Disclaimer: The Legend of the Five Rings is belongs to Alderac Entertainment and Wizard of the Coast. This story is adapted from the Legend of the Five Rings Role-playing Game. The Elvish's songs here were quoted from 'Lord of The Rings' written by J.R.R.Tolkien.
The First Day
The group of Lion and Unicorn bushi trailed the path from Kaeru Toshi. Shotaka and Konoko rode quite a distance from Jiku, Xuren and Najiru. Satsuke talked to Tatsuji ; they were slightly farther in front of them. Both of them knew that the Ikoma and the Ide was trading pleasantries. It was agreed that they must befriend any contestants to know their weaknesses and strengths, no matter from what the clan they coming from. Unfortunately, the Fortunes favored them with the Unicorn, who still fresh in the mind of all Lions for shaming them at the War of the Rich Frog.
"I don't like this," The Akodo blurted, "It is hard to make friend with your foes,"
Konoko reminded, "You forgot what sensei says; 'if you keep your friend closer, therefore you must keep your enemies even closer…"
"I prefer to fight them rather to make friend with them; such wasting a time!" The Kitsu fidgeted the hem of her kimono, while saying,
"I already observed them; the Moto is nervous like you. He wanted to prove something, while the Shinjo is…different. I don't think he is weak as he looks," The Lion laughed,
"Bah, all the Unicorns are the same! We shall see them at the tournament," Konoko glanced to her companion uneasily,
"I don't afraid with them, but the Iuchi shugenja looks weird…I can't place it, but it is clear that he wasn't coming from Rokugan." Shotaka remarked,
"So what? Whatever coming from the Unicorn, it always gaijin! It makes no surprise to me! Beside, the Iuchi is not our concern; the other contestants are our problem to come!" The female shugenja sighed; it seems her companion didn't share her concerns. But he does have a point. The Unicorn was not the only contestant and they should consider other contestants such as the Crane, Dragon etc. She silently prayed to the spirit of their ancestors for more guidance.
Jiku glanced to the Lions, "I don't like to let them alone, but I have no choice…"
"Worry about them, Jiku-kun?" Xuren said, "I prefer they keep that way, allowing us to focus on the Championship," The Iuchi said,
"Somehow you don't disturbed by them, Xuren-san?" The Moto turned,
"A little, but it have nothing to do with me. I'm enthusiastic of the prospect facing the Lion," he glanced slightly to Shotaka, "Especially him…" Both Unicorns chuckled; later Xuren called,
"Do you remember Moto Najmudin?"
"Of course, who don't know him? The first Unicorn who had became the Topaz Champion and now served as Imperial Magistrate at Toshi Ranbo!" The Moto grinned,
"I will be the next Moto who won this Championship…" Jiku smiled in return,
"No, I don't think so…it might be the Shinjo, Xuren-kun. I won't make it easy for you,"
"You've bet!" Once again, they laughed. Jiku had known the Moto since childhood along with Soche; it was common among them to have a healthy competition. Even they always taking care each other while training in Yesunge's dojo. Thinking to divert the conversation, the Shinjo asked the shugenja,
"Najiru-sama, it is your first time to walk on Rokugan. What do you think?" The blue sea-cloaked man said,
"I have to say, it is beautiful! Not so grim like my place, though some place looks lovely. It is the first time I see the people divided according in their Clans. You can even tell from what Clan they are from the colors of the clothing," Though disinterested, Xuren asked,
"What are the people in your place looks like, Najiru-sama?" Najiru replied,
"Mostly humans like you." He paused briefly, "and the Firstborn…the fairest creature," This ticked Jiku, who inquired immediately,
"What are the Firstborns looks like?" The shugenja smiled,
"Their appearances are beautiful and gentle; their ladies have the fair black or blond-colored hairs. At the same time, their speech is gentle and musical…" Skeptical, the Moto asked,
"Could you give some example of their speech?" The Iuchi shook his head, while answered sadly,
"Unfortunately, I forgot …my memories sometimes fragmented when come to my past,"
The Unicorn bushi were stunned momentarily when they heard that. Yet, Najiru told them,
"I wish I can remember where my homeland is…it pains me inside to know that I was a stranger in a foreign land, even among the Unicorns."
Xuren didn't press anymore, but it didn't stop the Shinjo to ask further,
"Najiru-sama, you are different from other shugenja, even from the Iuchi. They bring their own satchels containing the scrolls of the spells or a wakizashi; however you didn't have the satchel. Instead you bring your staff…" The Iuchi turned to a chrome blue-colored staff that he held since left Shiro Moto. He replied gently,
"Somehow your curiosity never stops, Jiku-san. I wish I can answer your questions but then you will be distracted from competing at the Topaz Championship. What more do you want to know?" Jiku smiled,
"Everything, that's the trait of Unicorn," Then Tatsuji came to their direction. The Ide's face looks genuinely upset as he turned directly to Najiru,
"Najiru-sama, I have to ask you to limit your involvement with these bushi when we arrive at Tsuma. The Great Khan doesn't want you to attract too much attention, especially to the Phoenix Clan. They afraid of gaijin magic." The Shinjo wanted to protest, but the shugenja stopped him. His gentle face instantly became serious, as he answered,
"I'm understand, Tatsuji-san. I will respect the Khan's advice and yours…"
"Don't use your strange magic if necessary, Najiru-sama. We don't want to give the other Clans a reason to worry." The blue-cloaked man nodded,
"Hai, Tatsuji-san. Yoshino-sama also gives the same order like you did," The Ide bowed once before rode back. Jiku grumbled,
"Why everyone have to treat you like that?" Najiru merely said,
"People are afraid of what they can't understand. I believe the situation will be the same if you were in my homeland," He added,
"I'm not at my homeland, thus I have to respect their concern,"
When the sun on their heads, they entered the serene bamboo forest, that surrounded the road to Tsuma. Yet the serenity was broken by a sudden stirring of wind. Ikoma Satsuke stopped them,
"We're not alone here," Alarmed, Tatsuji and the rest stopped their steed. The Lion warrior shouted,
"Show yourself, whoever you are! I am Ikoma Satsuke of Lion Clan," Jiku and Xuren looks uneasily, while Shotaka and Konoko steeled themselves. Then a reply came in a soft, wizened voice,
"Do not fear us, O Lion! We have nothing to hide and no harm intended…though it is strange to see the Unicorn and the Lion riding together." Two figures appeared in front of the Ikoma and they wore dark-red and black silken cloth. The youngest of them wore a polished red mempo and sported a top-knot, black hair, while the other wore the black veil and had few strands of white hairs. Their eyes stared the band calculatingly. The Ikoma hissed,
"The Scorpions …I should know," Najiru watched the Scorpions with a curious look, but they paid him no heed. The older man gestured politely,
"We are sorry if we interrupt your musings, and I believe you are going to attend the Championship at Tsuma," Satsuke regarded the veiled man in front of him with careful expression. It was the natural reaction when they encountered someone from the Scorpion Clan. They had developed a reputation of being sly, trickster and backstabber, yet nobody would admit that the Scorpions had an important role in the Empire as well. He asked,
"I'm Ikoma Satsuke! Who are you then?" The elder Scorpion nodded,
"Ah, yes! My name is Shosuro Akechi," he turned to the young bushi, "He is Bayushi Denbe, who will join the Championship," The Ikoma stared them suspiciously,
"Why do you have to stalk us, when we're riding here?" The Shosuro quickly answered,
"Satsuke-san, sometimes the trails wasn't as safe as they look. We just want to be careful only…beside we don't do anything that would harm you," Satsuke still didn't buy that; there was nothing that the Scorpions wouldn't do unless it had served their own ends. Then the Ide joined,
"I'm sorry to interrupt this, but Tsuma is very close. Perhaps we can hurry ourselves so our bushi will have their rest before starting tomorrow," Satsuke have to agree with him, and then he turned his attention to Akechi,
"Akechi-san, you and your ward are welcome to join us." Akechi bowed slightly lower,
"That's a welcome offer." Denbe also bowed, before joining with the others. Uneasiness settled upon the group as they continued their journey to Tsuma.
"I had expected a city, though this hardly fit…" Najiru commented when they finally arrived at Tsuma. The city is moderately populated and slightly forgotten, but bustled with life when the Topaz Championship was held. It seems all of Rokugan had come to see the celebrated event. The crowd clogged every street, every alley. The Iuchi shugenja feasted his eyes upon the sea of the colors, where every Great and Minor Clan visited the small city. Jiku and Xuren watched the surrounding with interest. Shotaka mused around, while Konoko looks detached. In other hand, Denbe was unruffled, though he peered sometimes as to look for something. Then Tatsuji said,
"Jiku! Xuren! You'll go to find your lodging first, and Akechi-san was kind enough to suggest the House of the Laughing Carp. You must have your rest before start the first day of the Championship…meanwhile I have to go first for tending some business," Xuren asked,
"Where do we will go to find you, Tatsuji-san?" The Ide said,
"There is a shop named Medinaat-al-Salaam here, you can go there if you need something." He turned to the Iuchi,
"Najiru-sama, would you kindly accompany Jiku and Xuren to the inn? Once they were there, you can stay with me." Najiru nodded,
"I shall see that, Tatsuji-san! Good luck for your business!" Tatsuji nodded, before he rode off from them. The Ikoma called,
"Let's go to the House of the Laughing Carp!"
The band went to find the House of the Laughing Carp, though the crowds make it quite difficult to move. After few hours, they arrived at a huge, two-store teahouse. The place was crowded with the people. The contestants dismounted themselves and gave their steeds to the stable boys, before they entered the place. Everyone spent time of drinking and gossiping inside. Yet, everyone walked through and ignored their surrounding. Akechi and Satsuke led them to the innkeeper, while Najiru kept the rest. They were lucky to have some vacant rooms, though they have to share it to each other. Suddenly a youth clad Phoenix colors greeted them, his sideburns had white strands. He said jovially,
"Ah, you must be the contestant for the Championship! Welcome to Tsuma!" Slightly surprised, Jiku managed to ask,
"You are…" The Phoenix bowed slightly,
"My name is Agasha Hanori! Oh, how rude I am! I should ask your name first!"
"I'm Shinjo Jiku, and here are my fellow contestants, Moto Xuren and Bayushi Denbe," Shotaka also introduced himself,
"My name is Akodo Shotaka, and she is Kitsu Konoko," Hanori bowed politely, smiling jovially,
"It is an honor to meet all of you; I come from the Phoenix Clan, but not alone!" He pointed to two people who sat at the table; the man looks drunk but the young girl still awake. She wore a red mask, though wearing red and orange color. Her hair was tied topknot. When seeing her, Shotaka frowned,
"I never see a Phoenix wore a mask," he turned to Hanori, "Are you sure she is coming from your Clan?" The Agasha silenced him, before whispering to the Akodo,
"Shh, Takako-san might hear you. Her mother was a Scorpion, but she was raised as a Shiba after her death. She's quite sensitive, but pleasant once you know her," The Scorpion glanced slightly to her, as Konoko replied flatly,
"All Scorpions are pleasant on the outside," Suddenly the silent Bayushi spoke softly, but a lace of mocking evident,
"It is because you refuse to see what inside, Konoko-san…" The Kitsu turned to him with irritation. Hanori intervened,
"Konoko-san! Denbe-san! Forgive me for my insolence; could we settle this minor problem peacefully?" The Scorpion and the Lion glanced to him, agree to drop the matter. He pointed to the drunken man,
"He is my yojimbo, Shiba Hanoshi…we just having a little drink with…"
"Well, Hanori! Making new friends?" A tall, large youth strode and bumped Shotaka; he wore dark blue and grey light armor. His hair was disheveled, yet he sported a huge grin to the others before bowed awkwardly due to his large body. The smell of sake came out from his mouth. He said to them,
"Probably my etiquette need to be polished…sorry I'm not feel having a good conversation with you," The Lion wiped his shoulder and responded with dislike,
"You must be a Crab, judging from your manner," The Crab turned slightly with displeasure, before saying in a threatening manner,
"You'd better watch yourself, Lion! My name is Hiruma Do; be careful with your speak! I never forget it!" As the Hiruma walked out, The Akodo composed himself, while Hanori quickly said,
"Don't mind him…probably we could socialize ourself?" Then someone called,
"Socializing? I don't know you also socialize with gaijin, Hanori-san!" The remarks came from a black-haired, arrogant-looking youth who wore light-blue colors. He went to them confidently. Jiku could see Xuren looks more agitated than usual. The Kitsu noted the youth had the Kakita mon. Ignoring Hanori, the youth turned to the Shinjo disdainfully,
"May I know your name, Unicorn?" Jiku didn't like his brag, but he replied straightforwardly,
"I'm Shinjo Jiku and this is my friend, Moto Xuren…" It was the only thing he could think to do other than kill him. The youth gave a mock surprise,
"So your Clan sends two contestants as we did! What a pleasant surprise! I am Kakita Shino! I can see we have two Lions and a Scorpion as well," Shotaka smirked,
"I don't aware the insults were in fashion this season, especially from the Kakita, One of your tricks?" Shino replied sweetly, while Jiku was sure he heard him clench his teeth,
"No offense, Shotaka-san. I just try to be frank with the fellow contestant…" A gentle, but authoritative voice cuts them,
"Really, what a surprise then!" They turned around and saw a square-faced bushi clad in Dragon colors. He had twin blades tucked at his obi. Upon his coming, the Kakita frowned. The man added,
"You can use less insult while greeting them. Am I right?" Shino didn't answer. The Shinjo asked,
"Are you coming from the Mirumoto family?" The Dragon smiled, patting his blades,
"Probably because of these blades. May I introduce myself? I'm Mirumoto Otakan, contestant from the Dragon Clan and the Mirumoto family." Before Otakan continued, a young girl with the white ribbon upon her head suddenly joined and shouted,
"Wow, another contestant! What a surprise!" She shook her head nervously, while bowing to them,
"I'm Usagi Kamahime! Nice to see you here…" Konoko commented,
"You must be come from the Hare Clan, I assume!" Kamahime giggled,
"Yes, that's right! I'm feeling so excited to attend the Topaz Championship…" Xuren whispered to his friends,
"This girl somehow speaks too fast; I can't even follow her. Is she nervous?" Jiku replied with a smile,
"No, Xuren-kun. Just too energetic…" He immediately noted a young, shaggy ronin who sat alone. His left eye was deformed. Shino fumbled to stop the energetic Hare,
"Hoo, Kamahime-chan. could you stop for a while? We have difficulty to understand what you are saying…" Another girl came; she looks beautiful in the green and gold cloak, but her expression was shy. Kamahime quickly went to her,
"Ah, here you are, Gojinka-chan! Meet our fellow contestants!" The girl tried to avoid their stare. Realizing that, the Mirumoto said,
"She is Tamori Gojinka. Like me, she also joined the Tournament…" Meanwhile, Jiku went to the lone ronin who looks surprised to have company.
"I hope I don't disturb you; I'm Shinjo Jiku and you are…" Hesitantly, the ronin answered,
"Hazu…it is an honor to meet you, Jiku-sama…"
"Why don't you join us, Hazu-san?" Hazu sighed in resignation as he poured the sake into a cup,
"I'm not a bushi, Jiku-sama. Your friends would not allow me to close with them,"
"But I believe you are a contestant like us too; so why do you shy from us?"
"I simply bring bad luck; it was my destiny…" Then someone came into the teahouse, accompanied by several Crane bushi. The noise turned into a silence. He wore the light-blue and white kimono with the Doji family mon. Like other Doji, his ponytail hair was bleached white. The tradition was prevailed among them to commemorate Doji Hayaku's ordeal at the Shadowland. He watched the surrounding sharply, as he walked toward the other contestants but then smiled to the Kakita, who quickly greeted the young man,. Najiru sensed the Crane had a strong presence inside. At the same time, Denbe looks restless.
"Wakao-san, it is nice to see you here!" The Doji only nod gently,
"Thank you, Shino-kun!" He turned to the others and said with a clear voice, "I'm Doji Wakao and a contestant like all of you. I have received the announcement from Noritoshi-sama; he asked me to tell the other contestants that everyone who joined the Championship must come to the Kakita Dueling Academy tomorrow morning!" Everyone nodded and applauded. Jiku joined them until he spotted a tall girl clad in green and silver. Her raven hair fell onto the back and her skin almost like porcelain. The Unicorn couldn't let go his sight until Hazu said,
"You noticed her, aren't you? Her name is Yoritomo Yuriko…she's a favorite of the scholars and most likely staring down the likes of us, Jiku-sama…"
"She's beautiful…" The musings was interrupted when Najiru patted his shoulder,
"Jiku-san," the shugenja called, "It seems all the rooms have been taken…" The Shinjo looked crest-fallen; at the same time Bayushi Denbe went to them and said,
"You can share my place if you want," Glancing to the Scorpion, Jiku felt goose bumps upon his nape. He asked hesitantly,
"Are you sure, Denbe-san?" The Bayushi nodded,
"That's all right. There will be another who will ask me then; so I think it'd better to share with you…" The Unicorn nodded, thanking,
"That's such generous offer…Denbe-san," Najiru said,
"Well, I will talk with Akechi-sama about this. After Xuren and you found the lodging, I will return to Medinaat-al-Salaam." The Shinjo looked him uneasily, until he answered,
"Take care, Najiru-sama!" The Iuchi chuckled,
"You too, Jiku-san. I will see you tomorrow for the Championship,"
With that, the shugenja departed from their presence. As Jiku watched him, Denbe commented,
"Well, I have seen many shugenja in my training, but none like your friend, Jiku-san…" The young Unicorn replied,
"Najiru is different…one of the kind,"
It seems Jiku was not the only one who had apprehension about sharing room with the Scorpion. Shotaka and Xuren were aghast with such idea; therefore Hanori offered his room for them. Carrying their packs, Jiku and Denbe entered a cozy, wide room with 3 beds. The windows were overlooking the streets of Tsuma. When they were about to sleep, two people came inside. The Hiruma's towering body loomed on the sight, while the ronin followed behind. Recognizing Hazu, the Unicorn asked,
"Hazu-san, what can we do for you and Do-san?" The Crab harrumphed, and then the one-eyed ronin said hesitantly,
"I know it might bother you, Jiku-san…but both of us don't have any room," he continued,
"Can we stay in your room until the Championship is finished? Of course, if you don't mind…" Jiku turned to Denbe, who leaned lazily at the bed. The Scorpion's black eyes watched them intensely, and then glanced to the other directions, while answering,
"If you don't mind to stay with the Scorpion, why not?" Do quickly take another bed, while he stared the Bayushi with suspicious look. He threw his pack beside. Hazu bowed again,
"Thank you for your kindness, Denbe-san. I, Hazu won't forget it…" Denbe didn't answer; he only turned his back toward them.
"We can share the bed, Hazu-san; the bed is simply too large for me!"
"That will be the honor, Jiku-san. What a ronin and a Unicorn have in common?"
"Not so much…" The young ronin fell asleep, while he opened the window and stared the night sky. He wondered what the tomorrow has in store for him.
Outside, Iuchi Najiru sat on the rock, while holding his blue staff. A gentle breeze whirled around him, caressing his cloak. The shugenja smiled with myrrh; he was adopted the element of Air when the Iuchi took him as one of them. Even so, he felt so different with his colleagues. The white-haired man wondered what this strange land has for him. The Istar-shi order didn't exist here. The Phoenix Clan was the only magic order in Rokugan. He started to sing with the melodious tone that nobody in Rokugan ever heard,
Gilthoniel! O Elbereth!
The rest of the song was swallowed out by the night…
Next morning, the bushi woke up and prepared themselves for the first day of Topaz Championship. For that reason, they wore light armor and tunic. Jiku turned to Denbe, who looks intense. It didn't take long to guess as he noted Doji Wakao among them. The Doji was exchanging conversation with the Kakita, simply ignoring the other contestants. The Unicorn turned to Shiba Takako. It was hard to tell what she thinks behind the mask. The Mirumoto looks composed, in contrast with her Tamori companion who always glanced everywhere. Konoko showed her poker-face as usual, while the Akodo and the Usagi looks restless. He was about to see the Mantis, when the heavy hand patted his shoulder.
"Hei, watch out where you walk!" The Shinjo turned to the Moto with a hearty laugh,
"Xuren-kun," They immediately hugged each other, while Xuren told what happened last night,
"You know? Accepting Hanori's offer to stay was a mistake. Shotaka and I couldn't sleep when he and his yojimbo threw a binge of drinking. Had I know that, I might stay with you," He glanced slightly to Denbe, and then to Jiku,
"How about you? Did the little Scorpion stab you at the back like all the Scorpion does?" The Unicorn smiled,
"If it so, you won't see me today, Xuren-kun! No, he didn't…beside Do and Hazu also sleeps in the same room with us," Xuren turned to the tall Crab with disbelief,
"With the Crab? No way!" The Crab called,
"I heard that!"
As they were close to the Kakita Dueling Academy, someone shouted rudely,
"What the kusatta ningen are doing here? Perhaps they should go home instead competing in this non-sense championship!" They turned around and saw four grizzled and shabby-looking people. Malice glittered inside their eyes. One of them went forward, while munching a dried stem of grass. His hawkish gaze pierced through them. He regarded them with look of insult,
"Go home, bushi! As far as I concern you aren't worthy to join this…" Instantly, the Akodo went into verbal,
"You'd better keep your tongue, ronin…or else," The ronin spat the chewed stem out,
"Or else, what? You're not even a man yet…not until you have your gempukku, ojo-sama," His companions laughed raucously. Shotaka's face became red with anger. Had Otakan not hold him, he almost ripped the man into pieces. The others quickly pulled the Lion out, while the ronin's companions went to help their friends. The Yoritomo faced him,
"If you have problem with us, you should wait until we have finished the tournament. Then we could arrange a duel for you," The ronin replied with a curse,
"Kuchi ni chakku! You have no right to speak to me like you're my superior! I'm a ronin, and I bow to none!" Without thinking further, Jiku interfered them,
"What's your problem? Leave us alone!" They were stunned with sudden intervention, however the ronin quickly mocked,
"Well, a Unicorn defends you, my lady!Gaijin! " Once again, his companions laughed. Then the laugh was stopped as they noted the magistrates nearby was coming to them. Glancing nervously, the black-haired ronin turned to them,
"Rakki-yaro, we'll meet next time!" Before left, he turned to them again,
"My name is Juriken; this won't be the last time we meet!" Instantly, they melted inside the crowd. Yuriko turned to the Shinjo and chided him with a surly tone,
"I don't ask for defense, Unicorn. Perhaps you should think again next time…" She left him immediately. Jiku merely sighed for his own foolishness. Yet, Xuren called again,
"Hey, don't mind her! We still have a tournament to go! Come join!" Nodded, he joined them again and continue to walk to the Kakita Dueling Academy. He was ready to fulfill his dream; he will be the next Topaz Champion!
Author's note: Sorry, I have 'writer's block' for a while. This might not like the usual L5R fiction, however. Thanks for MacBeth2001! Reviews, critics (or flames) are welcomed! Forgive me to insert some element of LOTR, because this will underlying Najiru's secret origin. Wait the next chapter, 'The Championship Begins'. See you later!
Glossary:
Yojimbo-bodyguard
kusatta ningen-part of the colorful language, means 'rotten people'
ojo-sama- Ineffective member of another clan (especially a courtier), Spoiled rich girl (literally).
Kuchi ni chakku- shut up!
Rakki-yaro- lucky bastard.