Fugen Itto-Ryu: The Founding

It all began when...when... Huh? What IS this?

What're you doing, Shigure?

Looks like you're reading, but...that looks more like chicken scratches than anything.

It's far worse than that, I'm afraid!

Even my calligraphy teacher would say my characters are better, and he gave up teaching me the brush!

...I give up. I refuse to waste any more time on this!

Quiet down, Shigure! This dojo is a sacred place and should be treated as such!

......

What now? It's not like you to stay silent like this.

I'm just glad to see you're in such good health.

Ironic, considering you're the one who made me out to be deathly ill.

In any case, why did you bring all of these documents from the storehouse?

I thought it best I knew about the history of the clan, given that I'm going to be the next grandmaster.

Shigure... Did you hit your head or something?

Oh my. To think you wouldn't take such a serious topic to heart! I suppose it is a little out of character for me, though...

Master! It's an emergency!

What's going on?

I...I saw a tiger!

A tiger on the Inanari Plateau? Well that's not something you hear every day.

Even so, a student of the Fugen Dojo trembling in fear because of it? Pathetic!

But it's no normal tiger, Master. It's a white tiger, and there's something strange about it...

This is perfect. The grandmasters of the Itto-Ryu have always had an unbreakable bond with tigers.

And as the next in line, I'll be the one to vanquish this one!

Are you sure?

Yes. In fact...

Wait. I recognize those robes.

These are the legendary garments of the founder! He wore the very same when vanquishing a tiger himself! I've even made it "in vogue," as they say in the West.

Those robes have been passed down for generations, you fool! How dare you change them!

Whoops... Unfortunately, I don't have time for a lecture. I've got a tiger to defeat, so I must be off!

By the looks of these tracks, a large beast went off in that direction.

There's something strange in the air. It's sending shivers down my spine, but... that makes it all the more interesting.

Come, Aldo. If we continue along this path, we're sure to run into that tiger.

I guess this must be the tiger that guy was talking about.

There really is something strange about it. Something...sinster. Just being this close gives me the chills.

Did you say something, Aldo?

No, nothing.

That was no ordinary tiger. It might be a trap... Do you still wanna go after it?

Of course. As they say, "to catch a tiger by the tail, you must follow its trail."

Besides, wouldn't it be fun to make it our dojo's mascot once we've defeated it?

I don't know if "fun" is the right word for it...

Hahaha! Come on, let's go.

This appears to be the Inanari Plateau, but a different world than the one we met Senya.

Judging by that wormhole...I don't think it's even a different world, but a different time.

So the past or future then. But that doesn't change what we came here to do.

Let's find that tiger. It should still be somewhere nearby.

Found ye, li'l white tiger. I'm just doin' this for the money, so don't take it personal or nothin'!

There they are! Over there!

Hm? That man...

Isn't that the Fugen Itto-Ryu stance? Guess that means we haven't gone too far from our own time.

Who the hell're ye guys? And how do ye know my name?

But, uh...I don't know your name?

Ye just said it! Ye said "Fugen," didn't ye?

That name...and that stance... I get it now. Fate is quite the sophisticated lady.

Poor Shion. He would've loved to have met you if he wasn't wandering around somewhere.

It's too bad Shion had other business to attend to, or else he could've met him. He's always been an unlucky one.

Wait, are you saying that this guy is the founder of the Itto-Ryu?

Arghhh, damn it all! There goes my fortune!

What do you mean? Was that a special tiger or something?

Ye sure are clueless. Ye ain't seen the posters in town? Y'know, the ones that're all like...

"Careful of that black mist in Inanari. If ye touch it, ye'll lose yer mind. There's always a white tiger lurkin' around too." "That tiger's believed to be responsible, so whoever slays it'll get whatever they want as a reward."

...Or at least, that's what the guy next to me was sayin'. I can't read or write.

Whatever you want? That's quite generous for such a well-known scumbag like Genshin.

Who the hell is Genshin? Ye mean Lord Ienaga, don'tcha?

Oh, right. Of course. Good ol' Lord Ienaga.

(Ienaga was the third lord of Izana. Which means that this man really is...)

Whoa! What's that?

Weren't ye listenin' to a word I said?! That's the black mist! We gotta get outta here! If ye drag yer feet, it'll drive ye mad!

What do you mean?

That! That's exactly what I mean!

Well, that sure was sudden. It's quite the lively creature.

Just keep its attention over there!

Hyah!

Great. It stinks a bit of that dark mist, but it'll make a darn good stew tonight.

What happened to that monster just now? It changed so suddenly.

I dunno the details, just that the black mist is bad news to whoever or WHATever it touches.

Thanks to that, we don't get any merchants in town no more. And no merchants means no goods. So even if ye got money, ain't nowhere to spend it. It's pure chaos.

The higher-ups're so desperate to get rid of that tiger, they're even askin' ruffians like me for help. Can't help but laugh.

I don't see what's so funny about it. People are suffering!

Just my luck... Yer one of them "good" guys, ain't ye? What a bore.

I have a request of you, Fugen.

I want you to let me help you.

As if I'd agree to that. That just means less for me.

What we're after isn't the reward, but the tiger. We don't plan to take anything from you.

And if it's alright with you, I'd also like to request a duel.

An earnest clashing of swords is where samurai truly bloom. And I'm sure our bout will be to die for!

Heh. So the sword's driven ye mad too, eh? That's just fine with me, then.

I don't trust high-minded, noble people who only say what others want to hear, but a fellow madman? That's a different story.

The real loons don't mind if ya accidentally slash 'em through, so they're good company!

Uh... Are you sure about this?

We need to catch that tiger, don't we? Besides...

I quite like people like him. He's fun.

Well...if you say so.

Oh, before I forget, I have a request of you too, Aldo. Could you return to our time and look into Fugen for me?

I'm sure Father and Grandfather could tell you about the founder if you asked them. We might even learn about the tiger and the mist if all goes well.

I dunno about leaving you two alone, but...consider it done.

Yer friend ain't comin'?

He's running an errand for me. And I'm much better with the sword than he is. A place for everything, as they say.

Now I'm no expert at slaying monsters, but if they can be cut down, then my blade is ready.

That's how ye work, ey? I can appreciate a straightforward guy like ye!

Let's go find ourselves a tiger, then.

Heeere, kitty! Come out, come out wherever ye are... Tch. Still nothin'.

No trace of the dojo anywhere in this time... As expected.

Did ye say "dojo"? Hah, as if there'd be anythin' all the way out here!

Ye can find some stuffy dojos like the Amami Nichirin or Hoshoin spear school if ye go to the castle town, though.

Stuffy?

Quite an arrogant stance for a stray swordsman, especially one with no distinguished lineage.

Ah, a castle guard. Ye talk big for someone who's out here huntin' tigers the same as me.

You're here for the reward. We're not the same. I should cut you down where you stand.

I can tell you're eager for a fight, but you do realize that you're outnumbered, yes?

...Hmph. Fine. Just don't get in our way.

Tch... Arrogant bastard.

What's so good about those ancient techniques anyway? They're tired. And I can fight just fine with my own style.

Have you ever thought about leaving your techniques behind for future generations?

Why the hell would I wanna do that? My life's over when I die, just like everyone else.

Just how damn self-centered do ye have to be to wanna leave somethin' behind? To prove that ye lived? No one wants that.

I do. I want you to pass down your style.

I specialize in the sword of skill, though my capabilities with the sword of strength are...lacking.

There's just something awe-inspiring about the raw strength of your sword as it cleaves through bone.

Awe-inspirin', huh?

I got the feelin' when I saw yer robes, but...yer a real weird guy, ain't ye?

Hahaha! I'm just ahead of my time!

Some things may not have value now, but they may someday. That's just how the world works.

Yip...

Thank you for getting rid of that beast.

But of course. It was no trouble at all!

Really? Savin' innocents? Yer also one of them "good" guys, ain't ye?

Bet ye think the sword is for protectin' the weak or somethin' too.

Ah, yes. Protecting the weak and crushing the strong. It's a nice way to live.

...But I'm afraid I'm just not skilled enough for something so grand.

To samurai like us, our sword's just another part of us. So if ye ain't swingin' it around for somethin' "so grand," what ARE ye doin' it for? Me, I'm doin' it to survive.

I wield my sword for my family and friends.

A good friend once saved me from making a mistake.

I was ready to abandon the blade, but he stopped me.

So I wield this sword with the promise to do the same for him.

...That's it?

Haha. I guess it doesn't seem like much to others.

But as small as it might seem, it's reason enough for me to take lives and sacrifice mine all the same.

To me, a friend is someone worth risking everything for.

...I don't get it. Probably never will, either, considerin' I ain't got no friends.

No friends? But Fugen...

*yawn* All this talkin' is makin' me tired. C'mon, we gotta keep movin'.

......

We've seen plenty of monsters covered in that black mist, but not the one we're lookin' for.

Your strength is almost overwhelming, Fugen. I'm honestly glad to have you and your sword on my side.

My friend is a wielder of the sword of strength as well. Your technique bears a strong resemblance to his.

I'm a wanderin' swordsman who learned everythin' he knows by copyin' others. If that's how yer friend's technique looks, I feel bad for him.

He's very passionate about the sword. I'm sure he'd be quite enthused about yours as well. And besides...

You must've been through a lot to have gotten that good on your own.

Guess ye could say that. Had to to survive.

It ain't an uncommon tale these days, but my family was killed by bandits, right before my eyes.

......

In that moment, I froze. My body only started movin' when it was finally my turn. All I knew was that I didn't wanna die, so I ran all the way to a small shrine on the outskirts of town. That's where I picked up a spirit katana, one for vanquishin' specters.

Don't remember much after that, but when I came to, there was blood everywhere. And I was the only one still breathin'.

I see...

That's when I realized somethin'.

I'm the worst kinda guy there is, livin' only for himself. The other sword I carry...is the one from that day. I keep it as a reminder of that day, but never use it.

...Living for the sake of others isn't always a good thing.

I planned a rebellion against my lord for the sake of a friend. If I had succeeded, it may have even started a war. And still, I went through with planning it. All to save a friend...

In that sense, I'm not so great a person myself.

Well, misery loves company, and it seems we're both pretty damn miserable. Heh, I'm glad yer the one who stayed!

Only madmen like us can survive in times like these!

This is the only place we haven't looked.

Here goes nothin'!

What're you doing?!

You'll be damned for such a thing!

Ye say it like I should be worried. Ain't no gods to be damnin' me in the first place.

Even if there were, they weren't around when my family and I needed 'em most. So why should I care?

'Sides, ye should be payin' attention to what's goin' on around ye. That white tiger appears when the spell weakens.

...See?

What...?

Something's wrong... Stay back, Fugen!

And lose my reward?! I don't think so!

Heh. Even easier than I thought.

Dammit... I thought the mist would clear once that tiger was gone. Guess that poster was all a lie...

Hey, Shigure. Ye can have that reward.

I'm about to be swallowed by this damn miSt... Ye gOttA geT oUtta hEre...

Fugen...

GueSs yE reap wHaT ye sOw... SeRVes mE riGht...

I would've preferred fighting you in full control of yourself, but...I guess this'll have to do for now.

Fugen! You can't let the dark mist control you!

We're samurai, madmen who live by the sword!

There's no way such a weak mist could overpower that!

Huff... Huff... YeAh... Yer right... ThE sWorD iS...

Tch... Can't believe I let that damn mist get a hold on me. Don't need no mist to drive me mad. Got my sword for that.

Looks like you're back.

Yeah, but...why didn't ye just leave me?

I told you: I wield my sword for my friends. And they're worth risking everything for, even my own life.

......

Lean on me, Fugen. I'll get us out of here.

You want to know more about the founder? I can't believe that boy... Taking all those things out of the storehouse, then forcing his research on someone else. He's going to get an earful once he gets home.

When I think about the founder...

The first thing that comes to mind from those books is his journey to another world.

Another...world?

There are countless tales of other worlds on this continent.

And the black mist from the Land of Kon is one of them.

(Shigure was right. That mist does appear in legends.)

According to the stories, that black mist blanketed the Inanari Plateau centuries ago.

But the founder delved into an underground tunnel and shut the opening that led to Kon, thus restoring peace to the land.

Wow, that's a relief...

But that peace did not come free.

Indeed. To close that opening, the founder had to venture to the other side with the Guard Beast of this land, a white tiger...

And never returned.

Wait. What?!

You heard right. The records were written by the founder's friend who waited all his life for his return to no avail.

The path of the samurai ends only in death.

Taking up the sword means risking your life or striking down others for your own beliefs. That is our nature.

Surely the founder had his reasons for doing what he did. Reasons even more precious than his own life.

...I appreciate you telling me that. I'll be on my way.

He truly has a kind heart to mourn the death of those he hasn't even met. I can only imagine how happy Founder Shigure must be, wherever he is.

I've gotta tell Shigure the news. Back to the past I go.

What the?!

Perfect timing.

I'm glad you're both okay. What happened while I was gone?

We finally found that tiger. But we weren't able to finish it off.

And instead of the mist goin' away, it just got thicker for some reason.

Oh no. You can't kill that tiger! It's kinda like a guardian of this place.

Just as I suspected. I felt like it was trying to warn us before it was swallowed by that mist. It was probably trying to suppress the mist rather than spread it.

Dammit! This sucks!

Thought I'd catch this tiger, then live the rest of my life easy. Now I won't get a single damn coin!

You're still thinking about that?!

'Course I am! Can't live without coin, can ye?!

Haha! Yes, you make a good point. But you don't have to worry about that.

Because our friend Aldo here should have the answer to our problems.

Well, the mist is supposedly coming from a tunnel beneath the Inanari Plateau.

But in order to stop it, well...

Huh? Why're ye lookin' at me?

If ye got something to say, just say it. Ain't no point in starin'.

I know...

And there's probably no way I could get you to give up on this, so...here goes.

So the founder dies to stop the spread of the mist...

Ye gotta stop talkin' gibberish, kid.

Even a shoddy fortune teller could've made up somethin' better. Ain't no way my style is the founder of anythin', and I ain't about to throw my life away for the rabble.

Yeah, but...that's what I heard.

I know you won't believe me even if I say that's the future.

But I think it's best if you don't chase this tiger anymore. Just leave the rest to us, okay?

......

Ye ain't foolin' no one. I know yer just after that reward!

'Sides, if I don't do somethin' about this mist, I'll be treated as some kinda criminal. Might lose my head if I'm real unlucky.

Aldo, don't worry about Fugen. Let's just keep going.

You mean all three of us?! You heard what I just said, didn't you?

Of course I did, but he's not the type of person to just die here.

And even if he were, well...

That's the way of the samurai. Death is our constant companion.

We may be mad, but we don't choose death because we want it. But we won't go against our beliefs just to stay alive, either.

Something even more precious than your own lives...

People die all the time. There's no need to get so down about it. Life's a struggle if ye let everythin' get to ye.

Ugh... The mist's gettin' worse. We oughta get movin'. If we head northwest, we'll reach a field full of tall grass. We can get underground from there.

This is the place. We can head down from here.

The mist sure is thick down here. Are we gonna be okay?

Hah! 'Course we aren't. I told ye, ye'll go mad if it touches ye!

But samurai are mad to begin with. Won't it be fun putting it to the test and finding out how it compares?

That certainly seems to be the source of all this.

Ain't no doubt about that. So if we cut that thing down, this'll all be over?

Hahaha! You'd draw your sword against that? You're even wilder than an untamed horse.

Looks like it won't go down without a fight, though. But that means more fun for us!

Let's take 'em down!

We have to close the hole before anything else gets through!

Perhaps your sword could do the trick, Aldo?

Yeah, maybe Ogre Rancorem could do something.

...On second thought, using it here would probably just make things worse.

Then we'll use my sword.

Just my luck!

Looks like it's been completely taken over by the mist.

An excellent strike! Haha! My arms are trembling.

You would deprive a samurai of his sword?

Ah... What fun!

Shigure!

Use this!

This blade... It's Shion's...

That spirit katana saved me once... It's part of me... But it's yers now... So ye better...win......

Is he okay, Aldo?!

He's fine. He just fainted.

I see... (I didn't think I'd end up fighting with this sword.) (To think you'd come to my rescue, even here.)

The Tiger and Dragon of the Itto-Ryu clan will prevail!

O white tiger... Hear us roar!

How are you feeling? Hopefully better without all that mist inside of you.

If you don't mind me asking... What exactly are you? And why did you come to our time?

So that's what happened. Well, if there's anything we can do, we'd be happy to lend you a hand.

But I don't think the person who's supposed to save this era is either of us.

It's the founder of the Itto-Ryu clan.

You said the founder is supposed to travel with the white tiger to the Land of Kon, yes?

Yeah. But then Fugen would never come back.

I told you not to worry about him, didn't I? After all, I'll be the one going.

I'll suppress the mist from the other side and you can handle the rest with your sword.

W-Wait! You're gonna sacrifice yourself in Fugen's place?!

Not quite.

Because you see...the founder's name isn't Fugen.

It's Shigure.

What?!

Founder Shigure was a friend of Fugen, the one who wrote the histories. He was a swordsman of both strength and skill. It's said he blew in like a breeze and flowed away like water, leaving no trace of himself.

Although I only wield the sword of skill...

I surmise I myself am the founder. And the Fugen Itto-Ryu clan only came to be because I traveled here through time.

Which means that if we do this right, the Itto-Ryu style will still exist in the future. And all will be well!

What are you talking about?! Your father, grandfather, Shion, me... We won't be "well"! Not at all!

But I wanna protect the Itto-Ryu style just like they did, even if it means risking my life.

I know how important pride and determination are to samurai.

But still...I can't just let you die, Shigure!

I'm glad to know you care so much about me, my friend.

Please give these robes and this sword to Fugen as a memento. You'll do that for me, won't you, Aldo? You're the only one who can.

Farewell, Aldo.

Hngh... Everythin' hurts...

Hey... Where'd Shigure go?

To the other side...

......

He wants us to close the hole behind him.

Huh... Pretty grand endin', givin' yer life to save the world.

Well, with him outta the picture, the reward and accolades're mine for the takin'. So grateful I could cry.

...Right then, let's finish this!

Damn fool...

Wait! Take this.

My sword, and his robes...

Shigure wanted you to have them, to remember him by.

They ain't really my style, but they'll probably leave a better impression on the lord than the rags I'm wearin'.

You said you were gonna ask him for money to live an easy life, right?

Yeah. All those chumps who made fun of me're gonna be jealous at how good I'm livin'.

And who knows what else I'll do? ...I was actually thinkin' of teachin' the sword to the local brats. Y'know, his blade flowed like water. And it'd be a damn shame if that technique died with him.

I think he'd like that.

Not sure the dead can feel joy, but...whatever ye say. I'm outta here.

Well, now history is as it should be.

Guess I'd better head back and see if the Fugen Dojo is still standing.

Phew. Still there, thankfully.

Ah, you made it.

How can you be so calm?!

I was worried sick about you!

Sorry about that. Did everything go well?

Yeah. I did everything you asked me to.

Please give these robes and this sword to Fugen as a memento. You'll do that for me, won't you, Aldo? You're the only one who can.

...No.

Aldo...

If you're going, I'm going with you! The texts only said that you never returned.

That means I could help find a way to keep you alive on the other side. I'm not a samurai. I don't have to stand by and watch someone I care about sacrifice themself!

Hah... Hahaha! You truly are a good man, Aldo!

What's so funny? I'm being serious.

Sorry... Let me explain.

I don't think you've reached the same conclusion as I have.

And that is?

The histories say that the founder never returned, not that he died. Which means that as long as I never come back here, I'm free to do whatever I want.

So I plan on using that to fool the whole world!

That means you're not giving up your life or anything, right?

Of course. My life is Shion's to take, after all.

I'm just going to sneak back to my own time and never return. Then history will be as it was.

And how do you intend to do that?

Well, we do know someone with the power to traverse time...

That is, assuming you're willing to help.

Of course. Helping you would restore the timeline. And as Guard Beast, I can't allow the dark to alter the shape of the world.

There you have it. The rest is up to you, Aldo.

After that, I gave your robes to Fugen just like you asked.

Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you, friend.

Now then, the founder vanished and Fugen inherited his robes. That's another one in the books!

You dare talk about books?!

You fool! How dare you leave the ancient texts on the dojo floor?! What if something had happened to them?!

Whoops, I was so focused on preserving the Itto-Ryu clan that I completely forgot about them!

You did well.

......

But that's got nothing to do with the books, so go clean them up now!

Oww... Could he have pulled me any harder?

Hm? Looks like there's something in here...

Well, I'll be.

Those're the robes you left in the past!

Hah, they sure came a long way to get back to me!

But...how?

Weren't the garments you were wearing the ones of the first grandmaster?

So if you left them in the past, they shouldn't be here now.

I don't understand it myself either, but it saves me from getting an earful from Father, so I'll take it.

In fact, I'm sure he'd have more than just a scolding ready for me if he knew I'd given away the founder's clothes...

You WHAT?!

You complete and utter fool!

Owww!

I let you out of my sight for one second and you go and do THAT?!

Uh, if you don't mind my asking...why are the clothes here?

Ah, well, what I gave to Shigure was a simple replica.

We would wear them to events attended by high-ranking officials back in the day.

But because of their historical value, it seems we started using replicas at some point.

Then I was saved by the genius of generations past! Hahaha!

This is no laughing matter!

Good grief... When will you grow up?

Hoho. Would it kill you to be honest once in a while? After Shigure left, you told Hisame, rest her soul, that Shigure was a man worthy of the founder's name.

Father, please! All that praise will go straight to the boy's head!

I never thought Father would ever respect me so...

I guess that means I'm finally ready to be called the grandmaster!

Far from it! There's still much you need to learn.

And I can't wait for you to teach me. I welcome all the tough love you and that bamboo sword have to offer!

I would ask if you hit your head, but I know you did. I suppose I should find another way to discipline you from now on...

Ahaha...ha...

It might seem like Shigure's turned over a new leaf all of a sudden, but...

His love for the Itto-Ryu is and always will be the same.

I know. Though a fool he might be, he is still my son.

Father...

Before you can call yourself a grandmaster, you must learn both the sword of skill and strength, just like the founder. Starting tomorrow, your training will be harder than ever before. So prepare yourself.

I know you wield the sword of skill...so where did the part about the founder knowing both come from?

I surmise it came from Fugen, who wrote the histories.

He used the sword of strength, but I imagine he also learned my technique so that it wouldn't be lost with me. I guess it'd be more accurate to say that the founder was a fictional character based off both myself and Fugen.

Traveling through time certainly is fascinating. I never thought I might be the founder until visiting the past myself!

Fugen, we created the Itto-Ryu style together... And as the next grandmaster, I swear to pass it on so that it may see the future. So even if we never meet again, we will always be connected through the sword... my friend.