Postcards from Otosan Uchi
Year one - Practicum
Day 101 - Ayase
The days in court came to an end abruptly when Saizo and Ayase were called to the dojo with a number of other students. Merquri was not with them; Ayase had to assume that he had been called to other tasks. In the dojo, set up on armor stands, were polished suits of light armor, threaded with the emerald green of Emerald yoriki.
Seppun Izumi was on hand to greet them. “You are not yoriki yet,” she warned. “But it is time to put you to some sort of use. Get your armor fitted, and then Magistrate Akodo Renjiro will explain your duties.”
The next few hours were spent shaping and adjusting the armor until the fit was correct. Ayase, like all bushi in her dojo, had been trained in the use of light armor, and it gave her a surge of confidence to feel its bulwark and its accompanying obligation settle around her.
Akodo Renjiro was an older man in his fifties, his hair heavily salted with gray. Though a little portly, his own emerald-laced armor had more than a few dents in it. His eyes were tired, but he offered the students a smile of greeting. “With the heat of summer, the Tortoise are getting taxed, and it’s time you all got your feet wet anyway. I’ll be pairing you up and sending you out with some heimen that have worked with me before to show you around the city. Though I don’t doubt you’ve had a good opportunity to see some of the nicer parts.” He looked straight at Saizo when he said that, but continued on as if he hadn’t. “You have two days to learn. Then I will assign you your districts to patrol. If you do well,” he nodded, “then everything will go smoothly.”
Ayase was not surprised to be paired up with Saizo. Over the preceding months, they had achieved an understanding Of course she had been given warnings about the Scorpion, and she did not doubt them. But she had come to trust him enough to believe that, if he received orders to harm her, he’d stab her in the front, and really, could she ask for more than that?
The heimen guide they were assigned was named Ton. He was a wizened stick of a man who led Saizo and Ayase through the whole city. Ayase listened intently to every story. She had been so sheltered and protected in the beautiful environment in which she was raised. It was like she was visiting different realms, traveling into Yomi or Chikushudo to discover their secrets. She knew that this was what she wanted; to offer justice and mercy and some semblance of peace to these worlds. But there was a lot to learn.
It would take time. And she would do the best she could.
The days in court came to an end abruptly when Saizo and Ayase were called to the dojo with a number of other students. Merquri was not with them; Ayase had to assume that he had been called to other tasks. In the dojo, set up on armor stands, were polished suits of light armor, threaded with the emerald green of Emerald yoriki.
Seppun Izumi was on hand to greet them. “You are not yoriki yet,” she warned. “But it is time to put you to some sort of use. Get your armor fitted, and then Magistrate Akodo Renjiro will explain your duties.”
The next few hours were spent shaping and adjusting the armor until the fit was correct. Ayase, like all bushi in her dojo, had been trained in the use of light armor, and it gave her a surge of confidence to feel its bulwark and its accompanying obligation settle around her.
Akodo Renjiro was an older man in his fifties, his hair heavily salted with gray. Though a little portly, his own emerald-laced armor had more than a few dents in it. His eyes were tired, but he offered the students a smile of greeting. “With the heat of summer, the Tortoise are getting taxed, and it’s time you all got your feet wet anyway. I’ll be pairing you up and sending you out with some heimen that have worked with me before to show you around the city. Though I don’t doubt you’ve had a good opportunity to see some of the nicer parts.” He looked straight at Saizo when he said that, but continued on as if he hadn’t. “You have two days to learn. Then I will assign you your districts to patrol. If you do well,” he nodded, “then everything will go smoothly.”
Ayase was not surprised to be paired up with Saizo. Over the preceding months, they had achieved an understanding Of course she had been given warnings about the Scorpion, and she did not doubt them. But she had come to trust him enough to believe that, if he received orders to harm her, he’d stab her in the front, and really, could she ask for more than that?
The heimen guide they were assigned was named Ton. He was a wizened stick of a man who led Saizo and Ayase through the whole city. Ayase listened intently to every story. She had been so sheltered and protected in the beautiful environment in which she was raised. It was like she was visiting different realms, traveling into Yomi or Chikushudo to discover their secrets. She knew that this was what she wanted; to offer justice and mercy and some semblance of peace to these worlds. But there was a lot to learn.
It would take time. And she would do the best she could.
Day 106 - Saizo
A solid two months of court duties had at long last come to end as high summer settled on to the city. Heat does things to people, makes them angry, makes them stupid; maybe that’s why we were sent on to the streets in force. Because the Kasuga needed the extra manpower. Whatever the reason, we (that is, Ayase and myself) were partnered and sent to the Docks. The Dock district, like most...ports, is a place of villainy, scum, and general ill repute. After however-long on the ocean, sailors need to let loose a little, and a hungry community preys on them. There's no order here, not really. We walk through on raised pathways, as underneath the unflooded dirt is covered in all manner of refuse. Sometimes there are people down there as well, and a small still-human part of me breaks a little when they're children. Oh, they're peasants and occasionally eta, but still...they never asked for this. I wonder how people hold faith in this place? Looking at Ayase's careful steps, her careful blinks, and the tightening of her hand into fists...maybe she doesn't.
It was the fourth day on our 'patrol' when we ran into our first incident that we couldn't handle with some words and a fine. Local longshoreman by the name of Keita had returned home to find his wife, sweet woman by the name of Ume, being assaulted by a ronin going by the name of Hayate. Keita promptly murdered said ronin in a fit of rage. It was unfortunate, and if Keita had been a samurai, he might have had to pay a fine if that. Keita wasn't a samurai though; he was a heimin and there were so many laws against heimin killing samurai (outside of the Clan Mandated Ashigaru duty) that there was literally no way we could let him off. Not on our own. I think Keita knew that; all he asked was that we make sure that Ume was okay afterwards. Ayase said yes, the damn fool.
We dragged Keita before our new 'mentor' Akodo Renjiro and explained what happened. Renjiro looked at Keita and told the man to kneel. The man did so. Murdering a samurai, even a ronin samurai, had but one punishment, execution. Keita didn't bother pleading for his life. I wonder if he was a samurai in a past life or not. I put my hand on my sword, Suchiro no Shinko was never meant to be an executioner's blade. It would serve though, and I was....I wasn't unfamiliar with taking a life.
Instead of hearing the order for me. Renjiro looked straight at Ayase and said in a quiet monotone that brooked no argument, that she would execute this man. I wanted to argue, to say something...but there's nothing to say. A direct order can't be countered for simple sentimental reasons. I watched as Ayase went very still, her eyes flicking to the kneeling Keita. What's going on behind those strange orbs of hers? Shame? Hate? Fear? Or something altogether more painful, compassion?
Almost mechanically she took out her sword; without a word, she struck, Keita's head rolling to the ground before he even realized what happened. It was a quick, painless death; it was the best we could give him. Maybe if we had lied...but Ayase would never do that. And I might...but not for one peasant. That makes me a coward in some ways, but there's more where that came from.
Flicking the blade in a picture-perfect chiburi, Ayase cleaned the beautiful katana of the blood that stained it. Her movements were crisp, functional...and utterly soulless. I don't think she was really there anymore; her mind was trapped to just a few moments before, when she killed a man for the crime of defending his wife.
Renjiro seemed to notice and told us to go home for the day. Bereft of any better ideas, I offered to take her out to get drunk, or at least tea. She gave me the saddest smile I've ever seen and told me she just wanted to be alone right now. I let her go. I didn't leave her alone, but I let her pretend she was. I may have promised those two Crab who are oddly in love with her that I'd do my best to protect her; now though, it feels like that protection is grossly inadequate as she sits in the garden, saying nothing at all.
This is why I stopped going to temple.
Day 106 - Merquri
Purification day is never easy. But it's what's expected of our position. Most of the time it's simple. Executioner comes in, gets the blade purified, gets themselves purified, then leaves like nothing happened. Sometimes it's more complex. People new to the job, or people who've had it particularly rough that day might ask for guidance. Spiritual absolution as it were.
Giving it to them is easy. I don't know if it really helps. But I'm not going to deny it to them. Whatever helps them sleep at night.
Ayase came in today for absolution. Those mismatched eyes had a sadness to them. I didn't ask. I don't know what the story is, but if she wants to talk about it I'm sure she'll share. Or at least tell Saizo. They've both grown so much since we got here. Have I grown as much as they have? Honestly...I don't know. Maybe I have. Should ask them about it later.
Nothing else of note happened today. Still working on writing in three ciphers at once. It isn't easy. But I think I'll have it down by graduation at least.
Day 108 - Shiori
“Ume was it? Come in.” Completely unsure of how to treat a heimin who also happened to have had her husband executed Shiori awkwardly beckoned the small woman inside, she followed without saying a word, head bowed. Seating himself comfortably on one of his few pillows the Phoenix decided to default to his usual gentle probing.
“So, you have lived in Otosan Uchi your whole life?”
She nodded very slightly.
“And you have no family in the city?”
Again, she nodded.
“Excellent, then you are hired.”
This time she blinked and managed to mouth “Why?”
Shiori pretended to brush some dust off his kimono. “You are obviously qualified, now.” He handed her 3 bu. “Go buy whatever you need for yourself, if you need more you are to ask me. Your room will be in the attic. You will start your duties in three days.” Slightly more gently “Do you understand?”
Ume sat with her mouth open for a few moments before nodding quickly. “T-thank you Samurai-sama. I did… I mean I couldn’t”
He held up his hands. “Now Ume you are standing like a younger Shiori. Go, do what you need to do.” The peasant scurried out of the room while the samurai considered if he had a clue what he was doing.
Day 128 - Ayase
Is this really it? It was hard to believe that four months had passed, that not so long ago, Ayase had been speaking her adult name for the first time before the Emperor himself, and stealing moments with Yasuki Kagesuro under the branches of Golden Petal village.
So much had changed.
Saizo had changed. He always was hard to read, of course...Ayase still had difficulty seeing past the masks. She knew he carried a heavy burden he would not share...from the classes the Kasuga taught, from his own clan’s agendas that had him climbing out of the window in the middle of the night. From some other burden he wouldn’t share but darkened his thoughts when he read the letters he received from Akodo Kairi. His time in court, if anything, made him even more guarded, though he took to it like one born to it. But in the last month as they were paired almost daily in their patrols of Otosan Uchi, he seemed to relax. Maybe he had seen her as a delicate flower that might break. That she hadn’t...that she carried her load and sometimes kept him on his toes...had earned her a certain respect. He could let feelings show through the mask sometimes. How hungry children bothered him too. That it felt good to break up a fight. Once, he even laughed. It was a place to start.
Merquri had changed. She’d been afraid that his early treatment, and what had happened to the Isawa, might have knocked the spirit out of him. While Ayase was grateful that he wasn’t trying to insert himself in her love life, she had forgiven him and she didn’t want to see him hurt. But the time in court, and acting as a resource to the other yoriki, had coupled the strength to pull himself together with a new kind of responsibility that made him stronger for it. He could probably still use about a month of rest, but she supposed that was what Winter was for.
And she had changed. Somehow, in all the sleepless nights and exhausting days, she’d found a sense of peace she hadn’t before. Many of the smaller things she had worried so much about didn’t seem as important anymore. They thought she would break, perhaps, but she hadn’t. There were times it was close. Some of the things she saw...she had done...she could feel on her spirit like a scar, a raw, puckered welt. But she knew, when she looked at the trees on Seppun Hill, or listened to mournful song of the biwa or smiled at Kagesuro’s calligraphy, that there was beauty in the world anyway. She couldn’t fix everything in that world...there was much ugliness. But she could create a space for that beauty by what she was doing, even if it took sacrifice and left scars. The wound of Keita’s death would hurt for a long time.
The sun rose bright and clear as she rose and dressed in her finest. She met Bayushi Saizo, Iuchi Merquri, and four of the other students in the dojo, as she had been instructed. All of their instructors were there, as was the Ruby Champion, Agasha Sumiko, dressed her her brilliant red and gold armor. Three Emerald Magistrates were also there, including Akodo Renjiro. Ayase didn’t know the other two.
Seppun Izumi stepped forward. “Agasha-dono, I present to you these students of the Ruby Dojo. They have each excelled in their lessons, in their time in the court, and in their time in Otosan Uchi. The other sensei and I believe they are ready to stand as Yoriki to the Emerald Magistrates.”
Agasha Sumiko walked past them, looking at each candidate carefully. She nodded. “Very well.” She straightened with her hands clasped behind her back. “To be a samurai is to serve. So far, you have borne the burden of serving your clans alone, and through your clans, the Empire. Now, you bear the honor of serving the Empire directly. Are you prepared?”
A surge of pride filled Ayase’s heart. It had been so hard, but this....this was what was right for her. The reason she had been saved. With the others, she bowed. “Hai, Champion-dono!”
Each of the sensei stepped forward. Hida-sensei stepped up to her, bowed, and presented to her a sturdy steel jitte. She bowed back to the man who had given her so many beatings, but couldn’t help but feel a little pride as he nodded and slapped her on the shoulder. The others each received their jittes as well.
Then it was time for their assignments. Akodo Renjiro did not hesitate. “For me, I accept Bayushi Saizo, Kakita Ayase, and Iuchi….” He narrowed his eyes slightly.. “Merkiri as yoriki for the Higshikawa district.” He smiled and nodded with certainty, pleased enough with the close approximation of Merquri’s name. The servants will bring your things over to the station house. Take the rest of the day to celebrate, then report bright and early tomorrow morning. Dismissed.”
Ayase let a quirk of a smile escape her on as she shot a glance over at Merquri and Saizo.
We made it.
A solid two months of court duties had at long last come to end as high summer settled on to the city. Heat does things to people, makes them angry, makes them stupid; maybe that’s why we were sent on to the streets in force. Because the Kasuga needed the extra manpower. Whatever the reason, we (that is, Ayase and myself) were partnered and sent to the Docks. The Dock district, like most...ports, is a place of villainy, scum, and general ill repute. After however-long on the ocean, sailors need to let loose a little, and a hungry community preys on them. There's no order here, not really. We walk through on raised pathways, as underneath the unflooded dirt is covered in all manner of refuse. Sometimes there are people down there as well, and a small still-human part of me breaks a little when they're children. Oh, they're peasants and occasionally eta, but still...they never asked for this. I wonder how people hold faith in this place? Looking at Ayase's careful steps, her careful blinks, and the tightening of her hand into fists...maybe she doesn't.
It was the fourth day on our 'patrol' when we ran into our first incident that we couldn't handle with some words and a fine. Local longshoreman by the name of Keita had returned home to find his wife, sweet woman by the name of Ume, being assaulted by a ronin going by the name of Hayate. Keita promptly murdered said ronin in a fit of rage. It was unfortunate, and if Keita had been a samurai, he might have had to pay a fine if that. Keita wasn't a samurai though; he was a heimin and there were so many laws against heimin killing samurai (outside of the Clan Mandated Ashigaru duty) that there was literally no way we could let him off. Not on our own. I think Keita knew that; all he asked was that we make sure that Ume was okay afterwards. Ayase said yes, the damn fool.
We dragged Keita before our new 'mentor' Akodo Renjiro and explained what happened. Renjiro looked at Keita and told the man to kneel. The man did so. Murdering a samurai, even a ronin samurai, had but one punishment, execution. Keita didn't bother pleading for his life. I wonder if he was a samurai in a past life or not. I put my hand on my sword, Suchiro no Shinko was never meant to be an executioner's blade. It would serve though, and I was....I wasn't unfamiliar with taking a life.
Instead of hearing the order for me. Renjiro looked straight at Ayase and said in a quiet monotone that brooked no argument, that she would execute this man. I wanted to argue, to say something...but there's nothing to say. A direct order can't be countered for simple sentimental reasons. I watched as Ayase went very still, her eyes flicking to the kneeling Keita. What's going on behind those strange orbs of hers? Shame? Hate? Fear? Or something altogether more painful, compassion?
Almost mechanically she took out her sword; without a word, she struck, Keita's head rolling to the ground before he even realized what happened. It was a quick, painless death; it was the best we could give him. Maybe if we had lied...but Ayase would never do that. And I might...but not for one peasant. That makes me a coward in some ways, but there's more where that came from.
Flicking the blade in a picture-perfect chiburi, Ayase cleaned the beautiful katana of the blood that stained it. Her movements were crisp, functional...and utterly soulless. I don't think she was really there anymore; her mind was trapped to just a few moments before, when she killed a man for the crime of defending his wife.
Renjiro seemed to notice and told us to go home for the day. Bereft of any better ideas, I offered to take her out to get drunk, or at least tea. She gave me the saddest smile I've ever seen and told me she just wanted to be alone right now. I let her go. I didn't leave her alone, but I let her pretend she was. I may have promised those two Crab who are oddly in love with her that I'd do my best to protect her; now though, it feels like that protection is grossly inadequate as she sits in the garden, saying nothing at all.
This is why I stopped going to temple.
Day 106 - Merquri
Purification day is never easy. But it's what's expected of our position. Most of the time it's simple. Executioner comes in, gets the blade purified, gets themselves purified, then leaves like nothing happened. Sometimes it's more complex. People new to the job, or people who've had it particularly rough that day might ask for guidance. Spiritual absolution as it were.
Giving it to them is easy. I don't know if it really helps. But I'm not going to deny it to them. Whatever helps them sleep at night.
Ayase came in today for absolution. Those mismatched eyes had a sadness to them. I didn't ask. I don't know what the story is, but if she wants to talk about it I'm sure she'll share. Or at least tell Saizo. They've both grown so much since we got here. Have I grown as much as they have? Honestly...I don't know. Maybe I have. Should ask them about it later.
Nothing else of note happened today. Still working on writing in three ciphers at once. It isn't easy. But I think I'll have it down by graduation at least.
Day 108 - Shiori
“Ume was it? Come in.” Completely unsure of how to treat a heimin who also happened to have had her husband executed Shiori awkwardly beckoned the small woman inside, she followed without saying a word, head bowed. Seating himself comfortably on one of his few pillows the Phoenix decided to default to his usual gentle probing.
“So, you have lived in Otosan Uchi your whole life?”
She nodded very slightly.
“And you have no family in the city?”
Again, she nodded.
“Excellent, then you are hired.”
This time she blinked and managed to mouth “Why?”
Shiori pretended to brush some dust off his kimono. “You are obviously qualified, now.” He handed her 3 bu. “Go buy whatever you need for yourself, if you need more you are to ask me. Your room will be in the attic. You will start your duties in three days.” Slightly more gently “Do you understand?”
Ume sat with her mouth open for a few moments before nodding quickly. “T-thank you Samurai-sama. I did… I mean I couldn’t”
He held up his hands. “Now Ume you are standing like a younger Shiori. Go, do what you need to do.” The peasant scurried out of the room while the samurai considered if he had a clue what he was doing.
Day 128 - Ayase
Is this really it? It was hard to believe that four months had passed, that not so long ago, Ayase had been speaking her adult name for the first time before the Emperor himself, and stealing moments with Yasuki Kagesuro under the branches of Golden Petal village.
So much had changed.
Saizo had changed. He always was hard to read, of course...Ayase still had difficulty seeing past the masks. She knew he carried a heavy burden he would not share...from the classes the Kasuga taught, from his own clan’s agendas that had him climbing out of the window in the middle of the night. From some other burden he wouldn’t share but darkened his thoughts when he read the letters he received from Akodo Kairi. His time in court, if anything, made him even more guarded, though he took to it like one born to it. But in the last month as they were paired almost daily in their patrols of Otosan Uchi, he seemed to relax. Maybe he had seen her as a delicate flower that might break. That she hadn’t...that she carried her load and sometimes kept him on his toes...had earned her a certain respect. He could let feelings show through the mask sometimes. How hungry children bothered him too. That it felt good to break up a fight. Once, he even laughed. It was a place to start.
Merquri had changed. She’d been afraid that his early treatment, and what had happened to the Isawa, might have knocked the spirit out of him. While Ayase was grateful that he wasn’t trying to insert himself in her love life, she had forgiven him and she didn’t want to see him hurt. But the time in court, and acting as a resource to the other yoriki, had coupled the strength to pull himself together with a new kind of responsibility that made him stronger for it. He could probably still use about a month of rest, but she supposed that was what Winter was for.
And she had changed. Somehow, in all the sleepless nights and exhausting days, she’d found a sense of peace she hadn’t before. Many of the smaller things she had worried so much about didn’t seem as important anymore. They thought she would break, perhaps, but she hadn’t. There were times it was close. Some of the things she saw...she had done...she could feel on her spirit like a scar, a raw, puckered welt. But she knew, when she looked at the trees on Seppun Hill, or listened to mournful song of the biwa or smiled at Kagesuro’s calligraphy, that there was beauty in the world anyway. She couldn’t fix everything in that world...there was much ugliness. But she could create a space for that beauty by what she was doing, even if it took sacrifice and left scars. The wound of Keita’s death would hurt for a long time.
The sun rose bright and clear as she rose and dressed in her finest. She met Bayushi Saizo, Iuchi Merquri, and four of the other students in the dojo, as she had been instructed. All of their instructors were there, as was the Ruby Champion, Agasha Sumiko, dressed her her brilliant red and gold armor. Three Emerald Magistrates were also there, including Akodo Renjiro. Ayase didn’t know the other two.
Seppun Izumi stepped forward. “Agasha-dono, I present to you these students of the Ruby Dojo. They have each excelled in their lessons, in their time in the court, and in their time in Otosan Uchi. The other sensei and I believe they are ready to stand as Yoriki to the Emerald Magistrates.”
Agasha Sumiko walked past them, looking at each candidate carefully. She nodded. “Very well.” She straightened with her hands clasped behind her back. “To be a samurai is to serve. So far, you have borne the burden of serving your clans alone, and through your clans, the Empire. Now, you bear the honor of serving the Empire directly. Are you prepared?”
A surge of pride filled Ayase’s heart. It had been so hard, but this....this was what was right for her. The reason she had been saved. With the others, she bowed. “Hai, Champion-dono!”
Each of the sensei stepped forward. Hida-sensei stepped up to her, bowed, and presented to her a sturdy steel jitte. She bowed back to the man who had given her so many beatings, but couldn’t help but feel a little pride as he nodded and slapped her on the shoulder. The others each received their jittes as well.
Then it was time for their assignments. Akodo Renjiro did not hesitate. “For me, I accept Bayushi Saizo, Kakita Ayase, and Iuchi….” He narrowed his eyes slightly.. “Merkiri as yoriki for the Higshikawa district.” He smiled and nodded with certainty, pleased enough with the close approximation of Merquri’s name. The servants will bring your things over to the station house. Take the rest of the day to celebrate, then report bright and early tomorrow morning. Dismissed.”
Ayase let a quirk of a smile escape her on as she shot a glance over at Merquri and Saizo.
We made it.
Day 128 -Merquri
Merquri stepped into Seppun Izumi’s office. She'd asked him to attend to her after the ceremony. He didn't know why. Had he done something wrong? Did she want him to write her one more apology for old time’s sake? Did she want to give him one last thwack with bokey?
That seemed like it was the most likely scenario, as when he walked in the Seppun had old bokey laying next to her. He knew the blade had been changed out many times, but the hilt was always the same. Same dumb grip, same three tassels hanging from it. One a lightish blue, one a dark red, and one an imperial green. But there was something new in it today. Merquri looked puzzled at the new addition, a single unicorn purple tassel had joined the original three.
Seppun Izumi sat in the middle of the room, still wearing the same ceremonial robes from the graduation ceremony. “Come. Sit, Iuchi-san,” she said, gesturing in front of her. Merquri came and walked in front of her. Sitting a respectable distance away, but not so far that she couldn't whack him if she wanted. Making her stand to do it would just make things worse, after all.
“Congratulations on graduating, Iuchi-san. I'm sure you're wondering why I called you here?”.
Ah yes the test. Must figure out what I did wrong this time...let's...
“You didn't do anything wrong, Iuchi-san” Seppun-sensei said breaking Merquri's concentration.
“I...I didn't, Seppun-sensei?” Merquri said, not fully comprehending what she just said.
“No, you didn't. At least not that I noticed Iuchi-san. You cut quite the Rokugani today.”.
Oh. Hearing that almost made Merquri smile. Almost. Can't show emotion after all. That'd be against procedure.
“Thank… Thank you, Seppun-sensei. But then… I'm afraid I'm at a loss as to why I'm here.”.
The Seppun reached out a hand and fondly grasped the blade of bokey. It took all of Merquri's willpower to not flinch away as she did. She then looked him in the eyes. “I called you here to congratulate you, Iuchi-san. And to give you something.”.
“Congratulate me, Seppun-sensei? For what?” She had already congratulated him on graduating, but he felt she meant something else with those words.
“For proving me wrong, Iuchi-san.” Before Merquri could ask what she meant she continued. “When you first came here I thought you were just another man who had gotten in here by political pressure alone, who would just be another blight on our resources. You may have come from the Topaz Championship, but you weren't invited by the Ruby Champion like the others. And the first day you walked in here with those ridiculous clothes and stupid hat… Why, I was sure of it.”.
She took the bokken and held it in both hands by the blade. “I was so sure of it. And I'm never wrong, Iuchi-san. Every student who comes here I can tell the ones who are just here because of politics, and the ones here because of skill. Can't always do anything about that. But you. You actually did it. You came in here, looking like a complete failure, and you actually managed to show yourself to be a fine addition to the dojo.”.
She took the bokken and presented it to him. “When I was younger, my Sensei presented this to me. She said her Sensei had given it to her after she had proven him wrong about her. On that day she said I had proven her wrong as well, and once I had my own students, to present it to the one who did the same to me.”.
Merquri looked… confused… Happy? He felt himself almost choking up at her words. But he had spent four months learning procedure, he wasn't going to fuck up now. “I...I can't possibly accept this. How can you say I've proven you wrong?”.
The Sensei smiled a little at that. “You passed Doji-sensei's test. Only about one to two people a year succeed at that. And then you won and kept her trust. Of all the people I've seen go through here, only one other has done that.”
“Maybe so, Seppun-sensei, but it is you giving me this gift. Doji-sensei's testimony is powerful indeed but... that can't prove that I'll be a good addition.” Merquri said, countering the acceptance. He used to hate this dance, but this time…. This time it felt right
“You aided in the release of another man's soul, preventing a haunting in our own dojo, and what's more.... You earned my trust, Merquri-san. Now take this blade. And go do the Emperor's will. I expect great things of you,” she said, smiling at him now.
“With such praise, Seppun-sensei...I have no choice but to accept, and try to prove myself worthy of it.” He reached out and took the blade. This thing that has beaten him for the past four months. This thing that he'd focused his rage at. This thing that has almost broken him.
He had never been given such a beautiful gift. As he bowed and left at her dismissal, he took bokey reverently and exited the room. It was all he could do to hold it in until he left. As soon as he exited the room however the tears of gratitude came unabated.
They didn't stop for quite some time.
Day 130 -Shiori
The two bushi stood facing eachother for a moment, eye’s locked on their opponent’s swords. Then as one they sprung towards one another, Shiori swung low, his step taking him right and down, the blade aiming for Atsumichi’s shin, the sensei shifted the opposite way, his blade flying forward towards a collar bone. In a second it was over and Shiori stepped back, a small cut on his shoulder starting to bleed freely, but the, very slowly a trickle of blood also began to seep from his sensei’s ankle. The older Shiba stood still for a moment before bowing politely to his student even as Shiori bowed back. “Good, you are done here.”
“Sensei Winter Court is not so long, when I return I would beg that-”
“No, you are done here. There is nothing left for you to learn in this dojo.”
“Uh… oh”
“Mmmph” Atsumichi cleaned his blade and resheathed it. “I would still not feel comfortable recommending you for yojimbo work Shiori-san, your vision is lacking, you possess no killer instinct and frankly I think you might die if I sneezed at you.” Well, that was comforting at least, for a second he’d been worried the sensei had been replaced by a doppelganger. “But still... You have some talent, be sure you do not use it frivolously at court. In the spring I will recommend you begin teaching the youngest students basic iaijutsu. In the meantime, act with honour.. And good luck.”
Obviously considering their conversation finished Atsumichi moved off to… whatever it was he did when it wasn’t hitting Shiori with a bokken, leaving his newly graduated student confused but… really quite elated. He might spring for some warmed ramen tonight. Ume had been silently nagging him to try something flavoured for weeks now...
Merquri stepped into Seppun Izumi’s office. She'd asked him to attend to her after the ceremony. He didn't know why. Had he done something wrong? Did she want him to write her one more apology for old time’s sake? Did she want to give him one last thwack with bokey?
That seemed like it was the most likely scenario, as when he walked in the Seppun had old bokey laying next to her. He knew the blade had been changed out many times, but the hilt was always the same. Same dumb grip, same three tassels hanging from it. One a lightish blue, one a dark red, and one an imperial green. But there was something new in it today. Merquri looked puzzled at the new addition, a single unicorn purple tassel had joined the original three.
Seppun Izumi sat in the middle of the room, still wearing the same ceremonial robes from the graduation ceremony. “Come. Sit, Iuchi-san,” she said, gesturing in front of her. Merquri came and walked in front of her. Sitting a respectable distance away, but not so far that she couldn't whack him if she wanted. Making her stand to do it would just make things worse, after all.
“Congratulations on graduating, Iuchi-san. I'm sure you're wondering why I called you here?”.
Ah yes the test. Must figure out what I did wrong this time...let's...
“You didn't do anything wrong, Iuchi-san” Seppun-sensei said breaking Merquri's concentration.
“I...I didn't, Seppun-sensei?” Merquri said, not fully comprehending what she just said.
“No, you didn't. At least not that I noticed Iuchi-san. You cut quite the Rokugani today.”.
Oh. Hearing that almost made Merquri smile. Almost. Can't show emotion after all. That'd be against procedure.
“Thank… Thank you, Seppun-sensei. But then… I'm afraid I'm at a loss as to why I'm here.”.
The Seppun reached out a hand and fondly grasped the blade of bokey. It took all of Merquri's willpower to not flinch away as she did. She then looked him in the eyes. “I called you here to congratulate you, Iuchi-san. And to give you something.”.
“Congratulate me, Seppun-sensei? For what?” She had already congratulated him on graduating, but he felt she meant something else with those words.
“For proving me wrong, Iuchi-san.” Before Merquri could ask what she meant she continued. “When you first came here I thought you were just another man who had gotten in here by political pressure alone, who would just be another blight on our resources. You may have come from the Topaz Championship, but you weren't invited by the Ruby Champion like the others. And the first day you walked in here with those ridiculous clothes and stupid hat… Why, I was sure of it.”.
She took the bokken and held it in both hands by the blade. “I was so sure of it. And I'm never wrong, Iuchi-san. Every student who comes here I can tell the ones who are just here because of politics, and the ones here because of skill. Can't always do anything about that. But you. You actually did it. You came in here, looking like a complete failure, and you actually managed to show yourself to be a fine addition to the dojo.”.
She took the bokken and presented it to him. “When I was younger, my Sensei presented this to me. She said her Sensei had given it to her after she had proven him wrong about her. On that day she said I had proven her wrong as well, and once I had my own students, to present it to the one who did the same to me.”.
Merquri looked… confused… Happy? He felt himself almost choking up at her words. But he had spent four months learning procedure, he wasn't going to fuck up now. “I...I can't possibly accept this. How can you say I've proven you wrong?”.
The Sensei smiled a little at that. “You passed Doji-sensei's test. Only about one to two people a year succeed at that. And then you won and kept her trust. Of all the people I've seen go through here, only one other has done that.”
“Maybe so, Seppun-sensei, but it is you giving me this gift. Doji-sensei's testimony is powerful indeed but... that can't prove that I'll be a good addition.” Merquri said, countering the acceptance. He used to hate this dance, but this time…. This time it felt right
“You aided in the release of another man's soul, preventing a haunting in our own dojo, and what's more.... You earned my trust, Merquri-san. Now take this blade. And go do the Emperor's will. I expect great things of you,” she said, smiling at him now.
“With such praise, Seppun-sensei...I have no choice but to accept, and try to prove myself worthy of it.” He reached out and took the blade. This thing that has beaten him for the past four months. This thing that he'd focused his rage at. This thing that has almost broken him.
He had never been given such a beautiful gift. As he bowed and left at her dismissal, he took bokey reverently and exited the room. It was all he could do to hold it in until he left. As soon as he exited the room however the tears of gratitude came unabated.
They didn't stop for quite some time.
Day 130 -Shiori
The two bushi stood facing eachother for a moment, eye’s locked on their opponent’s swords. Then as one they sprung towards one another, Shiori swung low, his step taking him right and down, the blade aiming for Atsumichi’s shin, the sensei shifted the opposite way, his blade flying forward towards a collar bone. In a second it was over and Shiori stepped back, a small cut on his shoulder starting to bleed freely, but the, very slowly a trickle of blood also began to seep from his sensei’s ankle. The older Shiba stood still for a moment before bowing politely to his student even as Shiori bowed back. “Good, you are done here.”
“Sensei Winter Court is not so long, when I return I would beg that-”
“No, you are done here. There is nothing left for you to learn in this dojo.”
“Uh… oh”
“Mmmph” Atsumichi cleaned his blade and resheathed it. “I would still not feel comfortable recommending you for yojimbo work Shiori-san, your vision is lacking, you possess no killer instinct and frankly I think you might die if I sneezed at you.” Well, that was comforting at least, for a second he’d been worried the sensei had been replaced by a doppelganger. “But still... You have some talent, be sure you do not use it frivolously at court. In the spring I will recommend you begin teaching the youngest students basic iaijutsu. In the meantime, act with honour.. And good luck.”
Obviously considering their conversation finished Atsumichi moved off to… whatever it was he did when it wasn’t hitting Shiori with a bokken, leaving his newly graduated student confused but… really quite elated. He might spring for some warmed ramen tonight. Ume had been silently nagging him to try something flavoured for weeks now...