Chapter 28 Part 1: Meeting with the Emperor
With the noon sun hanging mercilessly above, Kuroyama Endo, shadowed by his straw hat, led the way towards Edo city's lively gates. On his flanks, the kunoichi twins, Mizuki Minamoto and Hina Minamoto, matched his stride, their identical straw hats bobbing with each weary step.
Mizuki's feet dragged, stirring up the dust, as she swatted at the sweat running down her face. "I'm dying in this heat," she complained, her voice raspy.
Hina sighed heavily, her straw hat dipping as she hung her head. "We're walking straight into hell. How much farther until we reach the gate?" she moaned, echoing her sister.
Kuroyama, his face hidden under his hat, halted and turned to face them, his voice cutting through the city noise. "You're both twenty-five, not wailing infants," he admonished. "Act accordingly."
His rebuke silenced them, and they nodded apologetically. "Sorry, master," they mumbled.
Kuroyama, Mizuki, and Hina stood before the grand gate of the city of Edo, their expressions concealed beneath the strawhat. It had been many moons since they last trod upon these grounds, and nostalgia mixed with anticipation in the air. Before them, two samurais stood guard, their imposing figures backlit by the sun. Their keen eyes studied the trio carefully, their hands resting lightly on the hilts of their swords.
"I'm Kuroyama Endo," he announced, his voice clear and firm. "I seek an audience with emperor Jimmu."
The guards eyed him suspiciously, their hands tensing around their swords. "Why should the emperor grant you an audience?" one of them asked, his tone wary.
Kuroyama took off his straw hat, revealing his striking black eyes, silver hair tied in a topknot and stern face, marked by the wear of time and battle. "Because I carry with me a message from the young Shogun Hidetada himself."
the guards exchanged a look, their suspicion giving way to curiosity. Kuroyama produced a sealed letter from his traditional haori coat, offering it to the guards. the first guard cautiously took it, breaking the seal and scanning its contents. His eyes widened, and he quickly bowed, presenting the letter to his companion to read.
"Apologies, Kuroyama-sama," he stammered. "We had no idea we were in the presence of such esteemed company. Please forgive our rudeness."
The second guard finished reading the letter and nodded in agreement. "Indeed," he chimed in. "We were unaware of your status, Kuroyama-sama. We should have recognized you immediately."
With that, he returned the letter to Kuroyama Endo.
The mischievous Kunoichi twins accompanying Kuroyama, exchanged amused glances. they couldn't resist teasing the guards a little. "Well, it's not every day you come across someone as renowned as Kuroyama-sama," they said in unisons, smirking. "But now that you know, I'm sure you'll be singing his praises all over Edo!"
"Please come in," the initial guard uttered, his face flushed with embarrassment, the crimson hue giving away his unease.
The gates creaked open. The trio stepped into the fray – the once-familiar streets now rife with corruption. A grimace played across Kuroyama's countenance as the pungent stench of filth filled his nostrils. Desperation clawed its way through the air, manifesting in the wails of hungry children and the anguished cries of merchants robbed blind.
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"Is this truly the place I once called home?" Kuroyama wondered aloud, his tone edged with disbelief. Mizuki and Hina exchanged glances, their expressions hidden behind red and black masks that covered their mouths. Their identical ponytails of brown hair swayed in unison as they nodded gravely, the loyalty to their master evident in their gorgeous black eyes.
Kuroyama Endo presented a striking appearance with his graceful Haori attire, the darkest shade of blue reflecting his namesake – Black Mountain. Accompanying his formidable presence, he carried a samurai sword, adding an air of reverence and power to his overall appearance. His lean form was adorned with the silver inner lining of the coat, shimmering like moonlight as it caught the sun.
Mizuki Minamoto and Hina Minamoto, on the other hand, were dressed in traditional red and black kunoichi attire, their agile frames equipped with an assortment of kunai cleverly concealed within a pouch at their backs.
"Kuroyama-sama, we must be cautious," Mizuki warned, her voice muffled by her mask. "The city has changed, and danger lurks around every corner."
"Indeed," Hina agreed. "Yet we stand by you, now and always."
Kuroyama nodded solemnly, his thoughts consumed by the depravity that had taken hold of Edo under the emperor's rule. Anger simmered beneath his stoic exterior, fueling his resolve to confront the emperor and restore order to this once-proud city.
"Thank you," Kuroyama said quietly as they navigated through the crowded streets, witnessing firsthand the suffering and corruption. "I alone, will bring justice to the people of Edo and Kyoto."
As they strode through the lively streets, the trio found themselves caught in the chaotic whirlwind of Edo's daily life. Merchants yelled to buyers, their voices competing with the cries of children and the clamor of passersby. It was within this racket that a ragged thief, desperation etched across his skeletal face, collided headlong into Kuroyama.
"A-apologies!" the thief stammered, his filthy hands leaving a stain on Kuroyama's immaculate Haori. The store owner from whom he had stolen was not far behind, shouting curses and threats as he pursued the wretched man.
Kuroyama's eyes darkened with fury at the tarnished garment, and with a swift movement, he unsheathed his blade. "KAGUTSUCHI RISE!," he commanded, his voice firm and resonant. Flames erupted along the edge of the Samurai sword, its fiery glow drawing gasps of astonishment and fear from the surrounding crowd.
The thief's eyes widened in terror, understanding the dire consequences of his actions. He stumbled backward, attempting to evade the wrath that awaited him. But Kuroyama was not to be deterred. In a flash, he closed the distance between them, his blazing sword raised for a swift and lethal strike.
Mizuki and Hina exchanged sinister grins beneath their masks, waving goodbye to the doomed man as if to say his life was now over.
With extraordinary speed and precision, Kuroyama slashed the thief across his chest, the fiery blade searing through flesh and cloth. The man screamed in agony, his body engulfed in flames as he writhed on the ground. The horrified onlookers gasped and recoiled from the scene, their eyes wide with shock and morbid fascination.
"Let this be a lesson," Kuroyama said coldly, his voice cutting through the stunned silence. "For any audacious soul who dares lay hands on Kuroyama Endō." He gave no further attention to the burning figure before him, instead focusing his icy gaze on the path ahead, towards his meeting with the emperor.
As the crowd parted to allow Kuroyama and his twin Kunoichi, a young child accidentally bumped into him, jostling his arm slightly. The onlookers held their breath, fearing another display of rage from the formidable samurai. Instead, they were met with a surprising display of gentle patience.
Kuroyama looked down at the little girl, whose innocent eyes stared up at him in awe. The child's cheeks were flushed with the heat of the day, and dirt streaked her face, smeared by tears that had long since dried.
"Watch your step, little one," Kuroyama said softly, his tone unexpectedly tender. The child nodded solemnly, her eyes never leaving his. With a gentle pat on her head, he sent her on her way.
The crowd murmured with astonishment, exchanging glances and whispers as they tried to reconcile the seemingly contradictory behavior of the man before them. Mizuki and Hina exchanged knowing looks, their loyalty to Kuroyama unshaken by the complexities of his character.
The trio continued on their way, the oppressive heat and clamor of Edo City pressing in around them as they moved closer to their fateful meeting.
The worried mother of the child who had bumped into Kuroyama watched from a distance, her heart pounding in her chest. She feared that Kuroyama's gentle response was only a temporary reprieve, and that his true nature would once again rise to the surface.