Going Home
7 October 2005
by Nate Hansen

An Oni fell to my blade, Nikana reminisced to himself. My heart and blade stood true against the shadow. And my royal heritage carried me into a Hantei treasure hall. Nikana's head bobbed as he chuckled at his cruel fate – the power of the heavens see me for what I am but my clan, ancestors and those who learned of my grandfather believe me unworthy. No – fate was not cruel though it might seem so to mortals, things must be seen and accepted as they were. Only then can you shape your destiny. The Emperor will not brook such thoughts from me – our next meeting will be particularly unpleasant. They usually are after I have achieved some small victory – he seems to make it a point of reminding me of my place.

Nikana's horse made it's way easily along the road that lead to the palace. The palace seemed a refuge of civilazation from all of the rubble and decay of nearby Otosan Uchi.

Thoughts are so pristine and perfect – unitl you speak them, Nikana mused.

The guards at the gate gazed up at Nikana as he slowed his horse.

"Welcome home Nikana", said one of them flatly.

Having made his way to the central courtyard, Nikana slid off his horse, handed the reigns to a stable boy and strode towards the main palace building – his eyes locked forward the whole time. He adjusted his daisho as he made his way confidently down the hallway.

He stopped in front of a graying man seated on a cushion in front of a low desk. The man looked up from a parchment.

"Nikana, to what do we owe your visit?", he asked lazily, continuing to to write on the parchment.

"I have a matter of some small importance to report to Daimyo Ataru-sama", Nikana humbly replied.

"Very well, have a seat over there", the man said pointing with his brush to a row of cushions along one wall.

Nikana sat down calmly, stiffling a sigh. This was going to take a while.

Hours later – after other samurai had come and gone – a finely dressed samurai wallked up to Nikana.

"He will see you now", Satomu announced crisply, holding out both hands. Nikana rose smoothly drawing his daisho out of his sash, handing it to Satomu. Satomu looked down at the wakizashi in his right hand, the katana in his left, raising an eyebrow at the dark blue sheaths. He turned and Nikana followed him wordlessly deeper into the palace. After several twists and turns they arrived at the entrance to a long hall. Satomu stopped, standing to one side allowing Nikana to pass. Nikana took one step in the room and froze in a bow.

Daimyo Ataru sat at the end of the hall, examining several scrolls. After a moment he placed them down on a table, one on top of the other, then covered them with a leather folio. He waived for Nikana to appraoch.

Nikana walked quickly to his Daimyo and gave another low bow.

"Sit down Nikana", Ataru ordered as he rearranged several items on his desktop. Once he had finished he stared at Nikana across the table. "Your most recent letter said you were headed to Otosan Uchi but what is so important that you shirk your service to Doji Shiju to come see me?", Ataru challenged.

"Daimyo Ataru-sama, my service to Doji Shiju-sama lead me to the underbelly of the old Imperial Palace and to an undisturbed Hantei vault...", Nikana trailed off as Ataru interrupted.

"Satomu!"

"Yes, Ataru-sama", replied Satomu bowing at the door.

"Have tea brought to us"

"Hai", answered Satomu dissapearing down the hallway.

"Continue, this time from the beginning", said Ataru returning his gaze to Nikana.

"Doji Shiju-sama instructed us escort a monk to the old Imperial palace in order to bless an Otomi shrine as well as to secretly retreive an item from under the old Imperial Palace. We made our way to some of the underground passageways with the help of a Nizumi named Reepicheep. The Nizumi left our company and we continued into the passageway. A fissure has split the hallway but it is passable. We next encountered a trapped room. There is a switch in the room that resets the trap, preventing the ceiling from coming down. It seemed strained when we last left it. I'm not sure how many more times it will work...", Nikana stopped as Ataru held up a finger.

Nikana waited as a servant poured them tea.

"Leave us", Ataru instructed the servant, waiting serveral moments before nodding to Nikana to continue.

"We next encountered an Oni, trapped by enchantment in a chamber.", Nikana hesitated unsure how to continue.

"Speak you mind Nikana"

"Ataru-sama, the Oni claimed it had been imprisoned there by a Seppun shugenja."

"Hmmh", snorted Ataru. Ataru's stare hardened as he took a closer look at Nikana. "You believed the Oni, didn't you".

"I... didn't discount what it said. I don't know if it was telling the truth or not. The ways of a shugenja are not always that of the bushi...".

"True, however it's more likely that the Oni lied than a Seppun shugenja would do such a thing".

"I take your point, Ataru-sama, forgive me", Nikana said bowing his head.

"Go on"

"We killed the Oni. The next hallway lead to the vault but it is warded against passage by any who don't bear Hantai blood. I proceeded, alone, into the vault to retreive what we had come for. Before we returned to Doji Shiju-sama I thought it best to report this to you personally. There were many items of interst in the vault that would serve the Emperor and our clan well."

"You did the right thing Nikana, coming here to tell me this", Ataru fell silent for a long moment. Nikana took a sip of his tea. "Return with your companions to Doji Shiju and put this matter behind you".

"Hai, Daimyo-sama", Nikana said bowing his head low.