Chapter 15: The Investment

Investing a new samurai with his arms and armor

Early the next morning Taeshimo Yumishi, the clan chamberlain, approached the shrine. Yumishi was a man in his early fifties, his short, carefully groomed dark hair was speckled with gray. His eyes were brown and his face was plump, his cheeks large and sagging. Yumishi had eschewed retirement to continue to handle clan matters, and was quite adept at it. He managed the clans finances and made sure that the wealth of the Taeshimo went to where it was needed most.

He was followed by twenty warriors, each a veteran of several conflicts and each bearing different objects. Some carried weapons, others carried an elaborate suit of armor, another a helmet with a prominent crest, and other objects each carried reverently by their bearers. They approached the shrine in two columns. with the chamberlain at the head. They halted before the doors of the sacred shrine and waited, the samurai to the chamberlain's left walked out in front of the column and went into the temple.

“Do you think he's asleep inside?” one warrior commented, soft laughter slipping through the ranks. The chamberlain allowed himself a smile, indeed many youths were asleep by the end of their vigil at the shrine and he began sending in a lone messenger to alert the youth rather than let the entire troop find out about the newest vassal's shame. This was doubly important when it came to members of the lord's family.

A moment later a very tired looking Fuyukaze emerged from the shrine, his katana held in its sheath in his left hand. He bowed to the chamberlain. “Good morning Yumishi-sama.”

The chamberlain returned the bow “And good morning to you as well Fuyukaze-san. I hope your vigil has given you insight into yourself, for today you begin to serve the clan.”

Fuyukaze looked curiously at the assembled warriors, each bearing an item that he would carry with him the rest of life. Each was a gift from his lord to make sure he could fulfill his duties to the clan. He nodded softly “Yes sir, I have meditated long on my duty to the clan and to upholding the good name of its founder.”

The chamberlain smiled softly “Good, then you will be pleased to know you will be acting as a Yojimbo to an honored clansman. His majesty your uncle chose the position himself and insisted you accompany the Lady Miyuki to winter court this year.”

Fuyukaze blinked curiously “Yojimbo?” He had not expected such a service, it was rare that a new vassal was assigned as a bodyguard and never to such an important person as the daimyo's own courtiers. Fuyukaze looked down and bowed “I am not worthy of such an honor.”

The chamberlain nodded “I would not disagree with your uncle, he has chosen your position and you will abide by his wishes as a good vassal should.”

Fuyukaze stumbled upon his words “Of course, I did not mean to imply...” his words were cut off by a raised hand of the chamberlain.

“Of course you wouldn't, but you must choose your words carefully from now on. You own every one.” He held out his hand and in it was placed a long object wrapped in cloth. “This is your first gift,” with that he peeled back the cloth revealing the handle of a wakizashi. “This sword, like your katana, was your grandfather's and he wore it before he took up the mantle of daimyo, and with it the clan swords. Your grandfather fought with these in the battle of Ishiden forest. Before that these blades belonged to Taeshimo Rekana who was your great uncle's brother. He killed twenty men, seven in formal duels before he sacrificed his life to shield his daimyo from an assassin's arrow. I hope you bear them with the same honor as their previous owners.” He handed the wakizashi to the young man, who accepted the blade with his palms up looking at the polished scabbard of blue lacquer with silver flecks reverently.

“I will keep it at my side always, it will serve me against my enemies and should the need arise it will take my life rather than shame my ancestors.” He carefully placed the blade through the sash around his waist, the blade facing up and then carefully tied the silk cords around his sash to hold the blade in place.

Several of the warriors stepped forward bearing the suit of armor, the blue and green shoulder squares of lacquer and metal set high to catch arrows. The breast was a weaving pattern of blue lacquered bands with large polished bronze ornate plates depicting scenes of images of castles, mountains and the great Emperor's palace. The warrior knelt down “This armor has been in the family for nearly three hundred years, it was worn by a cousin of Taeshimo who joined our founder in the wars of the north and has been worn by a dozen brave warriors in war.” The warrior pointed to the plate across the chest bearing a picture of the mountain “this plate was replaced, it was damaged where Taeshimo Rekana took the arrow the saved his lord's life.” He held the armor up to display to the youth, pointing out every slight imperfection on the armor and detailing the life of the warrior who wore it.

The ceremony of gifts continued, the spear he bore was a gift from the Imperial family after the previous owner broke their spear in a demon's chest. His bow was used to fell approaching enemies in the siege of Haketsu castle. Every item he received had a story, everything he owned had glorious owners before him and he was expected to use them, knowing they were watching his actions.

The procession guided him to the residence halls within the clan, and he was led to his new room. He had a small room attached to the apartments of his sister, it was furnished sparsely with a chest, a low table with several writing implements laid upon it, and a rack for placing his swords. He carefully laid many of his objects here in his room and within the chest while the remaining were taken to the castle armory where they would rest until he was called to war in the name of the clan.