The Legend Of Samurai
Day 3: Goto Matabei
- Bamboo Villa, House of the Clan Chief
Hanbei had arrived with Kimura at the gate of the residence of the Clan Chief Uesugi.
"Greetings...Elder Hanbei," the two samurai guarding the gate, saluted while saluting.
"Greetings Gentlemen... May I go inside," Hanbei replied, remaining with his friendly smile.
"Please, Elder. The gate is always open to the elders. But.." one of the samurai guarding the gate said, in a hesitant tone.
"This.." said Hanbei, giving his katana.
It had become customary for a samurai who wanted to enter into a place that had more value, for example, Sacred Buildings, Palaces, etc. A samurai had to keep his katana to the guards guarding the entrance. And only allowed to bring Wakazashi.
"I apologize for my impoliteness, Elder," after saying he immediately opened the gate.
Hanbei and Kimura then stepped in.
"Is this the famous Katana with her extraordinary sharpness," the two samurai looked enthusiastic.
From a distance Hanbei could still hear the conversation between the two. He simply smiled and walked to the entrance of his Chairman's Bamboo Villa.
**
Inside the room were two men of different ages, sitting in conversation with each cup of tea in front of them.
"Uesugi Hanbei saluted the Chief!" Hanbei bowed his body in salute.
The man who looked as old as he was with almost entirely gray hair turned to the source of the sound.
"Ah, you've come apparently Hanbei. Please sit down, please..." Goto Matabei instructed Hanbei to take a seat.
The older man was Uesugi Goto Matabei the Chairman of the Uesugi Clan, while on the side was Kansuke, who had previously met him on the road.
Hanbei then sat down before the two men of different ages. And one that made him think, why Kansuke was here, when he said that he had important business.
"Chairman...I know you must be confused about where I am here, but this is the important business I said," Kansuke said with a face that looked serious.
"In that case, we'll just go straight to the topic of discussion..." Goto Matabei takes over.
"Son, can you play for a while outside," Goto Matabei said to Kimura.
"You better play with both uncles standing guard at the gate" Hanbei said as he stroked Kimura's head.
Kimura nodded, then saluted and then walked out.
**
"Little master, why do you want to get out?" One of the samurai standing guard said, through a small hole in the gate.
"I was told by the chairman to play with you guys" Kimura said as he scratched his non-itchy head.
"Hehe is so well, please little sir," replied the two Samurai, looking timid.
Then they opened the gate.
"Did Elder Hanbei, not forbid little Master from playing with us? Only a samurai has no title" the samurai said, following a nod by the other Samurai.
Every clan must have experienced social inequality. It will not disappear until any time.
"Ah no sensei, even my father told me to play with you guys" Kimura replied.
The hearts of the two guards trembled with a title of honor. This is the first time in their lifetime, called Sensei.
"Little master, there's no need to call us Sensei. Better just uncle" said one of the two.
Kimura just nodded, he did not bother about it either. With such a young age, he was indeed very different from most disciples in this Clan.
"Then, what do we want to play uncle?" kimura asked the two samurai.
"What yeah...?" both pose a thought.
Some time thinking they finally got an idea about the game that will be played with Kimura. When I looked at where Kimura was standing.
"Oh, let's just play this..."
Kimura was no longer in his place, instead he was seen walking back from a different direction with a chicken. Activities other than running, when the early morning arrived and Father, his mother was still asleep, he often went out to catch and chase with Chicken. He thinks it's a very exciting game.
The two guards looked at each other. Meanwhile, Kimura was already in front of the two of them.
"Uncle! Hey uncle!" Kimura pulled the sleeves of their clothes robes.
"Sorry, little lord," the two of them replied simultaneously.
Not without reason, the two samurai behaved so. The chicken Kimura caught. Previously, being on one of the roofs of the Villa which was not far from the position of the two now stood.
However, what makes them both wonder is how a child who is not even 10 years old can catch a chicken at such a height.
"I forgot what you want to play little master" the two samurai answered while scratching their heads.
Kimura instantly became sullen hearing the words of the two.
On the other hand the two samurai also felt guilty.
Suddenly, Kimura's countenance became excited, "How about uncle show how to play the katana, using the style that uncle mastered!"
"Uncle dare not, little master!" the two samurai said simultaneously with a slightly frightened face.
Teaching a child who has an elder Father is a form of humiliation for the Elder himself.
"Ohh... Uncle doesn't want yah?! Then I will complain to father on the grounds that uncle both scolded me," Kimura walked towards the gate pretending to complain.
The two were forced to budge, not wanting to prolong the matter, one of them then showed the typical moves they had learned since childhood in the Uesugi Clan.
"Well, that's cool uncle!" Kimura said in awe.
"Kimurais..Kimura," there was a voice of someone calling his name, which was none other than his father's.
"It looks like Elder Hanbei is looking for you little lord" said the Samurai guarding the gate.
Kimura nodded and thanked him, then stepped in.
Hanbei, Goto Matabei, and Kansuke were already on the terrace of the Villa. Finished discussing, Hanbei asked himself to go home. Hanbei was actually still shocked to hear the words of his Chairman, that the Tanaka Nobles Family and the vice Clan Chairman, namely, Tang Ryu intended to take over this Clan.
However, due to the bad feeling he suddenly felt. Hanbei intended to return to his residence.
Kimura was already standing beside him while carrying her Katana.
"I beg you to say goodbye, Chairman," Hanbei said, saluting.
**
Hanbei who was carrying Kimura, another few miles would reach his bamboo villa. Along the way, the bad feeling he felt was getting worse.
"What a hunch is this," inner Hanbei, as he continued to run.
However, Hanbei ignored the premonition that had haunted him earlier, he only increased his running speed.
From a distance he had faintly seen his residence Vila Nambu, but he suddenly stopped his run, when he saw a person wearing all black out of his Villa.
"Who is that guy?" Hanbei muttered softly, frowning.
Hanbei who was holding Kimura, immediately ran quickly to get to his residence.
Finally Hanbei and Kimura arrived in front of the gate of the Bamboo Villa. Actually, he was intending to chase and find out the identity of the person who came out of his residence. However, his legs forced him to walk into his villa.
He then followed the direction of his foot, the first thing he saw, when entering the courtyard until the living room of his villa was "blood".
But, he forced his mind to keep thinking positively. And keep walking in.
"Adik-Chan, are you inside" said Hanbei, who was in front of his room, knocking at the door.
"Mom, are you inside" Kimura called.
Hanbei who was starting to worry about the feelings that befell him, intended to break down the door of his room.
Buk...Buk...Bukkkkp......
The bad feeling that he had just felt as if it had become a reality, the mental knight that had been inside him all this time, instantly disappeared. When you see a woman without clothes is being tied to the iron bed and the worse the blood is seeping out of a slash on her neck, the unfortunate woman was none other than Azumi.
Hanbei collapsed to the floor in a pecking position looking at a woman he loved so much has now left him, while Kimura immediately ran to hug his mother.
"Who has done such a thing to you dear," Hanbei said as he removed the rope that tied his wife's hand.
When he wanted to raise Azumi, he brought her to his Chairman. He accidentally saw a little black torn cloth fall to the floor from his wife's body. The type of fabric and color he was very familiar with, it was a cloth from the Cloak that was distinctive and different from the Samurai who were here. No one wears a cloak with this type of fabric other than, Tanaka Yoshi.
Hanbei then thought that the one who came out of his Villa was...
"Basic savage you're Yoshi! Wait for my vengeance!" hanbei's hands were clenched hard. A blue colored aura seeped out from his body.
Kimura who saw that suddenly felt a little scared, "Dad.." said Kimura softly.
Hanbei instantly realized that Kimura was feeling terrified, "Son, please you wait here until Father returns, yes." Hanbei sounded calm but his voice contained anger.
Kimura only gave a nodding response.
