Endless Road - Part 2

Endless Road - Part 2

27th Day of the Month of the Hantei, IC 1138

Kitsuki Ketsumei was cursing his luck for the sixth time as the Spine of the World Mountains loomed above him.

Yes, he had been keeping track. After attending the funeral of the Ikoma family diamyo's nephew in Otosan Uchi, Ketsumei had received notice that he was report to Shiro Kaotsuki no Higashi in Crab lands to aid in some investigation there. Considering this would be his third visit to Crab lands in a few months, and with the events from Winter Court still fresh in his mind, the Dragon had swore silently for the first time.

That occurrence was quickly followed by the realization that he would be working under a Jade Magistrate from the Phoenix. Although he had never met this Isawa Zeppeki before, the fact that he was from the clan harboring the traitors that still dare claim the Agasha name was worthy of a second round of choice words.

Number three came as Ketsumei tried to arrange passage on a ship from the capital down to the Yasuki provinces. Even with the amount of goods that were moving south to start the rebuilding efforts after the recent tsunami, one would imagine there would be room for a lone samurai on one of the ships. Instead Ketsumei received a litany of reasons and apologies from captains, first mates, and/or other sailors about how they were overburdened to begin with. Yes, some of those words were excuses: even to someone not trained as a courtier it was clear a few of those men were hiding something, however Ketsumei had neither the time or authority to push the matter. Something else on his list of things to do at a later date.

Resigning himself to taking an overland route, Ketsumei latched onto a trade caravan heading to Shiro Matsu for the first leg of his journey. That was relatively easy: the travel papers provided to get him to Crab lands were impeccable and the Ikoma in charge of the caravan was likable enough. However one of the guards was a returned spirit of the Akodo family who spent hour upon hour complaining about how the Lion were being ruled by (of all things) a Kitsu. Since the rest of the caravan had heard his complaints before, he latched on to the newest set of ears in the group. And therefore Ketsumei found himself silently cursing again. Then there was a sudden rain squall that drenched the entire party to the core just a few hours before their arrival at the Lion castle. Considering how long it took Ketsumei to dry out his clothes after sloshing through that cavern in Crane lands two months earlier, the Dragon found foul words in his mouth for the fifth time.

What prompted the latest round of cursing was the Dragon's realization that he would have to travel through Beiden Pass alone and on foot. Despite his recent elevation to the station of diplomat, his daimyo hadn't provided him with either a yojimbo or a horse yet. Knowing it couldn't be helped, Ketsumei continued his trek southward, the unspoken words in his mouth turning to ash.

A month earlier the Dragon was among a group of samurai tasked by the Emerald Magistrate Doji Oharu to investigate several ships that had disappeared along the coast of southern Crane lands. In the process the group stumbled across the knowledge that the piracy was just one piece of a larger puzzle.

Some of those involved decided that damage control was a necessary precaution. They figured that Oharu was easy enough to control: the man had his vices and was more corrupt than most that wore a Emerald sash. However the possibility that a family as dedicated to the truth as the Kitsuki was could look into the matter further was a troubling concern. Therefore it was decided that Kitsuki Ketsumei needed to die before he got involved any further, and in such a way that no one would look past the obvious solution.

Travelers got waylaid by bandits all the time, especially when they travel alone. Although predicting where any one samurai would be at any one given time could be difficult, the geography of Rokugan made things easier. If one wanted to get from somewhere in the northern Empire (like Otosan Uchi) to the southern half (say in Crab lands), travelers only had two real options: by boat along the coast or through the natural bottleneck that was Beiden Pass. Deny a person one route, and suddenly you would reasonably know where they had to be.

It all made sense, and yet Tsuruchi Renraku still hated it.

As he looked down into the pass ignoring the men he had gathered with him, Renraku silently cursed the choices that put him in this position. An idealistic and spoiled youth, the bushi's father was one of the first to swear fealty to Tsuruchi's new Wasp Clan. After his father was murdered a few years ago, Renraku appealed to his lord for the right to enact justice against the foe responsible. However he was stymied, his daimyo at the time not wanting a reopening of the blood feud with the Lion to hamper the family's integration within the Mantis Clan. So for the first time in his life Renraku was denied that which he wanted.

Yoritomo Ajiwau had picked up on Renraku's discontent and preyed upon it. "Is this how your family's loyalty is rewarded?" he asked. "Your father was a good man, serving faithfully for years. Now he is dead, and his lord... your lord... does nothing to avenge his murder. But we can, and will." In his anger, Renraku never considered who "we" were, and he didn't care. A few weeks later, the Lion was dead: a stain upon the floor in some sake house in Scorpion lands. Renraku had the justice he wanted, all while ignoring how empty it made him feel inside.

His loyalty had been bought not with koku, but with blood. And he repaid it with blood: Renraku became an enforcer, using his skills to eliminate those that his new masters deemed as dangerous. While some were well-deserving of an ignominious death, others were honorable samurai that simply knew too much. In a previous life, Renraku would of been proud to consider some of those a friend. Still, they were a threat to those that had earned his loyalty.

As he continued to gaze downward, Renraku felt something bump into his shoulder. He whipped his head around and snarled at the man there. "Yes, I heard you the first two times Oki. That is the target." His eyes hardened as he stared at the thug he hired for this task. "Touch me again, and your fate will be the same as his."

The bandit stumbled backward, fear evident on his scarred face. Then he nodded and gathered the others while Renraku watched.

Ketsumei was in trouble and he knew. There was someone, probably multiple someones, in the rocks above and ahead of him and their intentions were not honorable. The Dragon noticed someone ducking down behind the rocks ahead of him. Bandits: that was the first thought to cross his mind. Although he could go back the way me came, Ketsumei knew he couldn't outrun any attackers over a long distance. He forestalled a fresh round of curse words, instead focusing on surviving the next few minutes.

"I know you are there," Ketsumei called out, his voice echoing off the rocky walls. "I have somewhere to be, so can we get this over with?"

Silence was the only immediate reply, but he didn't give into the sin of Doubt. Ketsumei knew they were there, and his feeling was vindicated then three men stepped out from the rocks about a hundred feet ahead of him.

"Told you to keep your head down," the man in the center sneered at one of his compatriots before turning to look at the courtier. "The only place you are heading is to meet your ancestors," the scarred man said as he pulled a nagamaki from his back.

Fear exploded in Ketsumei's gut. There was no pretense. No preamble. These men were not thieves: they were here to kill him. But why?

Live in the moment. Consideration for the future is worthless if it gets you killed today. The words from his martial instructor rang in the Dragon's ears. He remembered scoffing at the idea that he would need such training back then. But in the last year he has been thrust into more than one combat situation, and he would need to recall every lesson to survive another one.

Sneering, the leader pointed his weapon at Ketsumei. "You boys needed some exercise anyway. Get him." The men on either side of him brandished their weapons as they advanced.

Drawing his wakizashi, Ketsumei shifted into a defensive posture while he analyzed his assailants. All three wielded polearms, giving them the additional advantage of reach. However they also appeared overconfident, so they could overextend their strikes and leave themselves open to counterattack... at least Ketsumei hoped so.

You are of the Air, his sensei had stated once. You cannot shatter the mountain, so you must move around it and wear it down. Watch where it will strike and be someplace else. The foe on the left was a little faster, so it was his polearm that thrust outward first. Ketsumei side-stepped slightly allowing the metal end to pass to his right, then he shifted back the other way as the other weapon bracketed his position. The Dragon's ears picked up the sound of laughter from the leader. "Good show boys, make him dance."

Ketsumei dodged another set of attacks while gauging his foes, waiting for an opening. After another pair of strikes missed, the scarred man watching growled with impatience. "Play time is over. We're not getting paid not by the hour after all."

The Kitsuki knew that once the leader got involved he was in trouble, especially against two other opponents. Thankfully the scarred man's

comment gave his an opening. The slower of the two attackers tried a downward slash, which the courtier allowed to crash onto the rocky ground at his feet. Ketsumei drove his wakizashi into the attacker's side, drawing blood and a howl of pain from the man. It wasn't a fatal wound, but it should slow him down some.

As he withdrew the blade from the man, Ketsumei felt pain across his own hip: in hitting the second man he left his defenses open to an attack from the first. The thrust cut through his kimono and into his skin. Acting out of instinct, not to mention self-preservation, the Dragon jerked his blade in a wild arc that slashed across the first man's chest. He stepped backward in surprise as his hand covered the wound.

"Enough," Oki bellowed. "You two are worthless. I'll finish him myself." The scarred man rushed forward, his nagimaki sweeping from right to left. Ketsumei barely got his wakizashi up in time to intercept the blow, but the impact jarred the sword out of his hands and onto the ground. Oki followed up with a savage kick to Ketsumei's stomach, causing the courtier to double over in pain. For good measure, Oki slapped the wooden shaft across the Dragon's back, driving Ketsumei to his knees.

The scarred man sneered down at Ketsumei, his polearm raised to end matters once and for all. "Any last prayers to Jizo?"

The Dragon locked eyes with his murderer, summoning his last ounce of courage as he raised his voice to the Heavens. "My prayers go to Osano-Wo..."

"... to ensure that justice is done."

Renraku had been watching the skirmish from his place in the rocks. He was surprised that the courtier had lasted as long as he did, but it had been only a matter of time. Even now at the end, the Kitsuki was defiant. He was a worthy samurai indeed.

The Kitsuki's last words froze Reraku's heart. That was how this had all started: Renraku seeking justice for his murdered father. Yes that murder had avenged, but what was the result?

Kitsuki Ketsumei had been deemed to be dangerous. Another good samurai doing no more than his duty.

There was no justice in this. Only more murder. And the Tsuruchi finally realized that he had not just been paying in blood.

The price was also his soul.

Without thought Renraku lifted his yumi and fired.

Resolved to face his death with his eyes open, Ketsumei saw the arrow impact into the scarred man's forehead. As the larger man fell backward from the impact, the Dragon moved quickly into action. Scrambling over to where his wakizashi laid Ketsumei heard more arrows whiz through the air. By the time the Dragon got to his feet it was all over.

Ketsumei looked around in confusion. Then the sound of another arrow caused him to raise his guard. This arrow impacted a few feet in front of the Dragon, with a scroll tied around it. Cautiously, he retrieved the projectile and read the scroll.

Finish your business in Crab lands, then meet me in Shaiga. Your questions will be answered.

The Dragon looked up to the rocks from where the arrow must of been launched but saw nothing. Still, Ketsumei nodded in that direction before turning southward. One riddle solved, only to produce more. Still, at least he knew where the road would lead next...