful weapon that was no less devastating than the sword in his right hand. The swordsmanship and fan skills made my mouth gawk at the beauty of the dancers' body contours. Goemon was flexible playing his sword and fan together. His body seemed not to be at war, but was bringing a dance. The dance of death.

    For the first time since stepping on Japan, I saw how high-class samurai fought. All this time I considered the swordsmanship and fighting arts of Mongol warriors, Yuan warriors, or the ability to cultivate the Templars to be unbeatable martial arts. Samurai were nothing more than hordes of troops who could only scream and fight inconsequently without real knowledge.

    Tonight, I was treated to the great fighting abilities of the samurai. Their movement was fast, very powerful. The movements of their feet, hands, eyes, head, breath, even the screams of their voices seemed to be one unit. There were tens of thousands of samurai in Japan. With this spirit of unity, I'm sure they will be able to withstand the onslaught of the Ilkhanat troops.

    The number of Goro's attackers was running low. There were still twelve attackers, including Hiki Tomomune. Now the circles are one. Goro, Saburo, Goemon, Michiyasu were surrounded in a circle. Their faces were beyond recognition. Blood, cut, small wound adorned. Their breaths were a little rushed, but their movements were still swift. Their hands were still firmly on their weapons. 

    I'm sure the battle will soon enter the final round. There was nothing I could do except hope that these four samurai friends came out as champions.

    Our preoccupation with waiting for the final battle was interrupted by shouts from the shore. At first, we didn't care, thinking that some pirates joined the fight influenced by the euphoria of the battle between samurai. However, as time went by, screams of pain followed by clinks of metal screaming of death became increasingly rampant. Dozens of hotspots grew. The heat was felt on the battlefield.

    "The stage is on fire!"

    "We are overrun!"

    “Argh! Bastard! "

    “Ninja bastard! f**k!" shouted dozens of pirate voices sounding panicked.

    Jinbo creaked with anger. He turned around, ran behind to confirm what happened. It was at that moment that two black shadows jumped lightly next to me. I recognized them as Jiro and Taro.

    “Hurry up. Run to the ship! " Jiro ordered.

    "Master Moroshige and Master Masashige came to help," said Taro.

    Both of their clothes were all black. In his hands were two ninja swords covered in blood. My heart is screaming with joy. Two of my teachers must have come followed by dozens of their men.

    "There will be a big mess. Quick, leave this place! " shouted Jiro.

    Without waiting for us to move, the two ninjas jumped into the pirate group while slashing their swords to the right and left. They cut open the bodies that would not move.

    It's time to show off. I tackled the three pirates who stood behind me with two swords. Three bodies twitched. Tomoe Gozen's granddaughter didn't want to be left behind. The beautiful woman threw away her wedding dress and crown. 

    With only white pants and a light shirt, she took a sword and immediately rushed Hiki Tomomune. The treacherous samurai blocked Tomoe Aya's attack while screaming screechingly like a wounded seagull. 

    "Back on the ship!" ordered Hiki Tomomune to the eleven-surviving samurai.

    The leader of the Hiki Clan realized what was happening. A bad wind was enveloping him. There was nothing else to defend on the island of Oshima. The circles were scattered. Hiki Tomomune parried Tomoe Aya's attack, then continued with a deadly stab. Aya jumped backward, dodging Hiki Tomomune's attack. The treacherous samurai moved to split the pirates, followed by the eleven samurai bodyguards.

    "Don't let the traitor run," shouted Goro.

    The Kyushu ruler's special envoy gave the chase order. Saburo, Michiyasu, Goemon followed Goro's steps. Not too far away, several fathoms away, Jinbo waited and pranced like crazy. His anger ran high. His screams boomed. “Kill them all! Kill the Templar! Kill everyone!"

    Hundreds of pirates like ants found sugar. They moved ahead. s***h of swords, machetes, spear thrusts, moved wildly to beat us. Goro, Saburo, Michiyasu could no longer be seen. The three samurai moved quickly, leaving Goemon who was trapped by dozens of men without clothes on sharp weapons.

    "Goemon, watch out!" I shouted warning the dandy samurai.

    A spear thrust and a sword thrust from behind aimed at Goemon's body. Goemon reacted to my screams. The dandy samurai turned around quickly.

    He could only choose one move. Parry the sword by letting the spear stab his stomach, or parrying the spear by allowing his heart to split open. He chose the first alternative while tilting his body.

    The sword in his right hand threw a stab towards his heart, and let the spear rush to the waist. I jumped headlong to help Goemon by trying to catch the speed of the spear shaft. But my movements weren't fast enough. The tip of the spear stuck in Goemon's waist a few inches. The dandy samurai screamed in pain. Both of his hands removed their weapons, catching the spear shaft so as not to be pulled by the awl.

    The spear pirate laughed triumphantly at the sight of his weapon going down on the target. Before he drew the spear causing serious injuries, I stopped his laughter with a s***h in both hands. The sound of the cut arm slashing along with the owner's scream. My sword moved to stop the pain that the spear was suffering from by precisely stabbing his heart.

    Goemon grimaced in pain. Both of his hands were still holding the broken spear shaft. His face was pale. Her front teeth bit her lower lip. His two eyeballs moved upwards, soon disappearing in their lids. Blood continued to seep from the wound on his waist. Soon he would collapse and lose consciousness.

    "Follow me!" shouted a female voice. From behind, Tomoe Aya jumped to our side

    Goemon could not stand it anymore. Its body was as if a dry leaf was blown by the wind. He fell heavily on his side and the broken tip of the spear was still piercing his waist. I lifted Goemon's body, shouldered him on the left shoulder. Before that, I broke off the remaining wood of the spear and left only an inch of the log and the metal tip embedded in the samurai's waist. 

    I followed in the footsteps of Tomoe Gozen's granddaughter who was paving the way for blood.