Irony: The Detail

Irony: The Detail

Part 1: Gaijin

The Japanese coast was stormy and treacherous, the kind of storm that sailors told stories about the world over. Waves loomed over the horizon like monsters, their gaping mouths noisily begging to be fed as always. Only fools would sail these waters on this night, after all, the ocean makes time and exception for no one. But as fate would have it, there were unknowing fools about on that particular night, making an ill fated trip that would have otherwise gone undisturbed.
A foreign cargo ship was passing by the coast on this night. It was an English trading vessel making its rounds across the world, a rather nomadic existence. The captain of this ship was an honorable man who started his own trading business, frequently traveling with his family. His wife, daughter, and son were raised on ships like this one, so they all naturally felt at home while traveling. But this ill chosen voyage would split this family apart, and set in motion a series of events that would help shape the world.

The captain had not seen this storm coming, but was determined to keep his cool in this tense situation. Sailors scrambled about the deck to secure it, while the captain's family remained in the quarters, to keep safe and dry. The captain was determined to bravely face the terrible forces, and keep his friends and family safe. But all the bravery in the world could not stop the waves from consuming everything in their path. The ship was torn to bits like a pack of hungry wolves feasting on a new kill. Brave men and women drowned in the ravenous sea, never to see their homes again. Yet even the ocean can make mistakes, for two survived this terrible event. The survivors were the captain's ten year old daughter and five year old son.

Luck was not completely on their side though. They had managed to latch fearfully onto pieces of the destroyed ship like barnacles. The young boy was so scared he couldn't even think. He didn't hear his sister calling for him to try and regroup and didn't see her frantic waving. He could only taste the salty water, leaving a bitter, fearful taste in his mouth. He just wanted his mother, so she could make it all better like only a mother could. But he didn't see her, nor did he see his father. Soon, the waves had carried the small child far away from his sister.

What felt like days were closer to an hour of the child struggling with the ocean. He had been gripping the plank and kicking his legs. That's all he remembers to do when trying to recall how to swim. His fear had turned into panic, because he didn't see any of his friends or relatives now. He was alone in a wasteland of inhospitable water. The dark water was splashing all his face, clouding any ounce of sense he might have had, all he could do was kick. But just as it felt like all hope was lost, he felt his foot hit a bottom. Soon he was swept face first onto a strange new world.

The boy whipped wet sand from his face and eyes, sneezing a few times to puke up some sea water. He shivered coldly, weeping in the rain. He watched the horizon for hours, waiting for signs of life to join him in his solitude. But hours passed…and none came. He was sopping wet, felt sick to his stomach, and to make matters worse, his hands hurt greatly. The piece of wood he was on had little indents where his strong little fingers gripped.

The rain passed eventually, leaving the boy wet on the beach. He was incredibly frightened at these new surroundings, and cold from his damp clothes. Eventually he shed them, wandering the alien shores nude and alone, hoping to find someone. When the sun finally came up, it had relieved a few of his fears. But the sun would not help him find his lost family. In the morning hours, the sounds of his loud, hungry wailing alerted locals to his presence.
Two Japanese fishermen had heard his crying, and at first thought it was a wounded animal. But when the child cried out his parents and sister's name, they knew it was human. There on the beach was where they found the strangest sight they had ever encountered: a nude young pale skinned European child, alone and terrified. The first fisherman called out to the child. It scared him, because he had never heard Japanese before, nor had he ever seen a Japanese man.

No one wanted to take responsibility for the boy. He was a foreigner, not something that was popular in their country. He couldn't speak any Japanese, and he seemed to cry loudly in fear or sorrow at a moments notice. Since they could not understand each other, the boys name was never learned, and he was given the somewhat affectionate title of "Noname".

Noname traveled on foot throughout Japan for a few years. It was in these years he learned how to pick pockets and steal for his food. It was a harsh existence and he learned many thief lessons the hard way, but he did what he had too. He frequently ended up in various local gangs, often playing the part of 'distraction' or 'decoy'. He was an easy target because of his obvious European heritage. He had untidy brownish hair and striking facial features, but was incredibly skinny. In these years he had learned to speak in the Japanese language, and all his petty thievery had taught him how to improvise and think on his feet.

Noname avoided samurai or high ranking officials. He could be sliced down for some small crime, and he had seen that happen before. He wanted to stay alive so he could find his parents and sister. He didn't want to come to terms with the fact that they were all possibly dead. He traveled too many shores to find traces of them, yielding always the same result. He never lost faith though, if one could call it faith.

He found friends in the poor and downtrodden. They were humble, and full of experience that they did not mind to share with the homeless gaijin. Noname was sure to split his meager earnings with his friends whenever he was included in bandits work. As he grew older, he was taught to fight like a ruffian, by other bandits. Even though he stood out like a sore thumb, his persistence had earned the respect of daring criminals.

Finally he turned eleven years old. He now was 'living' at a large city, making his living as a young thief. Noname was part of a group of young miscreants, stealing from nobles and from geisha, but for the most part being small time. He was treated with little respect, but he still did his part. As much as the people had scorned him, he had grown to love their culture. Every morning was the same for him. He would wake up from his little hideaway in the alleys, and walk across town to the thieves' ramshackle hideout. On his way, he would always say hello to an old beggar woman he had befriended, Emiko. She had no money, and no family to support her. Noname knew how that felt, and would always be courteous to her.

He had spent a while with this group of thieves at this point. They treated him like their own after he had earned their trust. The group was planning a large robbery, not small this time around. They were to steal from a samurai lord, staying in town. They all were stricken with anticipation, as this would surely increase their reputation. Noname was given the least important job to do of coarse, but he did not mind. He was not looking for glory, like the other thieves were. He would once again act as the look out, and if necessary, the decoy.

Even the best laid plans can fail, however. The robbery itself was a large failure. The thieves could not ambush this Samurai, and he promptly punished several of them with the steel of his blade. Noname, who feared nothing, saw his attack, and took advantage. He seized gold from his camp while the samurai was chasing the thieves away, and ran with it. It was not long before the samurai was upon Noname. But Noname could think on his feet better than the samurai. He climbed roofs, scrambled across the tops, squeezed himself through gates, and finally lost the clumsy Samurai. He was proud of himself. He had gotten away with all of his gold.

Instead of keeping it for himself, or giving it to the thieves, he placed the gold in Emiko's basket. Noname was young…he could go on longer than she could without food. Emiko was seemingly asleep while he gave up his catch. But in reality she was watching him. She was impressed by the kindness and quick wit of this young skinny child. He had the potential for greatness in him, she saw that right away.
Emiko was not as old as she once said she was. Instead of being an elderly woman of 60, she was actually a woman of 40 and was in very good shape. A cloak, some makeup, and a convincing voice to go with it made everyone buy her charade. She was a member of the most elusive ninja clan in Japan, the Manji. The manji were not like conventional ninja's at all. They were so good at what they did, they needed no dark clothing, or camouflage. They could disguise anything about themselves, and become completely different people altogether. They were masters of illusion and theatrics, and could rival the samurai as sword fighters.

Emiko confronted the young Noname, and had an offer for him. Instead of burgling for small earnings, he could be part of a larger organization, have a home, a family, and get paid better sums of money. He could learn discipline, how to be a warrior, and maybe even do some good while he was out there. Noname liked the sound of a family, and he quickly accepted her offer. Emiko soon had him placed under her supervision, with her family. The manji clan was reluctant to let in an outsider, let alone a foreigner. But with Emiko's fierce debating and persistence, Noname had a home and a purpose now. It was Emiko and her daughter Kaori who gave Noname his new name. From that point on he was titled "Yoshimitsu".

(Stay tuned for Pt. 2)