The Last Kasai Warrior

King Ryuuken Tori sat grimly at the center of the long table as his companions waited quietly for his announcement. All the high-ranking officers of both the Kaminari and Kouku royal armies were called over to the Kouku palace for an emergency meeting. Although nothing was mentioned about the agenda, everybody knew what this was all about. The investigation regarding the murder of the Kouku royal family had finally come to a conclusion. There was a spreading rumor that the perpetrator of the crime had already been identified.

King Yuan Tao tapped his fingers on the wooden table impatiently. He was certain that the announcement would not come as a surprise to him. He always knew it was them - those two despicable kingdoms from the other side of the Great Spirit's River. His friend was too foolish to ignore the reports from General Tori, King Hideki's former security adviser. This lapse in judgment cost him his life and the lives of his family. Now the right hand man became the new king and the Kaminari monarch expected him to make more sensible decisions than his predecessor.

King Yuan's tapping grew louder as a show of his restlessness. He wanted to end this meeting as quickly as possible so that he could start preparing his army. War was inevitable. They had to formulate a strategy against the military power of Kasai. Moreover, a telegram from his daughter who had stopped speaking with him years ago, came this morning. He was not able to read it as he came rushing to Kouku the minute he was told about the emergency council. He would not admit it to his wife but he was thrilled to have received something from his eldest child, Jun who had loathed him after marrying her off to a foreign nobleman who was twice her age. He only did this to protect her from that ambitious foot soldier, Lee Pailong. Perhaps amidst the brewing war he could finally make peace with his firstborn. "I believe we are complete King Tori. What's hindering you from making the announcement?" King Yuan finally ran out of patience.

"I'm sorry Your Highness but we are still waiting for an important guest." King Tori replied. They heard someone being dragged on his feet from behind the door. "I think he is here."

A pair of soldiers came in with a resisting white-haired man whose hands were tied behind his back. His clothes were bloodied and his face was badly bruised.

"Some townsfolk consistently reported someone trespassing in a dead blacksmith's house every evening. I had a few soldiers watched that place last night. They caught this guy rummaging through the dead man's belongings as if looking for something," the new king of Kouku explained.

"We do not have time for such petty crimes, King Tori," King Yuan said irritably.

"Let me finish Your Highness. I think this will intrigue you. Our men confiscated his belongings and he had this in his possession." King Tori motioned his soldiers to come forward. A sword was laid out in front of the generals.

"By Great Spirit! That's the blade of a Kasai warrior," General Tako examined the sword with a five-pointed star engraved on the scabbard. He unsheathed the sword and marvelled at its beauty. "I don't know much about Kasai weapons. I've heard of only one - the Harusame. It's a legendary sword that can only be wielded by the greatest warrior in Kasai. Only their king chooses who will own it next."

"Amidamaru, that's the name of the greatest warrior of Kasai," the man spoke with pride despite his bleeding lips. "Your people have to resort to shooting me with arrows laced with paralyzing powder just to apprehend me. Where is the courage in that?" One of the soldiers punched him at the stomach to shut him up. Amidamaru coughed out blood. The cowards had been torturing him while he was tightly bound since last night.

"You are a spy aren't you? Do you know that you are breaking the peace treaty by trespassing in this kingdom? The penalty is death!" King Yuan seethed with anger.

"Your Highness, if I may?" King Tori motioned the Kaminari monarch to calm down. He then fumbled for something in his robe's pocket. He gently placed a pin on top of the table next to the sword. "Does this look familiar to you?"

The soldiers pushed the warrior towards the table so that he could have a better look. The shock on Amidamaru's face was enough to answer the king of Kouku's inquiry.

"This pin was found at the crime scene after our royal family was killed. Now tell me, what is your motive behind the murder?"

"None because we did not do it. Nobody from our side is foolish enough to start another war. Maybe you have a lot of enemies. I've been locked up in your dungeons long enough for me to see your barbaric ways."

Another punch connected with his jaw.

There were murmurings from the crowd of generals.

"Not foolish enough? Then why come here? You must be a spy for your scheming king!" the Kaminari monarch's voice boomed. "My good men, this is a strong proof that those two kingdoms have plans on declaring war on us. We should retaliate! Avenge the death of the royal family!"

The murmurings grew louder as the generals argue with one another.

"What if he is telling the truth?"

"Would you believe that scoundrel? He is a spy!"

"King Hideki would not want us to go to war…"

"The king is dead and these people murdered him! It is just right to seek for justice!"

"Will declaring war on them do any justice?"

"Then what do you suggest? Let them get away with the murder?"

Amidamaru gritted his teeth. These barbarians are putting the blame on them even without sufficient proof. The pin could not have been Prince Yoh's. He's too gentle, too naïve to ever ignite a war with another kingdom. Someone was clearly setting him up. "You are mistaken! We have nothing to do with the killings! Perhaps your king may have plenty of enemies. Do not drag us into your own problems."

The heated argument was momentarily halted when several loud raps from a man shouting King Yuan's name came from behind the door. The guards outside tried to stop him but he had managed to barge into the room.

"Kaido, what are you doing here?" It was the Kaminari royal messenger.

"King Yuan! I have an important message for you!" the exhausted messenger handed the king a telegram. It was from his daughter, the one he was hoping to read by the time he get home.

"Why is this open? This is a confidential letter! Who opened it?" King Yuan demanded an answer from the frightened man.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness but the queen wanted to read it already. She had sent for me to get you after doing so. She was hysterical, Your Highness. I couldn't refuse her."

The king felt cold as he calmly unfolded the paper.

Ren is dead.

He dropped the telegram and grabbed the messenger by the shoulders. "Don't mess around with me! What's the meaning of this? I will have you beheaded if you are playing a joke on me!"

"I am not, Your Majesty. There is also another telegram from the Royal Patch Academy," the poor messenger shook with fear as he handed another paper to the monarch. The king skimmed for words as he did not have the will to read it in its entirety.

Royal ship bombed… All of the passengers perished… Your son is dead…

King Yuan howled in despair. "Not my son! Not Ren, Noooo!" Before anyone could stop him, he snatched the Harusame from the table and drove it straight into Amidamaru's chest.

The Kasai warrior went limp and fell on his back. As blood seeped from his fatal wound, he saw the portrait of a family hanging by the door. The parents were smiling but their daughter reminded him of someone. A blond feisty girl in an immortalize pout.

"Anna…"