Ninja Scroll is the property of a big big company in Japan that could 
easily drown me in a sea of legal papers.

The story is based on a traditional samurai folk tale (Yojimbo, I 
believe?).

C&C is more than welcome.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

    The people stared at awe as the man continued on his tirade.  His 
endless tales of bravery continued on and on as the small ferry made 
it's way through the calm waters of the lake.  Every so often, the 
oarsmen would have to shift slightly as the man's grandoise gestures and 
emotional handwaving shifted the boat slightly.  The many passengers on 
the boat filled it to capacity, and almost all were sitting dumbly, 
transfixed by the man's stories.
    "My Lord was so impressed, that he immediately bequeathed upon me 
six rice patties and honored me by inviting me to join his court!" the 
man boasted.  He took a second to ceremoniously brush off a leaf from 
his polished, lacquered armor.
    Several women swooned.  The braggart beamed his most winning smile.  
A few even clapped.  Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed one man 
that had been sleeping the entire time near the back, a sword in his 
lap.  The man's broad-brimmed straw hat covered his face.
    "You there!" the boasting man called out, weaving around seats to 
prod the sleeping passenger with the butt of his saya.  The man stirred 
slightly before settling back to sleep again.
    The man frowned.  How dare a commoner ignore him, and even have the 
audacity to carry a sword!
    "Impudent peasant!  When a warrior speaks, one should listen," the 
self-centered swordsman shouted.
    "No doubt, a pearl of wisdom," a voice said calmly from under the 
straw hat.  "Now if you please, I am trying to rest.  It's been a long 
and tiresome day for me."
    The armored man seethed.  In one swift motion, he backhanded the hat 
off the reclining man.  A face framed by dark wavy hair looked up 
nonchalantly.  They stared at each other, the soft sounds of the lapping 
waves punctuated by the splash from the lost hat.
    "Now, now," the recently resting man said softly.  "No need to get 
excited.  You can pay for my hat later, ne."
    "Pay you?  How dare you speak with such pretense!"
    The strange man shrugged and turned to look over the expansive lake.  
The other swordsman noticed the sword in his hand.
    "You carry a sword," the armored swordsman spat in an offended 
voice.  "How is it a peasant like you could come to carry a blade?"
    "It's mine," was the nonchalant reply.  "It's been in my family for 
quite some time."
    "Do you even know how to use such a weapon?"
    "I guess I do," the stranger said with a small smile.  "I'm still 
alive, ne."
    "I am the undisputed champion of this province.  I could show you a 
thing or two about that blade you carry," the boastful swordsman said.  
He shifted the daisho in his obi, earning a few oohs from the women 
onboard.  The sunlight glinted off the gold-inlay on the saya and the 
tsuba.  No doubt, the swords were presents from a high official.
    "They're lovely," the other swordsman said.  His own blade had a 
simple tsuba, the handle wrapped in a simple black silk cloth, and a 
simple red saya covering the sword.
    "I'm willing to wager you don't even know how to use that thing you 
have in your hand."
    "That's fine," the man said, brushing off his simple brown keikogi 
and settling back into the seat for another nap.  The other swordsman 
kicked his leg out from under him.
    "Rude bastard!  I'm challenging you to fight me, though you 
certainly aren't worth the effort."
    The quiet swordsman simply blinked slowly, his face expressionless.
    "What school do you practice?" he asked.
    "I am the very founder of the Taikosetsu-ryu!" the man boasted.
    The man in brown simply nodded.
    "And you, peasant?  What base form of battou-jutsu do you presume to 
know?"
    A moment of silence lapsed.
    "The School of No Sword," the man replied with a smile.
    "The School of No Sword?" the proud samurai asked.
    The man nodded quietly.
    "Very well then.  We'll see just how good your school is!" the 
samurai said, making to draw his swords.
    "Wait a moment."
    "Nani?"
    "Surely a man of high rank must be concerned with the safety of the 
people on this boat.  Wouldn't it be more prudent to duel away from the 
people here so no innocent people will get injured?"
    Many people in the boat nodded in agreement with the swordsman in 
the simple keikogi.  The boasting samurai fumed.
    "Very well," he spat.
    "Now now, you needn't get so overworked over nothing.  There's a 
small island close by.  We can stop there and duel in front of your 
adoring public, ne," the other man said calmly.
    It didn't take long for the boat to reach the shore of the small 
island.  The oarsmen paddled furiously, eager to see a duel.  A few of 
the men placed bets on who would die.  As soon as they closed in on the 
shore, the samurai in armor made a great leap out of the boat, landing 
solidly on shore, getting only the  heels of his shoes wet.
    "Come now!  Come forward and fight, peasant!" he called back to the 
boat.
    "The man in the simple clothes walked over to the edge of the boat 
and yawned.  He handed over his sword to the nearest oarsman who simply 
blinked in confusion.  Before the samurai on shore would react, the man 
in brown took an oar and gave the boat a strong push off, sending the 
boat back out into the deeper waters.  The oarsmen laughed and paddled 
onwards as the women quietly smiled amongst themselves.
    "That is my school of No Sword," the man in brown called over his 
shoulder with a smile.
    The shouting of the samurai stranded on the island died in the 
gentle breeze as they paddled back on course.  The triumphant swordsman 
settled back into his seat, a well-dressed womanly timidly offering him 
shade with her umbrella.  He smiled his thanks and settled back into his 
seat for a nap.  The rest of the ride passed without incident.
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com