The Legend of Kusanagi no Tsurugi

The hot sun beat down on my head with fierceness that fall afternoon. I was watching the peasants as they were bringing in this year’s harvest. The harvest was to last all winter so that we could survive its cold and dreary onslaught. Though the peasants only have this to worry about. I on the other hand have to worry about being called on to fight for my lord, my Daimyo. Ever since I was a boy, I was trained in my village of Mito, by my father. He was a great and skilled samurai who fought and killed many enemies honourably. He trained me from a young age and reared me not to fear anything or anyone. It was hard yes, but the rewards were the honour of fighting for your family. My father used to tell me stories of the battles he fought, and the duels he won. I wished I could fight now! But he told me that I must wait until I am sixteen. Until then, there were stories. Many stories of heroes, warriors, samurai, castles, enemies, and demons were told to me, but the best story I heard was of the magical sword. The sword called 草薙の剣 (Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi) or in the English tongue “Grass Cutting Sword”. This sword was magical in every way, and had the capability to slay dragons, and move the wind. You might be wondering how a sword could be magic. Such is a childish story, but this is one which is true. The Shinto priests claim that the sword was a gift by the sun Goddess, Amaterasu. It was one of three gifts which the emperor holds dear to his family as proof of their divine inheritance. Though it is such an important artifact, it has become missing. This is where my story and the story of this sword collide.

I remember waking up sweating from a horrid nightmare 30 years ago. I had a dream where the walking dead army met against my fearless lord. I was young then, and was quite hot headed and in my dream I remember foolishly charging the enemy. But the more I cut down, more were raised to take the place of those who had fallen. I was easily overcome, despite my extraordinary skill. Though it was merely a dream, it had the likeness of reality within it.

Unable to sleep I got out of bed and dressed myself. It was still dark, but you could see the sun slowly rising from the east, drifting over the mountainous terrain. It was a beautiful clear sun rise, and held the promise of a bright and fortunate day ahead. I set my swords against my waist, tied them tightly, put my sandals on and went for a walk to the well. I stepped outside of my home, which was just a wooden hut, and was relatively modest compared to homes in this era. The hills were brown and yellow, the colours of fall, and you could still feel the morning dew in the air.

The walk to the Well was a short one and relatively uneventful. At the well I met the head farmer, Mitsuke. He gestured over at me with his head.

Why are you up so early Makio?” He asked.

“Bad dreams Mitsuke, I wish I could have slept longer, but obviously I am awake for some reason that only the Gods know.” I replied yawning.

“Did you hear the mandate from the Daimyo yesterday? All men capable are to make their way to Kyoto.” Mitsuke said sternly, a frown growing on his face.

As a farmer it was his duty to pick at least 10 men of our village to go, I was part of the warrior class, and it was my duty anyway to go, but for the farmers, they only lived off the land. They are not true soldiers. They can barely hold a spear level or stand in a straight line. Though they sometimes make up the bulk of our forces, they are sorely needed. I was curious though as to why the Daimyo wished for our service. Though the Emperor held divine power, it was the Shogun who had supreme power on this plane, and our Daimyo, Lord Kiyusa decided it was time to fight the oppressive forces of the Ashita Shogunate. We were to march on the capital as soon as we could.

“Alright then Mitsuke, thank you for telling me this. Does my father know? How about the other Samurai?” I asked, curious why my father never told me.

“Of course! I’m surprised your father never told you. Maybe he doesn’t want you to go. Anyway it isn’t my place to involve myself in family affairs. I’ll get the men ready to go when you are.”
Mitsuke walked away silently, as if stricken with some sort of disease. I ignored him, and drew the water from the well and poured it into a clay cup. It was cool against my lips. Such a nice and refreshing taste, but finally the thought of war kicked in and made the taste better. Finally I can prove myself in front of everyone else, and show the honour of my family in war.
Excited I ran back home to get ready and eat breakfast.
Once at home I knew everyone was up as I could hear the clanking of iron pots. Also the horses were out and looked ready for a journey. My father would be getting ready to leave with me soon. I burst into the house, and sure enough my family was sitting around the table waiting for me. The Sakura family was smaller now. Decades of fighting had killed my two older brothers, leaving my father Kitsune, my mother Hiruno, and my younger sister Risa. They were all starring at me like I was a stranger.

“Sorry!” I bowed hastily, being sure not to infer my father’s wrath.

“Makio, sit.” My father motioned me to the table.

I sat down quickly and put my hands together, and we all said “Itekimasu” (Meaning let’s eat politely, or thank you for this food).

“So, you obviously know something Makio.” My father said in his monotone voice.

“Yes father. I heard we are going to war. But for what reason, I do not know.” I replied, too busy eating to thinking about what my father was asking.

“I didn’t tell you as to hope you wouldn’t lose any sleep because of it. Though you woke up anyway, maybe you have a supernatural talent of some sort.”

I ignored him, and continued eating my food.

Shortly after we packed up all of our belongings, weapons and armour and set out. I kissed my mother, and sister goodbye. They seemed to be sad that I was leaving but I promised to them that I would bring father back soon. They laughed at that, since it would probably be father, who would bring me back home safely.
My father and I rode off to the well, where the men we were bringing to Kyoto were waiting for us. As we got closer, I heard my father heave a sigh at the sight of the farmer warriors.

“Heh, you cannot rely on any farmer anymore. Son, be sure to take care of these villagers, for if they don’t return we’ll be short ten men for the harvest.” My father ordered me.

I nodded at him in acknowledgement.

Mitsuke was a bulky man, and even I feared him. Though he was a farmer he was also the village blacksmith and it would be his two professions which made him so massive in size. He also sported a grizzled beard which made him look more fearsome. He however was not going to fight, he needed to stay at home and continue making swords, and farm equipment for the upcoming harvest.

“There you are. The two Sakura’s come riding this afternoon, looking happy as ever!” Laughed Mitsuke.

“Sorry to keep you waiting old man. So these are the brave soldiers we’re taking with us. I hope you can hold those spears properly and not waver in front of the enemy.” I said sternly.

“They can, they’ve fought in the war your brother’s died in six years ago. I wish you luck on your journey and may the Goddess Amaterasu shine your way.” He was a kind man, and I laughed at him. If I could change time, I would have thanked his advice on the Gods and other things, but I was foolish. That was the last time I saw him.

We set off on the two week long journey to Kyoto. It would take us through many towns, and cities. I’ve never been outside of Mito in my life, so I was very excited to be leaving it behind me. But even as I say this, a tear comes to my eye, and I wish we’d had stayed back, but it is fate which the God’s put us all through. And in all my long years, I’ve learned that you cannot escape fate, no matter how hard you try, you just have to accept it as it is.

Many days passed by as fast as the sun rises and sets, and nothing out of the ordinary besides two strange geisha’s passed by my eyes and a blind old man selling trinkets. There were many travellers on the road this time of year, carrying their goods of their labour, and other things to sell for a better price in large cities. It was the old blind man who sold me my most treasured possession. He sold me a small coin, but the coin was not the interesting part, it was what’s on the coin which matter most. It had the semblance of the Sun Goddess Amaterasu on it. And I knew that she must be watching over me, so I bought it. My father scorned me on it, saying that it was just a piece of junk, but I had a feeling in my heart, that it was more than that. From then on, Mitsuke’s ranting about the God’s all came clear to me. Sadly, Amaterasu was not watching me that evening. The enemy must have sent assassins to kill any Samurai trying to link up in Kyoto and they did not want to allow this to happen.

We set up camp at the side of the road. It was near a forest and a large lake at the bottom of a steep cliff. It was also a very beautiful and warm night, and the breeze felt so good against my face. The moon was also out and high into the sky. I smiled and held onto my lucky coin, but my father was always looking angry, as if always contemplating something. Finally he looked up and away from the camp fire the farmers had built to cook food over top, and he looked at me.

“Makio, why don’t you go fetch some watch from the moon reflected lake.” My father told me.

I grudgingly accepted without asking one of the peasant farmers to do it. Apparently my father cared nothing for status but cared for those with merit. So I left carrying a heavy iron pot down the steep path towards the nearby lake. In the distance I could hear the noise of the farmers singing, and one even had a shamisen(sort of Japanese string instrument) and was playing it very badly.
I was walking down the path and a tree root stuck out of the ground and I tripped over it and tumbled all the way down into the water. I was soaking wet and bruised everywhere.

“I wished I had got one of the farmers to do this instead of me.” I grunted painfully.

Then, piercing the air was a blood curdling scream from up the cliff, and followed by the clash of steel.

“What’s going on?!” I thought to myself, rushing back up the slope drawing my Katana.

The white moon looked blood red now, and I don’t know what was going on in my mind, all I hoped for was that my father was safe.

Once I reached the summit I knelt down and peered over the edge at the camp site. I saw four black cloaked men with their faces covered completely. All I could see was the reflection of the moon on their soulless eyes, and the blood stains on their strange weapons and clothes. And there on the ground was my father, helpless and dead with a bolt in his back.

Warriors of all sorts wish to die an honourable death, and almost all warriors are treated with that in stories; even though the truth is far from different. My father did not kill a hundred men till he died. He was killed from behind by one of those cowardly assassins. My blood started to boil. I was not scared to die, I only wanted revenge, but I kept cool and listened.

“Lord Ashita was right. Many men are trying to make their way to Kyoto. There are probably more down the road, and check villages. And you number 4, stay here and look for the other samurai. He’s got to be here somewhere!” The lead assassin ordered as he dashed off into the night with the other two.

One man was left, and he came walking up towards the cliff where I was hiding under. I knelt down as far as I could and held my sword ready to strike. And then I saw him standing there right in front of me.

“There you are, haha but you’re only a boy. This will be easy.” He laughed at me, which only fuelled my anger further.

I swung my sword at him, but the cloaked man was far too fast, and he almost disappeared. I jumped up over the ridge onto flat ground, and held a defensive stance.

He came at me as fast as lighting with his sickle like weapon, but I brought up my sword quick enough to parry the blow. But he had another and sank it into my arm. I suppressed a scream as the pain shot through my arm. I nearly dropped my sword, but I held on tightly with all my strength. I quickly ran my knee into the man’s gut causing him to reel backwards, and I followed up with a slash across his chest, but he quickly blocked my weak willed attack. Immediately he countered with an elbow directed towards my face, but I saw it and I knelt low and tackled the man to the ground and bashed his face with the handle of my sword. He quickly pushed me away from him and threw one of his strange weapons at me. It had a chain at the end of the handle. I rolled to the side and avoided his attack, and his weapon got stuck in a tree. I responded by dashing beside him and slashing my sword. He screamed in agony as my weapon cut him open. He fell to the ground writhing in pain, and I quickly ended his life.

I had lost much blood, more than I had realised. I stumbled over to my father’s corpse, and knelt over him. I prayed that his soul reached the warrior’s plane of existence and that he could meet with my brothers once more. I then passed out on top of my father.

I woke up with a wet cloth on my forehead, and on a wagon. I slowly opened my eyes, but a stream of bright light made it difficult to see. So I tried to shield my eyes but I heard the most calming voice over me.

“Silly boy! You’re injured, you shouldn’t be moving!” The woman concerned.

“Where am I? What happened?” I asked still unable to see.

“We’re travelling to meet Lord Kiyusa. We found you by the lake holding a coin in your hand. It seems you got into a nasty fight with an assassin. What he wanted with you and your men I don’t know. I wonder if they will come after us.” She said worryingly.

“They wanted all the samurai of Lord Kiyusa’s to be slain in order to thwart his plans to destroy the Ashita Shogunate. Ahh! My father’s body?! Where is it?” I shouted, sitting up which spread pain throughout my body.

“We buried all the bodies at the side of the road, your belongings are right here beside you.”

That is when I saw her most beautiful face. It was as if looking directly at the moon during a calm summer evening. Her hair, the deepest black I’ve seen was dangling over her shoulders, and her eyes. She had blue eyes, such a rarity in Japan, and it is said that those with blue eyes are close to the Gods, but will live a lonesome existence. I knew instantly that this woman should be mine. No matter what, I fell in love.

“Oh, thank you … what is your name? I’m Makio, Sakura Makio.” I stuttered.

She smiled back at me and said “My name is Asumi. I’m the daughter of Lord Takeda.”

“Lord Takeda?! Takeda Shingen?!” I blurted, quickly prostrating myself at her feet.

“It is fine Makio! I am soon to be a Kiyusa. So no need to be so formal, we are friends now.”

How could this be? Fate causes us to seek the impossible. Lord Kiyusa was my master, and Asumi was to marry him. The Gods can be so cruel, but none the less I love her any way, no matter how forbidden this love is.

That’s enough for now young samurai. Maybe next time if you help me clean my temple I will tell you more, and this time about Kusanagi no Tsurugi.

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Most of this Story is of my own interpretation. There are slight resemblances with Malory’s story, but many of the references, such as the sword is a real object and is part of the Imperial Family in Japan. All the characters names are made up and have nothing to do with any rendition of the The Legend of Kusanagi no Tsurugi. Some characters such as Takeda, was a real person, though there is no mention of his daughter or any female in his family. This story is mainly a connection between Asumi and Makio, who portray Guinevere and Lancelot respectively. And of course Arthur being Lord Kiyusa, I will continue writing more about this in further months as I really think that this could be an interesting rendition of the King Arthur story.

This story was made quickly for an assignment, but I plan on continuing it after, and making proper edits to it as well.