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By Rusty Priske
Hida Haruko stood at her post, looking across the low, wide valley. She could see the Crane encampment in the distance. It was far enough that neither side could span the
distance with an arrow and any advancement could trigger an equal reaction without any chance of surprise. Thus, she watched and waited.
Haruko knew little of why the Crab fought the Crane. She only knew that Lord Kuon demanded it and it was her duty to obey. There was talk that they fought over the Yasuki, but
it did not matter to her. She was not afraid to die at the orders of her Champion, but she also knew that she should, that she would, take many Crane down before she fell. That
there would be much death the next day was not in question. The outcome was also assured, and that was a victory for the Crab. There were no doubts in her mind.
As focused as she was, Haruko could not hide her surprise when the large warrior appeared seemingly out of nowhere a mere ten yards from where she stood. It was not possible for
the Crane lik to get that close without her seeing them, and this brute of a man did not have the bearing of a Crane anyway.
“Do not take another step or you will learn what it means to be an enemy of the Crab!”
The large man extended his hands, open palms forward, in a gesture of peace, or at least non- hostility. “I am no enemy of the Crab. I bring an envoy to your general.”
As Haruko watched the mysterious man, a much smaller figure stepped out from behind him. The fact that the Crab did not see the second figure was no surprise as she was a
fraction of his size. Her clan colors and mon gave her identity away immediately but she left no doubt as she announced her presence, “Please tell Hida Sozen that Isawa Ochiai
would have an audience with him. It is of the greatest importance.”
***
Normally Masakazu, Isawa Ochiai’s hulking yojimbo and the former advisor to the shogun, Kaneka, was the largest person in the room. In this tent, the distinction was not so
clear. Hida Sozen had the ability to fill a tent with his presence, beyond what his already large frame would indicate. He was possibly second only to Hida Kuon in this regard.
“And what business would an Elemental Master have on any field of battle, much less one that has no bearing on the Phoenix?” Sozen preferred to dispense with pleasantries and he
clearly did not appreciate the presence of the shugenja. Though she had no appreciation for the Phoenix, the sheer enormity of the distaste in his voice forced her to look away.
“I have come to offer my aid in mediation.”
Sozen thought for a moment and then said, “Mediation? I do not think this is the place for that. Leave that for the courts.”
Ochiai looked up at the much larger man, not intimidated. “Would the words of the courts stay your hand? Would the Crab trust that a court mediated accommodation would have
their best interests at heart?”
Sozen snorted. “Between the Crane and the Scorpion, we have no friends in court.”
“Then let me help you end this war.”
“You make a big assumption, Phoenix.” Sozen placed his hand on the hilt of his katana. “You assume that we seek an end to this war. There will be peace once the Crane withdraw
completely from our lands. Or there will be peace when those Crane left have been separated from the burden of life.
I appreciate what you are trying to accomplish, but not all paths are for all people. I bring war to this land at the order of Hida Kuon. My reason for
existing is to fell my enemies. I am a bringer of death and my purpose will not be thwarted.”
Ochiai looked up at Sozen. “I am sorry to hear that. War may be a burden for bushi to bear, but the Empire is not served by the wanton destruction of this war.”
“The Empire? The Empire is a construct of man. Strength of arm and the edge of blade are gifts given to us from our ancestors. How is the Empire not served by using what our
ancestors have given us? Can you tell me that the Crane wish peace? Do they not want to join in arms across the field of battle and find their own way to enlightenment? Your
mission will be fruitless, Phoenix.”
“Enlightenment? I know many who would be appalled that you equate your bloodlust with enlightenment. It is no more enlightenment than fire is sky or water is earth.”
Sozen smirked slightly. “Are they not? I was once a Dragon and I was taught that all things are one. The sky is fire and the earth is the sea, no?”
Ochiai shook her head slowly. “Do you truly wish have a discussion about the nature of the world and the kami in all things?”
Sozen laughed. “I know when to concede to a better. There is no question that you have a better understanding of such things than I have. However, if you wish to discuss the
meaning and purpose of death, I defer to no one, shugenja or samurai.” He paused before saying, “We are not going to stand down. If you wish this war to end, convince the Crane
to withdraw their claim to our lands.”
***
Daidoji Teruo sat on the floor of his commander’s tent. He looked over the reports of the make-up
of the Crab troops. He tried to find flaws for the Crane to exploit. Every army had its strengths and weaknesses. A general who understood this could increase the effectiveness
of his own force greatly. Strength against strength gave victory to the strongest. Strength against weakness gave victory to the smartest.
“Teruo-sama?”
He glanced up at the Crane samurai entering the tent. “What is it?”
“Our camp has been approached by an envoy from the Phoenix.”
Teruo looked up. “The Phoenix?”
“Yes, Teruo-sama. It is Isawa Ochiai and her yojimbo.”
“The Master of Fire? What does she want?” “She requested an audience with Daidoji Zoushi.”
Teruo mulled this for a moment. “Escort her here, but stall. Bring her in five minutes.”
The samurai sentry bowed and left the tent. He moved through the encampment to where he left Ochiai and Masakazu, guarded but not threatened by three samurai. “Isawa-sama, I am
to escort you to the command tent. I am afraid the invitation was extended to only you. Your yojimbo can wait here until the meeting is concluded.”
Masakazu pulled himself to his full height. “That is unacceptable.”
Ochiai motioned for the great man to remain quiet. “I am afraid, Doji-san, that Masakazu must accompany me. He has sworn an oath and I would not want him to feel that he has
violated it.”
“I assure both of you that you are in no danger in this camp. If you do nothing to work against Crane interests, nothing will threaten you here.”
“That is appreciated and understood, but I am afraid that Masakazu’s oath does not allow such distinctions. He must maintain his vigil, whether there is an apparent threat or
not.”
The sentry considered Ochiai’s words and then bowed. “I am sure that my commander does not wish to stand in the way of such an important oath. If you will both accompany me, I
will take you there directly.”
As they made their way through the encampment Ochiai quickly realized that their path was anything but direct. They followed their escort as they wound through the rows of tents
and cook fires. At one point she realized that they had passed a certain tent more than once. She kept her revelation to herself, though the look of unease on her Masakazu’s
face made her aware that he had come to the same conclusion. The Crane were stalling.
Finally they reached the command tent. Their escort announced them and they were ushered it to see someone other than who Ochiai was expecting. After bowing, Daidoji Teruo
introduced himself.
Ochiai returned the bow and said, “My apologies, but I understood that Daidoji Zoushi was commanding this army.”
Teruo bowed again. “The apologies are mine, Ochiai-sama. Zoushi-sama has other duties at the moment, which do not allow him the luxury and honor of receiving you. I hope I can
be of some service in his stead.”
Ochiai suppressed a frown. “I do not know if that will be possible. Do you have the authority to negotiate the cessation of fighting?”
As much as he tried to hide it, the surprise was apparent on Teruo’s face. “Cessation of…? I am not sure what you are asking.”
“I have come to attempt mediation between the two sides of this war before violence escalates any further.”
“I’m afraid that…” Teruo tailed off before asking, “If you do not mind me asking, Isawa-sama, what is your interest in this matter? I had thought that if the Phoenix were to
enter into the conflict, it would be on the side of the Crane, not as a mediator.”
Ochiai shook her head. “My goal is to limit violence, not take part in it. I wish to help the two sides find a way towards peace.”
A curtain at the back of the tent parted and a broad-shouldered man in heavy armor walked through. “A noble, yet fruitless cause.”
Teruo bowed but Ochiai did not. “Zoushi-san. Other duties?”
“I am sorry for the deception, Isawa-sama, but wartime breeds caution.” Zoushi turned to Teruo, “Thank you. I will continue this meeting with the Master of Fire.” Teruo bowed
and departed.
Ochiai never moved. “Now, Zoushi-san, can we discuss ending this war?”
The veteran shook his head. “We cannot. The Crab have done too much for us to allow it to go unpunished. Hida Kuon has spoken out against the word of Doji Kurohito. We can not
allow him to accuse our former champion of deceiving the Splendid Emperor.”
“Yet when I speak to the Crab, they claim this war is about your claims over Yasuki soil.”
“That may be what it is to the Crab, but we have more important concerns.”
Ochiai stared at Zoushi for a moment. “So nothing short of an apology from Hida Kuon would suffice?”
Zoushi shrugged. “An apology that will not come. Even if it were to come today, I am not sure we would not still fight tomorrow.”
“Your pride is worth more than the lands over which you battle and the lives of your men? The Crane weaken themselves for little reason.”
Zoushi shook his head. “Little reason? We have many reasons. We may march because Kuon insulted Doji Kurohito, but we fight because we fight. This war started when Kuon
questioned the word of the Crane Champion, but we fight because no insult can go unavenged. The glory of the Crane Clan is, as always, paramount. Have you not heard of Sozen’s
violation of Shinden Asahina?”
“That was at the behest of the Jade Champion, not the Crab.”
Zoushi eyed Ochiai levelly. “Do not consider me so naive, as I do not consider you such. The Crab have struck blows that ache and fester. A simple apology will not dress those
wounds.”
Ochiai sighed. “So you will not accept peace?”
“Is peace offered? Are you telling me that Hida Kuon has come to apologize to the Crane? Has he come to apologize to Doji Domotai and the spirit of her deceased father? Has he
come with the head of Hida Sozen as an offering of peace?”
Ochiai said nothing.
“And what would Kuon ask in exchange for such an apology?”
“The Crane would need to withdraw all claims to the Yasuki and its lands.”
Zoushi’s mouth was a grim line. “So an apology for Kuon’s accusation that Doji Kurohito lied about the Crane claim to the Yasuki in exchange for the Crane admitting it was a
lie, in action if not in word.”
“It is not so simple. Is peace not worth a compromise?”
Zoushi stared at Ochiai for a moment before saying, “Is not honor worth all our lives? I am sorry that your efforts have gone for naught, Isawa-
sama, but there will be war tomorrow. There will be bloodshed. There is nothing you can do to stop it.”
***
“Have they learned nothing from Toshi Ranbo?” Ochiai’s expression was one of grieved resignation.
Masakazu shrugged and appeared as if he was going to say something but stopped.
“I cannot abide senseless death.”
Her yojimbo was finally unable to refrain from speaking. “Maybe they do not see it as senseless.”
“They are so eager to shed blood for honor, and so eager to forget the greater honor lies in victory without war. We have offered our aid and it has been refused. They clearly
are unwilling to make the attempt.”
Masakazu shrugged again. “There are worse reasons than theirs to go to war.”
“That does not make it acceptable. I will not stand by while death fills these fields not when there is yet something that might yet be done to stop
it.”
Masakazu’s eyes narrowed. He fingered the hilt of his sword in its saya and said, “What will you do?”
“Your charge is a wise woman,” a voice said. “She knows what must be done.”
Masakazu turned toward the voice with a frown. He made a show of bowing, but not as deeply as was proper. “Shiba Tsukimi-sama,” he said. “It is generally unwise to sneak up on
me.”
“My yojimbo means no offense,” Ochiai said. “He considers his duty sacrosanct. There was no threat implied in his statement.”
Tsukimi did not smile. “I was not concerned.” Ochiai’s smile was thin. “Masakazu, please excuse us for a moment.”
The giant man turned and glanced at Tsukimi, then shrugged. “As you wish.”
Ochiai watched him retreat. “I know what must be done, you said. I am not certain that is true.”
“I have no doubt that it is,” Tsukimi returned. “You know exactly what must be done. You simply wish that it were not so. You would not be who you are, you would not be the
leader that you are.”
The little Master of Fire shook her head slowly. “I have spent the entire day among the populations of two clans, preaching against violence. How can I embrace it now? How can
ordering the intervention of the Phoenix military be the right choice?”
“You did it once before,” the Champion reminded her. “You sent the Phoenix into Toshi Ranbo. What was the result?”
“We earned the disdain of virtually an entire Empire,” Ochiai said, a faint hint of bitterness to her voice.
“That is not what I mean, and you know it,” Tsukimi said reprovingly. “Lives were lost, but how many fewer than would have been if you had not made the choice to intervene?” She
pointed to the field that would become a battlefield at first light. “How many will die out there tomorrow? Thousands?”
“Possibly more,” Ochiai said, her voice just above a whisper.
“We can stop that. We can reduce it to hundreds. Perhaps even dozens.” Tsukimi placed her hands on her hips. “That choice cannot be wrong.”
“They will find another reason, on another day, in another field,” Ochiai said. “They have told me as much. The death cannot be prevented, only delayed.”
“I will die one day,” Tsukimi said. “That is inevitable. I suppose then, since it cannot be changed, that I should simply return home and wait for it.” She brushed her hair back
from where the wind had blown it in her face. “Even if these men must kill one another, even if this war will not be easily put aside, or even if there is another that will take
its place, what will happen if this battle is not halted?”
“It will lead to another, and then another,” Ochiai said. “The land they fight over will be damaged beyond repair, and will be rendered infertile for generations to come.”
“How many lives beyond those of the soldiers will be lost?”
The Master of Fire lowered her head. “I do not know.”
“They will stop of their own accord until one clan is crippled,” Tsukimi said. “And the victor, such as they will be, will be in such poor condition that they might as well have
lost the war themselves. Two clans brought low, and thousands starving in the process.” She shook her head. “Can you turn away from something like that, knowing that we might
have been able to prevent it?”
“We will fail,” Ochiai said.
“Then we fail knowing that we were true to the soul of the Phoenix.” The Champion waited for a moment. “My forces are a day’s travel from here. If we march through the night, we
can be ready to intervene when they take the field at first light.”
Ochiai was silent for several long moments. A tear rolled down her cheek. “Give the order,” she said softly.
