"A horseless carriage?" Musashi noted, staring at the truck. He'd become vaguely aware what a car was, but didn't like them. The inside was extremely cramped, and provided little room to move one's arms or even stand properly. Fighting inside one was comparable to being inside a tunnel. Musashi plucked the weapons from his hip and sat on the passenger's side. He placed his katana by his side, leaning vertically on the seat. His wakizashi was held in his left hand, sitting across his lap. It was no perfect solution, but it could be drawn quickly and used in tight spaces until he escaped the car for more preferential terrain.
"About myself? Well." Musashi considered, scratching his beard. He supposed he shouldn't be surprised if his legend was less well heard outside Japan. Likewise, info about the West was impossible to come by during his life.
"In life, I was my country's best swordsman. Number One under the Sun, they called me. I devoted my life to the Way of the Sword, and through skill, tenacity, and lots of practice, won many duels." His hand clenched around his shorter blade. Musashi relaxed his grip, and explored the car as they drove and talk, peeking inside the glove compartment and looking at the mirrors.
"And then, I realized something. After you master a Way, it becomes apparent in all other Ways. The Way of the sword can be compared to the way of the carpenter, of the artist, of the farmer, and so on. So, I spent my later years training new students, writing, and painting. More than sixty duels and not a man managed to kill me, you know that? I died of old age. Even then, everyone was too weak or too scared to fight me. Still, I suppose it can't be helped."
Musashi leaned back in the chair, staring out the window at the passing scenery. "I've already carved my way into history long ago. If my martial arts were strong, my legend will survive. I suppose we'll read if that's true soon enough. Still, it's been a long time. I would be a fool not to see how martial arts have changed in the past few centuries."
