Soukei Baku Episode 5: The Tournament Begins!

Written by: Rasheem, MC

Aligned within and across the Baku, all students came together as they prepared for
the annual competition. The sound of clinging steel ringed off against each other, as
students sparred with respective members inside their clan. This was the day everyone
had been waiting for. In the heat of the moment, students were finally able to test their
ability against the opposite clan. This was not a test to see who was the better clan, but
an opportunity for everyone to learn from their mistakes. One who came in first would
recieve the title as "Champion."
At Amakatu, the champion gained the benefit of having sacred training with their
headmaster. Techniques that are taught to the champion will reflect purity, as the factor
of universal energy will become adapted within their skill.
As of yet, there has never been a reigning champion at the academy.
For years students trained at a constant rate just to achieve the title. Most students
failed because at the end of the tournament, they were blind to the real lesson the tournament
taught...the honor of fellowship for their clan and person.
Most competitors often boasted about their victories. Followed by a extensive boost of
personal ego, both headmasters feared that the reigning victor would help neither
individual in their respective clan. Instead, students would most likely bully them, while
throwing their title as champion in the faces of those who worked hard...only to see defeat.
The tournament ring was a flat, four cornered stage that can only be ascended by a small
rig of wooden stairs. In the center of the ring was the Kenjutsu symbol. It was designed
in the traditional japanese sense, as it spread around the entire hard wooded surface.
In regards of color design, the ring's surface was painted white, while the symbol was
painted black. Only one student volunteered to host the tournament...Homaru Zaishi,
who would rather spend his time talking to girls than perfecting his technique.
Inside the Amaretsu dormitory, Wu-Shin stood just in front of a statue of Susano Shin...
his late wife...and Soukei's mother. He sat there on his knees with his eyes closed and his
hands folded in his lap, while the flames that melted the candles around the statue flickered
around the room. Pure silence surrounded him. Susano died just after giving birth to Soukei,
due to a threatening disease that caused her heart rate to drop rapidly. Three months after
learning of the sickness, Susano died in Wu-Shin's arms. Her final words...pleaded for her
husband to take care of Soukei, and to never let him fall unto danger.
After her burial, Wu-Shin hadn't eaten in a week, nor spent time with Soukei as he was still
in mourning. Once he became headmaster, he felt that it was his time to fulfill his wife's
last words and to protect not only his son, but the rest of his clan.
The door to his room opened silently. The rundown wood creaked against its hinges, and
Soukei stepped inside...only to see his father sit in front of the statue.
Soukei has seen the statue many times before, but he didn't realize who the statue was.
As the door closed behind him, Soukei stepped closer toward his father.
Wu-Shin inhaled deeply and risen to his feet. He felt that it would be best if Soukei did
not know of his mother for now...He feels that if he told Soukei about Susano, that the
tournament would not turn in his gratitude. He wanted his son to stay focus, and not kneel
to the risk of being overwhelmed with sadness.
"Father..." Soukei bowed, as his father did the same.
The two of them could hear the competitors outside. As Wu-Shin looked upon his son, he
could tell that he was ready to participate. A thought troubled Wu-Shin, however.
Now that Osagawa had arrived, he feared that Jai-Po would also enlist in the tournament.
A year back, Wu-Shin acknowledged Jai-Po's training session with Xaohu one evening inside
the Makato's training room. What he witnessed...was something he'd never seen before.
In his mind, he even admitted that if Jai-Po utilized his full strength, he could even best
him in combat. However, Jai-Po was not like any other student at the academy when it came
to Kenjutsu. Something unjust surrounded the boy's style. He realized that Jai-Po could
not control his hunger for victory, and that he may even go as far as beating his opponent
to the edge of death just to prove himself worthy to the school.
Even though his combat prowess exceeded most...Jai-Po's expression never was unholy.
The boy seemed happy and eager to finally participate in the tournament in the year to come.
This...is what he feared for his son. Soukei's combat awareness and acrobatic ability was
unique to the Amaretsu's way of Kenjutsu. Through the years, Soukei became quite
the samurai. He knew that sooner or later, Soukei may even be better than him.
He didn't want to think what would happen if Soukei went up against Jai-Po...but the two
seemed to be on friendly terms. Perhapes he was thinking too hard...Wu-Shin
has always been pessimistic about the future of the world around them...and he had good
reason to be. There were not too many people familiar with the violent war that took
place a long time ago...and how the Makato has always demanded a rule in governing power.
Ever since, Wu-Shin always had a feeling that the Makato clan would somehow
devise a way to insert that power throughout the world.
"Soukei. Why are you not out there with the others?" he asked.
"I came to see if you were well, father...Naoki was also worried as to know why you
haven't arrived in the Baku already..."
"Soukei..." his father whispered.
"Yes, father?"
At that moment, Wu-Shin wanted to tell Soukei about the danger hidden inside Jai-Po's technique.
He wanted to share the history about their clans...and tell him about his mother, but he restrained.
He closed his eyes and shook it off as he approached his son and placed his left hand on his
right shoulder. The boy looked up into his father's eyes, and noticed that no matter what...his
father would always be proud of him...whether he lose or not. In any case, Soukei didn't want
to disappoint his father, nor his friends. This was a time when Soukei had a chance to prove
to everyone that he was the best of the best...and even take back his victory against Naoki, if
they were scheduled to fight. Wu-Shin quickly thought of something to say, to replace what he
desperately wanted to tell his son.
"...Remember...a samurai's true weapon is not his sword...but the honor that beats a million times
per second in his heart. As you do battle, I want you to remember one thing. That as you do
battle, you are not there to gloat. You are not there to win. You are there to show respect of
your fellow opponents, yourself, and your clan. Remember this...and you already gain the victory.
The tournament is not to see which clan is better, but who has the most honor. You are strong.
Thus, I'am very proud of you, my son."
"Thank you father. I will not let you down."
"Good. Now...return to the Baku. Myself and Master Xaohu will observe from above when
everything is ready."
"Yes, father."
Soukei risen to his feet and made his exit. As he left, Wu-Shin sighed and followed soon after.
Outside in the Baku, the preliminary rounds were set to begin. All students gathered around
the ring waiting in anticipation. Naoki and Ryukaga stood together and was approached by Soukei.
Both Wu-Shin and Xaohu sat above the crowd, located at the peak of a flight of stone steps
that could've ascended into the heavens. They made themselves comfortable in two high chairs
resting at the highest balcony that overlooked the Baku. From there, they could see just about
anything. Tensions from the earlier introduction of Osagawa still resided in Wu-Shin. Xaohu
hadn't been really affected by Wu-Shin's degrading disapproval of their argument. In fact, he
found it funny. Xaohu turned to Wu-Shin and stretched out his hand.
"May the best clan win, my old friend." he said smiling.
Wu-Shin glanced at Xaohu's hand and shook with hesitation.
As Soukei approached Naoki and Ryukaga who all stood in close to the ring, Naoki grinned as
to say that Soukei would never retain his victory ever again...but Soukei was not amused.
In fact, he looked more serious than usual. Naoki rose her eyebrow as Soukei stood by them
not saying a word...Then she figured that Master Wu-Shin must have said something to him...and
decided not to comment. She turned her eyes back toward the ring after she nodded to him.
Ryukaga closed his eyes and arched his head down. Memories of his family crossed his thoughts.
He knew he was doing this for them...he had to achieve champion...he just had to.
His parents would be happy to see him participate...but as of now, he would just need to send
the news back home, if he did manage to pick up the victory. If he does well in the tournament,
perhapes Master Xaohu would keep his promise and allow his family to work for the clan.
Finally, the annual tournament was ready to begin.
"Alright. The third annual Amakatu tournament is set to begin the preliminary rounds." said
Homaru, the announcer. Since there were no microphone, the students were forced to keep
silent so they can hear the rules as Homaru shouted them.
"Each competitor are free to use their sword, however, death is hereby prohibited. You must
also keep within the ring. If you are knocked outside of the ring, you automatically lose.
Each fight will last ninety-nine seconds. If the time is up and neither competitor defeats his
or her opponent, then the judges will make a unanimous vote to determine the victor. And
finally...the winner of the tournament will be given the title "Champion" and will then seek
the sacred training of your clan's headmaster. And now that we got that out of the way...
let's rumble!"
The students smirked.
"First up. Hailing from the Amaretsu clan we have...Byakuga Sutasae!"
Byakuga Sutasae comes from a wealthy family. Inside the clan, he had the most trouble
with his technique, but over time he became quite the samurai warrior. Master Wu-Shin
often thought that Byakuga did not take his training seriously enough, which would lead
to his downfall. Soukei and Byakuga often frowned upon each other, due to the difference
in classes. Soukei's family came from the lower class, while Byakuga's came from the
upper class. They simply did not understand each other. More so, Soukei didn't understand
why such a rich fellow would even join the academy...but then he realized it wasn't
his business to determine ones destiny.
Byakuga stepped on the ring's floor. He wore an white samurai gi, except his pants which
were navy blue. He had his katana resting on the left side of his waist. His short blonde hair
rendered him a lady magnet. The girls in the Amaretsu clan found him to be the best looking.
Byakuga often used his looks to gain an advantage over the people he knew. He thought
he was the best thing to have ever happen to Amakatu, but soon, all shall see if he had been
bluffing or not.
"Next. Coming from the Makato clan...Reiji Mong-Tsu!"
Reiji Mong-Tsu wasn't necessarily known at the school. Half of the academy didn't even
know his real name until then. He kept to himself, and was rarely seen in the Baku.
He wore the usual ninja uniform, as well as a flat layer of leather armor on his torso. The
armor itself was not full. There were no shoulder pads, but instead, the armor only was
built for chest protection. The wide piece of leather stretched from both of his collar bones.
He didn't wear any face wrap or mask. Instead, he allowed his medium-length, crimson red
hair to hang in front of his face. His bangs hid his eyes from the daylight. His sword on his back.
Though he wasn't the best around in the Makato, he has shown a great promise to his skill.
He has defeated a handful of students inside the Makato and even wanted to spar with
Jai-Po and one time. However, he was refused by Master Xaohu. Reiji began thinking why
Jai-Po was so important to Xaohu, and often felt a sense of jealousy.
As Reiji stepped on the floor, both himself and Byakuga blankly stared at one another,
before Byakuga decided to break the silence between them.
"So that is your name, huh? I don't understand how one can go on while his name is being
shadowed behind him. Isn't that embarrassing?" Byakuga asked.
Reiji did not reply. Instead, his right hand reached around and clenched tightly around the
handle of his katana, slowly removing it. As his arm fell back down at his side, the katana
pointed at the floor beneath him as he waited for the match to begin.
"Let the first round of the tournament...BEGIN!" hollered Homaru.
To be continued...