Read Lady Yasuke Short Story

Lady Yasuke By: Ronald Cromartie

Kyoto, Japan, 1581 C.E.

Crossing the sea in a ship that was more dungeon than boat, I arrived in an unknown place with shackles around my wrists and ankles. Afraid and alone. I wanted to escape back home to Ghana, to my son.

White men in strange clothing dragged me onto a stage. Small yellow-skinned men with slanted eyes surrounded me, speaking foreign sounds. Although their tongue was unfamiliar, their intention was clear. Bartering for me like an animal. Some spoke English in which I understood. They marveled at the darkness of my skin and how my stature allowed me to tower over them. They kept pointing and repeating, “Onikisu.”

Through their chanting I began to hear the hoofs of horses in the distance. With each passing moment, over the sounds of the crowd, the hordes of horses drew closer, and with them, death. For sitting atop those horses were masked me with swords drawn. As the horses barreled into the crowd, the riders swords pierced the flesh of those men who marveled at mine. Looking through the panic I saw a young boy crying and clutching a toy as one of the riders barreled down on him. As it became clear the boy would be killed in the undertow of the rider’s beast, I broke my restraints and lunged for the child just in the nick of time. I held him as if he was my own, protecting him from the continuing onslaught.

Soon the riders broke from their slaughter, and just as quickly as they came, the horde disappeared. The eyes of the villagers were now recast upon me as I walked back toward the stage with the child in my arms. When I sat the boy down, he ran into the arms of a man known as Lord Yoshitsune. “You saved this child from the attack?” I nodded. “I am forever in your debt,” he said. “My child would have surely died. I will train you in the ways of the Samurai. I will call you, Yasuke. Your training will begin immediately.” “No, you don't understand,” the Englishman protested. “She is a slave.” “Not anymore,” he declared. “Today, she is Samurai.”

***

Weeks passed, and the master trained me day and night in the ancient ways of the Samurai. In both hand to hand combat and the sword. A warrior born, I learned quickly, exceeding the skills of those training with me. However, physical advantages were only part of the life of the Samurai. The meditation proved difficult at first, but I came to learn that in spite of adversity to stay centered and calm. I learned about self-awareness, self-knowledge, and self-love.

One day, while training in the center of the village, Lord Yoshitsume's brother, Yoritomo, arrived. “You allow this animal to become Samurai?” he spat. “She is not fit. She is not worthy. I am your brother, and by the code of the Samurai she must be dismissed!” The master tried to speak on my behalf, but Yoritomo would not hear it. “Today, you are my brother no more. I will kill you and take over as Shogun.” He then hollered out, “Attack!!!”

The masked horde came from the shadows on horses to once again lay waste to the villagers and kill Lord Yoshitsune. Lord Yoshitsune locked eyes with me and said, “Yasuke, take my sword and fight!” I unsheathed my lord's sword and lept to attack the masked men. After felling many riders, I saw that Yoritomo was waiting for me in the middle of the village.

“You could never be a Samurai, you are nothing more than Onikisu,” he said. “I must cleanse the world of you, an evil spirit. Ai-Yah!” He ran toward me screaming with his sword in the air. His face was filled with rage and hate. I dodged his misguided attack and sliced across his chest. As I turned to anticipate his next attack, he looked surprised that I had landed my strike. When he lunged for a second blow I was ready. I aimed for his neck and swung. His head dropped to the ground.

I am Afia. I am Lady Yasuke