After a comfortable night wrapped in Fujizaka's arms, I woke and decided to go to the castle to make sure my wishes were fulfilled. Fuji joined me. As we were leaving, messengers arrived with invitations for Jekusu and Kuno to join the Emperor on the cruise. The invitations were from Doji Satsume. Jekusu claimed that knowing that it is a trap is the first step in making sure they don't get killed. I don't know what to make of her. She is my cousin, and is brave, but I sometimes wonder why she is so headstrong. It will get her nowhere but to her grave. The two of them mean to attend the cruise! Fujizaka also gave me the missing portion of his katana. Apparently he retrieved it from the docks last night. I will do what I can to repair it.
Fuji and I arrived at the doors to the garden, and found Bayushi Shoju in the room, ordering the servants to begin the construction of a new garden. The room was in complete disarray. I was very pleased that the circle had been destroyed so sufficiently.
Shoju's eyes seemed to sparkle, so I'm sure he was smiling behind that mask of his. He must have been pleased to destroy something of Doji Satsume's. He obviously hates the Crane. He mentioned that he was to finish up the work here, then he had some praying to do at the temple, and that he was afraid he might miss the departure of the cruise. Such a shame, really, to miss such an event. I couldn't help but smile at his ingenuity.Fuji and I returned to camp, and we all began to plan how to handle Calimari's army that had begun to move toward Otosan Uchi. It was decided that Mizake would take care of Jekusu's army, and Fuji would be in charge of Kuno's. We were to join Furi's men, and back away from the city, only to move around and flank the opposing army. Fujizaka ordered his sister to take care of me throughout the battle. I suppose that I should get used to him wanting to take care of me all the time, but it is difficult to accept. I am not a child.
I had some time to kill while the camp was broken and our march began, so I sat down and studied my scrolls. I think that with a combination of a fire spell to meld the blade back together, water to bind it, followed by my immortal steel spell to strengthen the weak point, I may just be able to repair Fuji's ancestral katana.
Fujizaka's sister saw me reading through my scrolls, and asked me what I was doing. I explained that I was attempting to find a way to fix this, gesturing toward the two pieces of the sword that lay in front of me. She became furious. I was unsure if it was Fuji or I she was so angry at. Can I ever hope to have a close relationship with this samurai-ko? I intend to be her sister, after all. She took off... looking for Fuji, I believe.
Jekusu and Kuno emerged from Jekusu's tent, and she was dressed in full armor, carrying the jaded naginata we found in the Shadowlands. It appeared as though she was ready to go into battle, not to go into the Imperial City, to attend a Cruise with the Emperor. I don't understand why she thinks she is above the laws of dressing like that in the Emperor's presence. But then again, she carries the ancestral naginata that once belonged to Ami, the Emperor's personal guard. Perhaps she might be doing the right thing after all.After Jekusu and Kuno left for the docks, our small army began to march away from the city. As we were marching, I saw a cluster of trees in the distance, with a blue collared crane standing within. Immediately, I whispered a prayer of thanks, and broke away from the column toward the trees. I got an impression that Mizake should come. I asked Fuji's sister to remain with the army, and motioned for Mizake to come with me. The Crab Samurai-ko seemed hesitant to let me go… I guess Fuji intimidates her. He did order her to watch over me, after all. She wanted to know why we were going. I explained that it was for a religious ritual. Eventually, she allowed me go, when she had made sure that Mizake was coming. As we walked toward the trees, Mizake asked me what this is about, if it had something to do with the crane she had seen. I answered yes, that I wanted to talk to him. She seemed taken aback. I couldn't have expected her to know who Megumi is. But it was fun nonetheless to see her look at me so strangely.
As soon as I stepped into the foliage, I dropped to my knees in prayer. Mizake followed my lead. After a few moments, Megumi appeared before us. He was as kind and loving as ever. He explained that he invited Mizake to join, because she had honored him with a prayer. He pulled out a bottle of sake and poured the two of us a drink. I was surprised, for never before had he been so casual. I was not about to argue though, and I could certainly use a drink. I toasted, to long life, and we all drank. I felt a surge of energy, power and life. I knew that however hard we fought today, I would be able to assist. And I knew that I would not feel the fatigue I always feel from casting several spells.
Megumi and I spoke for a few minutes. He told me I must take the newly born Eagle Clan north, into the Unicorn Lands at the first snowfall. I agreed, desiring to visit my homelands anyway. He advised the need of a Crane diplomat or emissary in collecting the pieces of the Empire. I looked at Mizake, and he nodded, saying she would do well. He said that the Empire would be like a broken vase, that it would take great effort to collect the pieces and bond them back together.
Megumi declared to me that I will find another steed, as good as Gin Kaze, SilverWind, if I try hard enough. He also assured me that in one year, I would have Fujizaka's name. It warmed my heart to hear his prophecy. He must have decided that we had learned enough, for he stood and bid us farewell. We bowed, and when we stood straight again, he had disappeared into the trees. He had left the bottle of sake, which I picked up and carried back to the army.
I walked straight to Fuji, who looked upset that I had left the army, for however short a time it was. I told him he looked like he needed a drink, and poured him some of the fabulous sake Megumi had given to me. I understood that whatever powers that had been in the drink Kakita Mizake and I drank were probably gone now, but he always seems in need of a drink. He accepted gratefully. His sister sauntered up to us, demanding to know what kind of religious ritual included a bottle of sake. I offered her a cup, and she quieted right down. A kind of religion, I think, that she would be interested in joining.
I put the bottle away, and looked over the hill. I could see the huge army moving toward Otosan Uchi. There were several groups. One section marched under the black mon, one under that of the Emerald Champion. There were many other small groups fighting under their personal mons. Fuji ordered his troops to ready themselves for battle. When the timing was right, we charged down the hill to flank the opposing armies. He also ordered me to stay back and heal the wounded, and told his sister to stay at my side. She growled in anger as he turned his back to prepare the troops. I placed my hand on her shoulder and told her not to worry. I've never been good at following orders.We tore down on their armies like the wind. As we approached, I spotted Calimari himself. The coward who would take the throne by force, despite his inability to rule, proudly sat on a horse, wearing gleaming gold armor. I gathered the fury of Osano-Wo into my hands and a bolt of lightening arced over my friends, and hit Calimari in his bright golden armor. His mon burst into flames, and he fell from his horse. The sudden death of the Emperor's son causes a moment of confusion in their ranks. We cut off a portion of their soldiers and began killing. I could see the gates to the city closing as we surged forward. Just before they were closed, Kuno and Jekusu emerged on horseback. Kuno was not even in his armor, but began slashing through the enemy ranks.
I engaged in the battle for some time, then pulled back to heal the wounded. I was tending to the fallen soldiers when I heard Kuno's voice from behind. He yelled my name. I turned to see Jekusu lying on the ground, near death. A katana was protruding from her side. The decapitated body of Kakita Toshimoko lie on the ground nearby. Kuno was pulling his sword from the body of Matsu Tsuke. Two of Doji Satsume's most powerful followers killed at the hands of my closest comrades.
I was stunned, and my heart leaped into my throat. Jekusu was in bad shape. It appears that the two conspirators attacked Jekusu and Kuno. Kuno took the Matsu woman easily enough, but Jekusu had to allow Kakita Toshimoko to bury his blade into her for her to take his head. Such a brave woman. I had to steel my nerves. I would not allow her die. I would not let her take the last blow from a follower of Satsume. I knelt beside her, and summoned the power of water to heal her after pulling the blade from her body. I do not think I have ever felt such relief as I did the moment her eyes fluttered open. She gave me the blade she won from the battle. Kakita Toshimoko's katana, Kandaisa. Is it within acceptable limits for a shugenja to wear a katana? As I worked on Jekusu, snow began to fall, and collect on the bloodied battlefield. So early in the year for winter to descend…
Kuno led the army into a strategic battle, cutting off the soldiers fighting under the black mon. After a bloody slaughter, he won, and the rest of Calimari's troops retreated. Crimson snow blanketed the ground. We regrouped, and decided to check back with those in the city, and confer with the Shinjo Daimyo to see if he may have troops to spare in our efforts. Luckily, he was one of the few who escaped unscathed from the treacherous cruise. I was a bit surprised to see Kakita Mizake leading Doji Hoturi at sword point. It seems that the Crane captured her own Daimyo in the battle.
Jekusu tells me that during the meal on the cruise, the innards of the ship exploded, and she was forced to grab the Emperor and jump out the window. There were many wounded daimyos swimming in the sea today. All of the spare rowboats had been tampered with, and were full of holes. He tipped them upside down and used them to help others swim, used them as shields from the attacking ship that Doji Satsume, Kakita Toshimoko, Matsu Tsuke and Doji Hoturi escaped on. They stood smirking over the swimming daimyos while their servants drew arrows against them.
Finally, the conspirators left, leaving the swimmers fates to the fortunes. A foolish mistake. Bayushi Shoju arrived on a fishing ship, and pulled everyone from the waters, setting his servants to caring for the wounded Emperor. Shoju merely smiled when questioned, and explained that he had missed the departure of the ship due to him being busy praying in the temple. He said it was a good thing that he convinced this fishing ship to take him out to catch up with the Gaijin cruise ship. They managed to come back to shore and deliver the Emperor back to his castle alive. He is very ill, and hurt badly, but he is alive. That is when Jekusu and Kuno leapt onto their horses and sped out of the closing gates.It seems that Kuno has discovered that his sister and Asami are being held in the Emerald Champion's castle. He is adamant that we rescue them. I am insistent that we take what is left of the Eagle clan to the Unicorn lands, as Megumi said. Speaking to Shinjo first is a good idea though. With his support, we may have someplace to stay this winter, and build our forces to rescue Kimi and Asami. If the Emerald Champion knows Asami is the only living heir to the throne, she is in grave danger. Kuno says Satsume intends to marry her. We cannot let that happen.
