By Shawn Carman
Edited by Fred Wan
Seppun Hill.
For more than a thousand years, it had been one of the most revered sites in all the Empire. Every Great Clan recognized that this was where the Kami, the sons and daughters of Amaterasu and Onnotangu, had stood and competed with one another to determine who would reign over the Empire. It was a sacred place. Holy ground. Under normal circumstances, it was given a wide berth, for most felt that by stepping upon it, they would sully its glory with their unworthy presence.
No more.
Throngs of samurai waited restlessly around Seppun Hill. They numbered in the hundreds, perhaps even thousands. The banners of all Great Clans flew proudly, and while they did not advertise their presence for fear of being accused of presumption, many Minor Clan samurai were present to witness history in the making. Incredibly, unbelievably, the area was almost completely silent. The occasional cough and the constant, low rustling of cloth ss people moved here and there were all that broke the pristine silence.
The moon descended quickly toward the horizon, only a silver remaining above the distant mountains to the west. Even as it dipped, growing ever closer to disappearance, the first edge of the sun’s light crested over the ocean to the east, casting its light over Seppun Hill. For a moment, the light of both shone in the sky.
And in that moment, they came.
The Voice of the Jade Sun and the Voice of the Obsidian Moon took their place atop a great dais that had, only a moment ago, not been present. They surveyed the crowd only for an instant, then spoke in perfect unison. “The Empire has been without an Emperor for far too long. It is time.”
The Tournament of the Heavens had begun.
* * *
In turn, each of the entourages of the Great Clans had stepped forward and been recognized by the Voices of the Heavens. Those who had come to observe were not disappointed, for many Clan Champions were in attendance, and many great daimyo, generals, and warriors as well. It was an extraordinary circumstance, perhaps a once in a lifetime event, to witness so many in one place, greater even than the Emerald and Jade Championships that had been held the previous year.
With the recognition complete, it seemed that the Voices were preparing to begin the tournament proper. “My lord and lady,” a voice rang out unexpectedly. “Forgive my temerity, but there is another party that must be recognized.” There was a rippling wave of murmurs among the crowd as the Unicorn Clan Champion stepped forward, but it was silenced almost immediately.
The strangely inhuman gaze of both Voices fell upon the Khan. “What is your meaning?” the Voice of the Sun demanded.
Moto Chen knelt and placed his head along the ground. “For months, the Unicorn have been allied with a group of honorable samurai, ronin by birth or circumstance, who have worked tirelessly for the good of the Empire even though there has been no Emperor who might recognize their achievements. These valiant warriors have traveled here today, standing proudly among many who might wish them ill for nothing more than their station. In the opinion of the entire Unicorn Clan, these men and women have earned the right to be judged based upon the merits of their actions.”
The Voice of the Moon stared at the Khan. “A bold claim.”
“It is,” he acknowledged. “And yet today the Mantis stand beside us, where once they were simple Minor Clan samurai and ronin. The Splendid Emperor Toturi I spent many years as a ronin. We cannot judge them by that alone. They must be judged for their actions, not the circumstances of their birth.”
The Voices said nothing for a moment, as if conferring silently between themselves. “Where are these men?” one finally asked.
Chen rose and gestured to the crowd. Five men stepped forward, each of them clad in non-descript clothing. “We are the Spider Clan,” the leader said, his voice confident.
“Perhaps,” the Voice of the Moon said. “And perhaps not.”
“Ascend,” the Voice of the Sun said, gesturing for the men to climb the hill. The five men bowed sharply and walked up the hill as ordered. They did not speak, and upon reaching the summit, they bowed but did not kneel. “Who are you?”
“I am Daigotsu Usharo,” the leader said, “formerly Otomo Usharo.”
“You make no effort to conceal your true nature,” the Voice of the Moon said. “I find this pleasing.”
“We assumed our true natures could not be concealed from such as you,” Usharo said flatly. “Deceit would accomplish little.”
“Forthrightness does little to compensate for your audacity,” the Voice of the Sun said. “By what right do you dare show your face here? And your lord? Does your lord fear to show his face?”
“My lord believes that to openly present himself before you would incite the ire of the clans. They cannot all be trusted to adhere rigidly to the tenets of your laws. Some among them would cast aside piety and attempt to destroy him, for all the good it would do. Your tournament would be disrupted. That is not Daigotsu-sama’s wish.”
The Voice of the Moon smiled slightly. “And what is Daigotsu’s wish?”
“It is Daigotsu-sama’s wish that this tournament be conducted thoroughly, as the original Tournament of the Kami was flawed in its exclusion of Fu Leng.”
“Fu Leng has no place in the affairs of the Heavens,” the Voice of the Sun said.
“Fu Leng is a child of the Sun and Moon,” Usharo insisted. “The [i]true[/i] Sun and Moon. We alone among the Spider venerate him as all mortals should. Their faiths are incomplete, while ours is unwavering. Our right to compete cannot be questioned.”
“Your presumptuousness is astonishing,” the Voice of the Sun said. “Do you believe you can dictate the terms of this tournament? Do you truly?”
“None of them bear the touch of Jigoku,” the Voice of the Moon said suddenly. “They are pure of external influence. Their loyalty, their piety, it is given freely, rather than coerced from them.”
The Voice of the Sun frowned and looked at each of them in turn. “So it would seem.”
“If what they claim is true,” the Voice of the Moon continued, “then it would be proper to permit them to compete. They are the mortal champions of a divine entity, however at odds their patron may be with the Heavenly Dragons.” She paused for a moment. “They must be allowed entrance.”
The Voice of the Sun seemed to simmer where he stood. “So be it,” he said, his tone lacking a begrudged tone only by providence of his divine nature. “Know that if you fall today, your secret will be exposed. The judgment of men shall fall upon you as surely as that of the Heavens shall fall upon them.”
“That is only just,” Usharo answered, bowing. “My associates Keigo, Sahara, Michio and Katsu will delight in competing for the glory and honor of Fu Leng and the Spider Clan.”
“Where is your lord?” the Moon’s Voice asked.
“He is nearby,” Usharo assured her. “He wishes to personally oversee everything that happens, without disrespecting your tournament by disrupting it. Daigotsu-sama shall see and experience all through our eyes. He is a pious and honorable man, albeit perhaps not in the manner of those others assembled here.”
“Clearly,” the Voice of the Sun said.
“Take your place,” the Voice of the Moon said, her voice echoing across the hill and the surrounding area, having resumed its previous volume. “These ‘Spider’ shall be allowed entry into the tournament on the grounds of their conduct as samurai.”
The murmur returned, louder this time, and it was clear that many had objections to such a proclamation. But the will of the Heavens would not be deterred, and no one spoke out against the Spider for fear of angering the Voices of the Sun and Moon.
* * *
Daidoji Yaichiro bowed deeply before his opponent. The young officer had little idea exactly why he had been selected to attend the tournament in the first place, and he certainly had not anticipated being one of the first matches of the day. He hoped only that he could live up to the expectations of his Champion, and ensure that the Crane did not lose face.
His opponent did not appear concerned, and was wielding a rather unconventional weapon: the sasumata. It was a polearm that rarely saw use on the battlefield, and that concerned Yaichiro. “I am Yoritomo Daishiro,” the man said, “principle magistrate of Houritsu Mura.”
He had never been one to back down from a challenge. “I am Daidoji Yaichiro, Taisa of the Fourth Legion of the Daidoji army and grandson of the great hero Daidoji Sembi.” He bowed. “I have no desire to cross steel with an honorable magistrate. I invite you to concede.”
Daishiro smiled wanly. “I think not, but feel free if you must.”
Yaichiro likewise smiled, although it was more of a grimace. “I cannot.”
“Very well.”
“Begin,” commanded the Voice of the Obsidian Moon.
* * *
Akodo Shigetoshi enjoyed the simple ritual of cleaning his armor. It was an act so familiar as to be virtually automatic, and yet for him it always helped focus his mind on the task at hand. It was a simple thing, but he took great pleasure in it. Perhaps that was the secret to enlightenment.
“My lord, the representative from the Legion of Two Thousand,” his guard announced quietly behind him, obviously loathe to interrupt, but acting on orders to allow the ronin entrance at once.
Shigetoshi did not turn immediately, instead continuing his ritual. “I must admit,” he told the ronin behind him, “I have been well pleased with your legion’s service. You are a credit to all that have borne the name ronin over the centuries. Would that more of your kind were as honorable as you.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
The voice shattered Shigetoshi’s tranquility. His hand gripped the cloth he had been using so tightly that his knuckles turned as white as death itself. His breath caught in his throat for the briefest of moments, then he forced himself to take a deep breath and turn around slowly. He was being ridiculous, of course. There could be no other explanation.
The ronin stood impassive near the entrance to the tent, everything beneath his eyes concealed by a mask. “Are you troubled, my lord?”
Shigetoshi needed to see nothing other than the man’s eyes. “You must show me your stance,” he said, his voice just above a whisper.
“My lord?” The man sounded genuinely surprised, but his eyes said otherwise.
“Show me your stance,” Shigetoshi said again, his voice firmer this time.
Slowly, the large ronin shook his head. “I cannot.”
“You will,” the Lion Champion insisted. “Or I will cut you down where you stand?”
“Why?”
“You know why!” Shigetoshi hissed. “You know very well why!”
“I do not.”
Shigetoshi’s shock had given way to simmering anger. “The Lion can have only one Champion!” he insisted. “To have another, to have two alive, will divide their loyalties. That manner of conflict, that manner of confusion, cannot be allowed. I will not see the clan torn apart. And so one of us must die. I say again, show me your stance!”
The ronin lifted both hands, palms up. “You have made a mistake, my lord. I am a simple wave man, nothing more. I will never be anything else.” He leaned in slightly closer, fixing Shigetoshi with his fierce gaze. “Never,” he repeated. “I hope you understand.”
The Lion Champion stood very still for a long few moments, then slowly moved his hand away from his blade. “Of course,” he said, his voice shaky. “I… must have been mistaken.”
“Of course,” the ronin said, his voice perfectly calm.
“Where is Utagawa? I expected a report from her in person.”
“She is at the Thousand Leaf Dojo, having been temporarily removed from active duty,” the ronin answered. “I am her second in command. My name is Tamago, my lord.”
“Of course it is,” Shigetoshi said. “Was Utagawa injured?”
“No,” Tamago answered. “She will have my child.”
Shigetoshi’s expression of surprise was completely unconcealed. “Oh,” he said simply.
Tamago glanced over his shoulder at the tent’s entrance. “Are your sons well?” he asked quietly.
“They are, thank you,” Shigetoshi said. He hesitated for a moment as he handed the scroll that contained the legion’s orders. “If I…” he stopped and cleared his throat. “If I could have died in his place, I would have,” he finished quietly.
“I know you would,” the ronin said, his voice finally betraying some hint of emotion. “He died defeating a superior enemy in a glorious victory for his clan. There is nothing more I could ask for. I am very proud of him.”
Shigetoshi nodded. “You must never return to the Lion lands,” he said. “It is too dangerous.”
“I will send an intermediary,” Tamago agreed. “Do not be concerned. You and I will never see one another again.” As he turned to leave he paused. “Good luck to you in your duel. You may need it!”
Shigetoshi watched as the ronin disappeared. He had scheduled a friendly duel with the Unicorn Clan Champion that was due to take place in only a few moments. It was to maintain the spirit of rivalry between the clans without the need for open hostility, but now Shigetoshi had lost all will to participate in the event. Still, he could not risk offering insult. He took up his blades and prepared to leave, but he waited just a few moments just in case.
He did not wish to be seen with the ronin if it could be helped. It was, as he had said, far too dangerous.
* * *
Mirumoto Kei leapt upward, feeling the burning sensation in her legs as she pushed herself into a forward roll that allowed her opponent’s strike to pass harmlessly beneath her airborne form by mere inches. She barely managed to pull her feet back under her and land properly, mentally noting to increase her weekly training time at the Nightingale Dojo if at all possible.
Bayushi Kosugi scarcely seemed to slow his assault, turning to pursue a new avenue of attack against his opponent instantly. Kei grimly acknowledged that the man was an extraordinary warrior, and perhaps one that she would be unable to defeat. She shoved those thoughts out of her mind as soon as they surfaced; she would not enable her opponent in such a manner.
Kei regained her footing and fended off a series of rapid strikes, some of them feints faster than any Kei had ever seen firsthand. She grimly realized why other clans seemed to despise confronting the Scorpion, although she had never done so in anything more than casual sparring. If this was the Bayushi style, then it seemed to her that those opponents she had faced previously had been holding back quite a bit. She noted that information for future use, and attempted to focus on the matter at hand.
The Mirumoto daimyo remained on the defensive, baiting the Scorpion with quick openings in her upper defense. She persisted for what seemed like an eternity, but of course it was only a few short seconds, until finally Kosugi attempted to exploit her apparent weakness with a high strike toward her shoulders. Kei brought her blades up, but of course that was what Kosugi had anticipated, and he deferred from his feint to strike low. Unfortunately for him, that was what Kei had expected from the Scorpion fighting style, and she did not bring her blades up in defense, but offensively. She hurled herself backward at the same time, nicking her opponent ever so slightly on the chin while just barely avoiding his strike, owing only to her lithe frame.
“The Dragon is victorious,” the Voice of the Sun said.
* * *
The flat lands surrounding the hill were filled with onlookers, countless legions of samurai and their vassals, all waiting in rapt silence. Atop the hill stood the two figures that had remained throughout the day, so resolute and unmoving that they seemed to be part of the earth itself. In perfect unison, each extended one hand and beckoned.
On the western slope, Moto Jin-Sahn ascended, the sprawling ruins of Otosan Uchi visible in the distance behind him. On the eastern slope, the Unicorn Clan Champion, Moto Chen, strode confidently upward, the brilliant sea glimmering in the distance.
“Of all who have stepped forward today,” the Voice of the Sun boomed, “you two are most worthy. You alone shall compete for the favor of the Heavens.”
“And in doing so,” the Voice of the Moon added, “you shall add weight to the consideration of your clan by the Will of the Heavens.”
“The throne shall stand empty no longer,” the Voice of the Sun said. “Tomorrow, the blessed light of the Jade Sun shall shine on a new era in Rokugan.”
“Begin,” the Moon’s Voice commanded.
Jin-Sahn and Chen bowed deeply to one another, and assumed their stances.
The two samurai stood unmoving, carefully evaluating one another for several minutes. Finally there was a blur of movement and a flash of steel, and suddenly the two were standing behind one another, blades at rest as after a strike.
Jin-sahn held perfectly still as a portion of his fur-trimmed kimono fell away and drifted to the ground.
Chen likewise stood absolutely motionless as part of his sleeve dropped open, exposing his arm and the tiny, razor-thin line of blood across it.
Chen chuckled. “Iaijutsu was never my best subject at the dojo,” he admitted. “It is unfortunate. This was a new kimono. Akasha may be cross.”
Jin-sahn bowed deeply. “Forgive me, my lord. Surely it could only have been the blessings of the Lords of Death that could have allowed…”
The Khan raised one hand. “No apologies, no excuses. Perhaps it was the Lords of Death, or perhaps it may be that I expended all my good fortune in the duel against Shigetoshi earlier, but the outcome remains the same. Today you are the better man, my friend.” He held his hand out.
Jin-sahn stepped forward and grasped Chen’s forearm in the manner of the Moto tribesmen.
“Moto Jin-sahn, pious beyond reproach, loyal beyond all question, has demonstrated his virtue this day,” the Voice of the Sun said. “He is Favored of the Heavens, and for his valor the Unicorn shall be regarded well by the will of Tengoku.”
“As the Heavens judge the clans, and the Chosen Emperor ascends,” the Voice of the Moon continued, “Jin-sahn shall surely stand among the new Emperor’s Court. Return now to the temple and shrines that surround this most holy site, and prepare. Your judgment is at last at hand.”
To Be Concluded…
*
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