The Curse of Muramasa and The Wishing Fireflies

Matsu Shinjo was a young apprentice of swordmenship
He was a prodigy and genius with his sword skills
But he used a Kendo stick and sports never allowed killings
He was young and innocent who never drew blood

Matsu was smitten by a beautiful lady called Asuka Tamao
He was extremely shy to confess his love to her
But she understood him miles away by his silly actions
And gladly accepted him for she too loved him back

On one fine day Matsu took a detour from his way
He came across a hay of stack shaped like a man
On his right side lays a Japanese sword
Behold he laid his eyes on the Muramasa the demon sword

Matsu was fascinated by the death-dealing sword
The diabolic and mephitic odour of the blood
His hands started to shiver like a frosted winter
But he wants it and wanted it for greed

Matsu took the sword and took a huge swing
He cutted a humongous tree like butter
Experiencing this he felt in love with the sword
And now started to crave to hone this demonic skill

At that same raining night he saw a man
Who honed a thousand techniques to kill
In a flash of a thunder killed Seven men
Matsu was now convinced that some day he would be like him

Matsu called Asuka for the last time where he met her for the first time
And told her to forget about him as he will go on a new journey
She was in tears as she felt her man who has fallen in the hands of Akuma
Shattered as Matsu left her alone to hone his skills

As years went by Matsu could not perfect that thunder strike
For his training he slew countless of swordmen with his Muramasa
He was hungry to hone that skill which he saw that stormy night
Screams of other people in pain to which he ignored

Even though he was well reputed Matsu still had the urge to kill
But destiny was now laughing at him at his lunacy
As he sent the same guy from that stormy night
He thought it was now or never. Kill or be killed

Matsu drew his sword against that skillful man
As he saw this man who is waiting for a challenge and accepted it
Both men stared into each other eyes and their gripped tightened
Matsu thought that it would be a long and arduous battle

As the battle commenced it ended in one single swing
Matsu slowly went to take a look his lifeless body
He landed a fatal blow without the man noticing his death
Matsu soon realised that he far surpassed him long ago

Matsu soon realised that it was just an illusion
An illusion that was on that particular rainy day
He took a look at his sword which was covered in blood
He saw his old wrinkled face and dropped the sword

Matsu began to wail bitterly for the countless lives that he snatched
His spree finally came to an abrupt halt but at the cost of his sanity
Running helter-shelter along the way for his guilt devoured in madness
He now pray that voices of those lost souls that he killed stops completely

Matsu now became a wanderer in search for himself
He found Asuka's younger brother Nobu Tamao
Nobu recognized and took Matsu where he left his sister to pursue his madness
Nobu asked him whether he ever heard the about the wishing fireflies

Asuka came daily here to see the fireflies and wish for him to come back
But he was a little late as she passed away in celibacy waiting for him
Infact it was her second death anniversary as she would now be seventy four
As Nobu took his leave Matsu went down on his knees and began to weep

"Where did I go wrong? to leave such a beautiful life that I could get
Asuka why couldn't you wait a little longer? Please come back
It's me your beloved Matsu. I have come back forever. Please come back"
From weep Matsu began to wail loudly as loud as possible

As tired from his wailing Matsu fell asleep under the tree
He later woke up and saw a glimmering light with a voice calling his name
"Asuka is that you? Please tell me. Is it really you?"
"Live on Matsu Live on!" as the light vanishes so does the voice

From that day till the day he died
Matsu regularly to that place waiting to hear her voice
Who contacted with the curse of the Muramasa
But told the story of the wishing fireflies

Author's Note

Hope you all enjoy your read. Please correct me for my grammatical errors if any and all criticism are welcomed dearly

Reviews

[Adesanya Yewande]

This is a lovely story, amazing concept on how power could corrupt, the power that he acquire after seeing the sword destroyed him and made him lose the love of his life, one lesson i learnt from this story is not to let power control you, rather you should control the power, he allowed power to control him that was why he saw that illusion. I really love this story, great work.

[Terrence Chang]

Thank you soo much Adesanya for your review

[Norman 223]

We have a saying "Power corrupts, ultimate power corrupts totally". Matsu has power in his hands, He abandons his principles,destroys to show his superiority, the finally destroys himself by losing any love that he had. This sounds so much like politicians and warlords today.
A subtle and clever parable, Terrence, that echoes all that is wrong with uncontrolled ambition.

Norman

[Terrence Chang]

Thank you soo soo much Mr Norman for your incite and a generous review. I couldn't less agree with you.

[ANTO]

I enjoyed this Terrence. The story is one of ambition and loss chasing things that don't actually matter in life - you constructed it and told it well.

[Terrence Chang]

Thnak you soo much Anto for your kind review.

[Emily]

I really like it!
I like the story it tells!
Keep it up!

[Terrence Chang]

Thank you soo much Emily

[Solar]

Loved reading this tragic ballad of fight-hungry Matsu and his true love Asuka.

'The diabolic and mephitic odour of the blood' what a powerful description!

Never too late for love's redemption - 'live on live on'!

[Terrence Chang]

Thank you soo much Solar. I am glad that you liked it

[Solar]

You are welcome!

[Sami Khalil]

A marvelous story honed to cut and uplift in creativity and wisdom. Much enjoyed....:))))

[Terrence Chang]

Thank you soo much Sami for your kind review

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome. ...:))))

[Avinash]

This is a wonderful story. I am often fascinated with stories laced with wisdom. This one is one of them.
Thanks for inviting.

[Terrence Chang]

Thank you soo much Avinash

[wordman]

a great story my friend,i liked it

[Terrence Chang]

Thank you soo much wordman

[wordman]

you`re welcome

[E G TEN]

Hey Terrence, this this is an awesome write, I'm a big fan of the feudal Japanese Era, Akiira Kurosawa
is one of my favorite of all times. I love this story the lessons it brings and the characters are
colorful. This is quite a folklore you have written here, very cool. Thanks EG

[Terrence Chang]

Thank you soo much Ten for your generous review