Bound Books

From Heroes Of Rokugan
Jump to: navigation, search

Bound Books

Agasha Hama sat at her desk, covered in scrolls and books with servants holding even more. She frowned at one piece of paper, drawing a brush across it to write something, then looked up at one of her servants to state, "Take this to Ichiro." The servant took the scroll and nodded, heading out of the room.

As he opened the door, another young Agasha shugenja backed into the room, bumping into him. The servant bowed and said, "Aah, my apologies Samurai..." but the shugenja just tried to brush by them, turning forward. Agasha Hama looked up from her desk and a small smile came across her lips, before she spoke up to say, "Agasha Hikari, should you not be facing forward towards your Daimyo? And perhaps not bumping into busy servants?"

The shugenja's eyes flicked to Hama's immediately. Short and unassuming, with dark hair and brown eyes, and in a plain robe, she stared at the Daimyo a bit too long, before glancing down at the book in her hands. Looking back up, she nodded slowly and murmured, "Yes, my Daimyo."

Agasha Hama shook her head and said, "Honestly, Hikari-san, you must learn at least some of the ways of interacting with people, or a Crane may swallow you whole." As the Shugenja appeared her eyes brightened and she leaned forward. "Is that the newest book?"

The Shugenja nodded a bit excitedly, starting, "Yes, it..." she trailed off, then finished, "Yes, my Daimyo."

She nodded slightly and looked up to her servants. "I've been doing accounts for a while, I think I can take a short break. Leave us, and send someone to refresh my tea and bring some for Agasha Hikari." The servants nodded and shuffled off as Agasha Hama turned to the shugenja, holding out a hand. "I trust your time with Isawa Toichi went well?"

Hikari handed it over, before replying, "Ah... yes." A small pause, then, "He does not know the elements, but he acts like he could. A good example of how the elements connect in so many strange ways."

Agasha Hama smiled a touch before running her hands over the book. "Mmm. Yes." She then looked back to Hikari and gestured for the woman to take a seat as the tea came. Once the tea arrived and the servants had left again, she said, "What we have all learned recently has been very great, Hikari-san, but when everything is one, you must study both everything and the one, yes?"

Hikari took a sip of her tea and looked back at Agasha Hama. "You talk like an old monk, my Daimyo."

Hama laughed and arched an eyebrow at Hikari. "Agasha Hikari, you act like you do when we first met. If you are going to forget I am your Daimyo, you could at least call me by name."

Hikari frowned and replied, "I am trying to behave, Hama-sama." She glanced to the book, then back to Hama. "It's... much easier in the labs."

Hama chuckled faintly and said, "With your gifts, it's no wonder." Hikari glanced to her, smiled a little weakly, then took a sip of tea.

Hama waited a few moments, before sighing and replying, "Such a sad story, Hikari-san. Amongst the Dragon you would be a rare flower blooming in the crack of a mountain, soaking light from what nobody else can sense, but here... you are but one book buried in their great library, overlooked for those more familiar." She let out a small sigh, followed by a small smile at the younger woman. "Still, there are ways to make the new book catch the eye, yes?"

Hikari nodded back quickly before downcasting her eyes, picking at the waist of her robe. "Yes, Daimyo. I'll... try to gild myself properly."

A slight laugh came from the woman at the desk, before she held up the book and shook it at Hikari. "You have quite a bit of the Dragon in you. Looking everywhere but at the people around you, Hikari-san. So much like Chie..." she trailed off and sighed slightly, then put the book on the desk hard, causing Hikari to jump.

"Daimyo?" Hikari questioned.

Agasha Hama blinked once, glancing at the book, then rubbed her hands together. "Ah, yes. Well." A pause, then, "Is the book good?"

Hikari's eyes flicked down before she looked up, smiling a bit before replying, "It is poignant, Hama-sama."

The daimyo nodded slightly in reply, then stated, "It is important to balance our joys with sorrow. But our sorrows with joy, too. What we left behind... and what we gained."

Hikari's eyes flicked down again, before she murmured, "Yes, daimyo."

Hama chuckled softly and took a sip of tea, before saying, "There is a new Topaz Tournament this year, for those reaching Gempukku. I plan, if possible, to make you go."

Hikari's eyes widened. "Hama-sama, are you... certain?"

Hama raised a finger and replied, "Hikari-san, I cannot have the samurai under my service doing nothing but staying cooped up in laboratories and libraries. Remember the trip to the coast I sent you on?"

Hikari nodded slowly. "Earth meets water, water meets fire, fire meets air, air meets earth."

Hama half-smiled and replied, "I know, Hikari-san. And you can learn from people as well. Even those who cannot speak with the spirits like you or I." The smile slipped away as she continued, "I expect you to live up to the promise that put us together briefly as children, Hikari-san, if I must have you dragged there to do so. The forge is not the only difficult thing you will master in your life."

Hikari's cheeks flushed red as she looked down and murmured into her cup, "Yes, Hama-sama."

Agasha Hama clucked her tongue. "Come now, you can say it to my face, Agasha Hikari."

Agasha Hikari swallowed, then looked to Agasha Hama's eyes and replied, slowly, "I... appreciate the opportunity to learn, my Daimyo."

A thin smile crossed Agasha Hama's lips. "Better, Hikari-san."