Bleeding Heartstrings Ch. 1

Bleeding Heartstrings
Written By: Ashen Ravenwing


Peace was not a luxury that came upon the people often during these times. The 'Waring States' as they were called were just that and Japan found itself longing for the calm after the storm. Both civilians and warriors alike yearned for the peace their homeland had once flourished in. But the feudal lords of the separated kingdoms were greedy for more territory and the power that came with it, and all citizens of the nation were drawn into the war in one fashion or another. Although as many innocents were spared as possible, casualties were still abundant and there was talk among the common  people of rebellion. Though a simple farmer could do little in battle against a skilled samurai, they had far more numbers and if mutiny should break out, they would be a formidable opponent indeed. It was for this reason that the lords tried their best to keep their subjects as content as possible while war reined down on them.
Hauk didn't quite understand it all, still being quite young himself, only in his early twenties. He was considered a grown man in all rights, the life span of most men in these times, especially warriors not being exceptionally long. Most samurai were lucky to make it to their thirties... It was a sort life and one did what they could to make the most out of it. There was only one swordsmen said to be the oldest living to this day who still wielded his blade in battle. Master Ranmaru. A westerner who'd been  brought over many years ago after proving his worth in the New World and came from the ancient clan known as the Chimera People. Hybrids said to posses the genes of the ancient beasts which once ruled over the planet... magical beings both proud and fierce. Ranmaru was said to be over forty which was near unheard of.  The only older warriors were those who'd laid down their sword and turned to the life of a farmer or overlord... But even then they rarely  survived for too many years after that. The oldest race in this part of the world were the Dragonelfs, Hauk's own people. Born warriors, and known to have considerable lifespans. The dragonelf clan were both revered and hated... even feared. Many attacks had been made on his people by the humans, overlords and the emperor thinking that they somehow had 'mystic powers'... They had been hunted down over such foolishness and now only a few remained. Those that did all went into hiding, deep into the mountains that few dared to follow them into. And so, hopefully, left in peace their clan would rebuild and find a way to build their numbers once again. Hauk would have gone with them, if it hadn't been for his older brother, Haruko.
Haruko was a true bred warrior and he'd refused to hide. Instead he decided to go out among the world of men and work to stop the bloody wars that were ravaging their homeland; to bring peace to Japan once more. Hauk had followed him without a second thought, his brother being both his teacher,  guidance, and best friend. He wouldn't allow his brother to travel alone... to die without his sibling fighting beside him. Both were extraordinary swordsmen, there were few who by now even dared to face them in battle, and those that did were left as corpses in their wake. It was not that either of them enjoyed killing but rather that it was a time of urgency and when one was faced with a challenge it became a means of them or yourself walking away with your life...
It was his brother that had told Hauk of the great Ranmaru in the first place. Haruko had heard the legend as a young man and had been fascinated with the so called 'untouchable samurai' ever since. He'd stayed up many a night with Hauk in his lap retelling the stories he'd heard in the villages and among the people about Ranmaru. That he was like a phantom both on and off the battle field. His movements so fast that one didn't even realize he had drawn his blade before they were left bleeding on the field. That his hair was the color of glacier ice and shimmered like spun silver... that his eyes burned like a warm fire that comforted the weak but burned into the souls of the wicked. Hauk had to admit, with all the stories his brother had retold him those late nights... He was quiet infatuated with the image of the great warrior.
So when news came from a post rider that the legendary samurai would be coming to the home of their lord, neither brother could contain their excitement to meet the hero they'd heard so much about. They waited each day for his arrival, but days turned into weeks and the brothers seemed to be giving up their hope of ever meeting him. It wasn't until the first day of the new month that a black horse and cloaked rider could be seen heading into the villa. He was met by two guards at the gates and escorted into the courtyard where Hauk and Haruko were sparring against each other. Hauk looked up first at the newcomer, blinking softly but his distraction earning him a good thunk on the head from the flat of his brother's sword. He cursed softly, glaring at his smirking brother and rubbed the sore spot, glancing back up as he felt eyes on him. Both siblings grew quiet as the rider pulled back the hood of his cloak, long silvery ice blue hair spilling around his face and shoulders, two pair of slender horns sprouting from the top of his head, and a set of stunning two-toned eyes gazing down at them, one as green as the fresh vegetation in the spring time and the other as warm a yellow as amber in firelight. Two large dragon like wings flexed against his back as he slid from his saddle, standing a good foot or more over Hauk but coming up just a little over Haruko. He turned to look at the two, smiling briefly before turning to head inside. He paused, not turning and spoke in a soft, western accented voice.
“You'd be best to keep your guard up young master... The smallest distraction could one day become your very downfall...”
With that, he grew silent once more and left the courtyard to head inside the large estate. Hauk blinked in surprise and looked up at his brother who's eyes were still pinned softly on where the samurai had disappeared into the house. He blinked, seeing an expression on his brothers face he'd never seen before... like awe... but something more than that, something he couldn't place. He lifted a hand and shook his brothers shoulder, snapping Haruko out of it. The older dragonelf glanced down as if surprised and looked at his younger sibling.
“What?”
“Should we go in and see if we can hear what they're talking about?”
Haruko grinned and ruffled Hauk's hair.
“You want to eavesdrop on our master's private conversation? How unprofessional.”
Hauk batted his hand away and huffed.
“ It was just an idea!”
The two grinned at each other and quickly moved back into stance, sparring off again against each other, Hauk secretly making sure he didn't allow himself to get distracted by anything.
By mid afternoon, the visiting samurai once more emerged from inside the estate and headed towards the stable for his horse. The two dragonelfs perked up as they watched him walk past. All three paused to look over their shoulders as the overlord of the villa came rushing out screaming some quiet explicit and degrading profanities at the hybrid warrior before storming back into his home. Hauk blinked at the scene before looking back down at his idol.
“So... you will not fight with us then?”
Ranmaru gazed softly around the courtyard before speaking in a calm tone.
“No... I will not fight beside you...”
The younger swordsman jumped down from the walkway he was standing on and walked over to the tall warrior, looking up at his face with confusion.
“Why?! Why not fight for us?! Will you join the others now and take up arms against us?! That overlord is a tyrant! He deserves to be shown his place!”
Ranmaru considered the young male for a time with soft eyes. He gently tipped his head to the side, glancing at Haruko before looking back at the warrior before him.
“And what is his place? What is yours? And who's choice is it to decide that for another person? One's place in the world is the one they make for themselves...And I will not trade the blood on my blade to serve one tyrant in place of another... I am a tool of the people, the shield and weapon for those who cannot defend themselves. You are still young and have yet to feel how heavy your blade can weigh when stained with the blood of the innocent... I pray you never have to. I will not fight for a cause I do not believe in... for a man I neither trust nor hold respect for...You'd do best to watch yourselves in the upcoming battle, I do believe your Master is a coward and will use your very bodies as a shield to protect his own hide...”
Hauk knit his brows, not wanting to hear such words come from the mouth of a man he admired so. He found himself shaking as he stepped back, head bowed so that he wouldn't have to face those eyes any longer. He shivered slightly as he felt Ranmaru's paw lift to grasp his shoulder lightly, blinking as he heard him whisper low to his ear.
“You have a passionate spirit young child of the Dragon People...and I admire it. However, passion can lead to over confidence as well as rage which can blind you... No matter what happens... keep your focus on what your heart tells you is right and it should see you through.”
The hybrid patted his shoulder softly before leaning back up and continuing towards the stables, giving a subtle bow of his head to Haruko on the way out of the estate. The older dragonelf stepped down from the walkway and moved to his little brother, blinking softly at him and running a hand through his hair before looking up to watch the samurai mount his steed and ride away.
“That man... he's... a true samurai... Don't you think so Hauk?”
He glanced back down at feeling his sibling tense beside him. Hauk balled his fist and grit his teeth, his head still down.
“...He's a coward... He says he fights for the people and yet when the 'people' need him, he runs from the battle... I despise him.”
The younger male turned and ran into the house, needing time alone... needing to escape the words of that man who'd filled him with doubt for the first time in his life...

To Be Continued...