Kageura is difficult to analyze. While alive, he was an honorable man, yet he was a lord. By nature, warlords are ambitious, but he and his clan were not overly so.
His thirst for power came as he felt betrayed by the Tokugawas, but also with the transformation to being a vampire. Even though the Tokugawas were no longer in power when he moved to the United States, he struggled with himself - much of his struggles are internal, his honorable human self, with the dishonorable vampire self.
In Japan, in recent times, before he moved to the United States, he was pretty much content just existing, but his he has been resurrected now, in modern times, I can feel his ambitious spirit in the air. Maybe I am wrong, but I think I am right.
Showing posts with label Kageura. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kageura. Show all posts
Monday, August 26, 2013
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Kageura Entry: Taira Clan Treasure
The reason I chose the United States to move to was not because I could not live as a vampire in non-Tokugawa Japan, but because the divine Yamato sword, most likely is buried somewhere in the current Los Angeles. It is said that whoever wields the sword weilds great power.
When the Taira clan lost the Genpai War, it was rumored that a small faction of the clan stayed behind in Japan, and retrieved the Yamato sword and brought it to China, where the few survivors of the Taira clan fled to. As the family integrated into Chines culture, the sword was lost and probably at that time, integrated into Chinese treasures.
The story continues that the sword was part of a treasure brought aboard one of the ships in the Chinese expedition around the world, which in 1421, reached the shores of North America. The ship containing the sword was severely damaged during a storm, and sunk near the coast. but not before some of the treasure was saved and brought to shore. No one knows what happened tot he treasure after that.
I am sure the sword is still with the other treasures, and will go on a quest to find it. Then I will use its powers.
When the Taira clan lost the Genpai War, it was rumored that a small faction of the clan stayed behind in Japan, and retrieved the Yamato sword and brought it to China, where the few survivors of the Taira clan fled to. As the family integrated into Chines culture, the sword was lost and probably at that time, integrated into Chinese treasures.
The story continues that the sword was part of a treasure brought aboard one of the ships in the Chinese expedition around the world, which in 1421, reached the shores of North America. The ship containing the sword was severely damaged during a storm, and sunk near the coast. but not before some of the treasure was saved and brought to shore. No one knows what happened tot he treasure after that.
I am sure the sword is still with the other treasures, and will go on a quest to find it. Then I will use its powers.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Author's Entry: Candy is bit, part II
Candy walked faster. The car slowly followed her, narrowed the gap. The water swished underneath the car's tires, and pittypatted under her boots. Candy increased he pace. The car did the same. Candy started to get angry. It was the same guy who harassed her at the club. If steam was coming out of Candy's ears, the rains would douse it.
Candy stopped. The car stopped, then slowly caught up to her.
"Come On, baby, I want a happy ending," the driver said.
"Listen, I do do that sort of thing. If you are that desparate, then I suggest another part of town."
"But it's raining, and your here...I'm here now." The driver opened the door to the passenger side. "Get in, please."
"No."
"I'm begging."
"No."
"You don't want me to make you, do you?"
"I can beat you up, any night."
"Oh,. yeah? We'll see about that." The driver started to open the door. Candy readied herself. The driver got out, and as he got both feet out the car, he scrambled back in and floored the gas pedal. The passenger side door still open.
Candy was glad, a but shocked. While she knew she could beat him in a physical fight, she didn't think he'd run away like that.
Candy turned around and bumped into a solid form. "Oh, excuse me," she said instinctively, and looked up. A pair of long fangs descended upon her.
Candy stopped. The car stopped, then slowly caught up to her.
"Come On, baby, I want a happy ending," the driver said.
"Listen, I do do that sort of thing. If you are that desparate, then I suggest another part of town."
"But it's raining, and your here...I'm here now." The driver opened the door to the passenger side. "Get in, please."
"No."
"I'm begging."
"No."
"You don't want me to make you, do you?"
"I can beat you up, any night."
"Oh,. yeah? We'll see about that." The driver started to open the door. Candy readied herself. The driver got out, and as he got both feet out the car, he scrambled back in and floored the gas pedal. The passenger side door still open.
Candy was glad, a but shocked. While she knew she could beat him in a physical fight, she didn't think he'd run away like that.
Candy turned around and bumped into a solid form. "Oh, excuse me," she said instinctively, and looked up. A pair of long fangs descended upon her.
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Author entry: Possible opening for the actual book
Aspiring dancers move to New York, aspiring actresses move to Los Angeles. Candy Cain moved to the latter, yet worked as the former. Many people would refer her type of dance as an illegitimate form of dance. At this point, she didn't care if it was or wasn't an artsy respected form of dancing. All she cared was that it paid the bills.
The lack of customers indicated the weather outside: cold and rainy. Candy received a small wage, but most of her income came from tips customer's would give her. Not the tips from dancing - that would only pay the rest of her rent - the rest of her bills and any savings would come from tips customers would give her by keeping them company - not the way most people stereotyped the dancers - but literally, to keep company with the customer with conversation.
It was hard to be motivated when the customer pool was slim; and the cold wet air roaring in from the outside. She went through her motions. She didn't notice a tall shadowy man come in and stand near the corner of the room - nor did anyone else. Her mind was focused on a problem customer sitting in front of her.
"Shake it, baby! Come on! What am I paying you for," he said as he shook a lone dollar bill in front of his face.
Candy ignored him, but he was relentless. No use being nice to this guy - he was an obnoxious drunk. Probably cheap, too.
The man, a short, thin, middle-aged balding man in his fifties, continued to verbally harass Candy, until he jumped on stage and grabbed her. She punched him in the groin, and ran off stage. This amused the strange man standing in the corner.
"Never changes - the relationship between dancers and their customers - whatever the culture, whatever the time," he thought.
The lack of customers indicated the weather outside: cold and rainy. Candy received a small wage, but most of her income came from tips customer's would give her. Not the tips from dancing - that would only pay the rest of her rent - the rest of her bills and any savings would come from tips customers would give her by keeping them company - not the way most people stereotyped the dancers - but literally, to keep company with the customer with conversation.
It was hard to be motivated when the customer pool was slim; and the cold wet air roaring in from the outside. She went through her motions. She didn't notice a tall shadowy man come in and stand near the corner of the room - nor did anyone else. Her mind was focused on a problem customer sitting in front of her.
"Shake it, baby! Come on! What am I paying you for," he said as he shook a lone dollar bill in front of his face.
Candy ignored him, but he was relentless. No use being nice to this guy - he was an obnoxious drunk. Probably cheap, too.
The man, a short, thin, middle-aged balding man in his fifties, continued to verbally harass Candy, until he jumped on stage and grabbed her. She punched him in the groin, and ran off stage. This amused the strange man standing in the corner.
"Never changes - the relationship between dancers and their customers - whatever the culture, whatever the time," he thought.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Maria Ramos Entry: A New Life
I was walking along the street when a man came up to me.
"Ms. Ramos?"
"Yes."
"Excuse me, but I remember you from the party. I also read your bylines. There's not just one. There is a whole nest of them. Hundreds of them. I can take you to see where they live."
"Sorry, mister. I'm busy." I tried to brush him off, but then he looked at me, stared into my eyes, and I could not resist.
"Please, Ms. Ramos. I insist."
This man led me into a cave. I cannot remember how I got there. He told me to look through a crack, and there were hundreds of them, as he said.
"Welcome." A deep voice said, behind me. I turned around. He was tall, and appeared to be dressed in Japanese samurai armour.
"Won't you join us?" He asked. Instinctively, I exposed my neck and offered it to him.
"Ms. Ramos?"
"Yes."
"Excuse me, but I remember you from the party. I also read your bylines. There's not just one. There is a whole nest of them. Hundreds of them. I can take you to see where they live."
"Sorry, mister. I'm busy." I tried to brush him off, but then he looked at me, stared into my eyes, and I could not resist.
"Please, Ms. Ramos. I insist."
This man led me into a cave. I cannot remember how I got there. He told me to look through a crack, and there were hundreds of them, as he said.
"Welcome." A deep voice said, behind me. I turned around. He was tall, and appeared to be dressed in Japanese samurai armour.
"Won't you join us?" He asked. Instinctively, I exposed my neck and offered it to him.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Kageura v Jubei, pt 3
Continuing the account of the duel between Jubei and Kageura, Van Helsing wrote:
"The two men circled each other. Yagyu waited for kageura to move first. Kageura swung at Yagyu's stomach. Yagyu deflected it. Yagyu let Kageura initiate the attacks, deflecting each swing, countering only when he felt he could hit Kageura back. Kageura became impatient. His swings gradually became less controlled. One one swing, Kageura sliced the fabric of Yagyu's kimono, but Yagyu deflected the blow and countered it with his own horizontal blow to the stomach. Yagyu's blow cut kageura, but not deep enough. Kageura charged at Yagyu, sword above his head. Yagyu defelcted the oncoming blow, and in one motion, slcied horizontally against the stomach, and up across the neck. Kageura's head flew off and onto the floor."
I changed a word or two, but the above paragraph is an excerpt from the book, "Sword of the Undead," (lost in Sakamoto's world, but inour world, it is available on Amazon, and other online bookstores.)
"The two men circled each other. Yagyu waited for kageura to move first. Kageura swung at Yagyu's stomach. Yagyu deflected it. Yagyu let Kageura initiate the attacks, deflecting each swing, countering only when he felt he could hit Kageura back. Kageura became impatient. His swings gradually became less controlled. One one swing, Kageura sliced the fabric of Yagyu's kimono, but Yagyu deflected the blow and countered it with his own horizontal blow to the stomach. Yagyu's blow cut kageura, but not deep enough. Kageura charged at Yagyu, sword above his head. Yagyu defelcted the oncoming blow, and in one motion, slcied horizontally against the stomach, and up across the neck. Kageura's head flew off and onto the floor."
I changed a word or two, but the above paragraph is an excerpt from the book, "Sword of the Undead," (lost in Sakamoto's world, but inour world, it is available on Amazon, and other online bookstores.)
Friday, August 9, 2013
Ron Sakamoto Entry: Kageura versus Jubei, circa 1872 pt. 2
It appears that the vampire, Kageura, kidnapped Harker's wife, Mina. Van Helsing, with a group of people, including Jubei, confronted Kageura inside the castle, which I gather is kind of around where Dodger Stadium now stands.
A compilation of Van Helsing's writings to come up with the battle:
"The two men stared at each other. This wasn't a duel between man and monster, it was between two master swordsmen. They respected each other. In this moment, Kageura's humanity came out. He stated that he is the one who is cursed, not Jubei. Jubei only wore a kimono, but Kageura was in full armor. Kagura took off his armor to make the fight fair."
"Yagyu Jubei Mitsuyoshi," proclaimed Jubei.
"Kageura Hidetora," replied back Kageura.
A compilation of Van Helsing's writings to come up with the battle:
"The two men stared at each other. This wasn't a duel between man and monster, it was between two master swordsmen. They respected each other. In this moment, Kageura's humanity came out. He stated that he is the one who is cursed, not Jubei. Jubei only wore a kimono, but Kageura was in full armor. Kagura took off his armor to make the fight fair."
"Yagyu Jubei Mitsuyoshi," proclaimed Jubei.
"Kageura Hidetora," replied back Kageura.
Monday, August 5, 2013
Ron Sakamoto Entry: Kageura versus Jubei pt. 1
It took all day, and although the full story of the battle with the Japanese vampire is not in one place, I think I've pieced together a fairly comprehensive story.
An attorney named Jonathan Harker had gone to Japan to finalize a real estate deal with a Japanese warlord. Van Helsing mentored one of the early pioneers of mental health by the name of John Seward. Seward and Harker were mutual friends of a woman named Lucy Westerna. Lucy had been taken ill. Van Helsing concluded that it was the work of a vampire.
A mysterious Japanese samurai immigrant from Japan appeared. Van Helsing wrote, "a stake through the heart won't kill these type of vampires, rather, the stomach must be slit, and then the body beheaded." I couldn't find any other references to "these types of vampires," but I assume that there are differen types and different ways of destruction - not just the one few same way they show in movies.
Look at me, thinking vampires are real. What's scary is that after reading these things, and witnessing what I did at that party, I am starting to believe the existence of these creatures.
Van Helsing also described the Japanese samurai. Said his name was Jubei Yagyu. Hey, wait, wasn't that the famous samurai who disappeared back in the early-mid 1600's? (In real life, Jubei died in his in his own village when he was 43 years old). He described this samurai being tall, thin, with a forlorn lockof hair. Why does this description sound so familiar?
An attorney named Jonathan Harker had gone to Japan to finalize a real estate deal with a Japanese warlord. Van Helsing mentored one of the early pioneers of mental health by the name of John Seward. Seward and Harker were mutual friends of a woman named Lucy Westerna. Lucy had been taken ill. Van Helsing concluded that it was the work of a vampire.
A mysterious Japanese samurai immigrant from Japan appeared. Van Helsing wrote, "a stake through the heart won't kill these type of vampires, rather, the stomach must be slit, and then the body beheaded." I couldn't find any other references to "these types of vampires," but I assume that there are differen types and different ways of destruction - not just the one few same way they show in movies.
Look at me, thinking vampires are real. What's scary is that after reading these things, and witnessing what I did at that party, I am starting to believe the existence of these creatures.
Van Helsing also described the Japanese samurai. Said his name was Jubei Yagyu. Hey, wait, wasn't that the famous samurai who disappeared back in the early-mid 1600's? (In real life, Jubei died in his in his own village when he was 43 years old). He described this samurai being tall, thin, with a forlorn lockof hair. Why does this description sound so familiar?
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Jubei's Entry: It's a Large City
When I first moved to Los Angeles, the city had a population of only 5,000. San Francisco, at that time had about 100,000 residents. Even so, that is a small amount compared to modern day Los Angeles. I did not move back to Japan after battling Kageura, along with Van Helsing, Seward, Harker and Holmwood. In fact, Van Helsing and I would meet up a few more times during his lifetime.
I live as I have the past 300 years - drifting out of people's lives before they suspect the fact that I do not age. I eat, but do not need daily, or even weekly nourishment, so it is easy for me to be out of sight. While mortal, I was the oldest child of a high ranking clan - I had money money to begin with, and I still have money that was minted when I first arrived here. I hid from the public during the war between Japan and the United States, but those times were among the busiest for me for the carnage brought out the monsters. Kageura had told Harker that he felt Japan would revert back into a dictatorship - and indeed it did - But Kageura, in that state he was in, I wonder if he secretly planned on being that dictator. His current state was created out of an evil essence - one he has tried to fight, but cannot, as I have fought off.
I do not think he merely plans on an existence of killing innocents just to survive. He was a lord in his day, he is ambitious. He must have a plan for those he transforms.
In a city of 5,000 he was easier to trace. But nearly 4,000,000, and compared to the last time, extremely more noisy, and developed, and smellier - it will be a difficult task in this environment.
I live as I have the past 300 years - drifting out of people's lives before they suspect the fact that I do not age. I eat, but do not need daily, or even weekly nourishment, so it is easy for me to be out of sight. While mortal, I was the oldest child of a high ranking clan - I had money money to begin with, and I still have money that was minted when I first arrived here. I hid from the public during the war between Japan and the United States, but those times were among the busiest for me for the carnage brought out the monsters. Kageura had told Harker that he felt Japan would revert back into a dictatorship - and indeed it did - But Kageura, in that state he was in, I wonder if he secretly planned on being that dictator. His current state was created out of an evil essence - one he has tried to fight, but cannot, as I have fought off.
I do not think he merely plans on an existence of killing innocents just to survive. He was a lord in his day, he is ambitious. He must have a plan for those he transforms.
In a city of 5,000 he was easier to trace. But nearly 4,000,000, and compared to the last time, extremely more noisy, and developed, and smellier - it will be a difficult task in this environment.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Jubei's Entry: He's Back
I know I destroyed him over 100 years ago, and 250 years before that. But he keeps resurrecting. Since he placed his cursed injury onto me, I, too, must walk among the living after my time, but differently. I must do battle with those who feed off the souls of the living. It was at an intersection of a desolate area of Los Angeles. I was drawn there, but didn't know why at the time. Yellow police tape. I saw the victim - drained of blood. And I knew. It wasn't any other vampire - I instinctively knew - Kageura is back.
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