I'm sorry this took so long. It's taken me a while to recover from GenCon, but I'm good to go now.
[X] "It seems some conflicting information has been spreading about the death of Kakita Ryoichi. Before the rumors could cause any unfortunate results, I was discussing with these honorable samurai the appropriate way to treat our Crane allies."
Silence reigns. Hida Tanaka stands there, hands behind his back, waiting for a response. None seem able to open their mouths to speak, however, taken aback by the sheer force of his presence. He looms over everything, an indomitable edifice. But as he quirks a single eyebrow you can tell his patience is swiftly coming to an end.
Thoughts form slowly, having to push through waves of pain coming from the back of your skull, but you can tell that staying silent won't help anyone. With a grunt you rise to your feet, swaying unsteadily. That draws your Champion's eyes, and you do your best not to fall over again as you take a few breaths to push back against the shadows at the edge of your vision.
"I can help with that, Hida-dono."
He motions a hand toward you. "Then please, by all means, go on."
"Hida-dono," Hida Atsuki begins. "This is-"
That same hand darts toward the Gunso, raised in a halting motion as sharp as a knife's edge. "Hiruma-san is speaking now. Don't interrupt."
"It seems some conflicting information has been spreading about the death of Kakita Ryoichi," you say, taking great care not to slur your words. "Before the rumors could cause any unfortunate results, I was discussing with these honorable samurai the appropriate way to treat our Crane allies."
"I see," Hida Tanaka says, turning his gaze toward Hosaru. "And would you say this is the case, Daidoji-san?"
"Yes, as far as I can tell," Hosaru replies. "Hiruma-san has been nothing but courteous, so I'm sure there's no need for a bigger scene than we've already had to endure."
"Then hopefully we can put this foolishness behind us," the Champion says. "And we can move on to more important matters."
"No!" Hida Atsuki growls before anyone can say anything more. He drops to his knees, bowing before the Champion. "Hida-dono, I must protest! Kakita Ryoichi attempted to murder a hero of our Clan!"
"We've endured insult upon insult from the Crane over the centuries," Toritaka Hino says, joining her fellow Gunso in kneeling. "Are we to simply endure yet more even while we shed our blood in their defense?"
"The lies told about this incident are beneath you, Hida-dono," Atsuki continues. "Please, let us act!"
"No."
The word is spoken with all the finality of an avalanche. A shudder runs down your spine, dread pushing against the haze of pain that smothers your thoughts. Out of the corner of your eye you can see you are not the only one affected thus. A ripple passes through the crowd, Crab Samurai collectively recoiling from the crushing force held within the Champion's tone.
Hida Tanaka covers the distance between him and the Gunso with but a few steps, looming above them like a mountain. You stumble back as fresh agony blossoms behind your eyes. Anger radiates from the man like a heat wave, and you can almost see the air warping around him as he glares down at the prostrate figures.
"You both do not realize what you nearly cost us," he says, voice soft. "I expect better of my subordinates. Leave this as it stands and your punishment will not be too severe."
"Is our pride worth nothing, then?" Toritaka Hino asks. "Are we to beg and scrape before those who do not understand our sacrifice?"
"You are to do as I command," Hida Tanaka says. "As is your duty."
"Then we beg forgiveness, Hida-dono," Hida Atsuki replies. "For we must protest."
Both Gunso have their wakizashi out before anyone can act, plunging them into their stomachs. Red spreads across their kimono, blood flowing from their fingers to drip across ground already soaked through. Then, with a wrenching pull, they slice the blades to the side.
No sound escapes their lips as they go through with this. Their faces contort with pain, but beyond the grunt of exertion they do not cry out or scream. Instead they lock their eyes with Hida Tanaka's, matching his gaze in a way that would be disrespectful in the extreme if they weren't in the process of taking their own lives.
They hold his eyes until all strength leaves them. Their hands fall from their swords, and with a soft thump they both collapse. For a time there is no movement save for the wind picking up dust, sending ripples through the pool of blood both Gunso lay in. The crowd has fallen silent, as if afraid to take a breath. Even the throbbing of your skull eases, leaving you in a world overtaken by stillness.
Then, finally, Hida Tanaka rubs a hand over his face and sighs.
"Daidoji-san, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask your people to leave," he says in a voice drained of all the weight it held just a few moments ago. All that is left is a bone deep weariness. "I mean no disrespect for you or the Crane, but I cannot afford these distractions if I am to see this war to its conclusion."
Hosaru bows. "I understand, Hida-sama. I shall see my forces ready to march within the hour."
"You have my appreciation."
"I would make a single request, however," Hosaru says, waiting only for the Champion's nod before continuing. "I wish to continue to fight alongside you. Someone must uphold the honor of the Crane in this conflict, and if those who followed me cannot stay then I would bear that burden myself."
Hida Tanaka stares at the man for a time, eyes narrowed. Then he lets out another sigh. "I shall allow you this."
He turns toward the crowd, which flinches beneath the renewed strength of his ire. The effect creates a wave of humanity, every single Crab bushi stepping back as one as he scowls at them.
"Return to your assigned positions," he says. "I will be having conversations with your Nikutai later."
Dull pain returns as the mob disperses, each doing their best to appear small beneath the watchful stare of the Champion. But you do not notice them. You only have eyes for the motionless forms of Hida Atsuki and Toritaka Hino, still laying their in pools of their own blood. Your hands clench so tight your knuckles turn white, and new flashes of agony blossom as your neck tenses.
They both committed Kanshi, seppuku in the form of protest, and all because Hida Tanaka wouldn't allow them to vent their anger upon the Crane. Was their anger so great? Were the old grudges, centuries of insults, too much weight for them to bear? Could this ancient feud really have brought them to this final act of defiance?
You already know the answer. You know, because you felt all the same things they did before you began your trek across the Empire. You know because, deep down, you feel all the same frustrations and anger over a history of slights going back to near the beginning of Rokugan itself. It coils around in your guts like a serpent, reaching up to drip venom into your heart.
The only difference is that you had a chance to temper those feelings with experience. That serpent called hate cannot find purchase when confronted with the relationships you have formed, the knowledge you have gained. But these two Samurai, veterans of battles against the enemy of all who live, lacked the opportunities granted to you.
And because of that, they are dead.
A sudden wave of nausea fills you, and you stumble before gripping a tent pole. For a moment all you can do is hold on as the world spins, doing your best not to throw up. But revulsion filling you is more than just physical. The injustice of what has happened, the sheer waste of it all… it builds up inside you like bile trying to force its way out.
You need to talk with someone, anyone, in order to center yourself and make sense of all this. If you don't then you fear you won't be able to keep standing.
[] Speak with Daidoji Hosaru.
[] Speak with your friends.
[] Speak with Hida Tanaka.
[] Write in.
