Gifts

Gifts
*****
By Rusty Priske
Editing & Development by Fred Wan

Mirumoto Katsutoshi smiled at the banners and pennants fluttering in the late afternoon breeze. The colors were bright and the fabric was crisp, which was understandable as they were only recently created. Most festivals had an air of age and tradition mixed in with the pomp, but this one had not yet had the opportunity to gain such a feeling. Doji Domotai announced the Festival of the Sea Dragon during the previous winter and Katsutoshi was not sure why she had done so.

It was likely an attempt to increase morale in these warlike times. It was also possible that Domotai had hoped a new Emperor would have been named by this point and that the Emperor would attend, giving the Crane an early opportunity to gain face with the new establishment.

Katsutoshi could understand this sentiment. He was planning to do something similar when he presented the Sword of the Hantei to the new Emperor. The rewards, both tangible and intangible, would be substantial.

Katsutoshi nodded to his clansman, Mirumoto Ichizo, as he passed him. While there were more Crane at the festival than any other clan, obviously, there were still other representatives in attendance. In addition to the Dragon there were a number of Mantis and Lion as well as a small number of Scorpion and even one Unicorn.

Katsutoshi bowed deeply as he encountered a young Lion courtier. The gesture was returned behind a demure fan wave. “Ah, Mirumoto-san. I do not believe we have met. I am Ikoma Asa.”

“Your reputation precedes you, Asa-san. I am Mirumoto Katsutoshi.”

Asa tipped her head slightly. “Reputation?”

The Dragon smiled. “I assure you, that all the words spoken are positive, Asa-san. The reputation I speak of refers to your abilities in court. Not to mention your beauty.”

Asa bowed her head. “I thank you for the compliment, Katsutoshi-san, but I am afraid you have me at a disadvantage. I have heard no rumors about you. Are you new to the courts?”

“Other duties have kept me elsewhere, but that may change soon.”

“We all have our duties.”

This time it was Katsutoshi who bowed his head. “As you say, Asa-san.”

“I was just walking down to look at the sea. Would you accompany me, Katsutoshi-san? I could use some distraction from my current thoughts.”

“Oh? What could be so dire?”

Asa gave a mock disapproving look. “Now Katsutoshi-san, what sort of distraction are you if you remind me of the thoughts I am trying to ignore?”

Katsutoshi gave a deep, formal bow. “My apologies, lady of the Ikoma. I shall endeavor to be frivolous and distracting from here on.”

She returned his bow. “I would be grateful.” She turned slightly and began walking slowly. As Katsutoshi fell in beside her she said, “Now then, what should we talk about?”

* * *

Doji Saori looked across the festival from the window of the room assigned to her and Choshi. “Our esteemed champion announces there is to be a new festival and her servants are all too eager to create one.”

Choshi cocked her head. “You do not sound as though you approve, Saori-san.”

“I do not like all of these other clans attending. They are all trying to curry favor in case the next Emperor is a Crane. Their motivations are transparent.”

“All the better to judge and manipulate them, no?”

Saori ignored Choshi’s comment. “It is that Dragon that bothers me. Katsutoshi. I do not trust him. There is something about him, a look in his eyes, perhaps, that tells me his motivations are not quite the same as the others. He seems a little too confident, too sure that he has some advantage over the others.” Choshi snorted slightly and Saori jerked her head toward the sound. “What?”

Choshi smiled bitterly. “When I met Katsutoshi I thought he reminded me of you.”

* * *

As the sun dipped close to the horizon, Katsutoshi and Asa sat on a bench overlooking a rocky shoal and beyond that, the calm waters of the sea, protected by a natural breakwater. Asa laughed at an offhand comment by Katsutoshi, but then she looked away quickly.

“I am afraid that I have been not successful in my duties.” Katsutoshi said solemnly. “I must ask for your forgiveness.”

Asa looked back to him. “My forgiveness? Whatever do you mean?”

“I promised to distract you from your concerns. I can see in your face that my conversation was at best a temporary distraction.”

Asa smiled softly. “Such things are fleeting. It is difficult to distract someone from something they do not truly wish to forget.”

“Well then if it is something that is so important, perhaps it would be better to discuss it, rather than dwell on it internally.”

“It is a personal matter, though I thank you for your efforts.”

Katsutoshi bowed his head. “I did not wish to press the matter, Asa-san. Just know that the ability to talk about something can free a person from mental bondage. Here, let me make it easier for you.” He stood up and looked at the Lion with a very serious expression. “I swear this oath to you, Ikoma Asa, that anything dealing with this matter will bind me to your aid. If there is anything I can do to help you with it, I will do so, as long as it does not conflict with other oaths I have sworn to clan and empire.”

Asa laughed. “What an honor, Katsutoshi-san! With such dedication to my cause, there is nothing that could stay my success.”

“But to help you I must know what it is that you need my help doing.”

Asa nodded. “Of course. I have to admit that I feel somewhat foolish now, as there be has been a great build-up, and I am afraid you will see my concerns as petty.”

Katsutoshi sat back down. “If it is important to you, it can not be petty.”

Asa looked at him for a moment and then said, “I am actually a very fortunate woman. While visiting the courts of the Crane I met a samurai named Doji Nobuhide. I grew quite fond of him. He has indicated to me that he returns the affection.” Asa looked away, wistfully. Katsutoshi could see the sparkle in her eye when she spoke of Nobuhide.

“The Lion and the Crane are allies. I do not see how any would object.”

“Things are not so simple, I am afraid. In my position within the courts, most marriages are political in nature. To convince our superiors to grant the right of marriage, I informed them that we will bind it with a great gift, from myself to Nobuhide. It will be a symbol of joining, not only of the two of us, but a reminder of the great love between our clans as well.”

“And your problem being.”

“In my eagerness, I spoke quite rashly, which is something rather unusual for me. I do not have any such gift. I must think of something very soon or I may be disgraced and then nothing will allow me to marry Nobuhide.”

Katsutoshi nodded. “I see your dilemma.” He looked up as a cold wind suddenly gusted from across the water. He continued, “It has to be something that has great symbolic significance.” The wind grew stronger and they could feel the spray from the ocean reaching their skin. “Though this may be a discussion for a different place.”

Asa nodded. “I agree. It seems that Suitengu has decided to visit his festival. Let us find a warmer and dryer spot to finish our conversation.”

Katsutoshi nodded and they both rose. As Asa turned away from the sea, the Dragon looked back one last time and stopped. “Wait. Do you see that?”

Asa stopped and looked. “See what?”

“There& in the water. There is a glint of& something.” Katsutoshi dashed down across the rocks, never letting his eye stray from the shape at the water’s edge. When he reached the water he stooped and deftly retrieved a small piece of fabric. He looked at it for a moment and his eyes widened. He turned back and quickly covered the ground back to where Ikoma Asa stood waiting.

“What is it?” She said.

Katsutoshi smiled. “It seems that Suitengu is not indifferent to your plight, milady. He has delivered the answer to your very hands.” He handed her a handkerchief, wet but remarkably undamaged. It was a beautiful powder blue, with silver stitching. It was cleaner that she would have thought possible, even if it had only dropped to the ground moments before Katsutoshi retrieved it. And then there was the matter of the symbols stitched into the silk.

Asa stared at it before looking back at Katsutoshi in shock. “This belonged to Lady Doji. How could it come to be here?”

Katsutoshi looked back at the sea. “Suitengu is capricious, but I think your story has moved him to bestow his blessing upon you. Now, let us arrange a meeting with your betrothed, shall we?”

* * *

The next morning saw Asa in very high spirits. Katsutoshi met her as promised and they discussed their plans to attend the court that evening where Nobuhide would meet them, in sight of the Crane champion, Doji Domotai. She would be quite happy, Katsutoshi believed. There would be a wedding, and a great artifact would return to the Crane, but moreover, she would be able to say her new festival was blessed by the kami. If that would make her grateful in any way to the man who found the treasure, well who would Katsutoshi be to deny her the expression of that gratitude?

“Hold please.” The two of them halted their walk as they were approached by two Crane.

Katsutoshi bowed. “How may I help you, Doji-san?”

Doji Saori spoke as Doji Choshi stood back and observed, with a sour look on her face. “I am Doji Saori and I am investigating a rumor that you might be able to shed some light on for me.”

Asa stepped forward. “Rumors can be dangerous, Saori-san. Let us work together to learn the truth of such a thing. What is this rumor?”

“It is a rumor of theft, Ikoma-san. One that casts unpleasant aspersions.”

Asa looked shocked. “Who would commit such an act, especially during a festival? If we can be of any help, speak what you know.”

Saori’s face was as rigid as a blade. “We have heard that a Lion and a Dragon, guests of the Crane at this festival, have found and claimed an artifact that properly belongs to their hosts. That they seek favors for its return, like mere merchants. You would agree that such conduct is inappropriate, would you not?”

Katsutoshi seemed about to speak but Asa spoke first so he remained silent. “That is quite an accusation, Saori-san, and it is clearly aimed at Mirumoto Katsutoshi and myself. In fact we did find such a thing, but we were-”

Katsutoshi cut her off. “We found it. It was not in possession of the Crane, nor had it been in our lifetimes. Your accusations are baseless, Crane.”

Saori face was unchanged. “Hand the item over to us, Dragon, and we will consider the incident closed.”

Katsutoshi shook his head. “You cannot demand what was never yours, Crane. Do not fear. I understand your motivation very well. You wish to present it yourself, and gain whatever prestige goes with it. That will not happen.”

Saori spit out her words, with the barest hint of a smile at the corners of her mouth. “You accuse me of this, when your own testimony proves your base motives?”

The Dragon knew that Saori was trying to goad him into acting rashly, but he was not ready for that yet. “I accuse you of more that that, Crane. I accuse you of being a liar. You are clearly attempting to shame Asa-san for your own purposes. Why, I do not know.”

Asa’s eyes flashed between Katsutoshi and Saori. She knew that such a statement could not go unanswered.

She was right. Saori snarled, “That insult has condemned you, Dragon. I demand the opportunity to prove the truth of my words.”

Katsutoshi’s tone changed abruptly. He seemed almost bored. “A duel then? So be it. I am certain we will be able to get the appropriate permissions quickly so we can take resolve this in the early afternoon. Ikoma Asa has an appointment in the courts this evening, and I would hate to miss it.”

* * *

That afternoon, Ikoma Asa watched as Mirumoto Katsutoshi approached the clearing designated for the duel. She hurried her gait to intercept him. “Katsutoshi-san!”

He stopped, “Yes, Asa-san?”

“I do not understand why you are doing this.”

“She has challenged both of us to a duel. It would be very dishonorable for me not to attend.”

She shook her head. “That is not what I meant. Why are you doing this at all? I could have explained that the remnant we found will be returned to the Crane and the conflict could have been avoided. Instead you seemed to encourage her belligerence.”

“Saori never would have allowed you to present the handkerchief. I could sense her motives from the moment she confronted us. I have& some insights into the minds of such people.”

“I am aware of her reputation, Katsutoshi-san, but mostly with a blade. Her iaijutsu skills are considerable. Are you sure you are going to be able to win?”

The Dragon smiled. “I could never defeat Doji Saori in a duel, but yes, I am sure that I will win.”

* * *

Doji Choshi looked between Doji Saori standing on one side of the clearing and Mirumoto Katsutoshi standing on the other. “The permissions have been received and all are assured that this is a legal duel and all is in order.”

“If I may interrupt, Doji-san.” Katsutoshi called out. “There is one thing before we commence.”

“What is it?”

“The insult was not just visited upon me, but on Ikoma Asa as well. While I would enjoy an opportunity to avenge this insult myself, Asa-san’s honor is also at stake. To that end, we have asked another to stand for us, and he has graciously agreed. This is Asa-san’s right as the individual of higher station of the two of us.”

Choshi’s eyes flashed back to Saori, who showed no emotion. “This is indeed your right, though any penalty visited upon your second in a loss will also be visited upon you. Understood?”

“Of course.”

“Who will stand in for you?”

“Mirumoto Ichizo.”

A murmur passed through the small gathered crowd. What was likely to be a very one-sided affair now did not seem so.

Ichizo stepped forward. He and Katsutoshi exchanged bows and turned to face Choshi and Saori. Choshi said, “I was present at the insult that led to the challenge and it seems likely that the duel is meant to be to the death.”

“No.”

Choshi seemed surprised at Katsutoshi’s words. “Not to the death?”

“No. While I believe that punishment is in order, I do not feel that I need to wish Doji Saori’s death.

Choshi looked somewhat confused. “Mirumoto-san& the accusation against you is serious, and demands response.”

He nodded. “As you say, and as the challenged I have the right to say that this duel is to first blood only.”

Choshi looked back at Saori who nodded slightly. There was no hiding the disappointment on Choshi’s face however, as she also nodded and backed out of the circle. Katsutoshi did the same, leaving Saori and Ichizo facing each other. They closed the distance between them.

Saori bowed while saying, “I have heard of your skill, Mirumoto-san.”

Ichizo returned the bow. “And I yours.”

Saori placed her hand on the hilt of her katana while Ichizo fell into his stance.

Asa watched but still could not tell who drew first. Suddenly there were flashing blades and a spray of blood on the dusty ground. Saori’s brow furrowed as she looked at the tear in her sleeve and a matching one on Ichizo’s arm. Ichizo never stopped staring at her.

After a pause, Saori bowed deeply, acknowledging her defeat. Ichizo returned the bow as all gathered watched a small patch of red appear on Saori’s arm, while no such wound was found on the Dragon’s sleeve.

Mirumoto Katsutoshi stepped forward and bowed to Ichizo and then to Choshi. “The matter is settled then. My statement that Doji Saori lied in her accusation towards Ikoma Asa and myself is shown to be true. I demand to know what recompense I will be given.”

Choshi’s eyes darted towards him. “Recompense? This duel has settled the matter.”

“Not at all. Saori’s attempt to shame Asa-san has been revealed, but that does not resolve the matter.”

Choshi looked back at Saori who stood impassively, much of the normal fire found behind her eyes missing. “Another duel would seem inappropriate at this time.”

Katsutoshi nodded. “Agreed.”

Doji Choshi stared at Saori for a long moment before her face flashed momentarily in a wicked grin. Saori saw it but did not react. When Choshi turned back to Katsutoshi, there was nothing visible on her face but concern. “I believe I can answer your request, Mirumoto-san. Recently the Crane took a hostage from the Dragon in order to keep an unfortunate incident from escalating. I propose we mirror that action here. I will turn Doji Saori over to you as a representative of the Dragon clan. She will be your hostage, and bound by all the normal rules for the situation. Is this acceptable?”

Mirumoto Katsutoshi looked at Choshi and it a moment saw many things. He then looked at Saori and weighed the proposal put forward. He looked back at Choshi who almost seemed to be holding her breath, expectantly. “That would be satisfactory, Doji-san. Those arrangements will be made.” He turned has head back toward the crowd, “But first, I have promised Ikoma Asa to accompany her to court. There is yet another important transaction to occur today.”

The look on Ikoma Asa’s face was radiant beyond compare, and for a moment, Katsutoshi felt a glimmer of actual happiness for her. It was ridiculous, of course; she was an honorable simpleton with no real understanding of the world, but now she was indebted to him, and in time he would make excellent use of such a favor. Not for the first time, Katsutoshi congratulated himself on having gained the trust of Ichizo, a young samurai of prodigious talent, but wracked with self-doubt and thus, easily manipulated. With Katsutoshi to direct him, there was little that Ichizo could not accomplish, he thought.

The Dragon glanced once over his shoulder at Saori, and was surprised to see that she was looking at him not with malice, but with a suggesting smirk, one that indicated perhaps she knew exactly what he was doing, and maybe even that she approved.

Katsutoshi could not suppress a smile. Oh yes, having Doji Saori present on the journey home was going to prove most interesting indeed. He looked forward to it already.

*