The Sword of A Hundred Souls

[Kirin]

The Shogun, Lady Kuroda Shinkan, spent most of the afternoon in a silent state of solitude. She wanted nothing to do with anyone else. She sat on a cushion before The Sword of A Hundred Souls. It was the sword that was handed down from Shogun to Shogun. Now, it was her son, Teruo's, turn to wield the sword. Lady Shinkan could feel the sword's power, eminating from its gold and pearl embossed sheath while it rested on a stand. Normally, a duplicate sword rested in the stand.

She thought of the legend of the sword. The men who came to the last stone that fell from the Celestial Hare itself. It was said that the Celestial Hare left the sword in the Twin Countries to the most worthiest of warriors, a kami by the name of Orochi. The Kuroda were said to be descended from Orochi. That is what gave their family the bloodlust. That is why the Kuroda could only survive from drinking the blood from another person. Blood was their power. It was almost a sad living for the Kuroda. There weren't too many Kuroda left, either. Just Teruo, Momoko, Seiji, and Shinkan. No one knew of Seiji's whereabouts. No doubt, though, that Teruo's younger brother, Seiji, would make an appearance at Teruo's ceremony.

Shinkan bit down on her lower lip. She knew about the ceremony. If Teruo was not the one, than surely, Teruo would be destroyed by the sword. The sword chose those which would wield it. She, though, was confident that the sword would choose Teruo. There was no other choice, seeing as Momoko was incorporeal and Seiji was gone. Shinkan chose Teruo.

A messanger waddled his way into the room and flattened himself to the floor.

"Lady Kuroda, the invitations to the ceremony have been sent." He said quickly.

"Thank you. Go." She didn't turn around to see the man. She could hear him shuffling out of the room.