A NEW BEGINNING, by Alexander Skrabut (skrabut@dijon.nais.com)
I wrote this while pondering how to make an open storyline Phoenix deck for the L5R card game. I tried to stay as close to the established storyline as I could, so please forgive me if I have stepped on any toes. Also, my Japanese (and English!) isn't as good as I want it to be, so please politely correct any grammar and/or spelling errors at the above address.
Thanks, and enjoy!
Shiba Tsukune looked across the breathtaking green hills nestled beneath the mountains surrounding Shiryo no Isawa. She felt a drop of water splash against her cheek as she gazed up to the puffy white clouds dotting the early Spring sky. Although Isawa Tadaka was the Master of Earth, she often found his likeness in the sky, as the clouds meandered lazily from west to east.
The breeze picked up slightly, and she heard faint sounds of construction - hammering, sawing of wood - wafting down from the rebuilding castle. "I will always remember you, Tadaka," she whispered to no-one, brushing the tear from her cheek. The breeze caught her long black hair, and tugged on her kimono. Gathering her wits and remembering her On, she straightened her daisho and headed up the hillside back towards the castle.
She didn't want to be Champion, but honor dictated that she pick up where Ujimitsu left off. The carpenters and other heimen dropped their work and kneeled to her reverently as she walked up the winding road to the castle. They were all busy hauling timbers, buckets of water, carts of food and other supplies to those who labored to reconstruct the ruins of what was the center of all magic in Rokugan. Purposefully, she continued her long walk.
It seemed every able-bodied worker from this corner of the world was here, Tsukune thought, as she neared the castle grounds. But what caught her eye were the small pavilions set up in the courtyard, the banners of Toturi's Army and the Brotherhood of Shinsei snapping briskly in the wind. Tsukune's fast-paced walk slowed to a stop, and she watched the few monks displaying their kaze-do in training exercises, and the even fewer rag-tag ronin lounging about and being generally raucous and loud. Her heart fell, but still she forced her feet to carry her forward, putting forth her best aura of command that she could. If this is all that came, then so be it, she thought.
As she drew closer, she was recognized, and the monks quickly drew into a strange formation, sitting cross-legged on the dusty stone flagstones of the courtyard. "They're all boys and old men," she sighed, looking over the ranks as she approached. A harsh call from a heavily-armored samurai drew her attention to the right, the mishmash of ronin drawing together in a square block formation, armor and weapons showing heavy use. The lead samurai turned from the group, and removed his mempo, revealing the face of -- Toku! Tsukune smiled. "The day is not entirely lost," she said to herself, as she approached the clear leader of the contingent.
Toku bowed deeply. The short man was almost comical-looking in his heavy armor, but nonetheless his respect was great. "Tsukune-sama, Takuan-sama has acknowledged your request. A small contingent of our finest warriors are here to aid you in your noble quest. I am entirely at your service!" Again he bowed, the seemingly tireless man always a bundle of energy.
Tsukune matched the second bow. "Domo arigato, Toku-sama. I am very pleased to have you here, and you are very welcome." She looked over the ranks of men, and two men in the front line stood out to her. As if reading her mind, Toku spoke again.
"Allow me to introduce my seconds for this operation, Tsukune-sama." The little man turned and barked a command. The two men stepped forward and bowed deeply, although the larger man seemed a little stiff in his respect. She recognized him instantly, her eyes narrowing a slight bit. "These are my lieutenants, Ginawa and Hasame." Ginawa she knew through Tadaka, and did not like the pudgy ronin's attitude. The younger, leaner Hasame, she did not know.
Ginawa, of course, spoke out of turn. "Tadaka was a friend, Tsukune-san," he said, scratching his stubbly face. "If any of our men falter in your service, it will be their last error." He spoke the words as if he rehearsed them, and then bowed slightly to end his speech. Toku's face reddened a bit but he did nothing, knowing that arguing etiquette with Ginawa is like teaching a stone to swim.
Tsukune nodded, and was about to speak in reply, when a thundering call rumbled across the courtyard, almost as if Nemui Kaminari Yama exploded in eruption.
"Tsukune!"
She whirled instantly, eyes ablaze with the very same fire that would be spouted from the volcano. Who would dare blurt out like this? Her posture shifted and she forced her hand from her katana's pommel as she realized why there were tufts of smoke rising in the air above the monks.
Togashi Mitsu.
The entire monk contingent kneeled in respect as the tall, muscular, Ize-zumi stepped clear of one of the pavilions, and then himself kneeled down and touched his forehead to the back of his hands. "I come with my brothers in response to your call, noble Champion of the Phoenix." His voice was now subdued rumblings, like the aftershock of a powerful earthquake.
She nodded. "Your respect is greatly appreciated, Mitsu-sama, but there is no need for you to kneel, honorable Dragon..."
He snorted, sending a small cloud of smoke up into the air, and then rose to his feet. "I am Dragon no longer, Tsukune-sama," said Mitsu. He adjusted the simple kimono about his body, and now Tsukune saw her error. Mitsu wore the mon of the Brotherhood. "Hitomi does not follow the same path that the Ize-zumi have established over the past one thousand years. I bring my wisdom to the Brotherhood, and they have shown me wisdom as well. We are here to aid you in defending the Phoenix provinces while you rebuild, and will diligently defend your temples from harm." Again, Mitsu went to kneel, but Tsukune stepped forward, motioning for him to wait.
"Mitsu-sama," Tsukune said gently. "Do not kneel. Regardless of your affiliation, your assistance is greatly appreciated, and will be forever remembered." Tsukune knew some of the younger Phoenix samurai were watching her dialogue, and most likely will hear about the whispers that she, the Champion of the Phoenix clan, was practically obsequious with a man clearly lower than her station. She didn't care. She needed Mitsu.
The man smiled, and little ringlets of smoke rose from his nostrils. "Very well, Champion of the Phoenix. The wisdom of Shinsei is with you." And with that, he returned to his monks, which sat back from their kneeling position. He joined them, and would almost blend in with their simpleness if not for his immense size.
Tsukune turned to look at both groups, and then she clapped her hands. Isawa Osugi politely approached and bowed, offering a large scroll to Tsukune. She accepted the scroll, and Osugi backed away into the assembled Phoenix samurai.
"Friends and allies, I have sent letters to each of the great clans asking for assistance in my duty to rebuild the Phoenix. Only Takuan and the Brotherhood reply with forces. The others send gifts and polite explanations why they cannot contribute at this time." She pauses, taking time to unroll the scroll.
Holding the scroll outward, Tsukune read, "...To reclaim their magic, and to recover their lost knowledge, let the Phoenix be granted time to rebuild and grow strong again." Her words rang out clear and true. Some of the monks nodded and fell into brief meditation while the ronin shuffled about and listened. She rolled the scroll up slowly, and looked about at the faces surrounding her before continuing.
"You are all that have come. So I ask you, my friends: Will you stand by the Phoenix, and help her rise from the ashes?" Tsukune shivered, a shock of cold shooting up her back, despite the warm, breezy weather.
"Hai!" Toku shouted, raising his katana high in the air. The other ronin did the same, Ginawa of course the last to show his loyalty.
"Hai," rumbled Mitsu, licks of flame briefly flashing from his smile.
Tsukune nodded, her body shaking very slightly. In a time with no destinies, she surely felt as if fate had caught up to her. "Very well. Until such a time..."
"Is there a place here for an old man?" A tiny, old man's voice broke through Tsukune's formal speech, and all turned to see the blue-robed figure making his way up the winding road.
Several gasps rang out, and Mitsu simply nodded as if expecting the old man. "Naka Kuro!" The whispers were deafening.
Tsukune blinked. "Master Kuro?" She handed the Phoenix charter to Osugi, who was more stunned than anyone else. Tsukune approached the old man, who was perspiring a bit from the long walk, but otherwise holding himself tall.
"The shadows bleed, Tsukune, and it is up to me to find out why," said Kuro, smiling up at the samurai-ko.
Tsukune forced herself to bow, the reality of master Kuro's presence finally seeping in. He returned the bow, chuckling faintly. "Of course, Kuro-sama," she breathed, but he shook his head.
"Like Mitsu, I am not here for glory, or respect. I am here to help you rebuild, Tsukune, and Osugi and her brothers and sisters cannot do it alone. Not without the elemental masters to guide them. Thus, I think I might do something with my last few years. Becoming a monk was unappealing."
"There's nothing wrong with monks," Mitsu snorted, sending a playful puff of smoke into the air. Both Tsukune and Kuro grinned, followed by Toku's hearty laugh.
"Very well then," Tsukune said, and she motioned for Kuro to join the ranks of the few Phoenix shugenja that were assembled. The old man nodded, and made his way to stand near Osugi, who had fallen to her knees in reverence.
Shiba Tsukune looked at the assembled forces. The few Phoenix bushi and shugenja clustered around Osugi and Kuro, the small group of Brotherhood sitting in lotus positions behind the great Mitsu, and a band of some of the best ronin ready to die at her command. She looked to the sky, and saw Tadaka, watching over her.
She smiled. "We have a castle to rebuild."