The city was crowded, more so the closer Katsumi got to the registration booths. She had noted the sheer amount of people the day before, when her traveling group first entered the city and set up their tent. Katsumi had never seen so many people, even though the Topaz Championship was the smallest jewel-named tournament the Realm had to offer, it still invited several students from across the land, from every clan, coupled with the town’s own population there were easily more people than the small villages Katsumi had grown up around. Even the Black Silk dojo couldn’t have held this many people when it was still operational, before it was burned to the ground. That was back when the Empire had declared her clan outlaws, when they were actively hunted, and all because of what? A little trickery and espionage. The other clans partook in those activities daily, and had been for centuries. That time, however was over, and now here she stood, proudly wearing her clan’s mon upon her back and there was nothing the rest of the Empire could do about it, no matter how much they sneered and turned up their noses at her. It really didn’t bother Katsumi, she was used to scowls and stares, she barely noticed them anymore.
She glanced over the list of events, pinned to the walls by the each of the tables used for registering competitors. It was a silly list, full of frivolous events that had no baring on what a real champion should uphold. Things like painting, origami, even flower arranging, made up the bulk of the itinerary. The real events, the ones that took strength and courage, were saved for the last day, no doubt set-up that way so people would be inclined to spend more coin to cure their inexorable boredom during their wait. Katsumi stepped up to the table, a middle-aged man sat on the other side, carefully dipping his brush in ink, preparing to register the next guest. His hair was graying and he wore the clothes of the eta, though Katsumi noted they were clean and fresh, probably something provided by the city.
“Hajime-mashite, please state your name, clan and school you are representing.” The man said without ever looking at her. It was amusing to Katsumi, for a great many years she had been treated no better than the common folk, and now here she was, looking down at one of the working class and he wouldn’t even make eye contact with her. Such was the life of a samurai, what amazing things a simple title could change.
“Daigotsu Katsumi. Spider clan. Order of the Spider Monks.”
The man stopped mid stroke and dared a glance up at Katsumi. Curiosity and unease filled his dark eyes which he quickly shot back down towards the paper and began brushing her clan name again. He swallowed, an act that obviously did little for him since his voice cracked and wavered when he spoke his next words.
“Domo arigato gozaimasu. What events would you like your name assigned to, Daigotsu-sama?”
“Jiujitsu and kenjutsu.”
“Very well, jiujitsu will be held on the second day and the kenjutsu tournaments are currently scheduled for the final day. Please enjoy your visit, we would like to have you again.” The man bowed his head to nearly touching the table, with that Katsumi nodded and made her way back to the Spider camp.
She glanced over the list of events, pinned to the walls by the each of the tables used for registering competitors. It was a silly list, full of frivolous events that had no baring on what a real champion should uphold. Things like painting, origami, even flower arranging, made up the bulk of the itinerary. The real events, the ones that took strength and courage, were saved for the last day, no doubt set-up that way so people would be inclined to spend more coin to cure their inexorable boredom during their wait. Katsumi stepped up to the table, a middle-aged man sat on the other side, carefully dipping his brush in ink, preparing to register the next guest. His hair was graying and he wore the clothes of the eta, though Katsumi noted they were clean and fresh, probably something provided by the city.
“Hajime-mashite, please state your name, clan and school you are representing.” The man said without ever looking at her. It was amusing to Katsumi, for a great many years she had been treated no better than the common folk, and now here she was, looking down at one of the working class and he wouldn’t even make eye contact with her. Such was the life of a samurai, what amazing things a simple title could change.
“Daigotsu Katsumi. Spider clan. Order of the Spider Monks.”
The man stopped mid stroke and dared a glance up at Katsumi. Curiosity and unease filled his dark eyes which he quickly shot back down towards the paper and began brushing her clan name again. He swallowed, an act that obviously did little for him since his voice cracked and wavered when he spoke his next words.
“Domo arigato gozaimasu. What events would you like your name assigned to, Daigotsu-sama?”
“Jiujitsu and kenjutsu.”
“Very well, jiujitsu will be held on the second day and the kenjutsu tournaments are currently scheduled for the final day. Please enjoy your visit, we would like to have you again.” The man bowed his head to nearly touching the table, with that Katsumi nodded and made her way back to the Spider camp.
***
“Katsu-kun, get dressed. Today we start as early as the cooks and the commoners.”
Katsumi opened her eyes to see her brother, Yanagi already dressed in the dim glow of sunrise. He was wearing the complete Spider Monk regalia save his mask, with his black hair pulled back in a half-ponytail. Yanagi was dark in skin tone with extraordinarily black eyes, a thick brow and strong jaw. He was of average height, standing 5'9", and a body well built from years of jiujitsu. Katsumi could hear the other members in various stages of their morning rituals. Some just stirring out of bed, like her, and others were already eating breakfast, the familiar click of their chopsticks touching bowls and plates.
“I will be ready shortly, big brother.” She said as she sat up and shuffled out of her blanket. Katsumi was good at dressing quickly. She had spent many years traveling with her family, sleeping on the ground and being ready at a moments notice when the group had to move. That life was gone now, but the habits it instilled weren’t so easy to leave behind. Within minutes Katsumi had dressed in all but her shinobi shouzuko and met the rest of the clan around the cooking pot. Ryoko had caught a few rabbits on their travel to the city, now roasted a beautiful crispy brown, only one and a half remained between the other members who had already taken their share. Katsumi eagerly snatched up what she could, filling her bowl and taking a seat while Yanagi began going over chores and orders of the day. Only a handful of the Spider were interested in the frilly arts and events held today, a lost part from their parent’s past, long ago left behind, which left the majority of the clan, those who weren’t cleaning and keeping watch at the tent, to recruiting. It was one of the reasons they had decided to attend with such short notice.
“Remember, we’re looking for students with potential, and usually that comes at the price of weak wills. Find what they want and offer it freely. Be sure not to dishonor their sensei, that leads to stubbornness and a lost cause. Simply explain how we can offer more than they already know. Cast the web and wait.” Yanagi’s eyes slowly rounded the group, hanging on each individual until they nodded in understanding.
“Good. Shinshi, Katsumi, and Yugi, you are not participating in events today so you three will scout. Find one of your elders every two hours to report in.”
Katsumi and the other two nodded, and with that, everyone dispersed. Katsumi shoved the rest of her food in her mouth, grabbing an abandoned tea cup and gulping it down. She returned to her sleeping area, rolling up her blanket and tatami mat and tying them to her traveling pack. She wasn’t going to be leaving for a few more nights, which meant she would just have to untie her roll and set it out again tonight, but this was just another habit that would take more than four months to break. Katsumi grabbed her sanjaku tangui from inside her pack and wrapped it around her head into the final piece of her outfit, a shinobi shozuko.
Before she went, she withdrew a small leather bag, worn and scuffed from constant use, and a wooden bowl from her pack. Untying the small pouch, she shook out several bones of varying sizes, carved into odd shapes not resembling much of anything to the ungifted eye. The tapping the pieces made against the bowl as they fell was music to Katsumi’s ears. It was discovered long ago, that Katsumi was touched by the Realm. Not only was there the madness brought on by the moon every month, but she was also able to read the bones, a skill few possessed, even less so by those who don’t regularly speak with kami.
Katsumi squatted and pinched the ground, plucking a few blades of grass, she tossed them in the bowl with the carved bones. Closing her eyes she cleared her mind, shaking the bowl to mix the items held within until she felt the moment to stop, like a call in the back of her mind. She opened her eyes to see what the bones had reveled. Something is amiss at the Topaz Championship. She shrugged, gathering the bones and shook out the earth from her bowl, putting both back in her pack. Some days the vision was clearer than others, today it was quite vague. It could easily be said that the Spider clan being there made things run differently than usual, caused things to be amiss. She would just have to keep her eyes open for anything more suspicious than her clan’s going ons. Grabbing her bisento, she made her way out of the tent and the Spider camping area. It was time to find some people with problems and be there to offer a resolution.
Katsumi opened her eyes to see her brother, Yanagi already dressed in the dim glow of sunrise. He was wearing the complete Spider Monk regalia save his mask, with his black hair pulled back in a half-ponytail. Yanagi was dark in skin tone with extraordinarily black eyes, a thick brow and strong jaw. He was of average height, standing 5'9", and a body well built from years of jiujitsu. Katsumi could hear the other members in various stages of their morning rituals. Some just stirring out of bed, like her, and others were already eating breakfast, the familiar click of their chopsticks touching bowls and plates.
“I will be ready shortly, big brother.” She said as she sat up and shuffled out of her blanket. Katsumi was good at dressing quickly. She had spent many years traveling with her family, sleeping on the ground and being ready at a moments notice when the group had to move. That life was gone now, but the habits it instilled weren’t so easy to leave behind. Within minutes Katsumi had dressed in all but her shinobi shouzuko and met the rest of the clan around the cooking pot. Ryoko had caught a few rabbits on their travel to the city, now roasted a beautiful crispy brown, only one and a half remained between the other members who had already taken their share. Katsumi eagerly snatched up what she could, filling her bowl and taking a seat while Yanagi began going over chores and orders of the day. Only a handful of the Spider were interested in the frilly arts and events held today, a lost part from their parent’s past, long ago left behind, which left the majority of the clan, those who weren’t cleaning and keeping watch at the tent, to recruiting. It was one of the reasons they had decided to attend with such short notice.
“Remember, we’re looking for students with potential, and usually that comes at the price of weak wills. Find what they want and offer it freely. Be sure not to dishonor their sensei, that leads to stubbornness and a lost cause. Simply explain how we can offer more than they already know. Cast the web and wait.” Yanagi’s eyes slowly rounded the group, hanging on each individual until they nodded in understanding.
“Good. Shinshi, Katsumi, and Yugi, you are not participating in events today so you three will scout. Find one of your elders every two hours to report in.”
Katsumi and the other two nodded, and with that, everyone dispersed. Katsumi shoved the rest of her food in her mouth, grabbing an abandoned tea cup and gulping it down. She returned to her sleeping area, rolling up her blanket and tatami mat and tying them to her traveling pack. She wasn’t going to be leaving for a few more nights, which meant she would just have to untie her roll and set it out again tonight, but this was just another habit that would take more than four months to break. Katsumi grabbed her sanjaku tangui from inside her pack and wrapped it around her head into the final piece of her outfit, a shinobi shozuko.
Before she went, she withdrew a small leather bag, worn and scuffed from constant use, and a wooden bowl from her pack. Untying the small pouch, she shook out several bones of varying sizes, carved into odd shapes not resembling much of anything to the ungifted eye. The tapping the pieces made against the bowl as they fell was music to Katsumi’s ears. It was discovered long ago, that Katsumi was touched by the Realm. Not only was there the madness brought on by the moon every month, but she was also able to read the bones, a skill few possessed, even less so by those who don’t regularly speak with kami.
Katsumi squatted and pinched the ground, plucking a few blades of grass, she tossed them in the bowl with the carved bones. Closing her eyes she cleared her mind, shaking the bowl to mix the items held within until she felt the moment to stop, like a call in the back of her mind. She opened her eyes to see what the bones had reveled. Something is amiss at the Topaz Championship. She shrugged, gathering the bones and shook out the earth from her bowl, putting both back in her pack. Some days the vision was clearer than others, today it was quite vague. It could easily be said that the Spider clan being there made things run differently than usual, caused things to be amiss. She would just have to keep her eyes open for anything more suspicious than her clan’s going ons. Grabbing her bisento, she made her way out of the tent and the Spider camping area. It was time to find some people with problems and be there to offer a resolution.
***
Asahina Kyuzo sat quietly, listening to the competitor before him play the most beautiful rendition of Cherry Snow he had ever heard. It was the perfect song to play here at the Topaz Championship, full of complicated transitions between notes and strict timing. Probably the best song to pick if one were skilled enough to manage it, unlike Kyuzo. He could handle a komabue well enough, but since his acceptance at the Kakita Bushi Academy he had not the time to practice as often as he would have liked. The Asahina family was well known for their talent in arts, a talent that seemed to pass Kyuzo by. Still, he managed what he could, taking up the flute and painting in the precious little time he wasn’t learning dueling techniques, or strategy through games of Go with other students.
The song ended and after a bow from the Phoenix player, the stage was his. Kyuzo took his place, inhaled, pressed the komabue to his lip and began the introduction of Whispering Kami. The piece was soft and melodic, a simple lullaby he favored since he was a young child. Kyuzo began thinking about the previous contender and their eloquently played, well composed piece. Perhaps he had chosen something too simple, comparatively. He started going over more complex songs he could have chosen inside his head, ones he knew he was capable of playing, River would have been perfect. There was this elongated pause in the middle, long enough that it would be as if the song was over, but then you came in with a low key and brought on the outro which went something along the lines of C E F D… Before Kyuzo even realized it, he had started playing the ending of River. Attempting to simply disguise it as a personal flair, he jumped right back into Whispering Kami and tried not to show his embarrassment.
Needless to say, the flute event ended and Kyuzo wasn’t surprised he didn’t even receive an honorable mention. It was okay, though. There were other events Kyuzo had registered for, ones that he was sure to not make the same mistake on. Painting, for instance, that was the next one he had to prepare for and he vowed to not second guess himself this time around. Now if only he had an idea of what to paint.
The song ended and after a bow from the Phoenix player, the stage was his. Kyuzo took his place, inhaled, pressed the komabue to his lip and began the introduction of Whispering Kami. The piece was soft and melodic, a simple lullaby he favored since he was a young child. Kyuzo began thinking about the previous contender and their eloquently played, well composed piece. Perhaps he had chosen something too simple, comparatively. He started going over more complex songs he could have chosen inside his head, ones he knew he was capable of playing, River would have been perfect. There was this elongated pause in the middle, long enough that it would be as if the song was over, but then you came in with a low key and brought on the outro which went something along the lines of C E F D… Before Kyuzo even realized it, he had started playing the ending of River. Attempting to simply disguise it as a personal flair, he jumped right back into Whispering Kami and tried not to show his embarrassment.
Needless to say, the flute event ended and Kyuzo wasn’t surprised he didn’t even receive an honorable mention. It was okay, though. There were other events Kyuzo had registered for, ones that he was sure to not make the same mistake on. Painting, for instance, that was the next one he had to prepare for and he vowed to not second guess himself this time around. Now if only he had an idea of what to paint.
As if a sign from the Celestial Heavens, itself, a woman from the Lion clan literally parted the crowd. It was easy to tell what school she was from, the lion accompanying her was only given to one academy, the Matsu Beastmasters. And although they had an affinity for controlling the animals, it was still intimidating to normal folk and lesser samurai than Kyuzo to see a lion strolling through the streets. She was gorgeous, even with her chestnut hair wild and unruly, a common hairstyle of the Lion clan to imitate the mane of their symbolic beast.
Casually, Kyuzo crossed the invisible stream which kept the rest of the city from crowding this Lion. “Hajime-mashite, I am Asahina Kyuzo. It is my great pleasure to meet you. May I ask your name?” He bowed his head and gave a charming smile, attempting to put the Lion at ease. In return he received a rather blank stare which seemed to drag on for minutes.
“I am Matsu Mikoto.”
“Matsu Mikoto-san, your name is as radiant as your appearance. I would like to ask a favor of you, if you’re so inclined to lend me your time for a moment.”
Kyuzo watched her amber eyes dart down to her lion then around the crowd before she smiled pleasantly and said, “Go on.”
“I don’t know if you heard me playing my flute earlier, I was just at the event and did Whispering Kami-”
“Oh, that was you?” Mikoto interjected, cutting him off. “It wasn’t very good.”
“Yes, well, I am much more talented as a painter and I would like to have you as a muse. It is unmistakable that your stunning features are noticed by those here in the city, I would like to share them with the judges for my next event. If I paint you, Matsu-san, I could share your beauty with all those in the tournament.” He studied Mikoto’s face as he spoke. Kyuzo didn’t want to offend her by being too forward, but she was a Lion, and often times they didn’t understand the subtle conversations of politeness.
“Alright, but if you do half as badly as you played the flute, I’ll have my lion eat you.”
Casually, Kyuzo crossed the invisible stream which kept the rest of the city from crowding this Lion. “Hajime-mashite, I am Asahina Kyuzo. It is my great pleasure to meet you. May I ask your name?” He bowed his head and gave a charming smile, attempting to put the Lion at ease. In return he received a rather blank stare which seemed to drag on for minutes.
“I am Matsu Mikoto.”
“Matsu Mikoto-san, your name is as radiant as your appearance. I would like to ask a favor of you, if you’re so inclined to lend me your time for a moment.”
Kyuzo watched her amber eyes dart down to her lion then around the crowd before she smiled pleasantly and said, “Go on.”
“I don’t know if you heard me playing my flute earlier, I was just at the event and did Whispering Kami-”
“Oh, that was you?” Mikoto interjected, cutting him off. “It wasn’t very good.”
“Yes, well, I am much more talented as a painter and I would like to have you as a muse. It is unmistakable that your stunning features are noticed by those here in the city, I would like to share them with the judges for my next event. If I paint you, Matsu-san, I could share your beauty with all those in the tournament.” He studied Mikoto’s face as he spoke. Kyuzo didn’t want to offend her by being too forward, but she was a Lion, and often times they didn’t understand the subtle conversations of politeness.
“Alright, but if you do half as badly as you played the flute, I’ll have my lion eat you.”
Kyuzo swept a hand towards his tent, not sure if that was an actual threat or just a jest. It had to be a joke, surely no one would be that brazen and uncouth. “Please, this way.”
***
Mikoto covered her mouth as she let out a loud yawn, uncaring to those that stood around her and gave annoyed glares. So far the Topaz tournament had been a very boring affair and it was only the second day of events. Sure, the fireworks were exciting, but that was so short lived that it barely made a dent in the grand timeline of events of high art and cunning. Today was even more of the same, though at least they were holding tests of strength today, which meant only one more day of this to endure. She absently wondered why she was chosen to come to this tournament. Perhaps her sensei was attempting to test her patience. Or maybe her second mother wanted to torture her a bit for the things she said about her betrothed. They had to have known she wouldn’t actually enter into any events. After being informed her Hikaru, her lion, wasn’t allowed to participate with her, she had even less of a desire to be privy to the championship, and quickly withdrew her registration. What was the point of representing a school if you couldn’t showcase the basics of your technique? Hers just happened to involve a lion, there was nothing wrong with that. Like a duelist is with a katana, she was with her Hikaru.
By and large she had spent most of yesterday wandering around the city looking for a cure for her boredom. There was a Dragon female who had made eyes at her, and blushed the most endearing shade of pink when Mikoto had suggested they visit her tent. Nothing had come of that, something about dishonoring her parents if she didn’t return by the end of the night. Mikoto had blunted said it wouldn’t take all night, and as a compensation offered to return with the girl, what was her name? Morimoto? Either way, Mikoto was denied and Hikaru was the only one that kept her company during the fireworks. She was used it just being the two of them.
Mikoto had slept in too late this morning, missing most of the interesting events. She managed to catch the tail end of the jiujitsu competition, when a Dragon spectacularly beat a Spider in the semi-finals. Tough break. How unsurprising that a Dragon won the event, their whole clan is known for their theistic orders of monks. Hand to hand is second nature, taught as soon as the child can stand on their own. Kind of like her and Hikaru, or the other Beastmasters out there. All of them taught to revere and care for their lion cub from an early age until one of them perishes in some sort of glorious battle. There was some kyujutsu event, but watching people shoot a bow wasn’t all that interesting to Mikoto. Ooo, he hit a target! How amazing! She snorted to herself when the small group in front of her had excitedly exclaimed to one another that they were headed that way. Now she found herself standing with a crowd watching the shogi games, feeling herself falling asleep under the midday sun.
Mikoto stretched and looked down at Hikaru, “Ready to go?” Hikaru looked up at her and yawned even bigger and louder than the one she had just unleashed. This time when people turned to glare, they quickly spun their heads right back around. No one was going to try to intimidate a lion, they should remember that when it comes to all Lion too, she thought to herself.
“Yeah, me too.” Mikoto said, turning to go and tapping two fingers on her thigh, a sign for Hikaru to follow. The years of training a Beastmaster goes through with their lion allows for little to be said in the way of commands. Mikoto still gave voice commands for some tasks, but the easier ones like ‘stay’ and ‘follow’ didn’t need anything more than a gesture and Hikaru would understand. Every lion was different, and every Lion for that matter as well. Some preferred voicing everything. Some said little to nothing. And some used foreign words in order to prevent another from commanding their companion. A silly thought to Mikoto, due to the emotional bond they shared, there was no way someone could just walk in and start giving orders to her Hikaru. But then again, she had heard rumors of those Scorpion that could take the place of someone you know intimately, if you believed the stories, not even loved ones would know the difference. When she could see it for herself, she would believe it to be true, until then, they were just rumors.
The Go games weren’t going to start for another few hours, and although Mikoto didn’t care to watch it either, she was a Lion and it was kind of expected she at least show face. The Lion’s were the military tacticians of the Empire and as such, each one was expected to hold a love for strategy. If it got out that she eschewed her expected appearance at the Go tournament, she’d have to answer to someone scarier than Jigoku, her second mother. She’d cry and make it all about how Mikoto was ruining the samurai name, and purposefully trying to knock her family into the common life of an eta with her dishonorable actions. Mikoto shivered at the thought. She had enough to deal with already, what with her engagement to wed that Unicorn member arranged by her second mother. She didn’t need to poke the hornets nest any more than was necessary.
“Matsu-san, a pleasure to see you again!” An unfamiliar voice called. Mikoto shook herself from her thoughts and saw the Crane she had met yesterday walking towards her.
“Oh, hello again, Asahina-san.” She had remembered his name, which was unusual. Then again, he was memorable with his terrible flute playing and quality painting skills. He had painted her the day before, after being extremely polite and maybe even a little flirtatious, she had agreed to be his muse. The painting turned out rather well, which surprised Mikoto since he attempted to convince her of his skill by mentioning his flute playing, which left much to be desired. After the judges had determined who was to be awarded for the paintings, Mikoto had snatched his up to keep. He had painted her in a rather attractive light, and it would be a shame for it to just be left here at the tournament grounds. It was hers after all, since it was of her. At least that’s how Mikoto thought of it.
“Are you preoccupied?” Asahina smiled.
Mikoto was half tempted to say she was. She didn’t care much for men, after her encounter with Moto Leon, her soon to be husband. He had crushed her dreams of love and affection when he spat at her and declared his disgust for her. Women never did that. Women were kind, caring, and beautiful creatures. But Asahina had been the utmost gentleman yesterday. He had looked her in the eyes and even included Hikaru in the painting he had done.
“No, I was just taking a break from the riveting shogi games.” She hoped her statement wasn’t too saturated in sarcasm.
“Would you care to take that break with some tea? I’ll perform the ceremony and would greatly enjoy your company.”
Mikoto glanced at Hikaru and shrugged. “Sure. Why not?”
By and large she had spent most of yesterday wandering around the city looking for a cure for her boredom. There was a Dragon female who had made eyes at her, and blushed the most endearing shade of pink when Mikoto had suggested they visit her tent. Nothing had come of that, something about dishonoring her parents if she didn’t return by the end of the night. Mikoto had blunted said it wouldn’t take all night, and as a compensation offered to return with the girl, what was her name? Morimoto? Either way, Mikoto was denied and Hikaru was the only one that kept her company during the fireworks. She was used it just being the two of them.
Mikoto had slept in too late this morning, missing most of the interesting events. She managed to catch the tail end of the jiujitsu competition, when a Dragon spectacularly beat a Spider in the semi-finals. Tough break. How unsurprising that a Dragon won the event, their whole clan is known for their theistic orders of monks. Hand to hand is second nature, taught as soon as the child can stand on their own. Kind of like her and Hikaru, or the other Beastmasters out there. All of them taught to revere and care for their lion cub from an early age until one of them perishes in some sort of glorious battle. There was some kyujutsu event, but watching people shoot a bow wasn’t all that interesting to Mikoto. Ooo, he hit a target! How amazing! She snorted to herself when the small group in front of her had excitedly exclaimed to one another that they were headed that way. Now she found herself standing with a crowd watching the shogi games, feeling herself falling asleep under the midday sun.
Mikoto stretched and looked down at Hikaru, “Ready to go?” Hikaru looked up at her and yawned even bigger and louder than the one she had just unleashed. This time when people turned to glare, they quickly spun their heads right back around. No one was going to try to intimidate a lion, they should remember that when it comes to all Lion too, she thought to herself.
“Yeah, me too.” Mikoto said, turning to go and tapping two fingers on her thigh, a sign for Hikaru to follow. The years of training a Beastmaster goes through with their lion allows for little to be said in the way of commands. Mikoto still gave voice commands for some tasks, but the easier ones like ‘stay’ and ‘follow’ didn’t need anything more than a gesture and Hikaru would understand. Every lion was different, and every Lion for that matter as well. Some preferred voicing everything. Some said little to nothing. And some used foreign words in order to prevent another from commanding their companion. A silly thought to Mikoto, due to the emotional bond they shared, there was no way someone could just walk in and start giving orders to her Hikaru. But then again, she had heard rumors of those Scorpion that could take the place of someone you know intimately, if you believed the stories, not even loved ones would know the difference. When she could see it for herself, she would believe it to be true, until then, they were just rumors.
The Go games weren’t going to start for another few hours, and although Mikoto didn’t care to watch it either, she was a Lion and it was kind of expected she at least show face. The Lion’s were the military tacticians of the Empire and as such, each one was expected to hold a love for strategy. If it got out that she eschewed her expected appearance at the Go tournament, she’d have to answer to someone scarier than Jigoku, her second mother. She’d cry and make it all about how Mikoto was ruining the samurai name, and purposefully trying to knock her family into the common life of an eta with her dishonorable actions. Mikoto shivered at the thought. She had enough to deal with already, what with her engagement to wed that Unicorn member arranged by her second mother. She didn’t need to poke the hornets nest any more than was necessary.
“Matsu-san, a pleasure to see you again!” An unfamiliar voice called. Mikoto shook herself from her thoughts and saw the Crane she had met yesterday walking towards her.
“Oh, hello again, Asahina-san.” She had remembered his name, which was unusual. Then again, he was memorable with his terrible flute playing and quality painting skills. He had painted her the day before, after being extremely polite and maybe even a little flirtatious, she had agreed to be his muse. The painting turned out rather well, which surprised Mikoto since he attempted to convince her of his skill by mentioning his flute playing, which left much to be desired. After the judges had determined who was to be awarded for the paintings, Mikoto had snatched his up to keep. He had painted her in a rather attractive light, and it would be a shame for it to just be left here at the tournament grounds. It was hers after all, since it was of her. At least that’s how Mikoto thought of it.
“Are you preoccupied?” Asahina smiled.
Mikoto was half tempted to say she was. She didn’t care much for men, after her encounter with Moto Leon, her soon to be husband. He had crushed her dreams of love and affection when he spat at her and declared his disgust for her. Women never did that. Women were kind, caring, and beautiful creatures. But Asahina had been the utmost gentleman yesterday. He had looked her in the eyes and even included Hikaru in the painting he had done.
“No, I was just taking a break from the riveting shogi games.” She hoped her statement wasn’t too saturated in sarcasm.
“Would you care to take that break with some tea? I’ll perform the ceremony and would greatly enjoy your company.”
Mikoto glanced at Hikaru and shrugged. “Sure. Why not?”
***
Morasahi puzzled over where to put her next stone on the board. She had been looking forward to the Go tournament since she arrived. It was something she actually knew how to do, unlike the events held the day before that catered to those who were taught the arts in their schooling. Morasahi hadn’t been afforded the opportunity to stand in a garden painting, or be so moved by a sunset she had to sing about it. It was good in a way, she didn’t expect she was a very good vocalist, she had a hard enough time finding the words in response to normal conversations, singing in front of people seemed like it would be even more uncomfortable. But strategy, that was something she knew and had little trouble acting on.
Aha! Morasahi placed her black stone on a point adjacent to her opponent’s last move and watched the Lion’s shoulders slump. She hadn’t won yet, but victory was guaranteed and the Lion knew it. Morasahi smiled inwardly, making sure to keep her face blank. It was one thing to beat a Lion, it was another to smile smugly when doing it, you might find yourself at the wrong end of a katana. He placed another stone, and she did as well, the stones quickly filled the board as they went on a few more turns to keep up appearances. He was a Lion, after all, and Morasahi knew he had a reputation to uphold, the whole Empire knew they were the lead strategists of Rokugan, even in a simple game of Go, being beat was much more severe to a Lion.
It wasn’t long before a judge was looking over the board, counting each contender’s points.
“Match goes to Shiba Morasahi, Shiba Bushi Academy.”
Morasahi and her opponent stood, offering each other a bow before the Lion stalked off into the crowd. She could hear the excited murmurs from those standing closest to the tables, “That Shiba has just made a name for herself.” “I wonder how the Lion clan will recover, they rarely lose.” “Oh, I’m sure they’ll dominate in the semi-finals.” Morasahi pressed her lips, they were right. This may have been a good match, and several into the tournament, but semi-finals hadn’t begun and from what she had heard the Lion almost always take up every spot leaving with not only first, but second, third, and any other designated placing.
Aha! Morasahi placed her black stone on a point adjacent to her opponent’s last move and watched the Lion’s shoulders slump. She hadn’t won yet, but victory was guaranteed and the Lion knew it. Morasahi smiled inwardly, making sure to keep her face blank. It was one thing to beat a Lion, it was another to smile smugly when doing it, you might find yourself at the wrong end of a katana. He placed another stone, and she did as well, the stones quickly filled the board as they went on a few more turns to keep up appearances. He was a Lion, after all, and Morasahi knew he had a reputation to uphold, the whole Empire knew they were the lead strategists of Rokugan, even in a simple game of Go, being beat was much more severe to a Lion.
It wasn’t long before a judge was looking over the board, counting each contender’s points.
“Match goes to Shiba Morasahi, Shiba Bushi Academy.”
Morasahi and her opponent stood, offering each other a bow before the Lion stalked off into the crowd. She could hear the excited murmurs from those standing closest to the tables, “That Shiba has just made a name for herself.” “I wonder how the Lion clan will recover, they rarely lose.” “Oh, I’m sure they’ll dominate in the semi-finals.” Morasahi pressed her lips, they were right. This may have been a good match, and several into the tournament, but semi-finals hadn’t begun and from what she had heard the Lion almost always take up every spot leaving with not only first, but second, third, and any other designated placing.
She shrugged to herself and made her way to the crowd, joining the other observers for the few remaining games still in session. It was likely her future opponent would be among them and it wouldn’t hurt to glean some knowledge on the tactics of one she might be competing against. Semi-finals were right around the corner. And although she earned her place with her last match, and although Morasahi knew she was a capable strategist, knowing the way your enemy worked before engaging was the mark of a good commander. The type of commander she hoped to be, one day.
Late afternoon was giving way to the warm lazy period right before supper. When the sun sank closer to the edge of the world, and the smell of cooking fires invited people indoors. Morasahi felt her stomach rumble, begging to be filled. During the lunch hour a group of Unicorn had set up a food stand among the other shops and vendors to feed the crowds. When their patrons turned out to be primarily Spider and Unicorn members, and other festival goers complained of the smell, it didn’t take long to realize they were cooking and serving the flesh from animals other than fish. She hadn’t felt too hungry after that and skipped lunch. Now, of course, her mind was being pulled towards the noodles and rice the fires in that section of town would be cooking, and the gurgling in her gut, finding it hard to concentrate on whom was putting which stone where.
Resigning to the call from her belly, Morasahi made her way past the onlookers and headed towards the cooking stalls a few blocks away. She wondered if she would make it to the finals, as she browsed the different shops to eat at. She pondered on what tactic to start off with while ordering buckwheat noodles with broth, whether to be aggressive or allow her opponent to lead the game, capturing his pieces in a methodical manner. And as she sipped her soup, tapping her chopsticks to the bowl and back, Morasahi considered the matches she had won today, trying to identify her own weaknesses in each one.
With the Dragon she had conquered, he had been too passive, looking almost to be playing by himself and allowing several of his stones to be captured. The Crane had been inventive, Morasahi would give him that, he had employed several different tactics but in the end, ultimately failed to claim more points, focusing more on defending his stones than claiming the board. Asahina, she recalled his name, he had made an impression by being adaptable. The Scorpion was textbook, she simply laid out the stones in the Akodo offense, a complicated method, but one that any self-respecting student of Go would know how to easily thwart. And the Lion, Ikoma, he had proven to be the most difficult thus far, naturally that should be the case, since it was the qualifying match. Ikoma had nearly pushed Morasahi into a corner, she had held her ground, with many captures of stones and points claimed for the black, that was his undoing, too much offense and not enough defense.
Morasahi glanced at the sky, noting the position of the sun. Semi-finals would be starting soon, enough time to make her way there before the bulk of the crowd would make it impossible to pass through. She quickly walked back to the Go tables and waited to be assigned a seat, noting that five of the eight contestants were, indeed, Lion. It seemed it wasn’t just talk about the Lion taking nearly every placing, but this time a Phoenix would also have her name by theirs.
It was no surprise when one of the five Lions was placed as her opponent. Her appearance, however, was a little surprising. Akodo Misune was a very demure and petite woman. Not only was she exquisitely dressed in a traditional silk kimono, easily with five layers, her hair so smooth it looked like onyx, but her face was also painted as if she were attending Winter Court or visiting the Imperial Gardens. Although she was out of place among the usual Lions, Morasahi couldn’t help but feel intimidated by this porcelain doll. Focus and center, Morasahi told herself, she is nothing more than what you make her. She picked up her first stone and chose an edge point. Akodo barely glanced down before placing her stone closer to mid-board, keeping her gaze locked onto Morasahi. Morasahi pretended to study the board, all of the two moves made, she set her stone down, leaving it open to Akodo.
“Tell me about yourself, Shiba-san.” Akodo cooed, taking her turn.
Morasahi felt her throat tighten managing to get out a whisper. “There- There’s not much to tell, Akodo-san.”
“I doubt that, Shiba-san. You’re obviously adept at Go, where does that passion come from? Your father? When did he start teaching you?”
Morasahi shuffled in her seat, trying not to give away her discomfort with Akodo’s prying questions. “Eight. My father-he started teaching me at eight.” She placed her stone, giving Akodo her turn.
“My, what a young age. I should expect nothing less from a Shiba of the Phoenix, it’s in your blood to be gifted. What other talents do you possess?”
The match went on like this for some time. Akodo barely looking where the stones were placed, simply staring at Morasahi, politely posing question after question, compliment after compliment, in that velvety voice of hers. Morasahi trying to focus on the board, keeping her gaze down so as not to meet Akodo’s dark eyes. But she could feel those orbs burning into her like smoldering coals. And every question, every praise, caused her to squirm in her mind, not answering would cause insult, so she kept on the conversation, as difficult as it was for her to hold.
And then it was over. Akodo smiled wickedly and tapped her last stone on the board, claiming the point that would hand her the game. Morasahi stared at the board, dumbfounded that she had allowed Akodo to gain the win. A judge stood over them, counting the points while Morasahi attempted to run over the moves in her head, finding it difficult to recall even the last five, let alone the entire game. All she could hear were those soft questions, “Do you enjoy the cherry blossoms? They say those born under them are blessed with greatness. Were you born under the cherry tree, Shiba-san?”
"Match goes to Akodo Misune. Ikoma Bard Academy."
Morasahi stood and offered a bow to the porcelain Lion. Akodo had won and all Morasahi wished to do now was spend her evening alone, as far from conversation as possible.
Late afternoon was giving way to the warm lazy period right before supper. When the sun sank closer to the edge of the world, and the smell of cooking fires invited people indoors. Morasahi felt her stomach rumble, begging to be filled. During the lunch hour a group of Unicorn had set up a food stand among the other shops and vendors to feed the crowds. When their patrons turned out to be primarily Spider and Unicorn members, and other festival goers complained of the smell, it didn’t take long to realize they were cooking and serving the flesh from animals other than fish. She hadn’t felt too hungry after that and skipped lunch. Now, of course, her mind was being pulled towards the noodles and rice the fires in that section of town would be cooking, and the gurgling in her gut, finding it hard to concentrate on whom was putting which stone where.
Resigning to the call from her belly, Morasahi made her way past the onlookers and headed towards the cooking stalls a few blocks away. She wondered if she would make it to the finals, as she browsed the different shops to eat at. She pondered on what tactic to start off with while ordering buckwheat noodles with broth, whether to be aggressive or allow her opponent to lead the game, capturing his pieces in a methodical manner. And as she sipped her soup, tapping her chopsticks to the bowl and back, Morasahi considered the matches she had won today, trying to identify her own weaknesses in each one.
With the Dragon she had conquered, he had been too passive, looking almost to be playing by himself and allowing several of his stones to be captured. The Crane had been inventive, Morasahi would give him that, he had employed several different tactics but in the end, ultimately failed to claim more points, focusing more on defending his stones than claiming the board. Asahina, she recalled his name, he had made an impression by being adaptable. The Scorpion was textbook, she simply laid out the stones in the Akodo offense, a complicated method, but one that any self-respecting student of Go would know how to easily thwart. And the Lion, Ikoma, he had proven to be the most difficult thus far, naturally that should be the case, since it was the qualifying match. Ikoma had nearly pushed Morasahi into a corner, she had held her ground, with many captures of stones and points claimed for the black, that was his undoing, too much offense and not enough defense.
Morasahi glanced at the sky, noting the position of the sun. Semi-finals would be starting soon, enough time to make her way there before the bulk of the crowd would make it impossible to pass through. She quickly walked back to the Go tables and waited to be assigned a seat, noting that five of the eight contestants were, indeed, Lion. It seemed it wasn’t just talk about the Lion taking nearly every placing, but this time a Phoenix would also have her name by theirs.
It was no surprise when one of the five Lions was placed as her opponent. Her appearance, however, was a little surprising. Akodo Misune was a very demure and petite woman. Not only was she exquisitely dressed in a traditional silk kimono, easily with five layers, her hair so smooth it looked like onyx, but her face was also painted as if she were attending Winter Court or visiting the Imperial Gardens. Although she was out of place among the usual Lions, Morasahi couldn’t help but feel intimidated by this porcelain doll. Focus and center, Morasahi told herself, she is nothing more than what you make her. She picked up her first stone and chose an edge point. Akodo barely glanced down before placing her stone closer to mid-board, keeping her gaze locked onto Morasahi. Morasahi pretended to study the board, all of the two moves made, she set her stone down, leaving it open to Akodo.
“Tell me about yourself, Shiba-san.” Akodo cooed, taking her turn.
Morasahi felt her throat tighten managing to get out a whisper. “There- There’s not much to tell, Akodo-san.”
“I doubt that, Shiba-san. You’re obviously adept at Go, where does that passion come from? Your father? When did he start teaching you?”
Morasahi shuffled in her seat, trying not to give away her discomfort with Akodo’s prying questions. “Eight. My father-he started teaching me at eight.” She placed her stone, giving Akodo her turn.
“My, what a young age. I should expect nothing less from a Shiba of the Phoenix, it’s in your blood to be gifted. What other talents do you possess?”
The match went on like this for some time. Akodo barely looking where the stones were placed, simply staring at Morasahi, politely posing question after question, compliment after compliment, in that velvety voice of hers. Morasahi trying to focus on the board, keeping her gaze down so as not to meet Akodo’s dark eyes. But she could feel those orbs burning into her like smoldering coals. And every question, every praise, caused her to squirm in her mind, not answering would cause insult, so she kept on the conversation, as difficult as it was for her to hold.
And then it was over. Akodo smiled wickedly and tapped her last stone on the board, claiming the point that would hand her the game. Morasahi stared at the board, dumbfounded that she had allowed Akodo to gain the win. A judge stood over them, counting the points while Morasahi attempted to run over the moves in her head, finding it difficult to recall even the last five, let alone the entire game. All she could hear were those soft questions, “Do you enjoy the cherry blossoms? They say those born under them are blessed with greatness. Were you born under the cherry tree, Shiba-san?”
"Match goes to Akodo Misune. Ikoma Bard Academy."
Morasahi stood and offered a bow to the porcelain Lion. Akodo had won and all Morasahi wished to do now was spend her evening alone, as far from conversation as possible.
***
A dull grey existence enveloped Katsumi when she opened her eyes. She was standing in what appeared to be the common way, but it wasn’t exactly that. Like an echo, or dusty painting, the colors were washed out, muted, just a ruminant of what would have been the common way in front of her tent. The buildings were there in the same fashion, solid but faded. It was familiar, not because she had spent the last few days in a mirror of this place, it wasn’t the location that really brought on the sense that Katsumi had been here before, it was simply the feeling. It was a feeling that weighed on her shoulders, that kept her heart from pounding, that muffled the world and felt like it all should make sense. Like she had been here time and time again, even if the scenery was different, this feeling was one she knew she had experienced. There was something that didn’t belong in this dusky familiar place, instead of the common sounds Katsumi had heard the previous mornings near her tent, there was nothing. No crickets, no fires, no murmur from people. No wind blowing through the manicured trees, or ruffling the tent. It was deadly silent except for a faint and strange tone, a tone that now that Katsumi was listening for, brought a slow chill to the nape of her neck. It rang like a war horn being blown miles and miles away, except it shook in and out with impossible pitches, stuttering and screaming as if dragging metal across a bronze statue lay at the heart of this horn. It was a sound Katsumi had never heard before in nature or otherwise.
Yesterday’s bones sprang into her head, dawning on Katsumi a new comprehension for the odd mystery the realm had given her. When noise turns to dreams, death will be upon you. That was it, now it made sense why this place felt so familiar, it was Yume-do, the Realm of Dreams. It was a world ever changing, a place all people go when sleep takes them at night. And that noise… That noise was here, and out of place, and strange as could be to Katsumi, it was here in her dreams, which meant death was close at hand. Katsumi dropped to the ground, tossing off her traveling pack to fetch her bowl and that old worn pouch of hers, the one that clicked when the contents knocked each other. She quickly untied the pouch, tossing the bones into the bowl. There was no need to shake it this time, the sign had already come. Death is upon you.
“Kuso…” Katsumi muttered, drawing lines in her mind, piecing it together. She once saw a man, a villager, stabbed through the chest who didn’t die. His lungs continued to breath and his heart continued to beat, but he slept. The healer had called it the unresting sleep. A place where you weren’t quite dead, but you weren’t really alive either. Your soul hadn’t gone to Meido, the Realm of Waiting, but instead had gotten lost on the way. Your body continued until you either awoke suddenly, your spirit finding its vessel again, or the more likely, you passed away with no more than a small exhale of breath. A body couldn’t last forever without a soul. If Katsumi was in Yume-do, and death was upon her, she must be in the unresting sleep.
“Kuso.” She grumbled again.
She gathered up the bones and her bowl, putting them back in her traveling pack and leaving it sagging on the ground. She had little use for the necessities of life now, there was no reason to pretend they would do her any good. She did, however, grab her bisento, unsure of what use it would be to her, she just had a feeling she would need it, and Katsumi had learned long ago to trust her feelings. Katsumi glanced around with little idea on what to do next and saw, not far from her, people. Solid, vibrant people. There were two standing next to each other, and a third with-was that a lion? Yes, an actual lion, walking with the third towards the other two. Katsumi followed suit and headed towards the small group.
“I met you yesterday,” The tallest of them said, a voice clearly male. He was also clearly Crane. Besides the vibrant blue and white colors of his yoroi, his long hair was also dyed white, a custom belonging largely to the Crane. He was taller than Katsumi, she could tell even with the distance as he stood two heads over his counterpart. His obi held a wakizashi and katana, that marked him as a samurai, and one that fought for himself, if the armor didn‘t give it away. He had regal features, thin nosed and sharp, like most Crane.
“Shiba Morasahi, right?” He was speaking to a Phoenix, her yellow and orange yoroi displayed the symbol of their clan, a flaming bird painted red. The Phoenix was short in stature, though her height was hard to judge standing next to the Crane. She figured it must be a woman from her size and general build. The Phoenix also had an obi that contained a daisho set, another samurai trained in combat. In her right hand she held a spear to accompany it. Her hair was black and tied back, and her eyes were dark, but Katsumi was still too far to tell what color.
Yesterday’s bones sprang into her head, dawning on Katsumi a new comprehension for the odd mystery the realm had given her. When noise turns to dreams, death will be upon you. That was it, now it made sense why this place felt so familiar, it was Yume-do, the Realm of Dreams. It was a world ever changing, a place all people go when sleep takes them at night. And that noise… That noise was here, and out of place, and strange as could be to Katsumi, it was here in her dreams, which meant death was close at hand. Katsumi dropped to the ground, tossing off her traveling pack to fetch her bowl and that old worn pouch of hers, the one that clicked when the contents knocked each other. She quickly untied the pouch, tossing the bones into the bowl. There was no need to shake it this time, the sign had already come. Death is upon you.
“Kuso…” Katsumi muttered, drawing lines in her mind, piecing it together. She once saw a man, a villager, stabbed through the chest who didn’t die. His lungs continued to breath and his heart continued to beat, but he slept. The healer had called it the unresting sleep. A place where you weren’t quite dead, but you weren’t really alive either. Your soul hadn’t gone to Meido, the Realm of Waiting, but instead had gotten lost on the way. Your body continued until you either awoke suddenly, your spirit finding its vessel again, or the more likely, you passed away with no more than a small exhale of breath. A body couldn’t last forever without a soul. If Katsumi was in Yume-do, and death was upon her, she must be in the unresting sleep.
“Kuso.” She grumbled again.
She gathered up the bones and her bowl, putting them back in her traveling pack and leaving it sagging on the ground. She had little use for the necessities of life now, there was no reason to pretend they would do her any good. She did, however, grab her bisento, unsure of what use it would be to her, she just had a feeling she would need it, and Katsumi had learned long ago to trust her feelings. Katsumi glanced around with little idea on what to do next and saw, not far from her, people. Solid, vibrant people. There were two standing next to each other, and a third with-was that a lion? Yes, an actual lion, walking with the third towards the other two. Katsumi followed suit and headed towards the small group.
“I met you yesterday,” The tallest of them said, a voice clearly male. He was also clearly Crane. Besides the vibrant blue and white colors of his yoroi, his long hair was also dyed white, a custom belonging largely to the Crane. He was taller than Katsumi, she could tell even with the distance as he stood two heads over his counterpart. His obi held a wakizashi and katana, that marked him as a samurai, and one that fought for himself, if the armor didn‘t give it away. He had regal features, thin nosed and sharp, like most Crane.
“Shiba Morasahi, right?” He was speaking to a Phoenix, her yellow and orange yoroi displayed the symbol of their clan, a flaming bird painted red. The Phoenix was short in stature, though her height was hard to judge standing next to the Crane. She figured it must be a woman from her size and general build. The Phoenix also had an obi that contained a daisho set, another samurai trained in combat. In her right hand she held a spear to accompany it. Her hair was black and tied back, and her eyes were dark, but Katsumi was still too far to tell what color.
“Yes, but where are we?” The Phoenix’s voice was soft and feminine, barely above a whisper.
“I don’t know. Some place strange.” The Crane said, looking around, his eyes lighting up when he noticed the Lion approaching. Besides her obvious colors, there was only one clan that walked with the lions, treating them as over-sized house cats, the Lion clan. No one else would dare try to convince a wild animal that domestication was more enjoyable a life. It probably had to do with their stubborn nature, unable to take no for an answer. This one was also a woman, and also shorter than Katsumi. She had a mane of light brown hair and honey eyes. She held a great amount of beauty, even for looking like a brute.
By this time Katsumi had crossed the short distance between her and the small group, she sat, waiting to see what would happen next. If this was all a dream, perhaps she could learn of how she entered the unresting sleep, and where she might find her body, or at least a way to Meido. Obviously these characters that had appeared to her were there for a reason, why else would they be in her Yume-do? She tried not to read too much into the symbolism of two birds being stalked by two lions. These visions were speaking, which meant their words probably carried more weight than who they were.
The Crane bowed to the Lion, “You’re here too. Any idea what’s going on, Matsu-san?”
Matsu quickly glanced behind the Crane to where Katsumi was sitting, curiosity on her face. “No. I just woke up here.”
“I did too. I was just standing here, in the street. The last thing I remember were the fireworks from last night. What about you, Shiba-san? Do you know how we got here?” With that the Crane turned towards Shiba, who had intently been staring at Katsumi since she sat down. Matsu was now staring at Katsumi too. The Crane followed Shiba’s gaze and faced Katsumi. Now all of them were watching her, even the lion!
“Please, go on. Continue.” Katsumi urged as pleasantly as she could manage. None of them looked away.
“I don’t believe I know you.” The Crane was the first to speak. “I am Asahina Kyuzo.”
“I am Shiba Morasahe.” Shiba chimed in.
“Very well.” Katsumi nodded. “Now, keep going. I’m curious to see where this is headed.”
“What do you mean?” Matsu demanded, “Do you know where we are?”
“Of course! Take a look around,” Katsumi waved her hand at the surroundings, “we’re in Yume-do.” A peculiar thing happened at that moment, one that only Asahina seemed to notice besides Katsumi, people sprang up. They weren’t really people as the rest of the group were people, but faint shadows the size and shape of people. Much lighter than the buildings, and misty. Curious, Katsumi thought. She refocused on the conversation at hand, the confusion on Matsu’s face made it obvious the name of Yume-do had little meaning to her. “The Realm of Dreams. You see, you’re in my head, I’m dreaming all of this.”
“So, we’re all dreaming this?” Shiba questioned.
“No, I’m dreaming this. You three are in my dream.”
“Why does it have to be your dream?” Shiba pressed on, “Couldn’t it as easily be mine?”
Katsumi chuckled. “No. You see, I’m close to death, so I’m dreaming. This is my world in Yume-do. You are here because I wanted you to be, though I don’t yet know why. You‘re not real.”
“So if we kill you, we’ll get out of this place.” Matsu postulated to the best of her abilities. It was almost a question, but it was clearly also a threat.
Just like a Lion, Katsumi thought, ready to jump into a fight whether they understand it or not. Katsumi grinned, a useless display since her shozuko only allowed her eyes to be seen. She flexed her hands on the shaft of her bisento that was sitting across her lap. “Go ahead and try.” She taunted, staring down Matsu. She was certain she could take one or two of them down, if they all came at her at once. Since it only seemed to be Matsu, Katsumi figured the odds were in her favor, even with a lion. Katsumi was quick and the brutal training of the Spider Monks had long since grown her accustomed to pain. A bite from a lion wouldn’t break her.
Shiba interjected, “I’m very much real. I can assure you of that.”
“Then tell me the names of your parents.”
“Why should I do that? I don’t even have your name yet.”
Katsumi was starting to get annoyed. These people weren’t helping her find Meido. They weren’t doing much of anything except being controversial. The only one who hadn’t questioned everything she had said was the Crane, Asahina, who was walking around prodding at the misty shadow people. She grit her teeth, “Just tell me their names.”
“My father is Shiba Mosohai, and my mother is Shiba Soreyu.”
It was Katsumi’s turn to be confused. If these people were simply designed in her head, they shouldn’t have families. Even if they were just echoes in Yume-do, they would have holes in their life, whole pieces missing because the information was never given to the Realm of Dreams. “My apologies,” Katsumi stammered as she climbed to her feet, offering a respectable bow, “I am Daigotsu Katsumi. I offer my greatest apology for any insult I may have caused, Shiba-sama.”
Shiba simply nodded back, “Thank yo-” Her words were cut off by a terrible screech. That noise, the unnatural and impossible noise that didn’t belong, grew to a crescendo. Reaching piercing levels as it squealed, squelched and stuttered. Katsumi covered her ears and frantically looked about trying to locate the horrendous source. As suddenly as it had become a cacophony of sound, it dimmed and returned to the background, leaving the group with nothing but the barely audible hum and a low growl from something that leaped from the shadows at Asahina.
Asahina slid his foot backwards, spinning to his side, allowing the creature to fly past but not without connecting with his shoulder, visibly knocking him off balance. The monster landed between the group and Asahina, giving all the opportunity to lay eyes upon its abominable form. You could call it a dog, as that is what it most closely resembled, but general form was the only thing the two shared. Its skin was black as Jigoku, and slick as oil. Its body was ragged, like it was torn from the fabric of reality and placed in this realm. A large horn protruded from the beast’s back that dripped a smoky blackness which dissipated before it hit the ground. Long talons of the abyss dug into the dull dirt, and needles of the moonless night lined its mouth.
Asahina drew his katana quicker than Katsumi could follow and dashed towards the thing. He was quick, but the clip to his shoulder must have thrown him off his step, his blade swung wide and missed. Katsumi lunged at the creature, her bisento cutting into its ribs. From behind her she heard Matsu bark a command, “Hikaru, capture it.” Katsumi choked back her laughter at the thought. Mere minutes ago, Matsu was considering killing her, and now she wanted to capture a demon dog? The lion sprung next to Katsumi swiping at its adversary, knocking the shadow dog back while rending its slick flesh. The creature seemed undeterred, finding its ground and hopping upon Asahina a second time. Asahina side stepped again, but this time he brought his blade up to meet the obsidian animal, scoring its side.
“It’s easier to deal with dead.” Katsumi scoffed, she spun her bisento over her head and brought it down on the animal again. Shiba finally appeared in the fray ending the thing’s life with a devastating downward blow from her katana. Katsumi snorted looking down on the mangled corpse, “Capture it.”
A foreign voice filled the air, “That was interesting, if short lived.”
Katsumi twisted around in search of their visitor. She wasn’t fond of situations she couldn’t control, and she was even less fond of strangers observing her unseen. She swept her eyes over the washed out buildings, down the common way where she had come, and even tilted her head to peer around the corners of a tent nearby, nothing. Turning back towards Matsu, her heart skipped a beat at the sight of a queer man standing not ten feet in front of her. He wasn’t Rokugani. His complexion was light, with blue eyes and hair the color of wheat. His manner of dress was even more odd, he looked to be wearing a haori, except it was fitted tightly to his body with several coins sewn into it and strange decorations on the shoulders. His hakama was thin in the legs, and on his feet weren’t sandals, it was some sort of hard tabi, except lacked the seam separating the toes.
“Who are you?” Katsumi demanded to the man that appeared out of no where.
“I am Joshua.” The fair man said with a smile.
“Jashuwa?” She rolled the name around in her head. It was an odd name, suiting for this odd man with his odd clothes and odd way of speaking.
“Yes. Is everyone ready?” He clapped his hands together looking over each one of them. Silence and stares were all that he received in return.
“Ready for what?” Katsumi asked cautiously.
“To play a game, of course.” Jashuwa’s hands gave a small wave, then he tapped his right pointer to his temple before swinging his hands behind his back. “Oh yes, you have all forgotten. You’re dead.”
“What do you mean dead?” Shiba squeaked.
Joshua took a few steps forward, “This one here,” he nodded and shoved his thumb towards Katsumi, “convinced the rest of you to hunt down some bandits. Needless to say, things didn’t go as you expected. They shot you in the chest.” He pointed a finger at Shiba, then indicated towards Asahina, “You got your skull caved in.” Katsumi eyed Asahina’s head, imagining what they would have used to shatter the bone, probably a tetsubo. “Your cat dragged your body away.” He was wiggling his fingers at Matsu who in turn looked down at Hikaru, whether she was happy with the lion‘s actions or not wasn‘t clear to Katsumi. “And they drowned you.” He was again looking at Katsumi, a smug smile touching his lips. She narrowed her eyes in response, this foreigner wasn’t to be trusted in her mind.
“You mean to tell us we’re in Meido?” Katsumi balked.
“Mayeedoh? It’s been such a long time since I fell, I don’t recognize your cultural words.”
“The Realm of Waiting, where we‘re judged before our next life.”
“Oh, yes. Well, not quite. I only get to judge humanity every ten thousand years, and you were chosen to play this time.”
“If we’re dead, what are we playing for?” It was Asahina that spoke this time. The question seemed to put an even more wicked smile on Jashuwa’s face.
“For your life, of course. It’s simple, you win, you get your life back; you lose, and you’ll be wiped from this world. You will never see this Mayeedoh, or your ancestors. You will cease to exist. Forever.”
The grim faces of the group left no imagination to the severity of his words. He was talking about removing a samurai from their karmic cycle. To completely end their life. A concept kept far from the lives of samurai who are taught to never fear death for it only affects the body, not the spirit. Katsumi watched Shiba swallow. She noticed Asahina turning his hands ever so slightly, as if refraining from throwing them in the air in resignation. She felt the same way, there was really very little choice in the matter.
“One more thing you won’t remember, in order to participate I had a conversation with each of you. You wagered that which was most dear to you as an entry fee, if you fail, it too shall be wiped from existence along with you. Now, if you would all look at your hand, the game will begin. You have seven days to complete the game, and each day will end once the task has been accomplished.”
Katsumi held up her hands, on her right palm was the finest calligraphy she had ever seen, and a peculiar set of numbers. They were decreasing in value, and the previous number just vanished with the lower number taking its place. Below the perplexing count down were directions. Katsumi frowned while trying to read the mixture of kanji and archaic characters. Something about duel grounds. When she looked up, Asahina had already started sprinting off. Shiba wasn’t far behind him. She glanced at Matsu and shrugged, casually strolling over to the Lion.
“You might want to tell your friends to stay in pairs.” Joshua piped up. “You can’t fight the Noise unless there’s two of you.”
“The Noise, is that what the creature was called?” Katsumi prodded, but he was gone. As quickly as he had shown up, the strange gaijin had disappeared. Katsumi glanced around, hoping to see Jashuwa slipping behind a corner, or some indication that he wasn’t as powerful as he was making himself out to be, to no avail. He simply had vanished out of existence. “I never did get your name.”
“Matsu Mikoto, and this is Hikaru.” Matsu gave her lion a gentle scratch on his head.
“It is very nice to meet you, Matsu-san, and you as well, Hikaru. Shall we?”
Matsu didn’t say anything, she just simply smiled and began walking the direction the others had sprinted off in. There wasn’t a need to hurry, the countdown indicated they had several hours in order to finish today’s task and running was probably what that Jashuwa wanted them to do anyways. Tire the group out. No, it was best to conserve strength and only exert oneself when life or limb was on the line. It seemed Matsu shared this belief, Katsumi could work with this.
“He said we should keep in twos, I believe this coupling is ideal. After all, Matsu-san, out of birds, spiders and lions, only two can overcome great enemies, while the others forage for food.”
“Indeed.” Was all Matsu said, but a smile brightened that pretty face of hers.
***
Morasahi hustled to the dueling grounds, keeping pace with Asahina. What she would find, she couldn’t even fathom, from the start of this morning life had been a series of unexplainable events. Her hand had told her to go there, yes, her hand. As if waking up standing, fully clothed, and in some strange place wasn’t odd enough, the Spider, Daigotsu, was just as peculiar, and then there was that shadow beast, and the noise, and that Jashuwa who had such a story to tell them. Dead, he had said she was dead, and bestowed upon her a series of numbers counting down to the end of the game. A game for her life. The script on her hand clearly read, “Get to the dueling grounds.” And so, if she were to win this game, that’s where she had to go. Asahina seemed to be the only one as eager as she to wrap up the day, the week for that matter. This game was to be a week long, and the sooner it was over, the sooner she could return to a place where things actually made sense.
She slowed to a trot as the observing benches came into view, following Asahina’s lead. Glancing around she wondered what would come next, another dark creature, or perhaps Joshua would be waiting to give further directions. It seemed neither was the case, there was nothing obvious to greet them. Just a washed out representation of an outlined dueling area, an observers stand full of faint shadows of people, Asahina and herself. Morasahi slowly turned, taking in every detail from the scene, if this was a game there had to be some path to victory she hadn’t discovered yet. If only she knew what the end goal was, the strategy would be much easier to figure out. There was nothing.
She let out a small sigh and glanced down at her hand to check the countdown and found the direction she had been seeking. Below those constantly shifting digits, a new sentence was beautifully scripted reading, “Find what is wrong.” How was she going to do that? This whole place was wrong. The people not being real people. The terrible noise buzzing in the background. The dueling grounds not having opponents. Wait. Morasahi checked again, sure enough there was no one standing at either end, and considering the stands were full, someone should be there.
Just as she was about to make her way to one side of the match area an influx of emotion overcame Morasahi, fear gripped her chest and her head became fuddled with panic. As soon as it had taken a hold, it was gone leaving a string of curses behind echoing in her ears, “Kuso! Kuso! Kuso! Kuso!” A grey haze of a person came into view in front of Morasahi, his back towards her displaying his clan’s emblem clearly. It was a Dragon boy walking towards the starting area of the duel where Morasahi was about to head. With a shudder, Morasahi realized where the panic, fear, and curses that had just assaulted her came from. The Dragon shadow had just walked through her.
The noise, that ear piercing noise unlike anything Morasahi had ever heard began to grow. It couldn’t be explained, but the closest thing she could imagine was a dozen rusty gates
“So, what is wrong here?” Daigotsu had finally arrived with Matsu and was staring at her hand, or was it his hand? She wasn’t clear on what sex Daigotsu was. Morasahi would guess female, the voice was the right pitch that it might be female, then again, Daigotsu was taller than both her and Matsu, so it was completely likely he was male. There was no real way to tell, he was covered nearly from head to toe. She wore a white shozuko around her head, leaving only her eyes exposed. His armor was a yoroi, or at least in design, the black slats looked rather thin to be wood, and he was far too quiet to be wearing metal. Most of her garments were white, the color of death, fitting for the Spider clan, accented by black. He didn’t have a katana, but a wakizashi was tucked in his obi. And she held a bisento, a long handled, bladed weapon, that she was obviously capable of using telling from the encounter they had not long ago.
Asahina shrugged. “I don’t know, but that sound got louder. Maybe that‘s it.”
“Well…” Morasahi began, “I don’t know if this has anything to do with it. Maybe…” She trailed off, everyone’s eyes were on her. Even the lion seemed to be looking at her. She began to fidget and gestured towards the Dragon duelist. “He seems to be upset.” She watched as everyone focused on the Dragon, glad she wasn’t being scrutinized by their stares any longer.
“Try to calm him down.” Asahina said in a cool voice. “He could be causing this noise.”
Morasahi briskly made her way next to the Dragon. What was she supposed to do? How did you calm down something that could walk right through you without noticing? It wasn’t like he was just going to shout out his problem so she could take care of the issue. But… she could hear him. Maybe he could hear her too. She placed a hand on his shoulder, it fell through his incorporeal form. Okay, so I have to pretend he has a shoulder to rest a hand on. She hovered her hand on his shoulder, keeping contact to maintain a connection to the Dragon's thoughts. Leaning in close to his ear Morasahi whispered, “You’re going to be okay. You can do this.” To her surprise, he nodded as if he understood her. The sound began dying down again. How interesting. The sound was related to this Dragon. When he showed up it became louder, and once he calmed his nerves, it began to fade away.
“It worked!” Morasahi exclaimed. Asahina nodded his approval and brought his right hand up. Daigotsu did the same. Morasahi followed suit.
“Yeah, but that wasn’t the problem.” Said Daigotsu. Morasahi could see that, her hand still read the same as it did before the Dragon entered the scene.
“Maybe we missed something.” Asahina suggested and began combing over the dueling grounds.
Morasahi did the same, starting with the first aisle of benched observers. They were unremarkable. A Scorpion woman two rows back, however, stuck out to Morasahi. Even with the muted colors, Scorpion were easy to pick out of a crowd. Their clan was known for their subversive mask wearing, hiding their faces from the public, the court, and the Emperor herself. This Scorpion, mask and all, was a little more flush, more real and less faded than the rest. She was staring right through Morasahi, probably at the Dragon duelist. Morasahi pivoted to find Daigotsu squatting behind her, examining a chair between the Dragon and herself. It, too, seemed unremarkable, but Daigotsu was studying it carefully warranting it another once over from Morasahi.
Daigotsu left the chair and skated across the dueling field, circling around both the Dragon and his opponent who must have appeared while Morasahi was searching the stands. It was an elegant affair if not strange to behold, Daigotsu could have been dancing with these shadowed duelists. He wove around the Dragon in a fluid motion and headed towards his opponent, another Scorpion. Before reaching the Scorpion she spun mid-step, never losing stride and returned to the Dragon, leaning in and whispering something in his ear and quickly shuffling backwards, away from both duelists.
Morasahi shook the perplexing Spider from her mind and focused on the chair that had been so interesting to Daigotsu moments before. Beneath the Dragon’s haori sat a dagger, the handle manipulated into the body of a scorpion. She shot her eyes back to the vivid woman, she was indubitably staring at the Dragon. Then looked across the field at the Scorpion duelist. This all seemed too planned to be a coincidence. A dagger the shape of a scorpion below the Dragon’s discarded haori, a Scorpion opponent, and the woman in the stands also Scorpion.
“There’s a dagger here.” She called out.
“A dagger?” It was Asahina who answered. Daigotsu just stood there, watching Morasahi.
“Yeah, there’s a scorpion dagger under the Dragon’s haori. And there’s this lady over here,” She pointed towards the Scorpion woman, “She’s more solid than the rest. And she’s a Scorpion.”
“And this guy is a Scorpion.” Asahina finished her thoughts while strolling across the field to examine the dagger. “Do you think it’s a setup?”
Morasahi nodded. “It looks that way.”
“Are they going to kill the Scorpion duelist?” Matsu chimed in, joining the group near the Dragon.
“I don’t know. The Dragon has the weapon under his haori, and he was extremely nervous before the duel started…” Morasahi’s heart sank. “And I calmed him down and told him he could do it,” would have been the next words out of her mouth, but she didn’t want to say it. They didn‘t know what she had whispered, and to believe that she had helped someone commit murder… No, it wasn’t her fault. She had to think of the group here in this dismal place. Calming him down kept the noise from growing any louder, and the last time it exploded in sound Asahina was attacked by some thing. It was the right thing to do.
“So this woman is going to have the Dragon kill his opponent. That‘s what‘s wrong.” Matsu smiled, obviously pleased with herself. “It’s a Scorpion killing Scorpion thing.”
Morasahi couldn’t help but look at Daigotsu. The Spider were known throughout the land many years before they were declared a great clan. She had heard the stories growing up, the evil, horrible things they did. It was no great surprise three years ago when the Empress declared the Spiders outlaws, all who wore their mon were to be killed on sight. Then she let them into Rokugan, accepting them as a great clan not four months ago, to be treated as the people. That was Imako’s decree. And there Daigotsu stood, that monstrous thing that was so vile all of the Empire was to kill it without a second thought only four months ago.
Daigotsu was eying the shadow duelists, seemingly lost in her own thoughts. It had grown quiet while Morasahi wondered of the murderous things their companion had committed. She realized Asahina and Matsu must be thinking the same thing, as none of them had made a sound since Matsu’s revelation. Daigotsu appeared to have noticed, he took in Morasahi first, meeting her eyes, then snapped them to Asahina and Matsu. She saw Daigotsu take a step back, widening her stance in a defensive position, inclining her bisento towards the group.
“What are you all looking at me for? We don’t kill our own.” Daigotsu exclaimed. No one denied it was on their mind. No one said anything to Daigotsu.
She slowed to a trot as the observing benches came into view, following Asahina’s lead. Glancing around she wondered what would come next, another dark creature, or perhaps Joshua would be waiting to give further directions. It seemed neither was the case, there was nothing obvious to greet them. Just a washed out representation of an outlined dueling area, an observers stand full of faint shadows of people, Asahina and herself. Morasahi slowly turned, taking in every detail from the scene, if this was a game there had to be some path to victory she hadn’t discovered yet. If only she knew what the end goal was, the strategy would be much easier to figure out. There was nothing.
She let out a small sigh and glanced down at her hand to check the countdown and found the direction she had been seeking. Below those constantly shifting digits, a new sentence was beautifully scripted reading, “Find what is wrong.” How was she going to do that? This whole place was wrong. The people not being real people. The terrible noise buzzing in the background. The dueling grounds not having opponents. Wait. Morasahi checked again, sure enough there was no one standing at either end, and considering the stands were full, someone should be there.
Just as she was about to make her way to one side of the match area an influx of emotion overcame Morasahi, fear gripped her chest and her head became fuddled with panic. As soon as it had taken a hold, it was gone leaving a string of curses behind echoing in her ears, “Kuso! Kuso! Kuso! Kuso!” A grey haze of a person came into view in front of Morasahi, his back towards her displaying his clan’s emblem clearly. It was a Dragon boy walking towards the starting area of the duel where Morasahi was about to head. With a shudder, Morasahi realized where the panic, fear, and curses that had just assaulted her came from. The Dragon shadow had just walked through her.
The noise, that ear piercing noise unlike anything Morasahi had ever heard began to grow. It couldn’t be explained, but the closest thing she could imagine was a dozen rusty gates
“So, what is wrong here?” Daigotsu had finally arrived with Matsu and was staring at her hand, or was it his hand? She wasn’t clear on what sex Daigotsu was. Morasahi would guess female, the voice was the right pitch that it might be female, then again, Daigotsu was taller than both her and Matsu, so it was completely likely he was male. There was no real way to tell, he was covered nearly from head to toe. She wore a white shozuko around her head, leaving only her eyes exposed. His armor was a yoroi, or at least in design, the black slats looked rather thin to be wood, and he was far too quiet to be wearing metal. Most of her garments were white, the color of death, fitting for the Spider clan, accented by black. He didn’t have a katana, but a wakizashi was tucked in his obi. And she held a bisento, a long handled, bladed weapon, that she was obviously capable of using telling from the encounter they had not long ago.
Asahina shrugged. “I don’t know, but that sound got louder. Maybe that‘s it.”
“Well…” Morasahi began, “I don’t know if this has anything to do with it. Maybe…” She trailed off, everyone’s eyes were on her. Even the lion seemed to be looking at her. She began to fidget and gestured towards the Dragon duelist. “He seems to be upset.” She watched as everyone focused on the Dragon, glad she wasn’t being scrutinized by their stares any longer.
“Try to calm him down.” Asahina said in a cool voice. “He could be causing this noise.”
Morasahi briskly made her way next to the Dragon. What was she supposed to do? How did you calm down something that could walk right through you without noticing? It wasn’t like he was just going to shout out his problem so she could take care of the issue. But… she could hear him. Maybe he could hear her too. She placed a hand on his shoulder, it fell through his incorporeal form. Okay, so I have to pretend he has a shoulder to rest a hand on. She hovered her hand on his shoulder, keeping contact to maintain a connection to the Dragon's thoughts. Leaning in close to his ear Morasahi whispered, “You’re going to be okay. You can do this.” To her surprise, he nodded as if he understood her. The sound began dying down again. How interesting. The sound was related to this Dragon. When he showed up it became louder, and once he calmed his nerves, it began to fade away.
“It worked!” Morasahi exclaimed. Asahina nodded his approval and brought his right hand up. Daigotsu did the same. Morasahi followed suit.
“Yeah, but that wasn’t the problem.” Said Daigotsu. Morasahi could see that, her hand still read the same as it did before the Dragon entered the scene.
“Maybe we missed something.” Asahina suggested and began combing over the dueling grounds.
Morasahi did the same, starting with the first aisle of benched observers. They were unremarkable. A Scorpion woman two rows back, however, stuck out to Morasahi. Even with the muted colors, Scorpion were easy to pick out of a crowd. Their clan was known for their subversive mask wearing, hiding their faces from the public, the court, and the Emperor herself. This Scorpion, mask and all, was a little more flush, more real and less faded than the rest. She was staring right through Morasahi, probably at the Dragon duelist. Morasahi pivoted to find Daigotsu squatting behind her, examining a chair between the Dragon and herself. It, too, seemed unremarkable, but Daigotsu was studying it carefully warranting it another once over from Morasahi.
Daigotsu left the chair and skated across the dueling field, circling around both the Dragon and his opponent who must have appeared while Morasahi was searching the stands. It was an elegant affair if not strange to behold, Daigotsu could have been dancing with these shadowed duelists. He wove around the Dragon in a fluid motion and headed towards his opponent, another Scorpion. Before reaching the Scorpion she spun mid-step, never losing stride and returned to the Dragon, leaning in and whispering something in his ear and quickly shuffling backwards, away from both duelists.
Morasahi shook the perplexing Spider from her mind and focused on the chair that had been so interesting to Daigotsu moments before. Beneath the Dragon’s haori sat a dagger, the handle manipulated into the body of a scorpion. She shot her eyes back to the vivid woman, she was indubitably staring at the Dragon. Then looked across the field at the Scorpion duelist. This all seemed too planned to be a coincidence. A dagger the shape of a scorpion below the Dragon’s discarded haori, a Scorpion opponent, and the woman in the stands also Scorpion.
“There’s a dagger here.” She called out.
“A dagger?” It was Asahina who answered. Daigotsu just stood there, watching Morasahi.
“Yeah, there’s a scorpion dagger under the Dragon’s haori. And there’s this lady over here,” She pointed towards the Scorpion woman, “She’s more solid than the rest. And she’s a Scorpion.”
“And this guy is a Scorpion.” Asahina finished her thoughts while strolling across the field to examine the dagger. “Do you think it’s a setup?”
Morasahi nodded. “It looks that way.”
“Are they going to kill the Scorpion duelist?” Matsu chimed in, joining the group near the Dragon.
“I don’t know. The Dragon has the weapon under his haori, and he was extremely nervous before the duel started…” Morasahi’s heart sank. “And I calmed him down and told him he could do it,” would have been the next words out of her mouth, but she didn’t want to say it. They didn‘t know what she had whispered, and to believe that she had helped someone commit murder… No, it wasn’t her fault. She had to think of the group here in this dismal place. Calming him down kept the noise from growing any louder, and the last time it exploded in sound Asahina was attacked by some thing. It was the right thing to do.
“So this woman is going to have the Dragon kill his opponent. That‘s what‘s wrong.” Matsu smiled, obviously pleased with herself. “It’s a Scorpion killing Scorpion thing.”
Morasahi couldn’t help but look at Daigotsu. The Spider were known throughout the land many years before they were declared a great clan. She had heard the stories growing up, the evil, horrible things they did. It was no great surprise three years ago when the Empress declared the Spiders outlaws, all who wore their mon were to be killed on sight. Then she let them into Rokugan, accepting them as a great clan not four months ago, to be treated as the people. That was Imako’s decree. And there Daigotsu stood, that monstrous thing that was so vile all of the Empire was to kill it without a second thought only four months ago.
Daigotsu was eying the shadow duelists, seemingly lost in her own thoughts. It had grown quiet while Morasahi wondered of the murderous things their companion had committed. She realized Asahina and Matsu must be thinking the same thing, as none of them had made a sound since Matsu’s revelation. Daigotsu appeared to have noticed, he took in Morasahi first, meeting her eyes, then snapped them to Asahina and Matsu. She saw Daigotsu take a step back, widening her stance in a defensive position, inclining her bisento towards the group.
“What are you all looking at me for? We don’t kill our own.” Daigotsu exclaimed. No one denied it was on their mind. No one said anything to Daigotsu.
***
Now that they knew the plot, Kyuzo checked his hand to see if they were correct in their assumptions. Apparently so. The calligraphed kanji had changed once again, this time reading, “Fix the problem.” That was easier said than done, he had already considered many methods to stop the duel as soon as they discovered there was foul play. Even if it wasn’t the next task in this ‘game’ they were playing, he wasn’t about to let an honorable iaijutsu duel be perverted by a murderous plot.
“Okay, let’s stop this from happening.” Kyuzo said. Shiba and Matsu nodded in agreement, setting off in their own way to figure out a fix for their problem. Daigotsu didn’t move. Of course not.
Kyuzo leaned close to the Dragon’s chair, getting a better look at the scorpion dagger. Perhaps if he removed the weapon… He brushed at the haori, it didn’t budge. He tried to pick up the dagger without moving the haori, again to no avail. When his hand got close to the object it hit some sort of invisible wall. A thin layer of air that prevented him from moving or touching anything that wasn’t part of this world. So much for that idea.
“Hey, this lady has the Dragon’s sister.” Matsu called out. She was standing in front of the Scorpion woman they had discovered earlier.
“What was that? How do you know that?” Kyuzo demanded.
Matsu shrugged. “I just touched her and I heard her think it. She thought, “If anything goes wrong, we still have his sister.””
“That’s it? Where?”
Matsu shrugged again. “She didn’t say.”
Kyuzo remembered the way Shiba had managed to calm the Dragon, just whispering to him. “It seems they can hear us, try asking. Maybe you can steer her line of thought.” He watched Matsu lean in then swipe her hand through the hazy woman.
“The sister is in their tent, to the east.”
“There’s no time to lose, let’s go get her.”
“What about the duel?” Daigotsu’s question stopped Kyuzo in his tracks. Yes, the duel would still happen, and the murder would sully the grounds. Something had to be done to prevent that. Perhaps they could control one of the duelists by convincing them they don’t feel well enough.
Before Kyuzo could suggest the idea the air exploded with a high pitched whine. The unnatural sound that brought forth the darkness beast earlier hissed and screamed, filling Kyuzo’s head and suffocating any other thought. With a guttural snarl something blacker than the moonless night flashed past him, bounding towards Daigotsu. Kyuzo spun, his hand touching the handle of his katana in attempts to strike the beast down when he heard too late the furious scratching of movement behind him. He felt the thing’s claws dig into the flesh of his calf, another pair piercing his left side, and the snapping sound of its jaws missing its mark. Kyuzo drew his blade, twisting to shake off the creature and sliding his left leg behind him creating a wide stance. He brought his katana in front of him putting the blade between himself and the second black death.
This one was just like the first, a morphed misrepresentation of a dog. Slick skin and jagged body. Dark as shadows, compressed into the form of some forgotten horror. It crouched, baring its ink stained, razor tipped teeth. Kicking with its back legs it lunged for Kyuzo, but he was ready this time and easily shifted out of the way. It rebounded and went low catching the front of his ankle. The thing’s teeth sank into him, Kyuzo thrust with his katana, impaling it. Whether it let go out of pain, or because it didn’t have enough of a hold on Kyuzo to tear flesh from bone, it relinquished his ankle and scurried backwards. A blur of yellow came crashing down on the demon dog, accompanied by a roar. Hikaru, Matsu’s lion, sprung onto the creature giving it the full force of those heavy paws and deadly nails. Shiba slid behind the thrashing darkness, katana already drawn, the steel sliding between its ribs causing it to move no more.
He checked to see how Daigotsu was fairing. The black was still alive with Matsu twisting a warfan and slicing away at it. Kyuzo advanced, katana above his head. Daigotsu must have seen him coming, because on the next bisento thrust the creature was pinned down, writhing to get free. Kyuzo deftly decapitated the shadow dog, putting an end to that nonsense. His calf and side were burning, the talons of the beast had surely made a mark, though not deep or threatening. It was his ankle that was the worse of his injuries, throbbing and wet from blood.
Kyuzo sheathed his weapon and sat, pulling his small pack off his back. He had learned a thing or two about medicine, a trait that came in handy at the academy. Kyuzo knew how to treat blisters, wrap sore muscles, and even treat the more serious issues that a needle and thread could stitch up. He removed his tabi and quickly applied a compress to his ankle, wrapping it to stop the bleeding. It was still useable, it was just a bite after all. Kyuzo just didn’t want to bleed out from such a minor wound on the way to save the Dragon girl.
“Let’s go.” Kyuzo said, tossing the medical kit back in his bag. “We have a sister to save.” Everyone, including Daigotsu trotted east, in the direction of the Scorpion tents.
“Okay, let’s stop this from happening.” Kyuzo said. Shiba and Matsu nodded in agreement, setting off in their own way to figure out a fix for their problem. Daigotsu didn’t move. Of course not.
Kyuzo leaned close to the Dragon’s chair, getting a better look at the scorpion dagger. Perhaps if he removed the weapon… He brushed at the haori, it didn’t budge. He tried to pick up the dagger without moving the haori, again to no avail. When his hand got close to the object it hit some sort of invisible wall. A thin layer of air that prevented him from moving or touching anything that wasn’t part of this world. So much for that idea.
“Hey, this lady has the Dragon’s sister.” Matsu called out. She was standing in front of the Scorpion woman they had discovered earlier.
“What was that? How do you know that?” Kyuzo demanded.
Matsu shrugged. “I just touched her and I heard her think it. She thought, “If anything goes wrong, we still have his sister.””
“That’s it? Where?”
Matsu shrugged again. “She didn’t say.”
Kyuzo remembered the way Shiba had managed to calm the Dragon, just whispering to him. “It seems they can hear us, try asking. Maybe you can steer her line of thought.” He watched Matsu lean in then swipe her hand through the hazy woman.
“The sister is in their tent, to the east.”
“There’s no time to lose, let’s go get her.”
“What about the duel?” Daigotsu’s question stopped Kyuzo in his tracks. Yes, the duel would still happen, and the murder would sully the grounds. Something had to be done to prevent that. Perhaps they could control one of the duelists by convincing them they don’t feel well enough.
Before Kyuzo could suggest the idea the air exploded with a high pitched whine. The unnatural sound that brought forth the darkness beast earlier hissed and screamed, filling Kyuzo’s head and suffocating any other thought. With a guttural snarl something blacker than the moonless night flashed past him, bounding towards Daigotsu. Kyuzo spun, his hand touching the handle of his katana in attempts to strike the beast down when he heard too late the furious scratching of movement behind him. He felt the thing’s claws dig into the flesh of his calf, another pair piercing his left side, and the snapping sound of its jaws missing its mark. Kyuzo drew his blade, twisting to shake off the creature and sliding his left leg behind him creating a wide stance. He brought his katana in front of him putting the blade between himself and the second black death.
This one was just like the first, a morphed misrepresentation of a dog. Slick skin and jagged body. Dark as shadows, compressed into the form of some forgotten horror. It crouched, baring its ink stained, razor tipped teeth. Kicking with its back legs it lunged for Kyuzo, but he was ready this time and easily shifted out of the way. It rebounded and went low catching the front of his ankle. The thing’s teeth sank into him, Kyuzo thrust with his katana, impaling it. Whether it let go out of pain, or because it didn’t have enough of a hold on Kyuzo to tear flesh from bone, it relinquished his ankle and scurried backwards. A blur of yellow came crashing down on the demon dog, accompanied by a roar. Hikaru, Matsu’s lion, sprung onto the creature giving it the full force of those heavy paws and deadly nails. Shiba slid behind the thrashing darkness, katana already drawn, the steel sliding between its ribs causing it to move no more.
He checked to see how Daigotsu was fairing. The black was still alive with Matsu twisting a warfan and slicing away at it. Kyuzo advanced, katana above his head. Daigotsu must have seen him coming, because on the next bisento thrust the creature was pinned down, writhing to get free. Kyuzo deftly decapitated the shadow dog, putting an end to that nonsense. His calf and side were burning, the talons of the beast had surely made a mark, though not deep or threatening. It was his ankle that was the worse of his injuries, throbbing and wet from blood.
Kyuzo sheathed his weapon and sat, pulling his small pack off his back. He had learned a thing or two about medicine, a trait that came in handy at the academy. Kyuzo knew how to treat blisters, wrap sore muscles, and even treat the more serious issues that a needle and thread could stitch up. He removed his tabi and quickly applied a compress to his ankle, wrapping it to stop the bleeding. It was still useable, it was just a bite after all. Kyuzo just didn’t want to bleed out from such a minor wound on the way to save the Dragon girl.
“Let’s go.” Kyuzo said, tossing the medical kit back in his bag. “We have a sister to save.” Everyone, including Daigotsu trotted east, in the direction of the Scorpion tents.
***
As they approached the Scorpion tents, Mikoto wished she had been more clear on which one the girl was in. There were more than a handful, and searching each one would take up time they probably didn’t have. The group as a whole stopped, each person looking around, probably attempting to guess which place to start like she was. She eyed each tent in view, it had to be a big one, no way someone could be held captive in something made for just sleeping. That one. Mikoto took a step forward and then she heard it, the muffled cry of a young girl. Her eyes darted towards the noise, it was just a bit smaller than the one she had chosen, but that didn’t matter now. They knew where the girl was. Without thinking she rushed towards the tent, Shiba had apparently had the same idea as she charged ahead of Mikoto, katana in hand.
There was that strange buzzing screech. When Hikaru was small, he caught a rabbit near Mikoto’s house. The way that rabbit screamed, she would never forget. That’s kind of what this sounded like, except if the rabbit was filled with bees. The sound stopped as suddenly as it had begun and the tent flap flew open. In its entrance was a man-sized shadow, like the other shadow people walking around, except this one was thicker. It was as if 100 of the faded forms she’d seen all day were standing on top of one another. He was a black hole in the grey world. Mikoto flicked open her warfan, locking the ribs in place. She was more than ready to remove another one of these dark soulless things from their path, especially since it appeared male, and especially for that poor little girl.
As if the man of black had anticipated their interference he raised his weapon, a sword of some kind, and pointed it at Shiba who was leading the charge. It was a mocking gesture, or so Mikoto believed until a wave of darkness erupted from the tip of the sword catching Shiba in the chest. She heard Shiba gasp, and slow for only a moment. Then the group was on top of him. The man turned, making a thrust towards Shiba. The graceful Shiba knocked it away as if it were a feather. She was rather elegant the way her kimono sleeves flared with each movement, like she had her own breeze following her, gusting at the right times. Daigotsu was the opposite of Shiba. Where Shiba was elegant and almost refined in her movements, Daigotsu was powerful and raw. Daigotsu took a step forward, using her legs for power and hurled the blade of her bisento at the darkness man, cutting into his side. That was the kind of thing Mikoto liked. Well, really, Mikoto liked a little of everything, but the way Daigotsu had a reckless abandon when fighting had her feeling a little flushed. Asahina sliced with his katana, it wasn’t anything spectacular.
Mikoto pointed at the shadow man, “Hikaru, kill!” She commanded. Hikaru sprinted forward, swiping at the man’s legs. She watched Shiba strike with devastating accuracy. Daigotsu knocked the abyss man’s knee with the tail end of her polearm, throwing him off balance. And Asahina took advantage disemboweling the thing, if it had had bowels to remove. These things didn’t bleed when struck. But hit it enough and it died, like everything else. The man of black fell to his knees leaving him open for Hikaru to rip at his throat. He went limp, dropped to the ground and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
There was a commotion from behind them and several Jade Magistrates, fully armored and armed rushed into the tent. Impeccable timing. She was aware they weren’t part of her world, and she wasn’t any longer a part of theirs, at least until she beat that Jashuwa man at his silly game.
“Good, good.” Jashuwa’s foreign voice resonated through the air. Mikoto turned to find Joshua standing only a couple feet to her left. She was learning he had a bad habit of popping in and out of existence. “You have completed the task for today. Do you understand?”
Daigotsu spoke up. “I understand we have little pull in life. Here we fight the dark emotions of people but ultimately we do nothing to keep them safe. What if those guards didn’t show up?”
“No. That’s not it.”
The world blinked off.
Mikoto opened her eyes to find the same dismal world, full of bleached buildings and faded people. She was standing in the street, in a circle with Asahina, Shiba, and Daigotsu, much like the one they had made yesterday. In fact, if she were to guess, it was the exact same spot they had circled up yesterday. The only difference, this time, was Daigotsu was wearing a traveling pack she didn’t have the day before.
“This doesn‘t taste right.” Daigotsu said, squatting and throwing her pack off in the same movement, bringing it in front of her.
“What do you mean?” It was Asahina that asked, but Matsu didn’t understand the expression either.
“If we are actually dead, and bandits were close enough to the tournament for me to find you three,” Daigotsu swept a finger across the group then began shuffling through her pack, “who I’ve never seen before in my life, then why is the tournament still taking place?” Matsu watched her pull out a wooden bowl and a small, strange looking pouch, too stiff to be cloth.
“Maybe no one knows we’re gone yet.” Shiba suggested.
“That’s not how my family works.” Daigotsu dumped the contents of the strange bag into the bowl, reveling several odd shaped tokens. “No, they would know.” She closed her eyes and shook the bowl a few times, then glanced down at it, continuing on. “And the Magistrate, why wouldn’t they have gone to handle the bandits? There were plenty of them in town. Why would I pick you three? There’s just too many unanswered questions.” Daigotsu had finished with her strange ritual, tucking the pouch and bowl back into her bag and leaving it on the ground.
Daigotsu was right about unanswered questions. Jashuwa had said in order to take part in this game they had wagered the closest thing to their heart, and Matsu was certain she would never have done that. She couldn’t gamble with the life of another for her own. She was a samurai, and she had no fear of death. And speaking of unanswered questions, there was the matter with Daigotsu herself. Mikoto was almost certain Daigotsu was female, but she had a funny way of using masculine forms when referring to herself.
“You can pick me anytime, Daigotsu-san.” Mikoto blurted.
“O…kay.” Daigotsu blinked.
“What I mean to say is I can be a partner in other ways. Like seeing what‘s under your obi.” Mikoto gave a knowing smile.
Daigotsu looked down, obviously confused. “My kimono is under my obi.”
“I could take that from you.” Mikoto pressed, did she need to spell it out for her?
Asahina scoffed. “She threatened to feed me to her lion and I wasn’t even asking to see her under her clothes.”
Matsu could see it click for Daigotsu, her furrowed brow smoothing out in understanding. “Oh! Oh. Oh no, I don’t think you‘d like that.”
“Why not?” Mikoto mused.
“Because you’re a woman, and I share that with you.”
Mikoto grinned, just as she had suspected. “That’s okay. I do like that.”
“We should get started.” Asahina lifted his palm and began walking away.
“Asahina-san, wait!” Diagotsu called after him. “Jashuwa told Matsu-san and me that we needed to keep in pairs to fight the Noise.” She took a few hurried steps and caught up with Asahina, the two of them headed towards the dueling grounds.
There was that strange buzzing screech. When Hikaru was small, he caught a rabbit near Mikoto’s house. The way that rabbit screamed, she would never forget. That’s kind of what this sounded like, except if the rabbit was filled with bees. The sound stopped as suddenly as it had begun and the tent flap flew open. In its entrance was a man-sized shadow, like the other shadow people walking around, except this one was thicker. It was as if 100 of the faded forms she’d seen all day were standing on top of one another. He was a black hole in the grey world. Mikoto flicked open her warfan, locking the ribs in place. She was more than ready to remove another one of these dark soulless things from their path, especially since it appeared male, and especially for that poor little girl.
As if the man of black had anticipated their interference he raised his weapon, a sword of some kind, and pointed it at Shiba who was leading the charge. It was a mocking gesture, or so Mikoto believed until a wave of darkness erupted from the tip of the sword catching Shiba in the chest. She heard Shiba gasp, and slow for only a moment. Then the group was on top of him. The man turned, making a thrust towards Shiba. The graceful Shiba knocked it away as if it were a feather. She was rather elegant the way her kimono sleeves flared with each movement, like she had her own breeze following her, gusting at the right times. Daigotsu was the opposite of Shiba. Where Shiba was elegant and almost refined in her movements, Daigotsu was powerful and raw. Daigotsu took a step forward, using her legs for power and hurled the blade of her bisento at the darkness man, cutting into his side. That was the kind of thing Mikoto liked. Well, really, Mikoto liked a little of everything, but the way Daigotsu had a reckless abandon when fighting had her feeling a little flushed. Asahina sliced with his katana, it wasn’t anything spectacular.
Mikoto pointed at the shadow man, “Hikaru, kill!” She commanded. Hikaru sprinted forward, swiping at the man’s legs. She watched Shiba strike with devastating accuracy. Daigotsu knocked the abyss man’s knee with the tail end of her polearm, throwing him off balance. And Asahina took advantage disemboweling the thing, if it had had bowels to remove. These things didn’t bleed when struck. But hit it enough and it died, like everything else. The man of black fell to his knees leaving him open for Hikaru to rip at his throat. He went limp, dropped to the ground and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
There was a commotion from behind them and several Jade Magistrates, fully armored and armed rushed into the tent. Impeccable timing. She was aware they weren’t part of her world, and she wasn’t any longer a part of theirs, at least until she beat that Jashuwa man at his silly game.
“Good, good.” Jashuwa’s foreign voice resonated through the air. Mikoto turned to find Joshua standing only a couple feet to her left. She was learning he had a bad habit of popping in and out of existence. “You have completed the task for today. Do you understand?”
Daigotsu spoke up. “I understand we have little pull in life. Here we fight the dark emotions of people but ultimately we do nothing to keep them safe. What if those guards didn’t show up?”
“No. That’s not it.”
The world blinked off.
Mikoto opened her eyes to find the same dismal world, full of bleached buildings and faded people. She was standing in the street, in a circle with Asahina, Shiba, and Daigotsu, much like the one they had made yesterday. In fact, if she were to guess, it was the exact same spot they had circled up yesterday. The only difference, this time, was Daigotsu was wearing a traveling pack she didn’t have the day before.
“This doesn‘t taste right.” Daigotsu said, squatting and throwing her pack off in the same movement, bringing it in front of her.
“What do you mean?” It was Asahina that asked, but Matsu didn’t understand the expression either.
“If we are actually dead, and bandits were close enough to the tournament for me to find you three,” Daigotsu swept a finger across the group then began shuffling through her pack, “who I’ve never seen before in my life, then why is the tournament still taking place?” Matsu watched her pull out a wooden bowl and a small, strange looking pouch, too stiff to be cloth.
“Maybe no one knows we’re gone yet.” Shiba suggested.
“That’s not how my family works.” Daigotsu dumped the contents of the strange bag into the bowl, reveling several odd shaped tokens. “No, they would know.” She closed her eyes and shook the bowl a few times, then glanced down at it, continuing on. “And the Magistrate, why wouldn’t they have gone to handle the bandits? There were plenty of them in town. Why would I pick you three? There’s just too many unanswered questions.” Daigotsu had finished with her strange ritual, tucking the pouch and bowl back into her bag and leaving it on the ground.
Daigotsu was right about unanswered questions. Jashuwa had said in order to take part in this game they had wagered the closest thing to their heart, and Matsu was certain she would never have done that. She couldn’t gamble with the life of another for her own. She was a samurai, and she had no fear of death. And speaking of unanswered questions, there was the matter with Daigotsu herself. Mikoto was almost certain Daigotsu was female, but she had a funny way of using masculine forms when referring to herself.
“You can pick me anytime, Daigotsu-san.” Mikoto blurted.
“O…kay.” Daigotsu blinked.
“What I mean to say is I can be a partner in other ways. Like seeing what‘s under your obi.” Mikoto gave a knowing smile.
Daigotsu looked down, obviously confused. “My kimono is under my obi.”
“I could take that from you.” Mikoto pressed, did she need to spell it out for her?
Asahina scoffed. “She threatened to feed me to her lion and I wasn’t even asking to see her under her clothes.”
Matsu could see it click for Daigotsu, her furrowed brow smoothing out in understanding. “Oh! Oh. Oh no, I don’t think you‘d like that.”
“Why not?” Mikoto mused.
“Because you’re a woman, and I share that with you.”
Mikoto grinned, just as she had suspected. “That’s okay. I do like that.”
“We should get started.” Asahina lifted his palm and began walking away.
“Asahina-san, wait!” Diagotsu called after him. “Jashuwa told Matsu-san and me that we needed to keep in pairs to fight the Noise.” She took a few hurried steps and caught up with Asahina, the two of them headed towards the dueling grounds.
***
Katsumi stared at her hand, trying to figure out the ancient kanji calligraphed below the descending numbers. She knew how to read and write well enough, but these words, they weren’t ones you’d see in your day to day encounters. They were old, really old, making it difficult to gain insight on the matter when she had trouble deciphering the magic script telling here what to do. Oh how ridiculous that would sound to anyone but her, and not because she was living these odd happenings. The Empire was a strange one when it came to accepting the curious conjurations of the realms. If you’re born with white hair, you’re destined to become great; if you’re born with one eye colored different than the other, you invite evil spirits wherever you go. Yes, Katsumi knew the unwavering resolution of cloistered minds all too well. To anyone else, one would be mad to say such things. To anyone else, except the Spider.
They had accepted her even when her own parents had abandoned her. She was too young then to remember, or know the exact reasons, but she grew up understanding that something as simple as a discolored eye invited fear and demonizing from others. Her new family didn’t concern themselves with such frivolous ideas. Her father had told her to be proud to be chosen by the Realm, but even he knew there was a time when she needed to hide what others ignorantly feared, and had provided her with a patch for those occasions. It was easier for people to accept some horrible accident had befallen Katsumi than to accept that her eyes were not a matching pair. Even now, even here. She had noticed Shiba staring at her this morning, staring at her the way everyone stared when they realized her ‘affliction’.
“Okay, let‘s find the mayor.” Asahina tore Katsumi from her thoughts.
Katsumi looked up to see Matsu and Shiba arriving, only a few minutes behind Asahina and herself. She had kept pace with Asahina this morning after Matsu had made her advances at Katsumi. She hadn‘t understood at first, thinking Matsu may have been attempting to intimidate her in some strange and very ineffective way. It wasn‘t until Asahina had snorted his annoyance at Matsu‘s behavior that she became aware of what Matsu had been trying to get at. Katsumi hadn’t ever been propositioned in such a round about, tongue in cheek way. Maybe that was because flattery wasn’t exactly idolized in the Spider clan, like it was to the rest of Rokugan. Or that they weren’t weighed down with the honor expected of other samurai. Either way, she wasn’t sure what to do at that point, their current situation made it a considerably inconvenient time to fuss with someone’s lustful vices. So she had taken the easy way out and just taken off with Asahina.
He was a whole head taller than herself, and took rather quick strides as well. She felt like she basically had to run just to keep up with him. That explains why Shiba looked to be always running behind him as well. He was always the first to make a move in this game they were playing, obviously he was in a hurry to get back to his life. Though, his head had been caved in, so she wondered what sort of a life he’d be returned to. What an unfortunate turn of events if they were to live with their injuries, well, everyone but her. Jashuwa had said she was drowned. She still didn’t believe the story, however, she had nothing else to go on at the moment and no control to find out more.
“They’re dismantling the area, so the mayor should be somewhere nearby to delegate tasks.” Katsumi pointed out. She had a feeling she already knew what today’s game would entail. The bones this morning had given her ‘Teardown isn’t going well’. Now they were to find the mayor, surely it would lead to finding a solution for whatever is causing problems with disassembling the championship grounds.
Katsumi walked around looking for someone who seemed more important than the rest. The one standing around while everyone came to them. It was the easiest way to find someone who ran a city, they wouldn’t stoop to manual labor, believing soft hands, and with that a soft body and spine, made them superior somehow. Sure enough the man who had spoke at opening ceremonies for the tournament was standing nearby, or at least the hazy shadow of that man.
“I found him.” Katsumi called. She didn’t have to speak loudly, Asahina was already headed towards her and the grey man. She took a step back and let Asahina do his thing. Matsu had said that touching them allowed you to hear their thoughts, but Katsumi wasn’t about to go around running her fingers through the consciousness of people. It seemed wrong. Deeply personal. Not something she felt was her place to be doing.
Asahina reached into the shadow, looked as if he was listening rather intently, and removed his hand. “Progress is moving slower than it should. People are getting hurt by walls falling over and others are falling into holes.”
Katsumi nodded, she expected to hear nothing less after this morning‘s bones. She raised her right hand to follow the next directions, noticing Asahina had done the same at nearly the precise moment she had. “Find the problem.” This would be easier than yesterday. Yesterday they had to hunt for clues as to what the problem even was, today they just had to figure out why things were already going northeast*.
A black flitter swept through the corner of Katsumi’s eye, demanding her attention. She followed the movement and found herself watching a colony of bats flapping and fluttering through the air. Bats. In the middle of the day. There were a good dozen or so of them, passing at head level through the laborers and miscellaneous deconstructed benches and tents. Misty, smoky bats, creating a soupy black cloud against the dim, colorless background. It might have been the oddest thing Katsumi had ever seen, at the moment, nothing else could come to memory of something more peculiar. She reached out a hand to tap Asahina, to show him the colony, half to assure her she wasn’t going mad in this place, half because it would probably be the only time in anyone’s life that they witnessed so many bats during midday. She watched them swoop down, in unison, clutching at the rope used to hold down a tent, tied snugly to a wooden stake, and with the smallest amount of effort and a swoop of the colony, untie the rope causing the tent to collapse.
She never did get Asahina’s attention, but it seemed he had witnessed the same unique scene. Before the man inside the tent let out his scream of agony as the scaffolding collapsed on him, Asahina was running towards the pavilion. The colony lifted and simply rippled off into the distance. Katsumi watched the cloud of bats head towards the mouth of a cave, a cave that she didn’t recall seeing the previous days in the city, nor yesterday the last time they were in this area. Then again, she never really was looking for a cave. A loud thud brought her attention back to the fallen tent as a tree trunk wielded by a giant, headless, ogre pounded into the ground. The animated monstrosity wasn’t alone, a second ogre in the same shambles coalesced, also holding a club the size of a small tree in its discolored, grey hands.
A spear flew out from her peripheral vision, sinking behind the first ogre. Katsumi followed the trajectory to its source, a scowling Shiba standing empty-handed. Hikaru was positioning himself in front of Matsu. Katsumi pushed the ground with her polearm, giving her a small boost in speed, but also angling the bisento towards the ogres, the perfect position so she could ready her weapon while on the move. She raced towards the second of the demons, taking note that Asahina was already slashing at the first, catching it on the arm. Hikaru sprinted in front of her, leaping towards the same giant Asahina had inflicted, rending his thick claws into the ashen flesh.
Katsumi lunged at the headless beast, catching the ogre in its side. Perhaps it was because nothing else had been of this size, or maybe it was because Katsumi’s full weight was coming down on the creature, but the way her bisento plunged into the shadowy being just wasn’t right. Instead of the resistance flesh provides before giving way to the feeling of muscle separating from each other, it was soft. There was something tangible about the ogre, but it was more like cutting into a high piled down pillow. Only the smallest of resistance before she was pushing into nothing. She landed, feet firmly on the ground, as the ogre swung its trunk club towards her head. It was incredibly slow allowing Katsumi to easily dodge with a squat. She jabbed at its belly again, this time coming too short on her reach, the ogre backing up from her.
She could hear the snarls of Hikaru, the lion instinctually attempting to intimidate the ogre. The soft scratch of Asahina’s sandals on the fake ground, as he slid from one attack to the next. The grunts of Shiba, thrusting and slashing. And dared a peek towards the first ogre to gauge how well they were doing to see Matsu’s chestnut hair, and earth toned clothes, sweeping behind the beast, katana drawn and mid swing. There was a hallow howl of air being split, Katsumi refocused on her target to see a trunk descending on the spot she stood. She rolled, barely dodging the blackened wood as it came crashing into the faded ground. She sprang to her feet, slicing at the tendons behind the behemoth’s knee. A fist the size of her head flew towards her. Katsumi was already low to the ground, a duck and she was in the clear, jabbing again, but missing this time.
A gurgling groan and the slow sound of something large toppling over came from her side. She didn’t want to be caught off guard again, but it was clear to her the other monster had fallen. Hers’ twisted, then lurched, attempting to grab her this time. It was so slow, there was no way it would ever get a hit on her. Katsumi hopped forward, thrusting her bisento into the ogre’s strangely empty feeling chest with all her strength, pushing and twisting. A blade came close to her own abdomen, hacking at the shadow’s leg. Shiba had severed the artery, or at least where the artery should have been. These things hadn’t bled from the first one they came across, there was no spray of warmth Katsumi had to shield her eyes from, no thick and sweet blood covering her clothes. She pulled her bisento from the giants chest, propelling herself backwards, out of the way of its lifeless decent to the clouded ground.
It may not bleed like those of the living, but it died just like the rest of them.
*The people of Rokugan have lives steeped heavily in superstitions. Most people believe it is unlucky to travel in a northeast direction as that is the same way the Shadowlands, an area of Rokugan tainted by Jigoku (hell), runs. If one does have to travel northeast, they will travel north as far as they can, then east.
They had accepted her even when her own parents had abandoned her. She was too young then to remember, or know the exact reasons, but she grew up understanding that something as simple as a discolored eye invited fear and demonizing from others. Her new family didn’t concern themselves with such frivolous ideas. Her father had told her to be proud to be chosen by the Realm, but even he knew there was a time when she needed to hide what others ignorantly feared, and had provided her with a patch for those occasions. It was easier for people to accept some horrible accident had befallen Katsumi than to accept that her eyes were not a matching pair. Even now, even here. She had noticed Shiba staring at her this morning, staring at her the way everyone stared when they realized her ‘affliction’.
“Okay, let‘s find the mayor.” Asahina tore Katsumi from her thoughts.
Katsumi looked up to see Matsu and Shiba arriving, only a few minutes behind Asahina and herself. She had kept pace with Asahina this morning after Matsu had made her advances at Katsumi. She hadn‘t understood at first, thinking Matsu may have been attempting to intimidate her in some strange and very ineffective way. It wasn‘t until Asahina had snorted his annoyance at Matsu‘s behavior that she became aware of what Matsu had been trying to get at. Katsumi hadn’t ever been propositioned in such a round about, tongue in cheek way. Maybe that was because flattery wasn’t exactly idolized in the Spider clan, like it was to the rest of Rokugan. Or that they weren’t weighed down with the honor expected of other samurai. Either way, she wasn’t sure what to do at that point, their current situation made it a considerably inconvenient time to fuss with someone’s lustful vices. So she had taken the easy way out and just taken off with Asahina.
He was a whole head taller than herself, and took rather quick strides as well. She felt like she basically had to run just to keep up with him. That explains why Shiba looked to be always running behind him as well. He was always the first to make a move in this game they were playing, obviously he was in a hurry to get back to his life. Though, his head had been caved in, so she wondered what sort of a life he’d be returned to. What an unfortunate turn of events if they were to live with their injuries, well, everyone but her. Jashuwa had said she was drowned. She still didn’t believe the story, however, she had nothing else to go on at the moment and no control to find out more.
“They’re dismantling the area, so the mayor should be somewhere nearby to delegate tasks.” Katsumi pointed out. She had a feeling she already knew what today’s game would entail. The bones this morning had given her ‘Teardown isn’t going well’. Now they were to find the mayor, surely it would lead to finding a solution for whatever is causing problems with disassembling the championship grounds.
Katsumi walked around looking for someone who seemed more important than the rest. The one standing around while everyone came to them. It was the easiest way to find someone who ran a city, they wouldn’t stoop to manual labor, believing soft hands, and with that a soft body and spine, made them superior somehow. Sure enough the man who had spoke at opening ceremonies for the tournament was standing nearby, or at least the hazy shadow of that man.
“I found him.” Katsumi called. She didn’t have to speak loudly, Asahina was already headed towards her and the grey man. She took a step back and let Asahina do his thing. Matsu had said that touching them allowed you to hear their thoughts, but Katsumi wasn’t about to go around running her fingers through the consciousness of people. It seemed wrong. Deeply personal. Not something she felt was her place to be doing.
Asahina reached into the shadow, looked as if he was listening rather intently, and removed his hand. “Progress is moving slower than it should. People are getting hurt by walls falling over and others are falling into holes.”
Katsumi nodded, she expected to hear nothing less after this morning‘s bones. She raised her right hand to follow the next directions, noticing Asahina had done the same at nearly the precise moment she had. “Find the problem.” This would be easier than yesterday. Yesterday they had to hunt for clues as to what the problem even was, today they just had to figure out why things were already going northeast*.
A black flitter swept through the corner of Katsumi’s eye, demanding her attention. She followed the movement and found herself watching a colony of bats flapping and fluttering through the air. Bats. In the middle of the day. There were a good dozen or so of them, passing at head level through the laborers and miscellaneous deconstructed benches and tents. Misty, smoky bats, creating a soupy black cloud against the dim, colorless background. It might have been the oddest thing Katsumi had ever seen, at the moment, nothing else could come to memory of something more peculiar. She reached out a hand to tap Asahina, to show him the colony, half to assure her she wasn’t going mad in this place, half because it would probably be the only time in anyone’s life that they witnessed so many bats during midday. She watched them swoop down, in unison, clutching at the rope used to hold down a tent, tied snugly to a wooden stake, and with the smallest amount of effort and a swoop of the colony, untie the rope causing the tent to collapse.
She never did get Asahina’s attention, but it seemed he had witnessed the same unique scene. Before the man inside the tent let out his scream of agony as the scaffolding collapsed on him, Asahina was running towards the pavilion. The colony lifted and simply rippled off into the distance. Katsumi watched the cloud of bats head towards the mouth of a cave, a cave that she didn’t recall seeing the previous days in the city, nor yesterday the last time they were in this area. Then again, she never really was looking for a cave. A loud thud brought her attention back to the fallen tent as a tree trunk wielded by a giant, headless, ogre pounded into the ground. The animated monstrosity wasn’t alone, a second ogre in the same shambles coalesced, also holding a club the size of a small tree in its discolored, grey hands.
A spear flew out from her peripheral vision, sinking behind the first ogre. Katsumi followed the trajectory to its source, a scowling Shiba standing empty-handed. Hikaru was positioning himself in front of Matsu. Katsumi pushed the ground with her polearm, giving her a small boost in speed, but also angling the bisento towards the ogres, the perfect position so she could ready her weapon while on the move. She raced towards the second of the demons, taking note that Asahina was already slashing at the first, catching it on the arm. Hikaru sprinted in front of her, leaping towards the same giant Asahina had inflicted, rending his thick claws into the ashen flesh.
Katsumi lunged at the headless beast, catching the ogre in its side. Perhaps it was because nothing else had been of this size, or maybe it was because Katsumi’s full weight was coming down on the creature, but the way her bisento plunged into the shadowy being just wasn’t right. Instead of the resistance flesh provides before giving way to the feeling of muscle separating from each other, it was soft. There was something tangible about the ogre, but it was more like cutting into a high piled down pillow. Only the smallest of resistance before she was pushing into nothing. She landed, feet firmly on the ground, as the ogre swung its trunk club towards her head. It was incredibly slow allowing Katsumi to easily dodge with a squat. She jabbed at its belly again, this time coming too short on her reach, the ogre backing up from her.
She could hear the snarls of Hikaru, the lion instinctually attempting to intimidate the ogre. The soft scratch of Asahina’s sandals on the fake ground, as he slid from one attack to the next. The grunts of Shiba, thrusting and slashing. And dared a peek towards the first ogre to gauge how well they were doing to see Matsu’s chestnut hair, and earth toned clothes, sweeping behind the beast, katana drawn and mid swing. There was a hallow howl of air being split, Katsumi refocused on her target to see a trunk descending on the spot she stood. She rolled, barely dodging the blackened wood as it came crashing into the faded ground. She sprang to her feet, slicing at the tendons behind the behemoth’s knee. A fist the size of her head flew towards her. Katsumi was already low to the ground, a duck and she was in the clear, jabbing again, but missing this time.
A gurgling groan and the slow sound of something large toppling over came from her side. She didn’t want to be caught off guard again, but it was clear to her the other monster had fallen. Hers’ twisted, then lurched, attempting to grab her this time. It was so slow, there was no way it would ever get a hit on her. Katsumi hopped forward, thrusting her bisento into the ogre’s strangely empty feeling chest with all her strength, pushing and twisting. A blade came close to her own abdomen, hacking at the shadow’s leg. Shiba had severed the artery, or at least where the artery should have been. These things hadn’t bled from the first one they came across, there was no spray of warmth Katsumi had to shield her eyes from, no thick and sweet blood covering her clothes. She pulled her bisento from the giants chest, propelling herself backwards, out of the way of its lifeless decent to the clouded ground.
It may not bleed like those of the living, but it died just like the rest of them.
*The people of Rokugan have lives steeped heavily in superstitions. Most people believe it is unlucky to travel in a northeast direction as that is the same way the Shadowlands, an area of Rokugan tainted by Jigoku (hell), runs. If one does have to travel northeast, they will travel north as far as they can, then east.
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