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Post by Hida Tetsuko on May 25, 2018 12:34:34 GMT 10
Kenji took Harun to one of the training yards where the cavalry was. It was big field, with a rope line in spikes all around, where some of the various cavalry units drilled and trained. It was mostly light cavalry, but Harun did see some heavily armoured ones as well. Koharu was at the far end, in the company of several horses and bushi, shouting at them as they drilled. Riding back and forward under her scrutiny. Koharu looked Harun up and down, hands defiantly on her hips. She was a short woman in her thirties, her hair was cropped short about her ears and she had a scar on her chin. “Kakita Harun?” Harun nodded. Koharu frowned at him and frowned at his armour some more. “You look too pretty to be useful,” she declared. “Are you sure you haven’t wandered into the wrong place?” “I can ride and I can fight,” Harun said. “I also have seen battle, at Shiro Moto.” She examined him again, less critically this time. “You’ll do.” She then blinked and then stared at him. “Kakita Harun? That armour…dark skin like a Moto…you’re Denko’s son…” This confused Harun. “Denko? No…I’m…” “I know who you are,” Koharu barked. She nodded to one of the others around. “Get this prince a mount.” Harun stood there awkwardly while a horse was brought out. A well-formed gelding, brown in colour, light and bred for speed from probably Unicorn bloodlines. “I know his paces, lets out you through yours,” said Koharu. “And mind you don’t be rough with him. You are replaceable, a horse not so much.” “Yes gunso,” Harun said. If Koharu expected Harun to mount straight away, she did not show any surprise when Harun did not. Uncle Kousuda would kill me if I messed this up… Harun thought. He approached the horse gently, slowly, holding his hands out to show the horse he was not a threat. He held out one hand, palm up, fingers angled down so the horse could down so the horse could sniff it. With the other hand, he fished half a piece of bread out of a pocket that was from his rations. Suddenly, the horse was a lot more interested in him. Harun smiled. “What is his name?” Harun asked. Koharu’s eyebrow went up. “Hayate,” she answered. “Hayate,” Harun repeated. He stroked Hayate’s nose, allowing the horse to sniff his arms and shoulders, then ran his hand up the horse’s neck just as Kousuda had taught him as a boy. Then, when he was certain the horse was relaxed, Harun mounted in an easy, practiced motion. The horse snorted, Harun used the reins to move the horse in a few circles. “Taking your time?” Koharu asked, a little impatiently. “Some things cannot be rushed,” answered Harun. She nodded in agreement. Harun took Hayate through a few more paces before coming to a stop before Koharu. “Ready,” he said. “Take it a hundred paces, return and dismount,” Koharu said curtly. Harun took off, making a brisk pace that wouldn’t tax Hayate too much, aware that the gunso’s eyes and a good number of the platoon’s were on him. He made the turn without slowing down too much, then started back. He could feel himself tense, the dismount was what he was worried about, and if he did it wrong, say caught his foot on the stirrup he could fall flat on his face. Fortunately, that didn’t happen. Harun fairly slid down off the horse, needing only one hand to balance. The other was on his sword hilt, drawing it as he descended with the blade unsheathed before his feet had touched the ground. Harun smiled, Koharu didn’t. “Do it again,” she said.
They did it “again” so many times that Harun lost count. When Koharu was done watching Harun do it by himself, some more from the platoon did it with him. Back and forward, dismount and draw. And it was only when the sun was getting low that she dismissed him. “You don’t wish to see me use my sword, gunso?” Harun asked her. “If I wanted to see a flashy display of art, I’d go see a kabuki play,” Koharu said bluntly. “You are more than competent with that, or you wouldn’t be here. What I wanted to see how was how you could get in and out quickly, and I am satisfied you have.” They then went back to the camp, Harun’s muscles aching from all the riding. What was that name they called father? Denko? Lightning? I guess someone saw his strike…I could use a bath. He said the latter to Kenji, asking where that could be gotten. Usually they washed with a bucket of water heated by the fire. “Well, Tonashi Row has a few,” Kenji said. Harun’s face was blank at this. “Don’t tell me you haven’t been,” Kenji said. “I haven’t,” said Harun. Kenji laughed. “Lets get that armour off you. You are in for a treat.”
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Post by Hida Tetsuko on May 26, 2018 0:57:52 GMT 10
Toshiwara Row was several rows of tents, houses and shacks, situated between where the barracks of two units and only accessible from the main entrance at one ends. No weapons were permitted within other than the jitte that the patrolling yoriki carried. And almost anything from within Rokugan—and beyond, to a small extent—could be found within its confines. Food and drink to augment one’s rations, exotic goods, entertainment, women—and men is one desired—as well as more mundane things such as getting one’s laundry done or getting a letter written and dispatched. And, to Harun’s relief, a bath house. It was but a small shack with various booths where one changed and bathed. The place could have been cleaner, but the hot water was good, there was a time limit though and Harun would have liked to have stayed longer. But it did do a lot to relieve soreness in his muscles. Afterwards, Kenji took him down to see other places. Several sake houses, a few stalls set up by traders, a geisha house that had some lurid paintings of girls on a flag outside…and a small tent with a dragon flag outside where they went inside. “Nawa!” Kenji said as he pulled the tent flap back. “No noise!” shouted back a voice. “Not until I am done here.” Harun blinked in the dimlight, inside it was dark and there was the smell of ink and charcoal. He heard a woman’s low moan, then as his eyes adjusted he saw the woman, sitting on the floor with her back bare, her covering her modesty in front with her hands. Behind her was a man, bald and also naked to the waist. What have I walked into here? Harun wondered. Then he saw the tattoo on the floor next to them. So, he’s a henshi, a tattooist… They sat down against the far wall while the tattooist finished with the woman. It did not take very long, she was shown the results by angling two mirrors then put her clothes back on and left. The tattooist then approached them and Harun could see him more clearly. He wore patched pants of a Dragon green and had a Dragon tattoo that coiled around his chest and arms, ending on his face with his own eye the dragon’s eye. “Ah, Kenji,” said the tattooist. “I assume you have come for some more shading? I hope you haven’t ruined the work I have done with that recklessness I keep hearing about.” “It is still intact, Nawa,” laughed Kenji. “But I have brought you someone new. Just out of training and wanting to make his mark. Harun, this is Mirumoto Nawa.” “A pleasure to meet you, Mirumoto-san,” Harun said, taking a bow from the seated position. “Bah, your Crane manners are hardly needed in this tent,” said Nawa, spitting into a bucket. “But there’s so much green in you, I’d wonder you weren’t from my clan.” “I’m not green,” Harun insisted. “I was at Shiro Moto.” “Not bad, not bad,” Nawa nodded. “But from the look of you, you look as if you arrived there by palanquin and watched from a distance.” Kenji laughed and Harun joined in. “You came here to watch or be marked?” Nawa asked. “I didn’t know I was coming here,” said Harun. “Well, if you make up your mind, look at the scroll on the wall,” said Nawa. He nodded to Kenji. “You there, you know what to do.” Kenji stripped off his shirt and sat still on the floor, Nawa picked up his tools and set to work. Harun went and had a look at scroll, he wasn’t sure if he wanted a tattoo. Most of what was there were animals, the totems for the Great Clans but there were also some samurai with swords swinging and shapely geisha. But when he saw the horse and the Crane, so well-drawn and alive looking, he knew he had to get both of those. Both parts of me, together… Kenji finished, carefully putting his shirt back on. “You made up your mind?” Nawa asked. “Yes,” Harun said. “The crane and the horse, can you do them close together? On my left shoulder blade?” It took a bit of time with the sketching with ink on Harun’s shoulder and the mirror, but Nawa would not begin until Harun was completely satisfied with it. “It will be on your body for the rest of this life,” he told Harun. “You need to get it right or not at all.” When the sketch was complete, Nawa dipped the steel point of the needle in the ink. “This will hurt,” Nawa says. “But no more than a dozen or so nicks with a sword will do. Keep still, you don’t want me drawing ragged.” “I am ready,” Harun said, bracing himself.
It did hurt, much more than Harun thought it would or care to admit, almost as bad as the wound he had suffered in Unicorn lands. But it did look good, Nawa had shown him the finished outline in the mirror before they had left, but not before a stern warning not to “ruin his work” and to return once the skin healed. Kenji suggested they go to the sake house, it would help numb the pain and he figured some of their unit should be there right now. Calling it a “sake house” was rather exaggerating. It was a grass shingled roof where one sat on the floor and used boxes as small tables. Harun was a bit hesitant to go in, but Kenji assured him it was good sake. They were noticed the moment they entered the place, at least Kenji was. A group waved them over and then made room for them to sit down. “Harun, I don’t think you know everyone, so I’ll go around,” he said, pointing to people as he addressed them. “Shinjo Sayaka, Isawa Kanbei, Yoritomo Osu, Tsubaru, Daidoji Akemi…” The names blended after a while, but Harun did try to remember them. The first round came and Harun felt more relaxed. They asked him questions, traded stories and told Harun about themselves. Shinjo Sayaka, almost the mother of the group, had been there the longest, joining when Moto Taigo was still in charge. Isawa Kanbei was an exile from the Phoenix Clan, quite polite but more willing to talk once sake loosened her tongue. Yortiomo Osu had joined the legion three years previously, quite jovial, but Kenji told Harun later that his entire close family had been wiped out when the Mantis islands fell. Tsubaru, a pleasant-faced ronin who was just as boisterous as Osu. And Daidoji Akemi who was—despite her repeated denials—the best sniper in the unit. “A sniper?” Harun asked. “Do you use a bow or a crossbow?” “Neither,” Akemi told Harun. “I use a Tanegashima, with gaijin pepper.” Harun was a little shocked at this. He knew the Legion and yes, even his own clan, used weapons like this. But he didn’t like them, there was something…dirty. But somehow those felt less important, at least right now.
When they left the sake house, Harun could feel his feet wavering a little. As if they did not know how to get in contact with the ground very well. Kenji took one look at him and suggested they head back to the barracks. Harun stumbled, brushing against someone as he passed. “Hey watch it,” they snarled. “So sorry,” said Harun, his words slurring a little. “Hey…Yonezu,” said another. ”Is that that Crane you said killed your father.” “That whelp?” Yonezu laughed. “It was his mother.” This stopped Harun in his tracks. “What?” “You heard me,” Yonezu spat. “Those letters you had, your mother was Utaku Yamada. She killed my father, her and the Black Hand she is with. You’re the son of a traitor.” Harun heard voices behind him calling his name, but he didn’t pay them attention. And all he saw was red… He could hear people shouting at him, pulling him away… “Harun! Harun!” Kenji shouted, slapping his face. Harun brushed something off his face, blood. Then looked around. What had happened? Then he saw Yonezu, his face was bloody as well. “What happened?” Harun asked, allowing them to help him to his feet. “I wasn’t thinking.” “No shit,” said Kenji. “Lets get you out of here.” Harun allowed himself to be led. Did I just make an enemy?
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Post by Kasuga Naosuko on May 29, 2018 12:33:01 GMT 10
Just noting that I am still reading.
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Post by Hida Tetsuko on May 30, 2018 0:14:52 GMT 10
Thanks for the heads up
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Post by Hida Tetsuko on May 31, 2018 15:16:45 GMT 10
Why does everything hurt? Was Harun’s first conscious thought. Then it all came flooding back. Nawa…the tattoo…the sake house…Yonezu… He said my mother was a traitor… He burned with shame at what had happened. He had lost his head, and drinking wasn’t an excuse. “Harun, roll call,” called out a voice. “Hai!” With a sheer force of will, Harun pulled himself into a sitting position. Somehow, he managed to get his clothes on and stagger out. They assembled in columns on the parade ground between the two wings off the barracks, the gunso calling names and each hohei calling out “Hai” when his or her name was called. The Chui of Togawa Unit, Shiba Dankaro, stood on the platform outside his tent. A solid-built man of about thirty, he wore hakama and juban or a rather muddy orange. His second in command, Shiba Jiyuna, stood beside him. When the gunsos were finished roll call, Dankaro stepped forward. “Togawa Unit, you stand before me and I am proud of all of you,” he said. “To lead you into battle, to fight beside you and if it came to it, to die beside you. And I know you will all do the same, we serve the Emperor and his Champion with Pride, we fight as one.” He paused, looking over all of them. “Which is why when one of you shames this unit by their actions, they shame all of you.” Harun felt butterflies in his stomach. He was eight years old again, about to be called into Kakita Kenshin-sensei’s study. “Kakita Harun and Yonezu,” said Dankaro. “Step forward.” Harun moved forward, walking between the columns of soldiers. He could feel all eye on him as he mounted the platform. Hs knew what was coming, but that didn’t deter him from bowing as appropriate. Whereas Harun felt appropriately penitent, Yonezu showed no such traces. He stood beside Harun defiantly, sulkily. This just made Harun despise him more. “Both of you stand accused of conduct unbefitting a member of the Emerald Legion,” said Dankaro. “Do you have anything to say?” Harun shook his head. “Actually, I object to this,” said Yonezu in a rather saucy voice. Dumbfounded, all eyes went to Yonezu. “You object?” Dankaro asked incredulously. “I do,” continued Yonezu. “It was that one that threw the first punch. I was defending myself. It is him you should be punishing, not me.” Harun stared at him, aghast at his audacity. “I was defending the honour of my family that you insulted!” “Then defend it with steel!” snarled Yonezu. “Not with fists like the Moto gaijin you really are.” Harun would have been on him had Dankaro not pulled him back. “I will not have disputes in Togawa Unit,” declared Dankaro. “You will settle this like samurai, the first blood. The loser will be reassigned. Is this acceptable?” Harun and Yonezu nodded. Harun thought he saw Yonezu smile. “You will be given ten strokes and confined to barracks for five days,” said Dankaro. “At the end of this, it will be settled.” He then nodded to Jiyuna who came forward holding a bamboo switch. Harun took off his shirt and bowed. He didn’t flinch.
The switch did without breaking the skin, just like the beatings he had had at the Kakita Dojo. Discipline, not punishment. It still hurt, but Harun did his best to not show that it got to him. He used the time in barracks to train, of which he had been slipping a little recently. Fortunately, it did not take long until he was back at a satisfactory level. Yonezu trained as well. The ronin’s style was just as quick, though far less cleaner. Still, Harun wondered if he had studied at a dojo. The day of the duel came and it was the subject of some interest to the unit. Many of the soldiers, samurai and peasant, made a ring around where the duelling circle was to be set up talking excitedly. Not everyone took an interest, Koharu the gunso of Kyoujin Platoon thought it an utter waste of time but couldn’t do anything about it. Harun wore his Crane blue Hhkama with the matching kataginu, the mons of the Kakita Academy and the Kakita Dojo on each side of his chest. He tamed his kinky hair into a topknot, looking every bit proper as he should. Yonezu wore the standard everyday garments one could get in supplies. Serviceable and brown, but not fancy. But to this he added an obi of faded red, and another cloth of the same hue on the lower half of his face. Yonezu’s hair was long and black, cascading down his back and floating over his face with the wind. Shiba Jiyuna stepped forward, she carried a fan. Behind her, Shiba Dankaro watched silently. Jiyuna raised the fan and called for silence. “This will settle the dispute between you,” she says. “The victor will remain, the loser transferred. Let fate fall as it will.” Yonezu and Harun bowed, taking up positions. Taking a deep breath, Harun immersed himself in the void. All was clear, all was calm. He looked at Yonezu and saw his weaknesses. Jiyuna brought her fan down. A flurry of movement, a rasp of steel, and a gasp of surprise from those who had sharp enough eyes to see what had happened. Harun and Yonezu stood eye to eye, each having the other’s sword on their neck. There was complete silence as everyone held their breath. Jiyuna stood frozen for a moment, then quickly consulted with Dankaro. “Fate has decided,” she declared. “Both will remain.” Harun and Yonezu bowed then the crowd began to disperse noisily. Harun stood still a moment, watching the Chui go back into his tent with Jiyuna. Utaku Kenji came up with Yoritomo Osu. Both were grinning like idiots. “Well, I don’t know how you did it, but you managed to solve this the perfect way,” says Kenji. “Perfection in all ways,” said Harun loftily. The he laughed. “Come on,” said Osu, nudging them both. “I need a drink.”
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Post by Hida Tetsuko on Jun 10, 2018 0:09:18 GMT 10
Some weeks later, Kakita Karasu sat at his war table. After what was a rough start, the reports about Harun had improved. He had now seen combat with his platoon in engaging Onyx stragglers that raided the borders of the Lion Clan lands. He had fought bravely beside his comrades. And, perhaps most importantly, he had returned. But all of this was but a mere rehearsal for the main game that would be played at Toshi Ranbo. A game that seemed to have almost too many players by the way all the Great Clans were promising troops and materials with a hope of sharing in the glory and spoils. But it was still too early for that. A hit at the former imperial capital had to firm and decisive with no rom for failure. Toshi Ranbo had to truly be an island, cut off completely from any support from the Onyx yet. And it wasn’t, not yet but it would be soon. As the meeting drew to a close, someone entered the tent. At first Karasu thought it was just Akodo Ryoichi returning with more water for the kettle. But it wasn’t. It was Karasu’s wife Kakita Hitomi. She was dressed in plain and comfortable travel clothes wet from the rain. Karasu smiled. This was not the first time she had surprised him as such, nor would it likely be the last. “Mina-sam,” he said to his officer. “I think that is everything, thank you.” They left quickly, bowing to Hitomi as they did. “You never cease to surprise me, my wife,” said Karasu, crossing the room and clasping her hand gently. Hitomi smiled quietly. There was and had always been a significant difference in the affection they felt for each other. However, years of marriage had formed a middle ground between this. A bond of friendship, one with established boundaries as well as frequent absences from each other. Yet they were together on many things, their devotion in their service to Rokugan and parenting their adopted children. “Please, get your wet things off, I’ll make some tea,” said Karasu. He found the full teapot where Ryoichi had left it by the tent door. “Are you staying long this time? You never do, but I always ask.” “I will need to leave in the morning,” said Hitomi. She removed her clothing to dry by the porcelain heater and borrowed one of Karasu’s yukatas. She sat down at the table, her hair hung long and loose about her shoulders, damp with rain. “I will see Harun before I go. How is he?” “Doing well, at least now,” said Karasu. He put the water on to boil and started clearing the table. Hitomi started to help but he prevented it. “No, you sit there,” he said gently. “You have had a long journey.” “Harun has been having problems?” Hitomi asked. “Managed to get himself into a fight and a duel in the first two days out of training,” said Karasu. “But you know Harun, he handled it.” Karasu started to make the tea and passed Hitomi her cup. “I had hoped to see him when he came home, but I was delayed,” said Hitomi taking her cup. “Has he changed at all from his time in Unicorn lands?” Karasu searched through a chest and brought out some dried plums for them to share “Not exactly,” said Karasu. “He has become more like himself, you could say.” He paused a moment, looking down into his cup. “There was a time last year when I thought he wouldn’t come back.” “You put too little faith in yourself,” said Hitomi. “Of course Harun would come back. He has always wanted to be like you, that’s why he is here now.” Karasu blushed a little and drank his tea. Hitomi drank her tea and put down her cup. “I came tonight because I have news for you,” said Hitomi. “I have some word from Toshi Ranbo.” “You do?” Karasu said with surprise. He had given up asking where Hitomi got her intelligence and he wasn’t sure he wanted to know. But word from Toshi Ranbo was welcome, as all they had were from records or the observation of their own scouts. Hitomi nodded. “I have a few things, we can talk about them later,” she said, pouring more tea for both of them. “But there is something I must tell you now. In command of the defence of the city is Daigotsu Shimekiri.” Karasu felt cold to his very bones. Shimekiri, the Fallen Crane, the Black Kakita. So notorious that many thought he wasn’t real, just a tale to frighten children. Yet every child that passed through the Kakita Academy knew of him. He had once been a promising duellist of the Kakita but his arrogance and cruelty had had him barred from ever becoming a Kenshinzen—the best duellists in the Crane Clan. He had joined the Spider Clan, embraced the Taint of Jigiku and taken his revenge on the Kakita family. Including Kyoumi’s parents. “Of course he’s not dead,” Karasu said, his voice cold with anger. “He can’t be killed, and he’s been around for enough lifetimes to surpass the skill of any Kenshinzen.” “He will die in that city, Karasu,” said Hitomi. “He needs to.” “I’ll make sure of it,” said Karasu. “Even if I have to do it myself.” Hitomi nodded and said nothing, for now.
Later, Hitomi slept in his bed and Karasu laid out cushions for himself. But he couldn’t sleep. He practiced with a bokken. He was a blur as he did strikes, guards, katas. Faster, and faster still. He had once hoped to be a Kenshinzen himself, to walk out with the Crane army in the bright winged raiment. But fate had decided something very different for him. But still, to kill Shimekiri, to purge this blight from the Crane Clan had a certain satisfaction about it. He went into another kata, Standing on the Heavens, he was ready.
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Post by Hida Tetsuko on Jun 16, 2018 0:04:52 GMT 10
Harun saw Hitomi the next morning when he was on the way back from drills. The sun was coming up, drying the dew as it sparkled in the summer light. It all the makings of a hot day. They passed the Shiro where the Taisa’s and Emerald Champion’s tent were and Harun saw her there. He stopped. “I’ll catch up later,” Harun said, going over to her. Hitomi watched as he approached. “Harun,” she said. “Mother,” he said, bowing and smiling. “I didn’t know you were here.” “I just came in last night, but had to see you before I leave,” she said. She looked him up and down. “I can see the change in you already, the last year was good for you.” “Is it that obvious?” Harun asked, a little worried. “I have been told that I brought the Moto in me back from the Unicorn lands.” “It was always there, Harun, you just became more confident with yourself,” she said. As they walked around the camp, he told her about the year he had spent travelling. Visiting the Dragon, the Lion and of course the Unicorn. Shiro Moto, Majid, City of the Rich Frog, the ritual with Zetsubou…Hitomi listened to it all patiently, and it there was something missing in his narrative she didn’t comment. When Harun finished, Hitomi was thoughtful. “So through all this, all the people you have talked to that knew your mother Yamada, I want to ask you this: why do you think she chose to leave you in our care?” Hitomi asked, Harun felt a lump forming in his throat. “She…she wanted me to have a family, I guess. Like she had had.” “Yes, bit that’s not all,” said Hitomi. “There is something else, why she went to this terrible duty with Shiba Michio and the Black Hand. Do you know what this is?” Thinking back to the talk he had with Zetsubou the night before he died, Harun nodded. “It was so no one else had to do it.” Hitomi nodded. “What you were taught at the dojo, Harun, was very clear cut in how we should act in accordance with traditions and bushido,” she said. “But you know now that the world doesn’t always work like that.” “It doesn’t,” Harun said. “But that doesn’t mean we should not live these virtues.” Hitomi laughed slightly. “You sound like your father, though he has learned and I hope you will too that there are necessary things that happen to win a war.” They came to one of the training yards where there were Daidoji at a firearms range. They fired at paper targets held on poles, each one painted with a snarling oni’s face. They fired their weapons and reloaded, the latter taking what seemed to Harun a lot of time for just one shot. Harun watched Daidoji Akemi there, standing a decent distance from the target and firing her taneshagima. It hit the oni face in the eye. Hitomi nodded in approval.
Three days after Hitomi left, Karasu watched much of the First Legion head out again, and Harun with them. Harun went with a light heart and a smile, leaving Karasu’s heart heavy.
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Post by Hida Tetsuko on Jul 3, 2018 22:11:24 GMT 10
They travelled west for a number of day, crossing the Kitani River south of Toshi Ranbo and proceeding north west along the edges of the Kokoro Nezuban Mori. And it was there that they met up with troops from the Lion Clan. Here they were not far from their target, the town of Oiku which in the past had been a Lion military outpost where troops could quickly defend Toshi Ranbo. Until now, no attempts had been made to hold it though there had been plenty of conflicts to throw the Onyx back from invading the rest of Lion lands. Now, taking it was one of the more important last steps before Toshi Ranbo. They made a light camp, sleeping out in the open with only the jinmaku walls for shelter. They trained and drilled alongside the Lion, a friendly sense of competitiveness starting between the Lion and the Imperial Legion troops. But it also drew them together, they had a shared purpose, a common enemy. The night before the attack on Oiku, Koharu gathered Kyojin Platoon together for their briefing. As always, their role would be to advance on horseback and to take and hold strategic points until they were relieved by infantry. Then she dismissed them, telling everyone to get some rest. But Harun found he couldn’t, he felt excited. He saw it as his first real battle with the Legion, different from the skirmishes on the Lion border he had been in. He walked the camp and saw people making preparations. Writing letters, making prayers to ancestors and fortunes, drinking heavily… When he got back to their camp he saw Utaku Kenji, he had a number of hachimaki bandanas he was painting messages on. Harun went closer and saw what they said: Hikahime. “They’re for us for tomorrow,” he said to Harun. “Hikahime-no-fortune, she is special to the Legion. She was once one of us, so we invoke her name before battle.” Harun nodded, not exactly sure how to say that he had actually met Hikahime last year when she had come out of Yomi during Zetsubou’s ritual. So, he didn’t say anything about it at all.
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Post by Hida Tetsuko on Jul 4, 2018 0:26:31 GMT 10
Harun woke in the grey morning light, too excited to eat anything more than a few mouthfuls of rice. He watched how the others were a lot calmer, Yoritomo Osu gently ribbing Isawa Kanbei over something, Tsubaru and Koharu arguing over the merits of cooking daikon. It could have been any other morning, but it wasn’t. Then it was time to gear up, long lines of bushi and ashigaru helping each other getting into their armour started to form. There was a lot of laughter. It was quite undignified, quite the opposite of what Harun had been taught about the proper way for a samurai to get ready for battle. But somehow he didn’t mind it at all. Then it was time to mount up and form ranks, waiting in their places until it was time to begin. But first, a tremendous shout went up and down the ranks, shouting Hikahime’s name, chanting that she may grant them victory in battle. When it was over, Harun thought they would be given the signal to go. But they weren’t. He could see just into the town, the Onyx were beginning to stir and come out of the village like angry bees. What are we waiting for? Harun wondered. And then he saw them. Lion bushi, white garments beneath white armour, leading the charge against the Onyx with a viscousness and utter disregard for their own lives. “Deathseekers,” Harun whispered. Koharu, who was next to Harun on her own horse, nodded. Harun had heard of them, dishonoured Lion samurai who had nothing left but to die in the glory of battle. Harun didn’t know what they could have done to have such status, and he didn’t have time to wonder. The signal was sounded and they were off. Kyojin platoon advanced forward on their horses, ahead of them was a line of Lion cavalry. Harun’s heart beat fast, the thunder of their hooves, the shouts among them as they rode. The Onyx came towards them, Harun couldn’t see them, but he could hear them. The shrieks and howls of the onispawn and goblins. The shouts and taunts of the tainted samurai. And then, the rasp and ring of steel and tear of flesh as they clashed. The Lion cavalry threw the Onyx back, scattering them in different directions. This gave Kyojin enough time to dismount and ready their weapons. And no sooner had they done so that Onyx were on them. Kyoujin platoon fought in a tight formation, slashing with their sword, with their spears, holding that position until the infantry could come to relieve them. It was confusing, it was messy in all the noise and the blood. And it was easy to lose focus. But Harun thought back to his training, those hours they had spent in the cold light dawn, and kept his head. “Relief coming, hold firm,” Harun heard Koharu say. And sure enough, ranks of infantry came forward and engaged the enemy from the other side. Between the two of them, they made short work of the Onyx. “That’s it, mount up,” Koharu shouted. They ran towards where Yoritomo Osu was guarding the horses, mounted up and advanced forward. And this was how it went, they would take positions quickly while waiting to be relieved by infantry. Always advancing, taking up key positions in the town so the others could move in. It worked well, until it didn’t. They were fighting between rows of houses for much longer, it seemed like the relief wasn’t coming. Still they fought, there could be any reason for the delay. Then Harun smelled smoke, heard a crackle of flames not far from where they were. “Gunso, we need to move now!” Harun shouted. “We hold out until we are relieved!” Koharu shouted back, between strokes of her yari. “This house here is about to go up in flames!” Harun yelled. “We stay, our horses bolt.” Sure enough, the horses started to whinny and paw at the ground with their hooves. “Back, Kyoujin, mount up,” Koharu said. “You better be right about this,” she added to Harun. Harun hoped he wasn’t, as that meant there was something wrong. They headed back to the courtyard they had taken earlier, smack in the middle was a massive oni that just seemed to devour any that went near it. Several of the squad started forward to help those already there, but Koharu held up a hand to stop them. “No, no, we can’t all rush in like fools,” she said. “Let me think a moment.” She pointed to Kenji and Harun. “You and you, we’ll take thirds of the squad. Tease it, play with it, then maybe those others there will catch on what we are doing.” Harun left with his portion with nothing more than a “Hai” in acknowledgement, barely been considering we’d been given his first position of responsibility. The three groups started taunting the oni, going in to attack him and then withdrawing when one of the others got closer. Then the rest got the idea and joined in, more soldiers started pouring in and soon the massive oni fell. Before they moved on, Koharu went up to Harun. “You did well there,” she said. Harun smiled.
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Post by Hida Tetsuko on Jul 4, 2018 1:34:26 GMT 10
Oiku was taken, they moved in to occupy it, but what followed was the more difficult task of defending it from the Onyx raids from Toshi Ranbo. These seemed to Harun like a relentless grind, just throwing back what the Onyx threw at them. They did their best, but sometimes it wasn’t enough. To Harun, it didn’t seem to matter if he was fast enough or his katana was where it needed to be. Some days their numbers were thinned due to people suffering from wounds, but then there was the sad day that Tsubaru was killed. It wasn’t a brave death, just a mistake on her part when he thought the tainted samurai she had downed had no fight left in him. The camp was quite for a few days after that, Yoritomo Osu finding sleep in the stupor of drunkeness. One evening, Harun walked through the village to distract himself, passing the various tents and shelters where the Imperial Legion and Lion troops were billeted. Games of chance, drinking as stories and music by the various fires. It was a balm in a way to see life when what he saw every day was death. Then when he looked at one of the fires, he saw a face he recognised. Akodo Harumasa, the son in law of his mother Yamada’s friend Akodo Kibo. Harun had met him the last winter at the Castle of the Swift Sword. Harun had thought he was a poet yet here he was with a samurai’s daisho. And an officer, looks like it, Harun thought. Harun had intended to pass him by, yet Harumasa called out to him. “Kakita-san,” he said. “Come, share the fire a moment.” Harun went over, more because he couldn’t think of a way to refuse. Hanam introduced him to the others at the fire, Akodo Taruma, Ganou and Komatsu, Harun nodded to them all as he sat down. “Mina-san, this is who I was telling you about,” said Harumasa. “He was at the ritual with my wife’s uncle when the land was cleansed.” They looked at Harun with more interest now, seeking confirmation. “This is true,” said Harun, he felt a twinge of sadness as he always did when he thought of Zetsubou. “I was a witness.” “A witness?” Akodo Taruma asked. “There were more?” “Just one more…at least with his soul still in Ningen-Do,” said Harun. “Moto Majid, is was his Void magic that made it all possible.” “That hardly seems fitting,” said Ganou, with more than a little scorn. “What would a Moto’s gaijin magic do with…” Harumasa cleared his throat loudly. “Please, no insulting guests, Ganou,” he said. “Where did you leave your manners? Get the tea.” He turned back to Haurn. “I apologise for my men, Kakita-san.” “No need,” said Harun. “I’ve spent these last months in camp and its hardly where one sees refinement. Tell me, how are you family? I hope they are well.” “They are, Miraiko is not liking sitting out the push to Toshi Ranbo,” says Harumasa. “She is at home with our son, and writes constantly.” “It is an important duty, raising children,” said Harun, a perfectly conventional game response. “My father in law has returned to his duties at the Swift Sword Dojo,” Harumasa continued. “Little Kibo was just starting there when I left, his mother and the rest of the family are staying for the time being.” The tea arrived. Strong, thick warrior’s tea in plain cups. Harun welcomed its flavour. “And Koneko?” Harun asked, he had grown closed to the redhaired girl in the short time he had known her. “She should be continuing her training soon,” said Hanamasu, looking a little uncomfortable. “But I did want to ask about you, did you make it back to Crane lands in time? I know that was troubling you.” “No, I didn’t,” said Harun, feeling his cheeks colour slightly. “When I got back to Tsuma, she had…it had all ended.” “She had?” Taruma asked, repeated, raising an eyebrow. “You had a girl waiting for you?” That explains a lot.” Harun laughed. “I suppose it does,” she said. “Yes, I did. But she’s in Zogeku now, I doubt I’ll see her again.” “Don’t count your losses so soon,” Taruma said with a grin. “You never know what can happen after this war ends.” Harun nodded and drank his tea.
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Post by Hida Tetsuko on Jul 4, 2018 16:32:50 GMT 10
Three days later, Harun was fighting in the fringes on the north side of Oiku. Things had gotten a little more manageable, the Onyx numbers seemed to be slacking. Though everyone knew that this was probably due to the Onyx keeping resources in reserve back at Toshi Ranbo. Still, it only made things slightly easier. As in, Harun had more room to swing his sword between the swarms. Kyoujin were fighting with ranged support from Ranshu platoon, they stayed back at the palisades with their bows. Daidoji Akemi was there, with her gaijin powder taneshagima. Harun did his best to ignore the explosive sounds it was making. Fortunately, as there was a long gap between Akemi’s shots, Harun found his concentration wasn’t broken too much, he found his rhythm quite well, fighting beside the gunso Koharu. His katana and her yari working in concert together. Then there was an attack by a tainted samurai that he had to quickly dodge, parrying it overbalanced him and he fell to the ground. The tainted samurai pressed the attack, slicing his blackened blade towards Harun. Then he collapsed, smoke and an acrid smell coming out of the side of his head. Harun stood up, then noticed Daidoji Akemi standing on the other side of the palisade with her smoking weapon in her hand. Harun gave her a nod in acknowledgement and kept fighting. The Onyx started to rush at them then, in larger groups. But they barely stopped to engage, instead keeping on going. Right into their blades or arrows, in many cases. This was a little confusing, but Harun wasn’t one to question it. At least, not straight away. “They’re fleeing,” Koharu said. “What from?” Harun asked. It wasn’t long until they got their answer though. They could hear the sounds of an approaching army. The thunder of hooves, the ring of steel and the shouts of the soldiers in battle. They came from the northwest, Harun could see them approach. And as they neared, Harun could make out the green and gold laurel banner of the Emerald Champion. The soldiers of the legion drove the Onyx back like an oncoming storm. And among them Harun could see his father, urging them on with his green sahai baton. That evening, Karasu and Harun walked around Okiu. Harun was telling his father about the last few weeks, flush with pride of the skill and courage of his comrades, saddening when he talked about Tsubaru’s death. He’s a soldier, Karasu thought, with a little sting, this was not the path I wanted for him, Kenshin-sensei at the academy said he has it in him to be a Kenshinzen. Well, he's young, there’s still time… This wasn’t just about Karasu spending time with Harun, it was about being seen by the troops. A morale boost just in case it had been flagging, a reminder that he was in the same fight they were in. They came to the northern side of Oiku, from there the walls of Toshi Ranbo could be sighted. High, impregnable, but Harun looked towards it eagerly. And he wasn’t the only one. “Is that next, my lord?” A bushi in Dragon colours asked. “Are we finally going to take the fight to the old capital.” “We are,” Karasu said. “In a few days we will start making our camp around the city, and the rest of Rokugan will join us.”
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Post by Hida Tetsuko on Jul 6, 2018 12:15:39 GMT 10
In the lands of the Dragon Clan was Shinyoake Mura, a village that stood in the shadow of the Jurojin’s Sanctum temple. A small village, nothing quite remarkable about it other than the facts that those who lived in it wore the saffron coloured robes of the Phoenix Clan. For it was here, in the midst of the chaos of war and rebellion where many of the Phoenix Clan made their home. It had started small, two Isawa, Koyo and Akiko. Newly married and had been made to stay in Dragon lands by the decree of the Emperor as hostages to ensure the rebellious Elemental Masters faced retribution for their crimes against heaven. Since then there had been a slow by steady trickle of Isawa into Dragon lands. Most were fleeing from the chaos of the civil war in Phoenix lands as well as the terrible retribution Shiba Michio was bringing on the Isawa with the fury of the Obsidian Dragon. Numbers swelled as more arrived and children started to be born. Finally, Mirumoto Shikei, Champion of the Dragon Clan had let the Phoenix use some land near the temple that Koyo had established years before. The condition being that they would be proper stewards of it. This was the birth of Shinyoake Mura, the new dawn for the Phoenix Clan. There, with Koyo as their leader, the community had not only thrived but had done their best to make sure the Dragon benefited from the Isawa’s magic. The years that followed the Phoenix’s arrival in Dragon lands had seen some of the most bountiful harvests in living memory. And not just in Dragon lands, Koyo had made sure the knowledge spread throughout Rokugan. Doji Arami, while he was still Imperial Agriculturalist, came with some Asahina shugenja despite the risks of such a journey. But now, the main square of the village was filled with every adult who was able to travel. They were all packed and ready, they would be journeying with the Dragon down the mountain to Toshi Ranbo. But not all of them, on one side of the square were the children who had gathered to see their parents go. And standing in front was a girl of no more than sixteen, yet she already had the air of taking on a responsibility beyond her years. Koyo came out of the temple, making his way down the narrow well-worn mountain path. The final preparations were complete. As he went down into the village the crowd parted to let him through. The girl approached him. “Father, please,” she said. “Let me go with you, I’ve made my gempukku, my place is at your side.” “Keiheki, you were my best student, and that is why you must stay here,” Koyo said, his face as blank and featureless as a sheer stone wall. “You need to be sensei here if I don’t return and carry on my work. The Phoenix’s future is here, we need to make sure it survives.” Keiheki bowed her head in acquiescence. The adults said farewell to the children. Koyo and Akiko said good bye to all in turn. The twins, Sakura and Daini, so alike in appearance, so different in temperament and their affinities with fire and water respectively. The youngest, Daiyon, just starting to show some skill speaking to the air kami. Then the moment of parting arrived, as they left the village Koyo looked back over his shoulder. Keiheki was already comforting some of the children, listening to them and helping dry their tears. Akiko gave him a soft smile. The future of the Phoenix Clan was in that village. And one day, when the fortunes willed it, they would emerge and return to the lands of their ancestors. But until then there were battles to fight, and a war to win. Until then, the Clan of Shiba would do their part.
The soldiers of the Imperial Legion moved in force to surround Toshi Ranbo, the rest of the Emerald Legions, the Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Imperial Legions began to arrive from where they had been stationed in the Empire. The rest would arrive with Shogun Utaku Chikara when she returned from Unicorn lands. New recruits also arrived, fresh out of the training camps and eager for battle. Once the siege camp was established on both sides of the Drowned Merchant River, there were a number of changes. Koharu, gunso of the Kyoujin platoon, was promoted to Chui of a new unit. Her last act as gunso was to name Harun as her successor. Harun was shocked by this, he had only been with the Legion months and felt almost inadequate for it. But the positive response he got from the platoon itself decided matters. Harun’s first act as Gunso of Kyoujin was to make Utaku Kenji his Nikutai, another action applauded by them. He wrote the news of this in a latter to Arahime, sending it off quickly but not sure when it would reach her. Until the siege was begun properly, the fought right up against the walls of Toshi Ranbo. This was potentially dangerous as it would put them in range of the archers and maho-tsukai on the wall, resulting spending more time with the healers to recover wounds as well as jade therapy. And deaths, which Harun took keenly and would stay up in the evenings writing letters to their families. One afternoon, just as he and Kenji were heading back to camp with some rations, Harun saw the arrival of the Crane Clan contingent. A sea of banners in various shades of light blue displaying the mons of the families and the designations of the various units of the Crane Army. Harun particular noticed the kenshinzen, splendid in their feathered raiment, carrying themselves with that characteristic arrogance. “They put on a good show,” Kenji said with a grin. Harun agreed. Harun saw his father come out of his tent to greet the Crane Champion, Doji Ayumu. The two men were of a similar age, Ayumu a few years younger than Karasu, both coming to their positions relatively young. They exchanged bows and spoke, Ayumu then giving a signal for the bulk of the Crane to depart to where they would be quartered around the city. Then they entered the tent. Harun turned to leave himself, but a great shout from the direction of the wall made him turn back. What looked like a scout ran toward’s the Champion’s tent, running through Ayumu’s entourage and scattering them like startled birds. The scout then looked as if he was arguing with the bushi who stood watch outside Karasu’s tent. Curious, Harun went closer. The scout held an arrow in his hand, shaking as he spoke. “…you don’t understand,” said the scout. “This message, it came from them but the seal it carries is Crane.”
Inside his tent, Karasu entertained the Crane Champion. The more serious talks on strategy would wait until later that evening. Now they discussed the most recent news over tea. It had recently been announced that the Imperial Court would be held at Kyuden Hida that winter, something that not many of the Crane would be looking forward to. What was even more interesting is the Crown Prince Kiseki would also be there even though the boy had yet to make his gempukku. Karasu was just pouring more tea, when the tent flapped stirred and someone entered. Both of them turned to regard the visitor, a scout, still sweaty and dirty from combat. In his hand he carried a small scroll, he bowed most low. Behind him was Senzo, the ronin who attended Karasu’s tent. He also bowed, on his face an unspoken apology. Doji Ayumu seemed a little miffed. “What is all this?” He asked, a little indignant. Karasu got to his feet. He always wanted to be accessible to the soldiers of the Legion, but even then no one would interrupt him meeting with the Crane Champion. And Senzo wouldn’t let them. Not unless it was serious. Karasu gave a nod for Senzo to leave. “Tell me your name, and why you have come,” he asked the scout calmly. “Suzume Iehira, my lord,” he said, sinking to his knees and bowing again. “I apologise for this intrusion, but you must know that an arrow just came from the Onyx, carrying this.” He held out the scroll, the mon of the Crane visible. “From the Onyx?” Karasu took the scroll and read it just as Akodo Ryouichi entered the tent.
To Kakita Karasu who calls himself the Emerald Champion, So delighted that you have brought so many of my old clan to my city. None of them will ever come in and neither will you. We should meet to discuss terms. Perhaps it will go as well for me as it did for you when you won that sword and armour. I will come to you, and I hope this ragtag army of yours hasn’t rubbed off your manners.
Shimekiri
Karasu crumpled the paper in anger, Ryoichi looked at him with concern. He gave a wave for the scout to leave. “My lord, is it…?” Karasu nodded. They had spent many evenings debating just how to deal with Shimekiri. “He has proposed a meeting,” Karasu said, his voice tight and controlled. “I cannot refuse.” “But you must!” Ryoichi insisted. “My lord, I…” He cast a look at Doji Ayumu and fell to silence. Ayumu took the hint. “I should be seeing my clan are settled,” he said, getting to his feet. “Thank you for the tea, we will speak later.” Katasu nodded silently, watching him go. He didn’t speak until they were alone. “This could be my only chance to kill him, I cannot not take advantage of it.” “And his chance to kill you,” Ryoichi argued. “You cannot play into the enemy’s hands like this. I say this not only as an advisor, but as a friend. Your loss, my lord, would be a devastating blow to morale for the Legion and the Great Clans right when they are all looking to you to lead.” “And how would it look to them if I refused?” Karasu demanded. “That I was afraid? Cowering in my tent.” “Refusing to come to the summons of a dishonourable traitor is not cowardice, but common sense,” said Ryoichi. “Send me, I can be spared.” Karasu shook his head. He knew Ryoichi was right, but he couldn’t agree with him. This was something he knew he had to do himself. Ryoichi unsheathed his wakizashi, he pulled at the straps at his armour then pulled back the clothing there to reveal bare skin. “If you do not send me, I will make the three cuts right now,” he said, his voice as hard as iron. “I cannot let you do this.” Karasu closed his eyes, he didn’t want to send yet another good man to his death, let alone someone he had worked closely beside for so long like Ryoichi. “Fine, have it your way,” he said, throwing the note into the fire of the porcelain stove.
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Post by Hida Tetsuko on Jul 9, 2018 16:05:23 GMT 10
More updates coming soon. Came across this image, I honestly feel like writing the Toshi Ranbo scenes is like this. Me with the megaphone
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Post by Hida Tetsuko on Jul 10, 2018 0:15:04 GMT 10
The next day, Harun took the time to see those of his men who were in the infirmary. There were several tents for the tending of the wounded throughout the siege camp, staffed by shugenja as well as monks. Yoritomo Osu was there, sitting up but looking rather pale. He swore to Harun that he soon would be fighting fit and that he could still use his kama despite missing two of his fingers. As Harun was leaving, he heard someone call out his name. Harun turned and to his astonishment he saw it was Doji Kouta, his classmate from the academy. He had last seen him in Unicorn lands last winter where he had been Kousuda’s yojimbo. But what was he doing here? “Kouta!” Harun grinned at him as they exchanged bows. “You do turn up in the most unexpected places.” “I go out of my way to surprise you, Harun, but you weren’t hard to find,” Kouta said with a laugh. “You talked about the Legion so much, and now you’re hear, and a gunso by the looks of it.” He nodded to the insignias on the little tags that hung either side of Harun’s chest plate. “I’m still getting used to it,” said Harun. “You got time? There’s a lot to tell you.” They walked around the camp, Harun relating his news of the last few months. Kunta was mostly interesting in the duel Harun had fought. Arahime came up and how Harun had missed out on seeing her, Kunta had actually heard of some trouble in the Zogeki courts but had no details. Harun hoped she wasn’t involved. “You still haven’t told me why you are here,” Harun said. “I’m here with Kakita Isamu-sama,” Kouta said. “My father thinks I can learn more at his side.” “Isamu? The Kenshinzen?” Harun asked. “The one we saw at the academy?” “The same,” Kouta said. “Though he hasn’t taught me much yet, he usually just sends me on errands. I’m still looking for a chance to prove myself.” “I hope you can,” said Harun, though he had his own private doubts. Isamu’s arrogance was well known. Just then they heard the sound of the taiko drums striking. The entire camp was silent as they listened to decipher the pattern. “Do you know what it says?” Kunta asked. “It’s a stand and assembly,” said Harun. “I need to get back.” “Can I....?” Kouta looked at him. “Come on, hurry,” said Harun, heading towards the sound of the drums.
The Legion assembled in ranks that surrounded the Emerald Champions tent. All armed, weapons held and banners flying in a show of strength. Yet the Emerald Champion was not there, the guards stood in front of the closed flaps of his tent. The only one there who could know anything was the First Legion’s Taisa, Katsura Hisato, but she stood there silently and gave no orders. Harun stood several ranks back with his platoon, Kouta wedged behind him. He wasn’t sure what was going on. A speech? A duel? There was a low groaning from the wall of Toshi Ranbo, one of the great gates opened and five tainted samurai emerged. Their armour was blackened, their flesh stank with the decay of the taint. They walked unchallenged past the assembled Imperial troops, but they got plenty of glares. One of the Onyx carried a nobori banner decorated with a blackened crane. And leading them, a man who was the stuff of nightmares to many Crane children. The Fallen Crane, the Black Kabuki, the Demon Blade of the Shadowlands, Daigotsu Shimekiri. The taint had left its mark on him, but rather than a walking, rotting corpse, Shimekiri resembled an ivory sculpture. His bare arms were muscular and deathly pale, contrasting sharply against his black jinbaori and hakama. His white hair done in an elaborate theatrical style that, when combined with the red-painted kabuki mask he wore, gave him a fearsome, otherworldly look. He moved with the grace of a cat, had the subtleness of a whisper but with the speed a ferocity of a whip crack. Harun shivered when he saw Shimekiri. He of course knew the stories, but the former Crane had a dark history with his family. Shimekiri had killed Arahime’s grandparents, capturing her mother Kyoumi perhaps intending to hand her—still a child—over to Daigotsu. Kaori, Arahime’s great grandmother and a kenshinzen, had sacrificed herself so Kyoumi could be rescued. And Shimekiri still lived. Harun knew that Shimekiri would only come for one purpose, for a duel, but his father had not emerged from his tent. What’s going on? Harun wondered. What is his plan? When he came to the square made of assembled bushi, Shimekiri stopped, looking this way and that like an actor who had wandered onto the stage at the wrong moment. Then he burst out laughing. “It seems the Emperor’s Champion has assembled his forces, but not shown himself,” Shimekiri said. He shouted up to the closed tent. “Is your courage as false as your right to hold Kakita’s sword and armour?” There was a low growl of disapproval from the assembled troops, no words, just genuine displeasure. Harun turned his gaze to his father’s tent, surely that could not be ignored. The flap to the Emerald Champion’s tent parted, but he himself did not emerge. It was Akodo Ryoichi. He walked towards Shimekiri in careful measured steps. He wore his armour, held his helmet to one side and a white hachimaki was tied around his head. Harun inhaled sharply, the white hachimaki…did it mean what Harun thought it did? He looked over at Kouta whose face was expressionless. Shimekiri looked at Ryoichi with a confused expression, but only for a moment. Like an accomplished actor when an amateur on stage flubbed his lines, Shimekiri recovered and took centre stage. “And who are you?” Shimekiri asked, as if the Lion was no more than an obstacle to be cast aside. “Akodo Ryoichi,” he said, making a bow, his tone curt and businesslike. “I must inform you that my lord is…not at home.” He paused, giving time for the ritual phrase used to snub someone to sink in. There was a smattering of laughter from the troops. “I speak with his voice and I will deliver his terms.” “I will agree to no terms that are not won upon the point of a sword,” Shimekiri said, his black eyes narrowing. “If you have a challenge to make, then by all means do so,” said Ryoichi flatly. “You may have all day, we do not.” There was another titter of laughter. Shimekiri scowled. When he spoke, his voice was like a clap of thunder. “I challenge you in a duel to the death, according to the traditions set down by Kakita,” he said. “Now, state your terms, Lion.” Ryoichi smiled, as if Shimekiri’s antics amused him. “The terms are this: in the event of my victory, the entire Onyx Legion will vacate Toshi Ranbo immediately, laying down their arms and submitting themselves to the mercy of our steel.” “And if I win?” Shimekiri asked, his grin akin to a skull’s. “You will be permitted safe conduct inside the city and hostilities resume,” said Ryoichi, pausing a long moment then adding. “And Shimekiri will be recorded in the history of the Crane Clan as the finest duellist since Kakita.” As if on cue, a Kakita courtier appeared with a rolled scroll. It had the mon of the Crane clan displayed proudly. This caused an intake of breath from the assembled troops, including Harun and Kouta. Shimekiri laughed. “I accept these terms, Lion,” he said. “Let the circle be prepared.”
Karasu paced his tent like a caged animal. In here was the last place he wanted to be, he could hear everything going on outside but could not participate. He had to stay in here, to save face, and send yet another good man to die. And not just any man, a friend. Ryoichi had been by his side since almost the beginning. He had been with Akodo Tokumei while she had been Lion Champion. While Ryoichi had studied at the Akodo War College, his ideas had not exactly been welcome among the more orthodox members of his clan. Karasu offered him a posting, and their partnership had grown from there. But Ryoichi was more than that, in time he was considered almost family especially by the children as he did not seem to have one of his own. Memories of Ryoichi with them flashed before his eyes. The twins, Masami and Masaru, chasing him in the garden holding out their cat. Helping Sakimi practice her grip on her bokken to help her gain entry to the Kakita Academy. Carrying a sleeping four year old Harun back to his bed when the boy had gone in search of his father in the Imperial Palace and had fallen asleep behind a shoji screen. Is Harun out there? Karasu wondered. I hope he isn’t.
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Post by Shinwa on Jul 10, 2018 0:45:10 GMT 10
Oh no! <3
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