By Brian Yoon
Edited by Fred Wan
Hisao's lips moved as he murmured his prayers to the Fortunes. The handsome young man knelt in front of a shrine that stood in midst of several large statues of the Lords of Death. He must have looked out of place in the drab brown colors that noted his status as ronin among the bright purples that adorned the room, but it did not matter to him. He knelt for what seemed like hours as he set aside the burdens and sins of the day. He thanked to the Fortunes for protecting him and prayed that he had proved the worth of his blood line on the battlefield. He had touched blood and guts and dead bodies in the front lines. That did not bother him; he was a warrior, and his duty was to kill. It was simply a necessary task to wash away the filth after the fighting came to a stop. Finally, he opened his eyes and stepped quietly out of the room.
The fires were dying out at the ruins of Shiro Moto, yet the smoke from the devastated battleground still clouded the distance. Hisao stepped out of the temple and watched it billow in the evening breeze. The sky was painted with shades of red and orange as the sun set in the horizon. It seemed a fitting tribute, he mused, to the bloodshed that Lord Sun witnessed today.
He turned back toward the temple one last time and gave a respectful bow to whatever spirits lay within. He descended the steps and stopped short when he saw a stranger standing next to his horse. His first instinct was to reach for his sword but stilled it immediately when he saw the gold armor of a Lion samurai. On closer inspection, he recognized the samurai as Ikoma Uchito. Uchito was the contact between the Lion army and the ronin they hired for the Unicorn campaign.
"Uchito-sama," he said politely. He bowed deeply at the waist then straightened with a sincere smile.
"Hisao-san," Uchito replied with a curt nod. "I was unaware you worshipped the Unicorn gods."
Hisao looked behind him at the building. "I am not a follower of their Death Gods, but the temple was more than sufficient for my needs. I admit the focus of the sanctuary was a bit unusual, but I felt a strong connection to the Fortunes here."
Uchito frowned. "The Unicorn priests did not object to your presence?"
"I cannot say they were pleased," Hisao replied, "but they did not stop me. One kind priest helped my ritual of purification, though he must have known whose blood I had spilt today."
For a long moment, Uchito did not speak as he studied the young ronin. "I have not met many ronin who would, upon receiving his pay for his services, immediately turn his attentions toward his honor."
Hisao's eyes glinted with emotion. "I am Hisao, son of Hayosai, who fought bravely at the Battle of Shallow Waters, slaying five spirits single-handedly when they attempted to kill the Akodo general. His father Asuma served alongside Emperor Toturi the First as one of his Twelve Ronin, braving the horrors of the Fallen Kami among the greatest heroes of the Empire."
"You do their memory proud," Uchito said quietly.
Hisao smiled. "You did not search me out simply to praise me, Uchito-sama," he said. "The war is over. You have dismissed all the ronin troops. My obligations are finished. What could you possibly need of me?"
"You have a reputation among the ronin and many of the Lion men," Uchito said. "They say you will not betray your employers at any cost, and you will go to any lengths to keep your word."
"Every samurai must strive towards those goals," Hisao said.
"Perhaps, yet the realities of the world make you a hero for these qualities. Additionally, you are a skilled rider. You have experience serving as a yojimbo to those who cannot protect themselves. Best of all, you are available."
Hisao frowned. "What is it you require?"
Uchito gestured toward the rising column of smoke. "I want to hire you as a guardian to Matsu Yoshike on his journey to Kyuden Ikoma. He must arrive at the castle without any delay and convey the news of the battlefield."
"That sounds too simple, Uchito-sama," Hisao replied with a smirk.
Uchito did not smile back. "Yoshike served as Yoshino-sama's standard bearer in the battle and was badly wounded. The Kitsu have done their best to assuage the worst of the damage, yet he will still require time and rest to heal. Our superiors would send another courier, but Yoshike refuses to set aside his duties. He claims that his unique position in the battle allows him to convey the truth of the day better than any other messenger. While our master rider Matsu Daro will be traveling with him, he would feel safe with another warrior by his side."
"I remember Daro-san…" Hisao said. His sentence trailed off as he remembered why the name was so familiar. An image quickly flashed in his mind of the wounded young Lion, beset on all sides by Unicorn. "Is he well?"
"He is healthy, thanks to you," Uchito said. "He would ride by your side once more, if you accept this duty."
Hisao nodded. "I am honored that he would remember me past the chaos of the battlefield. I accept. Your man Yoshike will not be harmed on his trip home."
"You are an odd woman, Miyoko-san," Hozumi finally said as they walked along the road toward Koten, the Crab Ancestral Hall.
She stopped humming and turned to look at him. "What do you mean, Hozumi-san?"
He shrugged. "You have never met me before. You recently met a stranger who was rude, dangerous, and fully intended to kill you. Why do you trust me and invite me along your journey when you are so far away from home? Why do you invite me into your confidences?"
Miyoko smiled at the solemn ronin. "Because I have no reason to believe you are lying, Hozumi-san. I believe that you are a good man and that traveling with you will enrich my journey."
Hozumi raised an eyebrow. "I have not said anything since we began traveling together."
"Regardless, your presence has been reassuring," she replied. "I can sense your desire to reach this place. Your intention is powerful. I imagine that legendary heroes of old held such powerful purpose. I would like see where your journey takes you."
"This place is said to keep the tales of Crab heroes," Hozumi said. "The monks know every tale of Crab valor, of heroism and bravery. I wish to listen and learn, and find what shapes a man into a true hero."
Miyoko studied her companion. "I am sure that there are those who would consider you a hero," she finally said.
He fell quiet once more. Miyoko continued to look at Hozumi with a look of concern in her eyes. They walked in silence for a minute as he brooded and she thought of the best way to change his mood.
"When I was a child," Miyoko finally said, "I lived in a village filled with the children of ashigaru killed during the many wars in our past. There was a man who came to our village every week. He would come and play with the children. When we were all tired from our play, he would help feed us delicious apples and rice. He came to raise our spirits and show us the joys of the world. He came when it rained so hard that I could not see five feet in front of me. He came when the snow fell so thick that I had to swim out of my house. He came through wars, fires, famine, and came to help even when the mountain erupted in fire. He did not come from the village. We were perfect strangers, but his kindness and generosity changed the lives of dozens of children forever.
"Some men would not call his actions that of a hero. All he did was tirelessly work with heart and great spirit. Yet Isawa Washichi will always be one of the greatest heroes of the empire to me. I truly believe, Nozumi-san, that your spirit could be from the same mold."
He finally smiled. "Such lofty expectation, Miyoko-san."
"You should not hold believe in anything less for your dreams," She answered.
He bowed in recognition of her words. "And what is your goal in traveling to this place, Miyoko-san?" Hozumi asked.
"That is a secret," she said, teasingly drawing out the last word.
He smiled back at her playfulness and they continued to walk in silence. This time his back was straighter and he did not look so morose. She started to hum once more and Hozumi quietly enjoyed the sound of her voice.
They reached Koten after a few hours. It was immediately apparent that something was wrong. Crab samurai swarmed the place and hustled from place to place without any real reason. Some men simply sat and stared out into the distance in a daze. The great majority of the Crab, however, were visibly angry.
Before Hozumi and Miyoko could get any closer to the building, a group of Crab cavalry rode out to meet them. They surrounded the two in seconds, and many of them placed their hands on sheathed blades. Their leader jumped off his horse and stepped forward.
They looked ready to fight, so Hozumi decided to speak first. "What has happened? Why is there such a commotion in this holy place?"
"I am Hida Sakamoto, rikugunshokan of the Crab," the Crab leader answered. "Who are you and what is your business here?"
"I am Hozumi, vassal of the Mirumoto, and this is Togashi Miyoko. We have simply come to pay our respects and visit the great hall. Is something wrong?"
Sakamoto frowned. "I do not doubt you, Hozumi-san, Miyoko-san, but I would appreciate it if you would follow us and answer questions about anything you might have seen on your way here. We will not harm you in any way and you are not under suspicion." Sakamoto gestured to Miyoko. "However, any help you can give us in our investigation of what happened will be greatly appreciated."
It was clear from his tone that it was not a request.
Miyoko nodded. "Of course we will do anything we can to help you," she said.
"What has happened?" Hozumi repeated.
Sakamoto turned back toward the ronin. Hozumi realized that the look in his eyes was not simply rage, as he had first assumed, but a deep and profound grief fueling his energy. "Lord Kisada was murdered," he said in a grave voice, "and we will find who was responsible for this foul act. We will not rest. We will not stop. We will burn every shadow and bury every assassin until our lord has been avenged."
The Imperial City, Daigotsu Takayasu thought, was an impressive sight. He arrived by the dead of night several days ago, evading magistrates and imperial troops as he and the others made their way into the heart of Rokugan. They had taken extreme precautions to make sure that no one would stop them or question them through every section of their journey. The leader left to explore the city for hours at a time, but had left strict instructions for the rest of the trio to remain in hiding. It had been frustrating, to say the least, to wait in a tiny cellar for some unknown sign to emerge from their lair.
On the fourth day of their terribly tedious vigil, the leader suddenly announced that they would finally embark on their mission. He did not offer any explanation of what event precipitated their move, but Takayasu did not care. He was simply glad to finally be [i]doing[/i] something. Still, he had not expected such grandeur.
The sight of so many people in one place was still an awe inspiring sight. The buildings reminded him of his old hometown (the thought of his abandoned home still affected him, but he quickly pushed the emotions away) but the crowds of peasants, merchants, and samurai were like nothing he had ever seen. The sun had set, but it seemed like that would do little to deter the crowds. Lanterns lined the streets and the crowds were like fireflies drawn to the entertainment offered at the brightest venues.
The sound of a deep chuckle reached Takayasu's ears and he quickly snapped out of his daze. He flushed red with embarrassment. His group had continued while he had paused, and Naoru, his tall and scarred companion, had turned back and noticed the wonder in his eyes. Takayasu knew he would suffer no end of mocking for his inexperience. Instantly his prediction came true.
"Focus, pup. You will not last long if a simple sight like this takes you by surprise," Naoru said sneering. His raspy voice sounded as if the warrior had once suffered a great wound to his throat that had never healed properly. Or perhaps, Takayasu mused, the man was simply rotting. Naoru was not an undead – as far as Takayasu could tell, at least — but he was certainly unpleasant.
Takayasu stepped lively to catch up to his leader. He caught his breath and spoke sullenly at Naoru. "It was a momentary lapse in vigilance, Naoru-san. It will not happen again."
Naoru did not even bother to look at him. "A momentary lapse," he said, "is all that is needed to spill your guts to the ground. You don't belong here. You should be at home with the rest of the young and elderly."
Takayasu fought back the urge to shout. He gritted his teeth and spoke, punctuating each word with his anger. "I am ready for this task and ready to prove my worth, Naoru-san. Do not mistake my youth for weakness."
Naoru stopped and turned back to face him. His eyes glowed bright with fury. Takayasu wondered briefly if it was the nearby lantern reflecting in his eyes or if Naoru was fueling the light with his anger.
"Your parents are not here to protect you, boy," Naoru said.
"Come, then, if you are so confident," Takayasu replied.
"Enough," the leader said sharply. Naoru gave Takayasu one more look filled with disdain and nodded curtly at the leader. Takayasu admonished himself and looked away from Naoru. It would not do, he reminded himself, to fail at his first mission. It did not help that he did not know what that duty entailed. Only the leader of the trio, Daigotsu Fumiaki, knew the parameters of the mission. Hotaku-sama had told the taciturn samurai in private and he had not offered the other two any details.
Perhaps the mission was a simple assessment of their abilities, Takayasu mused as they continued to navigate through the streets. He had undergone his gempukku only a year ago and was untested on the fields of battle. Likewise, Takayasu had never seen Naoru among the Spider until two months ago. He had appeared without warning at their hidden fortress. He claimed that he was once a student of the general Tsukuro and demanded his rightful place among them.
Fumiaki suddenly motioned to Takayasu and his heart leapt to his throat. He hurriedly stepped forward and nodded. "Yes, Fumiaki-sama?"
"You have been following your studies," Fumiaki said. It was not a question.
"Hai, Fumiaki-sama," Takayasu said. "I know much about the political climate of Rokugan and have done my best to keep up with the wars and alliances of the enemy."
Fumiaki gestured to the building in front of them. "Then tell me why our targets, a group of Crab, are in this inn."
Takayasu studied the building with interest. It was called the Lucky Bear and looked to be a reputable place. After a moment, he realized that the building did not seem to fit in with its surroundings. It was Toshi Ranbo, the Imperial City. One would assume that the establishments inside the greatest city in the empire would also be meticulously kept. While the building had no open blemishes, it seemed to have seen better times in its past. A single lantern lit the entrance of the building and few people chose to enter the building.
"The Crab are currently at war with the Crane," Takayasu said. "This place must be either owned by the Yasuki or have strong ties to the Crab. Since the Crane Clan has great influence in this city, they must be pressuring others to avoid frequenting this place. The Crab would, of course, fail to bow down to the will of the Crane."
"Good," Fumiaki said. He looked out at the building. "What you do not know is that Otomo Hoketuhime was murdered yesterday. While the security of the city has increased, most of the guards have been diverted to the Palace. It is the perfect time for our work. Our informant should come out soon. Be ready."
They did not have to wait long. A young boy dressed in a dirty, ragged kimono stepped out of the inn and looked around the street. When he spotted Fumiaki he made a beeline towards the group.
"Samurai-sama," the boy said, "those Crab are taking their bath right now, same time as last night."
"Did you see any other customers?" Fumiaki asked.
The boy shrugged. "I am sorry, samurai-sama, but when I tried to get in any further they forced me out of the building. I could not see anyone."
Fumiaki threw a single koku onto the street. As it flew through the air, Takayasu saw that it bore the mark of the Crane Clan. The beggar fell to his knees and picked up the coin, holding it tightly with both hands. Fumiaki's mouth thinned with distaste. "Go," he ordered, and the boy ran away from the trio at full speed.
Fumiaki headed out, not toward the inn as Takayasu suspected, but toward the alley next to the building. Naoru and Takayasu followed their leader as he moved past the inn. He stopped and pointed at a small building right next to the inn. It was a sento, a public bath house, but it seemed to share the same fate as its larger neighbor. Few people seemed to enter the place and the traditional curtain depicting the nature of the building had fallen off.
They strode in together into the entrance and an elderly employee looked up. His face lit up with delight and stood up to greet his customers. "Welcome, samurai-sama. I am pleased you have—"
Before the old man could finish his speech, Fumiaki drew his katana and cut the hapless old man in half. He flicked the blood off his blade and turned to his companions. "Kill everyone inside," he ordered.
Naoru grinned and headed for the women's section of the bath. Takayasu drew his katana and followed Fumiaki into the male section. They walked through the empty changing room and entered the steamy bathing area.
Three men — instantly recognizable as Crabs by their build — luxuriated in the hot water. A fourth Crab sat away from the others, scooping water onto himself with a small ladle. They all looked up as the two Spider walked into the bath. Immediately they recognized the threat that was presented to them and scrambled out of the water. Their katana lay on the wooden floor, in easy access, and the naked men rushed to grab them. The last Crab's weapon, a staff of wood and jade, leaned against the wall.
Fumiaki ran towards the Witch Hunter. Without a moment's hesitation, Takayasu yelled a battle shout and ran towards the naked bathers. His speed was well known among his peers and he reached his enemy much faster than they expected. He cut down a Crab before he could reach his sword. The next one lifted his katana, sheath and all, and raised it to defend against another strike. Takayasu stepped back then thrust his blade straight at the man's chest. The second man went down without a sound.
His last opponent was now ready for him, and Takayasu slowly circled the Crab. The older man looked to be skilled with the blade. Takayasu feinted twice and struck, but the Crab evaded with ease. He began to circle the Crab once more, looking for any opening.
"I am Toritaka Teriuihi," the Crab said as he maneuvered his katana to follow Takayasu. "Who are you? Are you another member of the so-called Spider Clan?"
Takayasu's eyes widened. How did he know who they were?
"Aha!" Teriuihi exclaimed. "Fumitake-san! It seems our target has come to us!"
There was no answer but the sound of steel slashing against rock. Takayasu wished he could turn and see how Fumiaki was doing, but he could not without risking an attack from Teriuihi. There was a flash of green in the corner of his eye and a large boom echoed through the air. Before he could react, Takayasu's body was wracked with intense pain. He had never felt so much pain before, even during the ritual at gempukku. He bit back an agonized scream and fell to one knee. From his training Takayasu could recognize the pain as a spell of jade, yet his former exposure to it did nothing to dull the sensations.
Even through the pain he could see Teriuihi step forward to deliver the final blow. Takayasu lunged forward and thrust his blade upwards even as he felt a blade enter his shoulder. Takayasu refused to loosen his grip on the blade, and after the three longest seconds of his life the Crab's corpse toppled to the ground. Takayasu collapsed next to him and struggled to remain conscious. He flipped over onto his back and pulled the blade from his body.
The sound of battle eventually faded away and Fumiaki stepped into his field of vision. The leader looked scratched and wounded, but he had a grin on his face. The sight seemed even more monstrous than his usual grimace. "Not bad," he said. He opened a pouch of hanging from his belt and poured some of its contents onto Takayasu's wound. Takayasu let out a hiss of pain.
"It's not much, but you'll live until we meet reinforcements," Fumiaki said while wrapping a bandage around Takayasu's shoulder. Takayasu nodded and gritted his teeth.
Takayasu crawled to his feet and sheathed his blade. He struggled to maintain his poise through it all. Naoru stepped into the room with a look of disappointment pasted onto his face.
"There was no one on the other side, only a servant," he reported to Fumiaki. "We have followed your orders."
Fumiaki nodded. "We'll exit through the back. Naoru, start a fire in the boiler room."
Naoru nodded and headed to the back. Takayasu looked at his leader. "Where are we headed next?" he dared ask.
Surprisingly, Fumiaki answered. "We've rid ourselves of a threat upon our mission. Now we go to Scorpion lands. There, our true work will begin."
The City of Remembrance was a quiet place, a place of meditation and contemplation. It was also a center of commerce for the Phoenix Clan, but those who were tasked with overseeing such activities understood and appreciated the sanctity of the city, and took steps to ensure that their activities were restricted to certain sections out of sight of the grand temples. This was done out of respect, and it was one of the many reasons that Agashi Miyoshi was such a zealous advocate of the Phoenix Clan. What other clan would voluntarily show such inconvenient deference to the priests of the kami?
Today, however, those thoughts were far from Miyoshi's mind. The temple where she was the head priestess, the Temple of the Seven Dragons, was unique throughout the Empire. It was built upon the spot where the great dragons had chosen their first Oracles, binding them forever to the mortal realm. Here and here alone, those who possessed the skill to do so could speak not only to the dragons' spirit vassals, but even to the great Elemental Dragons themselves. Miyoshi had been among the first to discover this, and of the handful of Phoenix who had been able to reproduce her feat, she remained the shugenja to whom the act came the most easily.
Or at least, it had come easily.
It had been weeks since any of the shugenja at the temple had been able to commune with the great dragons, Miyoshi included. This was highly unusual, and while the priestess had given no sign to those who looked to her for guidance, she was greatly worried. Finally, she had fasted for three days and undergone a complete ritual purification, and had locked herself within one of the small shrines and meditated. She had been meditating now for more than a day without ceasing, and she had determined that she would not stop until she had discovered an answer, one way or another.
Good and truthful one, a voice suddenly boomed in her mind. You are truly among the faithful.
Miyoshi ground her teeth. She had become accustomed to the sheer magnitude of the dragons' presence, but this time was difference. There was some sort of… she was not certain what it was. Some sort of noise in the background, a hideous, keening drone that made it almost impossible to concentrate. "Great dragon," she replied, speaking loud to help her overcome the noise, "to which of your number does this humble servant have the honor of speaking?"
I am Thunder, the dragon answered. It is likely that the others will be unable to speak with you from this point forward. Unable, or perhaps simply unwilling.
The words chilled Miyoshi's very soul, but the droning persisted. "Great Thunder, something is different. What is it I hear other than your voice?"
It is the celestial discord that plagues the Heavens, Thunder answered. Tengoku is in tumult. The balance is shifting, little one.
"I do not understand, great one. Have the Phoenix displeased you?"
There was a great, thunderous chuckle. Your clan is no more guilty than any other, it replied. For over a thousand years the Celestial Order has maintained perfect balance in all the realms. Within the last century of time, as mankind measures it, the upheavals have been nearly constant. Man has usurped too great a role in the universe, and the time of that being tolerated has come to an end.
Miyoshi's mouth was suddenly as dry as ash. "What has happened?"
Jade has ascended to the highest level of the Heavens, Thunder said. It challenges the mortal who sits atop Tengoku for the Mantle of the Sun. Its sibling Obsidian likewise moves against the human who calls herself Lady Moon.
"Oh, Fortunes," Miyoshi said quietly.
The Fortunes stand aside, Thunder said. Those who were once mortal obey the commands of the Seven, who support Jade and Obsidian. The other dragons likewise support them, and the Heavenly Court has not the power to oppose them, even if they wished to do so. The great dragon rumbled as it spoke. Man's dominance over the Heavens is at an end, little one. Spread the word to your kinsmen. There shall be a reckoning.
And for all the questions that had plagued her only moments ago, Miyoshi could think of nothing else to say.
*
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