It was a massacre, Shino was a samurai, given formal training while Sentaro who had heart and determination was given nothing else but a wooden sword.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Shino lunged at Sentaro with a barrage of blows with Sentaro unable to dodge and barely able to block one, he didn't even have the chance to think. Shino had a wide smile on his face as he enjoyed every bit of Sentaro's struggles.
"GWHAHAHA! What's wrong brat, you aren't even giving me a decent enough challenge, don't tell me you're all talk" Shino mocked as he then delivers a left hook that launches Sentaro but Shino catches him by the collar just to deliver a disrespectful backhand punch sending Sentaro to the dirt.
"Pathetic filth, look at me, I'm now filthy because of you" He said pointing at Sentaro's bloodied and battered body.
Asano fear for her brother only grew, as she just watched the one person who helped her get utterly beaten up.
After glaring at Sentaro who is barely breathing, Shino finally turned back to Asano and stretched his hand towards her.
"You see what happens when you meet people, Asano" Shino said with a glare Asano was familiar with.
Her hands where fixed over her mouth as tears poured from her eyes. "It's all my fault, Sentaro got hurt because of me, What have I done?" Those thoughts rang in her head, echoing in the vastness of her mind. She truly believes it was her fault.
"Now come to me, we are heading home, fighting your friend is pointless anyway" Shino commanded.
Asano now completely damaged, her view scattering, meeting the gaze of many people yet they refused to intervene. "Anyone, please anyone, if not me, please save Sentaro" She couldn't voice out, the fear didn't let her. It was over.
She began walking towards Shino, Sentaro appeared in between them positioning Asano behind him to protect her. "Sentaro?"
"Asano… please stay back… I'm going to make sure… he doesn't hurt you" Sentaro said with his breath jagged.
"Hmm, this is the third time he's getting up, and whenever he does I don't even sense it. But how, how is this filth still up" Shino thought to himself as he clenched his fist ready for another fight.
"You're starting to irritate me, brat. What even is my sister to you, huh?" Shino asked his veins bulging in Sentaro's constant defiance.
Sentarō's breath came in ragged gasps. "She… is… my… friend."
"Friends? With my sister? That is really funny." Shino's voice dripped with mockery. He closed the gap and kicked Sentarō hard in the stomach. Sentarō groaned, curling tighter.
He grabbed Sentarō by the hair, jerking his head up so their eyes met. "You're a fool for choosing to help my sister? At the end of the day you're just helping a training dummy."
Sentarō's lips curled into a pained grin. He spat mud right into Shino's face.
"Did you just call your own sister a training dummy, don't tell me you actually used her as one."
"You filthy brat, YOU'RE DEAD!!" Shino roared in fury, wiping at his eyes. In that brief moment Sentaro recovered as much as he could, his hand wrapped around the hilt, his body trembling but defiant.
"It's my turn!" he muttered through clenched teeth. Though battered, he felt a surge of determination.
But Shino recovered quickly, his rage multiplying tenfold. He lunged forward, seizing Sentarō by the collar.
"NOW YOU'RE DEAD!" His fist smashed across Sentarō's face, sending him sprawling again. Shino didn't stop, he kicked and stomped relentlessly.
Asano couldn't bear it anymore. It was a painful sight to see a dare friend get beaten but she also saw something throughout the course of this fight. Determination, "I can't believe it, how Sentaro? How are you still fighting? even after he was warned he still fought, even when he was beaten the first two times he still fought and even now he still fighting" Asano thought.
In that brief moment of watching the fight, all she endured flash before her eyes. The constant beating strength training, the constant use as a training dummy for sword practice and even the unmotivated torture.
Seeing all that made something in her spark, causing her to do what she had never even thought of in her life.
"Leave Sentarō alone!" she screamed, throwing herself onto Shino's back.
He snarled, grabbing her and slamming her onto the ground. "Did you just attack me, seems you couldn't wait your turn, just wait and-"
"SHUT UP, YOU FILTH!!"
Sentarō's roar cut through the chaos, his tone dark and cold and in that moment, Shino felt it. Mustering every strength a thirteen year old boy could muster, he leapt high above him with the wooden sword gripped tightly. He brought it down with every ounce of fury he could muster. "AARRGHHHH!!" Sentaro roared.
CRACK!
The wooden blade slammed against Shino's skull both breaking. His eyes rolled back and his body collapsing like a felled tree.
Sentarō stood trembling, blood dripping from his lip, chest heaving. "Thank you so much senior. Now I know the strength of my conviction."
He staggered over to Asano, kneeling beside her.
"Hey, Asano… don't cry. Look, I told I'd protect you."
But Asano's tears weren't from fear anymore. "Thank you… so much… Sentarō. No one has ever stood up for me before. Everyone ignores me… but you…"
Her words broke into sobs. Sentarō gently wiped her tears with his own shirt.
"You're really funny, Asano, you're my friend. Of course I'd help you."
Her face flushed crimson. For a fleeting moment, she saw him as more than just a friend. But that dream was cut short—
"You little brats!!"
A voice rang out.
Sentarō instinctively stepped in front of her, shielding her with his arm. It was Shino and he was pissed as blood rushed from head.
"Enough playing" Shino said as he then proceeds to draw out his KATANA. Sentaro and Asano faces dimmed with fear as the blade reflected the rays of the setting orange sun. "Now you die"
Shino lunged forward with his katana ready to tear flesh until-
"Alright that's enough" Ujiyuki appeared from nowhere and grabbed Shino by the wrist, then struck him at the center of his forehead, nose and chest in seconds knocking him out him out in an instant.
Though surprised by Ujiyuki's entrance, Sentaro and Asano were still doubtful of Shino's defeat. "Don't worry, kids, he's fully asleep" Ujiyuki said, reassuring them.
"It's been so long, Ujiyuki" a voice said
From the crowd emerged a tall, muscular man clad in a black-and-white checkered kimono. His hair was pink like Asano's, which made the relation undeniable.
Asano's lips trembled. "Father…"
The man's sharp eyes flicked over Sentarō, Asano and Shino's battered up bodies before settling on Ujiyuki. Without a word, he walked over and hoisted Shino onto his shoulder.
"Asano, let's go." His tone was deep, brooding.
Asano hesitated, casting a pained glance at Sentarō. Then, unable to resist, she darted back to him, tears welling again. She clutched his hands tightly.
"There is no need to worry, Sentarō… I'll be fine and the truth is I as well want to be a samurai for the Shinsengumi" She then let go of Sentaro's hands with a smile.
" Let's both become worthy samurai's so we can meet again." Asano said with a face bright red.
"Of course, let's both achieve our dreams" Sentaro said with a wide grin on his bloodied and bruised face.
Asano then proceeds to hug Sentaro briefly, her warmth searing into his memory, before running back to her father.
Asano disappeared into the crowd, leaving Sentarō standing with Ujiyuki, his wooden sword now snapped in half.
"For a kid without training you did quiet a good job protecting that girl, but you got beaten and wounded all over again" Ujiyuki said.
And then silenced followed with Sentaro collapsing to the ground with a mild thud!, But still conscious.
"Mister Ujiyuki, I think I've found it, my reason to be a samurai" Sentaro said his gaze fixed on the orange glowing sky.
"It was never actually missing, neither did I not have one. It existed but I was just to blinded to see it" Sentaro continued
"Blinded?" Ujiyuki asked
"That's right, blinded by naivety, but after seeing and being exposed to a bit of what is actually happening, I am able to see it clearly now" Sentaro said, as he then force himself to his feet but still staggering. After some time he then balanced himself and looked Ujiyuki straight in the eye.
"So to answer your question mister Ujiyuki, the reason I want to become a samurai is to be a beacon of hope and create an era of Peace and Justice" Sentaro said, as the evening breeze blows and the rays of the orange sun shines upon them. Sentaro eyes glowed with determination that rivaled the glow of ten sun.
Without saying a word Ujiyuki then grabs the bamboo woven basket and filled with the items the bought and head for home. Leaving Sentaro completely dumbfounded.
"Where are you going mister Ujiyuki" Sentaro called out barely managing to walk. "And what about everything I just said".
Ujiyuki then stopped "You're quite ambitious for someone so weak." Ujiyuki teased.
"And besides, conviction is useless without power. So now that you've gotten the conviction time to give you power, but be warned my training is brutal" Ujiyuki said with a weird sense of pride. And once he heard that Sentaro face lit up in excitement.
"Alright!! I'm going to be a samurai!" Sentaro yelled with pure joy evident in his gleeful smile.
THUD!
Sentaro fell face flat, exhaustion and fatigue finally taking it's toll.
Ujiyuki sighed, slapping a hand on Sentarō's shoulder. "Alright, kid. Let's head back." Ujiyuki said as he lift Sentaro's body over his shoulder.
With his resolve now found and hardened, he must now endure brutal training if he wants to be a samurai who fights for peace and justice. And so, with bruises on his body but fire in his spirit, Sentarō moves on getting ready for the trials away.