Act II - Spring Love

INTRO

The year is 1590, Eighteenth Year of the Tensho Era. In the Kogan Dojo located in the Tooto’Umi Province, Gennosuke Raizo star pupil of the school is in the middle of a sparring session with his closest rival and best friend Miyuki, one of the first female pupils in the dojo's history. The daughter of Tadakatsu Honda, a Japanese General who would later become a Daimyo, she was accepted to train under the tutelage Master swordsman Kogan..

ACT II – Spring Love

[The two master pupils have been engaged in a fierce battle and were currently even on points. With the rest of the students looking on, they continued the fight.]

Miyuki : [tired and determined] I will take your place as the number one student, Gennosuke!

Gennosuke: [Serious] You want my title? Come and claim it!

[Miyuki takes here wooden staff and rushes towards Gennosuke in a mad dash. Their wooden swords meet in a sound heard well outside the dojo. Lighter on his feet Gennosuke moves his feet slightly to the right, allowing the pressure from Miyuki to propel her forward. He quickly turns and with the soul of his palm strikes her at the base of her spine. He goes crashing to the ground, in one motion Gennosuke leaps in the air and comes down with the wooden staff inches from her face…]

Sensei Irako: Finish Her!

[Both fighters are winded and look each other in the eyes. Gennosuke recoils his weapon and bows his head to Miyuki. Sensei Irako walks towards the young boy and motions for Miyuki to get back up and into fighting position. As she runs back into position the Sensei is left alone with Gennosuke, facing in opposite directions the Sensei speaks]

Sensei Irako: (speaking softly) The flow of the tide…The breeze that cools the sweat off your neck…the very position of the sun in the heavens…These are but a FEW of the things I control in MY world! Is that clear!!

Gennosuke: (intimidated and looking at his feet) Aye Sensei!

Sensei Irako: Disobey me again and your life will be forfeit.

[Gennosuke temporarily locks eyes with Miyuki and they both offer each other the slightest of smiles. Sensei Irako retreats to his position and summons them to begin again. Knowing that their training was becoming more intense and brutal hits are not only allowed, but also encouraged; Gennosuke could not bring himself to hurt Miyuki in such a way. Instead he held back and from that point on, allowed Miyuki to gain advantage over him]

Sensei Irako: Attack!!

[Gennosuke and Miyuki clash once again and in a display of grace and agility both offer glancing blows and quick strikes. They both manage to avoid hits and they continue their execution of perfect technique. Suddenly Miyuki sees an opening as Gennosuke has left his right wrist exposed. She instinctively smashes his wrist and Gennosuke’s weapon falls to the floor. For a split second she hesitates but recovers and whips the wooden staff straight into the side of Gennosuke’s head, knocking him out. She recoils and bows to Sensei Irako and holds her stance]

Sensei Irako to all of his students: Mercy does not exist in this dojo!

Later that day...

[Gennosuke is seen by the river has the petals of the cherry blossoms blanket the ground in the warm spring air. He is nursing his ailing head, as Miyuki walks up and sits beside him. Still not fully recovered from the blow to the head, he manages to smile at her]

Miyuki: I’m sorry I hit you. But, you deserved it! For letting me win.

Gennosuke: Well, you didn’t have to hit me that hard!! Besides, I could never hurt anyone that looks at me the way you do…

[They both look out over the river and comfortably share silence]