Goodguy vs Badboy (Shou)

[Kuroshi Maki]

The inn of a village between two major cities was a place were many travelers would spent the night. So the inn was always packed with all type of wanders, so also me, Maki the perfect example of one lost but with a goal bigger then the world. I needed to get into the Oda army to find those he wanted to kill. But this goal was not ready to be followed as he wasn't strong enough and he had to gain more knowledge and strength from the outside world. Being grown and stronger I wasn't still ready to go an follow that goal.

Also on this day the inn was packet with allot of travelers and the innkeeper had a great income this evening. I was sitting in the far corner abit in the dark as I wanted to be kept alone and just let me drink my sorrow away for the day with some sake. I had money from certain jobs and all but I didn't really wanted to buy anything big so the money mostly was spend on booze and a place to sleep and some food. I was wearing my wanders hat so my face would be covered by the shadow provided by the hat.

But it would not be peaceful for long as with a large crowed and different type of wanders good and bad it was about to unfold into a brawl or anything like that. The innkeeper knew this so he had some guys hired to keep the place in check. There were 2 of them standing at the entrance to check on who entered and one was at the bar and another two just keep walking around to intervene whenever something happened.

At one point something started to go off, a large male with a big scar on his face bumped into a kid that was playing and knocked him down hard, the parents saw that and of course the father would step up for his child but he seemed heavily outmatched. He was about to grab a weapon but the large male already punched him hard making him fall backwards breaking the table with his fall, he was knocked out and the woman just started to scream. The two hired fighters that were walking around were there fast as the place wasn't that big but they seemed scared of the large male, even more when they saw 3 other warriors back up the large male. He didn't came alone and they seem the type that would be hired to kill somebody just because they look big and scary.

I saw all that happened but didn't move abit, even though the kid crying and seeing his father beaten like that made me clench my teeth together I didn't move. Was I scared no, but was it something I had to correct no. There probably be some good guys around here that would try to sort these type of things out, but it had to happened soon before things would get out of hand fast.

[Yamabara Shou]

The inn was one Shou knew, it was a good stop off point on the way home and here he was just another traveller passing thought. He had only just managed to get himself a drink and was about sit down when something happened. The event unfolded quickly, and knew that the room was about to become a scene that a child should not see as the inn guards squared off with the group that had knocked the kid down. Placing his drink down gently, he flicked one of his curved throwing daggers into his hand.

With a spin of the wrist the blade flew through the air between the two groups that where about to start fighting, and hit the far wall before clattering to the ground. "That's enough." Shou said simply walking closer. "Apologise to the kid, and then get out of here." Shou demanded, and with a flourish of his hands multiply blades appeared, ready to be thrown. 

"I don't want the kid to see this sort of thing, but if you make me, you as the instigator will be the one that suffers." Shou added staring at the larger man. The large man and his fellows suddenly all went for weapons, as did the inns own employees. Shou didn't hesitate and slung the blades in his hands with impressive precision. Blades slashing into the thugs hands as the pulled weapons free causing them to fall to the ground, the man who had knocked out the child father screaming in pain, as the blade almost took off a finger.

The inns men took the advantage and blades free quickly attacked the thugs before the tried  getting there weapons back. "No they're unarmed." Shou shouted trying to stop them as, they quickly cut down the men without a care. "You bastards." Shou cursed looking over to the child, who had stopped crying only to have a expression of shear and utter terror and shock on his face. Even though the men had deserved it, Shou knew the image would probably effect the child in the future, cursing in his head that he couldn't prevent it.

[Kuroshi Maki]

I knew it, before things even happened one guy thought to be the hero and told them to stop. He even had the balls to say they had to apologize to the kid before walking out. Who did he think he had in front of him.. these men rather die then do something like that. The thing he did was just make them more angry and they went for their weapons. As did the guards. They were foolish they did all of this in front of the kid. If he really didn't want the kid to see it he should have picked the kid up and walked out. But no he had to pretend to be the hero and soon blood will flow and a kid will be ruined.

As I could see all perfect, I saw the young wannabe hero toss small blades with great precision disarming the men, but did this stop the guards? No they went in for the kill as you could hear the other men scream and later die. Blood will color the ground red as the child had to see those men die. He would probably grow up as sick and evil child. He just saw his father being weak and then saw what had to be done to kill. This guy that had to play the hero didn't want those men to be killed but he had played part in it. I had to speak out because if there is one thing I had it is guys that think they do good and act all hero like.

" Before you feel you did something good, you must know you just ruined that child his life. "

I would stand up still having my face mostly covered not showing that I myself was also still young probably the same age as the hero. In my right hand I still held a bowl with some sake. I would poor half on the ground before taking a sip revealing my face. My eyes showed hate as I could relate to the child. I myself was by no chance a hero. I did things that would be seen as a mad man a dog without honor. Yet I did what I had to survive and make sure I got done what needed to be done. I didn't pretend to do good knowing it would just bring more chaos.

" If you wanted to play the hero, you should have taken the kid away from the fight. Instead you wanted to fight. "

[Yamabara Shou]

Shou turned to look the source of the voice, he knew was aimed at him. The were stung, he had already felt he had done something wrong when he saw the inn guards dispatch the thugs. That they had been a better way that he hadn't thought of and this man had straightly told him what it was. That it was his fault the boy had seen death today, that he had just been wanting to fight and had used this as a excuse to do so. Shou stood there for a moment and did nothing. The man was right. He could of just picked the kid up and taken him away, maybe even dragged the father aside as well in case the men had been able to beat the inn guards without his intervention. The it dawned on him, so had this man. So had everyone else in the room.

"At least I tried something. At least I didn't sit they more interested in myself and my bloody sake like you and the rest."

Shou shouted at the room, storming over to where his drink had been, grabbing the sack of possession nearby on the floor and heading for the door, leaving the drink he had already paid for where it had been. No desire to drink while he was in such a mix of self-doubt and anger at the patron who had spoken out. "Maybe I didn't make the right choice. Maybe I was grandstanding, but at least I didn't sit there like a damn coward." Shou said over his shoulder as he stepped passed the bodies and headed through the inns door. 

[Kuroshi Maki]

"At least I tried something. At least I didn't sit they more interested in myself and my bloody sake like you and the rest."

His words made me laugh, He tried something alright. and he looked for a excuse to make him feel better and make us feel like we were the ones doing it. It was true I didn't do anything because I had no desire to become a Hero. This other guy acted out of emotions and the will to do something right. yet he didn't use common sense. Many people here were not warriors what could they have done to prevent this. Was I able to stop this maybe I did I could have grabbed the kid as well but I knew blood will flow.

I then saw the man pack his bag and headed for the exit but not before he gave another hit of words to those in this room. "Maybe I didn't make the right choice. Maybe I was grandstanding, but at least I didn't sit there like a damn coward." A coward? It may have seen to him that me and the other people here were cowards, yet being smart doesn't make you a coward. He fucked up but tried to make us look bad. I didn't care about those people here, hell most of them were cowards but me the worst thing he could have done was calling me a coward.

" If you're so great and all, why running away like a little bitch. "

My words had a little of anger in them, I would walk forwards stepping over the dead bodies stopping next to the kid looking down as his face just showed confusion. I then looked over to his mother and she seemed to have no idea about what just happened. My eyes then looked upon the father who seemed to gain back abit of his senses, he will be alright.

" If you had been stronger you're son would have had to see the foolish action that just took place. "

I then stepped outside as well following the foolish hero, I knew the man was a warrior and had some skill with those small blades but fighting doesn't always become the best option in these type of situations. I would just stand near the man looking at him with a grin on my face. He called me a coward and thats the word I hate the most in my life.

[Yamabara Shou]

Shou ignored the man's words as he left, he had no desire to fight over the man basically turning his insult back at him. He just wanted to get out of here, to be alone for awhile. To mull over what had just happened and what else he could have done. He knew now he messed up, failed to protect someone again. What he had failed to protect the kid from was he own stupidity. 

Outside Shou headed for his horse, Gokaze. Planning to leave and start out on the rest of the trip home. He would sleep rough tonight, anything to avoid remaining around the inn and the reminder of his mess up. Untying his animal it was then he notice the man from before had followed. "Come to mock me some more?" Shou asked without turning around, sliding a knife into his hand out of the other man's sight.

Why did he have to call the man a coward, Shou knew that was a strike against someone honour, and the fact the man had followed hinted at that he had indeed taken it to heart. Shou would listen carefully, he didn't want to reveal that he had armed himself, but wanted to hear if the man made any action to attack him.

[Kuroshi Maki]

The man went for his horse, he called me a coward? But he was the one running away after insulting everybody in that room. How was that not a act of that of a coward? He even dared to just keeping his back towards me, did he had no respect for another warrior. A hero with no respect... this man was worse then I thought. He was really a fool that would just hide behind his skills. And he must have seen me for a fool. The first thing I would do if somebody followed me was to make sure to be able to defend myself as soon as possible. I would not be surprised if he had already taken those blades in hand when he noticed me.

" Running away after calling somebody a coward makes you're words even worse. "


It did because calling someone a coward but instead of backing up those words he ran away himself. If I hadn't stepped outside he would have got on his horse and just walked off. My hands were not even near my weapon as I had not intended to attack this fool, I knew he was ready to fight as I could feel the tension. He didn't spoke a word and just stood there.

" I hate you hero types the most. Thinking you make this world a better place. Acting like what you do is good without even looking at those you destroy. "

My words did pack abit of truth in them, by killing a man that was a killer himself could still have a wife and kids that are now left without there father. Their are no real Hero's because all things have there good and bad sides. Still there were guys like him that think stepping in and kill make things right. I did fight as well but I knew my actions always had a negative effect on somebody else.

[Yamabara Shou]

The man accused him of running away once more, and the word hurt probably as much as when he said them. "I never said I was a hero." Shou said turning round on the spot quickly, and throwing the knife in his hands towards the man's feet so it would stick in the ground. "If you want to make something of this, fine." Shou shouted spinning another blade into each of his hands. "Because you're starting to piss me off." Shou added readying to throw the blades if the man made any offensive gesture. 

Anger welled up inside Shou. The man was quite clearly trying to provoke him and it was working. The audacity to accuse him of just wanting to fight back inside. With him standing here quite clearly looking for one of his own. Well if that was what the man wanted he would give it to him. Preaching about what people like Shou were like when he didn't even know him. He wasn't even a fighter, he could fight and he would to protect others normally but beyond that he wouldn't But right now this man was driving him to fight due to his emotions. Exactly why he had left after the event before.

[Kuroshi Maki]

He turned around trowing on of those daggers near my feet, what was the purpose? Did it supposed to scare me? He was one of those guys that fight on distance, again a cowards move. I hate to fight those that don't dare to go face to face. But that was something I didn't had control over. He wasn't a Hero type? Then why did he feel to intervene between those men inside? He then flicked up two more blades in his hands ready to trow. It seems my words were hitting him right in the feelings.

" The good guys always get angry first, it seems my words were caring some truth in them "

A fight was probably something that would happen, and as it seemed I was provoking one right now that was not the case. I just could not stay silent as I see a fool thinks he did something right when he just made it worse. But I knew I had to hold my weapons to protect me against those daggers and get close soon. My left hand would grab the blade on my right side and my right hand would grab the blade on the left side revealing the steel of the blades. these curve blades where good for cutting the body up really good.

" If you feel like jumping, then jump hero! "

My last words were coming out in a tone that would just sting as I put a certain tone on the Hero word at the end knowing he would feel hurt because he already showed the weakness to words.

[Yamabara Shou]

The man spoke got weapons at the ready, but rather then attack he goaded Shou some more. Shou tried to keep control of his anger, but failed. He threw his daggers, one after the other in the direction of the walking annoyance that was the man in front of him, and charged forwards following the flight of the blades. His right hand reaching to his side, another knife appeared this one however larger then the previous, and straight. A blade designed for stabbing, instead of throwing. 

Shou would follow up with the larger blade, either following the man as he dodged aside from the daggers, or pressing the attack though what ever parry he used to deflect the blade mid air. Either way his arm would shoot out at the man, aimed for the upper left of the man's torso, hopefully to stab into his shoulder and make him drop one of his blades. While his other hand would flick three of his daggers into his hand, and using there curved blades points like talons they were named after, in an arc that would come in to slash at the man's face. 

[Kuroshi Maki]

He didn't answer me with words but instead threw two daggers towards me one after another, So it seems he had reached his limit of staying calm. I had angered him and now the part of him making mistakes would follow. I could speak out of experience that losing you're calm is also losing speed. He how ever did trow the dagger in the same path so if I dodged one the other would easily follow. I would turn my hips as both dagger would miss there mark because of the way of moving the hips the upper body would follow yet it was fast then just moving the shoulders.

He however didn't stop as he had followed the daggers he threw and held a larger dagger this time and made a attempt to stab me in the shoulder. but with my hips turned my left shoulder was not behind the right shoulder so not in his vision. The dagger just hit air. And because he was in a dash I would just spin around now facing his back and would swing my left blade to cut his back as I kept my right ready to block any incoming attack that he may had planned. But to be honest he was not faster then me so anger took the best of him.

[Yamabara Shou]

The man dodged aside but Shou continued in the path he been moving. It however didn't mean he escape from the blow to his back, the other man's blade's tip cut through the cloth of his clothes and caught his back slightly. Flesh opened, and he grunted in pain, but the wound was not as great as he could have been if he had turned to continue to attack rather then continuing his path forward. Putting some space between them he turned into almost sliding step into bringing his left hand round and letting the blades in the hand fly forth.

They weren't aimed completely accuracy, but there were now three blades all following slightly different arcs flying towards the other man's direction. Panting, Shou spun the larger dagger in his right hand point down, to use it to parry anything the man followed up with while, he replaced the blades in his left hand with another claw like set of three. He shouldn't have lost his temper, anger was a tool a weapon, but only correctly used. Forcing himself to calm, he held back the anger for when it would be useful and readied to protect himself.

[Kuroshi Maki]

Because the man kept moving forwards I could not cut him deep enough to create a wound that would slow him down. But it should also leave a doubt in this man his head as he wasn't able to hit me but got him himself. as I was still facing the man he would slide and turn trowing the 3 daggers foolish into my direction. There wasn't a pattern in the 3 daggers but that also meant they probably all 3 would even hit me if I just didn't move. 1 of the daggers didn't reach his mark and just passed my body hitting the ground the other two did came at me but I was able to block them with my right blade i kept at the ready to block. I was learning as I would have been foolish enough to swing both blades when I had less experience.

The man didn't follow up on his trow and just waited for anything incoming and once again got the larger dagger in one hand and 3 smaller in his other hand. but before He was ready to use them I already dashed forwards closing the cap and making it unable for him to trow them. Close enough to use my blades but far enough for him to use his dagger. Just as he would time when I stopped or how far my right blade would come crashing down towards him and he would probably try to block the weapon, if he did and he would raise his weapon to block I would fake it and pull it back as my left would make a horizontal slash near his stomach. would he dodge my left would still follow his movement.

I would always keep one blade close to be able to block any incoming attack that I could see and follow.

[Yamabara Shou]

The man charged him before he was in any position to throw his daggers, and was smart enough to use the extra range of his blade to his advantage. Shou realised that he was fighting against a competent swordsman as the man brought his right blade down towards him. Instinctively Shou brought up the talon daggers in his left hand to catch the blade, when he notice the man didn't seem as committed to the strike as he should. Stopping his attempt to block the blade short Shou jumped back as the man change stance, bringing his first blade back and slashing out with the one in his left hand, narrowly missing Shou's abdomen.

With he right hand Shou, would bring his dagger after the sword and push it further in path. Hoping to make the other fighter over swing enough that he only had the blade in his right hand to react. Stepping in close, and to his right, Shou would try to place himself closer to the other man, bring the larger back from having pushed his other weapon away he spun the weapon to stab at the side of the man lower gut, while bringing his claw like dagger up in a guard.

[Kuroshi Maki]

As he seems to have figured out my intend and stepped back my blade barely missed his mark, I then felt a push forcing my blade be pushed further but it could have worked on somebody that didn't understand his own body, I would let him push the blade just giving me more speed as I would spin around faster then I was before thanks to the push. The man was getting smarter as it was a nice try. if I had forced back against it I would have been open and he would have been able to hurt me.

As I would follow the motion of the push I would spin around placing one feet further behind to create distance in the spin so only my blade could hit and not his weapons. It was the perfect distance for me and the worst for him. up close he would be able to fight better and further away he had the daggers he could trow but from here he was almost defenseless. The spin would almost double my speed as I used his force with my speed and my right blade would make a fast slash towards the man his chest, my knee's were bend abit to gain better balance and my left blade once again raise up in defense as I would pull my right sword back as soon as I could after the attack to make sure he could not use it again.

[Yamabara Shou]

Damn the swordsman was smarter then he though, and used the extra momentum to spin, moving away from his attempt to attack and bring the blade back round to attack him once more. He wouldn't have time to jump backwards out of the way of the blow this time he knew. Instead he moved his larger dagger slightly turning the stab in attempt to block the blade. However the force of the swing was to much to stop, and the large dagger was ripped from his hand by the forces. The man blade catching forearm as it jerked from the impact leaving a painful gash. 

However Shou ignored the pain as best he could, committed to the action, and pulling his guard back up would take him longer. That much speed was hard to stop once started and it would be the perfect time to strike. Moving in Shou would physically dive at the man before he could bring his blades back to attention, and he couldn't really kick out without putting himself completely off balance. Right hand grabbing his left wrist as he punched the points of the claw like knife at the man's chest he weight behind them. Taking the man hopefully to the ground, as he had no free hand to grab him and throw him aside would try and twist the dagger in his chest, while he would in a un-honourable way bite down into the man's shoulder as hard as he could. 

[Kuroshi Maki]

I had taken one weapon of of my enemy and even got some flesh with it, but my spin was to powerful to stop even when it clashed the speed was still great and I would fall of balance if I would try to stop with force against it. And before I knew it the other man even though he was in pain attacked me with his three daggers. Even when I had my left blade up i could not hold back all three daggers as my blade wasn't big enough. I felt him push against me with all his strength and body force and being in motion I got of balance falling down and felt one dagger find his way in my chest not really deep but deep enough to sting. He had me down on the ground and even draw alittle blood. but the man his arm would not be able to put all the force it in as it was cut open. the dagger lucky for me were not that large and they didn't kill me with the force it had behind it as I held two with my blade and made sure he could not force his hands further.

But it seems this man, was one without honor as I felt his teeth sink into my shoulder. I clenched my teeth against the pain and this just made me wanna kill the fool even more but I had to stay focused. and had to take a small risk, I would let go of my left blade that had those daggers upon them and letting go meant that the one would go abit deeper but that was for the greater good. The fool had used both hands for this attack and he forgot that I had two weapons still. As my left hand would grab his wrist making sure he could not pull back and his teeth were in my shoulder I would swing my right blade to his side hoping to cut him badly enough for him to release not only his teeth but also the daggers. If this blade indeed hit his mark the man would be falling into darkness as he was being defeated.

[Yamabara Shou]

Shou felt the blade in his left hand make contact with the blade, that the man had got up in time but still felt the minor penetration, only to push force with everything he had when the man let go of the blocking weapon. He stopped biting the man when the now free hand grabbed his wrist. What was he doing. Shou saw the incoming blade out the corner of his eye. Too late to avoided, no weapon in his free hand to block. He pulled his body to the side as hard as he physically could but it wasn't enough and the blade gashed down his side. 

The wound was bad and caused his left hand to lose grip of his daggers. It seemed the other man was just as serious he was. He to do something, and retreating was a stupid idea. He would never be able to get back to his feet fast enough. Shou let the anger he had bottle up again out. Calling upon as much strength as he could as he flick a knife into his free hand, rather then locked between his fingers, he held it in a fist downward pointed and would bring the blade down into the other man's shoulder as hard as he could, aimed right for the joint between the shoulder and arm the man held his weapon in. 

Pain would shoot down his side, from the serious cut the man had managed to deliver. It had to work otherwise he wouldn't have a chance. But if it did. there was no way the man could keep hold of his weapon, or at least use the arm with a dagger stabbed in such a location. Hopefully the pain would be enough to cause the man to also let go his wrist. Long enough to roll away, because he need to get into position away from the man before he went into shock from the sword wound in his side. 

[Kuroshi Maki]

It seemed my black got into his side and it did make him release the bite and the daggers. The man was done or at least I thought so, I could see the anger in his face raise up again and he would put all he had into what would come next. I knew this kind of anger as I had used it myself multiple times as well. It seemed I didn't face a Hero but like me a boy that probably just fought for survival. as I saw his free hand take hold of another dagger tis time clenched hard in his fist, The fool used anger and it would give him strength it would not ease his mind and he would forget about everything. He fought to stay alive now, he was a fish on dry land nowhere to go just about to die. He raised his arm up and I already made my move as I would drive my blade further into his side and my other hand would release the wrist and grabbed the wrist of the one coming down.

The anger give him more strength and I wasn't able to stop the full blow but enough for it to just hit my shoulder to draw blood but not disable the arm. at this time I would use my hips at pushing up lifting him off the ground just enough and with the blade still driving in his flesh I would push and spin around making hims fall on his back and me on top. My blade would be still in his wound moving making it more painful. My other blade would just fall to the ground as I had no grip on it but that was ok. The pain would soon take over and his body would probably not be able to handle more.

" You better let go of that anger if you want to stay alive. It's not to late to admit your defeat. Being dead will not make you reach your goal. "

[Yamabara Shou]

Shou screamed in pain, as the man's blade continued to bite into his side. And as the man caught his Shou pushed with every ounce of strength he had trying to over the other man's grip to no avail. It was then that the man managed to push the advantage and get him off the top and Shou to the ground instead. The blade in his side causing him to scream once more. 

It was then that an told him to let go of the anger, and basically told him that he wouldn't kill him if he gave in. Shou knew that he could probably push himself through the pain if he really wanted to but the position he was in it would be pointless. It wasn't like he had any goals apart from continuing to serve in his duties, death would be escape from that. And a insult to his family gone. 

Collapsing back into the ground, Shou glared up at the man. Rather then just turning to admit defeat he quickly tried to essay why he lose. The man problem he had was the range of the other man swords and his ability to force he to fight close quarters where he could be effectively zoned. 'He who fights and survives the day, live to kill this bastard another day.' Shou though to himself, a twisted grin on his face. "You win. You can beat a Courier, impressive." Shou mocked coughing revealing that he wasn't at least in his own much of a fighter to start. He should have gone for his horse too that was another good plan to take this guy down in the future. 

[Kuroshi Maki]

It seems the man was admitting his lose as he spoke the words that I won. But truth be told I didn't win. his mocking words didn't even bother me. I beated him yes and that made me a winner. But what did I gain from it that would help me improve my goal. I had just beaten a man and his anger. I would simply look at him cold as he laughed at me thinking I would feel less knowing he was a courier. Just for the sake of it I would drive my blade in abit further just to make him scream one more time, before releasing the blade from his flesh. I would stand up not losing any contact with the man. He already showed he was as low as a dog by biting. Picking up my other blade I would step back looking down at the beaten courier.

" You're status don't matter to me. You're the one that has to life with this defeat. "

I would then took a small look at his horse and then back at the warrior, he would be in no position to get on that horse and ride of, he would be bleeding to dead and the bumping would make it even worse. I would grab a bag of coins and tossed it down at the man.

" Use this and let them take care of you're wounds, not because I want you to stay alive. use them so you can find me again one day and finish what you started. "

I would turn around and walk towards my horse the man was of no concern to me at this point and I would fade away in the darkness .

[Date Masamune]

Winner: Maki

+1 EXP to Maki and Shou

Good fight you guys.