Chapter 1 - The birth

In a world of samurais and ninjas, in a world of honor and respect, everyone worth mentioning lived by the ways of the sword. And so was expected from a new born into the family of Kuroshiro's, the leaders of the black society - an assassin guild well-known and feared.
On a stormy, freezing day, many had gathered to witness the birth of a baby. The most influential samurais and ninjas of the world were there. All of them either working for Black Society or friends of the members. Soon, word started spreading that a boy has born.

" We call him Ryoko Kuroshiro, the crown prince of the Kuroshiro family." That fearfully loud and straight voice belonged to the leader of the family, father of Ryoko.
The very moment after those words, a party started that lasted for many many days. But on that particular evening, an old sage visited the bedroom of the leader of the family.

" Your son will become a legend like you. Yet before the age of 20, he will surpass even your own strength and soon after that your wisdom. By the age of 40, every soul in Japan will have heard his name. And his name will spread fear amongst his enemies and respect among his allies. But he will never rest and never he will feel love. That's the path that the heir of Kuroshiro's will walk. Listen to me carefully. Shall you throw him out of the family when he is young, he will never become famous, yet he will feel the warmth of love. Shall you let him be the crown prince, you will die by his hand." Those were the words of the wise sage. But Ryoko's father was arrogant. He laughed at the words that his son will surpass him and he didn't care about love. So he said.

" Wise man, thanks for your previous help to the guild, I will let you go. But should you spread the rumour that my son will surpass me and even kill me, I will kill you!"

TO BE CONTINUED

Warning - The following is not suitable for younger readers due to high amount of gore.

Chapter 2 - The first bloodshed

It was dark, it was cold and it was scary. Kuroshiro Ryoko, the 8 years old heir to the throne of Kuroshiros, was being escorted from the stronghold of the family to the highest rated school of assassins in whole eastern world. The wagon was slowly making its way through the forest of mist, when something unexpected happened. A silent step on the roof of the wagon, then the sound of metal moving fast in the air. Just like a blade whistling when swung fast enough. And one after another until the wagon had completely stopped. Ryoko's bodyguard, Takano Henry, smiled to the boy and unseated his short katana.
" Stay put and be brave boy!" Said the man who Ryoko had known since the age of 3. In a way, he was a father to him. Henry had been there more often than Ryoko's dad and Henry had been the one who told him all the stories about famous samurais and ninjas. And Takano was the one who started to teach Ryoko the ways of the sword and the art of fighting.
He stood up in all of his glory, dressed up in Takano family armor. He left the wagon. It wasn't long after that, maybe a second or three, till a deafening and even painful warcry was heard by the boy. It was the signature of Henry, a man also known as the Devil's Claw and the warcry called the Devils Scream.
Indeed, it was inhuman, both because of the unbearable loudness and the frightening tone of the voice.
For a few minutes after the scream, all that could be heard was the gentle whispers of the sword. And every once in a while it had hit a target, making the enemies scream. But then.

"AAARRGHH." A loud scream, similar to the Devils scream. but somehow different. It must have been the deep note of pain in it.

"Run boy, run." Shouted the very same voice. Ryoko, being taught from early age to either follow orders or die, didn't hesitate for a moment. He rushed out from the wagon while giving a glance to the surroundings. The grass, it was coloured red from the bloodshed. And everywhere he looked, there were emotionless bodies. But in the middle of the mess Takano Henry was duelling some other man. For some reason, Ryoko couldn't stop watching them. He didn't know if it was because of the shiny armour of the enemies or the fact that Henry Takano had lost all of his glory. Covered in sweat and blood while fighting pain just to be able to stand up. He had never seen a man that exhausted and there was definitely nothing glorious about it.
But the boy kept running. And so did tears down his cheeks until he heard something. A roar of pain so real that young Kuroshiro felt the pain. It was unbearable, paralysing Ryoko. He couldn't believe what had happened, but it was the harsh reality. Takano Henry had lost. While his enemy was getting closer, step by step. Finally, he was within a blades reach.

" So you are the famous little boy, the heir of Kuroshiros? Asked the man like nothing had happened before. And then, he left his hand out for a shake. But what took place next wasn't something that the old warrior had expected. Ryoko had grabbed a short katana and swung it with all of his strength. With a bit of luck, he managed to land the blade at the face of the enemy. It wasn't enough to kill the man instantly, but it was enough for the warrior to lose consciousness. And soon after the warrior passed away.

"The life of a ninja is not easy, that much I know. Neither is easy the life of a crown prince. But what's worse than those two, is the life of a legend. And you will become a legend, my lord." Those were the last words of Takano Henry, a master swordsman also known as the Devils Claw, the owner of the Devils Scream.

Later that night, Ryoko cried. And so did he next night and one after that. But after three nights of crying, he stopped and said.
"I'm a legend and legends don't cry!" From that point on, Ryoko never cried until his own last moments on Earth.