Acknowledgments:
This chapter is for Sin. The maple tree scene is inspired by Sin's gift art of Kyuzo. The illustrated version of this chapter will be released on my site sometime in the upcoming weeks. Check my profile page for updates on illustrated chapters.
Vocab:
bushi – member of military class, warrior. shi denotes an individual of elevated social status. (But not quite at the level of 'noble'. Most samurai, even some daimyos, were not considered nobles. It was only after the Imperial Restoration that all the daimyos entered the ranks of the nobles. Source: wikipedia)
bujin – person(s) who practice(s) the arts of war. Not necessarily a member of the military class.
akindo – member(s) of merchant class
Note:
- for the context of Kanbei and Haruko's conversation with regards to "learning from the best", see pre-series companion fic "Price of Mercy, Cost of Honor." At this point, Kyuuzou does not even know of Haruko's mission against Kanbei's castle during the Great War because the operation was classified information. Ayame knew of the mission only because Haruko was charged in military court with a crime connected with the operation and the court clerk Sawa leaked the news through the "female samurai gossip grapevine." But neither Kyuuzou nor Ayame knows that Kanbei and Haruko had faced each other during the Great War.
Mount Kei'an Dojo rejoiced that "Fourth Sister" had returned to consciousness. Ayame had been the first to rush into Kyuuzou's room at the news. The svelte swordfighter elbowed Kanbei aside, much to the annoyance of the old ronin. The akindo woman pinched the embarrassed Kyuuzou's pale cheeks, shrieking, "I'm so glad you're back!!! I thought we lost you this time!"
Yasue and Kazumi decided to celebrate their senpai's awakening by cooking up roasted chestnuts, mashed taro dessert and a load of other dishes. Kanbei was glad when the fussing Ayame finally left Kyuuzou's side to go to the kitchen and help the young maidens with the cooking. Then Tashiro Sensei invited Kyuuzou and Kanbei to the living room for some tea, listening courteously as Kanbei politely retold the seven samurai's adventures in Kanna Village.
"That was a brilliant strategy." Tashiro Haruko remarked in a blandly polite tone when Kanbei related the account of how the Kanna defense team had infiltrated the Nobuseri base by hiding four samurai in rice bags and hitching a ride in a Raiden's cargo compartment.
Kanbei gave his former foe a bitter smile. "I can hardly take credit for the idea. After all, I had the 'fortune' of learning it from the best of the Confederated Army all those years ago."
Haruko suspected that the subtitles under Kanbei's speech actually read "After all, I had the MISfortune of being similarly deceived by the dirtiest lowdown #$ rat bastard of the Confederated Army - that pathetic excuse for a samurai who consorts with underhanded, dishonorable ninjas!"
The Special Forces veteran could only respond to the ex-Colonel's backhanded 'compliment' with an equally bitter smirk.
Kyuuzou's keen eyes shifted uncomprehendingly from one tall warrior to the other. He had gathered by now that Haruko and Kanbei did not exactly enjoy each other's company, but he did not quite know why. Observing that the light in Kanbei's eyes had turned cold and flinty, Kyuuzou gave the dark man a questioning look. When the old ronin caught his glance and turned towards him, the gaze in Shimada's dark eyes became warm and gentle once more. Kyuuzou felt strangely relieved.
At this moment, the living room door slid open and Ayame popped her head in. The dark woman said excitedly to Haruko, "Tashiro senpai, you should tell Kanbei of how our all-ladies team kicked Nobuseri butt in Kaneda Village two years before Kanna!" Then the golden-eyed woman headed back to the kitchen again.
"So, she was eavesdropping," Kanbei thought with a degree of irritation. The polite, cautious conversation between the two former enemies continued after Ayame left. Kyuuzou made no attempt to participate in the dialog despite both Kanbei and Haruko's attempts to direct the conversation to him once in a while.
Moments later, the screen door opened once more, letting in the aroma of roasting chestnuts from the kitchen, and Third Sister. "Hey, Kanbei," the yellow-eyed woman stuck her head into the living room, "Since you don't have any urgent tasks to occupy you right now, shouldn't you make it a priority to take a bath? How many days has it been since your last bath? That deodorant doesn't take care of the root problem, you know. And while you're at it, wash your clothes! With HOT water. Just ask one of us and we'll boil some water for you!"
After the blunt announcement, Ayame left just as abruptly as she arrived. Shimada gave a small smile of forced politeness as Tashiro Sensei hid a sarcastic smirk beneath her neutral expression. How she loved Third Sister, who said what needed to be said without apology.
Kyuuzou kept a cool face, having avoided making eye contact with either Ayame or Kanbei.
"It seems that this Ayame woman must pop in every few minutes or so, just to look at Kyuuzou." Kanbei observed silently. Even though the dark ronin noticed by now that Ayame did not appear to be Kyuuzou's lover, he still felt vaguely threatened by her presence. In Kanbei's perception, the 29-year-old beauty had a strong affection for the younger samurai, and on his part, Kyuuzou held a fierce loyalty towards his senpai.
Before long, the meal was ready, and a humble feast was laid before Kyuuzou and Kanbei. Kazumi, Yasue and Ayame bustled around them, pouring tea, serving soup and ladling heaps of rice into their bowls. Kyuuzou felt oddly out of place in the midst of this excitement. Never before did the dojo have such a celebration. And it was all because of him???
"Do so many people care about me?" The silent samurai wondered as he inhaled the aroma of hearty home cooking from three different states. Somehow his mind could not quite get used to the idea of being the center of attention. And to be loved by someone who did not want to part from his company – all this was strange to the quiet loner, although he was not averse to it if that someone was Kanbei.
Where would they go from this point on?
He did not know. All Kyuuzou knew was that it felt as if a great weight had been lifted from his soul at the moment he forgave Kanbei for the past. The old depression and simmering anger that lingered like shadows at the back of his mind had fled in the light of this new thing called love. The crimson warrior had no words to describe what he felt – was it gladness? He did not know, for he did not think he had truly been glad before.
--
Two days later…Under the maple tree on the west side of the Mount Kei'an Dojo compound, Kanbei sat by silently as Kyuuzou and Ayame put the finishing touches on a small granite gravestone. The tombstone read, "Kyuujiro, a good cat, beloved friend and true companion, Genna 1 – Genna 15."
Earlier, Kanbei had watched as Kyuuzou and Ayame worked shoulder to shoulder, painstakingly carving the grave marker. The sight of that woman annoyed Shimada, despite his rational mind telling him there was no reason to be annoyed. The old soldier would not mind helping with the task, but he decided to quietly observe the working duo instead. Kyuuzou would look up from his work to throw Kanbei the vaguest hint of a smile every now and then, but Kanbei knew he was the outsider here. Kyuuzou was paying his respects to a past that Kanbei did not know, a past the silent samurai shared with Ayame.
The old soldier had a few glimpses of that past over the past couple of days. Shortly after Kyuuzou came back to the waking world, the young man and Ayame went to pay their respects at yet another tomb behind the dojo. Kanbei had followed them to the small wooden shrine housing a simple altar. It turned out to be the symbolic grave of a soldier – no human remains lay within. Kanbei noticed a large cedar chest lying beneath the altar table. But he did not know that it housed a few pieces of scrap metal. A long yew bow stood in a stand on the altar, together with twin swords in dark green scabbards.
"This is our shrine to 'Yoyuki'," Kyuuzou explained quietly. Then he bowed his head and lit a stick of incense before the altar.
"Yoyuki?" Kanbei asked in surprise. Yoyuki, shogun of divine archery, was a popular subject of paintings in samurai households. But no image of the ancient archer adorned this shrine.
"'Yoyuki' is the nickname Kyuuzou and I gave to our Second Sister," Ayame answered. "But we only used it behind her back. She would never have accepted such an appellation, being as humble and as modest as she was."
Kyuuzou was still standing before the altar in silent contemplation. The dark-haired woman beside him lit a stick of incense and placed it in the incense holder. Ayame bowed before the twin swords Kibo and Maboroshi. As the war veteran raised her head, she glimpsed Kanbei's quizzical expression out of the corner of her eye. The long-haired samurai was staring at the wooden spirit plaque in front of the bow with a slightly perplexed frown. The calligraphy on the plaque read "Mizuho of Mizuta Village, Keicho 1 – Genna 8"
The akindo woman addressed Kanbei. "You might think it strange for us to give such a lofty name to a woman of peasant birth. But she deserved it. I had seen my honorable sister shoot down two eagles with a single arrow when they were attacking the peasants' chickens."
Kyuuzou continued Ayame's speech. "Yes, like us, our senpai was lowborn." The scarlet samurai stated in a matter-of-fact voice. " 'Yoyuki' had no beauty of face and claimed no noble lineage. But she was kind to me, and indeed to all who were weak. Second Sister never thought herself higher than others, not even during the years she wore the label of 'samurai' and performed deeds of skill and valor in the war. Mizuho ne-sama never sought her own fame and glory. She only fought so that peace may come. Perhaps this is why we think her worthier than twenty daimyo's daughters, even if they be fairer than the sun."
Kanbei was vaguely surprised at Kyuuzou's unexpected eloquence, which seemed even stranger when combined with his dispassionate tone. "There is so much about Kyuuzou that I still don't know," the war veteran mused. He hoped to see more deeply into the young man's soul in the years to come.
But at that moment, the tall ronin said graciously, "I would offer my respects to your honored senpai, if it is not too presumptuous for me to do so."
Kyuuzou stepped aside with a barely perceptible nod. The blond man and Ayame watched silently as Kanbei lit another stick of incense before Mizuho's altar and bowed in respect.
The idea of nicknaming a woman 'Yoyuki' did not offend the former commander. The thought of someone born a peasant surpassing most bushi as a bujin did not threaten the ego of the dark samurai. What bothered him was how Kyuuzou and Ayame 'naturally' continued each other's speeches. He cringed inwardly every time they self-referenced as 'we' and 'us'. The tall ronin knew his jealousy was unreasonable. "But how can new love not doubt?" he asked himself as he recalled this scene from the day before. Now, Shimada observed the thin man and the beautiful woman setting the tombstone in place before the cat's grave. Their movements seemed to complement each other.
When the two former students of Mount Kei'an Dojo had completed their task, Ayame walked over to the nearby maple tree and swung herself up into it. She found her place on a large branch and gave a sigh of accomplishment. Kyuuzou followed her up, climbing into the tree as nimbly as a cat. To the dark man's relief, the red samurai did not sit next to Ayame. The silent samurai picked a branch on the other side of the trunk. He glanced down at Kanbei from his elevated seat.
The tall ronin would not mind climbing up the tree to join his not-quite-lover, but the maple tree might not bear the weight of all three of them. Both Kyuuzou and Ayame were considerably lighter than Kanbei.
Kyuuzou was now gazing at the distant horizon with an unreadable look in his ruby eyes.
Perceiving that Kanbei might be feeling a little left out, Ayame explained, "Kyuuzou, Kyuujiro and I used to sit in this tree when we were youngsters."
"I see," Kanbei said in a neutral voice as he looked up at the two slender double-sword fighters sitting in the red tree.
"So, where are you two going next?" The dark woman asked the two men. The silent samurai remained silent. He cast an almost soft look at Kanbei who answered. "I wish to journey to my home province of Akashima, where you last found me. I hope to lend my strength to rebuilding the infrastructure destroyed by the fighting, as well as pay my respects to the members of my clan who fell during the Great War. Kyuuzou has kindly agreed to accompany me on my travels."
"You're not taking him from us for good, are you?" The topaz-eyed woman grinned down at Kanbei almost threateningly.
"Eeto…" Kanbei did not know what answer to give as he glanced upwards at the dreadlocked swordfighter. Was that akindo woman jesting? What was she getting at?
Ayame smirked as she jumped off the branch and landed lightly on the ground next to Kanbei. The svelte swordfighter addressed the ronin. "Can I talk to you in private for a moment?"
"Well… sure," Kanbei replied cautiously.
"Come with me," Third Sister said as she marched off, her firm footsteps crunching through the fallen maple leaves. The tall man got to his feet. He raised his head to look at the red samurai sitting in the red tree. "I'll be back soon," he said gently.
Kyuuzou responded with a quiet smile that made Kanbei's smile broaden into a grin. The dark ronin gave his slender companion one last longing look before turning to follow after the dark-haired woman.
From his perch on the tree branch, Kyuuzou eyed the two departing figures curiously. What was it that Third Sister wanted to tell Kanbei?
--
Ayame led Kanbei towards the vegetable garden behind the dojo. She came to a halt next to the peach tree. Then she turned around to look Kanbei in the eye.
"You're making me jealous, you know?" Kyuuzou's senpai stated bluntly.
Kanbei raised his eyebrows. This woman was making him nervous. He disliked the ambiguity of Kyuuzou's relationship with Ayame – almost antagonistic, and yet oddly close; it was a strange 'affection' that was not conditional on 'attraction', a devotion that was perhaps even stronger than the bond of lovers, or so Kanbei thought. The idea irked Shimada. He could not decide how to view this strange 'rival', if the petite beauty could even be called a 'rival' at all.
As if reading his thoughts, the woman standing in the shade of the peach tree smirked. Then she explained. "All these years, I thought I had seen every expression on Kyuu-chan's face – not that there were that many to start with – but it seems that I was wrong. The expression on his face when he looks at you is one that I've never seen before."
Kanbei remained quiet. Ayame's face took on a more solemn look. "In times past, I have worked so hard to coax a smile out of that child, and rarely did I succeed. But you - all you have to do is be here, and he smiles for you."
The old soldier considered this revelation.
"Just what does he see in you, I wonder." Kyuuzou's Third Sister now put on a look of wide-eyed surprise.
As Kanbei raised his eyebrows at this individual's unbelievable rudeness, Ayame laughed. "I was just joking, Kanbei. But as to what I'm going to say next, it won't be a joke."
The tall samurai eyed the shorter swordfighter warily. A slight wind was blowing; the shadows cast by the swaying branches of the peach tree danced rather erratically across Ayame's face, making it difficult for Kanbei to read her expression.
"Kyuuzou has opened to you a part of his heart that he has never opened to anyone." An unsmiling Ayame looked Kanbei right in the eye. "If you ever trample on what he has given you, you'll not only have to answer to my swords, but to the blades of all the people of Mount Kei'an Dojo, do you understand?"
"You have no cause for concern," Kanbei replied in a calm voice, observing the almost murderous light in the woman's yellow eyes. "I will try my best to make Kyuuzou happy."
Ayame tilted her chin up, crossing her arms as she leaned back against the rough bark of the tree. She shot Kanbei a piercing glance. "And by the way," the woman added. "Don't try to 'Kyuu-chan' him. That's the exclusive prerogative of myself and my sisters. He'll pulverize anyone else who tries to call him that. Even you."
"It is as you say," Kanbei responded coolly with forced politeness.
"I'm going to write you a letter before you leave," came Third Sister's odd reply.
With that, Ayame strode off in the direction of the house, making her way through the leafy green rows of vegetables traversing the dojo garden. A puzzled Kanbei stared after her. If Kyuuzou's Third Sister had something to tell him, couldn't she say it now instead of writing it in a letter? Ayame did not seem to be one to restrain her speech.
--
Ayame, Kyuuzou, and Kanbei left Mount Kei'an Dojo the next day, bidding farewell to Tashiro Sensei and her students. Tashiro Haruko invited the departing visitors to return to Mount Kei'an at summer solstice the next year. Kanbei knew that Haruko had extended the invitation to him only out of courtesy and out of respect for Kyuuzou. On his part, Kanbei graciously accepted his former enemy's invitation for the sake of politeness and for the love of the crimson samurai.
The odd trio comprising of a tall dark man, a slight blond and an even shorter dreadlocked woman headed down the mountain path together. At the foot of Mount Kei'an, their paths diverged. Ayame would now travel north to her home city of Hokuhei while Kanbei and Kyuuzou would go west to Kanbei's home province of Akashima.
As Kyuuzou bade Third Sister farewell, she addressed him kindly, "Take care of yourself. We'll meet back here at Mount Kei'an next summer solstice, as we agreed with Big Sister. In the meantime, you can write to me, you know."
Ayame smirked. Kyuuzou bowed, keeping his passionless expression.
The dark-haired woman turned to Kanbei. "I have a letter for you," she said as she removed a sealed envelope from her pocket and handed it to the dark man. "Don't open it until you reach Kawara Town at the foot of Mount Kei'an next year."
Kanbei raised his eyebrows at the strange instructions. But he responded politely as he placed the yellow paper envelop in his inner pocket, "It will be done as you asked."
"And no peeping at the letter," Ayame wagged her finger at Kyuuzou. "It's for Kanbei's eyes only." Then the woman leaped onto her fast turtle.
Kyuuzou stood gazing after the dust clouds left behind by Third Sister's mount galloping down the north road. After a few moments he turned to Kanbei. The dark man had mounted his fast turtle. Kanbei extended his hand to the slender samurai. Although the younger warrior needed no help with getting on the beast, he accepted Kanbei's offered hand and seated himself in front of the broad-shouldered samurai.
"You can hold the reins," the tall samurai whispered in Kyuuzou's ear as he wrapped a strong arm around that slender waist, The fair-haired swordsman allowed himself a faint smile as he took the reins from Kanbei.
The fast turtle trotted into the west. The wind blew against Kyuuzou's pale face, but the slender fighter felt only the assuring warmth of the broad-shouldered man sitting close behind him. He could not remember the last time he had been this close to happiness. This was the first time Kyuuzou felt something akin to, for lack of a better description, a sense of belonging.
Author's Comments:
"shooting two condors with a single arrow" is a Chinese saying equivalent to "killing two birds with one stone."
Yoyuki (Japanese pronunciation) was a legendary Chinese warrior whom the samurai liked to depict in archery-themed art. He was nicknamed "shogun of divine archery." Yoyuki was said to have shot down a bird flying above the clouds, guided only by the sound of the bird. (Source: Secrets of the Samurai)
For the Kyuuzou-Kyuujiro-Ayame story, see companion fic The Ghosts of Chrysanthemum Bridge.
As to the origins of the scrap metal which lay in the wooden chest under the altar, see Chapter 2 of companion fic Happy Endings.
Just one more chapter to go ;-)