无鞘之剑 A Sword Without a Sheath

若无人御之，刀剑何为？教会剑客如何杀人很简单。真正的挑战是不杀的教诲。

What is a sword without the man behind it? Teaching a swordsman to kill is simple. The true challenge lies in teaching him not to kill.

弟弟初学剑术的时候，我看到他第一次摸起剑就能让手中的兵器生龙活虎。有人曾在正堂里听到窃窃私语，将他与老一辈剑术大师相提并论。但随着亚索一天天长大，技艺一天天精湛，他的自我也在膨胀。他心浮气躁、夸夸其谈，毫不顾忌大师们的训诫，根本不懂何为耐性。

When I watched my young brother begin training, he breathed life into the blade at first touch. One heard whispers in the halls comparing him to the sword masters of old. But as Yasuo grew and his skills increased, so did his ego. He was impetuous and boastful. He ignored our masters’ lessons, and knew nothing of patience.

我担心弟弟误入歧途，但我并不打算警告他，而是希望唤起他的荣誉感。我给了他一枚枫树种子，这是道场里关于谦卑的至高训诫……是亚索似乎遗忘了的东西。种子只是种子，但只要经过时间的孕育，其内部蕴藏的美就会为人所知。

Fearing my brother had strayed too far from the way, I went not to warn him, but to make an appeal to his honor. I gave him a maple seed, our school's highest lesson in humility... one Yasuo seemed to have forgotten. A seed is just a seed, but given time one may come to know the beauty it holds within.

亚索收下了我的礼物，第二天他就叩拜素马长老为师。我相信他一定能够学会忍耐和武德，从而成为一名真正的剑客。

Yasuo took my gift, and the following day he pledged himself to the Elder Souma. I had high hopes he would learn the patience and virtue required of a true swordsman.

而我错了。

It was not to be.

今天，显而易见，亚索杀害了他发誓要保护的人。他背叛了国家、朋友，也背叛了自己。若不是我，不知道他是否还会堕入这条黑暗之路。

Today, it seems clear to me that Yasuo murdered the very person he was sworn to protect. He has betrayed his nation, his friends, and himself. Were it not for my actions, I wonder if he would ever have been swept down this dark path.

但我的职责不是质疑。我必须承担自己的使命。

But my task is not to question. I must bear the burden of my duty.

明天天一亮，我就要出发捉拿一柄无鞘之剑：我的弟弟，亚索。

At first light tomorrow, I will set out to capture a sword without a sheath: my brother Yasuo.