So this is supposed to be one of those prologues that makes you go, WAIT! What? Why did that happen?!
Please please, if you have a few minutes to spare I want all your super criticism and hacking and slashing. Rip it apart.
Thanks. =]
Jeb pulled the worn wooden handle from the pocket on his old coat. He was surrounded, in front of him stood three Samurai, behind him two more Samurai and an Itako, to his sides, fifty foot brick walls. The corner of his mouth raised slightly and he let out a small laugh, “So, you think you've got me do you? Let's play.” He squeezed the object in his hand. It came to life, cloth grew from underneath his hand and wrapped around itself. From the back a wooden pommel formed, on the front a wooden hand guard grew. A blade thrust out of the hand guard, slightly curved, stopping at four feet in length.
Jeb bent his knees, then pressed down hard. His body was shot backward, his sword buried itself in the Itako's chest. Best to get her out of the way first. I'm lucky Itako are blind and no one else was paying attention. Before he could fully release his sword from her body, the other five Samurai were on him. He ducked the first stroke of an enemy blade and pulled his sword free. Jumping over the next he struck downward cutting nearly a foot into the shoulder of one of the Samurai who had accompanied the Itako.
“Gyaaaah!” He had been hit, his left arm was bleeding profusely. He couldn't guard against all of them at once. He swung at one of the closer Samurai, aiming for his side, but he was struck from behind on the back of his leg. He stumbled and missed. “Heh heh. Looks like you really did get me this time. Huh?” Something had hit the ground next to him. A man in a floor length brown cloak – the Samurai surrounding them fell to the ground.
Jeb bowed his head, “Master, I thought you were . . . I mean, thank you. I owe you my life.” The man looked down at him scornfully and reached his hand down to help him back to his feet. Jeb reached up and the man smiled.
“You'll never learn to not take on more than you're ready for will you?” The two of them laughed together as the cloaked figure helped Jeb walk down the alley. “I've got much to tell you of my recent endeavors. Because of their importance, I couldn't let anyone know I was still . . . “ He stopped. Jeb's sudden, dead weight was too much for him to hold. The old man let Jeb's body slide slowly to the ground. He looked down at his student, an arrow standing in his chest.
Looking back down the alley he could see the Itako. Standing on her knees, bow in hand. A trail of blood began to form in the corner of her mouth and she fell face down on the asphalt. The man looked back down to Jeb, tears forming in his eyes. “No, no, you can't die on me. You're the only friend I've ever known. “
Jeb smiled, looking up at the cloaked figure his long blonde hair covering his face haphazardly, “Come on old man, we knew this day would come. They've been scared of me since the day I got my Tsuka. There's no way they would have let me live long enough to complete my Daisho. Here,” he held up the wooden handle, “you know where to take it. He was destined to have it, even more so than me.”
“Don't say that Jeb. You'll live. We have an Itako not ten miles from here. I can get you to her and everything will be fine,” He frantically began to try and lift Jeb over his shoulders. The muscles in his neck and back strained, blood dripping down his cloak as he struggled.
“Don't waste your energy old man. Let me die in peace will you? I died honorably. If I had survived this encounter, they only would have sent more next time, and who's to say you'd be there again? No, it's best this way,” He coughed, specks of blood splattered across the old man's face.
The elder Samurai bowed his head taking the handle from him. “You will not be forgotten my friend.”
