Fox Under Maple:
Chapter 4
The sun shone high in the sky, providing warmth in contrast to the brisk air of the fall season. The capital was alive and busy, and the streets were flooded with merchants and samurai doing business. The siblings had pushed their way to the easter edge of the capital to the Higshikawa district, hoping to catch the next boat to Slow Tide Harbor.
Kazumo looked around Higshikawa with interest. It was a district crammed with shacks and worn wooden walkways standing out of the water. The people here were mostly peasants, buying and selling produce. The alley ways hid the occasional beggar or shady individual, but the daylight kept them out of the way for now. Kazumo wondered how many of them were waiting for the sun to go down before the district's true side could show itself. Higshikawa was infamous for being run by the Yakuza, and crime was the lifeblood of the docks. Drugs, prostitutes, and thugs all available for purchase if you knew where to look.
I guess I should expect nothing less from the district built by the Scorpion.
This reputation initially made the siblings refuse to go, but Azumi managed to convince them that it would be the fastest way to get to Slow Tide Harbor, and Kyou and Tatsuya could not convince Kenji to take more time than was necessary. Despite all that, Kazumo almost felt at home in Higshikawa. There was something very plain and practical about it all, even the darker corners of the district. Just peasants going by and making what they could of their lives.
"Perfect!" Kenji murmured to himself.
The sudden exclamation pulled Kazumo out of his trance and he turned his gaze to the samurai.
"Not too rich, but still respectable." Kenji explained to Kazumo as he subtly pointed out a woman selling hats.
The hats...right.
"Now, don't spend more than a bu per hat," The Crane samurai continued, "And make sure to inspect the hats before handing over any money. They might try to sell you on something low quality with a fancy design, but don't buy into it. Plain and well made is always more beautiful. Make sure to get something made of bamboo, and make sure the strap is leather or silk, otherwise it'll chafe"
Kazumo stared at the samurai, his mind reeling slightly from the deluge of information; he didn't understand the reason for it until Kenji pressed a few bu into his hands.
Kazumo looked down at the coins and then back up at the samurai,
"You seem to be quite the expert Daidoji-sama, perhaps it would make more sense to have you purchase the hats."
"No no no, a Crane can't be seen bartering" Kenji stated as if this was Imperial law. Kenji stared at Kazumo with concern before a realization hit him.
"It is the peasants responsibility to handle affairs of money, as such things are not honorable for a samurai. As such you must be the one to purchase the hats," Kenji explained as if he was talking to a child complete with a smile and expectant look.
"Didn't Kuni-sama say she didn't want a hat?" Kazumo asked.
"And yet we shall buy her one anyway" Kenji whispered in excitement as if preparing a surprise party.
Kazumo relented and made a quick bow before heading towards the hat vendor. He also wondered if Kenji's expertise on money was universal or specialized on apparel. Kazumo had barely even reached the front of the vendor's stand before the saleswoman began making her pitch at him.
"Shopping for your master I see! Well we have just the fine hats sure to impress any Crane." The merchant said energetically as she showed off a silk covered hat with floral patterns across it. However, as she twirled the hat around Kazumo spotted the bamboo underneath was misaligned and crooked. Pleasantly surprised by Keni's insight, Kazumo let the merchant continue her pitch as he scanned across all the hats behind the counter. He spotted a small tower of hats sitting towards the back that appeared to have been recently delivered to the vendor. Each one was a newly made bamboo hat.
"...With all of that said, I can offer you this magnificent hat for three bu." The merchant concluded. Kazumo leaned over and pointed out the stack of hats.
"I'll give you two bu for five of those hats back there." Kazumo offered. The surprised merchant tried to counter the offer, but Kazumo interjected.
"Three bu if they can get leather straps with them."
The merchant looked at the hats and then turned her sharp eyes back towards Kazumo, as if she were evaluating him as much as the offer..
"Of course, let me get those for you." She finally answered.
The merchant quickly threaded leather straps through each hat and piled them in front of Kazumo, giving him the chance to inspect each one thoroughly. Kazumo handed over the three bu, and he was up five hats as a result.
When Kazumo returned with the apparel, Kenji smiled widely, his air excited, as though the peasant had completed some grand quest rather than just simply acquiring a set of hats.
The samurai accepted one of them before turning towards the ocean, gazing upon the waves, he began to speak in a dramatic air,
"A fine set of hats
For a great group of siblings..."
Kenji stopped at the second line and Kazumo saw the Crane mouth something before furrowing his brow in consternation. A momentary look of shame crossed the man's face before he turned down the docks.
"Let us see if Azumi-San has procured us a boat." Kenji said quietly.
Kenji and Kazumo swiftly snaked their way through the walkways of the docks. Taking this as an opportunity to try out their newly acquired hats. Kazumo at first couldn't locate any of his siblings, until he remembered one of his sister's defining traits. He stepped up onto a crate to get a higher view, and managed to spot Azumi standing a full head above everyone else around her. With that, he was able to guide the two over to their siblings. As they approached, Kyou addressed Kenji.
"How'd it go?"
Kenji grabbed his hat dramatically to cover part of his face, and struck a pose.
"Such foul criminals won't even see us coming." Kenji declared in his best mysterious voice.
The rest of the siblings were bemused by Kenji's earnestness, and decided to withhold their comments. Kazumo then crept up to hand out the remaining hats, startling Kyou for a moment before snatching the hat from him. Tatsuya gave a small nod in appreciation before placing a hat on his head, although he had to brush some of his hair down so the hat wouldn't rest so far away from his head.
However, when Kazumo offered the last hat to Azumi, the Kuni looked down at him for a moment in a vaguely disappointed fashion, before grabbing it and then resolutely placing it directly upon the hat already on the peasant's head. She then turned towards the rest of the group as though nothing had happened.
"I got us a boat that leaves within the hour." Azumi said while jerking her thumb to their vessel.
Kazumo poured his eyes over the boat, and found it wanting. The boat looked like it was about to fall apart from the rot. It was a sailboat with a small room at the back of the ship. The ship was stained green and black with nothing resembling the color of wood. The edges of the ship were worn, and its sails covered in patches. Its sides were dotted with barnacles, and the sailors manning it didn't look much better.
Beggars can't be choosers I suppose.
"It's certainly not what I would expect from a vessel for four samurai, but Azumi assures us it will get us there by tomorrow morning." Kyou explained. "Although I'm still not convinced those sailors can be trusted."
"Then don't trust them," Azumi retorted. Kyou gave a small glare before composing herself.
"We should start packing then. It's gonna take long enough just to get Kenji's cart on the boat." Tatsuya added in to try and deescalate the situation.
"Are we sure it's a good idea?" Kenji asked sheepishly. "That boat may not be able to safely carry us on our important quest.".
Azumi turned her head angrily towards Kenji, but Togashi spoke up , forestalling her..
"I agree it doesn't look like it, but it'll get us there."
"I just feel like Azumi-San is paying too much for their service. How much are they charging you?" Kenji stammered out.
"Nothing," Azumi stated bluntly.
"So still too much money I see." Kazumo murmured. Azumi let out a quick huff but said nothing in reply.
"I think we should consider our alternatives and see if we can get something better." Kenji spoke, with each word becoming more nervous.
"You're the one who said time was of the essence." Kyou accused, "I don't like it either, but it is the fastest way to get to Slow Tide."
"Well it's just…" then suddenly Kenji's stance changed as he stood rigid and a blank look spread across his face.
"Samurai should always maintain appearances, even while traveling. Samurai must always hold themselves with respect and surround themselves with appropriate men and tools. To travel upon such a derelict vessel would be a disgrace to samurai etiquette. I cannot in good faith allow samurai such as ourselves to travel by such poor means." Kenji stated like a mantra.
Kazumo suddenly remembered Kenji's change in character back when entering the capital. It was like all his personality melted away when he felt his reputation as a Crane was at stake. It was the actions of someone desperately trying to fit in, when he didn't belong. Kazumo had to think fast, or there was every chance that Kenji would talk himself out of coming along at all.
"Consider this a test of etiquette Kenji-sama." Kazumo piped up, the Crane turned to him, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"It would be a chance to prove that no matter the location, and no matter the circumstance, you can always be a beacon of courtesy and honor." Kazumo explained, "Only a true Crane can be a pinnacle of such virtues no matter their situation."
The samurai's eyes lit up as he understood and his reticence vanished almost instantaneously.
"You're right! If I am to bring honor to my clan, I must carry on any challenge with the grace of a crane." Kenji shouted.
Kazumo watched as the Kenji he knew came back with relief, the Crane took a deep breath before bowing to the rest of his siblings.
"Please forgive my hesitance. I should know that any journey as important as this shall have hardships, and shall rise to meet them." Kyou shook her head in disbelief before responding.
"It's ok, Kenji-san. Let's just get everything packed."
Kenji shot upright a fire in his eyes, "As atonement for my cowardice, I shall pack everyone's equipment. Leave it to me." Kenji marched over and started gathering everyone's bags. As the siblings glanced at each other, Tatsuya shrugged and started walking over to the boat. Azumi and Kyou followed shortly after. However, to his bewilderment as Kazumo strolled past, Kenji shoved a couple of the bags at him, obviously expecting the peasant to carry them.
With an effort of will, Kazumo was able to stop his face from reddening with anger as he accepted them and slung them over his shoulder.
"Thank you Kazumo-kun." Kenji said, as the samurai took the remaining bags.
Kazumo stood there with a look of disappointment and frustration, as Kenji got his horses to start trotting over to the boat.
I suppose I am still a peasant.
Despite his frustration, Kazumo couldn't even hold it against his brother. Kenji still firmly believed in the castes of his society. A peasant of his status was a tool no different from the cart or the horse in the eyes of samurai. Kenji wouldn't even realize that he did something wrong. By all accounts, Kenji was acting as an honorable and sensible samurai in this instance. Even still, Kazumo still felt that anger against that disrespect. Whether he should curse his brother, the empire, or the Kami he did not know.
Kazumo took a deep breath, and decided it wasn't worth wallowing. He slung the bags over his shoulder and followed Kenji onto the boat.
The wooden planks creaked under the steps of the siblings, and the whole boat tipped to the side for a moment as Kenji dragged his cart onto it. After a brief moment of alarm from the sailors, they managed to get Kenji's cart centered on the boat with all their bags secured. Azumi went to talk with the captain while the others got situated. Tatsuya strolled over to the bow of the boat and sat down to let his legs dangle over the ocean, while Kyou opted to stay inside of the boat.
Kenji stood next to his cart, stiff as a board, doing his best to look respectable. However, Kazumo noticed that Kenji was doing all he could to put as much stuff between him and the docks to try and break line of sight to him. Kazumo smirked to himself and sat against the cart to peer out to the sea. The sailors continued loading crates and barrels into the hull of the ship, trying to avoid the direct attention of the samurai.
Soon enough, the ship was loaded, and they were drifting out from the docks. The sails of the ship were raised, and the wind began to drag the ship towards their destination. Kazumo took a deep breath to take in the smell of the ocean. The ship rocked gently across the ocean. Despite its looks, the ship sailed smoothly across the water. Kazumo turned his attention to the sailors who manned the ship like their family had been doing for generations.
They probably have.
All in all it gave Kazumo a small sense of wonder watching the sailors at their craft. They worked their roles as if they were manning the finest vessel in all of Rokugan. He wondered how Azumi had found these sailors. As he watched the captain and Azumi finish their conversation, Kazumo decided he might as well ask. Azumi started walking towards the interior of the vassal as Kazumo walked up to her.
"Azumi-sama," Kazumo spoke while making a slight bow.
"Hmm?"
"May I ask how you knew these sailors?" Kazumo asked.
"No." Azumi replied.
Kazumo was stunned for a moment. Once again that frustration of not being respected by a samurai, but he knew better than to make something of it.
"Of course Azumi-sama."
"Wait!" Kenji exclaimed.
"I was also curious as to how you found this boat and its men. May I know the story behind it?" Kenji politely asked.
"No." Azumi responded.
Or maybe she doesn't respect anyone.
Kenji was equally stunned by the response. The two were speechless long enough for Azumi to turn back around and start walking away.
"At least give me a gift idea for your uncle." Kenji pleaded.
"A gift?" Azumi let out a huff. "Get him a cake." Azumi answered before disappearing into the interior of the boat.
"A cake huh? By my sweets and sours, it's a challenge just for me. I shall get the finest cake her uncle has ever tasted." Kenji declared.
Kazumo couldn't help but glance at the ocean surrounding them.
"Not to discourage you my lord, but wouldn't it be difficult to procure a cake at this time?"
"Ah, but we do not need to procure a cake when I can make one. I have nothing else to do this day, and all the ingredients in my cart. I can easily make some mochi, I just need to choose a filling." Kenji pondered. "Oh, I'll take advice from my siblings! Can you go ask Tatsuya, Kyou, and Azumi?" Kenji asked Kazumo.
"Absolutely my lord, may I ask what fillings are available?" Kazumo responded, having accepted that this was going to happen.
"I can make a red bean paste, or a green tea matcha." Kenji said giddily. "I even saw some eggs and milk get loaded onto the ship. If I can procure them then I can make some custard as well."
Kazumo nodded, "I'll ask what everyone wants." And he turned to walk away.
"Wait!" Kenji spoke with alarm.
"Yes my lord?"
"You never said your recommendation."
Kazumo was shocked for a moment.
"I didn't think you would care for a peasant's opinion."
"But you're my brother, of course I would care." Kenji stated as if it was obvious. After a moment however, a realization came across Kenji's face. He grew solemn and grabbed his chin in a thoughtful pose.
"I have been treating you more like a servant than a brother." Kenji murmured. "I have been too callous around you." Kenji shook his head. Kenji then bowed his head.
"Please forgive me Kazumo-ku…" Kenji stopped for a moment. "Kazumo-san. I should be acting as your brother, not your lord, despite the differences in our births." Kazumo felt relief at that statement, and returned the bow.
"Thank you Kenji-sama."
"San! We are brothers Kazumo-san. If I am to start treating you more like one, then I trust that you will do the same." Kazumo lifted his head and gave a genuine smile.
"Alright Kenji-san, although we might want to be careful being so informal around others." Kazumo suggested. Kenji nodded in response.
"We will still have to put on airs while around other samurai, but I'll convince the other siblings to treat you in the same manner."
"Good luck with that." Kazumo responded wryly. "I'll go ahead and ask the others then about the cake. Oh, I prefer red bean paste, but all of them sound good."
"Hmm" Kenji nodded and started fishing ingredients out of his cart.
Kazumo turned his head to Tatsuya sitting on the edge of the boat and walked over to him.
"Tatsuya-sama?"
"Hmm…yeah?" Tatsuya said as if coming back to reality.
"Kenji-sama is making a cake for Azumi-sama's uncle, and wanted advice on what he should use for the filling?"
Tatsuya blinked at Kazumo and looked side to side before responding.
"He's going to bake a cake? In the middle of the ocean?"
"So claims Kenji-sama."
"And he's not going to light the boat on fire in the process, right?" Tatsuya asked while eying Kenji from afar.
Kazumo hadn't considered that possibility.
"I will advise him to be cautious." Kazumo responded with growing concern.
"You know what, I'll go keep an eye on him." Tatsuya reluctantly suggested as he stepped back onto the boat.
Kazumo simply bowed in response, as Tatusya walked over to the cooking pot that Kenji was setting up. Kazumo decided he should head into the boat to ask his two sisters what they would prefer, although he had little hope of getting an easy answer from either of them. He turned his attention to the wooden door leading to the interior of the ship. It hung off of the hinges, and groaned loudly when opened. The floors creaked under his steps. Kazumo suddenly felt self conscious about being so loud while moving. He was used to moving much more quietly, and felt stupid trying in vain to move silently. After a few more failed attempts to be inconspicuous, Kazumo audibly groaned and decided to try and ignore it.
He passed by another sailor and got directions to where Kyou was. He figured he might as well get her out of the way first. Although Kenji has once again surprised him with his earnesty, he had no delusions that Kyou thought of him as anything other than trash. He knocked twice on the door, and preemptively bowed before Kyou could open the door.
"Yes?" Kyou responded.
"Ikoma-sama, Kenji has a message for you." Kazumo said quickly.
"Hmm-hmm?" Kyou looked at Kazumo expectantly. She was doing her best to try and look down on him, but being a few inches shorter made it difficult for her.
"Kenji-sama wanted to know what you would recommend as a filling for a mochi cake. He has green tea, red beans, and custard as options."
"Well obviously the best choice… wait where is he buying a cake in the middle of the ocean?" Kyou questioned.
"He's baking one himself, as a gift for Azumi's uncle." Kazumo explained as if it was obvious. Kyou shook her head in disbelief.
"You mean he's ordering you to bake one, or one of the sailors." Kyou demanded.
"...no? Why wouldn't he bake it?" Kazumo inquired cautiously.
"He's a respectable samurai! Cooking is the peasants job." Kyou admonished.
Kazumo was struck by both the disrespect and the irony, given Kenji was a much better cook than he was.
"Kenji-sama would be happy to demonstrate his expertise." Kazumo suggested.
"You do not say what a samurai does or does not want to do, peasant." Kyou interrupted. She stopped for a moment, as if struggling to understand why Kenji would do something so menial as cooking.
"Well, if he is baking something, it must be a masterful work as per his Crane heritage." Kyou reasoned to herself.
"And obviously he would value my opinion above the others on what's best to recommend to another lord." Kyou continued. Kazumo felt the strong desire to correct her, but decided gaining her wrath wasn't worth it.
"A custard would be the most difficult and delectable of the choices. For almost any lord, I'd recommend that as the best choice. However, Crab are a strange lot, and contradictory to samurai. While anyone sensible would enjoy the sweet and creamy taste of a custard, Crab would balk at anything that brings them happiness. They would grind their teeth, and demand the worst of the options, which would be the red bean paste. The earthy taste and rough texture would appeal to their need to suffer and look tough." Kyou finished with a fake gruff voice.
Kazumo's brow lifted in faint surprise, the idea was not ill-reasoned. Perhaps Kyou was less of a fool than he thought.
"Which is disappointing as red bean mochi is peasant's food and only fit for animals otherwise." Kyou continued.
Nevermind.
"I hope you are able to remember all that. I don't tend to repeat it." Kyou stated flatly.
Kazumo bowed his head, mostly to hide his look of contempt.
"I'll let Kenji-sama know at once."
"Good!" Kyou finished and shut the door off.
With Kyou out of sight, Kazumo raised his head back up and rolled his eyes as hard as he could. He shuffled over to Azumi's room hoping their interaction would at least be short. However, before he knocked on the door, he overheard her muttering in the room. Kazumo recognized that she was praying again, and wouldn't want to be disturbed. Kazumo paused for a moment, before deciding that it probably wasn't worth it to disturb her. Kyou's argument made sense as to how a Crab would choose, and if a particular filling was important, Azumi would have likely mentioned it when recommending a cake. Kazumo opted to make his way back to the top of the ship. As he walked onto the deck of the ship, he found Kenji and Tatsuya hunched over a pit that they were building to start the fire.
"Kenji-sama, Tatsuya-sama." Kazumo bowed as he greeted them.
"Oh, Kazumo-san, what did they think?" Kenji asked with glee.
"Azumi-sama was busy with her prayers and wasn't able to provide more information. However, Kyou recommended a red bean paste, as she believed it would appeal to a Crab."
"Ah, that's a good idea." Kenji said while standing back straight up. "What's your idea Tatsuya?"
"If you make a cake in the middle of the ocean, I think that's impressive regardless of filling."
"Then the filling shall be red bean paste!" Kenji declared. Suddenly he became a flurry of action, pulling bowls, pots, and tools out of his cart. He grinded some rice into a thick white dough, as he started the fire. Kazumo as Tatsuya watched the fire carefully to make sure it wasn't spreading, but it appeared as though their makeshift pit kept the fire underneath the pot.
He threw the rice into a small pot and sprinkled in sugar before pouring in water, all the while whipping up the substance with a wooden spoon. Kenji's face had more concentration on it than when he was dueling that ronin from the other day. As the rice dough cooked, he placed a smaller cup into the bowl and began preparing the red beans.
He poured a couple handfuls of red beans onto the new lid and mashed them, adding water intermittently. He would then remove the cup and mix up the mochi underneath for a couple minutes before placing the paste and returning to mashing it. He repeated this process for what must have been hours. Tatsuya quickly lost interest and returned to his musings over the ocean, but Kazumo found a simple joy in watching someone work so passionately at something.
Every time Kazumo thought the cooking was done, Kenji had spied some invisible flaw and worked hard to remove it. By the afternoon, the beans were as smooth as butter, and the mochi looked as soft as pillows. At that, Kenji nodded and set the cup of paste aside. He lifted the bowl and put out the fire below. After waiting a few minutes for the two to cool, he reached in and pulled out the mochi, now a fine white dough that stretched like putty in his hands.
He fished a piece of cloth out of his cart and used it to strain the mochi and red beans of any excess water over the side of the boat. He then kneaded and cut apart the mochi into smaller circles. Once he was happy with the mochi, he spooned the red beans into each piece of mochi. With dextrous hands, he kneaded the mochi around the paste, assembling thirteen round balls of mochi. With a simple smile across his lips, Kenji clasped his hands together and declared.
"All done!"
Kenji wrapped up twelve of the mochi balls into a cloth and set them into his cart. With a gentleness as if he was holding a precious piece of pottery, he lifted the final ball of Mochi.
"Kazumo-san, Tatsuya-san, come try this mochi." Kenji offered.
At the sound of free food, Tatsuya made his way back to the group, and Kazumo examined the mochi. Kenji broke the mochi into three pieces and gave one to Kazumo and Tatsuya.
"It's always important to taste test one's dishes to make sure they came out good." Kenji explained enthusiastically.
"I'm not going to disagree." Tatsuya added as he popped the piece of mochi into his mouth.
Kazumo took a quick sniff of the piece before taking a bite. Its aroma and flavor were wonderfully sweet. The texture was the right kind of chewy, but still melted in the mouth. Tatsuya looked pleasantly surprised. Kenji's face ws a look of pure joy, as he closed his eyes and smiled gently.
"I said I'd be impressed if you baked something in the middle of the ocean, and that's pretty good mochi even ignoring the conditions." Tatsuya admitted.
"I'm sure Azumi's uncle will love them!" Kenji spoke with confidence.
"Honestly, you may have made them too good for a Crab to enjoy." Kazumo joked as he finished off the piece of mochi, getting a snicker out of Tatsuya.
"You don't think that'll be a problem will you?" Kenji asked with genuine concern.
"Nah, it'll be fine Kenji-san." Tatsuya said to comfort his brother.
"Then I think we're ready." Kenji concluded.
The three of them nodded and turned their heads towards their destination. Although they wouldn't see it until the morning, they felt its presence looming in the distance. Despite the uncertainty, Kazumo felt strangely confident. Whatever danger was awaiting them in Slow Tide Harbor couldn't possibly match them.
What could go wrong?
Which was a silly thing to think to himself. Kazumo knew better. Kazumo knew things could go very wrong very quickly. But, for a brief moment, Kazumo felt like nothing could stop them.