THE DUEL
The castle town of Shiro Shiba was far more vacant than usual this day. Going on what they knew about Crane clan rumors, which was little. They were under the impression because beauty and art was valued by the Crane. They began looking for a shop that would handle kimonos and other fabric based artistry. It took a bit of time before they came across the Nasu Silk & Satin, and its proprietor: Nasu Meiko san.
Asahi sama said that he was shopping for a custom kimono for a member of the Dragon and Crane clans. There was some back and forth about the custom specifics for each kimono before Meiko san asked if these were for the duel. The notion of a duel quickly becomes gossip in many castle towns. Why the duel was happening became as important as sand in a storm. What became important was that a Dragon was facing off against a Crane! The rivalry went back to the near founding of each clan as to whom could produce the better sword saint or kensai if you speak High Rokugani.
Meiko san became far more talkative about options, needing a rush project, and the Kakita duelist Donoha sama would be facing. Eventually Asahi sama and Gunba san found out the name because that Crane did frequent this shop while visiting their distant relative, Asako Takumi sama. Kakita Ozaki was a Crane duelist of the same rank as Donoha sama, and they possessed one of the famous Kakita blades. Weapons only given to proven warriors of excellence.
During this revelation of information Tamaki san headed off to the Temple of Eternal Flame once more to meditate. When they passed the “Slaughter on the Hill” they noticed the bodies had all been removed at this point. Upon reaching the Temple of the Eternal Flame they found it cleaned but devoid of anybody upon the grounds. They set about creating a vison quest into the Void. In order to get answers about the maladies. They did not return to the caravan until dinner time when the others made it back.
Back at the Nasu Silk & Satin, Meiko san and the Lion were discussing how payment would be arranged when he let slip he was Donoha’s cousin. Meiko san latched onto the chance of a lifetime. She explained she would heavily discount Donoha sama’s kimono for a favor. When the Lion queried what that might be she produced a large scroll-based copy of “In Defense of Honor” from a chest.
“If he could sign this copy, you will have your discount and they will be ready for the duel tomorrow.” The Lion took possession of the copy of Matsu Shànzi san’s work. The two left the store and began to head back to the caravan. Thinking their ailment had abated, Asahi sama offered to make yakisoba for dinner. Everyone was excited and when done both the Unicorn – Gunba san and the Phoenix – Tamaki san both loved the dish. Even Donoha seem to enjoy it while Asahi still had the taste of ash in his mouth.
After dinner Tamaki san went to check in on Agasha Re and update her about the proceedings. While Asahi sama asked his cousin about what he had been up to. Since he had been practicing with Mittsu Tamashi upon their return. He mentioned working on a haiku all day and then read it from the scroll he finalized it upon.
Steel whispers its song,
Clash and spark, a breath escapes,
One falls, silence reigns.
At which point his cousin mentioned running into a fan of “In Defense of Honor” and would like them to sign their copy. Smiling and shaking his head at how popular Shànzi san’s work had become. When his cousin handed him the scroll he noticed this copy had a reprint of the picture he had drawn for her. Whomever made the woodblock of his painting was a skilled artisan. He asked his cousin about this fan and what they did for a living. When the Lion mentioned they were a skilled artisan with textiles he became inspired not just to sign it. He took a few more minutes to write a haiku for them before handing it back to his cousin.
Needle dances light,
Fabric dreams take shape and form,
A world, thread by thread.
9th of Doji in Rokugan’s year 1123 (Month of the Goat {OOC: August}) – In the morning their was a check on the Dragon’s and Lion’s jade. None of it had dulled or turned black. Asahi sama learned that sticking to a single ingrediant helped to make things go down easier and stay down. Eating ashes or food that tastes that way is horrible and not recommended. Gunba san displayed their magic by making a bland but nutritious meal. It still tasted like ashes, just less than the other food.
Around mid morning both Gunba san and Asahi sama told the Dragon they were headed back into town to deliver the signed book to Meiko san at Nasu Silk & Satin. While they were gone Donoha sama sent a missive to Matsu Shànzi san making sure they knew about the duel and were invited to witness their first official duel. Following that they practiced all day long with the brush and the sword. Drawing a singular character over and over with brush and blade. The character for peace: 平 or “hei” in High Rokugani.
When the setting had reached the horizon Donoha had finished bathing. He dressed in his kimono presented to him by Akodo Tozawa sama of Shiro Akodo. The golden landscape stitched into the green was still resplendent months later with all the travel.
His group was led to the duel, held within a courtyard inside Shiro Shiba’s castle proper. All of the Emerald ambassadors were seated on one side with Asako Takumi position in the center next to Shiba Sono sama. Directly across from the ambassadors were all the spectators that had come to witness a sanctioned duel. Even the ambassadors had to acknowledge that one of the four champions involved in lifting curses. Being a part of a duel was hard pressed to be kept a secret. In the far side from their entrance was three samurai he’d met before. Yasuki Minoru san of the Crab clan, and both Akodo Maki san and Mastu Mayumi san of the Lion clan. Kneeling in the center of the courtyard was his opponent, Kakita Ozaki sama.
Donoha sama joined them in the center of the courtyard as the rules of the duel were read aloud. It was to be to first blood, neither opponent was allowed to die. Killing your opponent would result in the other’s death. The reason for the duel was not disclosed since the public was present. Ozaki sama stood and bowed to the Dragon, which Donoha sama returned the bow to the Crane. While he was not feeling well, and fully aware this was a professional duelist across from him. He had promised his daimyo he would have to win, hs honor was most deffinately on the line. However, he was a direct descendant of Agasha Kitsuki, and not pursuing the truth would stain his family and his ancestor.
It was also not lost on him that his sister, Kitsuki Hoshikiba, would hear of this duel’s outcome. In an agreement his father’s daimyo almost failed to honor, his sister ended up being sent to study at the Kakita school of swordsmanship and a Crane child was sent to the Mirumoto school to study. Now he was sent to test himself against one of the most feared practitioners of the sword.
They bowed to one another and took the center stance. Eyes locked on each other and assessing their opponent. While Takumi sama grinned from the sideline, sure of the Dragon’s defeat by the Crane wielding a Kakita blade. Hands went to the grips of their katana as the duel shifted to focusing on which one of them could draw faster. Time slowed to a crawl as everyone waited with held breath. Donoha sama changed his grip to a reverse grip from the standard one. Then in the span of a second it happened!
FWOOSH!
Mittsu Tamashi – 三つ魂 the blade of Three Souls’ blackened steel with the copper hamon flashed in the setting sun! Very much like the talon of a dragon he struck Kakita Ozaki sama’s right hand holding their blade’s tsuka with just the kissaki tip. There were five hyper quick flicks of his wrist holding Mittsu Tamashi. All of this happened in the span of Kakita sama only getting their blade a tenth of a shaku out of their saya!
By the time it was halfway out he was returning Mittsu Tamashi to be readied for returning to its saya! Kakita Ozaki sama’s face looked crestfallen. Returning their blade and holding up their right hand to show the streak of crimson flowing from the cut on the back her right hand! The three souls within the sword: Shiba Tsukasa, Hida Nagahide, and Akodo Chun were in harmony with that swing. Among the ambassadors Asako Takumi sama was no longer smiling. The Dragon’s opponent walked to the edge of the courtyard next to the Crab and two Lion samurai. Donoha sama turned to the Emerald ambassadors and bowed to them all, then bowed to his sword, and finally kneeled and laid his sword in front of himself.
The gathered crowd began to cheer at such a masterful display of “to first blood” in a duel. While it was likely faster than their eyes could catch. Nothing would stop the sharing tales of the deed with the phrase – Beware the Dragon’s Claw or Ryū no Kagi Tsume (竜の鉤爪) in High Rokugani. Donoha gained his first nickname that day – 竜 爪 or Ryū Tsume, the Dragon’s Claw.
Shiba Sono sama made their way out to the kneeling Dragon, “It pleases me that you were able to keep your honor this day. Now your words, testimony, witnesses, and evidence can be weighed on equal footing as the accused. Thank you for giving us the path forward to avenge this crime.” With that Shiba Sono bowed to Donoha from the waist in front of all to see. The Dragon returned the grand gesture by bowing and touching his forehead to the floor. As this display of honor was happening two Phoenix bushi showed up on either side of Asako Takumi and escorted him away.
After the Phoenix ambassador returned to the others Donoha wiped Mittsu Tamashi down and return it to its saya. His cousin joined him in the center of the courtyard with Tamaki san and Gunba san each holding a black lacquered box. Asahi sama requested Kakita Ozaki sama join them, to which they did so somewhat reluctantly. Asahi sama took the box from Gunba san and presented it as a gift for participating in the duel. The contents of which were a light blue fading down into a light gray. A silk screened dragon encircled the shoulder above a crane just above where the obi sash would sit. Included from Gunba san was a copy of “In Defense of Honor” so they could appreciate the art and the information about their opponent. Both the Lion and the Crane went through the customary three rejections of the gift and three offerings before Kakita Ozaki sama accepted it and then bowed before leaving. They waited only long enough to be returned bows by all present.
Next, Asahi sama presented the box Tamaki san held to his cousin. He explained this was a kimono designed to replicate the blade of Mittsu Tamashi. Donoha opened the box and beheld a work of art. A black kimono with a copper obi and a coppery wavy line separating the wave designs below that. Meiko san at Nasu Silk & Satin had outdone themselves and Donoha returned it to the box saying he would treasure wearing it. It would be what he wore tomorrow.
