Sam Samurai pt. 2
Sam trained his ears and looked around.
All he could see and hear was the early bustle of the marketplace in the morning. He glanced this way and that, but there was no trace of his brother. He closed his eyes, concentrated and listened carefully... trying to block out the sound of the crowds in his head.
He heard faintly, the cry of a boy, who sounded like his brother. The more he focused on the sound, the more and more clearly it sounded like Hiro. Sam broke out into a dash in the direction the sound was coming from. He had to stop a few more times to figure out which way to go, and Hiro wasn't yelling the whole time, so occasionally he had to wait a couple of seconds for another yell. At last, he heard a distinct cry of "SAM!" from Hiro. He turned his head to see two soldiers dragging Hiro away. Hiro saw Sam and called out in desparation for his big brother to help him.
"Stop!" Sam demanded the soldiers. They kept dragging Hiro without paying any attention. Sam panicked and thought of how much trouble he would be in now. He was confused, and frustrated and desparate to rescue his brother from these soldiers.
"Stop!" He demanded again. This time he ran in front of them to block their path.
"Out of our way, runt." one of them growled, "This prisoner is no concern of yours." and shoved Sam to the ground with his thick arm.
Sam flipped himself up from the ground... his clothing and his face covered with dust from being tossed into the dirt.
He clenched his teeth with anger, and in a blind fury, he ran up from behind the soldiers, catching them off guard and knocked one of them all the way to the ground. He then turned to the one who still had Hiro by the arm, and leapt up to punch him in the face, and actually hit him in the nose, causing him to grab his face in pain. Sam grabbed Hiro's arm and ran as fast as their legs would take them.
They both made it about 5 seconds before an iron grip grasped both of their arms, and pulled them back.
"Not so fast!" It was one of the soldiers. The one Sam had shoved to the ground. He was very strong, and he would not let Sam attack them again. "Are you alright, Kenji?" He asked the other guard. A trickle of blood ran from his nose. "Yeah." He wiped the blood from his nose, and acted like he didn't even notice it was there. "Let's take both of them in." Said the guard, smacking Sam in the head with the back of his hand. Sam's ear rang from the blow, and his face was red with anger.
Sam and Hiro were thrown into a holding cell in the town prison. "I didn't mean to, Sam! It's not my fault!" Hiro said, crying. "Slow down, Hiro." Sam said calmly. He was jittering and scared, but was trying to calm his brother down. "I'm not mad. Just tell me what happened."
"I was just looking around, and I picked up a jade statue to look at it and some guy yelled at me to give it back and i got scared and i dropped it and it broke and then they wanted me to pay for it and i didn't have any money and, and..." Hiro's voice trembled as he tried to continue.
"Settle down." Sam told Hiro again. "I'll take care of it. Don't worry. Just try to get some rest."
But Hiro didn't sleep. Neither of them did. They just laid on the dirt floor, staring at the ceiling... thinking. Sam spent his time thinking of what to do to get out of this situation. He was short on ideas, but he had to get Hiro out of there. Hiro was also very upset about the situation, and he was sincerely scared, but he soon was distracted by other thoughts which danced around in his head. He took to daydreaming about turning into a bird, and escaping through the bars of his prison to fly away into the mountains. It was good, because it eased his mind and calmed him down.
It was well after noon when a guard, opened up Sam's cell, and ordered him to follow. "He stays behind." said the guard, pointing for Hiro to stay in the cell. Hiro grimaced at his captor.
Sam was led up a long cooridor in which he could see other prisoners, to a small room that was lit by small, unreachable windows and two candles which sat at either side of a wooden table. Behind the table, sat the local magistrate. He was a well-dressed man, who was rough, and round, and coarse, with wiry black hair, a moustache, and a cold, penetrating look. He stared at Sam. "You are the boy's keeper, yes?"
"Yes, my father died years ago in the service of the emperor years ago. I look after him now." Sam answered.
"I don't care what your father did!" he snapped. "Your little brother stole a jade artifact, yes?"
"No!" Sam started, "What I mean is... it was an accident."
"That was a very rare, expensive artifact, yes?" The magistrate barked back. "How will our city's merchants make a living if little boys are breaking their merchandise?"
Sam lowered his head, not knowing exactly what to say. "I have some money." he spoke softly, hesitantly... "It's all we have, but you must accept it."
The magistrate broke into hysterical laughter, "We will be giving the orders, not you!" He stopped laughing abruptly, turning back to his cruel, heartless gaze. "Perhaps the money is just enough to pay for your broken statue." he said, "Then what? We let you go?"
Sam swallowed.
The magistrate slowly continued, "Striking an officer is also against the law, yes?"
Sam didn't answer. He was too busy thinking of how distressed his mother and sister would be when they arrived home from their journey with no money and no food for the long winter months.
"Striking an officer is a serious offense, boy. We fine citizens 1 Ryo for something like that." the magistrate said.
"I have no money. I wish to see the governor."
Several hours later, Sam arrived at Hiro's cell accompanied by 5 men. "Get up, little brother. You're going home."
"Finally." said Hiro with an exaggerated tone as if the whole visit to prison was just a big inconvenience that he was now shrugging off.
"I've arranged to get some supplies. You'll have enough food for the winter for Mom and Aiko for the whole winter long... and here." Sam handed Hiro a small sack of copper coins. "Here's a little extra for savings."
"Wow!" Hiro said. "You got all this?! how are we gonna get all this home?"
"These men will carry it on horseback for you."
"Wait a sec..." Worry filled Hiro's eyes, and a look of panic crossed his face. "What about you, Sam?"
Sam grabbed Hiro and hugged him tight, so he wouldn't have to look him in the eyes. "I'm staying here." he said. "I have to. It's the only way to take care of the family and get you out of jail." Hiro wailed, then tried to speak, but in his wail, he only sputtered incomprehensible mumbling.
"Hey!" Sam grabbed Hiro, and tried to look calm as he spoke to his brother. "You have to be strong. You have to take care of Mother and Aiko. You are the man of the house now."
There were a million things the brothers thought they should say to each other, but neither could think of any of them in that moment. The soldiers were very prompt about filling the order to escort Hiro back to his home, so they stood around waiting for the brothers to say their goodbyes. They hugged each other tightly and tried to withold any crying, because both wanted to prove to the other that he would be fine. After a few minutes, Hiro silently climbed onto the back of a horse with one of the soldiers, and rode off down the road and through the town gate.
And so it was that Sam traded food, money, and rations for his debt to an officer for his unwavering allegiance to serve the Governer of the town of Ido.
There was an old, battle-worn soldier in a large, round straw hat who witnessed this selfless act of Sam from the sidelines of the magistrate's hall, and it peeked his interest. His name was Ogi, and he was a special officer to the Emperor. He was sent as an ambassador to oversee the governor's actions, and he was inspecting the magistrate's bookeeping. Sam interested Ogi a great deal. Ogi told himself to keep an eye out for Sam, and monitor his progress with the Governor.
Characters:
Sam's mother-
Sam's (deceased) father
Sam - (16) strong, smart, responsible boy
Aiko - (13) Sam's younger sister: timid, pretty, smart, thoughtful
Hiro - (10) Sam's youngest brother: outgoing, cocky, bold, skillful
Yamato - young Emperor who rules the land
Ogi - The old soldier
Possible future characters:(the anti-yamato rebels)
money:
Ryo (15 gold)
Bu (1/4 ryo)
Shu (1/4 bu)
Yen (bronze/copper coins)
All he could see and hear was the early bustle of the marketplace in the morning. He glanced this way and that, but there was no trace of his brother. He closed his eyes, concentrated and listened carefully... trying to block out the sound of the crowds in his head.
He heard faintly, the cry of a boy, who sounded like his brother. The more he focused on the sound, the more and more clearly it sounded like Hiro. Sam broke out into a dash in the direction the sound was coming from. He had to stop a few more times to figure out which way to go, and Hiro wasn't yelling the whole time, so occasionally he had to wait a couple of seconds for another yell. At last, he heard a distinct cry of "SAM!" from Hiro. He turned his head to see two soldiers dragging Hiro away. Hiro saw Sam and called out in desparation for his big brother to help him.
"Stop!" Sam demanded the soldiers. They kept dragging Hiro without paying any attention. Sam panicked and thought of how much trouble he would be in now. He was confused, and frustrated and desparate to rescue his brother from these soldiers.
"Stop!" He demanded again. This time he ran in front of them to block their path.
"Out of our way, runt." one of them growled, "This prisoner is no concern of yours." and shoved Sam to the ground with his thick arm.
Sam flipped himself up from the ground... his clothing and his face covered with dust from being tossed into the dirt.
He clenched his teeth with anger, and in a blind fury, he ran up from behind the soldiers, catching them off guard and knocked one of them all the way to the ground. He then turned to the one who still had Hiro by the arm, and leapt up to punch him in the face, and actually hit him in the nose, causing him to grab his face in pain. Sam grabbed Hiro's arm and ran as fast as their legs would take them.
They both made it about 5 seconds before an iron grip grasped both of their arms, and pulled them back.
"Not so fast!" It was one of the soldiers. The one Sam had shoved to the ground. He was very strong, and he would not let Sam attack them again. "Are you alright, Kenji?" He asked the other guard. A trickle of blood ran from his nose. "Yeah." He wiped the blood from his nose, and acted like he didn't even notice it was there. "Let's take both of them in." Said the guard, smacking Sam in the head with the back of his hand. Sam's ear rang from the blow, and his face was red with anger.
Sam and Hiro were thrown into a holding cell in the town prison. "I didn't mean to, Sam! It's not my fault!" Hiro said, crying. "Slow down, Hiro." Sam said calmly. He was jittering and scared, but was trying to calm his brother down. "I'm not mad. Just tell me what happened."
"I was just looking around, and I picked up a jade statue to look at it and some guy yelled at me to give it back and i got scared and i dropped it and it broke and then they wanted me to pay for it and i didn't have any money and, and..." Hiro's voice trembled as he tried to continue.
"Settle down." Sam told Hiro again. "I'll take care of it. Don't worry. Just try to get some rest."
But Hiro didn't sleep. Neither of them did. They just laid on the dirt floor, staring at the ceiling... thinking. Sam spent his time thinking of what to do to get out of this situation. He was short on ideas, but he had to get Hiro out of there. Hiro was also very upset about the situation, and he was sincerely scared, but he soon was distracted by other thoughts which danced around in his head. He took to daydreaming about turning into a bird, and escaping through the bars of his prison to fly away into the mountains. It was good, because it eased his mind and calmed him down.
It was well after noon when a guard, opened up Sam's cell, and ordered him to follow. "He stays behind." said the guard, pointing for Hiro to stay in the cell. Hiro grimaced at his captor.
Sam was led up a long cooridor in which he could see other prisoners, to a small room that was lit by small, unreachable windows and two candles which sat at either side of a wooden table. Behind the table, sat the local magistrate. He was a well-dressed man, who was rough, and round, and coarse, with wiry black hair, a moustache, and a cold, penetrating look. He stared at Sam. "You are the boy's keeper, yes?"
"Yes, my father died years ago in the service of the emperor years ago. I look after him now." Sam answered.
"I don't care what your father did!" he snapped. "Your little brother stole a jade artifact, yes?"
"No!" Sam started, "What I mean is... it was an accident."
"That was a very rare, expensive artifact, yes?" The magistrate barked back. "How will our city's merchants make a living if little boys are breaking their merchandise?"
Sam lowered his head, not knowing exactly what to say. "I have some money." he spoke softly, hesitantly... "It's all we have, but you must accept it."
The magistrate broke into hysterical laughter, "We will be giving the orders, not you!" He stopped laughing abruptly, turning back to his cruel, heartless gaze. "Perhaps the money is just enough to pay for your broken statue." he said, "Then what? We let you go?"
Sam swallowed.
The magistrate slowly continued, "Striking an officer is also against the law, yes?"
Sam didn't answer. He was too busy thinking of how distressed his mother and sister would be when they arrived home from their journey with no money and no food for the long winter months.
"Striking an officer is a serious offense, boy. We fine citizens 1 Ryo for something like that." the magistrate said.
"I have no money. I wish to see the governor."
Several hours later, Sam arrived at Hiro's cell accompanied by 5 men. "Get up, little brother. You're going home."
"Finally." said Hiro with an exaggerated tone as if the whole visit to prison was just a big inconvenience that he was now shrugging off.
"I've arranged to get some supplies. You'll have enough food for the winter for Mom and Aiko for the whole winter long... and here." Sam handed Hiro a small sack of copper coins. "Here's a little extra for savings."
"Wow!" Hiro said. "You got all this?! how are we gonna get all this home?"
"These men will carry it on horseback for you."
"Wait a sec..." Worry filled Hiro's eyes, and a look of panic crossed his face. "What about you, Sam?"
Sam grabbed Hiro and hugged him tight, so he wouldn't have to look him in the eyes. "I'm staying here." he said. "I have to. It's the only way to take care of the family and get you out of jail." Hiro wailed, then tried to speak, but in his wail, he only sputtered incomprehensible mumbling.
"Hey!" Sam grabbed Hiro, and tried to look calm as he spoke to his brother. "You have to be strong. You have to take care of Mother and Aiko. You are the man of the house now."
There were a million things the brothers thought they should say to each other, but neither could think of any of them in that moment. The soldiers were very prompt about filling the order to escort Hiro back to his home, so they stood around waiting for the brothers to say their goodbyes. They hugged each other tightly and tried to withold any crying, because both wanted to prove to the other that he would be fine. After a few minutes, Hiro silently climbed onto the back of a horse with one of the soldiers, and rode off down the road and through the town gate.
And so it was that Sam traded food, money, and rations for his debt to an officer for his unwavering allegiance to serve the Governer of the town of Ido.
There was an old, battle-worn soldier in a large, round straw hat who witnessed this selfless act of Sam from the sidelines of the magistrate's hall, and it peeked his interest. His name was Ogi, and he was a special officer to the Emperor. He was sent as an ambassador to oversee the governor's actions, and he was inspecting the magistrate's bookeeping. Sam interested Ogi a great deal. Ogi told himself to keep an eye out for Sam, and monitor his progress with the Governor.
Characters:
Sam's mother-
Sam's (deceased) father
Sam - (16) strong, smart, responsible boy
Aiko - (13) Sam's younger sister: timid, pretty, smart, thoughtful
Hiro - (10) Sam's youngest brother: outgoing, cocky, bold, skillful
Yamato - young Emperor who rules the land
Ogi - The old soldier
Possible future characters:(the anti-yamato rebels)
money:
Ryo (15 gold)
Bu (1/4 ryo)
Shu (1/4 bu)
Yen (bronze/copper coins)
posted by Jon at 8:56 AM
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