Benzaiten's Ivories, Nadir Recharge Station

Benjamin, Benjamin District

October 19th, 3056

Why, then, ivory, as the substance of the Pillar that signifies the thought and conduct of the Kuritan people?

Of the Five Pillars, only Ivory and Teak represent living materials, and only Ivory comes from sentient beings like ourselves. Starting in earliest youth, the animal's tusks continue to grow during the whole of its existence; the tusk is built up in layers, the innermost layer being the last produced, while the outermost eventually becomes a hard and impervious protection.

In like manner, the Pillar of the people's consciousness continues to grow with the expansion of House Kurita. As in the layered tusk, each stratum of society is assigned the mode of faith and conduct most suited to its position. As with the protective outer bark of the tusk, all is kept safe by the strength of character of the First Lord and the diligence of the Keeper of the House Honor.

-Constance Kurita, Keeper of the House Honor, in Commentaries, Office of Educational Materials, Order of the Five Pillars, Luthien, 3007

The antique brass bell above the door of Benzaiten's Ivories chimed musically as Omi entered. She gave a thankful smile to the silent Shujin who had been escorting her after her meeting with the new Coordinator as he assumed a position to watch the door. She then looked over to the counter where the assistant manning it was speaking to a white-haired noble in a stylish dark-red outfit styled similar to DCMS uniforms.

Her ear cataloged the noble's speech patterns as that of lost Rasalhague and something about him rang faint bells of recognition. One of her grandfather's courtiers who had gone into seclusion shortly before the Clans arrived...the 'Red Duke' was what he had been called when she was a girl.

With a silent inward sigh at the delay in her plans, Omi instead walked over to the display case and used one of the offered magnifying glasses next to the case to examine the exquisite carvings being presented. While no stranger to artistry in her own life in Imperial Palace, the miniature okimono figurines presented took her breath away. In particular a Kitsune no Yomeiri set caught her eyes, with their depiction of the fox-spirits' wedding procession with the groom as a swaggering samurai dog-fox, the vixen bride in her white kimono folding an origami crane for happiness, and the officiating priest as an elderly, chubby monk leaning on a cane.

Behind her, the noble finished paying for his purchase and turned to go. His eyes widened as he saw Omi's profile and then he turned to go with almost indecorous haste, reaching for his buzzing phone as he departed the shop.

"Does the honored customer see something that she likes in our humble business?" A soft and polite voice interrupted Omi's examination and she turned to see the assistant standing next to her.

"Hai, the Kitsune no Yomieri lifts my spirit in these troubled times. But I am not here to admire the work of a master, unfortunately. Notify Jukurensha Futsumi-ji that 'Sanyu Kurita has decided that the need is great enough'. I must speak to him in privacy, along with Sho-sa Yodama when he joins us."

A widening of the eyes was the only sign of the impact that her words had given the assistant, who quickly scurried off. Several minutes later, he returned and bowed low to her before escorting her behind the counter. The room she was led to was laid out in the classic style of a Japanese dwelling. White tatami mats covered the floors, the soundproofing on the walls was hidden by rice paper and wood, and the lighting was indirect. Omi bowed to the assistant, slipped off her shoes to take the offered slippers with the ease of long practice and then entered.

She knelt before the tokonoma alcove, contemplating the objects on display. The wall scroll's calligraphy was almost as good as hers, and the subject was...interesting to say the least. 'Might makes Kurita' was the first line of one of the traditional haikus every schoolchild learned and she mentally filled in the remainder 'Pillar of Dragon Steel/Victory over all!' automatically. Pain filled her heart at the memory of her brother and father's last moments, along with a fierce pride that they had died like a Kurita should with their face toward the enemy. Duty was heavier than a mountain, true, but death was lighter then a feather when the time came for duty to embrace it.

Her eyes then lowered to the object on display, a ivory handled katana, with the hilt an exquisitely carved dragon writhing around in such a way to almost seem alive. Not a show piece though, she could see the wear where hands had grasped the dragon, and the faint marks on the blade from duty on the battlefield and dueling grounds. Time stilled and her breathing settled into a slow rhythm as her eyes traced the woodgrains in the blade formed by the folded steel and then followed them to the writhing ivory dragon grasping the steel, then back along the curve of the blade to the chisel point.

A soft male voice spoke in her ear and for the space between two heartbeats she thought that Hohiro's ghost spoke those words. "I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. Forgive my tardiness, honored guest, the ivory was calling me when Hiro-kun notified me of your arrival."

Omi turned and bowed to the middle aged man with the shaved head kneeling next to her. "Iie, Futsumi-ji. This one was caught in the dance of the Dragon across the steel and remembering those who have passed onward before her. Peace in such troubling days is all the more precious when it sneaks up on her, neh?"

The man returned the bow then as he raised his head, Omi's breath caught in her throat. His face was hideously scarred and his eyes the milky white of the ivory that he carved. "Indeed it is. Indeed it is. Do not be troubled, young one. I gave my sight in the service of the Dragon willingly on Halstead Station in 3039 only to find it again in contemplation of what the ivory speaks to me when I touch it. Your voice...? Forgive an old man's impertinence, but may I see your face?"

"Hai." Omi guided his hand, scarred by the tools he used to carve the ivory over the calluses of a swordsman and 'Mechwarrior, to her cheek. Feather-light fingers danced across her face as he nodded his head quizzically and spoke to himself.

"Strength, the strength of the bamboo which bends in the hurricane winds and then stands proudly when all around it are laid low in their foolish pride. Strength mixed with the pride of her heritage...and such terrible sorrow for one so young. Secrets too, so many secrets. How may this one be of service to you Kurita-dono?"

Omi's eyes widened fractionally and the ivory carver laughed with the sound of unalloyed happiness as he sensed her surprise. "Your father came to those of us who survived Halstead Station while we were recovering from our injuries to thank us for our sacrifice and honor our service. You have much of him in your voice and to those unencumbered by the illusion of sight the Dragon speaks through you as it did through him when he ordered the Ivory Dragon into battle against the lesser enemy. Just as your voice now speaks to me of the pain he felt at the cost of the battle when he honored my sacrifice at the head of my company. So the whispered rumors are true then?"

Omi whispered. "Hai. Father and my elder brother died at the claws of the Smoke Jaguar along with many of our finest, and now Coordinator Kurita Minoru-dono rallies the Dragon to take revenge. I must travel in secrecy to New Avalon to secure what aid I may. Therefore, I need to make arrangements to travel to Proserpina in secrecy for the first step of my travels."

"Such can be arranged. The Yukikaze leaves tomorrow to purchase ivory, and schedules shall be adjusted. Hiro will supply traveling garb for you and your companion, a pair of acolytes on pilgrimage will attract no attention."

Omi smiled. "My thanks."

"Such are not needed, service is its own reward. Although, if you could indulge an old man's whimsy, I wish you to take tokens of your visit along with you. Hm, for peace...the Kitsune no Yomeiri shall do well, it called to me strongly when I touched the tusk that gave it birth. And for the other...while it is a poor grasping at beauty for my first attempt, I wish you to have my sword."

Omi shook her head. "You do me too much honor! I could not..."

"No, I regretfully insist, Kurita-dono. If you must, hold my sword in trust for your husband-to-be."

He laughed merrily again at the note of shock in her voice as she started the customary second refusal. "I have three younger sisters, each happily married along with my youngest brother, Kurita-dono. I know the signs all too well even in my blindness. No, no, please take them with my modest blessing for many children to fill your life."