The sky was crimson and gold as the last light of Lord Sun was fading into the horizon at Toshi Ranbo. Gardeners carefully tended to their flowering charges as a pair of nightingales serenaded them from one of the blossoming peach trees. The gentle hum of a hive of honey bees could be heard if one listened, hidden off in their corner where they were least likely to be disturbed. Occasionally, a fish would splash in the pond, and the crane would glance with seeming irritation that direction as if the sound disturbed his napping.
Paused in a covered walkway, between two wings of the Imperial Palace overlooking the garden, a young woman stood entranced by the view. The sky reflected in her dark eyes and set the highlights in her hair and the gold of her obi ablaze. From a doorway across the courtyard, a young man also admired the view...if not quite the same one she enjoyed. He smiled before turning back inside, only the briefest flash of gold from his hair marking his presence. Had she noticed, perhaps the fading light might have become brighter on her cheeks.
Tired as she was, Toshihime couldn't help but pause to take in the artistry taking place in the heavens. The past several days had been grueling since returning from Ashita-Mura. As if battling the unexpected attack by oni hadn't been bad enough, she had returned home to a seeming endless round of one training session after another. She felt like she hadn't slept in a month. With a sigh, she turned and resumed her walk, a faint frown wrinkling her forehead.
"I'm ready, I know I am..." she muttered, a bitter edge to her voice. Already the other two new members of the guard had been accepted for further training...why was she being held back?
"Yes, indeed you are," came a familiar voice from the doorway she was passing by, and Toshihime had to savagely clamp down on the urge to jump and reach for her sword.
From the interior shadows a tall man emerged, and the young woman bowed deeply. "Hisashi-sensei," she said with the utmost respect, hoping that she had concealed the embarrassment from her tone enough to escape notice, though she felt resentment stir. Can't I even relax when I'm finally allowed off duty?
Seppun Hisashi ran one hand through his short-cropped, graying hair. "It's alright, Toshihime-san, I didn't mean to startle you." She resisted the urge to sigh. "I know you're tired, but I'm afraid that there is one last duty I have for you this evening."
The samurai-ko snapped to attention with a crisp nod, aggravation giving her the needed boost in her lagging energy reserves. "Hai, sama."
Hisashi smiled wryly. "Follow me." He turned and went inside, Toshihime exactly three steps behind. The lines of weariness on her face did a good job of hiding her growing curiosity as they passed down the now-familiar corridors. Wait a minute...her annoyance vanished as they turned a corner and she realized where they were going. This is the way to Kobashi-tono's receiving chamber... Her thoughts raced, wondering what could cause her to be needed there now.
She'd been there dozens of times of course. While she was on duty, if the prince was taking audiences, her place was in the corner of the room behind his left shoulder. But she'd never been summoned there while off duty. It's another test...her thoughts turned darker again as the sound of their sandals beat a light staccato on the floor. I know that a samurai's duty never ends, but can't I be allowed to sleep on occas...
The door opened, and her thoughts came to a crashing halt as her heart leapt into her throat and she came dangerously close to stumbling. She did, though, come to an abrupt stop and quickly folded into a kneeling bow when she realized who was there.
After bowing as well, Hisashi crossed the room to stand beside the chair which
held pride of place in the chamber. Carved with the flowing images of lions with
gold gilt manes and bright sapphires for eyes, the majesty of the chair was
overshadowed by the presence of the man sitting in it. The lamp light, a poor
substitute for Lord Sun, nevertheless gave his hair a warm, golden glow.
"Rise, and approach," he commanded in a soft voice which carried clearly to all
corners of the room.
Feeling numb with surprise and fear, Toshihime stood and took the five steps into the room needed to reach the petitioner's position. Not even those demons spawned in Jigoku had inspired such terror as she felt now, her gaze traveling from prince, to Seppun Hisashi the Guard Captain and her sensei, and finally to the man to Kobashi's right.
Seppun Toshiaki looked down at his daughter with an impassive, unreadable expression, and Toshihime swallowed as she looked quickly away, her gaze focusing on the prince's feet. Her mind raced frantically as she tried to figure out what she had done wrong, and what was about to become of her. Oh, to be reprimanded in front of Kobashi...
<Oh, shut up you stupid girl!> snapped a familiar and irritating voice at her ear. <Unlike that oni you fought, they're not going to eat you!> The samurai-ko's eyes darted to the side and back quickly, but her shoulders straightened slightly. Toshiaki glanced across at Hisashi and nodded.
Hisashi's fatherly attitude had dropped away the moment he stepped into the audience chamber, and he bore the full weight of his station as he stepped forward.
"Seppun Toshihime, tales of your glorious deeds have reached the ears of the Golden Prince, Toturi Kobashi. Indeed, they have been reaching his ears for some time now. The glory which you bring to your's and your family's name, and the honor with which you comport yourself, have started being talked about across the Empire."
Toshihime's eyes flew up, looking rather wide-eyed at first Captain, who allowed just the barest hint of a smile to tease at the corner of his lips, then to father, whose approving nod made a flush of pride swell in her breast. She hesitated before lifting her gaze to the prince himself, and felt her cheeks growing warm as she met his gaze for the briefest moment, then found reason to find his feet most interesting again.
"I merely did my duty as a samurai, sama..." she began, her tone bordering on blatant self deprecation. Kobashi cleared is throat, and Toshihime froze, not even breathing.
"You are no normal samurai, Toshihime-san," he said quietly into the silence. A shiver raced up the young woman's spine hearing him say her name, though her gaze remained firmly fixed on his feet. "There are few samurai in the Empire who can claim the renown you have earned, and fewer still who have done so while still so young."
Toshihime winced slightly. The last thing she wanted was for him to look on her as a child! But Kobashi continued.
"In recognition of your achievement, I would give you a gift," he said, and the subtle rustling of flesh against silk drew her eyes slowly up as the prince's hands unfolded from his lap to hold something before him.
The lamplight caught and gleamed on the little object which hung from a simple cord of black silk. As it slowly stopped swaying, Toshihime could make out what it was - a little golden lion, with two tiny sapphires eyes. She swallowed against the lump which formed in her throat as she risked looking up at Kobashi again, trying to find the right words to make her refusals and failing miserably.
As if he had read her thoughts, the prince shook his head with a little smile. "Refusals are not necessary here, Toshihime-san," his tone amused but firm, brooking no argument.
Toshihime nodded as she swallowed again, wishing her mouth didn't feel so dry. "As you wish, Kobashi-sama," she said with another bow deep enough for her forehead to brush the floor. "I and my line will treasure this gift until the end of time."
Silk rustled again, and Toshihime kept her head down and eyes tightly closed as one of the three men approached. She could feel his steps through the wood under her hands and knees, but knew she didn't dare look up to see which man it was. If it was Kobashi himself... She felt the brush of silk against her throat, and then the occasional light touch of a finger against the back of her neck as the cord was knotted. Blood pounded in her ears so loud she was sure that it echoed in the room, and every breath seemed to last an eternity.
Finally he stepped back, and only once the room had gone silent again did she dare raise her head. The weight of the little lion pulled at her neck, uncomfortable to one who until now had never worn such adornment. She watched as Kobashi turned to Hisashi.
"I believe there was another matter to be discussed, Hisashi-san?" he said, partly question and partly statement. The older man nodded, and with a wave of his hand motioned for Toshihime to rise.
"I'm sure you recall the loss several months ago of a member of this guard, Otomo Kai," not making it really a question at all, but she nodded anyway. Hisashi went on. "Kai-san was one of our magistrates, and his loss has been felt greatly. It is the Golden Prince's will that an imperial magistrate serve in this guard, and I believe that we have an excellent candidate for such training in you, Toshihime-san." The smile teased again at a corner of his lips. "As you said earlier, you are ready."
The prince nodded. "Especially one who has demonstrated her understanding of...discretion...or so my brother Hizatoru tells me."
Toshihime started to feel her cheeks warm again, and pulled herself up into as tight and formally rigid a pose as she possibly could. One eyebrow raised slightly on Toshiaki's face as he glanced across the dais at his friend. Maybe this is as much a surprise to father as it is to me...she wondered, even as her lips were beginning to move on their own.
"I would be honored to undertake such training, Hisashi-sama," she responded, bowing with precise, military precision. He nodded.
"The Imperial Herald, Miya Shikan-sama, has called for a tournament a week hence to start choosing his new Sapphire Magistrates. He has asked for representatives from the Imperial families to attend, so you are released from duties here and will depart for Shiro Miya in two days. When you return, your training will begin. Do you have any questions?"
The samurai-ko shook her head, braids bouncing on her shoulders. "Iie, sama."
Kobashi nodded as he stood, looking satisfied. "Then you are dismissed, Toshihime-san. Go with our blessing." The young woman bowed and took three steps backwards while remaining bent. She straightened and, as she turned to leave, heard the prince's quiet voice as he turned to her father. "Ahh, Toshiaki-san. If you have a moment, there is a matter I'd like to discuss with..."
The door closed behind her before she could hear more. For a few moments, she stood alone in the uncomfortable emptiness of the hallway, her curiosity holding her in place. Then, the bright sound of the bird's song drifted in through an open window from the garden, and Toshihime blinked and set off down the corridor to finish her interrupted walk back to her rooms.
Later...yes, later perhaps she would find out what the prince had wanted to speak with her father about. But right now she had packing and planning to do. Her fingers reached up and stroked the warm gold hanging in the hollow of her throat, and she smiled.
* * * * * * * * *
Toshihime was trying to keep her shoulders from slumping in defeat as she entered the dojo where Seppun Hisashi stood waiting for her. She had given her all at Shiro Miya, but in the end it hadn't been good enough. Even though she couldn't say that the end result had disappointed her, for at least a noble warrior of the Lion had claimed the victory in the end, she still felt like she had let everyone down. The golden lion at her throat felt like it was dragging her down.
She removed her sandals and swords before stepping up onto the tatami and kneeling. Hisashi looked down on his young student curiously before clearing his throat. "I hear you did well at the tournament, Toshihime-san. Tell me your account of it."
Toshihime tried not to sigh. It's not enough that I failed...I have to tell him about it, too? But she nodded. "I was the only member of the Seppun in attendance, though Otomo Rei, Otomo Sukishi, and Otomo Torakage also represented the Imperial families. The first of Shikan-sama's tests was one of poetry, which I regret I am only passably skilled with. While my haiku was the best I have ever presented, it paled in comparison to many of the others offered. After this, he announced a contest of debate, in which I was asked to prove the merit of a hero of the past of my choosing over the hero of my opponent's choosing. I faced a Tamori who argued well for the Kami Shiba, but convinced him of the superiority of Toturi II, Tsudao-tono. Third we were asked to compose an essay on the subject of Law, and again I defeated my opponent."
She took a deep breath and steeled herself to continue. "Finally, Shikan-sama declared that the competition would end with a melee tournament, allowing any weapon or lack thereof as long as it was not a bow. In the first round I faced Usagi Colt, who I have had the pleasure of working with several times in the past. I think only the blessings of the Fortunes on me that day allowed me to defeat him, and I can think of few other samurai who I wouldn't hesitate to have at my back in need. My next opponent was a Sparrow of some skill as well, though again I defeated him without being touched. But in the third round I faced a Bayushi who I could not defeat, and so ended the tournament for me. In the end, Akodo Takehiro emerged victorious after his final match with a Dragon which was quite a sight to behold. I am only sorry that I could not live up to what was expected of me."
Hisashi raised one eyebrow as he contemplated his next words. "Toshihime-san...tell me something. What is the duty of a Sapphire Magistrate?"
Toshihime looked up, her expression confused. "Their duty is to maintain peace in the Empire."
He nodded. "And who do they serve?" Wondering why she was being asked to answer the obvious with a feeling or irritation, she responded. "They serve the Sapphire Champion, of course."
Hisashi nodded again. "Of course they do. But whose interests do the Imperial magistrates serve?"
Slowly Toshihime's eyes widened as understanding dawned in their depths. "You didn't send me to Shiro Miya to win...you sent me to lose?"
The Captain allowed a faint, wry smile to touch his lips. "Now you begin to understand. The duty which you have accepted is not about glorifying yourself, or even about bringing glory to your station. By no means do I intend to say that you should stop bringing honor to your name, but always must you remember that you serve interests greater than your own, and sometimes that will mean failing or appearing to fail in order to achieve the desired success. If you had won the tournament, you would not receive this training, because you would be bound into service which could conflict with your duties to the Imperial families. Now..."
He gestured, and from a side doorway stepped a small woman whose presence made her stature insignificant. She bowed and stepped up beside Hisashi, looking down on the kneeling samurai-ko.
"This is Otomo Misato. She will be taking over your training until you have learned everything she has to teach you about your new duties. Once she decides you are ready, she will return you to me." He nodded at Misato, and then bowed to them both before turning and leaving. Toshihime looked up at the new woman, waiting.
"Well...get up and take your stance, girl," she commanded in a voice like a steel silken whisper. "Show me what I've been given to work with."