Then the Mirumoto family gave him the stones.
These were not small pebbles, but huge, weighty rocks covered by strange symbols andpictures, and the Mirumoto expected him to carry them on the grueling journey on foot to their school. Shiko protested at the difficult task they gave to her son, but Hatemushi understood its importance: in the near future, Ryuhitsu would have to bear a much heavier burden than a few stones. He would have to bear the weight of his family's hopes, aspirations, and expectations.
The trip would have been difficult even without the rocks, which seemed to grow heavier each day. The Mirumoto would not let him bring more than one pouch of water, so there was little to drink and no food. The Mirumoto guide, however, seemed unbothered by this. Despite his caravan's renowned mountaineering ability, Ryuhitsu was challenged by steep slopes and narrow trails. Worst of all was the unrelenting silence of Ryu's guide, who had not said a word since the journey began. On the morning of his second day of travel, they came upon a fork in the path. His guide motioned to the right trail, which looked far less arduous.
"Mirumoto-sama," asked Ryu, "is this a test? If so, I wish to take the left path."
The Mirumoto guide laughed. "Silly boy! The Mirumoto do not show you lies, they show you truth! If you want to take the left trail, go ahead. Of course, if you do such a silly thing your family will be most surprised when you return not as a bushi but a Togashi monk!" Ryuhitsu tried his best not to show his embarrasment, to no avail.
Finally, after three days of traveling, the guide spoke for the second time. Pointing down a trail into a deep layer of fog, he said, "Down there is the school. You do not need my guidance any longer."
Then, with the quickness and grace of a cat, the guide lept from rock to rock downthe mountainside.
Ryuhitsu peered around at his surroundings, until he saw something in the distance. His mouth dropped open as he realized it was Mirumoto Castle. He had spent the last three days carrying the heavy weight of the stones in a full circle.
Ryu's astonishment turned to anger, then quickly to ironic laughter when he recalled a famous Mirumoto koan: "When a man works his hardest, he often finds he has not worked at all." It was the first time Ryuhitsu would be enlightened by the Mirumoto, but it certainly would not be his last...