- Location
- Earth
Omake: The Flying Blade
Kakita Sekawa walked the streets of Shiro Matsu with a mask of cool indifference. He was in his element. The passing heimin gave him a wide berth. Whether they picked up on the atmosphere of the Lion samurai walking about, or news of events at Court had filtered down all the way the commoners was unimportant. Some samurai held their On, but many glared at the Lone Crane walking confidently down the middle of Shiro Matsu.
The city was nearing a boiling point. Soon enough, his blade would find honorable combat. This was his place, his purpose in life. To be the blade shielding Mariko-san. Ever since they had delivered their insult to the lord of this place, he had kept his blade sharp, and was ready. It was likely the duel would be provoked soon, if not today.
Yet he felt fear as well. For Doji-san had gotten herself involved with a Scorpion. Chen was little help there. Why she felt the need to entrap the Scorpion was something he was unsure off. He trusted his Lady implicitly, but still. It was a Scorpion. He knew the stories, the plays. Sekava had no fear of the arena of honorable combat, but the Scorpion did not fight in the arena. Poison, lies and knives in the dark, that was their trade.
And that was why he sought Doji-san out. She told him to stay on guard, but that he could enjoy himself, as she had another escort for today. What she was plotting, he was unsure, but he was sure she would have this Soshi wrapped up in her charms soon enough. He was young and honorable. An honorable Scorpion! Young and a fool. But since he had been ordered to go and enjoyed himself, he did so. The most enjoyable action being to keep an eye on his Lady, but he supposed he could see the local art. But if something did happen to her, the Scorpion would feel his blade.
He visited some tea houses, faced of against several Lion samurai, who seemed to want nothing more then challenge him to a duel, but wiser heads prevailed. He had expected to take at least one challenge and prove the strength of the Crane. It was as if the Lion was up to something.
And then he heard it. One of the Lion spit it in his face. Why would they face him? The Scorpion was the one who accepted the duel in Doji-sans stead. That cursed Scorpion. The Insult. Taking on his duties? Soshi might as well as spit in his face.
He ruined all their plans. "I am a Kakita. I've trained for duels all my life. That Scorpion may not be incompetent in the arena, but he has no hope against someone who was ready to face me in an honorable duel. Is he trying to get her killed?"
His heart skipped a beat, even as his On never slipped. Murmurs and rumors in the crowds told him enough. He hunted the Scorpion even as his mind worked furiously. What if it was all a plot? The Scorpion would throw the duel, or cheat, or do something. And he would walk away, the honorable Scorpion, his honor in tatters, maybe wounded, but Mariko would be the one to pay with her life. No, never Mariko-san.
That was insane, the Scorpion was not that stupid. Such a loss and Soshi would have to die as well. Even a Scorpion could not wiggle out of a duel to the death. But what then?
By a stroke of luck(and skill in speaking with the heimin) he was able to find them as they left the restaurant. He followed them, as they wind down alleys, nearing the edge of town. Into the small copse of woodland, halfway up the slope of one of the minor hills. He snuck in, observing them. For a Scorpion, the man was oblivious, though he was unsure if Mariko-san spotted him.
They watched the sunset together. He felt jealousy rear its ugly head again and mercilessly crushed it. It was neither the first (nor hopefully the last, should she survive) time he had seen her with another man. Mariko-san is a courtier, such is her Duty. He understood that. He had accepted it. He would be her shield, and in time they would be together.
"Certainly, I should hate to forget the sight before me now." the Scorpion said, so gently it made Sekawa sick. "To lose such a memory would be among the greatest of tragedies."
"Flatterer." Mariko says with a smile. She seems to be waiting for something, and after a moment Soshi stepped slightly closer and extended one arm to lightly rest around her waist. There was a momentary pause, both of them watching the sunset, before Mariko relaxed slightly and leans into the embrace.
It was too much. To hide here as if he was the one doing something wrong while they embraced. That Scorpion was going to get Mariko killed and that was it. He stepped forward, one hand on the hilt. "I am the shield" Sekawa repeated to himself," and he is the threat. If I am wrong, if this is part of some plan, then Mariko will stop me. But if he trapped her somehow.? If this is some plot of his? If he is merely a besotted fool? Then he dies."
Kakita Sekawa walked the streets of Shiro Matsu with a mask of cool indifference. He was in his element. The passing heimin gave him a wide berth. Whether they picked up on the atmosphere of the Lion samurai walking about, or news of events at Court had filtered down all the way the commoners was unimportant. Some samurai held their On, but many glared at the Lone Crane walking confidently down the middle of Shiro Matsu.
The city was nearing a boiling point. Soon enough, his blade would find honorable combat. This was his place, his purpose in life. To be the blade shielding Mariko-san. Ever since they had delivered their insult to the lord of this place, he had kept his blade sharp, and was ready. It was likely the duel would be provoked soon, if not today.
Yet he felt fear as well. For Doji-san had gotten herself involved with a Scorpion. Chen was little help there. Why she felt the need to entrap the Scorpion was something he was unsure off. He trusted his Lady implicitly, but still. It was a Scorpion. He knew the stories, the plays. Sekava had no fear of the arena of honorable combat, but the Scorpion did not fight in the arena. Poison, lies and knives in the dark, that was their trade.
And that was why he sought Doji-san out. She told him to stay on guard, but that he could enjoy himself, as she had another escort for today. What she was plotting, he was unsure, but he was sure she would have this Soshi wrapped up in her charms soon enough. He was young and honorable. An honorable Scorpion! Young and a fool. But since he had been ordered to go and enjoyed himself, he did so. The most enjoyable action being to keep an eye on his Lady, but he supposed he could see the local art. But if something did happen to her, the Scorpion would feel his blade.
He visited some tea houses, faced of against several Lion samurai, who seemed to want nothing more then challenge him to a duel, but wiser heads prevailed. He had expected to take at least one challenge and prove the strength of the Crane. It was as if the Lion was up to something.
And then he heard it. One of the Lion spit it in his face. Why would they face him? The Scorpion was the one who accepted the duel in Doji-sans stead. That cursed Scorpion. The Insult. Taking on his duties? Soshi might as well as spit in his face.
He ruined all their plans. "I am a Kakita. I've trained for duels all my life. That Scorpion may not be incompetent in the arena, but he has no hope against someone who was ready to face me in an honorable duel. Is he trying to get her killed?"
His heart skipped a beat, even as his On never slipped. Murmurs and rumors in the crowds told him enough. He hunted the Scorpion even as his mind worked furiously. What if it was all a plot? The Scorpion would throw the duel, or cheat, or do something. And he would walk away, the honorable Scorpion, his honor in tatters, maybe wounded, but Mariko would be the one to pay with her life. No, never Mariko-san.
That was insane, the Scorpion was not that stupid. Such a loss and Soshi would have to die as well. Even a Scorpion could not wiggle out of a duel to the death. But what then?
By a stroke of luck(and skill in speaking with the heimin) he was able to find them as they left the restaurant. He followed them, as they wind down alleys, nearing the edge of town. Into the small copse of woodland, halfway up the slope of one of the minor hills. He snuck in, observing them. For a Scorpion, the man was oblivious, though he was unsure if Mariko-san spotted him.
They watched the sunset together. He felt jealousy rear its ugly head again and mercilessly crushed it. It was neither the first (nor hopefully the last, should she survive) time he had seen her with another man. Mariko-san is a courtier, such is her Duty. He understood that. He had accepted it. He would be her shield, and in time they would be together.
"Certainly, I should hate to forget the sight before me now." the Scorpion said, so gently it made Sekawa sick. "To lose such a memory would be among the greatest of tragedies."
"Flatterer." Mariko says with a smile. She seems to be waiting for something, and after a moment Soshi stepped slightly closer and extended one arm to lightly rest around her waist. There was a momentary pause, both of them watching the sunset, before Mariko relaxed slightly and leans into the embrace.
It was too much. To hide here as if he was the one doing something wrong while they embraced. That Scorpion was going to get Mariko killed and that was it. He stepped forward, one hand on the hilt. "I am the shield" Sekawa repeated to himself," and he is the threat. If I am wrong, if this is part of some plan, then Mariko will stop me. But if he trapped her somehow.? If this is some plot of his? If he is merely a besotted fool? Then he dies."
