Sister And Sparring

After getting into Usha's house with the help of a group of samurai, a woman opened the door. She looked similar to Arden.

'Is she my sister?' Arden thought to himself before entering the house with the group of samurai.

They are guided to a room by that woman. Once opened, Arden could see the room is basically the same layout with any room he entered in this kingdom.

There is a kind of carpet made of a kind of straw and there is a place to sit made by a plank of wood with a kind of soft pillow on it.

They took their sit and start talking to each other, Arden started to talk to them and they introduced themselves to him and he introduced his self and his party member to them.

Not long after, he learned that the 6 people in the group are named Machida Yosai, Nagashima Totoya, Sone Katsumoto, Akiya Fumihiko, Asato Tsuginori and Oshita Nobuhisa.

They have a quite strong influence, Yosai and Tsugi are actually from a noble class. He also learned that the noble class there is not actually called "noble class" but called "Kazoku".

In the middle of the conversation, the woman comes back and poured tea to their cup and then a person in his late 60.

He entered the room. His body is muscly, even more, muscular than Arden. That man took his seat and then opened his mouth.

"Good morning gentlemen, what brought you here today?" He smiled and then drink the tea at his cup.

"Actually not us, but this gentleman over here" Yosai answered and then the old man turned his attention to Arden.

"I'm Usha, perhaps I know you?" Usha made a confused face on who is Arden, Arden answered with.

"I'm Arden, I knew you from Theo and now is searching for my long lost siblings." The 6 other people were shocked. They didn't know that Arden is searching for someone.

"Your sister and brother, right? I do not know your brother since I never took him under me. However, your sister is here," Arden smiled and the other 6 people became more shocked.

Valen, Maverick and Austin are happy too, knowing Arden is happy, and they could go home. Usha called for his sister and she entered a room and take a seat.

"Elise, this is your brother, Arden" Upon hearing this name, Arden suddenly remembered that name, the name that has been lost from his memory.

"Really?" Elise is shocked and a little bit happy hearing this and Usha answered with yes before saying.

"Gentlemen, let's leave the room and let them talk." They comply and then left the room, leaving only Arden and his brother there.

"You look different from when we are just kids," The situation became awkward.

"Yea, how is life there?" She asked, changing the topic.

"I recently became a nobleman, would you mind going back with me?" Arden hoped she would say yes.

"Well, I have been around Usha for a long time, I don't want to leave him alone, sorry brother" Arden face then become moodier and moodier.

"Well, I will stay here then until I Can change your mind" Arden is excited like he has found a solution to his problem.

They have a chat and going along pretty quickly, Arden also mentioned how he would search for their brother and Elise became happy and wished Arden good luck.

After some time, Usha knocked on the door and entered the room. He asked how's the conversation going.

"How is the conversation going, Are you guys having fun?" Usha asked curiously and Arden answered.

"Yea, we are having fun… actually, Usha, can I ask for a favour?" Arden asked with his hope of him saying yes.

"If it's inside my capability, you can." Arden's face showed that he is excited and happy at the same time.

"Can I stay at your house, I don't want to part with my sister only after a few minutes" Then, Usha's explain to him.

"You can, but there is a problem, your wife seems pregnant and I suggest you bring her back to your land, besides, there is only one room available here and only 2 people could fit in it." He sighed.

"That's ok, I will talk to my party about it, could you also find a guide for my party's member," Usha said yes and Arden smiled.

He exited the room and entered another room where he saw his party is taking their time and relaxing while drinking tea.

"Guys, I want to stay with my sister for a while, you guys could go back to our home." Arden sighed and they just look at him, Valen starts opening his mouth.

"Couldn't we just stay here?" She looks worried and others show the same expression.

"You are the person I want the most to go home, considering there is our kid you are carrying" He sighed and then Maverick start talking.

"Since I'm your squire, is it okay for me to stay here with you?" Austin looked at him and wanted to ask the same thing.

"I guess you could, but who would guard Valen while she is travelling back home?" Then Austin realized that he is likely to be the one to do so.

"It's settled then, I will give you a map and I'll find a guide, but you guys could rest at the in first." He sighed, needed to leave his wife.

Valen and Arden spent their last night together with a romantic dinner at a nearby restaurant, eating some kind of noodle called ramen.

While Austin and Maverick spent their last time training together as the young Ady and Arden until they are exhausted.

They rested through the night and said goodbye to Valen and Austin in the morning, with the guide Usha found.

Arden trusted their life in the hand of a guide, even though Usha assured Arden that the guide is a good friend of his and is trustworthy.

With the map and that guide, Arden hoped they could reach the Port Town of Kumikita safely. While all this happened, The Shogun has gotten word about a man from the west.

The very next day after Valen and Austin left, The Shogun contacted Usha through some noble he knew and invited Arden to him.

Tomorrow is the day he needs to go to attend the shogun's invitation, hearing about this, the group of 6 people visited him.

But now, they have their some maid, carrying their armour weapon. Seeing this, Arden knew they would ask for a spar.

He met some people that wanted to spare with him in the past before, some of which he accepted and some of which he politely declines.

But now, it's clear he couldn't decline, that would just be saying "I'm afraid and don't want to fight with you guys" and would destroy his reputation badly.

He met them at a room to talk about something and they talked with the help of Usha translating almost everything and hid their intention, at the middle of the conversation, they started showing their intention.

"Arden, I heard you are an impressive warrior, let's spar shall we?" Arden just accepted and asked Maverick and his sister to come with him and help him put his armour.

Because of Maverick have only a little experience and Arden's sister never helped someone use their knight armour before, it took some time.

At the time he got there, he saw their back turned to him and probably are discussing about this spar and who to go first.

Then they turned back to Arden and Yosai step forward. Using his Katana that he put in front of him and duelling against Arden's 2 handed sword.

Arden decided to not use his shield and use his sword only. His sword is unique, could be used as a 2 handed or 1 handed sword, even though it will weary him if he uses it with a shield.

Yosai Chose Katana, Totoya chose the same as Yosai, Katsumoto chose a giant, No Dachi, Fumihiko chose his trustworthy naginata, Tsuginori chose a short yari and Nobuhisa chose a long yari.

Yosai bowed and Arden did the same, it's a culture to bow before sparring there as he learned by his experience

Yosai's mastery of kendo fighting against Arden experience of a sword. Which one would win? It's hard to decide.

Then a silent, as a leaf dropped from its tree and finally touch the ground, they charged at each other, when close enough, Yosai make a swing from the right wanted to end this fast.

But Arden blocked his attack easily, they bought used their strength as their sword touch each other, Arden suddenly slit his sword under his sword and ducked as fast as possible.

His sword missed Arden and Arden now is behind him, as accurate and as fast as he could, Arden used the hilt of his hilt to hit Yosai's head at the back.

Even when there is the thick protection helmed of his, Arden's attack managed to get through and it knocked him out from the fight.

He is unconscious, and the other called a maid to help him while clapping and gave Arden they applause, there are clearly sign of hesitation on who is the next but it quickly falters as Totoya stepped forward.

Still with a Katana but it's different, Yosai is from the Kazoku class(noble), which meant he didn't get as much training as the one from the samurai class.

Arden wary at him, as they started to get to their position and bowed to each other. Silent at the start before they charged at each other.

Then he stopped midway before the meeting point and Arden continue charging. He raised his Katana like a baseball bat and then waited till Arden is close enough.

When he is close enough, he swung his Katana aiming at Arden's stomach, luckily Arden blocked it, if he realizes and blocks it too late even for half a second, he would get a new mark at his stomach.

Like before, they used their strength and Arden caught his breath while using his strength to push him. In the end, Totoya strength overcomes him and he is pushed back.

Then Totoya came charging at him and kicked his face with his knee while jumping into him. He got pushed more to the back.

Totoya made a mistake when he just kicked Arden, he makes a pose and going to do an overhead attack that would come straight at Arden.

He swung his sword down and then…