Honor

The patrol was a small one, one of many that the Crane had dispatched to sweep the countryside in the wake of the Rain of Blood. They had found and executed a few mobs of Tainted peasants, but nothing meaningful–nothing that would ease the pain of lost kin and shattered friendships. And so it was that when one of the sentries dashed into their camp, Kage saw hope as well as concern on the faces of the Crane soldiers around him.

“Munoto-sama,” the sentry gasped, “There is a party on the side trail, heading in this direction. Perhaps as many as twenty, some on horses.”

“Cranes” Munoto asked.

“No, Munoto-sama. They carry no banner, and seem to be a mix of clans. Most seem to wear a mon in black and green, but neither Renshu nor I can make out what it is.”

Munoto frowned and turned in Kage’s general direction. “Kage”

Kage had been expecting that. He closed his eyes and bent his head, listening. Listening for a faint rustle like silk on bone, or the shredding of flesh; for the darkness that called to his darkness, calling him home–Kage jerked back into awareness, shaking a little. He breathed deeply for a moment, calming himself, and then made his report. “Munoto-sama, I sense no Taint in the area.”

Munoto turned back to the waiting sentry. “Go back to Renshu. Keep the party under watch. If you can, move within archery range, but initiate no hostile actions.” The sentry bowed, and dashed off. Munoto called for his sergeant and briskly started issuing orders to prepare to meet the unknown visitors. Kage watched him go, fighting bitterness. When he had agreed to help Munoto’s mission he had known better than to expect to be treated like one of the other soldiers–he was, after all, one of the Lost. But he had hoped to earn some measure of acceptance, some small warmth of camaraderie.

Foolishness, Kage thought now. Munoto treated him like a well-trained hunting dog, consulting him when tracking the Tainted and ignoring him otherwise. Though even that was better than how the rest of the patrol behaved. No one had offered him the least hint of abuse–Munoto would never stand for that–but none of them walked anywhere near Kage without first making sure his sword was loose in its sheath. Kage wasn’t even sure they realized they were doing it, but they did it without fail. It had made for a very long trip.

* * *

When the strangers approached the camp Kage was stationed near the back, Hiramori Kasako hovering attentively next to him. Kasako was in theory Kage’s yojimbo, as the Lost man wasn’t permitted to carry weapons. In reality the Hiramori’s task was to kill Kage at the first hint that he was untrustworthy, and they both knew it. Kage was always very careful when Kasako was around, but he didn’t mind him much. Kasako was honest in his suspicions, and he had been quite vigilant in guarding Kage during the few fights the patrol had experienced. Crane excellence, perhaps, did not allow for slackness, even in so small a matter as keeping a Tainted bloodhound safe.

The bulk of the strangers were infantry–mostly Crabs, but with a good helping of Cranes and a sprinkling of other clans. They were led by three people on horseback. Two of them were clearly Cranes: a middle-aged woman wearing the light armor favored by the Daidoji and a younger man who bore both daisho and scroll cases. The third was a charm-bedecked Moto whose eyes scanned Munoto’s group until his gaze settled on Kage. The Lost man felt a prickle of unease. There was no surprise in the Moto’s look, just patient, dispassionate purpose.

The infantry stopped a polite distance from the patrol; the three on horseback rode a little closer. “Good day, Doji-san,” the Crane woman said. She swung off her horse and walked forward, presenting her papers for inspection. “I am Daidoji Gisei, of the Legion of the Jade Hand.” Kage’s unease burst into fear. He had heard of the Jade Hand–fanatical opponents of the Shadowlands who scorned even the Crab’s use of the Damned. They would surely have no patience with Munoto’s use of Kage.

Munoto examined the woman’s papers and handed them back. “Good day to you, Daidoji-san. You are on a mission of some sort”

“Of some sort,” Gisei said. Kage didn’t like the dryness in the woman’s tone, and judging from his posture neither did Munoto. She went on. “You are Doji Munoto”

“Yes.”

“And seventeen days ago you removed the Lost man known as Kage from his protective custody at Shinden Bara”

“Yes,” Munoto said. “He has the ability to sense Taint, and I thought he would be useful seeking those lost to the Rain.” He turned and waved. “Kage. Come forward.”

The last thing Kage wanted to do was to get near a group of Jade Handers, but he had to obey. He slowly walked towards Munoto, Kasako trailing behind. The woman watched him with no trace of emotion on her face. Kage stopped as far away as he could without offending Munoto and bowed deeply. “Daidoji-sama.”

“Kage-san,” she replied, and nodded briefly. Kage caught his breath in shock. It was the most courtesy he’d been shown since…since…*since you left the Shadowlands*, the darkness within said. *Where you had friends.* He shoved the voice aside. He wouldn’t listen to the darkness. Not here, not now.

“Doji-san,” Gisei continued, “did you obtain permission from the Jade Champion for Kage to leave Shinden Bara”

“No,” Munoto said, “I–”

“Did you obtain permission from one of Sekawa-sama’s Jade Magistrates”

“No, I–”

“From an Inquisitor A Witch Hunter”

“No–”

“So you participated in Kage’s breaking of his parole to Asahina Sekawa without consulting anyone who might possibly could have given sanction to such an act.” The Daidoji’s voice was carefully bland, which made her opinions all the more obvious.

Munoto stared at her for a moment, a muscle in his jaw working. “Daidoji, I think you wish me to understand that you disapprove of my actions. Very well. But since the Jade Hand is not a *Crane* force, would you like to tell me what you think you can do about it”

“I’m going to kill him,” Gisei said.

In the silence that followed Kage looked from Gisei to Munoto to the rest of the patrol and fought down the insane urge to giggle. At one time or another every one of Munoto’s men had considered killing him, but they all seemed horrified by Gisei’s statement. Then the urge passed and he was left with the cold presence of death in his stomach. *I can save you,* the darkness whispered.

“I won’t allow it,” Munoto said. Kage stared at him, too surprised to listen to the darkness. “He has served the Crane faithfully and I will not stand by and let you kill him.”

“You resolve is honorable, and a credit to the house of Doji,” Gisei said. “But my resources are more than sufficient to the task, whether you allow it or not.” Something in her stance drew Kage’s attention to the men behind her. The Moto was staring fixedly at Kage, his hands wound about with a fine golden chain dangling with jade charms. The Crane beside him had a scroll in his left hand and his right hand held aloft. Two shugenja, Kage thought. One to deal with him, and one to protect the other. Munoto had no shugenja in his service–that was why he had sought Kage in the first place.

The darkness rose within him, promising him power and speed, promising him life. Munoto had nothing but words, empty words, he would do nothing to save Kage… The Crane shugenja’s attention shifted to Kage’s left, and the Lost man realized that Kasako had drawn his sword and was eyeing the distance between him and the Moto. The darkness broke off its litany, baffled by Kasako’s action. Was his yojimbo really, Kage wondered, going to launch himself at a Moto shugenja and his horse His gaze went to Munoto, and found that the Doji was staring at Gisei with open loathing. “The Jade Hand claims to champion purity. Purity! What good is it, if it makes you abandon compassion”

“I am being compassionate,” Gisei said softly. She looked from Munoto to Kage and back again. “There are a pair of Kuni Witch Hunters following about an hour behind us, and they intend to take Kage back to Shiro Kuni. For study.”

In the City of the Lost, children were scared into good behavior with Kuni stories. Watching Munoto’s reaction, Kage decided that the same stories were told in Kyuden Doji. “Witch Hunters, Daidoji-sama” Kage asked. It was improper for him to speak to her without her or Munoto’s permission, but at this point it didn’t seem to matter much. “Why Why are they after me”

“The Kuni have never been totally happy with the claim that some of the Lost despise their Taint, or Sekawa’s decision to give them sanctuary. They are doubly unhappy that the sanctuary was in the Crane lands, and not under their supervision.” She shrugged. “These two heard about your party, Doji-san, and have decided to take advantage of the situation. Karma.”

“Karma is made,” Munoto said angrily. “Why should I respect their demands any more than yours”

Gisei looked at him thoughtfully. “Kage did leave without Sekawa’s approval. The Kuni have used that to leverage the service of a troop of Emerald Magistrates. Will you raise your hand against the Emperor’s servants”

Munoto blanched and looked down. Kage felt the darkness roar within him as his last hope died in the silence. “So this is how it is going to be,” he hissed. “So fortunate for you, Munoto, that we are on our way back home. Since you have no further need for me, it should be easy to give me up.”

“No,” Munoto said, and looked up to face Kage. The Doji’s eyes were filled with pain and fear, and a resolve that held Kage motionless. “I cannot fight the Emerald Magistrates. I cannot save you. My actions brought you to this, and now all I can do is apologize.”

“Words,” Kage said. “Just words.”

“Not just words,” Munoto said. He pulled out his knife and started slicing through the silken ties of his armor. Kage watched him, unable to guess what the Crane was planning. Evidently he was not the only confused person present. “What are you doing” the Moto asked.

The Crane shugenja answered him. “Seppuku.”

“Seppuku” the Moto repeated incredulously. Kage looked up at him and their eyes met. For a moment they were of a common mind, united by Crane insanity. “Why would anyone seppuku over this crea–”

“Peace, Chaigo-san,” Gisei said. “Honor is doing the right thing, always. Kage’s Taint does not lessen Munoto’s obligation to sincerity.”

“Exactly,” Munoto said. Armor shed, he put away the knife and drew his wakizashi. “Would you assist me” he asked, bowing.

Gisei bowed back. “I would be honored to serve.”

“Thank you, Daidoji-san,” Munoto replied. He turned to Kage and bowed. “Farewell, Kage-san. I am told that the Lords of Death are rigorous in their justice. They will surely take note of your loyal service.”

Kage couldn’t think of anything to say, so he simply bowed. Munoto seemed to find this adequate, for he immediately knelt down and turned the blade towards himself.

“The way of the world

after cleansing rains of spring

petals stain the earth,”

he said, and made the first cut.

*Now*, the darkness whispered to Kage. *Now that they are looking elsewhere, you can run.* The muscles of his legs tingled with the promise of speed, but Kage made no move. Munoto was killing himself in remorse for Kage’s impending death and he was lost in wonder at the sight. The Doji hadn’t liked him, and he had feared Kage’s Taint, but in the end Munoto was treating him exactly as he would a samurai of the Crane. I am like them now, he thought, looking at the other members of the patrol. Honor applies to me, also.

*Munoto died of honor.*

Gisei made the final cut, ending Munoto’s agony. She flicked the blood from her blade with smooth precision and sheathed the blade. “You are going to kill me now,” Kage said.

“Yes,” she said. “Do you have a preference”

Kage blinked in surprise–it seemed to be his day for it–and then nodded. He walked over to Munoto’s corpse and pried the wakizashi out of the Doji’s hands. “Kasako-san,” Kage said, “would you assist me”

His yojimbo had to open his mouth several times before words would come out. “Yes,” he finally managed.

Kage knelt down in the blood-sodden ground. It must of looked like this, after the Rain, he thought absently. There was an irony in there somewhere, but he had no time to pursue it. He brought the blade up. “Munoto died of honor,” he said. “I am grateful to die the same as him.” He made the first cut.