Passion
by Rich Wulf
The dojo was relatively quiet this day. The great lord
of the Crane, Doji Kurohito, had returned from the war against the Crab only
days before and had requested privacy. For hours he had practiced his forms and
kata, moving from one stance to the other, letting his mind slip away in the
perfection of his art. The movements of his lean limbs were precise, graceful.
His long bleached topknot swirled in his path like the ribbon of a dancer. He
was quick, deadly, and beautiful, everything that it meant to be Crane.
For the first time in many months, Kurohito was at peace.
As the shoji screens at the western end of the dojo slid open, Kurohito
realized that peace was at an end. He turned and sheathed his sword with one
deft movement as he regarded his visitor. A slim man waited at the door:
Asahina Sekawa, newly appointed to the post of [Jade] Champion, the
highest-ranking shugenja in the Empire.
"Sekawa-san," Kurohito said, smiling slightly as he bowed. "I am
honored to have you in my house. Your success at the Test of the Jade Champion
has brought great esteem to the house of the Crane. I apologize that I was not
able to attend. I heard that there were… difficulties."
"Indeed," Sekawa said grimly. The man did not smile as he returned
the Crane lord's bow. "That is not what I have come to discuss. I have
come here on official business."
"Oh?" Kurohito strolled across the dojo to stand before Sekawa.
"The Jade Champion's purpose is to hunt black magic. Do you think to find
some here?"
"Perhaps. I have heard rumors that you do not carry the Celestial Sword
the Fortune of Steel forged for our clan."
"This is so."
"The other clan Champions all wield the Fortune's Gift. Yet you do
not?"
"I do not," Kurohito confirmed. "The katana I carry was found on
the shores beneath Kyuden Doji on the day I was born, the single bright omen
during a dark time for our clan. I carry it hoping to guide us to the future
its discovery suggested."
"I see. I would like to share a story with you, my lord, if you would
indulge me." Sekawa cast a sidelong glance at Kurohito's sword as he
stepped into the dojo.
"Of course, Jade Champion," Kurohito replied, regarding Sekawa.
"I begins during the time of Iuchiban. Four twisted blades were forged to
cut out the heart of an Empire. The man who forged the blades was a Crane, and
his name was Asahina Yajinden. These blades were called the Bloodswords, and
each was created to feed upon the vices of mortal men, to destroy the leaders of
four Great Clans. Shortly after acquiring Jonetsu, the Bloodsword of Passion,
the Champion of the Crane professed his love to a girl just barely older than a
child. Torn with guilt and shame, this forgotten daimyo hurled himself from the
cliffs below Kyuden Doji. The Bloodsword was in his hand when he died, lost to
the depths of the ocean. For centuries, the sword was never found. Most never
even suspected its true purpose."
"I see," Kurohito replied. "An interesting story. Now let me
tell you mine.
"Centuries ago, when the Empire itself was barely a child, there was a man
named Yasurugi, a mighty samurai, and an expert weaponsmith. He forged Kunshu,
the blade Hantei Genji wielded in the battle against the Dark Brother. He
forged Shukujo, the Ancestral Sword Lady Shinjo placed in the Heavens. He
forged Naishi, the blade my cousin Yasuyo wields, and Kanpeki, the blade Yasuki
Hachi now carries. His greatest work was Chukandomo, the 'middle child', a
blade forged after its maker had reached the height of his mastery, but before
he allowed the quest for perfection to cloud his judgment." Kurohito
smiled. "Chukandomo was intended as a gift for the Matsu family, at a time
when perhaps such a gift would have mended the divisions between our great
clans. The blade was lost at sea. Its creator was the son of Lady Doji, the
Kami whose name I bear. His name was Doji Yasurugi, and had misfortune not
skewed his destiny, he would have been the Crane Thunder."
"And you believe Chukandomo is the sword you now carry," Sekawa said.
"But you believe Jonetsu is the sword my mother's servants found,"
Kurohito answered, fixing the Jade Champion with his ice blue eyes.
"I am uncertain," Sekawa answered. "If you would allow me to
study it-"
"Do not study the sword, Sekawa, study the man," Kurohito replied.
"You are shugenja. Look upon me. The legends of Jonetsu are well known to
my family. Do I look to be the sort of man who would succumb to such
foolishness, who would allow himself to take up such a dangerous blade without
realizing the danger? Do you think that my wife, the daughter of a Thunder
herself, would allow me to wield such a dangerous weapon?"
Sekawa was quiet for a long time. He did not look away from the Crane
Champion's cold stare. He seemed to see something there, deep within Kurohito's
soul, and nodded.
"No, I do not," Sekawa said, shaking his head. "Yet I am
confused. As you say, the legends of the Bloodsword are well known. Surely you
must know how rumor travels. I may not be the only person in Rokugan who suspects
you carry the curse of Iuchiban."
Kurohito nodded. "I realize that."
"You could assuage the people's fears quite easily," Sekawa said.
"Reveal the truth to them."
Kurohito sneered. "Why should I? The other clans despise us for our
perceived weakness or fear us for our true power. Why should I remove their
fear? Those I command already know the sort of man I am. They know that my
judgment is pure, my honor is true. The others? Such rumors only give them more
reason to be wary of our power."
"I see, my lord," Sekawa nodded. "I apologize if my curiosity
offended you."
"Bah," Kurohito said with an abrupt wave of his hand. "Such is
your duty. I would expect nothing else." The Crane lord paused, his eyes
meeting Sekawa's again. "But be warned, Asahina Sekawa. Now that you know
my secret, keep it close. I am not a man to be trifled with." No trace of
emotion lingered in Kurohito's eyes, no hint of passion whatsoever.
"Of course, my lord," Sekawa replied, his voice barely a whisper.
Doji Kurohito might not be a pawn of dark magic, but he was certainly a man to
be feared. Sekawa excused himself; as he closed the shoji screen, the Jade
Champion was already chanting the spell to whisk him to his next destination.
Unconcerned, Kurohito returned to his practice.