Home Again
9 December 2005
by O'donna Dean

Mori Isawa was as green, beautiful, and mysterious as they had been when Takako had left. She didn't realize just how much she had missed them until she was riding up to Kyuden Isawa, and could see them in the distance behind the palace. It was good to be home again.

As she arrived at the gate the guards bowed. She recognized several of them; they had served with her late husband.

"Takako-sama, welcome home. I hope your travels were safe," one of the young samurai asked.

"Hai, very safe. Thank you for asking, Hijo-san. Would you please inform the Elemental council of my return? They will want to hear of my travels."

"Hai, Takako-sama, hai." The young samurai left.

Takako slowly entered the palace gates and rode a little ways further until she arrived at the stables. She was helped off the horse and she left to find her quarters.

Takako rose to the familiar sound of someone gently knocking at the door of her room.

"You may enter," Takako quietly said.

The delicate, rice paper door slid open and sitting there was Daikaku, her aunt. She smiled at Takako, rose, entered the room, knelt again, and quietly slid the door shut behind her. She then came to where Takako lay and knelt beside her.

"My sweet little Takako-san, how I have missed you." Daikaku took Takako in her arms and held her tight. "I am so glad you have returned without harm. Did you enjoy being out on your own?"

"I did enjoy myself and I learned much, but I was not alone. I meet and joined up with a group of samurai who were also traveling to White Orchid Castle. I have much to tell you and ask of you, how long can you stay?" Takako asked.

"Well, I was asked to bring you to the Elemental Council. They are ready to hear of your travels and I have been granted permission to stay and listen. Your questions of me will have to wait until after but at that point I will be with you the rest of the day. Will that be enough time?" Daikaku asked with a slight smile. She knew that when Takako got started asking questions, she could go on for hours.

"I am sure that I can ask what I need to in that amount of time. I will get dressed and then we can go talk with the Council. I am eager to share the knowledge that I have gained these past few months," Takako said as she rose and started to ready herself.

"You have done well Takako-san. We are glad to have you home again. Are you ready for more training?" the Elemental Council asked.

"Hai, I would welcome more training if you feel that I am ready. Could I start tomorrow?" Takako asked as she bowed slightly.

"Hai, Takako-san. We thought you might want to start immediately. Report to your teachers tomorrow morning. And again, we are glad you have returned home safely."

Takako rose, bowed one more time and then left the room.

"You experienced much since you left here. Now tell me of your companions, I can feel there is something of importance that you have not spoken of yet," Daikaku said.

"Well they are an interesting bunch of samurai," Takako smiled as she remembered her newfound friends. "Well, let's start with our neighbors to the West."

"Mirumoto Tetsujin is ... different and yet not so different from our own brave samurai. He is an albino. Thought to be a bad fortune and at first I was a little unsure of being around him but I came to respect and trust him. He also has a love for Shinsei's writings and this was an area that we often talked about. He is a friend."

"Next there is the Unicorn. Shinjo Yul is what I would expect from a Unicorn. He is a sight to be seen when he is on the back of his horse, and a force to be reckoned with. He is very quiet and because of this I had a hard time getting to know him. I would trust him with my life though."

"The one it took me the longest to trust is the Scorpion, Shosuro Ridachi. He is a Courtier, and I dare say one that I hope you never come up against. He has this ability to know things about you even though you have just met. He would do things to help and for some reason I had to wonder why he was doing them. He risked his life and almost lost it when we were attacked in White Orchid lands. At that point, I never doubted his sincerity when he helped me."

Then with a smile, "Lastly, there is Seppun Nikana."

"Seppun Nikana? You are friends with him?" Daikaku asked, a little harsher then she had planned on.

"Hai, Daikaku-sama. I am indeed his friend and he is mine. I know of his history, he told me before we parted to go home. I trust him with my life, and he has never let this trust go unfounded. He is a brave samurai, and I will have words with anyone who says otherwise. There were many times where I relied on him for my safety and I have made it back here safely. It was his ancestor who was a coward, not him. He sees the beauty in things that others just ignore. He is the first person who has made me smile since," Takako's eyes filled with tears, "Since Hanshiro-sama died. He is a true friend and I hope I will see him again." Takako sat quietly and waited for her Aunt to speak.

"I am sorry Takako-san, I did not mean any insult to you. I did not know if you really knew who he was." Daikaku looked at her niece and for the first time, in along time, saw that sadness had left her eyes. "You care for him?"

"Hai, more then I thought I could. More than I thought I ever would for another man. I didn't think it was possible after Hanshiro-sama died. I feel he is happy that I am happy again. Can you be?" Takako looked at her Aunt and waited.

"I don't know. I don't know him, Takako-san. I only know of his ancestor's cowardly acts. For now I will trust you my sweet little Phoenix. I will be looking into his past and his present and at that point I will decide if he is worthy of your friendship." Daikaku rose to leave then stopped, "Sleep well little one, you have a busy day tomorrow." And with that she left Takako alone.

Nikana-san,

I wanted to let you know that I have made it back to my homelands safely. I had forgotten just how wonderful being at home was until I set foot back in the Palace.

I have reported to the Elemental Council and have been given permission to start my training again. I look forward to all the new and different knowledge that I will be taught.

I have also been able to visit with my Aunt Daikaku. She was there to greet me on my first morning back and as we often did, talked well into the night about my adventures. I told her you are my friend and she was more than a little surprised that I knew you and considered you to be my friend. She is going to be asking questions about you to the courtiers in our land and in yours, so please understand that it is not I who doubts your sincerity and honor.

I miss our talks in the garden. I miss your snoring at night. It was hard for me to sleep at first after we parted our separate ways. I trust you, Nikana-san. Your ancestor's history does not make me doubt your honor or loyalty. You proved to me many times over that you are honorable and that you are someone who I can depend on. I look forward and hope that we will see each other again.

Your Friend,
Takako