I trained with Hiruko for several more hours, defeating and being defeated. By the time I dragged myself to the house, I had forgotten about the sword’s offer of giving out his name. I couldn’t think of anything but rest and so without a word I crept to my room and flung myself on the bed. Moaning from any cuts or bruises (for Hiruko had not healed me tonight) I fell into sleep.
****
“Aaron! Hey!” A man lent against a pole. “Well, I think it’s about time you knew my name!” He had short, flat hair that was rather dark and sat well against his face.
As he said this I raised my head.
“Are you...?” I wondered aloud.
“Took you a while, but indeed I am your sword. We Katana – well we’re souls inside swords. You really didn’t think that just because we had a fancy name, we were talking inanimate objects, did you?”
Well, no one had told me otherwise. What else would he think - that I knew everything? However flattering, I simply shrugged in reply.
A broad smile spread across his face. “Huh. You’re less talkative face to face.”
“Well, I didn’t realise you had a form...I guess I expected you to be...” I trailed off as the sword came in.
“...a piece of metal?” He finished the sentence for me and I merely bent my head.
“Well, we have to get to know each other if we’re going to ‘save the world’.” The sword said this in a completely unimpressed tone. “Do you think you’re ready for my name?”
I smiled. “Definitely! It’s too much of a bother to call out until you recognise that I need you.”
“Stop complaining!” The sword wailed mockingly. “As you have complained for several days, I have come to realise that we need to be more serious about the situation. Three crazy guys trying to rule both worlds – and we have to stop them, for whatever reason. Hiruko seems edgy around them, and that girl...his Lieutenant, Keira, didn’t seem too pleased when she was told about them. Hiruko’s a General, so he can be trusted...but his reasons for coming here, for coming for you – they don’t seem that reasonable.” The sword was right. I left that subject, and moved to one I was concerned about.
“So...you died? And you were planted into a sword?”
“It was for those who had potential. Many of the souls that were planted inside a weapon had asked for it. When we died, we asked if we could be a part of the operation. We chose what we would be planted in and then we wait until we are called upon. Any sword could be called upon until caught. We would then swap with the weapon that matched the user’s abilities. I was called, but did not change, for you were the same level as I. However, if we are called and dropped – we are shaken out of our ‘bodies’ and all you have is a sword, and you can’t change that. That is, I wouldn’t be able to step inside the weapon again, and instead of being able to live a life in the Complex, I would die once more and be sent to Jigoku- which is death for the dead.” He paused. “But if you die, I can be called upon again.”
I nodded. “We’ll manage.” The sword closed his eyes.
“The other Katana told legends to pass the time. They spoke of the bond between sword and holder. They said that they were partners in battle and that they were like family. I think we can’t force our friendship. It has to come naturally. And besides,” a large smile came across his face and I cringed, “we’re stuck with each other. However, whether or not you decide to embrace that fact - well, that’s entirely up to you.” The look that came across his face then made me realise something.
“You wouldn’t let me not use you, even if I wanted to, would you?” He raised an eyebrow and chuckled.
“Quite right!” He paused and looked up. “But I trust you.” I cocked my head. From what I had been hearing, this sword didn’t like me at all. But that was apparently not so.
“My name is Senshi.”
The sword’s voice interrupted my train of thought and I blurted out a confused, “What?!”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Senshi raised his head. “You don’t like it, deal with it.”
“No...why would you tell me?”
“I told you, Aaron. I’m ready to become your partner. I trust you, and for you to trust me you obviously need my name. We will fight together. In battle, we will not be able to figure out each step as we do with Hiruko, but instead you will act on impulse and I will lend you my strength to win the battle.” I looked up to the man as he lent back on the pole.
“You live here?”
“Your mind decided it. It is the place you most want to be, in the living world. But this is a remote place. Further back that way,” he pointed to the west, “is a small street that follows on from that lane.” I nodded.
“I used to live near here.” I said. The sword looked up.
“That explains it.” We paused for a bit until I spoke.
“Senshi?” I asked him. He looked over to me. “Thanks.” He grinned.
“It’s all about trust, kid.”
The world zoomed away and I awoke, filled with a new found trust, but also with a strange suspicion of Hiruko.
Who was he?
****
“Senshi, eh?”Hiruko seemed impressed. “But it sounds a little strange...he came to me in a dream...!”
“Oh, shut up, Hiruko!” He shrugged and laughed. I gave a slight smile as I slouched on the lounge.
“He must trust you. That was the same with my sword. Although we didn’t click immediately, we soon became close.” He smiled but I frowned. Sword? How could he have a sword, unless somehow his sword made up his claws? I noted his tone, as though he missed something. Could he have shaken the soul out of his Katana?
There were so many questions surrounding the one person, it confused me and suddenly I needed to know Hiruko’s life.
“Hiruko...who are you?”
“I’m a General of the Soul Tower...?” He sounded confused. “I’ve told you this, Aaron.” He sounded more concerned now as I looked down.
“I mean your history, Hiruko. You came to my house because of a prophecy. That still leaves a lot of questions. Just who are you? How am I meant to trust you?” He breathed in and looked around the room.
“I am...what I appear to be.” And at that Hiruko stalked out of the room, determined not to speak to me.
And at that, it was confirmed that Hiruko was hiding something.
“Hiruko!” I could hear him in the next room as he growled under his breath. “You have to tell me!” I called out.
“Tell you what, my life? Trust me, Aaron. I’m protecting you!”
“Trust you? How can I?!” I was yelling louder each time, but Hiruko did not respond. He simply snorted.
“Well, you haven’t been drunk for a while.” He was trying to be funny, and, to my misfortune, was succeeding. I grinned at him.
“Perhaps...later.” He said this to himself and walked off again.
Perhaps... we can trust him, Aaron? Senshi spoke in my mind.
Yes...perhaps we can...
****
That night I woke to the sound of voices coming from below. I jumped down the stairs to find Hiruko murmuring to Keira, his Lieutenant.
“And you haven’t heard anything from the Governance?” His voice was desperate but she looked down and shook her head. “Always a damn coward...” Hiruko trailed off.
“He did the exact same thing last time they were here.” Keira’s soft voice spoke.
Last time? The sword croaked softly. Those freaky guys have been here before?!
I sighed. Apparently so...
Keira got up to leave. “You know sooner or later everyone’s going to find out, Hiruko.” Hiruko sighed and looked around. “I don’t know why you don’t just tell them. It would make things a lot easier. That kid needs to know before you haul him off to the Soul Tower. Why do you think that he’ll be able to figure out the other half of it? The first half means him...but the second?”
“The prophecy says that he’ll bring peace. That means he’ll defeat those three dullards; and the only way to do that is to figure out who she is. Figure out the prophecy and then we’ll be able to restore the safety of the Complex.”
“Relying on him...it makes you look useless. Go stand in the shadows then!” Hiruko purred, but nonetheless glared at Keira. “So sorry, General!” Sarcastically she swept down low.
“Bye, Keira.” Hiruko dipped his head.
“Tell him.” She growled before returning to the sky and zooming back across the stars to the Soul Tower.
“Yeah, Hiruko.” Hiruko turned abruptly as my voice filled the dark room. Almost immediately, a ‘wide-eye and stare’ look crossed his face. “Tell us.”
The sword chuckled slyly in my mind.
“I did say later.” Hiruko nodded and strode off.
“Now is later, you coward!” I jumped up after him but he was silent when I reached him.
“I’ll decide when later is, Aaron. I can walk out on you.”
“You would do that, even though it would put the entire Complex at risk?” He bent his head as I stared at his face.
“No. I wouldn’t leave you to decide how to figure out the current problem at hand and fight against it with the little strength you have. You see, if I did that, you’d die. That much would be certain.” He sighed.
“You can’t try and act normal, Hiruko. It doesn’t work in wriggling out of this. I have you caught and I know you’re hiding something.”
He raised his head as though to speak.
“I was born into a Shinobi, that is, warrior, tribe known as Hyouga. This tribe has supernatural powers to control water and ice. However, when such powers did not manifest in me, I was cast into the woods and left for dead. That is all, for tonight.” Hiruko bowed his head and walked to the lounge.
The Hyouga are the stuff of legend. It’s amazing that he could have been a part of them, once.
So you believe him, Senshi? I wondered.
Yes...I believe I do.