Kyuzo stepped back from the cherry tree to better see the big picture instead of focusing on the small details. He looked it over and nodded to himself. It looked real enough, he had done a fine job with shading so the tree gave the illusion of gentle motion in a breeze. It was serene. At this moment, he couldn’t think of anything that would improve upon it more than he already had today. It was good before, but now it was starting to become a tree and less a picture of a tree. He went through the motions of cleaning up his painting station wondering what he was going to do next. Kyuzo had thought running a town would be much more time consuming than it was turning out to be. With Daigotsu running construction, Matsu the guard, and Kitsuki handling the trading and income, there wasn’t much to take care of himself. On top of that, they were waiting for the bulk of their new population to arrive, so everything was just continuing as normal with very little guidance from him. The city was running smoothly and would continue to do so until they had to expand.
Expanding, that was a thought. Kyuzo had toured the town but he hadn’t seen much beyond the hill they inhabited. He knew there was a forest to the southwest, and a river that ran through the town, but besides that, he wasn’t aware of much of the countryside. There had to be rice patties somewhere. And what was beyond those? It suddenly occurred to him he hadn’t given much consideration to which way the town would expand, or how far, or even what was out there. For all he knew there was another town within a few hours travel. In addition, the Scorpion weren’t very forthcoming with information. They spoke to him with riddles and half-answers.
Expanding, that was a thought. Kyuzo had toured the town but he hadn’t seen much beyond the hill they inhabited. He knew there was a forest to the southwest, and a river that ran through the town, but besides that, he wasn’t aware of much of the countryside. There had to be rice patties somewhere. And what was beyond those? It suddenly occurred to him he hadn’t given much consideration to which way the town would expand, or how far, or even what was out there. For all he knew there was another town within a few hours travel. In addition, the Scorpion weren’t very forthcoming with information. They spoke to him with riddles and half-answers.
He sucked his teeth and headed towards the inn the Scorpion had last been spotted at. Shiba quickly tailed after him. She was exceptional at the part of being a yojimbo that required her always to be there, he never had to find her before he left the house, or even in the house. Usually she was near enough she could drop whatever she was doing without a moment’s notice. Kyuzo liked that, not having to tell her what to do.
Soshi wasn’t hard to find, she was standing outside the inn as if she were waiting for someone. It was probably him; she did odd things like that. Like the day he met her and she was in their house tending to Tsuruchi, apparently waiting for him as well then she began talking to him as if he should have known all along whom she was. She knew everything about him and even then some. Granted, the house wasn’t exactly a strange place for someone to be waiting for him, but she popped up whenever he thought of her, and sometimes when he didn’t.
“I’ve decided,” Kyuzo said as he approached Soshi, “I’d like to accompany your group on a scouting mission.”
“It’s inadvisable, Lord Asahina,” Soshi began in that sultry sweet voice of hers, “for you to join us on a mission. Of course, it is still your choice. However, things can get hazardous and if we couldn’t manage to handle the situation, one or two lost scouts aren’t a big deal, but a lost daimyo is.”
Kyuzo had thought she might try to talk him out of it. The Scorpion were a secretive bunch, and choosing them for scouting was the most logical choice, but requesting to join them wasn’t something most people did. They were tight knit and lacked trust in their fellow man, especially if you weren’t a part of their clan. Probably even if you were a part of their clan.
“Perhaps Shiba could accompany you, then? I think the experience would be well worth the risk.” Kyuzo hadn’t even asked Shiba her opinion on the matter, he didn’t mind volunteering people for jobs, but this was a little different, perhaps he should have discussed it with her first.
“What do you think?” He asked Shiba. “Would you like to go? Get out of town for a bit?”
“I am here to protect you,” Shiba responded.
“Alright, that settles it,” Kyuzo nodded and turned back to Soshi, “We want to go.”
“Both of you?” Inquired Soshi.
“Yes.”
“Do either of you have any experience with maneuvering unheard?”
Soshi had him there. He was certain he never worried about creeping around in the dark, that wasn’t the way an honorable man handled himself.
“You said that your group has already checked things out and that it is fairly safe, so I figured we could just ride through-”
“Absolutely true,” Soshi interrupted him. This wasn’t the first time she had cut him off, he could excuse once or twice but this was starting to become a habit. “There are conditions that can change daily, and if, perhaps a bandit group has moved in we would have to worry about that. I’ll tell you what, we will set up a training regimen for you two, and you two could practice. Then we can take you on a scouting mission once you have reached an acceptable level.”
“I suppose I can accept that,” Kyuzo was aware there were dangers abound, but he could not imagine anything that would make him fear for his life. This felt like a ploy to keep him anchored here rather than a concern for his safety. But what else was he supposed to do? Give a little and get a little. He would play her game and keep at it until she had no choice but to allow him along.
Soshi bowed, “I shall see it done.”
***
Airo slowly walked back from the distillery, carrying his crate of sake. He enjoyed the drink, and asked for the crate, but it was just a convenient excuse to scope out the building. Yesterday he had decided that was the place he was going to target, that demanding voice in his head claiming that it was perfect, that it had to be turned to ash because it would burn so beautifully. He had to agree on that, the alcohol would surely cause an amazing spectacle to behold. Perhaps it would burn hotter than usual, or maybe just faster. He hadn’t ever set fire to a distillery before, so this would be a new and exciting experience.
As he approached the house, he saw Soshi standing outside directing two of the Kaiu builders and gesturing to their abode. It seemed out of sorts since the house was still plenty big enough to home all the delegates with room to spare for more. It was also odd that they weren‘t setting up inside the house to build, but around it. Moreover, to further fuel his curiosity on the matter, Airo had been watching the builders for part of the morning and Soshi requisitioning two of them would cut down on the overall progress of the barracks, which Airo was hoping to inform Asahina he was overseeing. It wouldn’t help to bolster his reputation if he took over construction and things significantly slowed.
“Ah, Soshi-san,” Airo greeted Soshi merrily.
“Tsuruchi-san,” Soshi bowed.
“What are you doing this fine afternoon?”
“Very well, and yourself?” Soshi answered, but it wasn’t an answer to his question. Airo wasn’t sure if she misheard him or she was doing it on purpose.
“I’m sorry, I must have misspoken. I said what are you doing?”
“I’m following the instructions of Lord Asahina.”
“Would you care to enlighten me?”
“My instructions are to train them,” Soshi was being cryptic, something Airo had come to expect from the Scorpion.
“The Kaiu?” Airo blinked, as if Soshi knew more about building than the master engineers of the Empire did.
“No.” There was a notable pause; Soshi wasn’t going to correct him.
“Who are you speaking about?”
“Lord Asahina,” Soshi snickered, “Was that not obvious?”
“Them refers to more than one,” Airo pointed out.
“Of course.”
“Is it Shiba?”
“Oh, you are so bright.” Yep, Soshi was definitely mocking him.
“Thank you, my father calls me sun,” Airo retorted, “It was lovely to see you.”
Airo quickly made his way inside. He knew better than to trade slights with a Scorpion. He was aware of their reputation and knew he wouldn’t have two legs to stand on if Soshi really got into it with him. He rounded the corner to the kitchen and his room to find a Spider sitting outside the room at the end of the hall. Just sitting there. She was clothed the same as the first day he met her, this time she had a bisento laying across her lap, and she was… just sitting there.
“Hello!” Airo bellowed as he approached her, “We haven’t been properly introduced.”
Airo waited, she did this the last time too, refusing to say anything.
“Daigotsu Katsumi.”
“Hello Daigotsu Katsumi, I am Tsuruchi Airo-”
“We met,” she said tersely. Airo already knew he had introduced himself, he just liked to remind people who he was in case they forgot.
“I have here some fine sake if you’d like some? It’s fresh from the distillery.”
Daigotsu looked down the hallway, and then checked behind her before turning back to Airo, “I would like that.”
As he approached the house, he saw Soshi standing outside directing two of the Kaiu builders and gesturing to their abode. It seemed out of sorts since the house was still plenty big enough to home all the delegates with room to spare for more. It was also odd that they weren‘t setting up inside the house to build, but around it. Moreover, to further fuel his curiosity on the matter, Airo had been watching the builders for part of the morning and Soshi requisitioning two of them would cut down on the overall progress of the barracks, which Airo was hoping to inform Asahina he was overseeing. It wouldn’t help to bolster his reputation if he took over construction and things significantly slowed.
“Ah, Soshi-san,” Airo greeted Soshi merrily.
“Tsuruchi-san,” Soshi bowed.
“What are you doing this fine afternoon?”
“Very well, and yourself?” Soshi answered, but it wasn’t an answer to his question. Airo wasn’t sure if she misheard him or she was doing it on purpose.
“I’m sorry, I must have misspoken. I said what are you doing?”
“I’m following the instructions of Lord Asahina.”
“Would you care to enlighten me?”
“My instructions are to train them,” Soshi was being cryptic, something Airo had come to expect from the Scorpion.
“The Kaiu?” Airo blinked, as if Soshi knew more about building than the master engineers of the Empire did.
“No.” There was a notable pause; Soshi wasn’t going to correct him.
“Who are you speaking about?”
“Lord Asahina,” Soshi snickered, “Was that not obvious?”
“Them refers to more than one,” Airo pointed out.
“Of course.”
“Is it Shiba?”
“Oh, you are so bright.” Yep, Soshi was definitely mocking him.
“Thank you, my father calls me sun,” Airo retorted, “It was lovely to see you.”
Airo quickly made his way inside. He knew better than to trade slights with a Scorpion. He was aware of their reputation and knew he wouldn’t have two legs to stand on if Soshi really got into it with him. He rounded the corner to the kitchen and his room to find a Spider sitting outside the room at the end of the hall. Just sitting there. She was clothed the same as the first day he met her, this time she had a bisento laying across her lap, and she was… just sitting there.
“Hello!” Airo bellowed as he approached her, “We haven’t been properly introduced.”
Airo waited, she did this the last time too, refusing to say anything.
“Daigotsu Katsumi.”
“Hello Daigotsu Katsumi, I am Tsuruchi Airo-”
“We met,” she said tersely. Airo already knew he had introduced himself, he just liked to remind people who he was in case they forgot.
“I have here some fine sake if you’d like some? It’s fresh from the distillery.”
Daigotsu looked down the hallway, and then checked behind her before turning back to Airo, “I would like that.”
***
Tsuruchi filled the air with ramblings on poetry and other trivial things Katsumi didn’t care to hear an opinion on. She was starting to regret taking him up on his offer for some early afternoon sake. She didn’t expect them to just drink in silence, but even in polite conversation there were lulls, she was quickly learning this wasn’t the case with Tsuruchi. He had also invited the Scorpion woman, Soshi, Katsumi was pretty sure that’s what he called her. Today was the first day she had seen her, but Soshi claimed to be head of the house, taking care of the servants and those that were living here. How strange that she had spent a few days here and had never been introduced, or at least noticed her in passing.
“Good afternoon, Meiko-chan.” Matsu’s voice shook Katsumi back into the world of a babbling Tsuruchi. “Good afternoon, Katsumi-chan,” Matsu said timidly smiling at Katsumi.
She had started doing that this morning, apparently they had become close last night and due to the full moon, Katsumi had no recollection of the events. When she had attempted to glean more information, Matsu had welled up with tears and threatened to explode into a torrent of emotion. Katsumi figured it was best left to pretend she remembered and never, ever bring it up again. Now, however, she had to deal with Matsu being very personal and informal. It may be better than the alternative, but it still made her uncomfortable with Matsu giving her pet names in public.
“Afternoon, Matsu,” Katsumi replied.
“Afternoon, Mikoto-chan,” Soshi said sweetly.
Hikaru passed Matsu and leaned against Katsumi, she tried her best not to spill any sake as the big cat nuzzled her arm. The lion liked her for some reason she couldn’t comprehend, and she did her best not to rebuff the cat or else face Matsu’s ire. Matsu was very found of Hikaru, Katsumi learned that the very first day with the way she introduced him. He was as much a part of her life as her family, so Katsumi attempted to treat Hikaru as such.
“You said you knew of an artisan sculptor in town?” asked Matsu.
“I did,” Soshi responded.
“Could you introduce me?”
That reminded Katsumi, since there were four elder Spider Monks in town who didn’t leave with the rest of the clan, she had intended to progress in her school’s techniques. Now was as good of time as any, plus it gave her a convenient out for Tsuruchi’s never ending discourse. She set her cup down, rose, and slid open the door to Kitsuki’s office informing him that she was heading out for a few hours. He quickly waved her away and Katsumi left the small group without dealing with the unpleasant pleasantries of goodbyes.
“Good afternoon, Meiko-chan.” Matsu’s voice shook Katsumi back into the world of a babbling Tsuruchi. “Good afternoon, Katsumi-chan,” Matsu said timidly smiling at Katsumi.
She had started doing that this morning, apparently they had become close last night and due to the full moon, Katsumi had no recollection of the events. When she had attempted to glean more information, Matsu had welled up with tears and threatened to explode into a torrent of emotion. Katsumi figured it was best left to pretend she remembered and never, ever bring it up again. Now, however, she had to deal with Matsu being very personal and informal. It may be better than the alternative, but it still made her uncomfortable with Matsu giving her pet names in public.
“Afternoon, Matsu,” Katsumi replied.
“Afternoon, Mikoto-chan,” Soshi said sweetly.
Hikaru passed Matsu and leaned against Katsumi, she tried her best not to spill any sake as the big cat nuzzled her arm. The lion liked her for some reason she couldn’t comprehend, and she did her best not to rebuff the cat or else face Matsu’s ire. Matsu was very found of Hikaru, Katsumi learned that the very first day with the way she introduced him. He was as much a part of her life as her family, so Katsumi attempted to treat Hikaru as such.
“You said you knew of an artisan sculptor in town?” asked Matsu.
“I did,” Soshi responded.
“Could you introduce me?”
That reminded Katsumi, since there were four elder Spider Monks in town who didn’t leave with the rest of the clan, she had intended to progress in her school’s techniques. Now was as good of time as any, plus it gave her a convenient out for Tsuruchi’s never ending discourse. She set her cup down, rose, and slid open the door to Kitsuki’s office informing him that she was heading out for a few hours. He quickly waved her away and Katsumi left the small group without dealing with the unpleasant pleasantries of goodbyes.
***
Kyuzo waited quietly for his sensei, Kakita Heihachi, to finish his hand-to-hand exercise with the wooden posts that had been set up in the area. He wanted to advance to the next level of training. Obviously, he was ready with how he had performed in the championship. You didn’t get the Topaz Championship title for being good, you got it for being the best. Knowing that he had outperformed everyone else, he was eager to learn more and be even better because this level was not satisfactory when it came to perfecting the Kakita technique. He was well aware he had a long road ahead of him before he was anywhere near the level his sensei was. Without stopping, his teacher looked over and acknowledged Kyuzo’s presence.
“Kyuzo.”
“Sensei,” Kyuzo responded with a bow.
“What can I do for you?” Kakita asked refocusing on his exercise.
“I only just realized you were still here, I’ve had a lot of tasks to handle, but now I am here to train,” Kyuzo explained.
“Train what?”
“Whatever you have ready for me next and whenever we can work it into the schedule.” Kakita stared at him for a moment; perhaps he was waiting for more of an explanation.
“Let me get my things,” Kakita said as he turned towards a building behind the training dummies.
“What are your intentions? Are you coming with me or are we going to train here? What sorts of things are you getting?”
Kakita spun around and gave Kyuzo a stare he recognized from his early days in the dojo. This was not a good look; this was a very, very bad look.
“They put you in charge of a town and it goes straight to your head, you forget your position in the dojo. I see how it is. Do not worry, Asahina-kun, I will be back for you. I have a few training exercises in mind.” There was an undue amount of emphasis on the ‘kun’ honorific.
Kyuzo had just dug himself a hole he wasn’t sure he could get out of. He had a feeling the exercises in mind wouldn’t be something he would look forward to. Kakita returned in his training gi, with practice swords and a rope that was dragging a large, heavy-looking wood log. He held the rope out to Kyuzo, Kyuzo remembered this ‘training exercise’.
“Three laps around the town. Come back when you’re done. I’ll be waiting for my student to show up.”
Kyuzo took the rope and began running, the log stubbornly dragging behind him. The town was starting to grow much larger with each step he placed. Three laps would be plenty of time to find Kyuzo the student.
“Kyuzo.”
“Sensei,” Kyuzo responded with a bow.
“What can I do for you?” Kakita asked refocusing on his exercise.
“I only just realized you were still here, I’ve had a lot of tasks to handle, but now I am here to train,” Kyuzo explained.
“Train what?”
“Whatever you have ready for me next and whenever we can work it into the schedule.” Kakita stared at him for a moment; perhaps he was waiting for more of an explanation.
“Let me get my things,” Kakita said as he turned towards a building behind the training dummies.
“What are your intentions? Are you coming with me or are we going to train here? What sorts of things are you getting?”
Kakita spun around and gave Kyuzo a stare he recognized from his early days in the dojo. This was not a good look; this was a very, very bad look.
“They put you in charge of a town and it goes straight to your head, you forget your position in the dojo. I see how it is. Do not worry, Asahina-kun, I will be back for you. I have a few training exercises in mind.” There was an undue amount of emphasis on the ‘kun’ honorific.
Kyuzo had just dug himself a hole he wasn’t sure he could get out of. He had a feeling the exercises in mind wouldn’t be something he would look forward to. Kakita returned in his training gi, with practice swords and a rope that was dragging a large, heavy-looking wood log. He held the rope out to Kyuzo, Kyuzo remembered this ‘training exercise’.
“Three laps around the town. Come back when you’re done. I’ll be waiting for my student to show up.”
Kyuzo took the rope and began running, the log stubbornly dragging behind him. The town was starting to grow much larger with each step he placed. Three laps would be plenty of time to find Kyuzo the student.
***
“Are you feeling alright today, Shiba-san?” Yuji asked as they cleared off the Go board. “Usually you’re not so aggressive in the beginning, which ushered in your swift defeat. You seem off.”
“I’m well, it’s just…” Morasahi was trying to find the words. She wanted Yuji to teach her how to better conduct herself in front of others. After last night’s engagement where she turned all conversation away, and knowing that this winter she was to help hold the Winter Courts, she knew she needed a little training in order to be passable, especially in front of the Empress. Yuji was talented in many ways, one of them being speaking to other people. It seemed to come so easy to him. That’s the reason the first person Morasahi had considered was Yuji to help her. There was the added benefit that she would get to spend more time with him as well.
“I would like you to teach me-um… how to present myself better in court.”
Yuji leaned back and raised a brow, “Don’t you think this would be better suited for someone the same gender as you?”
“I’ve always-um, seen you work very well in court situations,” Morasahi found it easier to ask than she thought she would.
“You flatter me,” Yuji said shaking his head. “I just don’t think I’m the one you should be talking to.”
“Then-um, who would you suggest for something like this?” Even if Yuji wasn’t going to teach her, she still needed to learn.
Yuji crossed his arms, furrowed his brow and pressed his lips. Morasahi knew this was his pondering face. “Given that we’re so far from home, I’m not entirely sure,” He shook his head again. “Maybe you should learn some of the local customs, though the Scorpion tend to be a little strange. But then again, this will be Spider territory, so perhaps you should speak to one of them.”
He couldn’t be serious. Learn etiquette from a Scorpion or a Spider? She had seen Daigotsu’s etiquette and that wasn’t exactly her idea of how one should present themselves in a court setting. Then again, Morasahi knew Yuji was right in asking one of the two, since local customs would be better suited for the area. If his opinion was with the Spider, he probably knew best. She didn’t want to be the odd man out when it came to the Winter Courts.
“I’ll look into it… Thank you,” Morasahi said more than a little disappointed. She excused herself and slowly trudged back home. She felt a strong desire to meditate and figure out the best way to approach one of the two clans for help with ‘etiquette’. She sighed at the thought. Soshi was incredibly rude, treating her as if she were nothing more than a yojimbo. Granted, she was a yojimbo, but she was also the delegate for the Phoenix clan, and with that, she shouldn’t be ignored. And whom would she ask in the spider? She had only met two of them so far, Daigotsu Katsumi, who was a very, very long way from being skilled enough to teach her the ways of court; and Daigotsu Negisa, who she hadn’t really had the opportunity to observe long enough to develop an opinion. She seemed to handle herself rather well when it came to speaking last night, maybe…
Speaking of the two, Soshi and Negisa were inspecting Morasahi’s bonsai tree she had worked on this morning. At precisely the same moment, they turned towards her and bowed, giving Morasahi a greeting. Soshi excused herself without announcing anything, just walked away. Yeah, Morasahi thought, the Scorpion haven’t made the best of impressions so far. Morasahi shook it off and took a seat next to the small stream. Perhaps the answers would come to her if she just had some time to think.
“I’m well, it’s just…” Morasahi was trying to find the words. She wanted Yuji to teach her how to better conduct herself in front of others. After last night’s engagement where she turned all conversation away, and knowing that this winter she was to help hold the Winter Courts, she knew she needed a little training in order to be passable, especially in front of the Empress. Yuji was talented in many ways, one of them being speaking to other people. It seemed to come so easy to him. That’s the reason the first person Morasahi had considered was Yuji to help her. There was the added benefit that she would get to spend more time with him as well.
“I would like you to teach me-um… how to present myself better in court.”
Yuji leaned back and raised a brow, “Don’t you think this would be better suited for someone the same gender as you?”
“I’ve always-um, seen you work very well in court situations,” Morasahi found it easier to ask than she thought she would.
“You flatter me,” Yuji said shaking his head. “I just don’t think I’m the one you should be talking to.”
“Then-um, who would you suggest for something like this?” Even if Yuji wasn’t going to teach her, she still needed to learn.
Yuji crossed his arms, furrowed his brow and pressed his lips. Morasahi knew this was his pondering face. “Given that we’re so far from home, I’m not entirely sure,” He shook his head again. “Maybe you should learn some of the local customs, though the Scorpion tend to be a little strange. But then again, this will be Spider territory, so perhaps you should speak to one of them.”
He couldn’t be serious. Learn etiquette from a Scorpion or a Spider? She had seen Daigotsu’s etiquette and that wasn’t exactly her idea of how one should present themselves in a court setting. Then again, Morasahi knew Yuji was right in asking one of the two, since local customs would be better suited for the area. If his opinion was with the Spider, he probably knew best. She didn’t want to be the odd man out when it came to the Winter Courts.
“I’ll look into it… Thank you,” Morasahi said more than a little disappointed. She excused herself and slowly trudged back home. She felt a strong desire to meditate and figure out the best way to approach one of the two clans for help with ‘etiquette’. She sighed at the thought. Soshi was incredibly rude, treating her as if she were nothing more than a yojimbo. Granted, she was a yojimbo, but she was also the delegate for the Phoenix clan, and with that, she shouldn’t be ignored. And whom would she ask in the spider? She had only met two of them so far, Daigotsu Katsumi, who was a very, very long way from being skilled enough to teach her the ways of court; and Daigotsu Negisa, who she hadn’t really had the opportunity to observe long enough to develop an opinion. She seemed to handle herself rather well when it came to speaking last night, maybe…
Speaking of the two, Soshi and Negisa were inspecting Morasahi’s bonsai tree she had worked on this morning. At precisely the same moment, they turned towards her and bowed, giving Morasahi a greeting. Soshi excused herself without announcing anything, just walked away. Yeah, Morasahi thought, the Scorpion haven’t made the best of impressions so far. Morasahi shook it off and took a seat next to the small stream. Perhaps the answers would come to her if she just had some time to think.
***
Katsumi removed her leather armguards and chest piece. Training usually forwent armor, although part of the uniform when mobile, it wasn’t suitable for a monk to train with something that could negate a blow to their body. It was part of the conditioning, to endure a strike that would otherwise cripple a man. To say she was looking forward to what was about to happen would be a fallacy. Katsumi remembered all too well the way training worked for the Order of the Spider Monks; she would carry the lessons for the rest of her life as scars that marred her flesh. She took a few deep breathes and attempted to center herself; pain was inevitable, there was no getting around it, only to meet it head on with strength and determination.
“You know how to ride the water dragon, Katsumi?” Daisuke asked. He would be her teacher while he was stationed here. He was twenty years her senior, placing him at 33, and had a reputation for brutal and effective training. Students had been known to quickly fall out of his instruction into other teachers who were less hands on and more about perfecting oneself before learning a technique. Those that didn’t drop from Daisuke’s regimen usually excelled rapidly through training.
“Of course, Daisuke-sensei.” That was the first thing Katsumi had learned when it came to mastering her chi. It was the first thing most sensei taught with the nature of the training for the Order. Mystical internal healing proved to keep you alive long after all normal means would have run short. Sheer will to continue until you couldn’t mend anymore.
“Good. Don’t use it until I tell you to,” Daisuke said as he walked towards her and passed behind her.
Katsumi nodded, then there was an elbow in her back and a foot lifting her ankle into the air and she was facedown in the dirt. Before she even landed, Daisuke had grabbed her wrist and pulled it behind her, locking her right arm straight. Katsumi managed to soften the landing with her left hand, and much practice from years of trips and throws. She twisted but she knew she was stuck as his knee pressed on her back and she felt him pushing her arm towards her center like a lever, pulling at the shoulder. There was a sickening pop that reverberated through Katsumi’s body, her lunch churning in her stomach, threatening to come up. She bit her lip to keep from wailing and instead made some muffled grunts. Daisuke let go and stood up, taking a few steps away as Katsumi rolled and cradled her stiff arm.
“Fix it without the water dragon,” Daisuke instructed.
Through the blinding pain, Katsumi managed to stumble to a nearby tree. She pushed and lifted her arm with her working one in attempts to realign the ball with the socket, something she was finding much harder to do on her own than when she had reduced other’s joints. She leaned against the tree, which only proved to be more painful as the pressure pushed on her joint causing her muscles to scream in agony. Katsumi pushed her arm again, this time feeling the divot the ball of her shoulder belonged in. Right there. She sucked in a lungful of air and held it as she rammed her shoulder against the tree, forcing her joint to reduce back into place.
Katsumi held her arm and walked back to where she had started her training choking out, “It has been fixed, Daisuke-sensei.”
Daisuke snatched her arm and tugged on it, rotated and manipulated it to test the validity of her claim. Every movement ached, the ligaments and tendons refusing to lessen the tension that came with trauma.
“You can use the water dragon now,” Daisuke said seemingly satisfied.
Katsumi relished in the glorious relief that came with those words. Her body mended itself, melting away the stiffness and ache that spread from her sternum to her elbow. The moment was over much too quickly as Daisuke pointed to the ground and commanded, “Again.”
“You know how to ride the water dragon, Katsumi?” Daisuke asked. He would be her teacher while he was stationed here. He was twenty years her senior, placing him at 33, and had a reputation for brutal and effective training. Students had been known to quickly fall out of his instruction into other teachers who were less hands on and more about perfecting oneself before learning a technique. Those that didn’t drop from Daisuke’s regimen usually excelled rapidly through training.
“Of course, Daisuke-sensei.” That was the first thing Katsumi had learned when it came to mastering her chi. It was the first thing most sensei taught with the nature of the training for the Order. Mystical internal healing proved to keep you alive long after all normal means would have run short. Sheer will to continue until you couldn’t mend anymore.
“Good. Don’t use it until I tell you to,” Daisuke said as he walked towards her and passed behind her.
Katsumi nodded, then there was an elbow in her back and a foot lifting her ankle into the air and she was facedown in the dirt. Before she even landed, Daisuke had grabbed her wrist and pulled it behind her, locking her right arm straight. Katsumi managed to soften the landing with her left hand, and much practice from years of trips and throws. She twisted but she knew she was stuck as his knee pressed on her back and she felt him pushing her arm towards her center like a lever, pulling at the shoulder. There was a sickening pop that reverberated through Katsumi’s body, her lunch churning in her stomach, threatening to come up. She bit her lip to keep from wailing and instead made some muffled grunts. Daisuke let go and stood up, taking a few steps away as Katsumi rolled and cradled her stiff arm.
“Fix it without the water dragon,” Daisuke instructed.
Through the blinding pain, Katsumi managed to stumble to a nearby tree. She pushed and lifted her arm with her working one in attempts to realign the ball with the socket, something she was finding much harder to do on her own than when she had reduced other’s joints. She leaned against the tree, which only proved to be more painful as the pressure pushed on her joint causing her muscles to scream in agony. Katsumi pushed her arm again, this time feeling the divot the ball of her shoulder belonged in. Right there. She sucked in a lungful of air and held it as she rammed her shoulder against the tree, forcing her joint to reduce back into place.
Katsumi held her arm and walked back to where she had started her training choking out, “It has been fixed, Daisuke-sensei.”
Daisuke snatched her arm and tugged on it, rotated and manipulated it to test the validity of her claim. Every movement ached, the ligaments and tendons refusing to lessen the tension that came with trauma.
“You can use the water dragon now,” Daisuke said seemingly satisfied.
Katsumi relished in the glorious relief that came with those words. Her body mended itself, melting away the stiffness and ache that spread from her sternum to her elbow. The moment was over much too quickly as Daisuke pointed to the ground and commanded, “Again.”
***
Mikoto stared at her rice with great trepidation. She wanted to eat, her stomach was rumbling, but her hands were cramped tremendously. She hadn’t thought that art would be such grueling, painful work, but today she learned otherwise. She had thought herself lucky when Soshi Meiko had agreed to introduce her to an artisan sculptor in town. Quickly she learned that lucky was a misnomer, carving wood until her hands couldn’t open and her fingers were numb. He had let her go home, with promises to send for someone to fetch her tomorrow. And although she truly wanted to learn how to sculpt, it was torture to stare at all the food without the ability to lift her chopsticks and eat it. So she sat, staring, stomach rumbling, and trying not to complain about the predicament she put herself in.
Katsumi was happily munching away on some sort of rice cake, forgoing her chopsticks for fingers. It looked odd; it was brown in color, like there was red bean paste mixed in. However, now Mikoto didn’t care so much how it looked as long as she could eat it without utensils she clearly could not handle.
“What is that?” She asked peering at Katsumi.
“Would you like some?” Katsumi smiled in such a way it honestly made Mikoto nervous.
“Don’t eat it,” Shiba blurted, Katsumi slowly turned her gaze at Shiba, smiling wickedly.
“Shiba-san, just eat your food,” Mikoto commanded.
“Trust me, please. Just trust me on this. Don’t eat it,” Shiba pleaded.
Mikoto’s interest was peaked, Shiba was warning her with such conviction that Mikoto was almost worried it might be some strange poison Spiders weren’t affected by. Katsumi was fine eating it, and although she wasn’t certain what the diets of Spiders were, it couldn’t be so terrible if she was eating it in front of everyone. It wasn’t like a Spider would flay a peasant and serve up their flesh for dinner in the middle of the Empire with a house full of other people. Still, it was better to be safe than sorry, and since she couldn’t trust Katsumi’s stomach, and it was obvious Shiba wasn’t going to test it out, that left Hikaru to bare the burden. He was a healthy, tough cat; if it were poison, it wouldn’t kill him.
“Would you mind if Hikaru tried it?” Mikoto posed the question politely.
“That seems more befitting,” Shiba was still taking part in their conversation it seemed.
Katsumi shrugged and broke a piece off tossing it at Hikaru. He lapped it up without hesitation. Mikoto watched him for a minute, waiting to see if anything changed. Nope, Hikaru looked like Hikaru and Katsumi continued munching on her meal. Shiba grimaced behind Katsumi. Mikoto looked down at her hands and the uneaten food she couldn’t consume. It was pretty much this thing Katsumi had or struggle with her chopsticks and go hungry. Mikoto sighed.
“Is the offer still available for me to try it?” She said warily.
“Of course,” Katsumi held out the rice cake.
Mikoto gingerly accepted it, eyeing the food. She sniffed it; it didn’t smell like red beans, it was somewhat earthy in scent. It was much easier to hold, not needing to grasp anything since it just sat stiff in her hand. Mikoto took a small bite. A sharp, bitter taste stung her tongue, smoothed out by the sweet rice it was mixed with. It tasted earthy like it smelled, but it wasn’t the taste of dirt, it was rich and tart. It was… different.
“It has a very…” Mikoto was trying to find the words to describe something so different, “interesting taste. What is it?”
“Blood cake.”
Mikoto wanted to drop the rest of the ‘cake’ in her hand, just touching it made her feel dirty. And to think she just ate it. She didn’t want to offend Katsumi, it was obviously a food Katsumi very much enjoyed, and which she had shared with Mikoto. But… it was blood. She kept her composure, glancing down at the cake and turning it over in her hand.
“It’s definitely a different flavor; maybe if you add something to it it would be more palatable.”
“No,” Katsumi quickly retorted, “It’s fine the way it is.”
Shiba left the room, her food unfinished still on the table. Mikoto could relate to Shiba’s sudden loss of appetite, she wasn’t feeling very hungry anymore either. Maybe she could just eat a large breakfast in the morning, when her hands weren’t so knotted and sore, and then she wouldn’t have to worry about any other meals for the day. Mikoto wrestled with politely putting the blood cake back on Katsumi’s plate or waiting until Katsumi left before tossing it.
“Besides,” Katsumi interrupted Mikoto’s thoughts, “You have to get used to this. You’ll be Spider soon enough and this is what we eat.”
She had a point. Granted, Mikoto wasn’t certain if she really was betrothed to Yanagi, having a few Spider mention it didn’t make it so. She hadn’t heard anything from her parents, and you would think she would at least be informed of such a big change in her life. On the other hand, if she was to wed Yanagi, Katsumi was right in that Mikoto would have to get used to eating the way they ate. Katsumi was his younger sister, and how would that look if she went back to Yanagi telling him of how Mikoto had disrespected their traditions? Yanagi had made an excellent impression on Mikoto this morning. One she would not soon forget. She beat back the unpleasant thoughts and took another bite of the blood cake. She was doing this because she wanted to make Yanagi happy more than anything, if he was to be her husband she didn’t want to disappoint.
The rest of the meal Mikoto listened to Katsumi talk about the different foods she ate and the ingredients required for them. She even went into detail about bleeding cattle and referenced anatomical parts of the animals that were used in each dish. It was a lot to stomach, and Katsumi was intimately familiar with butchering animals, or at least the way she spoke it seemed so. Mikoto was a little surprised; she didn’t know half of what Katsumi knew about her own food preparation. Of course, she knew what meals had fish, pork, eggs, and other things, but she didn’t know how to butcher a fish, or what happened to the other parts of it once the meat was removed. The conversation was both horrifying and intriguing.
Katsumi was happily munching away on some sort of rice cake, forgoing her chopsticks for fingers. It looked odd; it was brown in color, like there was red bean paste mixed in. However, now Mikoto didn’t care so much how it looked as long as she could eat it without utensils she clearly could not handle.
“What is that?” She asked peering at Katsumi.
“Would you like some?” Katsumi smiled in such a way it honestly made Mikoto nervous.
“Don’t eat it,” Shiba blurted, Katsumi slowly turned her gaze at Shiba, smiling wickedly.
“Shiba-san, just eat your food,” Mikoto commanded.
“Trust me, please. Just trust me on this. Don’t eat it,” Shiba pleaded.
Mikoto’s interest was peaked, Shiba was warning her with such conviction that Mikoto was almost worried it might be some strange poison Spiders weren’t affected by. Katsumi was fine eating it, and although she wasn’t certain what the diets of Spiders were, it couldn’t be so terrible if she was eating it in front of everyone. It wasn’t like a Spider would flay a peasant and serve up their flesh for dinner in the middle of the Empire with a house full of other people. Still, it was better to be safe than sorry, and since she couldn’t trust Katsumi’s stomach, and it was obvious Shiba wasn’t going to test it out, that left Hikaru to bare the burden. He was a healthy, tough cat; if it were poison, it wouldn’t kill him.
“Would you mind if Hikaru tried it?” Mikoto posed the question politely.
“That seems more befitting,” Shiba was still taking part in their conversation it seemed.
Katsumi shrugged and broke a piece off tossing it at Hikaru. He lapped it up without hesitation. Mikoto watched him for a minute, waiting to see if anything changed. Nope, Hikaru looked like Hikaru and Katsumi continued munching on her meal. Shiba grimaced behind Katsumi. Mikoto looked down at her hands and the uneaten food she couldn’t consume. It was pretty much this thing Katsumi had or struggle with her chopsticks and go hungry. Mikoto sighed.
“Is the offer still available for me to try it?” She said warily.
“Of course,” Katsumi held out the rice cake.
Mikoto gingerly accepted it, eyeing the food. She sniffed it; it didn’t smell like red beans, it was somewhat earthy in scent. It was much easier to hold, not needing to grasp anything since it just sat stiff in her hand. Mikoto took a small bite. A sharp, bitter taste stung her tongue, smoothed out by the sweet rice it was mixed with. It tasted earthy like it smelled, but it wasn’t the taste of dirt, it was rich and tart. It was… different.
“It has a very…” Mikoto was trying to find the words to describe something so different, “interesting taste. What is it?”
“Blood cake.”
Mikoto wanted to drop the rest of the ‘cake’ in her hand, just touching it made her feel dirty. And to think she just ate it. She didn’t want to offend Katsumi, it was obviously a food Katsumi very much enjoyed, and which she had shared with Mikoto. But… it was blood. She kept her composure, glancing down at the cake and turning it over in her hand.
“It’s definitely a different flavor; maybe if you add something to it it would be more palatable.”
“No,” Katsumi quickly retorted, “It’s fine the way it is.”
Shiba left the room, her food unfinished still on the table. Mikoto could relate to Shiba’s sudden loss of appetite, she wasn’t feeling very hungry anymore either. Maybe she could just eat a large breakfast in the morning, when her hands weren’t so knotted and sore, and then she wouldn’t have to worry about any other meals for the day. Mikoto wrestled with politely putting the blood cake back on Katsumi’s plate or waiting until Katsumi left before tossing it.
“Besides,” Katsumi interrupted Mikoto’s thoughts, “You have to get used to this. You’ll be Spider soon enough and this is what we eat.”
She had a point. Granted, Mikoto wasn’t certain if she really was betrothed to Yanagi, having a few Spider mention it didn’t make it so. She hadn’t heard anything from her parents, and you would think she would at least be informed of such a big change in her life. On the other hand, if she was to wed Yanagi, Katsumi was right in that Mikoto would have to get used to eating the way they ate. Katsumi was his younger sister, and how would that look if she went back to Yanagi telling him of how Mikoto had disrespected their traditions? Yanagi had made an excellent impression on Mikoto this morning. One she would not soon forget. She beat back the unpleasant thoughts and took another bite of the blood cake. She was doing this because she wanted to make Yanagi happy more than anything, if he was to be her husband she didn’t want to disappoint.
The rest of the meal Mikoto listened to Katsumi talk about the different foods she ate and the ingredients required for them. She even went into detail about bleeding cattle and referenced anatomical parts of the animals that were used in each dish. It was a lot to stomach, and Katsumi was intimately familiar with butchering animals, or at least the way she spoke it seemed so. Mikoto was a little surprised; she didn’t know half of what Katsumi knew about her own food preparation. Of course, she knew what meals had fish, pork, eggs, and other things, but she didn’t know how to butcher a fish, or what happened to the other parts of it once the meat was removed. The conversation was both horrifying and intriguing.
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