Aimi & Yakunan: five

Yakunan finds a blacksmith in the middle of the storm.

Aimi & Yakunan: five

The snow storm is not subsiding. Yakunan reaches a small house at the base of the mountain. He opens the door and lets himself in. A blacksmith shouts at the intruder. Yakunan drops and kneels to the ground. He coughs and remores his facial covers, later placing both hands on the wooden floor. The man goes to his air and helps him stand up. He is placed near the fire of a smelter for forging blades. "Weather like this is not normal this time of the year." - the blacksmith asked. "Why would you wander in a blizzard?" Yakunan rest his arms and places his sheetless sword against the wall. The man is fascinated with his crossguard broadsword. "I have never sees one in front of me..." Yakunan notices the man reaching the weapon with his hand, and grabs him by the shirt. "Warm water first, please." The scared blacksmith replies - "Yes! Tea, perhaps?"

After a while, Yakunan tries to stand, but his old wounds began to hurt. He take off his white cape and discovers a red stain on the bandages over his right ribs. The blacksmith gives him a cup of tea. "That looks recent." - the man guesses as he looks for fresh bandages. Yakunan smells the tea and replies - "No. It's quite old. It never fully heals." He recieves help from the blacksmith and allows him to hold the sword. The man takes a closer look at the blade. "I have read about this weapon. It looks preserved." He has difficulty lifting it up. "Oh, it's heavy!" He offers to fix a small damage on the side of the blade. Yakunan looks at the blacksmith and points at one of the newly forged blades. He wants to have a weapon near him at all times. The blacksmith doesn't understand his reasoning, but gives him the weapon, a Yoroidōshi blade. "An armor piercer? Seems short enough. Must be really fast." The blacksmith is glad to hear him appreciate his work. He says - "This weapon is used for stabbing the opponent during close quarters combat." He places the broadsword over the table and later smelts different metals into a cup. He doesn't know exactly which type of steel the sword is made from, but he will use his personal mixture to repair the damage.

Yakunan changes the rest of the bandages and asks - "Why are you so welcoming to a stranger?" The blacksmith is heating the sword and pouring drops of the mixture over the damaged area. He says - "Well, if it were me... I would love to recieve help if I were outside during a storm. Why not?" He hits the steel with a hammer. Yakunan drinks tea. The blacksmith is curious about the broadsword. "Where did you obtain this weapon?" Yakunan doesn't respond. He changes the subject and asks - "I was traveling these areas in search Kado Taeda." The blacksmith stops hammering. "Who...?" - he asked. Yakunan places the cup next to him and grasps the Yoroidōshi by the handle. The blacksmith smirks and looks at the traveler. "If you are looking for that man, you are too far. He lives in Okinawa." - he said. Yakunan replies - "A man of that importance would not hide in a known and populated area. He would be here, in the middle of nowhere, Kado." The blacksmith says - "I don't know who you are, boy... but leave me out of my past! You didn't come here by accident! Why did you track me down?"

"I am looking for Aimi Akiba." Yakunan responded. "I understand that she was asking around for you." Kado laughs and replies - "I can't seem to get away from the Tokugawa bakufu!" Yakunan tells him - "The Shogunate... They no longer exists." Kado claims - "Power doesn't just disappear. It transforms! The remnants linger. You and your little woman friend should know." Yakunan stands up and burries the blade on the wooden table next to Kado. "We are not friends!" Kado finishes the broadsword and wipes it clean. "Pour, pour girl..." - the blacksmith said. "Why does she deserve your hatred?" Yakunan places his foot behind the leg of Kado's chair and pushes his shoulder foward. The blacksmith falls on his back and has the edge of the Yoroidōshi blade pressed against his neck. "I am not a patient man." - said Yakunan. "I don't have to explain myself to you! I don't care if you forged Master Kazuhiro Yukimara's sword. Every breath I waste with you is one more step for Aimi." The blacksmith doesn't respond. "Did you know that there are people after you? You should do a better job of hidding! Now tell me what you two talked abou!" The blade draws a drop of blood. Kado responds - "Your hatred is non of my concern, neither is that girl. I will tell you as long as you leave immediately." Yakunan takes the blade away and hears - "It's about Yukimara's sword! That is what she came here for."

After a long conversation, Yakunan exits the house as the storm finally subsides. As he walks over a small hill, he can see the house of the blacksmith catching fire. He was carrying a long piece of cloth that he took from the house, and wraps it around the sword. The Yoroidōshi blade is worn inside the back of his belt with the hilt facing left.

To be continued...