Chapter 3: Becoming a Samurai
The Next Day.
"This will sting". Genji stated.
Genji, having found an interest for health care and nursing from a very young age, attended to treating Sakurtarō wounds.
"Come on, big brother. Try to keep still."
"It stings! It's impossible to stay still." Sakutarō painfully responded.
"I know. I know. Just try, please."
Genji was cleaning the wounds deposited on the bottom of both Sakutarō's feet. He placed a rag inside a bowl filled with a concoction he made, and dabbed it against the bloody wounds.
"I've haven't seen father this angry since... for quite a while." Genji murmured.
"Yeah... he was right to be, though. What I did was wrong."
"But, he didn't have to punish you that hard did he? Personally, I would have preferred a beating."
Having been escorted home by Makoto the night before, Tōsō took it upon himself to punish his son in a way that he would not forget.
The Night Before.
"So... you want to be a Samurai. Well, this will be your first true experience." Tōsō snarled. "Take off your geta and step onto the gravel".
Instilled with fear, Sakutarō took off his wooden clogs, and made his way to the gravel path barefoot.
"From the side of our house, to that old tree behind you, you are going to jog up and down until I perceive you to be unable to carry on. You will not speak. Any sign of complaining or wincing due to the pain, I will strike the bottom of your feet with this cane."
Having taken less than ten steps, Sakutarō already made a mistake.
"Ahhhh, the gravel --"
Before he could even finish his sentence, Tōsō pounced behind him and struck the bottom of Sakutarō's right foot. He dropped to the ground, screaming in pain. Tōsō proceeded to grab under his arm and lift him up.
"A Samurai does not know pain!" Tōsō shouted in his ear. "A Samurai is a killer. A Samurai is stealthy. A Samurai shows no sign of weakness before his enemy."
Having finished speaking, he struck the bottom of Sakutarō's left foot. Squinting in pain, Sakutarō bit into his bottom lip to prevent himself from making a noise. His teeth had pierced so deep that he had to use his hands to help remove them from his lip.
Back To Present Day.
"Alright, bandage me up." Sakutarō whispered.
"I don't know if you'll be able to walk." Genji remarked.
"It's okay. I'll try. I'll see how it feels."
Once his feet were tended to, he put on his geta and attempted to stand up.
"Hmm... it's not bad. A stick would help a lot."
Genji rushed into another room and returned fetching a long, thick stick for Sakutarō to hold on to.
"You okay?" Genji asked.
"Yes, I'm fine. I love you, Genji."
"Huh? You never say that."
"Well, I just did. You're my only brother. You mean the world to me."
"I love you too, Sakutarō. You're a good big brother."
They both smiled. Sakutarō took Genji's arm and pulled him, hugging him.
"How's father?" Sakutarō asked.
"I'm not sure. He hasn't spoken since I woke up."
"Alright, let's go."
They both walked into the next room. It was empty. As they looked outside, they saw their father prostrating at Daisuke's feet.
"Please, forgive me. I did not mean for my son to spy on you. He's only a child. He doesn't understand his actions." Tōsō pleaded.
"No, father!" Sakutarō shouted. "He doesn't like it when people bow!"
As he said that, his jaw dropped. For the first time, he had seen Daisuke's face. Daisuke, standing above the prostrating Tōsō, raised his head. His eyes, taupe brown. Short, patchy beard. A scar across his face, from above his left eye down to the bottom right of his mouth.
Sakutarō had not noticed it before, but Daisuke's neck and trap muscles were so thick it were as if he had armour on.
"It was me that was looking into your house last night." Sakutarō stated.
Daisuke, keeping his eyes on Sakutarō, held out his hand to Tōsō. Tōsō held onto it, and without any effort, Daisuke pulled him up.
"You know I hate bowing, Tōsō." Daisuke whispered.
"But I --" before Tōsō could even finish speaking, Daisuke had walked away; towards Sakutarō.
"From tomorrow, your father will begin teaching you Kendo. You will do this every morning, as well as physical training. When I pass by, you will then follow me into the village centre. When you return home, your father will then teach you about Zen Buddhism and the moral code of the Samurai."
Stunned, Sakutarō took his eyes from Daisuke to his father.
"Isn't that right, Tōsō?" Daisuke called out.
"Yes, Daisuke." Replied Tōsō.
Turning his head, Daisuke said, "It's the least you can do... to make things up to me."
Daisuke locked eyes with Tōsō. The look was so demanding, Sakutarō thought it seemed more like an order than a request.
"When I think you've gone as far as you can with your father, you will continue your training with me. Is that understood?"
"Yes."
Daisuke tilted his hat down, and made his way into the village centre. Tōsō strolled back to the house.
"Why am I starting to train, father?"
"He has decided to make you his student. I will train you as much as I can until you're ready to move on."
"But father --"
"Quiet! I don't want to hear any complaints from you. You will bring honour back to me by doing this."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone