Chapter 18: The long road to Hikyo

Brother and Sister travel together to their fate

Fuyukaze's breath fogged in the cold winter air, the young man followed just behind the palanquin, he looked around the hillsides along the road and the dark forests beyond. The pines dark green was sharp contrast to the yellow, orange and red of the few remaining leaves on the oak trees, and the once lush grasses had turned gray as the seasons changed. It was the beginning of winter and the litter bearers hurried slightly as the wind chilled their bones.

The hills not too long ago were bright and green with wildflowers pushing through the lush bed, and the sounds of birds singing and all the richness of nature around them. Such sharp contrast to the silent world, the young man tried to word out a haiku: Once autumn held joy - bright colors abound but now - only winters gray. In sharp contrast a column of figures dressed in vibrant sky blue uniforms followed a black palanquin. The samurai passed through the lands silently, each face expressionless with eyes focusing only on the road and the rising pines around them.

As his attention stayed upon a single pine he noticed Hiroyama looked back at him, causing the young man to snap back to staring forward at the road a slight blush upon his cheeks as he caught his mind wandering. His sempai's admonition silent but no less biting, he knew his duty here was the defend his older sister, and he could only do it by being ever vigilant but as he traveled along the road he couldn't help but let his mind wander.

They had been traveling for half a week, and his feet ached from the long march. He looked upon the two senior Yojimbo, Hiroyama and Haya. Both of these men were veterans of war with distinguished service and ancestors who held the same. Their honor was unquestioned, but Fuyukaze walked behind them barely a month since his gempukku. He traveled with his sister as her yojimbo, but truthfully his duty was closer to chaperon and servant. She was the truly gifted member of the clan, gifted with a strong mind, beauty and a voice as pure as the nightingale. He sauntered behind the palanquin quickly looking from side to side, trying to look enthusiastic at his new charge even if his mind constantly wandered.

His mind only thought of his friend Arakai Honma, the soldier a warm comfort and he thought only of being able to laugh with his old friend. He chanced a look behind him, and saw his friend smiling back at him. Those brown eyes as expressive as always, nodding to him and causing Fuyukaze to smile without realizing it. This long winter court would be made warmer by his ally, and boring hours kneeling within the polished hallways of the capital city of Hikyo. The dance of courtiers held little interest to the young man, indeed romantic thoughts of flashing blades and defeating bandits and enemy armies danced in his head, a life little realized by a Yojimbo.

Fuyukaze found himself shivering a moment, and realized that there was a layer of frost upon the ground. He drew up his arms within his kimono sleeves, squeezing his fingers and stretching them to feel the warmth return to him when suddenly Hiroyama paused in his step. A sudden disturbance fell throughout the men when a series of arrows flew from the woodline, their white fletching a harsh contrast to the green. Many men dropped down to the knees but a few screamed out as the plumes drew past thin cloth and impacted flesh beneath. Their cries drowning out the sound of dozens of feet rushing out upon both sides of the palanquin.

Nearly three dozen armed men bearing no heraldry on their brown and grey kimono rushed in with shouts, as glittering steel crashed against steel. Each warrior of the Taeshimo faced two foes, and each warrior threw themselves into the skirmish with wild abandon all hopes of living cast aside. All that mattered was the moment, to fight and die for the clan.

Fuyukaze looked back just before a spear tore through his overcoat, the steel tearing through it effortlessly as he dodged aside, his feet practiced from a thousand kata. His shaking hands flew to his katana and in the same practiced motion he pulled back along the saya while pulling the handle in a long sweeping stroke. The blade flew through the air with a wide arc, screaming out in desperation as it impacted first cloth and thin chin armor but soon cleaving through both and tender flesh beneath.

The man made a gasping cry and crumpled upon the cold earth below. Fuyukaze just looked down still trembling, staring at his bloody sword and the dead form upon the ground.  Suddenly the world went silent except for his own heartbeat and breathing.

Suddenly his body lurched forward, he stumbled knowing that he had been shoved. He looked back only to see Haya standing over him holding the spear of one of the attacking men. “Pay attention” he shouted before stepping in closing the distance and bringing his own blade into the man's belly before twisting it and pulling it free.

Pushing himself roughly to his feet he staggered a moment, looking around he realized the horror of the situation. Sky blue mixed with gray and brown and red blood making a rich mud of the road, many many of his clan had fallen this day as had the enemy. Still Haya's words were well placed as Fuyukaze turned he nearly met a blade with his eyes, stepping back and cutting his sword up, his blade glided cleanly upon his opponent, a warrior twice his years in gray. He stepped back quickly, again trying to focus his attention, but the man's onslaught of attacks left no chance and finally in desperation he pushed his blade forward. His side stung as his enemy's blade struck him, but he drove his own sword into the man's chest. The young man tried to pull back but as he withdrew the man twisted his blade, though his intention failed to part Fuyukaze's arm from his shoulders he did manage to strike the young man's jaw with his hilt before succumbing to his wounds.

Dazed and hurt he spun on his feet, feeling his hot blood pouring down his side and hip. Fuyukaze wondered if he would die of his wound this time, he didn't know if he would, but he didn't have time to look. He screamed out and pushed his katana high over his head, cleaving down through the head of another opponent as an arrow sunk into the ground next to him. He looked up in desperation seeing the archer at the treeline collecting another arrow, he could only think of his own death as he raced forward his blood causing his clothes to stick to his flesh. His body was numb as he struck, the archer drawing his arrow to cheek but with a flash of steel his bow snapped in hand and a line of crimson erupted from his chest. He fell to the earth, hands reaching for the bubbling wound. At that moment the world seemed to grow darker and the young warrior heard his heart beat growing louder. He screamed in desperation as he staggered moving to cut down another archer, his muscles too weak to to hold him after the fact. Only now did he reach up to grasp his wound, finding bright red blood there. He knelt there upon the pine needles, trembling when he noticed another archer fell, this time a blade erupting from his chest from behind. He tried to speak but only silence came as he fell upon the forest floor, his body failing him. He just laid there, trying to hold the wound upon his shoulder, trying to hold his lifeblood inside of him, hearing shouts and steel crashing. He tried to will himself to move but found his body not responding.

An eternity passed there upon the forest floor, then suddenly his arm moved aside. “You must move now” the voice said plainly, his body being lifted from the ground like a rag doll. He barely noticed his legs moving through the motions of walking, propped up he saw the scene below. On the road lay fifty bodies, all tangled in a strange still dance their bodies torn and twisted as their blood mixed upon the earth. Hiroyama stood there, as did his sister now standing silently amidst the carnage in her bright green kimono. She looked amidst the dead men with concern, so many were friends so many had watched over her before then her eyes fell upon her brother. “Fuyukaze” she screamed out stepping forward twice in the mud before stumbling.

“He lives...not by much but he's still with us” the now familiar voice said, weakly the young samurai saw his friend Honma holding his weak frame up. He could scarcely believe this was the man who lifted him from the mud. “Honma, how did you?” he stammered, his words silenced by that simple wry smile he gave before.

“It would be better if you were silent now Fuyukaze-sama.” Honma looked to his friend, and then to his sister, carrying her sibling forward to her palanquin. He paused before Miyuki, and while steadying his wounded friend Honma bowed to the lady.

Hiroyama held his sword low looked towards the wood line wearily “Your men fought and died bravely for you Miyuki-sama, but if your life ends here those who fell died in vain. For your safety we should continue onwards towards the capital.”

The band moved slowly on foot, pressing forward step by painful step through the frozen woodlands until they reached an abandoned temple. There the remaining retainers of house Taeshimo took refuge from the snow, the wounded taken inside the temple walls and the strong circling it searching for any sign of life. Here they waited and treated the wounded, and while Taeshimo Fuyukaze was bandaged he looked to Miyuki and Hiroyama.

“This ambush took planning to occur, it is unlikely a group of bandits would be able to spring the attack.” Hiroyama continued his voice cold with anger and exhaustion “Another house has sought our blood and picked skilled ronin to attack us, we are lucky Hachiman favored us as battle could have easily left us dead.”

Miyuki nodded as she listened to his words, frowning and looking to her brother as he tried his best to stay upright. “It is a bit blatant to attack us, though the Rensho or Tagarii are likely to blame. Still this is a matter that could start a war. It would be against both clans interests to do such a thing Hiroyama. Can you be absolutely certain that it was not bandits?”

Hiroyama paused and considered carefully “I cannot support the conclusion of bandits my lady, these men were skilled. As if someone took an army and chose the best warriors within it and set them to attack.”

The entire room paused and reached for swords as they sliding door began to open, without was a maiden who bowed low upon seeing the commotion. “Please forgive me! I bear a message that is for the Lady Taeshimo Miyuki-sama eyes only!” she looked up and still feeling the angry eyes of Fuyukaze and Hiroyama she laid a letter on the floor before the young woman and backed away slowly.

Miyuki smiled and bowed her head lightly to the girl “thank you Sadako” she courtier picked up the letter opening it carefully as the door closed behind them. She frowned a bit “Well it seems your instincts may be correct Hiroyama, the men were all carrying Rensho clan coins. Quite a bit of them it seems, well paid warriors it seems.”

Fuyukaze blinked a bit in his daze “Rensho coins? The ronin I fought, Hinada Ayomi had a packet of Rensho clan coins upon him.” Looking to his sister and her other bodyguard who looked at him with shock.

Hiroyama blinked and rubbed at the stubble upon his chin “A ronin from our territory traveled from our lands to the west with Rensho clan coins. Perhaps he was not alone in this, the Rensho sent scouts to collect armed ronin from all the provinces and gathered them to ambush the trail here. It would be costly, but yes quite possible.”

Miyuki nodded sadly “it seems the Rensho do not wish to have me at winter court this year, and are willing to make extreme attempts to see their lady married to the Emperor's son.”