The Beginning
The winds howl across the rolling landscape of the Seven Days Battle Plain. This land has a glorious history in the annals of the Emerald Empire. It was here that the Lion clan came to the call of a vast army approaching. It was here that Iuchiban brought his army of undead and fellow bloodspeakers. And it was here that a ronin named Usagi proved his mettle and was granted a clan he named Hare.
Now, 300 years later, the Hare clan is at its lowest point in history. A recent war with the Fox clan over disputed lands has reduced their numbers dramatically. Faced with bad crops and ill fortune the Hare clan daimyo Usagi Oda has accepted an offer of help from a brother minor clan, the Mantis.
For apparently no compensation the Mantis are willing to resupply food storage bins and field an police force of loyal(?) ronin and ashigaru on his lands to increase security to the lands of the Hare. Attracted by the promise of warm food and roofs over their heads, many wave men have come to the lands of the Hare.
The sun reaches is just rising to bless the day anew and finds Zhurhi, a Mantis clan bushi, walking across the practice grounds of Shiro no Usagi. Hands behind his back and eyes to the castle parapets, Zhurhi-san has much on his mind. It appears that one of his squads has been involved in an abnormal amount of sake house brawls. He fears he may have to discipline the group as a whole instead of making and example of a single member. The worst is that he knows the one who is responsible.
Ichiro Murai, Zhuri ponders, why can you not behave yourself? Is it not enough that you are given better quarters than the men you lead? If only Kyotagu-sama had made his instructions more... ambiguous.
"Show the mainland that the Mantis are capable of compassion as well. Show the minor clans what we have to offer. Be a partner, not a commander. But keep discipline all the same."
Discipline. Yet be friendly towards the Minor Clans. Hmmph. Conflicting, yet I will find a way.
"Something troubles your thoughts, Zhurhi-san?"
Zhuri raises lowers his eyes to Togashi Ouei. Evidently Ouei has been practicing this brisk morning. On the outskirts of the training ground children of the peasant workers have flocked to see the strange monk perform the katas of his Bo. The sun reflects off of Ouei's bald head, slick with sweat. The lion picture tattoed to his chest seems more alive in the day than in the torch-lit halls of the castle at night. Sometimes from the corner of my eye, I swear that it is ready to pounce at me. The tattoo is poetically contrasted by the chrysanthemum on the back of his neck. They are both masterpieces of the art, and it is difficult to determine which was placed on his skin first.
Ouei arrived to the castle shortly after Zhuri, and almost immediately was allowed to stay as long as he pleased. The monk graciously accepted. Usagi Oda-sama relishes his games of Go against the monk, who is gracious enough to challenge an old man to a game he mastered years ago, and bold enough to not fear repurcussions from beating a daimyo well above his station.
"No, Ouei-san," replies Zhurhi. "I merely wish to align my chi before riding out for another day of administration."
Yes my friend, muses Ouei. You were born to fight single opponents and lead men to battle, not organize patrols and spend hours in court polishing your etiquette with double-dealing samurai. "Your chi is your center, the essence of your soul. It would be remiss if you were off-balance."
"Hai. And I fear my soul will need all the balance it can find. I will be leaving soon for Riverside Pebbles village. I know that you travel there quite often with Takeshi-sama to choose the quarry stones brought to the castle for repairs. Would you care to accompany me there as well?"
The monk hesitates. "Unfortunately I have already promised great Oda-sama that I would be present for the Fox delegation arriving tonight. He was quite polite in his request and I would never seek to dissapoint our gracious Daimyo."
Zhurhi takes it all in stride. "It was a spontaneous offer, I completely understand your devotion to Oda-sama."
The conversation comes to a halt as a red tulip with white ribbon tied to its stem lands neatly between the two men. Both men raise their heads toward the castle, story by story, until they both discover the source of the flower at nearly the same time. As if on cue, they both allow themselves a small smile, noticeable only by the shrewdest of observers.
High on the third floor blacony overlooking the practice yard, two young maidens gaze upon the warriors below, their faes hidden by laced fans. Both are clad in the Usagi colors or burgundy and white. Both have their hair tied into identical styles. Only one, however, bears the mon of the Hare clan upon her kimono. The other bears no physical mon or alleigance, though the daisho she wears has recently been painted dark red.
"A well laid throw, my good friend."
"I thank you for the compliment."
The two men on the ground lower their gazes to each other, then to the flower between them. One could almost sense the anxiety between the two from here, muses Onuri. But then the monk takes a half step back and tilts his head to the Mantis. The samurai scoops the tulip up quickly and tucks the flower in his obi, but does not raise his head again.
Usagi Tomoe sighs as the green-clad warrior walks out of view back into the castle. "Do you think he knew which of us threw the flower, Onuri?"
Onuri slowly closes her fan and brings it to her cheek. "I do not think that is what truly matters, Tomoe-sama. Only that he assumes you meant it for him."
"And if honored Ouei-san had chosen the flower?"
"Then we would have been witnesses to a fine bugei contest, my lady," Onuri laughs softly. And I would have had a few things to say to Ouei... later. "But I doubt that Zhurhi-sama would yield where your attentions are concerned."
Onuri had been one of the first ronin to heed the call of the Mantis gathering a police force to help the Hare clan. While a fine warrior and able samurai-ko, she was unfortunately too beautiful for her own good. She had quickly become a disruptive element whenever she was the only female on patrol duty with a group of belligerent ronin. However, she was able to prove her usefulness when a rumor began to circulate the Usagi court that the honorable Usagi Tomoe, Oda's only daughter, was not as honorable as was percieved and had been quite promiscuous during her shugenja training in the Kitsu lands. The rumors became so damaging that soon Tomoe would need to commit seppukku or join a monastery to cleanse the shame. Onuri appeared one night after being AWOL for one week, battered and bloody, carrying written evidence with the Kitsu family stamp upon it that cleared Tomoe of any dishonor. Since then, Onuri had served in Shiro no Usagi as a guard and personal yojimbo to Usagi Tomoe, by Tomoe's own request.
The women retreat from the balcony into Tomoe's study. The room is rife with scrolls, wooded chests, and letters both informative and amorous. Opposite the balcony entrance sits a large, finely crafted cherry wood desk, upon which lies the latest of Tomoe's elemental studies. For all that she maintains the appearance of a delicate lady, she has a lust for knowledge that outshines anyone I have met, muses Onuri. And kami are one of the few secrets I do not understand. So much the better that Tomoe and I have such open communication.
Tomoe pulls a scroll from her satchel and unrolls it quickly. "My brother has written another haiku to you, Onuri. Do you care to hear it?" Tomoe smiles, a gleam in her eye.
Oh dear, another amatuer poem to my beauty. "I would be honored to hear what Ozaki-sama feels. A true samurai has no trouble writing his observations to paper."
"The ronin at peace
Her eyes see through anyone
How can she see me?"
Simple, yet sweet. "I am truly honored by the attentions you brother keeps for me. I am certain his future wife will have no end of entertainment from his literature. That is his finest poem yet."
Tomoe smirks. "He has much left to learn. Your response is as always, proper and honorable Onuri. I still do not understand why my father does not approve of your presense. You do nothing to instigate troubles or dishonor the court. And I feel safer knowing you are closeby."
Perhaps the only reason I continue serving within these castle walls, my friend. "But I am still ronin, Tomoe-sama. One cannot forget how below your station I am."
"Yes, but perhaps with time... If you keep proving yourself to the Usagi court I don't see why my father would not induct you into our clan. Is that not what you wish?"
"More than you can know. But that time is a far way off and I dare not hope for it, as it may never be. But now my friend, I need to ask you a question: What do you intend to do with Zhurhi-sama? I fear that I am not totally convincing the castle that he is enamored of myself and not you. He is getting more and more blatant in his poetry of his feelings for you."
"Yes I know. But he is such a wonderful man! Commanding yet compassionate. Rugged yet proper. The perfect savage."
And more than willing to marry you! This would cause and even larger scandal than the problems with the Kitsu! "Yet you know that such an arrangement cannot last. You will have to marry the man your father chooses."
"Of course I realize that! It has been ingrained into me since I was a child!" The lady Tomoe seemed to deflate as she walked back towards the sunlight in the window. "But for just a little while I can be free. I can spend time with a man who loves me for who I am, not what I represent." With a smile Onuri did not see, she added "And who knows, father may suprise us both and choose the man that would solve this entire problem."
If only life could be that simple, Tomoe. We would all have what we want. You, a loving husband. Me, a place to call home. "Yes, Tomoe-sama."
*****
A drunken insult. A temper flares. A drunken rage and a tug on the kimono sleeve. Here we go again, thinks Katateochi, and the fight ensues. A quick duck then flip, and he throws the budoka through the air. Grabbing the bench, Katateochi quickly sweeps the ground, clearing out all but two of the five men who were rushing him. Damned Usagi, they're too quick sometimes. Grabbing the hair on their heads, he quickly slams their skulls together. A quick glance to see how his leader, Ichiro Murai, is fairing soon becomes his undoing. Katateochi beams in admiration as Murai-sama fends off three samurai even while a levie tries to choke him from behind. The admiration quickly becomes pain as Katateochi is slammed to the floor and feels the stinging pain of a sake bottle slam shatter against his head.
Why can't the brute ever let an insult slide? It's not as if he were insulted by a sober man, Kon wonders as she avoids yet another swing to her head. A quick grab then shove and her assailant is fumbling on the ground with two more of his comrades. They'd be so much more dangerous if they did more than just punch wildly. Another attacker comes from the left, only to find his nose broken and bloody after impacting with the wall. Smiling smugly to herself, Kon turns to find a pair of hands lunging for her throat. The opponent is to close to deflect and soon Kon drops to her knees, unable to breathe.
Summoning a last reserve of strength, Katateochi rams his knee as hard as he can into the groin of the man pinning him. While it does not have the fully desired effect, it releases some of the pressure. Distracted by the attack, the assailant is unprepared for Katateochi's head bashing into his face.
Suddenly the weight on him disappears, and Katateochi is pulled up to face Murai-sama himself. "Watch out for those levies, Katateochi," he says "they fight dirtier than the samurai." And then Murai is off again, wading though the chaos he created, laughing all the while.
Amazing, muses Katateochi, in my village the headman would just come from behind and hit Murai on the back of the head and hold him until he regained consciousness. But no one ever seems to bother with that in these lands. I wonder how this fight will be ended?
In answer to his question the door to the sake house burst open with a loud crack. The noise was such to create a pause in the brawl. "CEASE this idiotic fight immediately!" a gruff and commanding voice bellowed. All eyes turned to the source to see a samurai dressed in the olive green of the Manis looming at the door.
Kon gasps for air as the grip about her throat suddenly releases. Rising slowly to her feet, a flare of anger washes though her. Her recent assailant has his attention to the forward of the room. A quick kidney punch relieves her temper quite nicely. Leaning against the wall to catch his breath, the Usagi budoka gives her a long hard stare. We will settle this another time, ronin, his eyes tell her. Kon gives him her most seductive smile and winks.
Zhurhi surveys the room before him. Broken window, dented walls, broken bottles, scuffed floor, injured levies. Neither Oda-sama nor my accountant will be pleased. Best to start reparing things now. "Who leads this Hare Clan regiment?"
A samurai in red and white, still placing his hair back into a topknot, stands forward. "I am Usagi Jubei."
"I humbly apologize for this unfortunate occurence, Usagi Regai." He scans the room until he finds his target. "Murai... san. Come with me to the adjoining room. Would you care to accompany us,
Usagi Jubei?"
"Yes. I would definitely care so."
In the meantime.... "Who is Ichiro Murai's second in command?"
A man in drab colors with a bleeding forehead steps forward. "I am Katateochi, Mantis-sama."
"Organize the rest of Murai's squad into the square outside this sake house. And clean up your forehead before you pass out."
"Hai."
Turning his attention back to the two samurai before him, Zhurhi strides toward the storage room for privacy with the two men.
"Yoruge-san," he hears Jubei say, "take the squad back to the barracks."
Helping Kenro to his feet, Katateochi feels a tap on his shoulder. Turning, he is face-to-face with one of his opponents
during the brawl. The man tosses him a rag. "You'd best clean that up before you bleed on the floor anymore."
"Many thanks..." he stops before he says the wrong phrase, "... Usagi-sama."
"Do you intend to keep exploiting our hospitality while you are here, ronin?"
"I am sorry.."
"I have heard of your squad's sorted history, ronin," the Usagi cuts in. "I have heard of both Ichiro Murai and of this Katateochi. You both work to undermine any kind of alliance between the Mantis and the Hare. Do you understand this?"
"No I do not. I am simply a wave man. I do as my superiors require of me. I can do no more and no less."
"In the future I recommend that you think upon what Zhurhi-san wants you to do, not Ichiro Murai. Murai-san does not support and pay you." With that, the Usagi returns to his men and leads them out.
At this point Kenro speaks. "He does have a point, Katateochi. You always seem to jump in at the first chance with Murai-san."
One of the ronin-ko steps forward. "Perhaps Katateochi wishes to support his immediate supervisor in the absense of Zhurhi-sama. It's not as if the Mantis can be with us at all times."
"It's not as if Murai-san is the best qualified leader in the army either, Kon-san. He is from a minor clan, and wished to help in the Hare lands. Zhuri-sama could not put a ronin as his leader. To do so would insult someone, somewhere. That is also how that one samurai... Tonbo Ichinore, I believe. That is how he gained command of a squad."
"I believe we can keep talking about this outside," Katateochi interjects." Zhurhi-sama told us to leave the building. Let's go."
Zhurhi turns and places a finger to his temple. Murai, if you were one of my kobuke sailors I would tie a rope to your leg and drag you through the sea for a good league or so. "Apparently the fight started by a few cursory remarks made by drunken customers, is this correct?"
"Hai," the two samurai say in unison, though Murai punctuates his affirmative with a belch. Jubei turns his head, a grimace on his face.
"Then I will make reparations to Oda-sama for repairs to his sake house and take it out of my men's pay for the next month. Murai, you will tell the men this yourself."
"No 'roblem, sir," Murai gags out, "but I think I need to sit down."
"Then keep standing. We have a few more things to deal with. By your leave, Jubei-san?"
"Domo, Zhurhi-san. I am certain that Oda-sama will have a few questions about the damages, but I will be there to answer them."
Oh, excellent. And to give your own view of events as well, eh Jubei? Well, I doubt that Oda will kick us out for this. I just need to make sure this group straightens up a bit... "Then I bid you good day and pray that we meet again under more pleasant circumstances."
Continue to the next chapter, Finding the Balance
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