"Kindred Spirits" by Karen Galarneault
Ishimura, Japan,
Smoke curled up in thin tendrils from bronze tripods carved
with lions' feet. They were arranged at intervals crisscrossed with
meticiously terraced gardens inside a central courtyard of the
small farming community. The sky faded towards sunset,
as the aroma of ingredients being cooked for dinner wafted through
the air. Being the tail-end of the day, there weren't that many
people about. Many rested on their porches, men smoked
pipes, women exchanged gossip, or kept on eye on children.
Others finished up last minute chores: sweeping,
trimming apple-blossoms, and patrolled the walls.
Said walls rosed about ten feet and surroundd the entire
community. Beyond, a valley rose and fell in rolling green
hils, with their larger cousins, the mountains looming in the
distance. This was the kind of landscape the local artists
loved to pick out in exact detail. The walls weren't designed to
keep people in, rather, to keep unwanted intruders out.
___
Being once more swept into the ocen of time by the Phoenix
Gate, Brooklyn learned that struggling against it wasn't doing
him much good. He resigned himself to let the tide take him where
it would. "I wonder where I'll end up this time?" he muttered.
Travelling through the Void takes time, however, there isn't
any reliable way of keeping track of it. It could have been
seconds later, or it could have been years. A crimson, red
gargoyle emerged from the fiery circle.
Brooklyn was somewhat battered, as he crashed through
a closely grown grove of apple blossom trees.
"Great. More trees," Brooklyn said. "Look on the bright side,
Brook, at least these trees smell a lot better than the other
ones did. All this time-travel stuff has gotten me into the
habit of talking to myseklf," he finished.
__
With the coming of sunset, the people of Clan Ishimura
retired to thier beds, and the guardians that protect the
community at night, awaken. For several years, the people
of Ishimura have had an unspoken agreement with their
neighbors who came asking for sancutary. It took time,
as these things usally do. Eventually, an arrangmetn was worked
out.
___
"Hey! This place looks kind of familar! Like one of those
places Goliath told us about when he went on his 'world-
tour with the Gate! But somehow it doesn't look exactly the
way I pictured it when he was describing it! It looks kind of,
well, more, more, more,..." Brooklyn trailed off, having run
out of words to describe what he was seeing and feeling.
Picking himself out of a small snowfall of white blossoms,
he turned around and began to get a good look of his
surroundings. He noted that the houses looked like ones
Goliath had mentioned, turrets and all. He noticed that the
people heading inside, to go to sleep, and that there were
still guards on the walls. "I wonder if any of the fruit on some
of the other trees are edible?" So saying, he went over to
a likely looking tree with yellowish-white fruit and plucked one
of. ""Not bad," he commented, popping one into his mouth.
___
Meanwhile
The horizon was backlit by the waning glow of the setting
sun. The statues on top of the walls showed signs of long'
running cracks in thier stone facades; starting with the
head, then angling down the arms and legs, and wings.
The roar of awakening gargoyles echoed in the night/
A even dozen, six female and six male shifted positions,
spreading wings to ease stiffened muscles from the day
spent frozen in stone. They divided themselves up into
four groups of three, to take up stations on the cardinal
points of the wall. Before they left, they ate a meal
prepared for them by the humans with whom they shared
a partnership.
The past weeks had turned up nothing too remarkable,
although rumors from the Emperor's capital in Edo,
reached them, even in this remote corner of the empire.
The gargoyles were just observing their usual patrol
duty out of a sense of of a job well done. They didn't
really expect anything to happen. When, two hours later,
a voice cried out in sudden authority and excitment.
"Hold! Intruder!" an ivory-colored male gargoyle stated,
as he approached and pointed a very sharp object about
level with the red gargoyle's beak. It appeared he was
prepared to shorten it by several inches.
"Wait a minute! Brooklyn protested, trying to move out of
the way. Even though he'd heared comments about his nose
being a little on the long side, he didn't want any surgery
on the spot. Getting a closer look at the other gargoyle
who had accosted him, Brooklyn noticed two other things:
First, the sword, Second, the fact that the gargoyle appeared
to be on the older side. In fact, he kind of reminded him of
Hudson. His coloring was off-white instead of the clan
mentor's brown. And Third, that there were others watching
the exchange.
"Is this the way you greet people around here? From what I've
heard hospitatlity is supposed to be a little bit better around here."
Brooklyn said.
"Grandfather, put down the sword. He may be an unfamilar
face around these parts, but he is correct. He does merit
a courteous greeting from us," a blue gargoyles said to the
ivory one, who sheathed his sword.
"You are right, Koyoto." Forgive an old gargoyle's
forgetfulness. Kinichiwa, haji" You are welcome here as a
stranger far from home. I am Honshu. May I have the honor
of sharing your name?" Honshu said as if he meant it.
"I. My name is Brooklyn. What do you mean? How did you
know? What was that thing about being a stranger far from
home?"
"Welcome to Clan Ishimura. Brooklyn-san. It is not a name
that I have heard a gargoyle would bear, but I count you an
outlander and someone who has travelled many miles to reach
our far community. It has been long since we have seen others
around these parts," Koyoto explained, with a small bow.
"I guess I am, at that. It's been so long latelly, that I've lost
count how long I've been away from my clan," Brooklyn said.
"Be at home here, as much as you can, gaijin,' Koyoto said.
"A gargoyle without a clan is like the rain without rainbows
afterward," Honshu said, understandingly.
"Huh?" Brooklyn gasped.
"Ah, it's only a line from one of my attemopts at haiku.
Haiku is a form of Japnese poetry," Honshu explained.
"I'm in Japan?"
"Yes, Brooklyn-san. Is this not where you intended to come?"
"Maybe. Of all the places I've gone so far, there's always
a reason I'm supposed to there and not anwyhere else."
"I am Oyama" a female gargoyle interrupted, Do you have
a clan of your own?" asked, as if she couldn't quite believe
someonne without one.
"Acutally I do, I just haven't seen them in a while," Brooklyn
answered her.
"What is your clan like? Oyamara asked, eager to hear
news and stories from outside. How many live there?"
"There are twevle of us here."
"It's great. My clan is about half as large. Counting me,
that makes seven." Brooklyn said.
"You must miss them very much," Koyoto observed.
"Now that you mention it, I guess I do," Brooklyn shrugged.
"How long has it been since you've seen them?" Honshu
wondered.
"I don't really know. Forever and a day," he replied.
"Grandfather, you will share the stranger with us? Or are
you not going to introduce the rest of the clan? a red
gargoyle said. His coloring was similar to Brooklyn's
but a lighter shade. He wore a cotton shirt tucked into
a half-skirt outfit that came down to his knees that was
also white. His wings were gray. His eyes narrowed in
unfriendly suspicion, even though he was smiling.
"Brooklyn-san, this is Nagano." Honshu said.
"Uh, nice to meet you." Brooklyn said, gripping the
other's forearm and shaking the way gargoyles greeted one
another.
"Not that my intention is to pry, but what has kept you
from your clan for so long?" Nagano asked, furrowing his
brow, which had the effedct of adding creases to his already
lined face. He adjusted his tunic and flexed his wings.
"It's kind of a long story, with a couple of hitches in it."
Brooklyn replied, a little irritated with this fellow.
"He is a guest, Nagano. He has travelled far and is no
doubt tired and hungry both. And we weary him with our
curiousity and endless questions. We will have future
opportunity to enjoy his company when he has eaten,'
Honshu said, stepping into between them.
"Aren't you worried what people might say if they saw you?"
Brooklyn asked.
"No. We trust the humans as they trust us," Honshu
replied. Ah, yes, Brooklyn-san, I'd like to introduce you
the rest of the clan. You've already met Koyoto and
Oymara mader her name known. The forward one is Nagano,
and the hatchling here, is Anjo... he trailed off.
"And where is that child?" Koyoto rubbed his haand through
his forelock of hair that was more grey than black, as he
peered in the direction of their sleeping wall.
"They are always long stories. We may have made you
welcome, yet you hold out on us, why?" Nagano asked.
___
"Grandfather, I would have thought you, of all people,
would not neglect duty to enjoy a few moments of
lesiure." a voice said, with a teasing tone. Brooklyn
caught a glimpse of the voice''s owner as she emerged
from around a corner. She had hair dark as ebony,
and skin like cool jade. She wore a dark red dress
embroidered with a flower he'd never seen before.
She carried a wicked-looking sword with a dragon's
head. Although the only other female gargoyle he'd seen
on his travels had been Ebony, he'd met during the
American Civil War' he'd found exotically beautiful with her
black skin, and contrasting white shades in her wings and
sides; this one took his breath away. For a few minutes,
he didn't know what to say.
"Ah, there you are, child. Brooklyn-san, may I introduce
my niece, Sata,' Koyoto said.
"Uh, honored." Brooklyn managed to stammer.
"As am I, Brooklyn-san.'Sata replied with a little bow,
sheathing her sword. "It seems our intruder turns out to be
a guest. Be welcome here.
"Perhaps you might want to learn more about us.
I am certain Sata would be more than willing to show
you around. Or she will complain that she doesn't have
enough to do around here," Honshu laughed.
"She's worse than Samaka, my mate." Koyoto agreed.
"Come, we have work to do,' he finished. "Our guest is in good
hands." With that the other gargoyles left.
___
"Uh now what?" Brooklyn asked his new host.
"Come. Now I will show you around. Follow me.
Sata said, walking off a ways as Brooklyn hurried to catch
up with her.
"You will be intersted to see that our gardens are laid out
according to geometric patterns. The apple blossoms
grow every spring; their scent is especially popular to
young couples," Sata explained, blushing.
"I'll bet they are," Brooklyn agreed.
As they walked along, the two gargoyles; one crimson, the
other green, trod the garden paths. Sata, occassionaly bent
to sniff the flowers, or to make certain all was well with them,
as she pointed out various places.
"Each of these buildings house families, and craft guilds,
there are the Weavers; the print-makers, the poets, the
Muramassa, the weapons-maker. In our society each person
has a place and knows what it is," Sata explained.
"They're happy that way?" Brooklyn asked.
"Yes. It's called fuedalism." she replied.
"You're not going to believe this, but I kind of remember
something of what you're tallking about. We had something
like that in a place called Caledonia. But from where I
come from, it would be called Scotland now, or then."
Brooklyn started to explain time-travel and the Pheonix
Gate, but wasn't sure if he could put into words that
Sata would understand, or even beliefve.
"Bother the magical talisman anyway!" he muttered.
"Caledonia? Scotland? I have never heard of these places.
We have maps here, and I have not seeen those names
on any of them. However, I shall be the first to admit
there must be more to the world than what appears on
the maps we have, Are you making fun of me?"
"No, wouldn't dream of it," he replied.
"Then why? Never mind,: she trailed off.
"Does everyone here wear swords? I kind of noticed that
and I was just wondering." Brooklyn asked.
"Yes. We follow Bushido." Sata replied.
"What is Bushido? I've heard my clan leader mention it,
but I never quite understood what he meant by it." he asked.
"Bushido is a code of unquestioned obdenience and loyalty.
It binds the samurai class to their lords. Honor is prized
above wealth and life and atoned for dishonor by committing
ritual sucide. It is a human code that our gargoyle clan has
found most appealing in dealing with the humans; not only
those who protect us during the day, as we protect them at
night. But, we also find it a useful thing to teach the young
ones, our own and the human children who come to us to
learn. It means 'the way of the warriror" Sata finished.
"It sounds kind of familar." Brooklyn mused.
"How is that possible? How did your clean leader hear
of it? For many years now our country has been cut off
fromt the rest of the world. Rumors have reached us that
may soon change."
"Is it something particular to your clan? I mean, couldn't
it be something other clans around the world have too?
Like some, I don't know, universal warrior code?
That we just don't call by the same name?" Brooklyn asked.
"We have lived here many years, and yes, it has been
ingrained as part of us, like the air we breathe,' Sata replied.
"Funny you should mention that. Because the elder
of my clan used to say that a gargoyle could no more
stop defending the castle than he could stop breathing
the air." He used to say that a lot. It kind of went in one
ear and out the other. I mean, me and my rookery
brothers used to tease him about it," Brooklyn explained.
"Do you come from a place that had castles?" Sata asked.
"Had castles. It was called Castle Wyvern. Now, the
castle my clan protects is called the Eyrie Building."
Brooklyn gave himself a mental kick, for telling Sata this
much. He knew that it might get him into murky waters,
since Wyvern was currently perched atop the latter
building in Manhattan.
"You did not listen to your elder? What was his name?"
Sata asked.
"Uh, his name's Hudson. Yeah, we listened to him,"
he replied. "Folks here seem to think pretty highly o f
Honshu and Koyoto."
"Honshu has lived for a very long time. Age brings wisdom."
Sata replied.
"So, he's the the clan's leader," Brooklyn guessed.
"Yes. Come inside. We will see inf Hanra-san has anything
to quench a dry throat and something to eat," Sata said,
gesturing to a small one-story white building with strange
cury lettering crawling all over the facade of its entrance.
Brooklyn's head began to swim trying to follow the intricate
curlices and interweaving letters, if that's what they were.
"Sounds good to me," he replied.
Sata didn't seem to notice his distraction and entered
the building with Brooklyn in tow.
******
"AH, Sata. It is good to see you."an old man greeted.
"It is good to be seen," Hanra-san." Sata returned.
"I have not seen this one around before," he said.
"He is haji, Hanra, a stranger far from home," Sata said.
"AH, be welcome to my himble establishment then." he said.
"We would like a meat pie and some honeysuckle to wash it
down," Sata waved.
"My pleasure," Hanra answered, heading towards the kitchen.
**
"Sit down, Brooklyn. Hanra makes the best meat pie in
Ishimura, and maybe all of Japan for that matter."
Sata said.
"Thanks. I'm starved. I can't wait to have one if they're as
good as you say they are," Brooklyn replied.
"Better, gaijin." she smiled.
"You exaggerate, young lady." Hanra lauhged, returning
with their order, then went back to check the overn for
the next morning's baking. He raised an eyebrow where
the two gargoyles couldn't see him, and chuckled to himself.
"Well, well."
****
"Brooklyn-san. I find something odd about you, I cannot
"I, uh , feel the same way about you, too, Sata."
"What are the things you find you cannot tell me?"
"As I told you, it's a long story," Brooklyn muttered.
"Long stories are the best kind, haji. Tell me."
Sata laughed, raising one jet black eyebrow.
"Well, you see, back where I come from I found this
magical talisman,' he said, taking a deep breath.
"Tailsiman?" she asked.
Brooklyn hesitated, thinking back to how erratic
the Pheonxi Gate had behaved lately. Then he thought about
how good Sata made him feel. He had been travelling through
time for so long. He'd trusted the people he'd met during
the American Civil War with his story; and he trusted Sata.
Some other instinct told his rational side to shut up and take
a back seat to emotion.
He reached into the pocket of his loincloth, pulling out the
Phoenix Gate. It was a small amulet, no bigger than a large
pear. The gold edges were looking a bit worn and the blazing
image of firebrid in flight embossed in the center, looked
a bit scratched; as if it had seen hard use. There was also
an additonal seam down the center which appeared that
it had once broken in half, then sealed back togehter again
at a later date.
"Be careful with it, it's not working properly" Brooklyn said,
the golden amulet resting in his spread palm. The Pheonix
Gate glinted dully in the low-lighting of the dining hall.
"It's beautiful," What do you call it," Sata sighed.
"It's called the Phoenix Gate."
"You said it was magical, What does it do?" she asked.
"You may not believe this, but it moves me through time."
"Through time? It's like one of those old stories told by the
Magi, the wandering storytellers that travel to all the villages
and towns." Sata said.
"This is true, and their's were make-believe. I have often
dreamed what it would be like if one ot ther stories they
told around the community bonfires took on flesh and
blood became real." Are you real, Brooklyn-San?" Sata asked.
Brooklyn was expecting some sort of reaction, but this one
went far beyond any scenario he could have imagined.
"Oh man! Uh, yes, I'm real. Really a time-traveller.
And I think I just found out why I'm here instead of someplace
else," he finished.
The two gargoyles just stared at each other, grasping
each other hands so tightly you could hear a pin drop.
Neither said a word for a while, not even noticing as the sun
rose.
____________
Imperial Palace, Edo
The Meji Imperial Palace was a seven story arched building
constructed to resemble the Shinto Temples of the times,
its clean lines and geometric patterns carefully laid out
with an equally plannned out terreaced gardens.
The throne room, an understated example of taste wtih all
the best furnishings and drapings that money could buy.
The throne itself, was a massive piece of furniture of carved
ivory, emeralds, rubies, and diamonds. At the moment, it
was unoccupied.
Emperor Yoroto, a middle-aged man with close-cropped
gray hair, stood, harrunging his minister of protocol.
"The samurai have served their purposed in the past, yet
some things must be discarded in favor of newer, better ways!
I intend to moderinize our country: we cannot forever isolated
and hidebound to the way things have always been done!
Let the old guards maintain that: things have always been
done this way, they must always been this way! I say NO!
The samurai have outlived their purpose. I intend to create
a new and better way! Fuedalism is dead! I want roads,
and trains! Crafts, a new and better Hapan!" He demanded.
"Your majesty! It is not so easy to discard the old ways fo
the sake of a whim,' Majordomo said soothingly.
"Majordomo, don't be such a pessimist. I am the people's
Emperor! They must do what I say!" he yelled.
"If my Emperor would listen to his humble servatn, might I
add that it is easy to make a decree; it is another to expect
its immediate implementation. These things take time. I shall
see to it, but an endeavor such as this might well beggar the
he gloomily predicted.
"Money! Money Why must you always moan to me about
money, Majordomo? I have seen it in a vision! My goal is to
moderinize will not only bring us into a more equal footing
with the rest of the world. It will make us a force to be
reckoned with in suceeding generations; Japan will be
promised a glorious future, and it will be my hand that
shaped it!" he exclaimed.
____
Later that eveing, Elsewhere
Nightfall, the occluded clouds that failed to threaten
earlier in the day, finally swooped in from the nort, from
the direction of the island's tallest mountian.
The fanciful among the old would no doubt ascribe the
storm to the fierce weather dragons hidden beyound the sky;
waging battle by sending storms and rain to the people on the
ground.
The man tread the grounds of the enclosed palace, thinking
that the Emperor he had served fro close on thirty yearrs, was
not completely insane to consider modernizing the country,
it would mean more luxurious apartments for himself, and
a chance to move inland to the city of Tokoyo. He began
planning the construction plans and estimated cost of
moving the entire court, the palace staff and equipment all the
miles that a journey would require. Apparently the balance
added up in the the plus category. The thin elegant man,
chuckled to himself. "It just might work,after all,." he thought.
"Although," he sighed, "Most of the grunt work would have to
be carried out by the daimoyo, the landowners; the emperor
was right about one thing, the current social structure was
waiting to drop from the vine." The smile aruptly cut off when
a voice from the shadows made itself known.
"It has been a long time, Kato-san," the gargoyle said.
"Your arrival at this hour was not entirely unexpected," he
replied.
"You know why I have come?" Nagano asked.
"Would you care for some tea?" Kato asked.
"No, don't waste my time for protocol. You live, eat and
drink that stuff in court," Nagano snapped.
"Very well. What can I do for you," Kato replied.
"You, who know everything that goes on in this
piddling little kingdom of ours, may not know this,"
Nagano said, pulling his katana and restlessly stroking
it back and forth motions, as if he were stroking a cat,
a large one, with sharp teeth. It was his long sword,
a carved dragon head at is pommel.
"I can not help but noticing you are agitated, Nagano-san."
"Ah, a mystery!" Kato exclaimed.
"Yes, a new gargoyle has arrived."
"A new gargoyle? From some other province?"
"No, he cannot account satisfactorially for his appearance,
and when questionedf he gives evasive answers."
"You are suspicious?" Kato observed.
"Yes."
"You were to be bounded to a female come next harverst
festival, were you not?" Kato asked. "Is that what worries you?"
"Her name is Sata. You've forgotten. She is too close to him."
Nagano snapped.
"What do you wish me to do?" Kato asked.
"Do you know what the Emperor's planning?" Nagano asked.
"Do I look like his confidant?" Kato snapped.
"Yes." Koyoto is a hidebound old fool, and Honshu is worse.
They are too quick to trust. They want to believe this gaijin
gargoyle. I don't believe him and I certainly don't trust him.
We made that mistake once before, with the other strangers
who were here." Nagano explained.
"You have heard that the Emperor's is debating the wisdom
of maintaining the current social classes. He is quite forward
thinking for a a man of his, shall we say, veneration. He wishes
to modernize our 'piddling kingdom" I believe is how you
put it? Kato removed a long-stemmed pipe from his robe,
and tamped it down, blowing blue smoke curls while he
talked.
"Modernize? How?" Nagano leaned forward, interseted
in spite of himself. He had orignally intended to come to his
friend, Kato, who had the hear of the emepror, and convince
him to help win over the lovely female gargoyle, Sata.
But now, this could prove far more interesting. "Go on,"
he encouraged.
"The following year, during the the harvest festival, he plans
to issue the Imperial Charter Oath, which will annouced
the government's intention to modernize Japan. He plans
to turn to the western countries for new ideas and technology.
The Shogun plans to set up a system of education and
abolish the samurai as a landed castel in its place, he plans
to establish a modern ar,my and navy. Among other things.
He claims to haver recieved this inspiration during a
vision from our gods," Kato explained.
"A revelution . The daimoyos might go for it, but you know
the stiff-necked reputation of the samurai warrior-class.
They will hold out to the bitter end to keep their priveleges."
Nagano predicted.
"Not unless, you, my friend, paint them a glowing picture
of ife in modern Japan.: a world of wonder and technology
from the mouth of a born magi. You, Nagano. Tell them
it was a visison you recieved from the gods. If they don't
believe you, well, the Emperor will require them to sheath
their swords, lay down their weapons and never pick them up
again," Kato concluded.
"And if I do, what's in it for me?" Nagano asked.
"I shall make sure that your neew mate is ready and
waiting for you by the time of the harvest festival. You
need'nt' worry about your erstwhile rival for the
beautiful Sata's affections. He can't be much of a threat."
Kato soothed.
"We have a deal then?" Nagano asked.
"A deal, my friend." Kato replied. The two shook hands
to close the bargain. Then the gargoyle jumped up from
his position on the wall of the palace, catching a thermal
updraft as he glided off into the night.
Kato sighed, :"Well, this has not been what I would call one
of our usuall nighttime chats, my friend. But it has been one of
the most stimulating. I should get some sleep now, if I must
be with the sun tomorrow."
He retraced his steps back to his apartment,still imagining
the massive palace he would build in Tokoyo. He gripped
war plans against a samurai clan that worked and defended a farming
community in one of the northern provinces.
__
Morning, Imperial Palace
"Have you done as I requested, Majordomo?" Yoroto demanded.
"Yes. The reports are just coming in with the arrival of the couriers.
Most of the samurai clans have acceded to your orders
to disband or face repercussions. They surrendered almost to a man
lest they face fines from the crown."
"You don't sound enthusatic, Majordomo, "Yoroto said.
"Why can't people see that I'm doing this for them?" he complained.
"They will. Eventually. Never fear, Sire,: he soothed.
"Who still holds out? Why will they not unbend their stubborn
necks? Honor is all well and good, but the samurai code is as
outdated as is their function in the new Japan I plan to create.
If they insist on fighting me, insist on holding on to old ways,
I will seperate their heads from their necks! Hah! See how they'll
like that!" Emperor Yoroto laughed, rocking back on his heels.
"Yes. One would think that would bring them around."
"Who still defies me?" Yoroto demanded.
"Ishimura Clan."
"Then such defiance deserves an immediate response.
If one clan, one province can defy me, than it means that another
could do so, as well. We cannot have that. Assemble the troops
of my new army, they're being paid, after all." he ordered.
"Very good, Sire." Kato, Majordomo said, leaving the room,
headed for the barracks to carry out his instructions.
____
Meanwhile
The hasitly assembled and garrissioned army of new Japan
had been provided with weapons and mounts by order of
the Majordomo. They set just a few hours before sunrise.
Kato, had even secured a dappled brown nag that should have
been put out to pasture years ago; to accompany the army,
personally. The ride to the remote province of Ishimura would
take it most of the day, which put their estimated time of
arrvial sometime after sunset. Kato had a brief twinge of
consience about Nagano and his clan. However, he determined
that war had casualities. Nagano had been right about one
thing: the samurai were jealous of their power and priveleges,
and would put up a fight. Also, he had a small worry, the people
of that particular village were rather protective of their gargoyle
clan, which meant the gargoyles would fight as well. It would
make that battle a tossup.. The winds of fortune could blow
either way.
____
Sunset< Ishimura
Before retiring for the day, the Japanese gargoyles who had not
had a chance to meet the newcomer, could talk of nothing else.
When, they woke up from their stone sleep, they picked up
right where they had left off.
"Come, Come. You are seasoned warriors not magpies,"
Honshu said fondly, as he ruffled the black hair on a young
hatchling. "Duty can be as light as feather or as heavy as
a mountain." The youngsters just stared at him blankly.
"We have work to do, save the gossip for off-nights. Go to your
posts." He sighed. "Maybe I should give up poetry, they never
understand it."
Just then, thunder echoed in a loud rolling peal, which
made the old ivory gargoyle's bones shudder. He glanced
up into the clear grey sky, not a cloud to be seen. He jumped
down from the wall, and laid an ear to the ground. Gasping
for breath, he let out a bellow. "Samurai! To arms! We are
under attack! People of Ishimura, to arms! We fight to defend
our homes! The Emperor has declared war on the Samurai and
the good people of this village! We will fight for our homes,
our clans! and our honor!" he roared.
An organized chaos ensued, gargoyles taking up defensive
positons on the walls. The locals, emerged from thier homes,
most in rumpled sleeping robes. Grasping the nature of the
emergency, the men ran back inside, scrounging for their
weapons. Women, reassured young children, and told older ones
to watch their younger sibilings, while they gathered up cooking
oil and firebrands to take to the braizers. They also took casks of
burning pitch to throw over the walls at any enemy who tried to
scale them. Those responsible for the care and upkeep of
weapons, began looking for where they had stored them, especially
bows and arrows. Others began filling water pails in the event of a fire.
____
A long line of horsemen drew up within twenty feet of the walls.
A tall, thin man rode at their head, pulling a bugle from his
saddlebag. There were gasps of amazement when the defenders
recognized Majordomo.
"People of Ishimura! You may yet save yourselves needless
suffering and bloodshed! You must simply turn over all the
samurai you are sheltering and the Emperor will promise to be
merciful. What is your answer?"
"We will not!" Hanra shouted, "They're our people!" the old man
yelled, waving a bony fist.
"Is that the answer of the samurai as well?" Kato managed to
sound sorrowful.
"It is. Mayto, the oldest samurai in the viilage replied.
"Very well. You've made your decision, Open fire!: Kato shouted.
*****
A lethal spray of steel tipped arrows flew towards the defenders
on the wall. The wooden palisads erected to guard against just
such an emergency prevented any early causualites. They
weren't aiming for targets at this early stage of the battle.
It was intended as an opening salvo, it's purpose was for the
archers to find the range and soften up the opposition. Since
the defenders had the higher ground and the wooden barriers
at each post would make it diffucult for them to find easy targets.
Koyoto ordered his archers to return fire.
Just then a firebrand was launched from a hidden catapault
behind enemy lines, aimed for the entrance gates to the courtyard.
It feel fall short, but it worried Koyoto, who sent some of his
clan to protect that point in the walls, pulling them off their
previous detail.
******
The exchange of fire kept up for several hours. The enemy tried
scaling ladders and were cut down even as they tried
using small knives and short swords. Some did manange to reach
the top of the walls, and small scale skrimishing took place.
Men died, from arrows, swords, there were losses on both sides.
_____
Outside the gates
Koyoto was right to send somebody down here! Brooklyn
gasped, as he ran to grab another bucket of water. He smothered
the sudden flames that had sprung up around the foregate.
"Do you think that guy who's running this thing, knows that
his causaully tossed off fireballs have torched this place?"
"It would be unfortunate for him, if he did." Sata replied.
"For he would be dead."
"Unfortunate for him? Honshu wondered, as he peered anxiously
out through the widening gap.
"Honshu, what's the word?" Sata asked.
"So far, all clear. It doesn't appear the enemy troops have
discovered there's an easier way in down here,"
"Spoke too soon, my friend. Look," Brooklyn said, pointing.
A group of armed soilders came strolling around the corner,
they had their swords in one hand, a wine flask in the other.
"Look like deserters to me," Brooklyn remarked.
"Drunk too," Honshu said. "This is going to be too easy.
I was looking for more of a fight. And they scorn samurai
honor. Probably because they don't even know the meaning of the
word."
"Mercenaries?" Sata asked.
"Bah, soilders for hire. Honshu snapped, drawing his sword,
and balancing himslef into a fighting stance. "Come, cowards,
you came to fight, well, you have found one!"
The soilders, not so drunk, they didn't recognize a challenge
when they heard one. They dropped the wine and rushed
forward, with bare blades drawn. In their half-drunken stupor
they didn't notice the nature of their opponents. The fact
that it was gargoyles they faced instead of poor farmers, didn't
matter at this point.
Seeing that their friend was outnumbered, Sata and Brooklyn
dropped the water buckest they'd been carrying, and rushed into
the fight.
Brooklyn spread his wings, launching himself at two of them.
His eyes glowed a firery white. He grabbed them around the
waist and threw the gap in the wall. They landed with a thud,
collapsing in a boneless heap. Two more came at him, a sword
blade just whistling past where his head had been a moment before.
Honshu took three more by hamstringing them with his sword,
then delivered the coup de grace. After, he wiped his blade on his
tunic.
Sata whipped out her katana, in a blur of motion, her kimono
flapping behind her, took out the remainder of the attackers.
All told, the fight lasted about half an hour. When the dust
settled, the three gargoyles were bruised, scratched and dirty,
however, the drunk soilders didn't have anything to add, fro
they lay still on the ground. The gargoyles moved the bodies
outside the courtyard walls.
*****
Elsewhere
"Koyoto! Sata yelled. "Their attempt to get inside our walls has
failed!"
"You thought you could breach the lion in his den! Kato!
Koyoto yelled to Majordomo. "You were wrong! Now I offer you
the choice, turn around and go back, or stay and die!"
"You may have won this time, old gargoyle. But, I'll be back.
Kato, yelled. Raising the bugle, he signalled a fall back to the
Imperial Army. If a motely army assembled in haste could be
called an army. "I guess the times just weren'r right for a
revolution. Although, you don't say I TOLD YOU SO, to
an Emperor," Kato muttered to himself.
_______________________________
LATER
Brooklyn and Sata stood by the peach tree he had first
sampled when he arrived in Japan. He wondered what else
he could do to help clean up after the battle.
He felt about as useful as a pair of shoes without one right
and one left.
"Leaving us so soon?" Sata asked coyly,. The jade green
gargoyle leaned up against apple blossom's trunk.
It was the same one from which the red gargoyle had first
made his appearance in her life. She patted the scabbard
from which hung her katana.
"I wanted you to have this, she said, handing him a katana
that looked like hers, except that it had those same curvy
lines he'd seen when they went to the dining area.
"Are you sure about this, Sata?" Brooklyn aske.d
"Shut up, and accept it, gaijin. It is a honor, and you earned it,"
Sata replied
"I did?" Brooklyn asked, gingerly extending his hand for the offered
weapon.
"Yes, you did. You distinguished yourself bravely in battle. Koyoto is
and Honshu are impressed," Sata said.
"Are they only ones?" Brooklyn teased, handling the sword.
"Not the only ones. I told you that when we met, there was something
special about you. You were different. A stranger far from home.
You told me your story, and I believed it. I had a vision, someone
would come for me, like in the magi tales. I would leave this place
someday. All the world is governed by fate. How could it be
otherwise?" Sata shrugged.
"So, you weren't that surprised when I told you about the Phoenix
Gate? How it takes me through time? How I don't have that much
control over it, over where it takes me?" Brooklyn asked, frustrated.
"No. Yes. I knew that I had a destiny apart from that of my clan.
But I did not know exactly what shape that it would take.
Or even if it would happen." she shook her head. "I only knew
that it would happen. Brooklyn-san, my beloved haij, I think yours
is the path to my destiny. It will become our destiny. I must
travel with you, using your Phoenix Gate," Sata finished.
"Yeah. I'm not sure exactly how this things works, but it takes
me here and there without much warning,: Brooklyn answered,
a little bewildered by her obvious conviction in what she was saying.
"Did you really think, that I would let you out of my sight?
How much trouble have you gotten into without me?"
Sata teased.
"I'm sorry that you had to get caught up in this, Sata," Brooklyn
muttered. "If there's any justice in this universe, I'm sure we'll find
our way back to our homes."
Sata regarded him with dark eyes, deeply sad but with a resigned
determination dawning in them: "Well then, Brooklyn-san, " an
arch smile came across the female's face as she sheathed her sword,
"until that time arises, if and when it does, you and I will travel this
strange path together."
"Better stay close, Sata," Brooklyn's familiar smug, grin slowly
spread across his face, :It's going to be a bumpy ride."
"No doubt. We shall buffer each other, that's what shield-mates..
"That's what friends are for," Brooklyn finished the line.
"Yes. That's what friends are for. Brooklyn-san, I believe this is
the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Maybe more, Imzadi."
Sata said, grinning.
Drawing Sata closer to him , Brooklyn folded her up in his wings,
and pulled out the Phoenix Gate. He willed that it would this time
take them both inside its magical vortex. Surprisingly, it complied
without even the barest twinge of complaint. Letting the tides of
fate take them where it would, the red and green gargoyles floated
into the ocean of time. Brooklyn felt better than he had in a long
time: He wasn't alone anymore and Sata was wonderful.
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