The Samurai- Part 1

The Samurai

1.

Ganpei wasn’t exactly sure how his penis had been split clean up the middle, but the blood was cold on the inside of the samurai’s legs as he stumbled up the hill, into the clearing.

He knew well enough when it happened, and who had done it. That rotten Jubei. He’d crossed swords with him in the past, but never in the thick of battle. But even Jubei hadn’t expected this cut. His upward slash was meant for arms or legs, or stripping Ganpei of his sword.  The penis was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Those were his final thoughts as he crested the rise and saw that he was alone. At that point, he fell limp in the dead leaves and bracken, barely able to draw breath, and wholly unable to remain conscious.

 2.

He awoke to sunshine slowly roasting him in his armor and the sound of trickling water.  Surveying the area, he was relieved to see a small pool in the clearing. Cool and fresh, he could smell the water, such was his thirst. A few passionate gulps later, and it was time to take stock.

He began by removing his helmet, crushed on one side by a war hammer’s glancing blow. He was thankful for the helmet staying in place long enough to save his life. However, he had sustained a nasty cut running down his temple, parallel to the ear. Painful and ugly, but not deep. He washed it clean then applied a thin layer of spongy moss to help stem the flow of blood.

 Next, he removed his weapons, gauntlets and gloves, and aside from throbbing stiffness from overuse and most likely a broken forefinger, all was well.

Breastplate and shoulder guards, riddled with nicks and dings from arrowheads, smeared with blood, mud, and who knows what else, but intact. He thinks to himself that he really must show his gratitude to his personal blacksmith, and wonders how, and when.

But before his thoughts could tarry much on gifts or his prospects for survival, a mighty throb shot up his abdomen and threatened to make him blackout, not even enough time to curse or scream. He slowly peeled off his pants and plate tunic, to reveal something strange. It looked like a gut fish, but it was attached to his body. He couldn’t rectify what he was seeing with anything he had ever seen before. There was no hope for his member, to be brought back to normal. He knew that. But left untended, it would be his death.

3.

Ganpei ripped strips of cloth from his pants and found two short, thick sticks, as lacking in jagged bends and tips as possible. In a daze, he walked slowly into the water, up to his knees. He paused.

Being the first son of a samurai, he had been raised to be without fear. His was a long lineage of strength and glory. Up until this very moment, he felt he had done right by his ancestors, and that they were proud. But right now, he was terrified. The thought of the water touching his most personal of injuries sent a shockwave through his soul. But logic and a lifetime of pain won out. He sat, and tended to his wound.

And there she was.