The ship rocked slowly in the swells of the Sea of Japan. A strong winter westerly was taking them to the Kingdom of Korea in good time. The steersman and one other seaman were the only people on deck in the chill wind.
Down below there was little headroom, but enough space between cargo and rope to take some ease out of the wind. The sailors were playing a raucous game of dice in the stern, exchanging money and insults and drink to pass the time.
Towards the bow there was a second group of men, more quiet, sitting in the light of a few small lamps. They were all armed, with the weapons and bearing of samurai.
The tallest and oldest of them, Takenoshita Yabu, took a drink of sake and passed the bottle to Saburo. Yabu glanced at the two new men in the group, Hotaru-no-suke and Benesato.
"Well, here we are, well on our way to Korea," Yabu said to the air at large. "Hunting a fabled ghost-cutting sword, hoping that it may be the doom of that black priest. A strange circumstance to be in, even for lucky adventurers like ourselves, ne?"
The group nodded general assent. Saburo passed the sake to Junzo.
"We will need to trust in each other," Yabu went on, "to know a little about each other. We will soon be surrounded by foreigners, far from any allies." Junzo made a face and spat expressively at the idea of so many foreigners.
"Junzo-san and I know each other well enough," Yabu continued. "And we have learned something about Saburo-san as well in the last few months. I was badly wounded when we freed Prince Heihachiro, and Benesato-san was very useful in that endeavour. As for young Hotaru san, we know little about you as yet. I think it would be useful for each of us to learn a bit about each other now, before we stand back to back in a circle of enemy swords, do you not all agree? And it would also help to pass the time."
There was a further general nodding of assent, and nobody objected, so Yabu nodded firmly and began.
"Very well, then. I will begin, and we will move around the circle so. I am Takenoshita Yabu. I entered the service of Arai Tetsuo a year ago, or a bit more. Before that time I have been ronin for twenty years or more. I have fought in many battles, both as common soldier and other roles. I have studied combat enough to defend myself and gain a small reputation as a duellist; I am also a bit of a poet."
"A bit," nodded Saburo, "for I had heard of you before, though I know your work better now."
Yabu laughed. "I hope I have not disappointed! But I am finished, unless there are any questions that you have for me?" Although the query was general, Yabu's eyes rested upon Hotaru and Benesato.
"Disappointed?", Saburo smiled, "No. The words were always pleasant to my ear. But I find that I understand them better now for having lived through the last few works of yours."
Saburo stared into the lamp before speaking. "For myself, I have been Ronin for some time now, content to wander the roads where the fates lead me, and pondering the wonders and mystery of life. But never before has my task been more clear than it is now. I did not accept the honor of becoming the Lord's retainer, though I believe him to be a great man whose cause is just. For that I am content to fight for him as a hired Ronin. I could not dedicate myself any further as the destruction of Kura and his dark ways is to me of far more import than myself or my duties towards others. To this end I fight willingly as ally to your Lord and his cause, but for now, I cannot promise more. When the natural order is once again restored I will decide my actions. Until then, I dedicate my life to this end."
Hotaru listened to Saburo's words is silence, although his brows narrowed a bit at the mention of the ronin's refusal to be one of Lord Arai's retainers. If Saburo noticed, he did not react. Yabu nodded at Saburo. "An answer that suits a philosopher, Saburo-san. Come, Hotaru and Benesato, do you have any questions for Saburo?"
After a moment's silence, Junzo took up the thread.
"My name is Okamura Junzo. I have lived my whole life in the service of Lord Arai, as has my family for generations. I was Sensei regarding the way of the blade to many of the Ashigaru. I have trained in the art of the blade for my entire life for one purpose; to ensure that the Arai family remains strong and to bring honor to the Arai family and through them to my own family." Loosening the reflexive grip on his pommel, Junzo fell silent.
"We have all walked the path of the blade for some time, Junzo," said Saburo, "The same path has different meanings for different men. What does the way of the blade mean to you?"
"The way of the blade is a means to perfect harmony," replied the samurai. "If you can reach harmony, then anything is possible."
"And if you reached harmony in this lifetime, when anything is possible, what would you do with this power?", inquired Saburo.
"Ah," replied Junzo. "Who can say. Yet, I know that should I ever reach such a perfection and harmony I would then surely know what to do with it."
"Hah! A good answer," laughed Yabu. "And I am certain that Saburo would like to talk further on this matter. But it is better to talk philosophy later, when we have had more sake. And I would like to hear at least something about our newer companions before we go on to resolve questions about the search for enlightenment! Hotaru-san, speak up. Tell us somewhat about yourself."
"My name is Hotaru-no-suke and I am a kachi in the service of Lord Arai," Hotaru said softly. "I hail from the village of Kasamatsu, which lies near the source of the river Shionori. My family, although a small one, has served the Arai house for many generations, and there is nothing I will not do to return Ogame-sama to his rightful place as ruler of Ariki." Having said his piece, Hotaru glanced around at the circle of samurai in an almost furtive manner, as if surprised to have made such a long speech.
"Ah, so," Yabu said. "You are very direct, Hotaru-san. And we have seen your skill with the yari at the bridge ambush. You have mentioned, if my memory does not fail me, that you ride poorly. As the commander of our little expedition, I would like to ask you a few questions regarding your training."
Hotaru blinked in response to Yabu's words, but otherwise remained calm. "As you wish, General," he whispered, bowing low from the waist.
"What weapons are you trained in, beyond the yari we have seen you use?"
"This", he said, tapping the saya of his katana.
"None other? What of the yumi? Do you have any skill at unarmed combat?"
"Ah..." Hotaru paused for a moment. "General Yabu, I have been taught the ways of the spear and the sword, as well as the naginata and nagimaki. As for the yumi, I have little or no skill in that art.
Hotaru paused again, searching for the right words. "I do have some knowledge of unarmed combat, General... it is a form of jujitsu practiced by my family."
"Well enough," Yabu said. "It does not befit a warrior to be helpless if he is disarmed. As for the yumi, I have only fair competence with it myself, although Saburo and Junzo are better archers. But you will need skill in fighting from a horse, I warrant. You must train in it, as time allows, in case of future need."
"As the General wishes." Hotaru bowed low to Yabu.
Yabu nodded his head in return, then turned to the lone member of the group who had not yet spoken. "Ah, Benesato-san, now it is your turn. We have heard a little of your story, I think. Will you now speak, and tell us in more detail, how you come to fight by our side?"
Benesato looked up, his eyes dancing from the lamplight, "The whole tale would be hard to believe, so I'll tell you my part, and leave the rest of the tale for some time when we are all better aquainted."
Shifting he laid his Katana across his lap and stared down at the handle, finely detailed and enlaid with the name of its master in small chips of ebony stone. "I am Benasato, poet and musician, scholar and healer. I fight for young Lord Ogame to balance the Karmic debt of a dear friend, to help ensure peace for our lifetimes and those of our children to be."
Benesato paused, his lips turning up into a smile, "But alas, that is but half of the story. It is also a tale of honor and betrayal, murder and violence, a tale in which a villain dies, only to be reborn as a hero. Truly a tale worthy of seeing to the end, don't you all agree?"