The Price of Excellence
by
Shawn Carman
Otosan
Uchi was dying. In fact, the more that Doji Yasuyo saw of the once grand
capital of the Empire, the more she began to believe that it was already dead. Here
and there, oni and bakemono still roamed the streets searching for wounded or
fleeing refugees. Rumor spoke of a great Lion army that would arrive within
soon, purging the city of any Tainted beasts that might remain, but Yasuyo
wondered if it would ever be possible to find and kill them all.
Part
of her wondered why Kozue, her kenku sensei, had sent her to the city. Death
and suffering of such magnitude was hardly what she would have imagined to be
an appropriate means of guiding her to her destiny, and there was little that
she could do to fight the hordes alone. Down in the depths of her soul,
however, she knew the terrible truth: this was the carnage that awaited the
Crane lands if she were to fail. This was the fate of all her family and loved
ones if she was weak.
She
would not be weak.
“You
look troubled, Yasuko-chan,” said Doji Nagori, her brother and one of the chief
aides of the Emerald Champion, Yasuki Hachi. “I think perhaps you should rest.”
She
smiled wearily. “You have been working without rest for three days, little
brother, as have Hachi and many of the others. I think perhaps you should take
your own advice.”
“I
tried, once.” he responded quietly. “The nightmares… I find it more productive
to keep working.”
Yasuyo
nodded wordlessly. What little sleep she had managed since the attack had been
troubled as well. In many ways, sleep had become almost more exhausting than
remaining awake.
Excited
voices drew Yasuyo’s attention. A commotion of some sort was brewing down the
street, apparently. The samurai-ko risked a glance at Nagori, and he returned
her worried expression. This section the city was supposed to have been
cleared, but there was no way to be certain. Both Crane broke into a run as
they raced to discover what new horror awaited them.
•
“Is
it true, then?” a young Daidoji asked, facing off against a larger Dragon
samurai. A small crowd was already present when Yasuyo and Nagori arrived. “Is
Agasha Tamori truly the Dark Oracle of Fire?”
The
Dragon scowled. “As I have already said, this is not a matter I am interested
in discussing with one such as you, Daidoji.”
Yasuyo
recognized the subtle markings on the Crane's armor as those of a Harrier, one
of the specialized squadrons of Crane samurai trained to scout and sabotage enemy
camps and supply lines. None outside the clan would be able to recognize them
as such, of course, but Yasuyo had dealt with them in the past. As a rule they
tended to be rather headstrong and independent when not constrained by duty.
When she caught a glimpse of the harrier’s features, her heart sank.
The speaker was none other than
Daidoji Ekiken, once a promising young bushi who had suffered a terrible
dishonor in court. He might have been cast out of the clan if not for the
intervention of his brother. As it was, he could aspire to no more prestigious
duty than with the Harriers. They served the clan well, but they were not
honorable men and women, and Ekiken had become the worst stereotype of that
group: crude, impolite, and foolish.
“I find that simply amazing,”
continued Ekiken. “The Agasha appear to either be treacherous scum willing to
attack their own Emperor, Tainted madmen, or both. What a marvelous clan
you Dragon have spent the last thousand years forming.”
“You
push me too far, lad,” Mirumoto Ukira warned again.
“It
does make one wonder, however,” Ekiken continued without pause. “Do you
Mirumoto keep suffering defeat at the hands of the Phoenix because of their
vastly superior tactics, or just because you run at the first sign of danger?”
The
crowd was silent in an instant. The fire faded from Ukira’s eyes, replaced by a
deadly calm. “Are you questioning my honor, Ekiken?”
Another
Crane emerged from the crowd and grabbed Ekiken roughly by the arm, leading him
away from Ukira. Yasuyo was relieved to see that it was Daidoji Enai, Ekiken’s
older brother. Once a tempestuous young man like Ekiken, Enai was older and
wiser, and served as the head sensei of the dojo at Kosaten Shiro. Her senses
sharpened by her training with Kozue, Yasuyo was able to make out their hushed
conversation. “You fool!” hissed the older warrior, whose features were very
much like Ekiken’s. “He will kill you.”
“What?”
rasped Ekiken. “You agreed we should discredit him in public! For our alliance
with the Phoenix! I am only doing exactly what we discussed, brother.”
“You’ve
gone too far,” whispered Enai. “I must get you away from here before it is too
late.”
“I
asked you a question, Daidoji Ekiken,” came the even, smooth voice of the Dragon
general. “Are you questioning my honor?”
“Forgive
my brother’s impetuous nature,” replied Enai. “I assure you, he will be
punished for his outburst. Please accept my profuse apologies.”
“I
am afraid I cannot,” said Ukira with a note of true sadness to his voice. “His
insult cannot be allowed to stand. To whom is he sworn?”
“I
am his master. He serves me at Kosaten Shiro.”
The
Dragon raised his eyebrows. “You must be a very patient man, Daidoji Enai. I
formally request permission to duel your brother. I must avenge the insult to
my honor and the honor of my family and clan.”
Ekiken
paled somewhat, but did not lose his snide expression. Enai’s features sagged,
and for a moment he looked much older than he truly was. “I cannot permit that,
Ukira-sama. I will not lose the only family I have left.”
“I
have asked you as a lord, not as a brother. You must permit the duel to occur.”
There
was a long moment of silence from the Daidoji before he closed his eyes and
sighed heavily. “Then as his lord, I grant you permission. But as his brother,
I must stand in his stead.”
“No!”
exclaimed Ekiken. “I will face this dog myself!”
A
rapid backhand from Enai silenced the impetuous youth’s protests. “You will be
silent until I command otherwise, Ekiken. Obey me.”
Sullen
and angry, the younger man bowed slightly and took a step back, rubbing his
injured face and glaring at the two combatants.
Ukira
began removing extraneous items of clothing to assume a more effective dueling
stance. He stripped off his haori, exposing a muscular chest and shoulders
scarred by countless battles. Enai did the same, although he seemed reluctant. “This
duel will earn you little honor, Enai-san.” The Dragon positioned his blades in
his obi and stretched his arms to limber them.
“Then
I will dedicate this duel to the alliance between the Crane and Phoenix,” said
Enai. “If one of us must die, then let our blood seal the pact between the two
clans forever.” He glanced around the crowd, allowing his words to sink in.
Many among them nodded appreciatively, already forgetting the harsh words of
Enai’s younger brother.
Nagori
started forward as if to intervene, but Yasuyo reached out and stayed his hand.
She knew when such a thing was too far along to be stopped. The destiny of
these two men had collided, and one would be with his ancestors in mere
moments.
“Your
brother,” said Ukira quietly, so that only Enai could hear. “He is not worth
your protection. You are not a dishonorable man.”
“He
is all I have left,” said Enai. “I do what I must.”
“So
be it,” replied the Dragon, and then both combatants fell into silence. The
streets seemed to fall away, and to those looking on, there were only these two
men in this one moment. Time crawled as both locked eyes, probing one another
for weaknesses. Seconds seemed to drag into hours, and minutes seemed like
days.
When
the end finally came, it was so swift that few could see it. One moment the two
men were facing one another, and the next each stood a step beyond the other.
Yasuyo noted that both men’s blades were streaked with blood, but she could not
tell which was the victor.
“Ekiken
was not worth this, Enai,” Ukira repeated, his voice a hoarse whisper. “His
foolishness will bring about your death. I pity you your fate.” With those
fleeting words, the Dragon fell into a heap on the blackened streets of Otosan
Uchi and moved no more. Yasuyo caught the Dragon's words, and she could tell
from the horrified look on Ekiken's face he had heard them as well.
“We
all must die,” said Enai softly. “I accept my fate, whatever it may be.” He
sheathed his blade then staggered a bit. Blood ran down his arm freely from a
deep wound along his left shoulder. A Phoenix shugenja stepped forward from the
crowd, approaching Enai as if to heal him. “No,” rasped the duelist. “Tend to
Ukira first.”
The
shugenja complied and knelt beside the fallen general. He glanced up at Enai
without expression. “He is dead, Enai-sama.”
Enai
nodded. “Then I will bear my wound with shame, for it marks the day that a good
man died for no reason. If his death can have any purpose, let it be a bond
between our people.” With that, Enai bowed shakily to the shugenja and turned
to leave.
Yasuko
bowed her head in grief. It seemed no matter how much suffering was visited
upon the people of Rokugan, they were always eager to engage in more. As the
sensei passed her, she met his eyes. “I am sorry, Enai,” she said softly.
Enai
looked at her gratefully, but his eyes were like dead things. Yasuyo could see
the lifetime of choices that weighed upon his soul, forcing him to choose
between duty and honor. She could not imagine carrying such a burden. “I only
do what I must,” Enai repeated, just as he had told Ukira. His words tore at
Yasuyo’s heart. She heard Ekiken and Enai arguing further as they left. The
younger man seemed jubilant at the outcome, but his elder brother was less than
pleased.
“You
are a fool, little brother. A good man lies dead. This is not what we wanted at
all.”
“Why
not?” insisted Ekiken. “We wanted to prove ourselves to the Phoenix and now
there is one less Dragon officer for our brothers fighting alongside the
Phoenix to face on the battlefield.”
“No
more,” said Yasuyo roughly as the two brothers disappeared around a corner. “I
can take no more of this.”
“Sister?”
asked Nagori with a confused expression.
“Where
is Kurohito?” she turned with an intense expression. “I must see him
immediately.”
“He…
he is currently with the troops on the southern edges of the Crane lands, I believe,”
sputtered Nagori. “What are you doing, Yasuyo?”
The
samurai-ko was already walking away. “I am facing my destiny, Nagori-chan.
Offer a prayer for me, if you can find a shrine still standing.”
Nagori
was still trying to determine what she was talking about when she disappeared
down a side street and was gone.
•
Inari
Mura was hardly worth the title of village. It was smaller than most, and was
notable for two things alone: the incredible bounty offered by its relatively
small amount of arable land, and its proximity to the headquarters of the
so-called Shogun of the Empire, Akodo Kaneka. Those peasants who insisted
Inari, the Fortune of Rice, blessed the village seemed convinced that they had
been spared Kaneka’s claims because of divine intervention. Kurohito wondered
if they would think the same once Kaneka’s growing armies needed more food than
his current holdings could provide.
The
interior of the small building the Crane had commandeered for the purpose of
their war council was dusty and poorly lit. Strangely, Kurohito did not mind.
It seemed to him that the dire circumstances of the clan demanded such an
atmosphere. While the Fortunes seemed to be smiling on them in many of their
ventures, Kurohito could neither forgive nor forget the loss of their lands due
to Kaneka’s interference into business that was none of his affair. Now was not
the time to redress it, but that time would come. Looking at the messengers who
awaited him, Kurohito sat down roughly. “Begin,” he said.
The
first samurai stepped forward. His movements were stiff, as if he had suffered
a recent injury, but his manner was that of a warrior. “My lord,” he bowed. “By
your command, Kakita Nakazo and the forces under his command have massed beyond
Violence Behind Courtliness City. We stand ready to reclaim Shiro no Yojin from
the Lion at your order.”
“The
order is given,” said Kurohito with a nod. “Make haste to return and deliver my
command to Nakazo.”
“At
once, Kurohito-sama.” Okakura wasted no time, and disappeared from the tent
hastily. He could be heard calling for his horse within seconds. Kurohito
admired such attendance to duty. Nodding, he gestured for the next messenger to
approach.
A
rather bedraggled samurai still covered in the dust of the road stepped
forward. When he bowed, the yumi still strapped across his back shifted and
nearly fell, but the bushi deftly returned it to its place without breaking his
posture. “My lord, I am Daidoji Gudeta. My lady Rekai-sama dispatched me to
inform you of her success in crossing the Great Carpenter Wall with the
blessing of the Crab and the assistance of the Unicorn.”
Kurohito
raised an eyebrow. “The Unicorn, eh? Rekai must have called in a few favors
from Lixue.”
“Yes,
my lord,” continued Gudeta. “She also wished to inform me that the commander of
the Hida guarding the wall gave Rekai some of the lost Tears of Doji as well,
to aid in her quest to free Hiruma Castle.”
“Excellent.
We shall mend fences with the Crab, then, and one day Akodo Kaneka will find
that he is caught between the proverbial hammer and the anvil.” He mused for a
moment, lost in thought, before he realized Gudeta was still waiting. “You have
something further?”
“My
lord, I request permission to rejoin my lady Rekai-sama.”
“You
will go through the Shadowlands alone?”
“If
need be, yes,” he said passionately. “With your permission.”
The
Champion stroked his chin. “Failure means death, but with such fire I think
that you will not fail. Courage is nothing if left untested, and everything if
successful. You have my permission, Daidoji Gudeta. May your skill exceed even
your bravado.”
Gudeta
bowed quickly and vanished from the tent even faster than Okakura. Kurohito
smiled wryly. “They seemed eager to leave my presence today, Seishiro.”
The
other man returned the smile. “They could not overcome their eagerness to
fulfill your wishes, Kurohito-sama.”
The
Champion chuckled. “A shame everyone doesn’t share their enthusiasm, then.” He
rose and crossed the room to grab a rice ball from the travel rations spread out
on the table. Though he enjoyed the taste of fine Crane cuisine, he had always
enjoyed the simple taste of travel rations much more. They were purer, somehow.
Simpler. Taking a bite, he paced the room while he thought. “What else must we
deal with, Seishiro? This outpost is under your command, after all.”
The
bushi nodded. “There is the matter of placing one of our number in Kaneka’s
camp, Kurohito-sama. The Shogun should be watched carefully.”
Kurohito’s
expression darkened. “Yes, I remember. I am not altogether certain I approve of
such a course of action.”
“It
is only natural, my lord,” Seishiro said. “Yours is a proud and honorable
lineage. Such… deception cannot seem appropriate. Unfortunately…”
“Unfortunately,”
Kurohito finished, “it is necessary if we are to track Kaneka’s actions.”
“It
is as you say, my lord,” agreed Seishiro.
The
Crane Champion dwelled on the matter for several long minutes, his hand resting
on the hilt of his blade. “Very well,” he finally said. “I assume you have a
suggestion?”
“I
do, my lord,” the other man said. “I have reviewed several possible candidates,
and I feel that perhaps Kakita Atoshi would be suitable. He is gifted both with
the blade is a talented politician…”
“Completely
inappropriate,” said Kurohito abruptly. “Atoshi is indeed skilled, but his
genial nature would betray him. Kaneka would see through him instantly and cut
him down. And the Bastard will never trust a Kakita in any event. Not after he
killed Kaiten. He knows full well the only Kakita who would follow him after
such a thing are treacherous, dishonorable filth.”
“Ahh,
of course, my lord,” said Seishiro abashedly. “Forgive my oversight. Whom shall
we send, then?”
The
Champion took a long drink of water as he thought. “Midoru,” he said with a
faint grin.
“Doji
Midoru?” Seishiro was incredulous. “He is a madman.”
“Yes,”
confirmed Kurohito. “He and Kaneka share similar personalities, I think. They
will get along well. And Midoru is the sort who will serve Kaneka to the best
of his ability while at the same time providing us with information about the
Bastard’s movements without feeling any conflict of interest. His chaotic mind
makes him perfect for the position.” He glanced at Seishiro and nodded. “You
will see to this immediately.”
The
bushi bowed crisply. “As you command, my lord.” Seishiro moved toward the exit
to issue a summons for Midoru, then stopped short. “Oh,” he said, looking at
the form blocking the doorway. “Please excuse me, Yasuyo-sama.”
Kurohito
looked up at the young woman waiting in the doorway, a surprised and genuine
smile appeared as he greeted her. “Yasuyo-chan! This is an unexpected pleasure.
I have not seen you in… well, it has been quite some time. Since you requested
my leave to pursue your quest, was it not?”
“Yes,
Lord Kurohito.”
“I
have always respected that about you, Yasuyo,” Kurohito chuckled. “Despite that
our fathers were cousins, you never fail to use the proper term of address.
Come in, come in. Please, tell me of your travels. I assume that it must have
been important for you to come all this way to find me. Or indeed, for one so
devoted as yourself to even have asked to begin with.”
“What
I must say is for your ears alone, my lord,” Yasuyo said with a glance at
Seishiro. “Please forgive my intrusion, Seishiro-san.”
“Of
course,” said Seishiro, somewhat perplexed. “I have my orders, my lord. I will
await your summons.”
Kurohito
waved Seishiro away then gestured for Yasuyo to enter and sit. His expression
grew more serious as he recalled the particulars of her quest and the vision
she claimed to have experienced. “Tell me, cousin,” he said, “was it truly the
Lady Doji who appeared to you before you disappeared?”
“I
believe it was, yes,” Yasuyo said.
“That
is excellent news. Surely she has led you to wisdom?”
Yasuyo
hesitated for a moment. “She has led me to the truth, Kurohito-sama. And as it
so often is, the truth is painful.”
The
Champion’s expression darkened. “Tell me everything.”
•
It
was late into the night when the two finished their discussion. Kurohito’s
expression had grown more and more tense until his countenance was like stone.
Yasuyo seemed only saddened. On the table between them lay Chukandomo, the
sword Kurohito had carried since his gempukku. It gleamed faintly in the faint
lantern light.
“So
my sword, the blade that has been mine since the day of my birth, is cursed.”
He said. There was anger in his voice, but she knew it was not with her. He
rested one hand on the sword, unafraid of its presence even after all she had
told him.
“Yes,
my lord.”
“And
your sensei, this Kozue creature… you believe what he has told you about what
danger awaits if I should fail? If the curse comes to pass?”
She
nodded. “He has told me of the terrible punishment the Crane will receive, and
I know that his words are true.”
Kurohito
shook his head. “What is it you would have me do, cousin?”
“Cast
the blade back into the sea,” she said instantly. “Return it to the spirits
that hunger for it so. Deny them the chance to destroy us all. After our
retreat from the Yasuki lands it can only be a matter of time before they take
insult at your actions and judge you.”
The
Champion returned to his seat and knelt upon the mat. Carefully, reverently, he
drew Chukandomo from its saya. He reclined upon his knees, his features and
shoulders squared and unreadable. He looked at the blade silently for a long
time, then gazed up and locked eyes with Yasuyo. “No,” he said quietly.
The
samurai-ko’s eyes widened. “Kurohito, think of what you are doing, I beg you.”
“The
Crane have been put upon for far too long, Yasuyo. We are hated because we are
the finest in the Empire. While other clans have but are of excellence to call
their own, our virtue is excellence itself. And the price for our excellence
has been the hatred of others. I will not allow their weakness and jealousy to
undo all that my line has strived to accomplish for a thousand years. I believe
this blade has been sent to me for a reason. To flee its curse would prove that
I am everything our enemies despise. To keep it, and be stronger than it, would
make all our other difficulties seem minor in comparison. I will take this
blade, and I will use it to teach the Empire what it means to be Crane. You
will remain by my side henceforth.”
“What will that accomplish?” Yasuyo asked.
“You
know more of the blade and its curse than any within our clan. You can aid me
in controlling it, in learning its secrets. If the spirits come to test me, you
will stand by my side as I face them.”
Yasuyo
shook her head. “Cousin, if you fail…”
“I
am Kurohito, Champion of the Crane,” he said defiantly. “The blood of Doji runs
in these veins. I do not know how to fail.”