Nightmares

    It was the perfect time for an attack.  The pounding rain and lightning nearly blinded us that night.  Anything could be hiding in those trees.  Tonight, something was.  There were three of us outside the door...waiting.  

    I gripped the handle of my new sword nervously.  I stood
    between two men, each much taller than myself.  The one on my right looked back down at me with much pride.  Behind his head, something struck the wall.  He stepped aside to reveal a star stuck in the wood.

    "He sent ninja!"  From the trees, they charged silently at us.  I drew my sword tensely and stepped forward.  I was stopped by a firm hand on my shoulder.  

    "Not yet.  Stay close to the wall," he said. "They are
    assassins."  As the black figures stepped closer, I grew uneasy.

    "Father, we cannot allow them inside..."  He replied without hesitation.  "They cross this doorway when we are all dead.  And if they reach him... we all die."

    I nodded silently and looked back into the darkness.  They creeped in the shadows as they approached.  A flash of lightning brightened the area long enough for us to see four men.  There would certainly be more on the other side, but we trusted our men.  I looked down to see my blade shaking, and I steadied my hand...the thunder was deafening.

    "Now," He ordered.

    The three of us charged into battle.  Another bright flash as we attacked nearly blinded us all.  The black assassins had short swords drawn as we engaged them. To my surprise, I was not overwhelmed in the battle.  I anticipated every move. I was well prepared and expertly trained.  I was much a soldier as my father.  I heard the voice of his
    friend shouting in the distance.

    "Hasumi! Abunai!" Behind me, I heard the sound of colliding metal.  I turned to see that my father's sword had deflected a star.  My eyes met his and I nodded in silent acknowledgement of a lesson learned.  Watch your back...

    I bolted after the man who had thrown the star, and our swords met.  As we fought, he spoke. "Your master is already dead," he hissed. "Your men have failed!"  My anger was beginning to win over my mind.  I was more concerned with hurting him than defeating him. I quickly
    remembered my teachings. 

    "Your words mean nothing to me, ninja," I responded as I slashed at his chest and the sword fell from his hand. Seconds later, his body dropped. I turned to see the rest of the battle and rejoin the others.

    The other man still battled one of the ninja.  From the distance I could see the assassin slash his leg.  As I ran closer, my father reached him first, and dropped the man in black. Glancing around the battlefield, I could see that we had each killed one.  My father helped his friend up and walked him back to the building's entrance.

    "Father," I asked. "How many did you kill?" If he answered, the thunder drowned out his voice. Something was not right.  There were only three bodies. I looked up as another flash of lightning revealed a man behind them.

    "Father!" I was too late.  As the assassin planted his dagger deep in his back, my father dropped his friend on the ground.  I slashed through the ninja's body, leaving two dying halves of a man... then rushed to my father's side.
    Before I could force myself to speak, he pulled my head close and whispered to me "Is.. he.. safe?"

    I looked at the sickening pool of blood forming beneath him. "Yes, Father. He is safe..."  His hand fell from the back of my head, and his life ended.  An eternity passed as I gazed at his lifeless face.  The wounded man, whose name I cannot remember placed his hand on my shoulder and said "He could not have been more proud, Hasumi-san."

    There was another flash of lightning...

    I awoke with such rage that I shattered my coffin, and sat in silence for the rest of the day.  When I could feel that the sun had set, I rose to my feet and stepped into the adjoining room.  I stood before my master's sword and bowed my head.  

    "Master, the dreams persist.  I cannot exist this way.  The pain is too great. I must find it, Master. I must remember what drove me to exist... what made me alive once.  If
    I cannot find it... No.  I will remember."