The Storming of Otosan Uchi
By Todd Sowards
He could hear the raging sounds of battle rising from the streets below. The clashing of steel, and the screams of samurai dying rose over the balcony and into the Emperor's throne room. "Curse the Dragon!", he said in a whisper. Turning back towards the ornate room where a throne as black as night now sat, a man dressed in the armor of a scorpion rushed in and quickly bowed.
"Emperor Shoju!", he said without trying to seem anxious, "We have not been able to hold back the Dragon, my Lord. I fear they will be storming the palace soon."
The Emperor's eyes bared down on the samurai. He remained silent, listening to the sounds burning up from the raging battle. "Then you will stop them before they reach my throne room, samurai." He knew they would not. He could hear the pitched battle, and he also knew the power that the Dragon had to bear. While the Scorpion shugenja were strong in their own right, they were no match for those of the Agasha family. And few were as lethal on the field of battle than the ise zumi, and they would have come prepared.
The samurai, his eyes still fixed to the floor, stood straight and proud. "We will not fail you, my Lord!", and then he spun on his heel and returned to his men.
"It would appear my husband has left us to take the fall.", Kachiko said evenly. She sat on the small pillowed bench beside the Obsidian Throne. Without betraying an ounce of her stature, she crossed her legs seductively.
"Kachiko-chan! You know we are to feign I am the Emperor. No one can be allowed to know he is away, and I take his place!", Aramoro scolded.
"There is no one here. We are alone with the shadows, and I am sure they already know of my husbands whereabouts. Calm yourself, ...my Emperor."
He silently fumed to himself, thankful that his mask did not show the expression on his face. His eyes certainly did not. Just then the palace shook with the sound of a boom from far below. The Dragon had reached the palace.
"My Lady," he started, "You should leave. It will not be safe for you here."
"Danger is something I've known for as long as I've been the wife of the Scorpion Daimyo, and even then before. It is a game I am familiar with. I will stay by your side..."
My husband, he wished she would say. Of course it was not true, but how he longed for her to say it anyway. She had known the moment she looked him in the eyes that he was not Shoju, and he was the only man she would ever say those words to. Another shudder shook the palace and this time it carried with it the sounds of men screaming. Aramoro paced a few steps before the throne and felt for his daisho to make sure they were clear. He looked once more to the shadows to make sure they were still there, then he took his seat on the throne.
The throne room's massive double doors swung in, effortlessly. A chill draft breezed through the room, and a few of the torches blew out. The shadows spread along the walls. There in the doorway stood the form of a massive creature. His head and shoulders twice as broad as those of the largest man he had ever seen. It moved with a grace and purpose that was even more surprising than it's size. Armoro had to struggle to keep his eyes focused on it as it began to weave in and out of the pillars and shadows of the throne room. Without making a sound it finally halted before Kachiko and Aramoro, who were sitting in utter awe.
"Greetings, Emperor.", the man-beast said with a deep booming voice. "...I am here to dethrone you."
Outside the palace the battle raged. Four Scorpion samurai had cornered a Dragon samurai-ko, and were poised for the kill. One of them slashed at her, but Hitomi struck his blade in mid-slash, and her tanto found his jugular with lightning speed. He fell to the ground as the other three advanced in anger. She knew she had no chance against the three all at once. She blocked at their slash with her katana, and prepared for a killing blow, when suddenly a blaze of fire engulfed the three samurai. Their screams and flailing arms were, to Hitomi, comical.
"Having some difficulty, Hitomi-chan?", Togashi Mitsu asked as he strode up to her.
"I was fine. Though I thank you for your timely appearance, ...and it's ‘sama', ise zumi."
"Of course! Forgive me!", Mitsu chuckled, "I meant you no disrespect, Hitomi-chan! Tell me. Where is your Agasha? Was not Tamori-sama to be with you?"
Hitomi growled at his impertinence, "He went ahead to give his assistance to the Man-beast. He thought he could be of some help."
Mitsu, looking as grave as he possibly could, grinned. "I fear Hoshi-sama will need more than help, but having Tamori-sama's help is better than most.
"Come! I shall guard you now!", Mitsu continued as he stormed headlong back into battle. Hitomi sighed, clenched her fist, and finally followed after.
Aramoro realized that behind his mask his mouth was agape. He settled himself and regained his composure, "You are truly a majestic beast."
"I have no vanity to appeal to, Scorpion. You may keep your compliments."
"I do not flatter, my most honored guest. I have truly never seen your like."
The man-beast seemed to make himself comfortable and made no quick movements, "Nor will you likely ever again, I am afraid." His eyes glanced to Kachiko briefly, and he nodded his head in reverence. He then looked back to the Emperor.
"Great dragon-man," Aramoro spoke, "You say you are here to dethrone me. What injustice have I done to you that you should come here now to kill me?"
"I have been sent by my father. You are not supposed to be on the throne."
"Your ‘father'?", he asked, "Truly a magnificent being in his own right, I am sure."
The man-beast grunted, "Yes, truer words have never been spoken."
"But... why?"
"The possibilities in the Void are vast and infinite.", the creatures deep guttural voice began, "The path the Empire is taking now is not the path my father foresaw. On that path the Scorpion Coup failed. That path saw the Scorpion Daimyo slain by the dishonored Toturi." At this Kachiko sucked in a breath of fear, and Aramoro felt an unease settle in his stomach. "There are however many circumstances that would allow a duel between Akodo Toturi and Shoju-sama to have different outcomes. There are even ones that show them not facing each other at all. However, my father knows that this day, if Toturi fights you, Bayushi Aramoro, Toturi will lose."
Kachiko spun to look at Aramoro as his eyes went wide. He knows. "And that can not be allowed. He is too important to the Empire's future for that to happen."
"Who are you!? Who is this ‘father' that knows these things!?", Aramoro's anger welling.
A faint hint of a grin crossed the man-beast's lips, "Why he is Togashi Yokuni, the Dragon Daimyo, and my father."
"Your father...", a look of realization crossed his face, "Your... then you are... Togashi..."
"Hoshi.", Kachiko finished. Aramoro glanced over at hearing her voice. She looked at the man-beast with a new fear. Aramoro looked to the shadows. They stood ready for his sign.
He looked back to Hoshi as the man-beast began again, "But come now... I must remove you."
"You are obviously a formidable creature, but I will not stand here and let you kill me!"
Hoshi made no movement. Aramoro drew his blade, the shadows shuffled, and then the room filled with a blinding light and a crash. When it diminished Aramoro could hear the muffled sounds of bodies falling to the floor. His eyes went to the ninja on the ground, then he returned them to Hoshi's. The man-beast stepped a silent step forward and reached his massive arms out for Aramoro. The man dressed as the Emperor took a step back, and then he realized that his vision was filling with inky blackness. Just before he blacked out, he could hear the deep booming voice of the Dragon man-beast in his ears, "Who said anything about killing you?" Then everything was dark.
The ominous glow withered from Agasha Tamori as he lowered his hands. In a silent, almost whisper, he spoke, "I hope I am... not too late?"
Kachiko looked at Aramoro slumped in the Obsidian Throne and Hoshi picked him up with no visible effort. Then he looked to her and said, "Come. It is time for us to leave."
Return...
