Needs
8 February 2006
by Everett Johnson

A favor. What would he ask? Nothing was coming to mind. Tetsujin sat quietly and listened as his friend Ridachi asked his. Training and fosterage for his son. A worthy request, one that showed the importance of his family to Ridachi. It was too bad there were no similar requests that Tetsujin could make. His brothers' sons were already in training at a Mirumoto dojo, and his sister was still without child. Tetsujin, of course, had no immediate family of his own that he could make a similar request for.

Tetsujin's mind wandered to material rewards, but dismissed them almost immediately. There was nothing of the sort that he needed that he didn't already have, or couldn't easily obtain without much trouble. He turned his attention back to the others. Kakita Katai had just finished making his request. A guaranteed position in the Kenshinzen school. Again, a good boon. Tetsujin couldn't think of any similar exclusive training schools that he desired to enter, and he already had a promised sensei for the kata series he was learning.

Still nothing came to mind. It seemed Isawa Takako-san was waiting for all others to complete their requests before she made hers. If only he could, he would speak up, but his mind was still empty. She proceeded with her request. Tetsujin sat straighter as the words came forth. Restoration of Seppun Nikana's family honor? Tetsujin hadn't been certain there was any such stain on Nikana's past, although he had begun to suspect something. A nearly selfless request, and one Tetsujin was certain would have never been made by Nikana himself. Tetsujin turned his thoughts back again to his family. His father would never accept any such gift, if there were anything of a similar magnitude Tetsujin could request. His pride and his memory of the debt to the Isawa would never allow it. And his eldest brother was too ... well, even worse than his father in that respect, and arrogant as well.

Isawa Takako's request did, however, bring to mind the one thing Tetsujin desired that he did not have. His father's blessing to wed Sarusou-chan. However, requesting Doji Kurohito-sama's intervention in that matter could only bring disaster. Hyosuke-sama would resent such intrusion into his family's affairs to such a degree that it could only serve to widen the breach between them beyond any possibility of mending. That was the one request Tetsujin could never make. There was new hope in the matter anyway, as Sarusou had finally come to realize the feelings were present in her as well, and had visited her parents to request their voice be added to his own in petitioning his father. And Tetsujin continued to do his best to convince his father that there was worth in his youngest son.

Tetsujin realized that it had grown quiet again and that everybody was looking to him to see what his request would be. He gave one final review of the possibilities, and then bowed. "M-my apologies, Doji Kurohito-sama, but I f-find that I have everything I n-need at this time. If I m-may, I would ask to delay m-my favor until I have a n-need that cannot be otherwise m-met. I v-vow that I will ask n-nothing that is greater th-than has already been asked."