Act I: The Stranger
     The laughter of an innocent child, can be quickly stained. A summer night is as warm as
that of freshly shed blood. A young child wanders carelessly, feeling the warm summer breeze
caress his face. He has drifted from his friends who come from the village, but he is not worried.
No danger ever strikes near his people. He gazes towards the crescent moon contented,
acknowledging at his young age the great use for a time of silence. His mind drifts off until it is
eventually brought back the swift, sonorous slice of a blade slashing the thick, humid air.
     The noise he hears is from over his shoulder. He walks over and brushes aside a couple
of branches to reveal the scuffle of two men. Both flailing at each other with neither gaining an
edge over the other. When one moves to strike, the other easily evades and launches a
counterattack, which in turn, is reversed, leaving the two deadlocked.
     The boy watches these two for a moment until, seemingly from out of the sky, from the
boy's point of view, a heavily armed stranger steps out into the moonlight, while remaining half
hidden in darkness.
     The stranger appears to have two swords strapped to the left side of his body and a
smaller blade strapped on the right. He has something, which the boy has a hard time making
out, strapped to his legs and a staff of some sort on his back.
     The two original swordsmen cease their struggle at the sight of this new arrival. The
stranger speaks, "The new regulation, by order of the emperor, is meant to preserve the peace. If
you have heard of it, it declares that any clan befalling upon a dispute between two others is to
assume the role of peacekeeper. The same goes for individuals. I affirm that it is my given duty
to heed the emperor's word and commission myself here as an intermediary between the two of
you in this quarrel."
     "This is none of your business," strikes back one of the men.
     "This does not concern you," retorts the other.
     "Oh, but if I am to be a lawful citizen, it is very much my business and concern. I must
impose this upon the two of you. It is my obligation." responds the man dragging himself out of
the shadow.
     "We said, back off!" shouts the first man.
     "Your unwillingness to comply with the emperor's decree is inadmissible."
     The two original men move to stand shoulder to shoulder. They each hold their swords
drawn in anger towards the stranger. The stranger crosses his arms and draws out a katana in his
right hand and a tanto in his left hand. The two stare at the one with growing intensity. The
young boy takes a step back fearing the result.
     The two original men charge in unison, the other man stands fearlessly and unmoving.
He deflects the man on his left side with his tanto, sending that man to the ground, and clashes
with the other man on his right. The blades lock and the stranger moves to strike the side of this
opponent's head with his tanto. The man pushes away to regroup while avoiding the tanto.
     The second man attempts to catch the stranger by surprise. The stranger makes an X with
his tanto and katana and catches his attacker's sword in between them. With a swift twist of the
wrist, the attacker causes the stranger to lose his grip on his weapons. The katana and tanto fall
to the ground, meanwhile the first man regrouped and moves forward to strike from behind on
the stranger.
     The stranger crouches and grabs one pair on nunchakus from the left side of his leg with
his left hand. He recognizes the threat behind him. He quickly whips out a shuriken from his
wrist and throws it at the man attacking from behind. That man dodges it by falling backwards.
     The second man moves to strike with his sword, but the stranger has moved faster and
blocked the sword with his nunchakus and wrapped them around the blade. The second man is
quickly disarmed and the stranger has grabbed a hold of a second pair of nunchakus. He
immediately sets to work on beating down the man. Once the second man collapses, the stranger
takes a step back.
     "Shall we arbitrate this altercation you were apparently having with..."
     The first man has not quit yet and moves once again to strike. The stranger quickly
moves and sends the man reeling in pain, clutching the left side of his face, for he has been
struck with hand claws from the stranger. The stranger starts again.
     "Shall we arbitrate this altercation you were apparently having with..."
     Now the second man has a smaller blade of his own and moves to attack the stranger
from behind. The stranger knew this would come and already moved to arming himself with the
weapon that was on his back, a naginata.
     The second man is quickly impaled with the naginata and tossed aside, blood spilling
wildly against the fresh green grass. The stranger tosses the naginata to the ground and slowly
moves towards the other man, who is currently cowering in defeat. The stranger picks up the
sword that man was carrying and swings it up so the blade glistens in the moonlight. The
remaining man still cowers, with his back against a tree The stranger walks menacingly towards
the man against the tree, with an icy shimmer in his eye.
     "Please, please, ple-"
     The man is cut off as the stranger slowly presses the point of the blade into the man's
throat and continues until the blade has pierced the tree and is held there. Blood starts to drain
down the side of his mouth and continues down his chest. The stranger says, basically to himself,
"Well, I unquestionably resolved that dissent, but quite efficiently."
     The young boy has seen nothing of this sort before. He starts to move backwards and
crinkles an old root of a tree. The stranger ceases while halfway picking up his sword off the
ground and looks tentatively towards the area of the boy. He moves the katana to a cautious yet
dangerous position. The boy gets a clear look at the sword. It is a well made sword, but features
no special characteristic. It's blood groove is that of a simple line and is not frosted. The stranger
calls out, "Show yourself. Whoever you are, I will not stand here and be threatened."
     The boy decides it would be best just to reveal himself. He steps out of the bushes. At the
sight of the boy, the stranger picks up the rest of his weapons and stealthily leaves the place of
carnage. The boy, now feeling tormented, runs off to the village.
     The next morning, the boy wakes up to much commotion in the town square. He is
quickly out of bed to investigate what is happening. When he reaches the town square he
discovers two bodies covered in shrouds and the town elder trying to explain as the people call
out, "What has happened?" "Who are these men?" "Tell us, Kenji."
     Kenji, the elder, speaks, "What has happened, I do not know. These are the bodies of
Jitsurou and Reibun. Jitsurou was killed by his own sword. Reibun appears to have been run
through."
     "Kenji!" shouts a woman.
     "Yes," he answers.
     "Jitsurou and Reibun were getting involved in a heated discussion last night. Do you
think they died fighting each other?" she asks.
     "They died fighting, that much is clear. Still, I highly doubt that they killed each other."
     The boy has inched his way to the front of the crowd and tugs on the old man's kimono
whilst the other men try to answer the questions of those just arriving. The elder leans down to
the boy.
     "What is it, Naitsuu?" Kenji asks.
     "I, I, I saw the fight, Kenji-sensei." says the boy.
     "Really? What happened?" asks Kenji, sounding almost skeptical.
     "Those two men, they were fighting, and then a third man came along. The third man
killed them both, and then ran away."
     "Are you sure?"
     "Yes, Kenji-sensei."
     "Hmm."
     Kenji ponders the boy's information, and decides he may be telling the truth. Kenji
stands upright and brings the people's attention to him.
     "Excuse me. Perhaps we do know what happened. Young Naitsuu here says he saw them
fight. According to him, a third man came, killed them both, and left."
     The crowd is startled. They have seen only a minimal amount of violence within their
village, but even less involving outsiders. The crowd talks amongst themselves. Kenji raises his
hands to calm them down.
     "Now stay calm people," he starts. "There may be no threat to us from this man. We
shall wait and she if he comes. Naitsuu, you will tell me if he arrives at our village, won't you?"
     "Yes, Kenji-sensei."
     "Good boy. Now run along."
     "Yes, sir."
     Naitsuu runs off to meet some of his friends to tell them his story. Kenji heads back to
his home to meditate and get ready for dealing with any unwanted visitors he might suspect.
     Naitsuu is walking down the street later that day with one of his closest friends, a girl
named Akari.
     "Naitsuu, did you really see what happened?" she asks.
     "Yes, Akari. Do you doubt me?"
     "No, no Naitsuu. But aren't you at least a little confused about what happened?'
     "No, Akari," he answers. He then tries to look tough. "The world is harsh, and a man
must be strong."
     Akari giggles. "Oh, you look so ridiculous. You are still a boy, Naitsuu."
     "Quiet!"
     The two laugh as Naitsuu playfully chases Akari around the town. They run around until
Naitsuu runs into one of the women.
     "Hey! Slow down you two. This place is crowded."
     "Yes, mother," says Naitsuu.
     "Akari!"
     "Sorry, Naitsuu. That's my mother calling. I will see you later, okay?"
     "Okay."
     Akari runs off to her mother while Naitsuu stays with his mother, listening to what the
ladies have to say.
     One holds up a paper, "See this. The first single engine B-class ship has successfully
reached space and returned." says one of the women.
     "Oh the advances they have been making," says Naitsuu's mother.
     "Why, when I was a girl, they could barely get those hunks of junk to get a foot off the
ground," says another.
     "When you were a girl, they could barely get you to stay on the ground."
     "I wasn't THAT hyper!" the woman snaps back.
     The group laughs and Naitsuu chooses to leave them. He walks along the outskirts of his
village, gazing at the sky and thinking to himself, I hope I get to go up there someday.
     Naitsuu's thoughts are disrupted by Kenji.
     "Naitsuu! Naitsuu! Time to practice!" Kenji calls out.
     Naitsuu turns towards the dojo while still staring at the sky. "Coming, Kenji-sensei!"
     When Naitsuu reaches the dojo, Kenji is nowhere to be seen. Naitsuu cautiously walks in
looking around. Then he notices Kenji in the corner nearest to him, standing in position, ready to
attack. Naitsuu immediately moves on the offensive towards Kenji. Kenji easily deflects him,
and Naitsuu exclaims, "Ah!" as he hits the ground hard.
     "Now, Naitsuu. Did I, or did I not, look like I was about attack?" asks Kenji.
     "Yes, Kenji-sensei. You looked like you were about to attack," answers Naitsuu.
     "And what do you know concerning your own attack?"
     "In the Art of Peace we never attack. An attack is proof that one is out of control. Never
run away from any kind of challenge, but do not try to suppress or control an opponent
unnaturally. Let attackers come any way they like and then blend with them. Never chase after
opponents. Redirect each attack and get firmly behind it," answers Naitsuu from memory.
     "Good. You remember. If I was going to attack, you should have moved with me and
then redirected me. You should not have moved to attack me. Always remember, ‘we never
attack.'"
     "Yes, sensei."
     "Now, spar with me."
     Kenji tosses a bokken to Naitsuu, but does not take one for himself. The wooden sword is
almost three quarters the size of the still young and small boy.
     "Sensei, are you using a sword?"
     "No, Naitsuu. I want to show how well that principle works. Come at me," commands
Kenji.
     "But sensei..."
     "Do as I say."
     Naitsuu moves forwards to strike and Kenji easily evades and gets behind Naitsuu. The
boy turns swiftly to guard his back and again, Kenji dodges. Naitsuu takes another charge at
Kenji, and this time Kenji throws Naitsuu to the ground.
     "See? Do you understand Naitsuu? If you can master the Art of Peace, and learn to move
with your opponent, you are unstoppable."
     "Yes, sensei."
     "Remember this lesson. That is all for now."
     Naitsuu hands the bokken back to Kenji feeling defeated as he leaves the dojo.
     "Naitsuu, failure is the key to success; each mistake teaches us something."
     Naitsuu nods and then recites as he opens the screen and exits, 
          "Seeing me before him, 
     The enemy attacks, 
But by that time 
I am already standing 
Safely behind him." 
     Kenji thinks to himself, the boy learns fast, but his memory often fails him.
     Later that day, Naitsuu is sitting on a log by a stream while looking at the sun setting over
the hills. Suddenly Akari appears behind him.
     "Naitsuu?"
     The boy does not seem to be startled.
     "Are you okay?" asks Akari.
     "My lessons, they are frustrating,"answers Naitsuu.
     "You mustn't dwell on your failures forever. There is only so much to learn from them."
     "And since when did you become a philosopher?" questions Naitsuu.
     "Just saying, take some time off from thinking. Enjoy the sunset. Isn't it great? The deep
brown earth and the golden heaven above."
     Naitsuu nods and states, "I must try to be in communion with heaven and earth so the
world will appear in it's true light. Arrogance will vanish, and I will be able to blend with any
attack."
     "Are you constantly stuck in that one train of thought?" questions Akari.
     "I must incorporate my training philosophy with all aspects of my life."
     "Oh, okay."
     Akari finally sits down next to him and they stay silent watching the sun go down and the
first stars appear until it becomes time to go home.