Raijin rose from his slumber far before dawn.
At best, Raijin was lucky to get 6 hours of sleep before he was awoken by his father to begin whatever job laid before them on the given day.
The Akamatsu clan had fallen greatly since it was established in the ten years of Raijin's life.
He and his family scraped by due to their skill working as hired soldiers.
As time went by the clan was given fewer opportunities to perform their duties.
Raijin was known amongst his clan for being quite different than anyone else.
His father often had to remind him, "Fighting is a way of life for us."
"It's all we can do to survive in this world."
Raijin despised violence, and he often got in arguments with his father about their lifestyle.
Raijin had always had a huge natural talent for swordsmanship and was easily the strongest among his peers.
He was also known to be a mischief-maker, but somehow he was always able to talk his way out of the predicament he had gotten caught in.
"Why must you always cause trouble for this family Raijin?"
"Just do as you're told and fulfill your duties as a member of the Akamatsu clan!"
Memories of his father's scolding floated amongst his mind as he escorted the Lord that had hired them to his castle.
Despite his skill with the sword, Raijin never took combat training very seriously, and because of this most of his peers shunned him.
"You have the ability to be great, why don't you hone your skills and fight to strengthen our clan?"
This was a question Raijin had been asked by several members of his clan.
His response was always the same.
"Fighting and losing our lives will get us nowhere."
"Why won't this clan try to solve problems peacefully?"
"We run into battle with our swords raised as if we're ready to die for something so unimportant as a single day's pay?"
When he began asking these questions, those who approached him often couldn't answer his question with anything other than, "That's just the way things are, so we have to support our clan the way we know best."
This response wasn't enough to satisfy Raijin.
"I have one firm, logical belief."
"Violence should only be utilized when those you care for are in danger, and there is no other option."
Although those who challenged his beliefs wanted to get frustrated, there was something about Raijin that just wouldn't allow anyone to become mad at him.
Perhaps it was due to how charismatic he was, and possibly the fact that he always wore a smile on his face even in the face of adversity.
Raijin was known to be quite cunning, and many members of the clan knew not to challenge him to a match of shogi because his victory was unavoidable.
His odd combination of wits, charm, and confidence often caused matters to end in his favor.
Raijin trudged along behind the Lord's caravan and took in the scenery around him.
He thought to himself, "What's the point in fighting?"
"We've never faced anyone during the jobs I've been on, yet our clan still trains like we're at war."
He was pulled back into reality as he heard something rushing through the forest and suddenly surrounding them.
The caravan came to a halt as everyone prepared themselves for a potential attack.
"What was that?"
"Bandits?"
"Surely not, there isn't a settlement anywhere near us."
The members of the clan nervously whispered back and forth and waited for whatever was in the forest to make its move.
After what seemed like an eternity of waiting, all remained silent in the forest.
With no choice but to move forward, the caravan started moving once more.
Raijin suddenly felt a hand grasp his shoulder and jumped around preparing himself for anything.
"Raijin, there's no need to get worked up over some animals."
His father chuckled and removed his hand from Raijin's shoulder.
"Son, you're always saying that you're against fighting but you definitely looked ready to attack whatever it was standing behind you."
Raijin felt the heat of embarrassment going to his face and replied, "I knew it was you father I wasn't the least bit scare- ..."
Raijin stared at his Father's face in confusion as a crimson line of blood began trickling from his mouth.
His father grasped his shoulder once again; however, this time his father had put all his weight into as if to support himself as if he had suddenly lost the strength to stand on his own.
"S-son..."
His father attempted to speak more but was overcome with a painful coughing fit in which the blood Raijin had previously noticed now flowed much more rapidly as his father continued coughing.
Raijin glanced down in horror as he saw the arrow protruding from his father's chest plate, and time appeared to stop altogether.
Slowly as he came out of the state of shock time began to flow freely again for Raijin.
The screams of the nobles within the caravan echoed throughout the forest as Raijin and his clan members saw their enemies emerge from the forest.
They were vastly outnumbered.
Raijin held his dying father in his arms.
In this brief moment, it was as if the calm, confident, and peaceful Raijin had become a different person altogether.
Overcome with rage, despair, and disbelief, Raijin's smile had disappeared.
The smile everyone knew so well had turned into a trembling, twisted scowl.
As his father's final breath passed, Raijin set his father down, drew his sword, and let out a noise that sounded more beast than human.
Raijin then locked eyes with the only man holding a bow amongst their foes, and charged forward with such speed it was as if he were possessed by the wrath of a demon.
[END]