Act III - The Fall (Part 2)

The Following Evening…

In the courtyard of the Daimyo, a ceremony is under way. Gennosuke Raizo, master Samurai of the Kogan Clan, has been bathed, dressed in white, and fed his favorite meal. Gennosuke stares at the tanto ceremoniously placed on his plate. A select few of the Kogan Clan are there to bear witness to the Seppuku Ritual. A cold stare blankets his face as his Lord Murakami Genji, a Daimyo known for his brutality and bloodlust, speaks…

Murakami: Kogan Raizo! You have proven yourself a valuable instrument of Tokugawa Leyasu, in the Battle for the Sundering Realm. With this decisive victory, Tokugawa will soon become the next Shogun.

[His Kaishakunin is seen, slowly drawing out his sword in preparation to decapitate Gennosuke]

Murakami: (continues) A great honor has been placed upon our clan: To eradicate the house of the enemy, Toyotomi and to place the infant ruler under a blade to wipe out the seed of the Toyotomi-shi from this earth. This honor I give to you…and you REFUSE!!!!

[The face of Murakami turns twisted and wickedly evil as he temporarily loses his control and screams at Gennosuke. Yet, Raizo dares not look into the face of his Lord, not for shame, but in order to maintain the dignity of the Hara-Kiri]

Murakami: Weakness dispels strength and betrayal begets blood! You have brought dishonor upon our house!! No other showed such promise as you. A terror upon this earth you would’ve been!!!

[The Daimyo closes his eyes in an attempt to calm down]

Murakami: For your treachery, you are condemned. Proceed and die with the knowledge that your precious Miyuki has carried out the order you lacked the courage to accept.

[A surprised look falls upon the face of Gennosuke. His eyes betray him and he looks up at the smiling Daimyo. The Lord takes great pleasure in delivering the news. Before this revelation, Gennosuke was content to take his own life for his principles. He was prepared to defy all the things that were instilled in him as a Samurai, but this he simply could not accept!]

Murakami: (sinister smile) That’s right coward! The only dishonor she will carry is the love she had for you. Miyuki will wash away the sins of the Toyotomi with their own blood!

[While the Daimyo speaks Miyuki’s feet can be seen walking towards a village, her eyes are blank and the blade of her sword follows close behind. Children can be seen laughing and playing in the street.]

Murakami: (continues) A beautiful angel of death she will be. All shall love her and despair!!

[The Daimyo begins to laugh and Gennosuke’s eyes become enraged]

[Gennosuke slowly opened his kimono to expose his bare, muscular abdomen. He then proceeded to pick up the tanto, being very careful not to make any sudden movements; he held the knife in his hand for what seem to be only a moment. In one swift motion of his hand, the tanto took flight and landed perfectly in the forehead of the Daimyo, the force of the strike was so violent; most of the handle was embedded into his skull. Before the lifeless body of his Lord fell forward and hit the floor, Gennosuke was up slicing away at the spectators who retaliated, some had barely begun to unsheathe their weapons, when they were cut down. One by one the Samurai’s fell upon Raizo’s blade. In a matter of moments, Gennosuke Raizo massacred twenty Kogan Clan Samurai, including two senior instructors of the Kogan-Ryuu]

Gennosuke: (Winded and looking into the west as the sun is setting) Miyuki!

[He starts to run towards the village where the Toyotomi have a settlement. The very village he was supposed to attack. His feet are swift and he appears only as a blur, as images play out in his head of Miyuki as a child. He recalls the day she was introduced to the Kogan Dojo students and how he protected her from the rest of the kids, who picked on her for being female. He remembered her washing the blood off his back, after he received 4 lashes for insubordination. He could hear the sound of her laugh as they played underneath the cherry blossoms in early spring. Gripping his sword, he was reminded of how the slightest touch of her hand commanded his obedience]

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[Gennosuke arrives at the village…no longer running he slowly walks towards the carnage with his eyes filled with tears and regret. He was too late. His eyes were overwhelmed with horror. Women and children lay lifeless in the street. Old men guarding their homes slaughtered on their doorsteps. The walls were sprayed in crimson fury, the town was in ruin and the huts burned a fiery gold in the night sky. At the foot of the entrance to the village, Gennosuke, collapsed to his knees and buried his face in his hands and wept]