Chapter 12: The Reunion

Our protagonist reunites with his family

It was here that Fuyukaze was separated from his peers, the youth led into the inner sanctum of the castle. He remembered it from his youth, but despite having lived here for the first six years of his life, it seemed distant and unreal. His katana was left at the front gate, to be polished and cared for lovingly by trusted vassals of the clan.

He was taken inside and given a hot bath and a change of clothing, his hair combed carefully by an attendant. He was to be presented before the daimyo of the Taeshimo, so appearing road worn would have been unseemly. Then he was left to wait in a private audience hall facing the inner garden.

The castle itself was built in layers upon the mountainside, making advancement slow and difficult at best. But while shear cliffs of shale made an excellent defense it left little in the way of growing, so the the inner sanctum was immaculately cultivated. Soil carried hundreds of feet up the mountainside and placed into a carefully carved away garden. Water ran from a hidden aqueduct within the mountain and flowed casually through a lazy stream leading to a pond. Koi played beneath the lilies and reeds that rested upon the surface and beyond that soft fields of grass. Trees sprouted up from the fields giving the land a park like sense. Once this place was covered in flowers but for now dried leaves of red, yellow and orange fell upon the earth.

The late autumn scene just drew Fuyukaze's attention, the youth moving his hands into the gold and black sleeves of his kimono. He just drew in the scents of sea salt, pine and rice straw. The scents of home, he allowed himself to settle back upon the tatami mats. The youth just looked out at that garden remembering, the times he played or chased butterflies or caught frogs. Those times seemed so distant now.

When he was six years old he left his family home in tears to spend his days within the walls of the Katsukana academy.  He spent many nights in his new home within the pines weeping missing the familiar scents and sounds of Hamamite but now that he was here it was so strange.   All he could do is look upon the gardens and remember the past.

“Daydreaming little brother?” a voice broke his reverie. Fuyukaze's attention snapped to the willowy girl in flowing gray and blue kimono, the girl looking as if a cloud had settled from the sky. Her name was Miyuki, she had long dark hair that flowed behind her, falling upon the ground behind her, trailing as she walked. Her eyes were a rich green, though the gentle smile she wore seemed to make her eyes almost glow as she walked into the room. Her gently rounded face with a long neck rose from the multi-layered kimono she wore, the girl moving with practiced grace accompanied by the soft sound of silk rubbing over silk.

Fuyukaze blushed and looked down “I was just thinking of when we were children and played here.” He just looked up at his sister “Before I went away.”

Miyuki just smiled and knelt down next to her brother “Yes, that was a long time ago.” She turned her head “Though you have grown alot you still favor a child more than a man.” She said with a hint of a smile.

Fuyukaze stiffened “I do not” he said his fists slipping from his sleeves and resting upon his thighs “besides, uncle has seen fit to give me my gempukku. I am to be made a retainer of the clan.” He nodded self assuredly.

Miyuki's smile never faded “Has he now? Well, I should be flattered to in the presence of a noble young warrior.” She just smiled, her tone gently mocking. “But in truth, yes I have heard of your coming of age. I protested” she paused as if waiting for his reaction “But uncle could not be dissuaded. He says after you killed that bandit, you have proven your bravery, so you should be given family affairs to handle.”

Fuyukaze did indeed give Miyuki the reaction she was waiting for, almost yelling when he heard about her protests but then settled back with a smile when she told him of the daimyo's words. “You do not think much of me sister. But I did defeat the ronin Hinada Akomi.”

Miyuki did frown then, her eyes dulling “Yes I heard, and you were nearly killed in the process.” She smirked a bit “When you are a vassal of the clan are you going to go running off seeking glory on your own? Or will you obey your superiors and earn your glory for the clan?”

The boy paused, hating how his sister could turn his words against him so quickly. He just sighed softly in resignation “No sister, I will not run off by myself again. I will earn glory in the name of the Taeshimo and not for myself.”

Miyuki smiled in satisfaction “Good, then you might be useful to your uncle then. Come, he's reviewing his men in the armory. We should go find him there.” She took her brothers arm and gently pulled him to his knees tugging him along the first few steps before letting go and walking ahead of him. “How are you healing?” She asked gently.

“Well enough, I do not feel weak anymore and the skin is closed over, its still white though.”

“It will scar then, probably for the best.” She glanced back “All warriors of the clan like to show off their battle-scars and yours will be no different I am sure.” She allowed herself a half smile.

They rounded through the hallways together, retainers bowing low to Miyuki as she walked. The youth paused as the daimyo's personal guard were arrayed outside the armory. They bowed low to the young woman, even as Fuyukaze bowed to them. He thought it odd that the ones trusted with the lord's personal protection, a high honor, would be bowing to his sister. He blinked and looked to her curiously, wondering what station his sister had been elevated to in his absence.

The sliding door was opened slowly and within two men with practice weapons squared off with one another. Fuyukaze could recognize the stance of one was the Katsukana academy, his bokken held lightly by his left hand near the base of the hilt and his right hand just under the guard. He looked to his adversary confidently. His opponent bore a long wooden shaft with a rounded bit of cloth and batting at the tip, acting as a spear. The spearman was using the Homeji school of combat, his tip aimed low to the ground with much of the length out before him. The tip of his spear aiming for the swordsman's ankle. They circled in silence, the spearman keeping the swordsman at bay while the swordsman circled and stepped carefully hoping for a misplaced motion of the spearman.

Miyuki and Fuyukaze watched in silence, waiting for the duo to begin, it was the spearman who opened taking a quick strike at the swordsman's ankle. The swordsman took his blade turning it low and began to cut up along the spear only to see the spearman back away and twist the spear up sliding along the edge of the wooden blade forcing the Katsukana student to duck down to avoid being struck across his face.

The Katsukana duelist tried to dash forward, trying to quickly strike across the man's hips but as he closed in he found the butt of the spear rose up striking him firmly upon the chin causing the man to be knocked to the ground. He soon found the Homeji warrior's spear point at his neck. The man rubbed his stinging jaw barely moving his mouth “I concede.” He spoke with a wince.

“Well done Juromachi-san, your spear strikes like lightning.” The owner of the enthusiastic voice was a man in his early forties, dressed in several kimonos layered one atop the other. His dark hair had bands of gray. He wore it drawn into a topknot with the end cut sharply at his neckline. His features were worn, skin dry and thick and his hawkish nose framed his face. He watched his gathering with bright green eyes. The man was the daimyo of the Taeshimo and ruler of the houses of the north, Taeshimo Akimine.

The spearman bowed low “thank you lord Akimine-sama.” He knelt upon the tatami floor while his opponent pushed himself to his knees and bowed before his daimyo as well. He followed the eyes of his vassals to the open door and smiled “Oh, you have arrived.” He nodded his head.

Fuyukaze and Miyuki quickly fell to their knees and bowed low “Great Lord” their voices near in unison.

Akimine rubbed his shoulder a bit “I am glad you have arrived nephew, and blooded no less. We need to discuss this over dinner. I want to hear of your exploits tracking and confronting the ronin.” He smiled gently and turned to face his relatives, then rose carefully to his feet. “Please join me, both you and your sister.”

With that both young vassals of the Taeshimo house bowed low then rose following their lord silently. Akamine's bodyguard closing quickly behind him, laying in their lords shadow.