Short Story: Crimson Flower

[Vipralion]

Tell me what you think of this short story. I did some editing afterwards to improve somewhat. I'd like to know what sort of feeling or visual image you get.

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The frogs could be heard croaking amongst each other in and near the lake on the Japanese island. Fireflies danced in the dark. Every now and then the wind could be heard being sliced by the ever so quick strikes of either of two samurai. Firefly light danced on their glimmering swords, as did the soft glow of the rising moon. By dawn, there would be only one sword that would dance again.

Each strike was precisely aimed with masterful skill, yet each strike failed to hit its mark as the other samurai would ever so gracefully make a small step in some seemingly random direction thus letting the blade slice through naught but the chilled spring air.

What had caused these two beings of supreme skill to come together in battle this night? What could provoke these masters of the mind to forget so many of their teachings? An onlooker in another case might have been able to say by a simple glance at the face of either combatant yet these two samurai fought with extreme discipline and let not a single emotion pour out. Was it revenge that had these two at its control? Perhaps they were nothing but puppets in a grander scheme. No, that is hardly the probability. In the most likely of cases it would be the honor bound disciplines that bind these two lives together.

It would seem that this battle would last forever and that the moon would never surrender to the coming of day. However, each samurai knew that the battle would end and the survivor would have his victory. Each knew that they didn't know who would see another day's light. It was this fact that kept each going. Either one could be victorious and so each would never let down their guard.

The warriors exchanged blows, each slicing through darkness. Nothing could come between them as they ran into the crisp waters of the lake from the tangled forest. They both stopped as if existing of one mind and brought glistening steel together in a struggle. Neither gave way and so they maneuvered and brought forth another attack. Drops of water flew from the blades causing a multitude of ripples to find their away across the surface of the lake. From above it appeared as though a dark petaled flower danced in the wind on the lake's surface.

It was then suddenly realized by both that the sky was now growing brighter, the stars fading away. The sun would rise as one would fall. The glow was growing evermore as they continued their unrelenting attack on each other. Time seems to float by as the sky turns many shades of purple, pink, then merges into blue. The sun can almost be seen over the peaks of faraway treetops when suddenly a ray of light finds its way to where the warriors battle. The light hits the smooth blades and finds its way into the eyes of both samurai. The warriors, blinded, pull their swords back in preparation to strike. Time stops as they sightlessly guide their weapons forth into each other. They stop as if the swords have stolen their movement. Then each makes a slight movement and withdraws their blade from each other. They struggle to keep their quickly weakening bodies upright. Swirls of crimson slide through the clear waters. The warriors can no longer hold their ground and fall into the lake. The sun rises as two minds fall into darkness.
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