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| Character | Seppun Nikana, Isawa Takako, and Mirumoto Tetsujin | |
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Editor's Note: This series of linked travelogues are presented together for clarity and ease of reading.
Author's Note: This was a travelogue writen by O'donna and Nate but it was Ashley who gave me the title (she is standing over my shoulder making sure she gets credit). This is O'donna's Traveloegue. Nate will be writing one on his own.
"Nikana-san, are you well?" Takako asked as she sat up from her sleeping mat.
"Hai, Takako-san. I am sorry that I woke you. Please go back to sleep," Nikana said as he rose into a kneeling position. "I will be fine, my meditation wasn't adequate to help me sleep tonight. Please do not worry yourself, go back to sleep."
Takako rose from her mat and quietly walked over to where Nikana was kneeling, and then she knelt before him. "Nikana-san, please don't lie to me. I know you, and I know what happens to you when you sleep at night. What did the Emperor have to say tonight?"
"Takako-san, I would never lie to you... It's just... He spoke of my grandfather. How his heart was true and honor intact before he faced festering darkness. My grandfather who had withstood other foes faltered before the forces of Fu-Leng and they believe the same weakness lives on in me... that while to some my honor is, at the moment, above reproach I will not withstand the evil we face. They said my heart would fail me when confronted with the minions of Fu-Leng just as my grandfather."
"Nikana-san, I know he is your ancestor and the Emperor but I think he is wrong." Takako raised her hand and delicately put her palm on the side of his face. "Nikana, look at me. Look at me." Nikana brought up his gaze to meet hers. "Nikana, you are one of the most honorable men and loyal samurai I have ever met. You have protected men that you personally didn't trust but you did it anyway because you had been told to. You have watched out for me, even though it meant that you, yourself, had to go without rest. If that isn't honor and loyalty, then I don't know what is, and to say that your actions will change when you are faced by Fu-Leng servants is foolishness." Takako dropped her hand from Nikana's face and rested it on his hand, which was lying on his lap. "Nikana please believe me when I tell you that I have trusted no other man more than I trust you, except for Hanshiro-sama." Takako raised herself in the kneeling position until she was level with Nikana's face. "Nikana, you are my friend and very dear to me. I will argue with anyone who says that you are not worthy of that, whether it be my Aunt or the Ancestors who visit you in your dreams. You are a wonderful man." With those words, Takako leaned forward and lightly kissed Nikana. She rose from her kneeling position and walked back over to her sleeping mat and lay back down, and she did all of this before Nikana could completely take in what she had done. "Go back to sleep now Nikana and have a good dream for a change." Takako laid her head down and went back to sleep.
"Good m-morning, Takako-san," Tetsujin said as he walked up behind her in the garden. "You're up early. M-may I sit, or am I disturbing your m-meditation?"
Takako smiled at the Dragon. "You may sit down. I have been up for several hours so that I could meditate as the sun was rising. I am now just sitting here, enjoying the beauty of this garden and waiting to hear a bird sing."
Tetsujin sat down and listened for a minute. "S-strange, I hear n-no birds. Wh-why do you w-wait for a bird to s-sing, if you don't m-mind the question?"
"I don't mind. I am waiting because it is how I know that Hanshiro-sama, my late husband, is happy for me, and that he accepts what I told him this morning. I need to know that he is not irritated with the decision that I have made this morning after my meditation. I worry that he is angry, and that is why the birds are not singing. Shortly before Hanshiro-sama died, he told me that he would communicate with me through the singing of birds, and I have always believed this. I don't think he is happy about my decision."
"Takako-san, wh-what decision do you s-speak of?" Tetsujin asked, concern showing on his face.
"It's nothing bad, Tetsujin-san, nothing for you to worry about, and I don't mind telling you, because you are my friend and I know you won't judge me wrongly. I have decided that my period of mourning is over, and I am going to move on with my life. It has been almost two years since his death, and I thought he would want me to move on and be happy. I will always love him, but I cannot be expected to never let anyone into my heart. My heart is big enough to love more than just once in my lifetime. If something were to happen to your beloved, don't you think she would want you to love again? I hope you never have to go through the pain of losing the one you love, but would she want you to be happy again if it were possible?"
Tetsujin thought for a while before speaking. Perhaps if he said the right thing, a small portion of his debt to Takako-sama, and her family, might be repaid. "I w-wouldn't presume to s-speak for her, but I can s-say that I only w-wish for her happiness. If that m-means she finds it w-with somebody else, I w-would be content, even though sad for m-myself." Tetsujin though about what he'd observed since Otosan Uchi. "Have y-you found another to l-love, then?"
"I have maybe found the opportunity to move on, and to maybe love and be loved again. I brought my feelings to Hanshiro-sama this morning and I thought he would be happy for me." Takako rose from her seat and walked over to a beautiful flower in full bloom. "I guess I was wrong. Maybe he doesn't want me to share my heart with another man. Tetsujin, I don't know what to do. I have already opened my heart without really realizing it until last night. I don't know if the man feels the same way, but I had to be honest with myself and with Hanshiro-sama, and that is why I rose early this morning. I wanted..." Takako stopped talking and touched the flower gently. "No. I need his blessing today or I will have to leave today and return to Phoenix land and cut off a friendship that is very dear to me. If I don't get an answer this morning, then I will do as he wishes because he is my beloved, even if it means I will be unhappy for the rest of my days." Takako looked up into the heavens. "Please make a bird sing, please." Takako started to cry and fell to her knees.
Tetsujin rose. He hadn't spoken well enough. Tetsujin walked over to where Takako knelt and cried, and put his hand on her head. "I'm s-sorry, my friend. I w-wish I could m-make them sing for you." With those words, he turned and quietly walked back into the castle. He truly wished he could make the birds sing for her. He wished he were as eloquent as his friend Ridachi. But he knew only the Kami could help her now.
After what seemed like an hour of crying, Takako rose from her knees and walked over to the bench. She took several deep, cleansing breaths and tried to clear her mind. She knew what had to be done. She would have to get permission to go back to Phoenix lands, and she would need to find someone to take her. She couldn't ask Nikana. It was going to be hard enough to say good-bye to him and explain why she was returning home. She couldn't then ask him to take her home. She knew that if she asked him he would do it, because he was an honorable man, but she would not put him through the pain of being around her when he knew she was leaving him. No, she couldn't do that to him. He was too important to her to ever hurt him that bad. Ridachi. Ridachi could find her someone to take her home.
So Takako stood up, wiped what tears were left off her face and started to walk back inside the castle. Just before she entered, she stopped and said, "I have been loyal to you, Hanshiro, in life and in death, and I will remain so even if it hurts me. How can you hate me when all I ever did was love you? Why do you want me to be unhappy and alone? I thought you loved me?" And with those last words she walked in the castle to pack up and leave.
"Do you h-hear that?" Tetsujin stopped Nikana as they walked through the marketplace.
"Hear what?" Nikana asked.
"Th-that bird-song. Wh-where is the bird?" Tetsujin asked. "Wh-where is it coming from?"
A little merchant lady looked at him quizzically, "It is coming from in here, Dragon-sama. It is coming from a bird my husband picked up when he was in Phoenix lands awhile back. He thought it might be magical. I haven't seen anything special about it, and it didn't even sing until today at sunrise. Strange bird woke me up at dawn and hasn't shut up since. Why? Would you like to buy it? I'll give you a good price."
Tetsujin smiled. Only the Kami...
Takako was nearly packed when she heard Nikana at the door of the room. She knew this was the time to tell Nikana that she was returning home. It broke her heart to do this, since it sounded like he was in a great mood. He was whistling like crazy. Nikana walked into the room and in his hands was a cage with a bird, which was the one singing, not Nikana. Tears came to Takako's eyes and Nikana looked very confused.
"Takako-san, are you okay? Tetsujin said you needed this bird. It's a bird from the Phoenix lands, is that important?" Nikana realized he was asking questions, and Tetsujin had told him not to. He handed the cage to Takako.
Takako took the bird and cried. "Thank you, Hanshiro-sama, thank you."
Nikana was even more confused now. Takako was hallucinating; she thought he was her dead husband. He sat down and started to worry about Takako, and then he realized her things were packed and ready to go. He knew he had to ask a question now, whatever Tetsujin had told him. "Takako-san, are you going someplace?"
Takako was still crying, but smiled and said, "Not anymore."
"Nikana-san, I know he is your ancestor and the Emperor, but I think he is wrong." Takako raised her hand and delicately put her palm on the side of his face. "Nikana, look at me. Look at me." Nikana brought up his gaze to meet hers. "Nikana, you are one of the most honorable men and loyal samurai I have ever met. You have protected men that you personally didn't trust but you did it anyway because you had been told to. You have watched out for me, even though it meant that you, yourself, had to go without rest. If that isn't honor and loyalty, then I don't know what is, and to say that your actions will change when you are faced by Fu-Leng's servants is foolishness." Takako dropped her hand from Nikana's face and rested it on his hand, which was lying on his lap. "Nikana please believe me when I tell you that I have trusted no other man more than I trust you, except for Hanshiro-sama." Takako raised herself in the kneeling position until she was level with Nikana's face. "Nikana, you are my friend and very dear to me. I will argue with anyone who says that you are not worthy of that, whether it be my Aunt or the Ancestors who visit you in your dreams. You are a wonderful man." With those words, Takako leaned forward and lightly kissed Nikana. She rose from her kneeling position and walked back over to her sleeping mat and lay back down, and she did all of this before Nikana could completely take in what she had done. "Go back to sleep now Nikana and have a good dream for a change." Takako laid her head down and went back to sleep.
'She gazed into my eyes – into my shame. And I saw warmth reflected back from her eyes.'
Nikana laid back down on his mat staring blankly at the ceiling, letting Takako's words echo in his mind. The words of the Hantei Emperors also arose in his mind, mingling with those of Takako – each of them becoming Nikana's in turn.
'You are one of the most honorable men and loyal samurai I have ever met...'
'You are nothing and disaster will follow you as it did your grandfather...'
'You have watched out for me... protected me and been a loyal friend...'
'Your grandfather had also proven honorable and worthy – before he faced the vileness of Fu Leng. Against that he fled and so will you in the coming days...'
'She trusts me more than any other man save Hanshiro-sama. She is no fool and I am not weak. I refuse to doubt the strength of my convictions...'
'You are a fool to trust yourself so blindly...'
'It is all I have – it is all I am,' Nikana thought, finding his own voice. 'The harsh tutelage of my ancestors will be tempered with the wise heart of Takako-sama and the sincerity of my own spirit. As the Emperors confront me I will confront the weakness they perceive. My path is clear – I only hope Takako will forgive me.'
The reverberations of the Hantei voice quieted leaving only the warm swell of Takako's voice.
Nikana made his way through the swarming crowds as he crossed the city. A number of merchants tried to ensnare his attention and appetites, but most seemed to notice the grim visage of his face and knew better than to try. 'I hope Takako doesn't miss me at morning meditation... well I guess if she missed me a little that wouldn't be too bad...' it was too late – Nikana had let his guard down for only a moment, but it was enough.
"A fine morning samurai-sama, I'm sure I could be of assistance to you. A man as upright and handsome as you must know someone who would find joy in one these fine items," began the street vendor, swinging his arm grandly to the cart behind him which displayed a multitude of jewelry.
The abrupt interruption and the vendor's manner halted Nikana in his tracks. "What...?"
"As I was saying, great samurai-sama..." continued the vendor from a low bow.
"Oh, I uh... don't have time for this," Nikana said, starting to move again.
"As you say samurai-sama but it would be a brief moment well spent..."
'It's no wonder Ridachi has such a keen way with words – growing up in this city, if you weren't, you'd be destitute,' thought Nikana as he regained his composure and continued on his way.
After some time he stood before a massive building with towering guards on either side of a large metal studded door. Well, the guards would overshadow most Rokugani but they had to look up slightly to meet Nikana's eyes.
'I wear the mon of the Seppun but my body speaks to my Hida ancestry', Nikana thought as he approached the guards.
"Seppun-sama it is good to see you have returned, however, the Kuni shugenja are not available at the moment."
"Just as well... Hiruma-san", Nikana replied taking a closer look at the guards mon. "I am the son of Hida Saburo and I seek an audience with your daimyo."
Nikana waited patiently in the sparse anteroom, his breathing rising and falling in the rhythm of meditation. 'I know in my heart I need to do this, but my heart is no longer solely my own – I hope Takako understands.'
"Nikana-san, Toson-sama will meet with you now."
Nikana followed his guide for several minutes before coming to a large square room.
Toson and Nikana bowed to one another.
"Please take a seat," Toson offered as he took his own seat. "I knew your father, Nikana-san. He died courageously at the Wall. I know you do not carry his name but I hope you honor his heritage," Toson probed, taking a sip of tea.
Nikana inhaled deeply. "My shame is well known among my Crab cousins."
Toson paused in his drinking surprised at Nikana's boldness.
Nikana continued, "I remember well all my heritage, Toson-sama, and I am no coward."
"Hmm," Toson put his cup down. "You certainly carry your father's directness. Have some tea and tell me why you've come here."
Nikana nodded and took the tea cup in front of him, drinking slowly. 'May Takako, the blossom of my heart, forgive me.'
"I ask that you make it known to my Hida cousins that when they deem me worthy I would join them on the Wall."
Nikana glanced at Tetsujin next to him and a wry smile crossed his lips. 'This journey has certainly been strange,' he thought, moving his new bird out of the way of a passerby. The bird chirped enthusiastically from his cage. 'Strange indeed. Had Takako-sama put Tetsujin up to this? When I awoke this morning I never would have thought I would be buying a bird, presenting it to Takako, but not being able to ask why.'
"Well Tetsujin-san, I thank you for your... cryptic advice. I'm going to head back to our quarters and visit with Takako."
Nikana wound his way through the city heading for the Scorpion stronghold, all the while his new friend was warbling excitedly. 'Strange how comforting the singing of this bird is... it reminds me of Takako-sama.'
Soon he arrived at Takako's room – the room where he now slept to assure her safety.
Knocking on the door frame and receiving leave to enter, Nikana walked in and 'WHHAA,' came the unbidden thought and jumble of feelings. Takako was crying. 'How had she heard so soon? Her Kami must have thought it important she know for some reason... but it could be months before I am summoned to the Wall – if ever,' thought Nikana as a look of confusion crossed his face. 'Maybe this bird will soothe her as it has me...'
"Takako-san, are you okay? Tetsujin said you needed this bird. It's a bird from the Phoenix lands, is that important?" Nikana realized he was asking questions, and Tetsujin had told him not to. He handed the cage to Takako.
Takako took the bird and cried. "Thank you, Hanshiro-sama, thank you."
Nikana was even more confused now. 'Did I hear her correctly... she thinks I am her late husband...?' He sat down and started to worry about Takako, and then he realized her things were packed and ready to go. 'She plans to leave... perhaps she doesn't know about my request... what is troubling her then? Tetsujin-san said I should not ask her questions but...' "Takako-san, are you going someplace?"
Takako was still crying, but smiled and said, "Not anymore."
"So you like this bird then?" Nikana asked, not sure what to say.
Takako laughed while wiping tears from her eyes and cheeks. "Yes, Nikana-san, I am very pleased with this gift."
"I've found his singing to be calming... I hope you will find it so as well..." Nikana stammered, clamoring for the right words to say.
Takako laughed again, "I already have and am sure I will continue to... why don't we put this whole matter behind us – Thank you for the gift, it means more to me than you know," concluded Takako, sensing Nikana was searching out the cause of her tears. "So, what do you say, should we get a late breakfast?"
"Yes, that sounds nice," replied a smiling Nikana. 'I was less tongue-tied before Kakita Karai and the Emperor... I have no idea what I'm doing.' Nikana's smile turned to a laugh as he helped Takako get up.