"Wake up Masanari... We need to keep moving." He opened his eyes, sitting up and rubbing his face. "Morning father. How long was I asleep for?"
"Not too long son. Come eat the rest of the rabbit, and we shall be off. We have lots to get through today." He nodded and sat by the smoldering fire eating the last bits of rabbit meat. "Father. You said you'll teach me more about the Bushido. Is it that important as a samurai?"
"Its the rules of being a samurai, and how to live as a samurai. To be a warrior. You need to follow the way of Bushido. For us, we need to follow with duty and honor for our lords that we serve." He nodded as he took the last bite of meat. "I'm ready father. We can continue walking to Kurama."
"Good... Tell me, what have you learnt so far about Bushido from your sensei?" He looked at his fathers back as he followed him on the path. "He has only taught me stories about it. He didn't go into it in detail. He mentioned the rules, and how to behave within these rules."
"I see. That's a good start to the way of Bushido. Did he tell you the eight virtues?" He nodded. "Yes father he did, and he also tells me I should follow these eight virtues to the best of my ability in service to my lord and family."
"Good... What do you do when you meet an opponent that doesn't follow the Bushido way?" He looked at the ground in thought. "It depends, because I doubt that there's a person in existence that doesn't at least follow one or two of those virtues."
"What does it depend on?" He looked at his hands, and held the hilt of his blade. "It depends on if we're able to look through their eyes. We may not see them following the way, but in their eyes they are. That's why I said it depends."
"That's a good answer son. You've become very different recently. I like this change in you." He felt his face start to heat up, and rubbed it with his hands. "The best way to describe Bushido is that one who follows its path, must show respect to others, and lead by example, showing mercy when its needed and benevolence." He nodded. "So when out lord calls for us we respond in service to him?"
"Correct. We follow our lords and obey their commands. That's our Bushido... We know our blades will be bloody, because of fights, and wars... But we don't run, we stand by our lord, because we know that they can bring peace to this land of blood." He smiled. "I won't forget that father. I'll follow the way of Bushido, and fight for my lord... Even doing those things people shun from and don't want to do. Better than any advisor or monk."
"Hahahaha... Very ambitious of you. You'll need to get stronger first." He nodded. "Yes... That's only a period of time before I'm strong enough for that. Father what else should I know about the way of Bushido?"
"Only one thing... You never run when your lord is in danger... You stick to your lord and follow him through the darkness. We follow our lord, they accepted us into their ranks, so we return their benevolence to them. Can you do that son?" He nodded. "That I can do. I'll be by my lord's side in the darkest of times, and keep him safe always."
"Even if you have to do it in the shadows?" He nodded. "Yes. Even if its from the shadows."
"What if you see the lord doing something against the Bushido?" He scratched his arm in thought. "If the lord has done something against the Bushido, there has to be a reason. I'll still stand by his side, until my life is forfeit in their protection."
"Good show of loyalty son... You make me proud with those words..." He scratched his head smiling. "Its as if in one night you've become an adult, and no longer a child." He smiled. "Its just my time to grow up. That's all I think." He looked at his father with a toothy grin, and felt him scratch his head. "There's the childlike manner I know."
He looked around, at the rice farms they were walking past. "We must be near a village of some sort. We'll rest in a bed tonight. I hope their inn will have some space for us." He nodded at his father. "A bath would be nice also."
"What do you mean? You've only been away from home for two days, and you already want to have a bath?" He smiled. "Because if I'm clean, than women will admire me for keeping clean. Even in a battlefield where there's lots of blood flying around. I'll keep myself and my blades clean."
"You're only eight and your already thinking about women... Hahaha... Time does pass quickly. Soon you'll be taller than me, and fighting better than me." He smiled. "Yet... I'll always be your son, father..."
"Good son... Now lets find this small village, and see if we can get a room. We should be able to, since its not a busy area." He followed his father in silence until they stopped outside the village entrance. "A little bigger than I thought son, but its still suitable for us. Lets go inside and find the inn. He nodded and followed his father into the village and stopped when he saw his father stop outside the inn. "Ahh. It has a hot spring here in the inn. It seems you'll get your bath after all son. Lets go in."
He followed his father into the inn, and looked around at the people inside. He smiled at the smell of food, and sat at a nearby table, watching his father's back. "My son and I request a room for the night. We can pay."
"There's space available. I've seen you come through here a few times in the past. We've met before haven't we?"
"I'm not sure... I meet a lot of people in my life, so far, here is the money for the room... Come son. Lets go to the room, and rest there."
"Follow the servant... She'll take you to your room for the night. You'll pass the spring on your way there. Enjoy the peace and relaxation you'll get from staying here." He waited for his father to open the room, and walked into the room in silence. "This is where we'll stay tonight. Tomorrow, we'll need to head off early, as we still have a distance to go." He looked at his father waved off the maid. "Can you teach me more father, as I've got many questions that I want to ask."
"Let's sit and drink tea... If I can answer I will." He knelt in front of his father, and sat in silence watching him make tea. "This is an art of samurai. This process here, calms the heart and mind. Simple steps that take time, but if you let your mind focus on them fully. Than you'll have found peace." He nodded, and watched in silence how his father stirred the tea, and smiled as he took a taste of the tea. "Enjoy the taste... Let it fill your mind, and heart... That is Bushido... Let it fill everything that you do. This simple art of making tea is Bushido... Holding a weapon is Bushido, if your heart is in it. Does that make sense son?"
He nodded. "I understand father. You're saying that in everything I do, say and think, I must follow those virtues, and let those virtues shine in my heart and all my actions."
"Very smart son... It seems I'll have to pay your sensei more for the hard work he's gone through to teach you this well." He smiled and nodded at father. "Thank you. I've got excellent teachers."
"Now. Since we've talked about that. Lets now go rest and wash in the hot spring... These days of walking and training will have made your body sore. Soon we'll be running and jumping. Its better we get your body trained up well." He stood up and followed his father out of the room, and towards the hot spring.
There he handed in his swords and clothing, washed himself with the soap they gave him, washed it all off, and than sat soaking in the hot waters of the spring. He let out a long sigh, as the heat of the water relaxed his tired body. "I see you know how to use the water to relax your body. Not bad. Every time I look at you, you seem to become older and more mature." He smiled. "Maybe I was already mature, just father wanted to see me as his child."
"Ahhh sorry to interrupt you both sir..." He turned to see a servant lay tea out for them. "Tea from the owner... Please enjoy it."
"Thank you. We can handle it from here." He watched as the servant left them alone, and looked at the tea. "Why did the owner give us some tea?"
"It seems he recognizes me from somewhere... I still don't remember him yet... I wonder where I knew him from?"
"He doesn't seem to be angry or upset about you... If he was he wouldn't have given the tea."
"Correct my son. Still its better if we show our appreciation to him. Come lets drink the tea, and than go see the owner." He nodded, following his father out of the spring. Getting dressed and walked back to the entrance of the inn. "I knew I remembered you from somewhere... It was when you were a part of the Ashikaga clan. It seems you're no longer part of them. What happened?"
He looked at his father with curiosity. "Were we retainers to another lord in the past?"
"Yes we were... The Ashikaga turned from the Bushido, and when they fell from grace, they removed all retainers from their service. They sent them all away from the clan, thus relieving us from our bound duty to them... After time, we were able to come into service of the Matsudaira clan. Me and those who followed me from Iga, now we're following them, and honoring the Bushido that they follow."
He saw his father look at the owner. "So it seems you know my name after all. Did I do you a disservice in the past?"
"Not at all... You were the one who saved me and my family as we fled the fall... Thank you Yasunaga... Your service helped us escape with our lives. Your money is not accepted here. You can stay free of charge." He looked at his father with pride. "Father. You've done a great service to this person and his family. Why did you do that?"
"That's my Bushido. That's how I show Bushido in my heart and mind son. Owner... I'll still pay for my stay here. I didn't save you for hope of getting something in return. I'm glad you're safe from that fight, and that you were able to build up more than you lost."
"At least... Let me show you my thanks Yasunaga..." He watched as the owner, walked towards them and bowed at his father. "Kid... If you become like your father. This land will know peace. Learn everything you can from him, and become someone he'll be proud of." He nodded and bowed at the inn owner in return.
"Come son... We have your training to attend too. You still haven't mastered the technique you were learning last night, but you were getting close to it." He nodded and followed his father in silence, until he was back in their room drawing his sword in front of his father, as he drank tea and wine.
"Again... Remember the muscles and shape of your body as you move... Don't rush it... Just like the tea you watched me make today... Put your heart into it... Your Bushido... Whenever you strike I want to be able to sense your Bushido... Again..."