Fifty Fragments of a Thousand Roads
Fandom: Usagi Yojimbo
Theme Set: 1
Rating: PG-13
Fifty Fragments of a Thousand Roads
1. Mortal
All flesh decays, Jei marveled as he rose the immortal weapon of the gods once more, but I am not a creature of flesh.
2. Broken
Tomoe shattered the cup against the wall with a cry of rage against the man who had drained it and left her-none would do so again.
3. Vanish
Watching his other father walk away, disappearing from his life as he himself had left Kenichi's, Jotaro realized the problem with his life: none of it ever stayed the same.
4. Rain
The only thing that redeemed the harsh rain for Usagi was when it caused the silken strands of Tomoe's hair to cling to her face.
5. Ocean
The shore was always a welcome sight for Usagi, the roar of the waves crashing over his senses, their unpredictable constance the only measure of surety he ever had.
6. Tense
The room held its breath, all life halted, and even the gods were still, releasing only when Gen moved one of his pieces and declared, “You owe me a drink, Long-Ears!”
7. Soon
“I'll tell him when we get to the inn tonight,” Usagi whispered, watching Jotaro run ahead, dreading tomorrow, his last day spent with his young companion.
8. Why
“Why” was never a question for Kitsune, for as she eyed a wealthy stranger with a large purse, the first question in her twinkling eyes was, “Why not?”
9. Winter
Chizu could barely breathe the frigid air, her sealed lips quivering as she hiked upwards, leaving tracks of crimson in the virgin snow behind her.
10. Fallen
Koji fell before him, and Katsuichi numbly wondered at the depth he had fallen to as well.
11. Storm
Water came down as sheets of glass, but Usagi was inside by the fire, waiting out the thunder with a cup of warm soup and a blissful, closed-eye smile.
12. Door
Tomoe could not take her eyes from the door, one of two ways she had to escape a life not of her choosing.
13. Flash
Does the lady want her jewelry to be stolen? Kiyoko wondered as she slipped a glinting jeweled ring from an unsuspecting slender finger.
14. Wait
“Usagi,” cried Jotaro, sprinting forward, his little legs flailing through the tall grass although the ronin was long gone, “I have to tell you something!”
15. Shrine
No place should be both sacred and evil, Sanshobo thought, shivering in the shadows of the temple where Jei had first risen.
16. Black
“ARE YOU TRYING TO DEPRESS ME?” bellowed Gen, throwing the offered black clothing in the tailor's face as Kitsune looked on with an amused smirk.
17. Lost
“Um,” Usagi said to himself, realizing he had been here about four hours ago and hadn't meant to circle back.
18. Cell
Kitsune liked Gen-his personality, his love for riches, and especially the way he'd helped her out of that dank, unladylike dungeon.
19. Villain
“He has returned,” Sanshobo whispered, “and only a few have survived who fought him.”
20. Road
My oath will be nullified when I am married anyway, Tomoe considered as her eyes lingered on the road just beyond her bedroom window.
21. Weep
Gen knew when Kitsune playfully brushed her fingers under his chin in passing that he would go to his room tonight and either scrub his face off or cry like an infant.
22. Blind
“Nothing replaces sight,” muttered Zato-Ino, raising his senses around him like a fortress, “except for everything else.”
23. Pact
“I will not seek him-unless I am with you, Sensei,” Jotaro promised, eyes gleaming.
24. Flight
Of course no matter what Katsuichi-sensei said, Jotaro had to find his father, his real father, and with no other choice, he would seek him alone.
25. Hard
Chizu was rent asunder, but even as she lay dying in Usagi's arms, there was a hardness in her eyes like diamonds.
26. War
“No one will sleep safe tonight,” murmured Sanshobo, holding his candle to the stars.
27. Deed
“Usagi,” Chizu growled through her bloody teeth as she grasped the fabric of the ronin's kimono in her hands and drew him close, “finish me!”
28. Unknown
“I know Jei,” Gen growled to Usagi, Zato-Ino, and Sanshobo, “and I'm not afraid to fight him again.”
29. Deep
There was no pain when the knife first went in, sharp as it was, but when it reached Tomoe's heart, she gave a cry as a flood of hope was released to die upon the floor.
30. Sudden
She had died in the night, slowly and painfully, and yet it had taken a split second for the life to leave Chizu's torn and bloodied body.
31. Dread
It was a life, nothing more or less, but the fear that Usagi would never know of their blood relation haunted Jotaro as long as his life went on.
32. Burn
“This is going to hurt,” Usagi said quietly before, in one swift motion, he pressed the glowing iron to Chizu's wound.
33. Clock
“You are too late, Usagi,” whispered Tomoe, her vacant eyes reflective of the thousands of empty hours ahead of her.
34. Words
Jei was fallen again for now, Gen and his companions alive, but in spite of everything that had happened, they said nothing when they parted ways.
35. Fast
It was over so quickly, the simple slice of Chizu's laboring throat, but the feeling was beginning to return to Usagi's hands, and he numbly thought about what his former self would say about this without knowing quite what he meant by that.
36. Three
“There are only three of us here,” muttered Usagi, eyes darting about as if hoping the absent Gennosuke would appear from nowhere.
37. Place
Usagi and the others could get along without him, Gen decided, tugging Kitsune closer without knowing he was doing so.
38. Irony
Tomoe had never run from the most formidable enemy, but she ran now, branches tearing at her face and that despised wedding gown.
39. Sky
Before falling, Usagi caught a glimpse of the sky, and wondered if Gen, looking from afar, could see the shape of a jar of sake in that cloud as well, wherever he was, far away from Jei's slaughterhouse.
40. Closet
Usagi held his breath with Chizu, peering out of a crack in the door of the closet and praying that the family who hid them from the Neko ninja was not about to be slaughtered.
41. Real
Tomoe had come to him, appearing like a ghost or an angel from nowhere, and Usagi hadn't believed she was really there until she had thrown her arms about him in utter, blissful relief.
42. Fair
Pretty-not a word he normally would use to describe the razor-sharp Chizu, but as Usagi watched her, it was the word that came to mind.
43. Knot
Usagi could not speak through the knot in his throat; he could only press Jotaro-his son-as close to his breast as possible and, perhaps, cry.
44. Low
Tomoe was disgraced, dishonored, scorned, but not alone, she thought as she watched Usagi's face become illumined by a shower of sparks and a sudden small campfire.
45. Well
“You can drink first, Uncle Usagi,” Jotaro offered, drawing the water from the well; then, with a glint in his eye, he said, “Otou-san.”
46. Token
“I kept the cup,” Tomoe said to him softly, cradling a thousand bits of porcelain in her hands.
47. Ugly
All the beauty in Usagi's life had been given to death, or drained from the skies and mountains when every last loved one he had had died.
48. Lure
“I know what will bring you upstairs,” Tomoe murmured, sealing his lips with a soft, tantalizing kiss.
49. Drink
“No, my friend,” Usagi said with a broad grin to Gennosuke, sliding a piece into place on the go board, “it is you who owe me a drink!”
50. Dust
It was dry, but the dust on the road did not rise behind Usagi as he turned with a smile to the sunset.
Theme Set: 1
Rating: PG-13
Fifty Fragments of a Thousand Roads
1. Mortal
All flesh decays, Jei marveled as he rose the immortal weapon of the gods once more, but I am not a creature of flesh.
2. Broken
Tomoe shattered the cup against the wall with a cry of rage against the man who had drained it and left her-none would do so again.
3. Vanish
Watching his other father walk away, disappearing from his life as he himself had left Kenichi's, Jotaro realized the problem with his life: none of it ever stayed the same.
4. Rain
The only thing that redeemed the harsh rain for Usagi was when it caused the silken strands of Tomoe's hair to cling to her face.
5. Ocean
The shore was always a welcome sight for Usagi, the roar of the waves crashing over his senses, their unpredictable constance the only measure of surety he ever had.
6. Tense
The room held its breath, all life halted, and even the gods were still, releasing only when Gen moved one of his pieces and declared, “You owe me a drink, Long-Ears!”
7. Soon
“I'll tell him when we get to the inn tonight,” Usagi whispered, watching Jotaro run ahead, dreading tomorrow, his last day spent with his young companion.
8. Why
“Why” was never a question for Kitsune, for as she eyed a wealthy stranger with a large purse, the first question in her twinkling eyes was, “Why not?”
9. Winter
Chizu could barely breathe the frigid air, her sealed lips quivering as she hiked upwards, leaving tracks of crimson in the virgin snow behind her.
10. Fallen
Koji fell before him, and Katsuichi numbly wondered at the depth he had fallen to as well.
11. Storm
Water came down as sheets of glass, but Usagi was inside by the fire, waiting out the thunder with a cup of warm soup and a blissful, closed-eye smile.
12. Door
Tomoe could not take her eyes from the door, one of two ways she had to escape a life not of her choosing.
13. Flash
Does the lady want her jewelry to be stolen? Kiyoko wondered as she slipped a glinting jeweled ring from an unsuspecting slender finger.
14. Wait
“Usagi,” cried Jotaro, sprinting forward, his little legs flailing through the tall grass although the ronin was long gone, “I have to tell you something!”
15. Shrine
No place should be both sacred and evil, Sanshobo thought, shivering in the shadows of the temple where Jei had first risen.
16. Black
“ARE YOU TRYING TO DEPRESS ME?” bellowed Gen, throwing the offered black clothing in the tailor's face as Kitsune looked on with an amused smirk.
17. Lost
“Um,” Usagi said to himself, realizing he had been here about four hours ago and hadn't meant to circle back.
18. Cell
Kitsune liked Gen-his personality, his love for riches, and especially the way he'd helped her out of that dank, unladylike dungeon.
19. Villain
“He has returned,” Sanshobo whispered, “and only a few have survived who fought him.”
20. Road
My oath will be nullified when I am married anyway, Tomoe considered as her eyes lingered on the road just beyond her bedroom window.
21. Weep
Gen knew when Kitsune playfully brushed her fingers under his chin in passing that he would go to his room tonight and either scrub his face off or cry like an infant.
22. Blind
“Nothing replaces sight,” muttered Zato-Ino, raising his senses around him like a fortress, “except for everything else.”
23. Pact
“I will not seek him-unless I am with you, Sensei,” Jotaro promised, eyes gleaming.
24. Flight
Of course no matter what Katsuichi-sensei said, Jotaro had to find his father, his real father, and with no other choice, he would seek him alone.
25. Hard
Chizu was rent asunder, but even as she lay dying in Usagi's arms, there was a hardness in her eyes like diamonds.
26. War
“No one will sleep safe tonight,” murmured Sanshobo, holding his candle to the stars.
27. Deed
“Usagi,” Chizu growled through her bloody teeth as she grasped the fabric of the ronin's kimono in her hands and drew him close, “finish me!”
28. Unknown
“I know Jei,” Gen growled to Usagi, Zato-Ino, and Sanshobo, “and I'm not afraid to fight him again.”
29. Deep
There was no pain when the knife first went in, sharp as it was, but when it reached Tomoe's heart, she gave a cry as a flood of hope was released to die upon the floor.
30. Sudden
She had died in the night, slowly and painfully, and yet it had taken a split second for the life to leave Chizu's torn and bloodied body.
31. Dread
It was a life, nothing more or less, but the fear that Usagi would never know of their blood relation haunted Jotaro as long as his life went on.
32. Burn
“This is going to hurt,” Usagi said quietly before, in one swift motion, he pressed the glowing iron to Chizu's wound.
33. Clock
“You are too late, Usagi,” whispered Tomoe, her vacant eyes reflective of the thousands of empty hours ahead of her.
34. Words
Jei was fallen again for now, Gen and his companions alive, but in spite of everything that had happened, they said nothing when they parted ways.
35. Fast
It was over so quickly, the simple slice of Chizu's laboring throat, but the feeling was beginning to return to Usagi's hands, and he numbly thought about what his former self would say about this without knowing quite what he meant by that.
36. Three
“There are only three of us here,” muttered Usagi, eyes darting about as if hoping the absent Gennosuke would appear from nowhere.
37. Place
Usagi and the others could get along without him, Gen decided, tugging Kitsune closer without knowing he was doing so.
38. Irony
Tomoe had never run from the most formidable enemy, but she ran now, branches tearing at her face and that despised wedding gown.
39. Sky
Before falling, Usagi caught a glimpse of the sky, and wondered if Gen, looking from afar, could see the shape of a jar of sake in that cloud as well, wherever he was, far away from Jei's slaughterhouse.
40. Closet
Usagi held his breath with Chizu, peering out of a crack in the door of the closet and praying that the family who hid them from the Neko ninja was not about to be slaughtered.
41. Real
Tomoe had come to him, appearing like a ghost or an angel from nowhere, and Usagi hadn't believed she was really there until she had thrown her arms about him in utter, blissful relief.
42. Fair
Pretty-not a word he normally would use to describe the razor-sharp Chizu, but as Usagi watched her, it was the word that came to mind.
43. Knot
Usagi could not speak through the knot in his throat; he could only press Jotaro-his son-as close to his breast as possible and, perhaps, cry.
44. Low
Tomoe was disgraced, dishonored, scorned, but not alone, she thought as she watched Usagi's face become illumined by a shower of sparks and a sudden small campfire.
45. Well
“You can drink first, Uncle Usagi,” Jotaro offered, drawing the water from the well; then, with a glint in his eye, he said, “Otou-san.”
46. Token
“I kept the cup,” Tomoe said to him softly, cradling a thousand bits of porcelain in her hands.
47. Ugly
All the beauty in Usagi's life had been given to death, or drained from the skies and mountains when every last loved one he had had died.
48. Lure
“I know what will bring you upstairs,” Tomoe murmured, sealing his lips with a soft, tantalizing kiss.
49. Drink
“No, my friend,” Usagi said with a broad grin to Gennosuke, sliding a piece into place on the go board, “it is you who owe me a drink!”
50. Dust
It was dry, but the dust on the road did not rise behind Usagi as he turned with a smile to the sunset.