The Strength Of Man

Emrica sat at the back of the blacksmith house waiting for Yoshuu. He had gone out hunting, so she waited to see what he would return home with, from his hunting venture. She sat on a wood carved stool as she watched Yoshuu's father working by the furnace.

He clutched his hammer and tempered the iron, bending it to his will, for the shape that he had envisioned in his mind. His style was completely different to Yoshuu's as she pictured the both of them in her mind. Emrica had seen Yoshuu craft many things from metal objects as big as a claymore to as small as an arrowhead, which he used for hunting.

Have you ever crafted any arrowheads, Mr Yamato asked Emrica?

Mr Yamato let out a low chuckle. Never and I never intend too. I have crafted Japanese swords, English swords and even Asian swords. Only my son crafts such things as arrowheads for when he goes hunting. He should invest that energy into properly learning this craft like his father wants him too.

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of someone approaching the home from the side with the forest.

Yoshuu came from around the corner, holding a medium size boar upon his shoulders. A smile spread across his face as he saw Emrica who returned a smile.

I could get used to this, he joked as he saw her waiting for him.

What have you got for me today, she asked?

A wild boar that tried to escape my wrath he responded, dropping the boar on the backyard table.

Let me take care of it, she stated as she was given a knife by Mr Yamato. With grace and finesse she skinned the boar and prepared the meat for the shichirin.

That evening, the three of them sat and ate bar b que boar at the back of the blacksmith's home, under the moonlit sky. It was an experience that they would never forget.

After dinner, Yamato left his son and his future to be, cuddling close to the fire. The flames had created shadows that performed on the nearby forest. I can't wait for us to be married, he whispered as he drew her closer to him.

His embrace caused her to melt in his arms. She knew that it was in his arms that she always wanted to be.

I would die if something happened and we didn't get married, she blurted out.

Nothing is going to happen, he assured her, holding her tightly for a bit. Not while I am alive and besides, I have bested an angry wild boar, a bear, a jaguar and even the 'monster' of the lake.

Don't forget the Bengal tigress that you killed in the village, Emrica reminded him.

Yes, even that. I am ready for anything that tries to come between us.

Mr Yamato looked at the two, cuddling outside before he slid the back door close. Turning around, he looked at his son's hunter knife on the kitchen table. Picking it up, he could see that it was getting dull.

In a sigh of defeat, he held the knife and headed to the grinder to sharpen it.

At least if it is sharp, he will always come back from his hunting trips, Yamato thought as he sat on the chair for the grinder and started it up.