Scenes from the Empire VII

By Rusty Priske
Editing by Fred Wan

The Plains of Thunder, 1169
Mirumoto Chojiro and Kitsuki Berii strolled through the competition grounds. Berii was saying, “One has to be realistic, Chojiro-san.”

Chojiro arched one eyebrow. “Realistic? That almost seems defeatist. We did not come merely watch as a Crane became Emerald Champion.”

“Of course not, but some things are inevitable. I have made a full assessment of the field of candidates and cannot see how Noritoshi can be defeated.”

Chojiro half smirked. “It is our duty to win. Some would say that you are failing Lord Satsu merely by speaking this way.”

“Now you sound like a Lion. Do not misunderstand, Chojiro-san, nothing in my observations will lead me to do any less than my utmost to win this competition. I will give every ounce of effort as if I truly believed that it was a very tight race to the end. I do not care if my opponent is my closest friend or my deepest enemy. Simply knowing the outcome does not give me the right to do any less.”

Chojiro and Berii walked in silence for a moment before the older man answered, “So it will be Noritoshi?”

Berii nodded. “His skill surpasses everyone else’s in the competition. He is strong enough in the other areas to make it through to the iaijutsu portion of the event, where he will be unstoppable.”

Chojiro shrugged. “We shall see.”

As they walked, they passed a trio of Mantis samurai. They exchanged bows and continued past. Berii picked up their conversation. “I suppose there are others that could make it interesting. Not the least of which is our very own Narumi, who has a different style and could surprise… are you listening?”

Chojiro shook his head, breaking free of his reverie and said, “My apologies, Berii-san. I seem to have been momentarily distracted.”

Berii glanced back at the retreating Mantis and smiled, “By Yoritomo Sachina, I assume. I can easily see why you would be distracted.”

Chojiro looked back before saying, “Who? Oh yes, of course.”

* * *

Yasuki Jinn-Kuen sipped at his sake and waited for the Mantis to arrive. The sake was exceptionally weak, but he preferred it when conducting negotiations. It allowed him to seem hospitable while keeping his mind clear. This meeting may have been a formality only, as the true negotiations had finished earlier, but he knew he needed to continue to be on his guard or things could change.

He knew that showing weakness to a rival could be as deadly here as on the field of battle.

Jinn-Kuen stood as the three Mantis entered the tent. He bowed deeply and the leader of the Mantis contingent returned that gesture. He smiled inwardly at the tantalizing flash of sloping skin that came with the bow. Jinn-Kuen had many weapons available to him in any negotiation. Yoritomo Sachina did as well, but knowing what those weapons were gave Jinn-Kuen an advantage.

“Please sit, Sachina-san. Would you like some sake? It is from Imo Hana Mura and it is exquisite.”

Sachina sat and said, “I would love to share a drink with you, Jinn-Kuen-san, but I am not parched just yet. I see you have already poured yourself a cup. Perhaps I will have some sake when you wish a refill.”

“Oh but it is no bother, Sachina-san. I just poured my own.”

“Please, Jinn-Kuen-san. I shall wait.”

The Crab turned to the other two Mantis. “And what of your retinue? Would they care for some sake?”

“Do not worry about them. They are merely a formality, as it would not do for me to walk the competition grounds alone. Sometimes, in the heat of competition, people can act in inappropriate ways. I would not wish to find myself in such a position.”

Sachina’s smile had a well-balanced mix of beauty, joyous innocence and sexual allure. Jinn-Kuen could see how someone could be distracted from his duties. He could also see why they would not mind terribly as that smile could be reward enough.

He mentally rapped himself on his own fingers. Knowing about an opponent’s weapon does no good if you knowingly allow yourself to fall prey to it. “Well, I would not want to drink alone so allow me.” Jinn-Kuen took his sake cup and stretched his arm out to the right where he slowly upturned it and allowed its half-full contents splash onto the ground. “Now I need a refill. Will you join me?”

Sachina’s smile intensified, though Jinn-Kuen would not have thought it possible. “You have captured me in my own logic, Jinn-Kuen-san. I would love to have a drink with you.”

As the Crab poured he said, “The Imo Hana Mura Sake Works is well-renowned and I am happy to report that recent negotiations have secured it as a Crab holding. I conducted those negotiations myself and the previous owners were well compensated. They drove a hard bargain but a treasure like this should not go unprotected.”

Sachina took a small sip and said, “A treasure indeed. I suppose that you see a good bottle of sake as every bit a piece of art as a statue or a beautifully stitched kimono.” As she spoke she referred to her own garment by running her finger along the front stitching.

Jinn-Kuen was prepared for this volley and did not allow it distract him. He took a drink of sake, more than he had planned, and it burned a bit going down, as his throat was accustomed to much weaker fare. “Absolutely.” He frowned inwardly at the slight rasp in his voice. “But we are here to speak of a different sort of libation, no?”

Sachina nodded. “True. Tea has less bite than sake, but is no less desired by the samurai of Rokugan. Maybe we should have brewed a pot of tea instead of enjoying this sake in honor of the agreement?”

Jinn-Kuen could not miss Sachina’s nod towards his inability to swallow the sake without showing its effects. He chose to ignore it. “Perhaps so, but I assure you that our tea is every bit a treasure as the sake. Moreover, it has less competition for its favors.”

Sachina nodded. “It is true. I have always been a fan of Lion tea, personally, though the Moshi do grow a lovely leaf.”

“It is unfortunate that the growing conditions this year have been so unfavorable for tea. The yield is down a substantial amount and there is no way for the Lion, Mantis or any of the other clans to answer the demand for tea. It is so fortunate that the climate in Crab lands was spared such a disaster.”

“Fortunate indeed, Jinn-Kuen-san. Fortunate for the Crab. Fortunate for Rokugan.”

Jinn-Kuen smiled. “You make me think I should have negotiated harder, Sachina-san.”

“Oh, I believe you acquitted yourself quite well, Jinn-Kuen-san Your clan’s fortunes shall surely benefit from your efforts over the last few days. The new price for tea is quite unprecedented.” Sachina motioned towards one of the two samurai accompanying her and he produced two small scrolls. She took them and placed them on the table between her and the Crab. “Here is the agreement. Please feel free to read it, to ensure I did not accidentally misrepresent any facet of our conversation.”

“Of course, Sachina-san. I would not insult you by refusing to read the agreement. After all, so much effort was put into it.” Both parties sat in silence as Jinn-Kuen unrolled the scroll and read each word, slowly and carefully. Then he switched to the second scroll and did the same. Through it all, Sachina sat quietly, not touching her sake or moving at all.

Finally Jinn-Kuen smiled and said, “Absolutely correct, of course. I notice you have not yet signed it.”

“I wanted to ensure I was signing what was agreed upon. If you have a quill, I will sign now.”

“Of course.” Jinn-Kuen produced a quill and ink and first Sachina, then he, signed both copies of the agreement.

Sachina took a second sip of sake. “This is very good.”

“I will have a bottle sent to you. In honor of a good transaction.”

Sachina’s bow when she left was a little less deep than when she arrived. This time she already had Jinn-Kuen’s attention and she let his imagination work a little harder.

After the departure of the Mantis contingent, Jinn-Kuen took his copy of the scroll and placed it into a small satchel with many others. The Mantis was the last tea trade agreement he had to sign, as the Crab were now the primary suppliers of tea to all of Rokugan.

He took another drink of sake, savoring the burn.

* * *

As the Mantis made their way back towards their tents, Mirumoto Chojiro intercepted them. “Good afternoon, Yoritomo-san.”

Sachina smiled, though not with the same intensity that she used on Yasuki Jinn-Kuen. She gave little sign of her true mood, as the meeting with the Crab had not been as successful as she had hoped. The Yasuki gave her little opportunity to reopen negotiations in her favor. “Good afternoon, Mirumoto-san. How can I help you today?”

“I saw your group and wished to speak to the lovely lady who seems familiar to me.”

Sachina’s smile turned immediately to a frown. “Implied familiarity is somewhat inappropriate, Mirumoto-san. If you wish an audience with me, you must go through the proper channels, but I can tell you right now that if you were to do so, I would not accept. I am not a fan of impudence.”

Chojiro did not back down. “My apologies, Yoritomo-san, but I was not speaking of you. I wish to speak to this young samurai in your retinue.”

Sachina tried to suppress her surprise, but Yoritomo Eriko did not even make the attempt. “Pardon, Mirumoto-san? Why would you wish to speak with me?”

Sachina interrupted, trying to keep control of the situation, the anger in her eyes clear. “Eriko is young, Mirumoto-san. I am not sure what appropriate conversation you could have with her. Maybe if you had a son you wished her to meet…” she trailed off, her meaning clear.

Chojiro laughed. “You misunderstand my intention, Yoritomo-san. No, I mean nothing of the sort. I just was taken aback by her resemblance to someone I once knew and I wished to ask her name and parentage.”

Sachina spoke before Eriko could respond. “Her name is Yoritomo Eriko and mine is Yoritomo Sachina. Before this continues any further, what might your name be, samurai?”

“I am Mirumoto Chojiro, and I ask only because I believe I knew Eriko-san’s mother, long ago.”

“I do not think that such questions are appropriate, Chojiro-san, and…”

Eriko cut off Sachina, who gave her a withering glare for doing so. “My father was a sailor. Yoritomo Haru. My mother was Yoritomo Etsu.”

Chojiro smiled. “Yes, I remember Etsu well. She was beautiful, much as you are, Eriko-san.”

Sachina interjected. “Your tone is suspect, Chojiro-san. You do Eriko a great disservice.”

Chojiro looked surprised. “No disservice is intended, Sachina-san. A friendship from twenty years past, no matter how brief, is nothing to be ashamed of.”

“A friendship, Chojiro-san?” Sachina’s eyebrow arched. “What sort of friendship lasts such a short time? Why have you not stayed in contact, then? You did not even know that your ‘friend’ had a daughter.”

“I do not understand your hostility, Sachina-san. I was merely reminiscing. While I did not know Etsu for long, I remember her fondly.”

“Some encounters blaze brighter than others?”

Chojiro relaxed slightly as Sachina seemed to understand. “Exactly, Sachina-san. There are times when someone can mean more in a short time than others do in a lifetime. Etsu was a remarkable woman.”

Chojiro did not recognize the steel in her gaze as Sachina said, “Sometimes a chance meeting turns into much more, is that not correct?”

His eyebrow rose. “Why, yes, Sachina-san. That is exactly it. I will not quickly forget her.”

Sachina’s face flashed with anger and there was no mistaking her tone now. “No, Dragon-san, I expect not. Yet your tone and words leave no doubt that you are trying to imply certain things about this girl’s mother. You are aware that during this time of dalliance, Yoritomo Etsu was married to Yoritomo Haru?”

“Yes, but…”

Eriko could hold her tongue no more. “Please, Sachina-san. If you are implying what I think you are, you cannot assume…”

Sachina interjected. “Do not say another word, Eriko, or you may regret it for the rest of your life.”

Chojiro then said, “I have meant no offense to either Eriko-san or her mother. Our relationship was…” he trailed off for a moment before saying, “She said her husband was a sailor and…”

Sachina cut him off immediately, before he could correct his misstep. “Not content with sullying the honor of this samurai and her mother, you now wish to sully the good name of all Mantis women who stay behind while their husbands sail the seas?” Sachina was incensed. “This will not stand!” She turned to Eriko. “If you will not defend the honor of your family, I will demand the honor of the Mantis be defended.”

Eriko stepped forward. “That will not be necessary, Sachina-san. Mirumoto Chojiro has said enough.” Eriko realized that there was no way this could end any differently. Her assignment during the Emerald Championships was to act as yojimbo for Yoritomo Sachina. If Sachina ordered a duel, it would be Eriko who took her place. If that happened, win or lose, Sachina would ensure that everyone knew that Eriko did not defend her mother’s honor. There would be a duel regardless. “I formally request a duel, with Mirumoto Chojiro.”

“There is no need to request sanction.” Sachina said. “I will ensure that the true nature of these events is apparent and none will gainsay your right to satisfaction, nor will they question that Chojiro had no choice but to accept immediately.” Chojiro looked surprised at Sachina’s words, but his focus remained on Eriko.

Eriko eyed Chojiro in return and adopted a ready stance. All spectators, including Sachina, moved aside in order to create enough room for the two combatants.

“I do not wish to duel you, Eriko-san.” Chojiro said. “I do not know why your charge has created this situation, but I can assure you that I do not wish your death.”

“My death will not be so easy coming, Chojiro-san.”

“Perhaps not, but I am quite an accomplished duelist, trained in the ways of the Mirumoto. I do not believe that you can best me. Let us make this duel to first blood only. You are still just young. How old are you, Eriko-san?”

“I do not see what relevance that has. Assume your stance.”

Chojiro smiled sadly and did so. As he did, he looked at Eriko, seeing the same features that drew him to Etsu, twenty years past. They were both so young, barely over twenty themselves. In fact, they were no older than Eriko now was. It would be a shame to end her life so early. Chojiro could see Etsu in Eriko, especially in the eyes. There was something else he saw, as well.

As Eriko drew her blade, Chojiro could see that she was mistaken. Yoritomo Haru was not her father.

He drew his blades as well, but he could not follow through. Eriko’s technique was not terrible, but Chojiro could have countered it very simply. Where she expected him to slip aside, her blade caught more of him than she would have wished.

Someone observing the impromptu duel gasped.

* * *

As Eriko and Sachina walked away, Eriko said, “I am a magistrate. I must report this incident. My intent was not to kill him.”

Sachina smiled, though there was none of the friendly flirting that had dazzled Yasuki Jinn-Kuen in her face now. “Oh, this incident will be reported, Eriko-san. You do not need to worry about that. It will be thoroughly reported indeed.”

*

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