Chapter 1: Chapter 1 (rewrite)
[Hello Everyone ! i know i didn't write this fic for 2 month but i had some problems, i had a car accident two month ago when going to Normandy for a vacation of 2 weeks and i didn't have time to write for the first month, then i had to wait to get my PC repaired because it broke in the accident so i couldn't play Ghost of Tsushima until now. I had to pay the repairs of the car myself (4400€ (2 month of salary) since the insurance didn't want to pay "because there was a hit and run" so i'm trying to take the matter to court.
So expect less regular update till i make ends meet (If i can i'll do once a week or once every two weeks) also i'm making the chapter longer and correcting the mistakes i did so now it's better to read. (and yes all chapters from now on will be the same length as this one (almost (between 3.000 and 4.000 words).
Anyway have a good chapter !]
I woke up to a bright, blinding light. At first, I thought I'd slept in and left the blinds open, but i wasn't in my bed. I wasn't in my apartment. The last thing I remember was that i was drinking with an old buddy of mine, ether i'm dead or i'm fucking drunk.
My body felt strange. Too light. Too small. I looked at my hands "What the hell ?" Tiny. Child-like. Even my voice was too high too be an adult voice. I wasn't in my own body anymore.
"Shuji, are you awake ?" I heard a woman's voice. It was sweet and warm like i was put into a thick blanket. And it called my name. Well at least i know i'm still me in name.
I turned to the woman who called me. She had long, dark hair tied into a simple bun, wearing traditional Japanese robes. Her eyes were soft but tired. Her presence was for an unknown reason to me, comforting.
Before I could process any more of it, the woman leaned down and gently pulled me to my feet. Her hands were firm but gentle, her voice soothing as she spoke in Japanese. She said something to me, something I couldn't make out, but I got the gist of it.
She wanted me to follow her... and Jin ? Who's Jin ?
That's when i saw a little boy, a bit shorter than me, his face was a curious mix of caution and quiet interest, he fixed le for a moment before looking away.
The next few days were a blur of confusion and slow realizations. I had been reincarnated, that much was clear. This wasn't some weird dream or a drunken blackout. I was in feudal Japan, or something very close to it. The woman who had spoken to me that first morning was Chiyoko Sakai, my new mother. She is the little sister of the Jito. Jin is my younger brother by a few months.
The language barrier was a struggle. I barely knew any Japanese. Simple words and phrases like : Yes, No, Hello,... were all I could manage.
Despite the confusion, there were some things that i understood pretty easily. We are a family of samurai, our father, Kazumasa Sakai, is the head of clan Sakai and the right hand of the Jito, Lord Shimura. Who is also my mother's brother, making him my uncle.
Anyway, me and Jin were trained in the way of the bushido pretty early, at 5 year old he already started making us train with wooden swords.
While Jin wasn't thrilled by this training he was pretty good with a sword in his hand.
As for myself i was average i'd say but learning how to protect oneself in a time without internet and all the comfort we got in modern times is the minimum so i didn't complain. But what made me a bit behind Jin was that i wasn't used to me new body yet, so i was a bit clumsy at first.
One afternoon, after a particularly exhausting training session, I found Jin perched in a tree, high up on a thick branch, staring at the horizon.
"You're going to fall one of these days." I said, my Japanese still awkward but passable.
Jin looked down at me, a small smile on his face "Not if I'm careful." And i snorted at that.
The next year passed with slow, steady progress. My Japanese improved, though I was still far from fluent. Training became a routine, and slowly, I started to get better. My body grew stronger, more agile, and i became as good with a sword as Jin, but only because i trained more than he did. He preferred playing with a flute or write Haïku with our mother.
A few month later we met a kid named Ryuzo.
He was a bit rough around the edges, a boy from a less privileged background, but we clicked with him immediately. Unlike Jin, who was quiet and reserved, Ryuzo was outgoing and full of energy. He wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty, and he had a mischievous streak that often got us into trouble. I could see that he was jealous of Jin and i situation but i never thought much about it, we're kids after all. It'll go away as we grow.
The three of us would play in the fields near our home, often pretending to be samurai on grand adventures. Jin, despite his reluctance toward swordplay, would join in, though he'd sometimes sneak off to climb trees or explore high places around the village while Ryuzo and I sparred with sticks. Jin had this weird obsession with heights, he loved climbing anything and everything. Trees, walls, rooftops… if he could scale it, he would.
One day, Ryuzo got the brilliant idea to go to Iki Island. He had overheard some of the adults talking about it, and his imagination ran wild with tales of pirates and treasure. Of course, Jin and I were intrigued, though I knew it was a reckless idea.
"We can steal one of the boats." Ryuzo suggested one afternoon.
"Are you insane ?" I shot back, even if a part of me was tempted by the idea "We'll get caught before we even leave the shore."
But Ryuzo was persistent and we finally accepted.
At night we headed to the beach. Ryuzo had somehow managed to find a small fishing boat, and we began to push it toward the water.
"Stop right there !" We froze and within minutes, we were dragged back to the village, where our fathers awaited us with stern expressions. That night, we were punished and had to do what our servants usually did. Cleaning, carrying boxes of materials or bunch of other things, working in the kitchen,...
Our father Kazumasa Sakai, was a strict and disciplined man. He spent most of his days training or attending to matters outside the estate. His duties often took him away, dealing with bandits, pirates, and criminals at the order of our uncle, Lord Shimura.
Around the same time, our mother, Chiyoko, started to fall ill. At first, it was just a cough, nothing serious, or so we thought. But over time, her condition worsened. The healers came, bringing herbs and remedies, but nothing seemed to work. Chiyoko grew weaker with each passing day.
Jin and I spent our days by her bedside, watching helplessly as the illness took its toll. There were moments when she would smile at us, her voice soft and reassuring, but those moments became rarer as the month went by.
When she passed away when we were 7 years old. The weight of grief crushed our family. Jin took it especially hard. He had always been the closest to our mother. One evening, after the funeral rites were performed, Jin disappeared.
I searched the estate, calling his name, but there was no sign of him.
As the hours dragged on i realized he had run away.
Father was furious. He sent out riders to search the nearby forest, and I joined them, searching the woods for any trace of Jin.
We found him after three days. Huddled beneath a tree, weak from hunger and exhaustion.
He was barely conscious when we brought him back home, and for days after, he didn't speak. The loss of our mother had broken something inside him, and it took months before he started to return to his usual self. Or at least it seemed so.
After our mother's death, things changed in the Sakai household. Father became distant, burying himself in his duties as a samurai. Jin and I spent more time alone or with Yuriko, the kind maid who had always taken care of us. She became like a second mother in the months that followed.
Tsushima was far from peaceful. Bandits, pirates, and criminals plagued the island, and Lord Shimura, our uncle, relied heavily on Father's skills. Father had always been strict with us, but after Mother's death, he seemed lost.
During one of those absences, rumors began to spread about Iki Island.
Iki, a neighboring island, had become overrun with raiders and pirates. The island was lawless, dangerous, and wild. Lord Shimura had ordered a campaign to pacify the region, and Father had been tasked with leading the effort alongside another samurai, Hirotsune Adachi. I remember the day Father told us that we were going to Iki Island.
Jin and I were 13 year old, playing by the river, skipping stones over the lake when Father found us. His expression was stern, as always "Shuji, Jin. We are leaving for Iki island."
I exchanged a glance with Jin. Iki Island had become the stuff of rumors and stories, most of them about pirates, bandits, and thief's.
"Why are we going to Iki, Father ?" Jin asked with a steady voice.
Father looked down at us "You are old enough to see the world beyond Tsushima. It is time you both understand what it means to be a samurai."
The journey to Iki was rough. We traveled by boat. I spent most of the trip staring at the horizon, trying to keep the contents of my stomach in place.
When we arrived on Iki, the first thing that struck me was how different it felt from Tsushima. The air was heavier, the skies clouded, the shoreline was littered with the remains of old boats and broken weapons, evidence of the battles that had already taken place.
Father and Mister Adachi didn't waste any time. We were quickly led into the camp, where the other samurai had gathered. The men around us spoke of raids, of ambushes, of lives lost.
Father didn't say much to us. He merely told us to stay close to him. Jin stayed close, i saw that he was anxious but he didn't want to disappoint father so he hid the fear beneath a mask of resolve.
The first night i was sitting on a log listening to Jin playing the flute beside me.
"Why do you thing father took us here ?" Jin stopped and asked.
"I don't know. Training us i guess." I replied, my Japanese becoming better over the years.
Jin didn't look happy to be here but before he could say anything a samurai of our clan approached and bowed "My lords, your father is ready to address the men, he want you to join the men, you must gather your armors."
Jin and i exchanged glance and followed the samurai to where our armors were.
The armor feels robust, made primarily of black lamellar plates, each one meticulously woven together with strong, thick cords. The chest is adorned with the distinctive emblem of the clan Sakai.
The armor's weight is noticeable but not enough to make it difficult to move.
After putting on our armor we headed to were our father was going to deliver his speech but as we arrived, our father already started "They consider themselves the masters of Iki 'Lords of the sea' but i don't smell 'Lords'. Do you know what i smell ? ....Rats." we heard some samurai laugh as our father continued "Greedy, vicious, disease-ridden rats. And we have found their nest. Every warrior under your command owes you five heads. As for what you owe me..." He paused "Fifty heads. Each. Anything less, and you can swim home."
After his speech ended he asked for us to follow him then talked to Mr. Adachi and told him that we will head to Mount Takenotsuji.
"Father." Jin called.
"You're wearing those armors to battle ? Let me have a look in the light" Father said as he went to a fireplace to have a better look at our armors.
"Hmph ! Jin, the shoulder is loose. One good strike... That's all it takes." Father said as he tightened the shoulder of Jin's armor.
"I'm sorry." Jin apologized.
"A warrior learns from his mistakes, or he's buried with them. But you won't die today. Remember your training...and never leave my side. Pay attention, sharpen your skills." Father said with a stern look as he finished adjusting Jin's armor.
He turned toward me but didn't make any comments. Seems like i put it on correctly.
The next day we followed our father and Mr. Adachi to Mount Takenotsuji.
As we climbed, Father occasionally explained the land's strategic importance "Takenotsuji overlooks the entire island. From there, we'll be able to see the movements of the raiders before they can reach us."
We reached the summit just before nightfall. Father wasted no time, directing the men to begin fortifying the area. Over the next few weeks, Fort Sakai was built. It became our base of operations.
During this time, Jin and I spent most of our days with Father, learning strategy and tactics.
Months passed, and the situation on Iki remained tense. The raiders, pirates and bandits continued to strike at our forces and sometimes fleeing before we could catch them.
Then, word came that the villagers of Kidafure were helping the raiders, bandits and pirates, giving them food and shelter.
Father decided to destroy the village, to make an exemple to the inhabitants of Iki.
We were to march to Kidafure with the full force of the samurai under Father's command.
I glanced at Jin, he looked calm but i knew him enough to tell that he didn't want to be here. But he didn't want to disappoint our father so he didn't say anything.
When we arrived, the villagers scrambled to hide or flee, but there was nowhere for them to go. Father gave the order, and the samurai moved.
The first houses were set ablaze, and the screams of the villagers filled the air.
Jin's hand tightened around the hilt of his katana, I nudged him. Making him regain his focus.
Suddenly 2 men charged at us, armed with nothing but a sickle and a hoe.
The one with the sickle charged at le, i could see the anger, the fear and the desperation in his eyes.
I stepped back dodging his attack then charged and with a swift motion of my blade pierced his heart.
He screamed as he dropped to his knees, his sickle falling on the ground beside him.
I didn't feel fear nor guilt. I didn't feel happy nor angry either, just... I don't know.
I stood over him for a moment, watching his life slip away, before wiping the blood from my blade.
I turned to Jin, he also killed the other villager. He looked at his corpse. He stood there, frozen. His chest raising and falling in quick motion.
"You did what you had to do." I told him.
Jin didn't respond at first. His eyes flicked toward me for a second, then back to the body at his feet "He…he wasn't even armed."
I could see it was weighing on Jin, the weight of taking a life for the first time.
I rested a hand on his shoulder "This is war, Jin. If you hesitate, you die. He would've done the same to you."
Jin's hand trembled slightly as he gripped his sword tighter, he looked at me and I saw a flicker of doubt in his eyes. Doubt about what we were doing, about what it meant to be a samurai, if it was the right thing.
The village of Kidafure was in chaos. The houses burned, corpse and blood was everywhere. Women and children were killed. The villagers left tried to flee but the samurai moved with precision under our father command, killing everyone in their path.
Our father fought like a demon. There was no hesitation nor mercy in his strikes. A villager charged at him with a spear, desperation all over his face. Father sidestepped and with a single move, beheaded the man.
The man's body dropped on the ground, his head beside him.
The last few villagers who dared raise their weapon were cut down without mercy. And only a few managed to flee.
The smell of blood and smoke was heavy in the air.
The samurai had won, and the village of Kidafure would be nothing more than ash and memories.
I wiped the sweat from my brow, the weight of the battle lifting from my shoulders. My hands still gripped the hilt of my Katana tightly. I glanced around at the bodies strewn across the ground. Bandit, villager, men, women, children...All dead.
Jin came up beside me and said quietly "He was probably just trying to protect his home."
I nodded, but said nothing. Jin was right, of course. Most of these people weren't warriors. They weren't trained to fight, to kill. But they had chosen their side, and this was the consequence. Still, that didn't make it any easier to look at the bodies lying in the dirt.
"We don't choose the battles, Jin." I sighed.
Jin didn't say anything else, but I could see the conflict in his eyes, the way his hands trembled slightly as he sheathed his weapon.
"Shuji ! Jin !" Suddenly we heard a voice behind us.
We both turned to see Mr. Adachi. His armor was covered in blood and dirt. He motioned for us to follow him.
We headed toward our father who was talking with the other samurai "How many fell to your blade, Lord Sakai ?" One of them asked.
"I hardly recall. None were memorable." Our father replied.
"Dozen, from what i saw !" Another samurai chimed in.
"Next time, leave some glory for us, my lord !" Another added with a grin.
"This wasn't about glory. It was a message to all Iki : Harbor these raiders at your peril." Our father explained but Jin interrupted him "These weren't warriors. They were untrained villagers, with rusted-"
"Enough !" Our father cut him off.
"I require a private word with my sons. Lord Adachi, feed the men...and get them drunk." Father commanded before turning to us "Come here."
"Father, what happened today ?" Jin asked as we followed Our father.
"These villagers were helping hide the raiders." Father replied calmly.
"We butchered them ! All the men in the village. Even women and children." Jin said with disbelief.
"The samurai ran hot, yes. But these fools attacked us." Father flatly replied.
Then we stopped when we were far enough from the other, and Jin said "The man i killed..."
"The man you killed was a criminal. You did well today, both of you. Better than i expected." Father explained as he turned to Jin.
"Father..." Jin tried to say.
"We fulfilled our order from our Jito." Father crouched down so he could be eye-level with Jin and raised his chin "Raise your head high. Today you were warriors." Then patted mine and Jin shoulders before going to drink with the other samurais.
After the battle at Kidafure, the campaign on Iki Island continued with no signs of slowing down. While Iki Island was notorious for its raiders, the real threat came from the pirates that controlled the seas and smuggled goods through hidden coves and ports.
First we got back to Fort Sakai to rest for a day and get food. Rumors began to swirl that the pirates were regrouping near Mount Takenotsuji and Thunderhead Cliffs. Father was determined to root them out.
Jin had been quiet since Kidafure, and I didn't blame him. We were both still trying to process what had happened.
"The pirates are hiding in this area. We need to draw them out and crush them here, before they can retreat to the cliffs." Father planed what to do with Lord Adashi.
Lord Adashi nodded in agreement "Their scouts have spotted us. They'll be ready soon. We should strike before they can organize."
Father turned to us "Jin, Shuji, stay close. This is not like Kidafure. These men are trained fighters, not villagers with rusted weapons."
As we neared the location between Mount Takenotsuji and Thunderhead Cliffs, the samurai stopped, gathering into small groups to discuss tactics. Father led us into the forest, scouting the unfamiliar terrain. The underbrush was thick, and the tree where tall. We moved silently through the woods.
Suddenly, a scout came running toward Father, his breath ragged "My lord ! The pirates have spotted us ! They are massing a force to meet us head-on !"
Father didn't hesitate. He immediately began assessing the terrain, his eyes darting from the forest to the cliffs in the distance. "We cannot fight them head-on," he said after a moment, his voice calm but commanding "They outnumber us, and they know this land better than we do. We must draw them in, use the forest to our advantage."
Lord Adachi frowned "You want to lure them into the underbrush ?"
Father nodded "Yes. We'll lead a small force through the forest to draw them out. Once they pursue us, we'll guide them into a trap. Our reserves will flank them from both sides."
Jin and I exchanged a glance. It reminded us of Chikuzen. A battle from years ago, a brutal conflict in which our father had been victorious against overwhelming odds by using the terrain to outmaneuver the enemy. He had spoken of it only briefly in the past, but I knew it was one of his proudest moments as a samurai.
"Are you ready !" I asked Jin quietly.
He nodded "We have no choice."
Father began organizing the men. He chose a small group of samurai to join us in the forest, while the rest would hold back, waiting for the pirates to fall into the trap.
The forest was quiet. The tension was palpable, every man on edge, waiting for the pirates to make their move. And then, they came.
The pirates approached. They wore ragged armor and carried a mix of swords, spears, and bows. There were far more of them than I had anticipated, but Father remained calm.
"Now !" Father shouted.
Our small force immediately retreated, moving quickly through the underbrush, just as Father had planned. The pirates, seeing their opportunity, gave chase, their shouts echoing through the forest as they pursued us.
We ran deeper into the forest, weaving between trees and over fallen branches. I glanced back to see the pirates closing in.
As we neared the clearing, I could see the rest of our force waiting to strike.
"Now !" Father shouted again, and in an instant, our reserves moved in from both sides, surrounding the pirates.
I drew my Katana, focusing on the nearest pirate. He was much larger than me, He swung his blade wildly, but I ducked beneath his attack, moving quickly to his side. With a swift motion, I struck, my blade cutting through his side. He fell to the ground. Then i finished him by planting my katana into his throat.
I could see Father in the distance, fighting like a demon, his sword cutting through the pirates with terrifying efficiency.
Jin was beside me, his face pale but determined. He parried a strike from one pirate before countering with a quick slash to the man's arm. The pirate stumbled back, and Jin wasted no time finishing him off with a second blow. I could see it still bothered him but not as much as before.
As the battle continued, it became clear that Father's plan was working. The pirates were disoriented, caught between our forces and unable to retreat. They fought fiercely, but it was no use. They fell one by one.
After a few minutes the pirates were either dead or trying to flee, their numbers decimated by the ambush. The samurai began regrouping, checking on the wounded and ensuring that none of the pirates had escaped.