scene three, a curious enemy


There were many duals after Gua that the Wandering Samurai would have to endure throughout the lands, as many of the other samurai felt threatened by his presence. Many believed that he would raise up and beyond their level much faster then the time it took for them to get there, and thus many tried to stop him.

There were none, however, who could... at least, not until the day when Gua returned.

Gua was a vengeful samurai with a cold heart and a dismal conscience... ever since his loss to the Wandering Samurai he'd lost his position as the emperor's protector, that right being passed on to his former brother Deng Tuo li; whose samurai nickname was 'Durst'. The two had once been best of friends until the day that Deng tired of Gua's change of attitude and ever-growing ego, and inevitably broke apart from him. The two settled things in a dual, in which Deng eventually won... and by doing so won the right to protect the emperor.

Gua was determined to get back his 'rightful spot at the emperor's right hand', as he stated to another samurai. To make his first step back up, however, he sought out the Wandering Samurai. He planned to regain his lost honor from the defeat he'd suffered at his hands.

It was thanks to Gua's quick and unexpected attack that the Wandering Samurai felt defeat for the first time since coming to the lands. Resting under a bonsai tree one day, the Wandering Samurai was ambushed by Gua and quickly defeated before he had time to draw his sword in defense.

This is strange, for though Gua was such a vengeful samurai... it was against their honor to sneak attack an unsuspecting opponent. Regardless, Gua's sudden attack did him little aid in his efforts, for instead of boosting himself up the ladder... he evoked the wrath of the Wandering Samurai, who apparently knew it was he who attacked him. We can say this, because later into the Wandering Samurai's travels they met for a third time, where the Wandering Samurai put Gua to rest, making up for the defeat felt at his hands.

Legend states that the Wandering Samurai scoured the land in search of Gua, diverting temporarily from his regular travels in order to find the samurai who had went agaisnt his honor. He had the land's respect by now and, of course, their help. With Gua running about, trying to stay hidden due to the shame felt from betraying his honor... it made it quite difficult for the Wandering Samurai to find him.

Inevitably, of course, he did.

Gua was spotted by local farmers in the fields of tall grass, training beneath the shadows of the clouds to keep from losing his ability. He had planned to train for an hour and then flee, but he scarcely had half of that before the Wandering Samurai accosted him in the fields. With no-where left to flee to, Gua was forced to buckle down and face the man one on one.

The rising star of the continent against its fallen legend.

"You are a fool to face me while I train..." whispered Gua, "for I have gotten stronger since our first encounter."

"Stronger? It appears to me that the only thing you have gotten," replied the Wandering Samurai, "Is a profound cowardice towards me. Why is it that you run from my sight? Much like the younger dragon who flees from it's elders when they are angered, you do the same. Why is this?"

"I flee from no man." came the angered and gritty reply of Gua, whose shaking hand gripped his sword tightly, ready to draw it and strike at any moment.

The Wandering Samurai softly closed his eyes, his own hand reaching for his sword as a small smirk played across his face, "Ai, and if this be true then surely I must be no man, for you only flee from him."

Gua's roar of defiance shook the very trees near the fields, as birds flew forth in fear and the rodents of the land burrowed underneath the ground. Gua slung his sword out with such fury that a bear might flee from his wrath, and he aimed straight for the Wandering Samurai's head... for he was dead set on ending his life. Gua had had enough of being mocked by the land for his dishonorable attack, he wished to end it all on that day.

However--and as we all know--that day would never come for him. The Wandering Samurai, despite the ferociousness of the attempted strike from Gua, had managed to avoid the attack and slash forward with his own sword, delivering a single blow that would take the breath from Gua's lungs...

... and the beat from his heart.

Gua collapsed to the ground, the open wound across his torso pumping blood into the fertile earth as the Wandering Samurai slung the blood from his blade, watching as Gua took his dying breaths in silence... still too proud to cry out in pain.

Bowing his head in respect to the man who once was, the Wandering Samurai then went along his way again... his journeys were far, far from over.

Let us continue.