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Shinobi: A Shadow's Tale (RyutheXIIIth x Silvermyst)

RyutheXIIIth

RyutheXIIIth

Planetoid
Joined
Feb 20, 2013
The Great Kingdom used to be a land of wealth and prosperity, ruled by a just Emperor. Clans of various factions and arts coexisted peacefully for the most part during his reign, and corruption was kept to a minimum, for it was impossible to completely eradicate it, even by the Emperor himself. However, when he passed away due to a strange illness, his three sons, who inherited each of the three provinces under the Kingdom, fought with one another for the throne, leading to a power struggle.

Soon enough, Akihito, the eldest of the siblings, overpowered his brothers, killing them and capturing their lands. And now, as of late, he has been turnimg the semi-democratic government into a military one, trying to obtain more power to spread his kingdom further. Many clans sided with him out of fear or the desire for power, while some opposed him for the welfare of the people. The new Emperor soon declared these clans as 'illegal', and was planning to eradicate them. These renaming clans decide to come together and form a Resistance Army for the people.

At present, in one of the provinces, a group of bandits who sided neither forces was planning an assault on one of the villages, with intentions of plundering it and capturing its women and children for its own needs. It was a clear and bright afternoon in the normally peaceful village. Fortunately, the power struggle had not affected them too badly, and life was for the most part unchanged. But even under this clear sky, people were running helter-skelter, trying to hide, locking up their homes, as a number of masked men on horseback came rushing in, brandishing swords and lit torches. Some set fire to the trees and huts while others quickly slashed down some of the menfolk. The villagers were practically helpless against these bandits.

But, unknown to both the villagers and the bandits, help was on its way, in the form of a lone masked man on horseback.
 
Mina was a young women in the town. She worked at one of the restaurants in the town. She was at work that evening when the village was attacked. She heard the screams and the cries of people running and dying as the villagers were attacked. Mina moved to peek out the door. She saw men coming her way. She ran to the back and hid there.

She was silent. She remind still as she prayed they would not find her. It was slowly getting quiet and she thought she was safe. That was until a hand grabbed her pulled her from her hiding spot. She screamed as she was dragged from the building. The building was set on fire. "Oh looky here. I found a rather beautiful little thing. She will be fun to play with." The man holding her groped at her body. Mina screamed and cried. She struggled against him. He slapped her, hard and Mina was dazed. While dazed another man came up and bound her hands behind her back. The other man holding her slipped his hand into her kimono and started to grope her breasts. "Oh yes... I think I will keep you." Mina glared up at him. "No! Let me go! Now! Stop touching me!" She kicked her leg out and hit him hard in the crotch. The man grunted in pain. "Bitch." He hit her hard across the face and Mina fell to the ground, tears streaming down her face.
 
The black horse galloped swiftly through the woods, and the man riding it was crouched on it. He wore a tight sleeveless black gi with black pants and boots, with a sheathed sword diagonally across his back, and a mask and hood that revealed only his cool blue-eyes as they stared straight ahead into a clearing where flames flared in the distance.

Within moments, he dashed out into the clearing, surprising some of the villagers and bandits, and even as they stared at him, he galloped straight towards a lone bandit and quickly cut off his head with the black blade he had suddenly unsheathed from his back. He immediately jumped off the horse and landed in front of two bandits who were harassing and tying up a young girl. Before they could react, they were cut across their backs, and immediately fell forward, blood freely spraying from their backs. He quickly grabbed the girl, putting an arm around her waist and hopped, or rather dashed to a safer place. He then proceeded to cut off the ropes and freed her as he looked into her eyes with concern. "Are you alright?"
 
Mina jerked her head around and watched as a man in black moved around quickly as he killed various bandits. She looked away as the men fell with blood spraying out of them. She gasped out as she was picked up and carried off. She had to close her eyes because of how fast he was moving. She felt him set her down and she looked up at him. She sighed as he freed her from the ropes. She nodded her head at his question. "Yes. I am fine. Thank you for saving me." She whsipered as she fixed her light blue kimono.
 
The man sighed softly, and his eyes showed relief. He stood up and nodded to her. "Go hide elsewhere. I still have work to do." With that, he turned around and dashed off to finish off the remaining bandits and rescue the surviving villagers.

He swiftly went ahead to another group trying to break down a door, quickly icing them, before helping the residents out and to safety. He continued to take the bandits out in a similar manner, until there were none. The fires, however, were spreading, and would soon engulf the whole village and the surrounding woods.
 
Mina nodded as she moved to a near by bush and hid in it. She remained there until she saw the fire spreading towards her location. Mina rose, but was not sure what to do. She moved deeper into the woods as the fire raced towards. She whimpered as she started to run. It was getting to hot and she was not sure what else to do as the man had not returned, then again she was not sure he would return.
 
The man frowned, knowing very well he had to stop the fires from spreading. "Guess I'll have to do it then..." He nodded to himself as he held up his blade vertically straight in front of him, and muttered something that was inaudible. As he stood in the middle of the village, black clouds slowly gathered above him, and then there was a light drizzle of rain, which was soon followed a full-on shower, that quickly extinguished the flames.
 
Mina stopped her run as it started to pour. She was confused. It was a clear day, not a cloud in the sky. She stood there in the pouring rain that was putting out the fires. She slowly started to head back to the village. She was drenched. She wrapped her arms around herself as she shivered slightly.
 
He finally lowered his sword, and then slid it back into its sheath, as the rain subsided, and then stopped. He looked around as if to survey the scene. There were dead bodies of bandits and villagers, but there were also the survivors. Fortunately, none of the women and children were harmed. He then looked straight ahead to see the girl walking back in, drenched. Then again, he was wet too. Not that I mattered. He dashed towards her, as if held her shoulders. "Relax, it's over now."
 
Mina looked up at the man as he came to her. She gasped lightly at his speed. She smiled softly at him, "Thank you. You are so kind for helping us. It is greatly appreciate it." Mina looked away to take in the damage. She moved off away from the man. She went to her home and stare at the burnt building. The man on the ground outside, her father. She kneeled at his side and cried softly.
 
He turned to watch the girl head towards a burnt house and cry before a dead man, presumably her father. He sighed as he walked up to her and put a hand on her shoulder. There was nothing he could do for the man, but he could try to comfort the girl.
 
She looked up at the man who had saved, "Who are you? I owe you my life and I have no idea who you are or why you helped us?" She asked as she rose to her feet. She glanced around and sighed, "I have nothing left here." She mumbled to herself before looking back at him.
 
He closed his eyes as he sighed. "I'm just a wandering ninja who fights for justice. You owe me nothing." He looked around at the other villagers who were looking at him with curious and thankful eyes. "Well, you're safe, for now..."
 
The villagers who survived started to clean up the town. Mina went into her burned home and gathered anything that was not destroyed and meaningful to her. She put it all in a bag that was sitting on the table outside. She nodded to the ninja, "Thank you again." She then started down the path out of the village.
 
He watched the villagers cleaning up the place, and blinked when the girl was just leaving her home. He started as put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey now, where are you going? You're not seriously leaving the village alone, are you? You could easily be attacked..."
 
"No. There is a cabin near the lake. I was going to stay there. Atleast for now. I can't be here now: I just... I have nothing here now. My father was all I had. If you wish. Come with me. A warm meal and a bed is something you deserve." She commented as she started on her way again.
 
The man frowned as he looked back at the villagers and then the girl. He didn't really need a place to rest, but he nodded, deciding to stay with the girl for the time being so that he could protect her and the village. "All right then. What is your name, miss?"
 
Mina looked over as he moved to join her, "Mina." She commented softly, "And yours?" She asked as they walked down the path. The house was not fair from the village and beside a small lake. She opened the door and went in. "See I was not going far. This is the fishing cabin." She moved in and sat her bag down.
 
He nodded as he followed the girl to the cabin. There was no harm in giving out his name to anyone. "Ryu." he said simply as he entered the room. "Well, it's a safe distance... And I see..."
 
Mina sighed as she moved to sit on one of the two beds in the large single room cabin. "I just do not know what to do now." She groaned as she pulled her hands up over her face. She suddenly sat up, "Move on. You know I think I am going to travel. See the world." She said as she started to gather things to make food.
 
He looked around for a bit before sitting next to her on the bed, putting a hand on her shoulder as he looked at her. "Well, just take your time..." He looked up as she moved away to prepare food, blinking once in light surprise. "Travelling? Are you sure about this? It's a big choice, you know..." He sighed softly, as he took off his hood and mask, allowing his short but smooth silver hair to flow freely in the gentle breeze, and revealing his thin but broad face.
 
Mina looked over at him, "Wow, you are handsome." She whispered before going back to her cooking, "Yes, I am sure. I mean. I have always wanted too. I have lived in this village my whole life. I have never been anywhere." She whispered.
 
He simply ignored her comment, thinking not much of it as he stood up and stretched out his bare arms. "That's exactly the point. You've stayed here your whole life, so you don't know what to expect. It's too dangerous for you to go alone..." He sighed as he walked over to her as she cooked.
 
She shrugged, "So come with me." She commented as she continued to cook the food. Soon she was done and put it in a bowl for him.
 
He wasn't startled by her request; he saw it coming. He wanted to refuse, for he traveled too far too often, but he couldn't leave her alone either. After a while, he sighed as he took his share of food. "Well, I suppose I could accompany you for a day or two. At least until you find another partner to go with. I can't really stay with you, you know..."
 
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