Can the Crane break the shell of the Crab?
I don't own any copyrighted material, except my own OC's: anyone else's OC's will be acknowledged in their introduction chapter
Outside the interrogation room, the remaining three members of the group sat in their cells. For them time dragged to a crawl, and nothing happened. Heavily armed and armored guards stood in stoic vigil, ensuring nothing out of the ordinary happened. Of the three Testuo was doing the worst, feeling the entire experience to be a complete attack on his honor. Anger at Cao, the guards, and this indignity was slowly boiling inside him, waiting to burst out. The girls however remained patient, as it was all they could do. Ruby however was conflicted inside about learning this from Cao.
"Gods damn it. I trusted him. I fucking trusted that slimy bastard. If he walks out of that room I will kill him. His head is coming off!" Testuo finally began to rant
"They took your swords. How exactly are you taking his head then?" Velvet asked meekly
"Then I'll rip it off! No one jails a samurai!" Testuo yelled at her
"Quiet prisoner." The guard closest him said sternly
"You think you can hold me? I will get out of here." Testuo said as he got close to the bars
"I bet you will." The guard sarcastically said, clearly having dealt with this behavior in the past
While things in the cells were uneventful, Cao sat in a sweating nervous heap. He rationalized this as it's a natural reaction to being in the same room as one of the most ruthless killers in the known world. For all he knew, he was a dead man walking and Uji was simply doing this for the hell of it. Yet the man sat there, his eyes staring into the merchants soul.
"Uji-sama, I am but a simple Ronin. I didn't even know my parents. How am I a member of a defunct clan?" Cao nervously asked, trying to ease the tension by playing along with his captors conversation
"Defunct doesn't mean everyone is dead." Uji simply said as the door opened, and a servant brought in some very old sealed scrolls
"What are those?" Cao asked with a gulp
"Evidence." Uji replied softly, and slowly yet deliberately opened up the ancient scrolls
"Evidence? How are those scrolls going to prove that I'm descended from the Crab?" Cao asked
"You're not just descended from the crab, your descended from the ruling line of the Hida Family. A direct descendant from the kami Hida." Uji explained, rolling out a scroll about Hida and his family
The crab clan was given the job of protecting the empire's southern border, and every family had a role to play in its defense, constructing a 150-foot wall that spanned the entire border. The ruling Hida composed the warriors that stood on the. The Hiruma were the scouts, assasins and skirmishers that attacked foes beyond the wall. The Kaiu built and maintained the wall. The kuni used magic to fight the foes of the wall and within the empire. Finally, the Yasuki, after they went traitor from the Crane, served as the political and economic engine of the clan.
When the war of the slaughtered started, they naturally were the first to be attacked. Having faced many a human and grimm invasion from the south, they stood with the imperial legion for many decades, inflicting great casualties on the Wakano. However, they could not stand forever, and in true Crab fashion made a final stand, not taking a single step backwards. Their loss allowed the imperial legions to retreat and fortify elsewhere. Most everyone thought the Crab died to the man, but rumors of survivors living as ronin did persist.
"Thank you for the history lesson, but how does this prove I'm descended from a kami?" Cao asked
"That comes through careful research, and magical assistance." Uji stated, pulling out a much more recent looking scroll
"Ancestry magic? You seriously used something that intensive on me? Why?" Cao asked
"For one, you did bring us the gaijin pepper. You got caught and completely fucked up the stealth aspect of the mission, but you delivered it in one piece." Uji answered
"It was your guys who threw us in jail. If I was to deliver it to you guys, why am I getting arrested for it?" Cao asked, confused
"We can't be seen openly importing an illegal substance. Hence why we had a ronin smuggle it to us." Uji answered simply
"Okay your welcome. That doesn't explain the use of ancestry magic, and caring I'm descended from the Crab." Cao asked
"Your awfully chummy for being at my blades mercy." Uji said simply, and Cao instantly shut up
"We conducted a very costly ritual to discern your ancestry, and the Crab lineage shown through the greatest. You also have some Crane in you as well." Uji said as he explained the results on one of the scrolls
"Thank you for finding out my ancestry. Believe me it nice to know, but I'm still failing to see why its so important or the reason you would care." Cao said, his voice mixed with genuine thanks and confusion
"The reason for our care is we lost 4 great clans in the war of the slaughtered. To regain any fragment of the clan is worth any price. At least that's what the Emperor told us. Though I still hold the Yasuki in contempt, their survival is more important than past slights." Uji explained
"So, you want another family with Crab blood? Don't you have enough families? All of your clans have 5 families, how much more could you want?" Cao asked
"Not main family. A vassal family." Uji said
"Come again?" Cao asked
"You completed the mission, and the reward for that was for whoever would compete it to become a Daimyo of a vassal family to the Crane." Uji explained
"You mean I get to lead a family? I can actually become a clan samurai!?" Cao yelled in shock
"Only if you choose so. That you will swear in front of the emperor of your loyalty." Uji explained
"Hell yes, but on one condition." Cao said, trying to contain his excitement
"And that is?" Uji asked, raising his eyebrow
"That those three you have in jail cells in there are founding members of my family." Cao said
"I will have to consult the Crane Clan Champion on this. Rest assured they will be cared for and unharmed." Uji said and begin to stand up
"I will remain with them until the decision is made." Cao said sternly
"If that is your wish." Uji replied and a guard opened the door, and escorted Cao into the cell with Testuo
"You son of a bitch!" Testuo yelled as he tackled Cao into the bars of the closing door
"The fuck is wrong with you Testuo!?" Cao asked as the door was opened, causing him to fall on his back
"I trusted you and you are smuggling that shit!?" Testuo yelled as two guards held him back
"That's one hell of a reaction to someone who can get you out of that jail cell! I'm to become a family daimyo! I can get you guys out of here!" Cao yelled back as he got up
"You're a liar! You lied to all of us this whole time, why should we believe you now!" Testuo yelled as he was thrown back into the cell
"Because you have my word to back it up." Uji said, and the presence of the high-ranking samurai silenced him
Cao then began the explanation for his conversation and interrogation he had with Daidoji Uji. As he explained, he noticed the reactions of his comrades. Testuo still was mad, but it was tempered by the news. Velvet was shocked to learn these details. Ruby however sat there unsure of what to think. It was clear that she still had a lot to think about from everything that had happened. Though in his head, Cao couldn't blame her for that. In fact, he couldn't blame any of them for their thoughts on him.
"Now we have to wait for the clan champions decision." Cao finished as the room fell into a eerie silence
"What will happen to us if we aren't accepted?" Velvet meekly asked after a minute passed
"Then you will be tried for your crimes." Uji simply stated
"We didn't commit any crimes. Cao did. He is the one that should be tried." Testuo said in defiance
"You were assisting him in it. However, he had completed his mission. Not as planned, but it did succeed. You three however were not part of that plan." Uji said, a small smile creasing his lips from Testuo's show
"Put him in a different cell." A magistrate said to the guards, and Cao was put into the cell next to Testuo's
"It is a great act of humility, principle, and loyalty that Cao-san is doing by staying with you. I hope you can calm your rage long enough to understand that." Uji said before finally leaving
"I hope your happy Cao. You got off the hook and you got what you wanted." Testuo said before laying on the bed
"I hope so too Testuo. I hope so too." Cao said as he sat down on his bed, now not so sure of his future, and what it might hold
Fair warning the next one will probably be released a bit later than usual. This is due to the fact I'm returning to my state of origin for the week of Christmas during the time I usually do most of my writing. The next one might also be late as well due to being with family. But that's Christmas for you. See you all next time, and have a wonderful day.