Free L5r - scroll 05 - The Crab by Stan Brown, Stan

assault, driving the ram again and again against the gate. Arrows, burning oil, and magic spells came down like rain in the planting season. No matter how hard they hit, no matter how many good Crab samurai gave their lives in the effort, the enchanted gate held firm.
    Yakamo had no idea how long this went on, but during all the hammering Lord Moon replaced Lady Sun in the center of the sky. To Yakamo, all things other than the Wall and the massive weapon in his hands had ceased to exist. His uncle, Hida Tsuru, came and insisted that the young man fall back to rest. Yakamo wanted to stay. He was about to object, but he knew that if he stayed the remaining samurai under his command would stay as well, and they all looked nearly dead on their feet.
    "You have done well!" Tsuru said. "My regiment and I will take your place."
    "Hai," Yakamo said wearily, and motioned for his troops to hand off their positions on the battering ram and follow him.
    They sat against the wall of a soba shop, eating bowls of the proprietor's best udon noodles. It really wasn't much, particularly for someone as large as Yakamo, but it was all he had the stomach for. They slurped the hot soup and thick, chewy strands of flour absently as they watched their comrades continue the assault. The night seemed more like dusk because of the fires raging in various quarters of Otosan Uchi. Spells cast by both sides occasionally lit it up bright as midday.
    Yakamo led his troops to a dark courtyard where they could get some fresh air. He ordered them to rest, but sleep eluded him. Sitting against a tree, he looked out at the Forbidden City and thought of the usurper Bayushi on the Emerald Throne. He narrowed his eyes and growled.
    Just then, a line of samurai marched past—Akodo Toturi at their lead. To anyone on the wall they would look like more troops coming in to bolster the Crab assault on the Fudotaki Gate. But Toturi led his men deceptively away from the fighting.
    Yakamo rose to his feet and stared after them. Toturi was a good commander and as honorable and trustworthy a samurai as any Crab. Yakamo could understand why the other clans respected him so, and he would make a fine emperor when this madness came to an end. But he still could not hold a candle to the Great Bear.
    "So it is now," Yakamo said as he watched Toturi's troops angle closer to the unguarded River Gate.
    "Yes!" a woman's voice replied. "After ten years it is now time to avenge my brother!"
    From out of the darkness charged a Dragon samurai-ko dressed in full battle armor. She had her katana raised over her head and a murderous look in her eye. She howled a sharp "kiii-aiiii!" and swung at Yakamo's head. When he stepped to the left, she instantly pivoted and struck again. This time her blade struck his chest.
    Sparks flew from the impact of the blow, but Yakamo's breastplate did not fail him.
    "Mirumoto Hitomi," the Yakamo said with a dark smile. "Are these the actions of an 'honorable and civilized samurai?'" He reached down and grabbed his tetsubo.
    Her answer was to howl again and strike with slashes to the throat, stomach, and knees in quick succession.
    Yakamo ducked the first one and blocked the second two with his great club.
    His samurai snapped out of their fitful slumber and rose to their commander's defense. Yakamo waved them back.
    "Let the little Dragon have her fun," he said. "I spared your life last time, Hitomi. I will not be so kind tonight."
    She came at him with a series of blows too fast for the eye to see. Yakamo was not looking at her sword. He was looking in her eyes. She was so filled with anger that he could see her attacks before she moved a single muscle. Every time Hitomi struck, her blade hit only his tetsubo. When her onslaught ended, Yakamo slid his weight onto his right foot and slammed his left into the Dragon's stomach.
    Hitomi took five steps backward, but she did not fall or even stumble. She never took her eyes off her enemy.
    She raised her katana