A Tale of Two Brothers

I still think about that day all the time and it’s been seven years now.
The day when my parents were slaughtered by Lord Galet. He and his
personal militia came and destroyed our village. Our village and a few others
had refused to give up our land to King Udonis just so he could grow crops
for his armies, this was our home and we were not going to give it up. They
tried to buy the land but we refused. Then they tried to hire petty
mercenaries to force us out of our homes but they didn’t know we had
guards for the village and that also failed. Then they tried to assassinate
our leader – who was my father – but that also didn’t work as they planned.
So King Udonis stopped trying to get other people to do his work and sent
Lord Galet to finally end all the fighting. Their way of ending everything was
ending our lives, they took no prisoners. My brother and I were the only ones
to survive the massacre.
I remember that day so clearly… My brother and I were playing with
my mother in our house when we heard screams and weapons clashing and
more screams. My mother, my brother, and I all sat in the house listening in
horror and confusion as total chaos consumed our town. Then, a few minutes
later our father burst through the doors, he was standing in the doorway
and I had never seen such fear in his eyes.
“Lea! Get the children and run!”
“What’s wrong? What’s happening outside?”
As they were talking I could see several people running toward the
house.
“There’s no time! You must leave at once. Get some things and go out
the passage in the cellar. I’ll - -“
Just as he was about to continue a sword appeared to be growing out
of his chest. He stood there for a moment then looked down at his chest and
then fell to then ground. I couldn't understand what had happened but then
I saw a tall man walk in from behind my father with a bloody sword in his
hand. I looked at my father lying on the floor with a pool of blood around him
and finally realized what had happened, this man had just slain my father

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right in front of us. The man stood there for a few moments examining us
and then spoke.
“As I’m sure you have realized by now we are here to take your town
once and for all. We will no longer ask you to just give up the town; we will
take it by force now.”
“Why are killing everyone?” My mother asked as she cried.
“Because for going against King Udonis’ wishes you will pay the
greatest price which is death. We shall not discriminate either we will kill
women and children also.”
“You’re nothing but a monster!”
“Ooh, I wonder how many times I’ve heard that one. Your words make
no difference your fate is sealed. And as I am pressed for time this needs
to be tended to quickly, so let’s go ahead and end this now.”
“But why our town, why do this to us?”
“Because out of all the resisting towns you are the strongest. So if we
destroy this town then the others will lose hope and quickly fall. Now, that is
enough talk it’s time for you to move on to the next life.”
“Run boys! Go to the cellar, hurry!”
“Running is futile! Men! Follow them and kill them.”
We ran as we had never run before, because this time we were running
for our lives. Once we reached the cellar my mother opened a door in the
floor I had never noticed before. My mother pushed us in and told us to
keep going.
“What about you mother?”
“I’ll catch up just go!”
Right at that moment the man called Lord Galet ran her through with
his sword. I stood there in shock as my mother’s lifeless eyes stared at me.
I stood there looking at my mother; I couldn’t believe I had just lost both of
my parents in a matter of minutes. And it was all just for the land that
surrounds the village.
“You’re next boy, you and your brother.”
I looked up at the cold murderous eyes that stared at me. I turned
and grabbed my brother’s hand and ran as fast as I could.
“There’s no point in running boy! Men, go to the outskirts of the town
and search around, I’m sure that’s where the tunnel leads.”
My brother and I ran as fast as we could for what seemed like hours.
“Where does this tunnel lead brother?”
“I don’t know just keep running!”

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 We ran until we saw a dim light at the end of the tunnel.
“There’s the end!”
Once we opened the trapdoor at the end of the tunnel we came out in
the forest just outside of the village. As we climbed out we heard some men
yelling.
“Do you see them over there?”
“No, I can’t find those damn kids anywhere.”
“Let’s just go back they’ll probably die out here anywhere.”
We watched as they walked back to our village, which was just a bunch
of charred buildings and dead bodies everywhere.
“What are we going to do now big brother?”
“I don’t know let’s just get away from here. Maybe we can find
someone.”
As we began to walk down the path it started to rain. We kept on
walking into the night, and by dawn we didn’t even know where we were and
we were so tired we lost consciousness right there on the road.

“Hey! Wake up!”

I woke to see a samurai standing over my brother and I. He was tall
and had dark hair pulled into a pony tail.
“What are you boys doing out here lying on the ground?”
“Who are you?”
“That’s not what I asked. What are you two doing lying on the ground
in the middle of the road?”
“We were walking during the night and I guess we passed out.”
By this time Kaji had woken and was sitting up listening to us.
“Where are your parents?”
As soon as he said that I remembered everything that had happened
last night. I looked and saw the Kaji did too because he started crying.
“They died last night.” I told him bluntly.
“What do you mean?”
“They were killed by some men last night. They came into our town and
killed everyone.”
“You boys were in the massacre that happened last night in Valeer?”
We nodded at him and look on his face changed.
“Do you have anywhere to go?”

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 We shook our heads at him and he sighed then looked to be in deep
thought. Then he stared at us and asked us one question.
“Do you want to be strong enough to defend yourselves so nothing like
this will ever happen again?”
“Yes,” we both replied.
“Then I will teach you the way of Bushido.”
We looked at each other puzzled looking for an answer from the other
but neither one of us knew what that was. The man did seem to notice this
because he stood looking up at the sky mumbling to himself.
“From now on you two will be my pupils. I own you now, and you will
respect me because I am now your sensei. This training will not be easy or
short and it will push you to your limits. But what do you do once you have
been pushed to your limits? You surpass it! You boys will be the best; you will
have no limit your skills will continue to grow for the rest of your lives!”
This whole time he was still looking up at the sky while he was talking
to us, he finally brought his head down and saw that we had fallen asleep on
him.
“HEY! Wake up! I’m talking to you two!”
We jumped up and stood there looking up into his face.
“Now follow me, your training will begin when you get to your new
home.”
“Um, excuse me sensei. I have a question,” Kaji asked timidly.
“Yes, what is it?”
“What’s your name?”
He suddenly stopped walking and turned around to look at us. Then he
started laughing.
“My name? Didn’t I tell you? It’s Hanzo.”
“How far away is our new home?”
“Maybe a 20 minute walk away from here. You’ll like it here, both of
you. There are some other people here that have come to learn the art of
fighting as well. I teach them as well but you two will be my personal
students. The others have come only to learn how to fight because they
believe it is fun, but you two have a reason to fight, you now have a destiny
to fulfill.”
“How many people are there in total,” I asked.
“Well there are about 50 students and there are only two teachers
there, my brother Hittori and myself.”

4
 By this time we had arrived at our new home and it was like nothing I
had ever seen in my short life. At the doors were two dragons looming
ominously on either side and I seemed to have a strong feeling engulf me
when I looked at them. It was almost as if their eyes were glowing when I
looked. When we got through the doors I again was amazed at what I saw.
There were training areas, men cutting down bamboo figures with their
swords. There was a class a few yards away that were only using their hands
and they were using trees instead of dummies. For some reason this place
felt like home, like I belonged there. I looked at my brother and was in
wonderment also of what we were looking at.
“Come let me introduce you to my brother, Hittori,” Hanzo said.
We walked to the large building directly in front of us and into a room
full hazy smoke. The only we could see was a man sitting at a table with his
sword lying in front of him, and he was just staring at it.
“Brother, I am back from my walk and I have brought back some
guest.”
The man seemed to snap out of a trance and looked over at us. He had
very kind and understanding eyes, quite the opposite from his brother who
looked as if he would snap on anyone.
“Who do we have here brother,” he asked.
“These are two boys I found as I was walking back home. They wish to
learn how to defend themselves and I decided that I would be their
teacher.”
“I though we agreed we wouldn’t take anymore students because we
already have 50 and it’s only two of us.”
“But these boys aren’t like the others; they aren’t here just to learn
how to fight because they want it to be a hobby.”
“Then what are they?”
“These two boys are the only survivors to the massacre that happened
in Valeer last night.”
His looked instantly changed to that of sympathy and he immediately
changed his mind.
“I now understand. I'm deeply sorry that had to happen to you boys.
King Udonis must be stopped this can go on no longer.”
“They have decided to learn the way of Bushido so that this may
never-“
“Um, excuse me sensei,” my brother said.
“Yes?”

5
 “What’s Bushido?”
I realized that he had never told us what this thing was.
“Well it’s the art of the sword. It’s what samurai practice.”
“I don’t want to learn that. I like to use my fist.”
Hanzo stood there and looked at him for a moment as if he had just
had an epiphany.
“I never thought about that. I just assumed you both wanted to learn
Bushido.”
“Ha-ha! I think the little has the right mind setting, who needs a
sword when you can use your hands?”
“Well I guess I’ll train the other boy. But wait a minute… What are
your names?”
“You came all this way and you don’t even know their names?!”
“I had a lot on my mind shut up!”
“I'm Ryu.”
“And my name is Kaji.”
“And how old are two,” Hanzo asked.
“I’m 10,” I told him.
“I'm 8.”
“You both speak rather well to be so young…”
“Well now that we have that out of the way. Your training will begin
immediately.”
I was surprised that it would begin so soon since we had only been
there for an hour.
“Already? We just got here.”
“We don’t have any time to waste; we are planning an invasion of the
capital so we need to teach you as much as possible before we leave.”
“We’re not going to be in the invasion?”
“Of course not! You’re too young, we could die from this. Now enough
talk, let’s go it’s time to train!”

The next two years was the hardest thing I had ever been through.
Hanzo and I went into the mountains to train and Kaji stayed at the camp
with Hittori, he taught him everything he knew. I’ve grown a lot in the last
two years and learned everything sensei knows. I think about my brother a
lot since I also haven’t seen him in two years. Sensei says that it will be
better this way because if we saw each other then we wouldn’t concentrate

6
as much on our work. I think he was right because although I miss my
brother I don’t think I could have ever got this far if we constantly saw
each other. Sensei says he has never seen anyone with as much talent as me,
he even said that I am better than him. I don’t think I really agree with that
because every time we have sparred he has always beaten me.
“Ryu, it’s time for you to move on and find another sensei to teach you
more than I can. In only two years you have learned everything I know and
mastered it, there is nothing I know that you do not. And now that your
training is complete we can begin our invasion of the capital. We had planned
on doing it earlier than this but I wanted to finish teaching you before I
left.”
“I’m still not going to be able to take part in the invasion?”
“No, there is too much for you to learn for your life to be squandered
for some civil war.”
“But this isn’t just a civil war. Our freedom depends on the outcome of
this battle, and I am capable of fighting in it myself!”
“You are still too young to go to war. We need you to stay here and
protect the camp with your brother. Now, I don’t want to here anything else
about this. Pack your things we’re finally going back home and you can finally
see your brother.”
Once we packed our things we began to walk down the trail silently.
This was the first time we had been around each other and not talked about
anything, but this was fine with me I things on my mind. As I walked I
thought about what had happened these pass two years, King Udonis had
finally taken over all the lands he wanted and continued to expand his army
and lands. He took all freedom from his people and had live under a strict
code of conduct, he had never been hated so much and everyone agreed that
it was time for him to go. Then my thoughts went to my training, I had no
idea it was so much to learn and even more out there. But even though I
knew every technique sensei knew there was one thing he thought me that
was more important than all of those things put together: When in combat,
there is only you and your opponent. If anything stands in your way while in
combat you are to cut it down, even if it’s God himself, let nothing get in the
way.

When we got back to camp I immediately looked for my brother, but I

did not see him.

7
 “Where’s my brother sensei?”
“I don’t know. He must be with my brother, let’s ask around.”
As we walked around I notice that little had changed since I had left.
Some of the people had left to move on to other things. Suddenly I saw
someone that looked vaguely familiar but I wasn’t sure.
“Ah there they are. You haven’t seen him in two years I think you
should go see him.”
“That’s my brother?”
He had also grown a lot the last two years. His hairstyle was strikingly
similar to mine which made me smile a little. I could also tell that he had
grown stronger since I last saw him.
“Kaji!”
He looked at me and seemed to not recognize me at first but then he
realized it was me and his face lit up.
“Ryu!”
We ran towards each other and punched each other in the face. Do
not ask me why it was just something we agreed on before we left for
training. I was hoping he was going to forget but unfortunately he didn’t so
we ended up hitting each other.
“You hit really hard now big brother.”
“So do you Kaji. I need to tell Hittori to stop training you so well.”
After we all exchanged greetings we walked to the dining hall and got
something to eat. Once we all had finished eating our sensei told us when
they were leaving for the invasion.
“We’ll leave in two nights at midnight. We want you two to stay here
and protect the camp while we are gone.”
“I still don’t see why I can’t go sensei,” Kaji said.
“Because you’re only a child and we could die from this. And you
promised me to go out into the world and become even stronger,” Hittori
told him.
“I know but if Ryu and I came the invasion would definitely be a
success and then we could go off and learn more afterwards.”
“I said no and that’s final. We need you two to stay here protect this
place. Now, if we don’t come back by the next day we want you two to go
ahead and leave.”
“So if you don’t come then when will you,” I asked.
He hesitated for a moment.
“If we don’t come back then it means we probably died,” Hanzo said.

8
I was shocked at the thought of them actually dying. I had never seen
anyone as strong as these two and I highly doubted anyone could kill them.
“But that’s not likely is it? They won’t be able to kill you right?”
“I don’t know Ryu. They say King Udonis has powers like none have
ever seen that his strength is only something you could dream of ever
having. Some people call him a god among mortals but we will have to find a
way to defeat him if we ever want this chaos to cease.”
“How will you get to him? I know he won’t just be standing in the
street waiting for you,” I asked him
“The only way to do this is with a frontal assault. His palace is too
heavily guarded for us to find a way to sneak in, that’s why we need every
able bodied person we can get.”
Kaji looked like he was going to say something but Hanzo gave him a
dark look and he remained quiet.
“We have some other people coming from the north to help with the
invasion but I still wonder if we have enough people…” Hittori said.
“We can’t dwell on that now brother; the time for action is now.”
“We will begin the final preparations for there can be no delays.”
And with that the meeting was over. As my brother and I walked back
to our room we were silent and deep in thought. Once we said our goodnights
we went to our room. Once we got in we looked at each other and began to
smile.
“We’re going with them,” we said simultaneously.
“But how are we going to without them knowing?” My brother said.
“We’ll wait for them to go and then we leave about fifteen minutes
later.”
“So how are we going to help them? We can’t fight along side them.”
“We’ll fight from the shadows.”
Kaji looked confused so I explained what I meant.
“While we were up in the mountains sensei taught me how to use
throwing knives. As Hanzo and Hittori fight up front we’ll fight from the
shadows and make getting to the king a little bit easier. I know the layout of
the palace and there are trees along all the walls. So all we have to do is stay
in the trees and we can kill from a distance.”
“Oh I see. I'm glad taught sensei taught me how to use throwing
knives or I would have had to stay here.”
“Now that we have agreed on a plan, we also need to prepare for the
invasion.”

9
 The next day we prepared in secrecy for the coming invasion. Hanzo
and Hittori were also preparing and whenever they saw us we made it look
like we were just cleaning up around the place. Once we had finally finished
our preparations we tried to get some sleep one last time before we left.

That night I had the strangest dream. Our teachers and my brother and I
walked through these big wooden doors. Inside there was a big hall and
there was nothing in there but two men on the far side of the hall. Hanzo
and Hittori stopped and stared at the two men. Both parties looked at the
other for quite some time before Hanzo spoke.
“King Udonis! Your tyranny is about to come to an end, no more will
your people suffer because of your greed.”
The man at the end of the hall smiled devilishly at him and shook his
head.
“Do you really think you can kill me? Do you think you are the first
person to try to accomplish this impossible feat? You’re just another idiot
who thinks they can be the next hero of the world but you and your friends
just cut your own life short,” he said evilly.
This seemed to anger Hanzo instantly and he quickly drew his weapon.
“Then let us see if you can truly kill me fool!”
Hanzo ran toward Udonis with his sword raised high.
“No, don’t do it Hanzo!” Hittori yelled.
“It is you who is the fool. Only the inexperienced would run into a
place they don’t know head first. That’s the easiest way to get killed.”
At that moment a hulking figure stepped out from behind a column
with a gigantic hammer. He looked at Hanzo and raised his hammer into the
air. Hanzo tried to stop himself but he was going too fast. The man brought
his hammer down at a crushing speed on Hanzo splattering blood everywhere
and killing him instantly.
“Hanzo!”
We all stood there in awe of what had just happened.
“This is why he was the fool,” Udonis said in a calm voice.
“You monster! This is your last living day,” Hittori yelled at him.
“Then come kill me. Gomi let them all pass and come at me at once. I
will end this quickly.”
We all began to run towards him with our weapons drawn. Once we had
gotten about halfway he suddenly began laughing maniacally. He looked at us

10
and then his eyes began to glow red. Then he burst into flames and
momentarily blinded us. When our vision came back we saw a giant black
dragon before us. We all stopped in our tracks and stared fearfully at the
dragon.
“Why do you stop little ones? I thought you were going to kill me?”
We all stood still frozen in fear of this monster standing here.
“Well if you won’t come to me then I’ll come to you. But first I need a
little snack.”
He looked down at the man that had been standing next to him the
whole time and ate him whole.
“Now we can begin this fight.”
I could not believe he had just eaten his own servant, and now he
planned on killing us. This was the most ruthless person I had ever laid eyes
on. As he advanced on us we still could find a way to move from our positions
we were all too scared to move. The first person he attacked was Hittori. He
raised one of his big claws and smashed him into the ground. Then he looked
at my brother and pierced him with through the chest with his tail. As I
looked around I realized I was the only one left. I quickly realized that we
should have never come here in the first place but now it was too late.
Everyone was dead and now it was my turn. As I looked into the dragon’s
eyes I thought about my mother and my father and how much I missed them.
Then as the dragon reared his head back I closed my eyes and was engulfed
in flames.

“Ryu, wake up! It’s almost time for Hittori and Hanzo to leave.”
I awoke to find my brother dressed and standing over me.
“What time is it?”
“It’s almost midnight.”
“Why didn’t you wake me up earlier?”
“Because you look like you were having a nightmare so I wanted you to
suffer,” he said jokingly. “Besides we have everything packed so there was
no need to wake you.”
I quickly got up and put some clothes on. Them we rushed to see them
off. We got to the front we saw a crowd of people surrounding them. They
were hugging and giving them blessings for a successful mission. We pushed
our way through the crowd to the front and found Hanzo and Hittori. When
they saw us they beckoned us to come to them.
“Remember your job while we are gone,” Hittori said to us.

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 “I don’t want to come back and the whole place is burned down,” Hanzo
said to us.
“The place will look even better when you get back, trust us,” I told
him.
“Remember, if we’re not back by tomorrow go ahead and leave and
continue your training. I want you two to be the best there ever was,”
Hittori told us.
They told everyone good bye one last time and the group headed off
south towards the palace. Everyone watched them as walked down the trail.
We looked until we couldn't see them anymore and them we ran to get our
things. Once we were in our room I thought about my dream and hesitated.
“Maybe we should just stay here Kaji.”
“What? Are you crazy? We can’t back out now we’ve planned too much
to dump it all now.”
“But I had this dream and kinda seemed like a warning of what’s to
come.”
“You know that stuff isn’t real. Just get your things so we can go.”
“I guess you're right.”
Once we had packed all our things we sneaked out through the back so
that no one would see us. As we walked down trail it seemed eerily silent in
the forest on either side of the road. We didn’t say a word to each other we
just kept on walking and thinking about what was going to unfold in the
coming hours. After walking about twenty minutes we heard a great
explosion and saw a fire and black smoke rise into the night sky.
“It must have begun. We have to hurry,” I told Kaji.
We ran the rest of the way, once we got to the front of palace we saw
that the doors had been blown off the hinges and the two guards killed.
When we walked through the front we saw fires and people fighting.

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