A Life Given
by Akodo Kibo
Early Spring, 1208
Camp of the 4th Akodo Legion
It happened every spring, young samurai fresh from the displaced dojo of the Lion are sent straight from their gempukku ceremonies to the legions. In the past, such an appointment so early would be a great honor. Serving in the legion as opposed to being a gate guard or a messenger for a daimyo gave the opportunity for greater glory in the younger years of life.
Now though, there were fewer gates to guard and fewer daimyo that needed messages sent. The opportunities for glory however had not dimmed in the slightest.
Nikutai Akodo Kibo had two new squad members this year; Ikoma Mitsuhide and Akodo Myoko. Both were eager, their training records spoke of middling abilities with the blade but the Lion standards for gempukku had not failed yet and they had passed them.
Ikoma Mitsuhide was tall for his age, taking a bit after his families namesake in demeanor. He smiled entirely too much for a hohei, was a bit on the sloppy side with his belongings and chafed just a little under scrutiny.
Akodo Myoko was dour, too dour for her age. Were it not for the lack of armband, one would think that she was a deathseeker. She spoke little, engaged with the squad even less and seemed obsessed with sharpening her katana.
"I am Akodo Kurako, Gunso of the Fifth Guntai, Fourth Akodo Legion," the gunso bellowed as they stood for morning inspection. "We are the best guntai of the legion, your nikutai know it, my chui knows it and the taisa knows it. The reason that we are the best is because we train hard and have the discipline the other clans lack. Today, we will work on that training. Suit up, we are marching five miles this morning in full gear followed by a friendly skirmish. After that, lunch, if you perform well. Kibo-nikutai, your squad is on banner duty."
Kibo sighed internally, but let nothing show. Carrying all of his gear, plus the guntai banner was a pain. She was singling him out for some reason, this had happened repeatedly since she had been promoted last summer...
by Akodo Kibo
Early Spring, 1208
Camp of the 4th Akodo Legion
It happened every spring, young samurai fresh from the displaced dojo of the Lion are sent straight from their gempukku ceremonies to the legions. In the past, such an appointment so early would be a great honor. Serving in the legion as opposed to being a gate guard or a messenger for a daimyo gave the opportunity for greater glory in the younger years of life.
Now though, there were fewer gates to guard and fewer daimyo that needed messages sent. The opportunities for glory however had not dimmed in the slightest.
Nikutai Akodo Kibo had two new squad members this year; Ikoma Mitsuhide and Akodo Myoko. Both were eager, their training records spoke of middling abilities with the blade but the Lion standards for gempukku had not failed yet and they had passed them.
Ikoma Mitsuhide was tall for his age, taking a bit after his families namesake in demeanor. He smiled entirely too much for a hohei, was a bit on the sloppy side with his belongings and chafed just a little under scrutiny.
Akodo Myoko was dour, too dour for her age. Were it not for the lack of armband, one would think that she was a deathseeker. She spoke little, engaged with the squad even less and seemed obsessed with sharpening her katana.
"I am Akodo Kurako, Gunso of the Fifth Guntai, Fourth Akodo Legion," the gunso bellowed as they stood for morning inspection. "We are the best guntai of the legion, your nikutai know it, my chui knows it and the taisa knows it. The reason that we are the best is because we train hard and have the discipline the other clans lack. Today, we will work on that training. Suit up, we are marching five miles this morning in full gear followed by a friendly skirmish. After that, lunch, if you perform well. Kibo-nikutai, your squad is on banner duty."
Kibo sighed internally, but let nothing show. Carrying all of his gear, plus the guntai banner was a pain. She was singling him out for some reason, this had happened repeatedly since she had been promoted last summer...