A Mantis' War

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“Will it work?” Naomi asked. She sat with her husband, in the private chambers of Yoritomo Mifune’s estate. Her eyes gazed calmly at her husband, but her question carried weight that struck him heavily.
“Aramasu-dono’s inaction is costing us heavily,” Mifune replied. He looked at his wife, a woman he found irresistible even before she became pregnant with his child. Now, months into the pregnancy, she was even more beautiful.
“It is not our business, though, is it? Let the Imperials sort themselves out. There’s plenty here to keep us occupied.” Naomi shifted, placing her hands on her husband’s shoulders. They were taught, stiff to her touch. She began slowly rubbing them, her fingers digging into his skin. Her slight, practiced pressures made Mifune close his eyes. “It would be simpler if we stayed out of it.”
“I know.” Mifune’s breathing slowed. “But…” His eyes opened slowly, staring into his wife’s. “But this is a thing I must do, Naomi.”
“Why? Why go to all of these lengths?”
“If I do not, then who will?” Mifune took his wife’s hands gently into his own. “For years, we have seen the Empire struggle. We have seen what this Hantei will do to us and ours. The Crab are fighting among themselves now, Naomi-chan. It is only a matter of time before it spreads and everything is endangered. This Black Lion, this liar, merely accelerates what is happening.” He let her hands go, favoring their rough texture, before his own fell to his sides. “Chaos will destroy us all, when brother fights brother. Mantis must not fight Mantis.”
“Unless the Mantis is you,” her statement hung in the air. “You will make many enemies, and if you are wrong they will kill you.”
“Oh, Naomi, I…” He looked down, to his wife’s pregnant belly. He placed his hand on her stomach. Naomi kept her eyes locked to her husband’s, and placed her hands on his. “I am not afraid of death. I will die, and nothing else but that is certain. I am afraid of failing you, of failing the life we’ve built together, of failing my daughter…”
Naomi moved quickly, hugging Mifune and holding him close. “Then don’t fail.”

Gotai Province

The halls of Kyuden Gotei echoed with the shouts of Yoritomo Tadanobu. “What is that fool Date doing?!” Servants scurried from the wrath of their lord. Proud Mantis, dressed in resplendent finery, bowed low as the enraged Tadanobu stalked the halls. “How can he have trouble shipping Irie’s lumber?! That lazy-”
“It is not him,” said a voice near Tadanobu. The Mantis lord wheeled, and faced another, older Mantis. “I know who is endangering your carefully brokered agreements, Tadanobu-san.”
Yoritomo Tadanobu bowed his head slightly, to an equal. “What do you know, Marihito-san? Who is impeding our shipments?”
“Tell me, my friend, have you heard of a man named Yoritomo Mifune…”

Kaze Province

“Seiryo, did you see this notice from the office of the Treasury?”
“Mmm? No, I take great care to ignore those notices Maya-chan.” The private chambers of the lord and lady of Kaze Province was clean, functional, and by Mantis standards spartan and clear.Yoritomo Maya and Yoritomo Seiryo lay next to each other, though not as lovers. Each had a candle burning low as they reviewed scrolls, notices, and documentation.
“It seems as though our finances were not in order in our last tithe to the Empress. As such, the Treasury is imposing a 10% tithe on profits until the difference has been made up.”
“What?!” Seiryo reached over and snatched the document. His wife stared at him with a bemused expression on her face.
“You are fortunate to have me, to read these things you do not,” she said with a smile. Seiryo, though, did not notice. His eyes scanned the document over and over.
“Who in the name of Daikoku is Yoritomo Mifune?!”

Ashinagabachi Province

“What does this Mifune have on you, Tsuruch-ah, Tanari-sama?” Shoin’s voice was gruff and direct, his lord's new name throwing him off slightly. The older man facing him, holding onto a cane, could only smile.
“Have? Shoin, if this boy had any pressure on me do you think he’d be interfering in your business? Besides that, you should know how to address me now.” Tanari, former lord of the Wasp Clan and Tsuruchi family, smiled. He knew Yoritomo Mifune, and knew the young Yoritomo would be involving himself beyond his station many times over. “If you find yourself opposing Yoritomo Mifune, then I would review the decisions you have made recently. I will not intervene.”
Shoin harrumphed. “I think I liked it better before that damn court at Kyuden Gotei, Tanari-sam-, er, Tanari-san." Shoin shook his head, and sighed to himself. "Things were simpler then. I didn’t have to worry about some insane Yoritomo launching inquiries into Kyuden Ashinagabachi’s tax history.”
“Then, Shoin-san, I would make sure that your books are all in order.” Tanari smiled as he walked away, leaving the lord of the Castle of the Wasp flustered in his own garden.

Irie Province

“You will tell this vassal of yours to cease his nonsense!” Yoritomo Umeka’s voice was high with anger and frustration. She stood leveling her fan accusatorily at Yoritomo Date, the lord of Irie Province, and next to her resplendent in finery sat Yoritomo Utaemon. Date, dressed simply, reclined comfortably backwards and took a long draw on his kiseru pipe. “He has been impeding the function of samurai far above his small station. Not least of all mine!”
“Has he now?” Yoritomo Date asked. As he spoke, smoke curled out of his mouth and framed his face in a demonic light. His teeth shone through the smoke haze as he smiled. “Just what has Yoritomo Mifune done?”
“Increased attention from the Treasurer’s Office, for one. I heard they even asked about the vault in Kyuden Gotei toTadanobu. For two, there is evidence linking him to increased wako activities throughout the islands. Some of my own men even claim to have seen this Mifune leading a kobune against our shipments.” Yoritomo Utaemon’s voice lacked the heated passion of Umeka, but the implied threat made Date raise an eyebrow. “He is your vassal. We are prepared to ask for his head, and to recompense you appropriately.”
Date smiled, and took another long drag on his pipe. “You have heard of my grandfather Tsubasa?” The two other Mantis lords looked at each other. “Ah, well, he was famous locally. One day, grandfather Tsubasa was angry. He wouldn’t talk to any of his vassals. His greatest servants were grieving, until one learned that Tsubasa was angry with one of his vassals in particular. They quickly organized and rounded up the man, bringing him bound before their lord. Well, grandfather Tsubasa asked them why they had done this thing. ‘He displeases you, my lord, so we have brought him to you.’ ‘Oh my servants, you do not understand.’ His men looked at each other in wonderment. Grandfather Tsubasa shook his head, and said simply, ‘this was the only man doing as I asked, my anger lies with the rest of you.’” Utaemon frowned, and Umeka scowled.
“What. Exactly. Do you mean with that story, Date-san?” Umeka emphasized the honorific, knowing that most daimyo were unused to speaking with someone of equal station.
“I mean that errant servants are not uncommon here in Irie Province. Whatever else could I mean, Umeka-chan?” Date’s smile only widened as he responded.

The Estate of Yoritomo Aramasu, Balishnipur

Yoritomo Aramasu’s estate gleamed with riches. The walls, at least of the floor where guests arrived, were covered in gold. Rugs covered the golden floor, many from the local people and others from lands even further away. In the audience chamber, Yoritomo Mifune waited. He was dressed in his finest hakama, his vest newly-made and doing nothing to hide his tattoo covered chest and arms. The space felt vast to him, a room used for court and holding only him. He took the time to appraise the staggering amount of wealth and influence on display, and smiled.
“You are an interesting problem, Mifune-san.” Startled, Yoritomo Mifune wheeled. Next to him stood an imposing man, his long black hair tied back. He lacked the sheer bulk of many Mantis, but even under a fine kimono he radiated physical prowess. In a heartbeat, Mifune knelt with his face pressed to the golden floor.
“Aramasu-dono.” he said, his voice tight. He heard Aramasu walk confidently to the hosts’ dais in the center of the room.
“Stand and be acknowledged, Mifune-san.” As quickly as he had knelt, Mifune stood. “As I said, you are an interesting problem.”
“I am a problem, my lord?” Mifune asked hesitantly.

Aramasu turned his head to one side. He reached within the folds of his kimono, and produced a scroll topped with gold. He read from the scroll, occasionally letting his eyes flit from the paper to the only other man in the room. “Let it be known that the man known as Yoritomo Mifune is guilty of crimes against the daimyo of the Mantis Clan. We address our grievances to Yoritomo Aramasu, true son of lord Yoritomo and daimyo of the Mantis Clan. Yoritomo Mifune’s crimes include, but are not limited to, piracy, vandalism, theft, attacking members of the Mantis, dishonorably engaging in duels… My, this is quite a list. You are very good at making enemies, Mifune-san.” Mifune’s face remained impassive as Aramasu rolled up the scroll and returned it to the folds of his kimono. He reached then into a sleeve, and produced a scroll topped with simple wood. He held it up, and as he read it Mifune felt no small amount of pride. “To my lord Aramasu, I wish to speak on my vassal Yoritomo Mifune. He has served honorably and with distinction in the years of his service to me. At no point since he began his service have the traditional difficulties of Irie Province manifested themselves. Indeed, production of both our lumber yards and fisheries has increased every year of Mifune’s service. He has been courageous… Well, I think we get the point, don’t we?” Aramasu rolled up the scroll, and returned it to his sleeve. “As I said, you are a problem, and solving you requires a question. The first one: why? Hogosha-san speaks well of you, and you are evidently no fool. Why aggravate your clan mates?"
“Because of the war, Aramasu-dono.” Mifune’s voice was calm, though he could not bear to meet his champion’s eyes.
“War? We are not at war, Mifune-san.” Mifune could feel the steel gaze of his Champion on him. He thought back to a small room with his wife, to the deck of the Fortune’s Fortunes, to letters sent hastily to the Treasury, to a thousand moments that led him inexorably here.
“We are, Aramasu-dono, and if we do not take action it will destroy us.” For a moment, Mifune’s eyes met those of Aramasu, and it was almost enough to take his breath. While Aramasu’s voice was perfectly calm and respectful, in his eyes there was a storm greater and more lethal than any Mifune saw on the open sea. “The Imperial Regent, this self-proclaimed heir Toturi Daio… They will be the death of us all.”
“The Imperials will sort themselves out. They have little to no bearing on our plans,” Aramasu’s tone was matter of fact, but Mifune could hear the unasked question.
“Twelve, my lord.” Mifune could feel Aramasu’s gaze boring into him, “Twelve Mantis daimyo pledged to various sides. What happens when Toshiken calls on his banners, and the Hantei does the same? I saw Mantis forces stand alongside others in the Black Lion’s army, and attack their clan mates with fervor at the Siege of Mukui Toshi.”
“What are you saying, Mifune-san?”
“I am saying the war is being fought already, Aramasu-dono. In battles small and large, samurai are picking sides. By the kami, the Crab are fighting one another on the Carpenter Wall!”
“Look at me and say that again,” Aramasu commanded.
Mifune raised his eyes. The intensity of Yoritomo Aramasu was unparalelled, and for a moment Mifune feared that he would wilt underneath it. Then, he thought of a young girl handing him her favorite toy, and smiled. “I was there!” Mifune proclaimed. “Hida fighting Hida, while others looked on. The clans are already splitting and fracturing, even the Lion! Chaos is coming, and it will kill us all if we let it.”
“If we let it?” Aramasu’s voice was inquisitive, but his eyes remain locked with Mifune’s. “You tell me that kin is fighting kin, of this desperate future yet to come…”
“And we can stop it! You can stop it, Aramasu-dono. One word from you and the Mantis Clan will unify, one command and you can stop Mantis from shedding Mantis blood.”
“Ah, I think I understand now,” Aramasu said plainly. A small smile played at his lips, taking Mifune off guard. “You are everything Hogosha said you were.”
“I… don’t understand, Aramasu-dono.”
“You don’t need to play that game any longer, Mifune-san. I understand. Any other samurai would be begging for their life, to be spared the execution so many daimyo believe they have earned. You didn’t, though. You are here not to plead for your life, but for your cause.” Mifune looked away, and Aramasu could see he was right. “It would take much to get me involved, to even hear someone out. You knew this, and you knew that any request for a personal audience would be difficult if not impossible to get. You also knew that my daimyo would get my attention much more easily than you. Get them in conflict, and I must be involved. Get them to call for your head, and your allies to speak against it… Hah. Obfuscating your intent by operating in the light of day. I can see why you have the reputation you do.” Mifune bowed to Aramasu, bending so low that he could barely stand.
“You have seen through me, my lord.”
“Then we shall dispense with pretense. Why are you here, now, Mifune-san?”
Mifune stood, but kept his head low. “A great war is coming, soon. Many samurai will die. Samurai of the same clan will slay one another. We cannot allow this to happen, not for the Mantis. The clan needs a strong voice, speaking out clearly and without fear. You must speak in support of the Emerald Champion and the Empress he protects.”
“None of the champions have pledged their support to the Emerald Champion. He has no real base of support, and is even less organized than the Black Lion’s forces. He will lose this war. You would have me throw Mantis lives to a doomed cause?”
“‘And I am twenty-one,’ Aramasu-dono,” Mifune replied. Yoritomo Aramasu smiled, genuinely.
“Hah, fair enough. Why then should I support Kakita Toshiken? It is rare for an Emerald Champion to fail as spectacularly as he has.” Aramasu’s tone was curious, but in it Mifune sensed an opening.
“Because no one else is defending the Toturi, Aramasu-dono. Of all these competitors for the Throne, only Toshiken does as his duty commands. The Regent will destroy the Toturi, and restore an Imperial line that has done us and ours few favors. The Black Lion is a liar, that much I know for certain, and not worthy of our support and our men’s lives. Toshiken defends an Empress that has already done much for the Mantis, and will do more. We have a chance, here and now, to seize the initiative from the other clans. All you need do is speak, Aramasu-dono. When we are victorious, the Imperial line will be indebted to us for our support.”

There were no more words for a while. Though Mifune could not see, he knew his champion still stared into him. Inwardly, he was pleased that Aramasu saw through his gambit; if it had been too subtle he would be dead and too blatant the other daimyo would not have given him the opportunity he needed. I didn’t fail, Naomi-chan.

“Hmm. Losing a vassal of your skill is something I would avoid. Return to Irie Province, and cease your activities against other Mantis lords. If it continues despite this order, Mifune-san, you will die.” Aramasu’s voice was stern, and Mifune bowed to his champion.
“And the other matter, Aramasu-dono?” This was a risk, Mifune knew. Aramasu had given him his life and just as easily could take it. Yet… Mifune could not abandon his cause.
“When I act, you will know.” Outside, thunder boomed and the sky darkened.