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by Shawn Carman
The man once known as Akodo Rokku placed several of his few meager possessions in a small bag and surveyed the room he had called home for the past few with a surprising sense of detachment.
When he had first arrived at Bishamon Seido to take up the life of a monk. Rokku had missed his former life a great deal, but he had come to appreciate the simplicity of his new life. To now leave it all behind to resume some semblance of what his life was before … he had expected to feel something more. Not regret necessarily. but perhaps at least some sense of loss. Instead. he simply felt acceptance. This was the next step of his existence. of his service to the Celestial Order. Perhaps as he had sometimes suspected, he was not a man who was capable of achieving enlightenment. Perhaps he was simply a warrior who had embraced a different path leading to the same destination: war. War and death. He exited the small chamber and quietly closed the door. He knew that he would not see its interior again.
A much younger woman stood in the corridor. For a moment, Rokku did not recognize her, because he was so accustomed to seeing her from a distance, and always accompanied by an entourage of others. Seeing her here alone took him aback. She seemed so much smaller. “Kiyoko-sama.” he said bowing sharply.
The Kitsu daimyo smiled. “Hello. Rokku-san.” she said. her voice soft and gentle. “Is today the day. then? The day of your departure?”
“I… yes.” he answered. “Do you know of my departure?”
“I know of your correspondence within the Brotherhood.” she said. “Some of the other brothers here have spoken of it The abbot himself speaks quite highly of your intentions although he fears for your safety.”
Rokku lowered his head. “I had not realized that it was common knowledge. I hope that I have not burdened you with thoughts of my folly. You have a great deal to worry about as it is.”
“I do.” she agreed. “But the welfare, both physical and spiritual of my fellow Lion will ever be on my mind.”
Rokku smiled. “I am no Lion. my lady. Not anymore.”
“You do not bear the name, but your soul is a Lion’s and always will be.” She bowed. “Good fortunes to you, brother. I wish you safe travel and return.”
“Thank you. my lady.”
The conversation with the Kitsu daimyo weighed heavily upon Rokku as he left the temple. At every tum, one of his brothers bowed before him. He returned each and every bow, but the depth of the gesture the others offered him made him uncomfortable. He was not worthy of such deference, such respect. Some small part of him felt as if he were deserting his new obligations, but his spirit would not be quiet. He knew this and it seemed that his brothers knew it as well.
The courtyard of Bishamon Seido was largely empty, as it had been for so many months. It was a burden upon Rokku’s heart to see it so depleted, but that was the purpose for his departure. The Empire was in peril and he would not stand by and see it undone. There were a handful of others in the courtyard seeming to weight on him, perhaps to offer their respects as well. He did not recognize them, as their attire was not of his sect. One had a familiar countenance. but he could not quite place it…
The man smiled. “Hello, cousin.”
“Itoku!” Rokku said suddenly, rushing forward to meet him. “Cousin, I have not seen you in… not since our departure from the ranks of the samurai!” He paused for a moment. “Forgive me, but I do not know your new name.”
“Itoku, it shall be,” the man said with a smile. “We take our example from you, mixing the old lives with the new. Together we shall forge something altogether different.”
Rokku smiled, then it faltered. “We, cousin?”
“We,” Itoku nodded. He gestured to the other two in the courtyard an impossibly small woman with delicate, childlike features, and a tall, gaunt man whose face seemed a thin layer of flesh stretched over white bone. “I present my traveling companions for the past few weeks. I suspect they would prefer to introduce themselves. ”
“I am Tokiko,” the tiny woman said with a smile, bowing before him.
“Makito,” the tall man said. He did not bow.
Rokku’s frown deepened. “Forgive me, but I do not believe that my initial correspondence was directed to you. Itoku, yes, but I have not had the pleasure of meeting you as yet.”
Tokiko smiled. “Your initial letters to former members of the Phoenix have sparked quite the philosophical discussion in my home province, friend,” she said. “You are something of a sensation among the monasteries.”
Rokku’s brow furrowed. “That was not my intention. ”
“Intentions are of little consequence,” Makito said.
“Then why have you come?” Rokku pressed.
“Penance,” the man replied. “Some of us have sins too great to be forgiven without exceptional opportunity. ”
“Very well,” Rokku said “I understand the need of a man to atone for his past.” He looked to Tokiko. “If you will forgive me, lady, you seem very slight of build for the manner of work we will be performing.”
Tokiko only smiled, but Itoku grimaced. “I have traveled with our brother and sister for two weeks now,” he said. “I assure you, you need not worry after her… capabilities.
“So we four then,” Rokku said. “Together until the front lines, and perhaps beyond.” He shook his head. “I had hoped for more.”
