A Samurai Jack Fanfic
By Laura McDaniel
The Oath
The third day after Jill had completed The Mountain's test, the Yamabushis removed all of her bandages, except for the one on her waist. While all the remaining wounds were almost completely gone, that deep gash was still visible, and the monks wanted to make sure it got enough of their secret herb blend to ensure that the scar it would certainly leave would be as small as possible.
"Now then," Ichi said once he and the other monks had finished removing the bandages, "I am going to let you stand up again, but we are not going to let you go anywhere beyond our territory."
"In fact," Ni said, "we've made it impossible for you to leave right now!"
Jill let out a fretful sigh and said, "So that means I'm stuck here in this hut? I'm assuming you won't let me go to the Inner Sanctum again. "
"Oh, no!" Ichi said. "Of course not! Our territory is small, but we possess more than just this nameless mountain."
"Yes," Ni said, "we are also avid gardeners and tend to an expansive garden that's behind the mountain."
"It's a very nice garden, too," Jack said. "I have spent much time meditating under a grove of fig trees."
"Ah," Jill said, cheering up slightly, "I guess if you've been around for centuries, you've got to have hobbies!"
"Exactly!" Ichi chuckled.
Jill strained to get up, but the bandage on her waist made it difficult. "Can you gimmie a hand here?" she asked, extending her left hand to Jack.
"Certainly," Jack said. He took the girls hand and she slowly got back on her feet.
Jill's legs were numb because she hadn't used them in a few days and the herbs the monks used to heal her wounds probably didn't help much.
"Are you all right?" Jack asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Jill said. She staggered over to the wall where her sword hung, still crossed with Jack's, and an eager smile that resembled that of a child who has just received a new toy crossed her lips. She reached for her sword...
"No!" Ichi exclaimed, magically appearing by her side in a flash of light to pull her hand away from the weapon.
"Wha-what did I do wrong?" Jill whimpered.
"I'm sorry if I startled you," Ichi said, letting go of her hand. "It's just that my colleagues and I have decided that you will not lay hands on your sword again until you have taken the Oath."
"And that expression of yours," Ni said. "I don't want to know what you would have done with your sword had you gotten a hold of it!"
Jill blushed brightly and nervously pushed some of her hair to the side. "I...just was just going to practice, that's all."
"On what?" Ichi asked, smiling.
Jill blushed even more. "I'm...not sure. But I suppose I could have imagined something. Then again, that isn't exactly a wooden sword, is it?" She chuckled.
"Well, we'll take care of that," Ichi said. "We taught Tonchiki all he knew, and we can conjure up enemies just like he did, only I promise we won't make you fight Aku."
"Oh, thank you," Jill breathed.
"So," Jack said, "now that you're up, Jill, what would you like to do?"
Jill paused in thought and finally said, "I'd...like to take the Oath now. May I?"
"I don't see why not," Ichi said. "Let us go to the grove of fig trees Jack has become so fond of. I'll set up there. Ni, get Jill's sword and the pillow. San, get the door." The other two monks did as they were asked, and then Jill went outside followed by Jack, Ichi, Ni, and then San.
They walked down the dirt path in front of the hut. It forked to the left and went into what Jill assumed was the monks' garden. It was a veritable paradise in which plants from all over the world grew. There was a crystal clear lake in the middle of the garden and in the center of the lake on which lily pads bearing brightly colored blossoms floated. Looking down, Jill thought she saw a few koi pass by, but what was more interesting was that there was a small island in the center of the lake that a rickety wooden bridge led to. On the island, there was a small grove of fig trees that Jill assumed was the one Jack had grown so attached to. She smiled some as she walked across the bridge and listened to the sound her geta made on the seemingly ancient boards. When she reached the island, she waited for the others.
Once they reached the island, Jack stood next to Jill and Ichi sat down cross-legged under one particularly large fig tree. Ni gently set the sword down in front of him and then sat to Ichi's right. San sat to Ichi's left.
"Jill," Ichi said quietly, "kneel in front of us. Jack, sit next to Jill. Since you are the one that brought her forward, we're going to include you in this. Even though Jill
Jack took his position next to Jill and Ichi solemnly spoke, "This ceremony is going to be highly unorthodox, but this is because the situation is highly unorthodox. Jill has not trained her entire life under the formal code of bushido, but she has clearly proven that her life experiences have prepared her to live by the sword. She needs a little support from time to time, but it is clear that her bond with Jack will sustain her when she needs it."
Ni spoke once Ichi was finished, "We have decided, for the sake of formality, that Jill should recite the samurai creed before she is officially inducted into the Samurai order. Jack, I am assuming you still remember the creed?"
"Yes," Jack said, "I know it by heart."
"Then," Ichi said, "please say a line and allow Jill to repeat it."
"We'll provide her a copy of the creed so that she can follow along," Ni added.
San clapped his hands, and a large parchment scroll floated over him. He moved his hands slightly and the scroll floated over to Jill. She reached up to grasp it, and then gently unrolled it in front of her.
"Are you ready, Jill?" Ichi asked.
"Yes," Jill replied, all signs of apprehension gone from her voice.
"Then begin to recite the creed, Jack," Ni said.
Jack turned to Jill and awkwardly began, " I have no parents; I make the Heavens and the Earth my parents."
"I have no parents; I make the Heavens and the Earth my parents," Jill repeated.
"I have no home; I make the Tan T'ien my home."
Jill looked at Jack with a confused expression on her face, and after a long pause, she asked, "What the heck is Tan T'ien?"
The Yamabushis exchanged shocked expressions while Jack opened his mouth to answer the question. Before he could say anything, Ichi exclaimed, "It doesn't matter, Jill! Just repeat what he said!"
Jack glared sharply at the monks and snapped, "Perhaps you should be under a vow of silence as well, Ichi. Or else release San from his."
"What do you mean?" Ichi asked, sounding shocked.
"I know the words to the Samurai Creed because I live by them. They have meaning to me. If they do not have meaning to Jill then they should be explained to her. Or perhaps she should say something completely different."
"Very well," Ichi said. "Your point is valid. Explain it, Jack."
Though Jack was still annoyed at how the monks had refused to let him answer Jill's question before, he answered it in a straightforward tone that showed no sign of resent, "Tan T'ien refers to the central points in the body in which energy known as qi is stored. In other words, it means 'I will not remain attached to one place in particular; I will rely only on myself.'"
"Ah, I see," Jill said. "Well then, I have no home; I make the Tan T'ien my home."
"I have no divine power; I make honesty my divine power," Jack recited.
"I have no divine power; I make honesty my divine power," Jill repeated.
"I have no means; I make docility my means."
"I have no means; I make docility my means."
"I have no magic power; I make personality my magic power."
"I have no magic power; I make personality my magic power."
"I have neither life nor death; I make A Um my life and death."
Again, Jill was confused. However, this time, she didn't ask what "A Um" was. She just rolled up the creed and handed it back to Ichi. "I'm sorry," she firmly said, "I cannot do this."
"Do you mean you will not become a Samurai?" Ichi gasped.
Ni sighed, "Well, we did say we weren't going to force her..."
"No, no!" Jill said. "I just can't recite this creed. I know you said you wanted me to recite it for the sake of formality, but because I've never studied it nor seen it before in my life, it means little to me, even though I feel like it should."
"Then what do you suggest we do?" Ichi asked.
"I'm not sure..."
"May I make a suggestion?" Jack asked.
"Yes, you may," Ichi replied.
Jack got up and stepped forward to address the monks directly. "What I suggest is that, if you insist on swearing her in like this, is that instead of using these words, she uses her own." He sat next to Jill and asked, "As a samurai, what do you plan to do? How do you plan to act?"
"How can I be certain what I am to do?"
"You can't," Jack replied. "Some things can only be learned from experience, but for now, tell me what you do know, and perhaps the monks will take that as your Oath."
Ichi nodded, "A fine proposal, Jack!"
"We should have thought of that ourselves!" Ni exclaimed.
Without even having to be asked, San took out a parchment scroll and a quill pen, ready to record what Jill said. He and other monks looked at her expectantly.
Jill cleared her throat nervously and began, "Well... I will tend to my own needs, but not until I have tended to the needs of others. I will not tolerate wrongdoing, but I will not lose compassion. I will always be prepared to fight, but I will not do so without evaluating the situation. I will treat my sword with respect but I will not let it govern me." I will be cautious when there is the need to be but I will not let fear impede what I must do. I will try to make my actions praiseworthy, but I will remain humble. At that point, she seemed to be struggling to find more words. Finally, she shook her head and said, "I am sorry. I know there is more that I will have to do and more that I will have to be concerned about, but I cannot think of what else to say. Is what I have said acceptable?"
"Yes," Ichi replied, "and because it is obvious that you put careful thoughts into your words, it is obvious to my colleagues and I that you will be able to learn and grow from experience."
Ni asked, "Is there anything else you'd like to add?"
"One more thing," Jill said in a solemn tone. "I know this might seem like an unnecessary thing to say, but I think it is very important: I will do whatever I can to aid Jack on his quest. If he had not believed in me, I probably still be by myself and feeling miserable. But he brought me this far and I know I am where I need to be. I know that he is the one who will set the world right again. I pledge myself to him."
"I only did what I felt was right for you, Jill," Jack said in a muffled voice, "you did most of the work yourself. Are you certain you wish to pledge your solidarity to me? The word of a samurai is binding."
"I am certain," Jill replied. "It is the way it must be."
"Well," Ichi said, "I shall not question your words, even though I feel that making such a pledge can be dangerous. I know how strong your feelings are. Is that all you wish to say?"
"Yes."
"Then, there is one more matter," Ni said. "And that is how you wish to be named henceforth. Your given name is Toshi Okugi, but do you still wish to be called 'Jill' from now on?"
"Not exclusively. 'Toshi' is still a part of who I am."
"Then perhaps we could incorporate 'Jill' into your old name? How about we name you in proper Japanese format, surname first, thus making your formal name Okugi Jill Toshi,' but you can still be called 'Jill' or 'Toshi,' depending on the circumstances," Ichi suggested.
"I like that!"
"Very well, then. Rise, Jill," Ichi said.
Jill slowly rose to her feet and stood confidently before the monks.
"Okugi Jill Toshi," Ichi said, "We now officially induct you into the samurai order."
Jill smiled brightly, and excitedly hugged Jack. "You've come this far, Jill," he said, "but you know that your journey as a samurai may never end."
"I know, Jack," Jill said. "But you will always support me, won't you?"
"Yes. And just as you pledged yourself to me, I pledge myself to you."
"Thanks, Jack," Jill said, "but I think I should be the last of your troubles. The world is more important than I."
Jack could not completely understand Jill's humility, yet by this time, he realized that he might never completely understand her. But, just as she was willing to learn about the ways of the samurai, he was willing to learn about her and accept her friendship.