Traditions

Suzuya Koroki was a stalwart man. His armor is shined to a white gleam like the crescent moon at midnight. His flag flies proudly proclaiming his lineage to all who dare venture close; two katana crossed over a foray of three pine trees colored in gold set against a background of dark green. He looks beyond his walls and in the distance, he can just make out another castle that guards jealously a mountain pass. Having taken a horseback ride out that way a few weeks ago, he recalls that he was surprised to be greeted not by just its chamberlain or lord, but the fabled daimyo herself.

Her flag is graceful and simplistic all in the same time. In the dark, one could easily mistake it for a black shroud with a white diamond in the middle. This image however does injustice to its true nature. To the sound of taiko drums announcing the morning sunrise, the flag of a violet purple hue rises slowly on its pole. A white diamond does indeed comprise the center but it is guarded by a border of gold and is split into four equal parts. A small gold dot marks the epicenter of this regal symbol and as it makes itself home at the top of the pole, it undulates in the warm mountain air and waves welcomingly towards the guests.

The daimyo herself was both warm and forthcoming. Unexpected guests are not normally treated as such. She sets aside her agenda for the day and instead decides to throw an impromptu feast in order to welcome to her domain this daimyo. Koroki is understandably, slightly weary. His escort was lightly composed of only twenty soldiers. The odds were far from his favor.

When the daimyo greeted her guests in the courtyard, she had with her an honor guard of three-hundred soldiers to account for three bodies; herself, and her two daughters which were of tremendous beauty in the morning sunlight, clad in radiantly exquisite kimonos. Next to the daimyo's right-hand side was none other than one of two of her most senior officers, Regent Orochi Shinzo. With her was an assembly of attendants, including another hundred bodyguards. Leading Suzuya to this congregation of prestigious Yuki Clan leaders, was the chamberlain of the castle who directly reported to the daimyo, if the flags upon the castle walls were anything to indicate by.

"Father," Suzuya's eldest son cautions, "We should not waver in the face of this hospitality and return home."

"My son," he says as he places a firm hand on his son's right shoulder, "That the daimyo of the Yuki would go out of her way to humor unannounced guests, shows us that she holds no ill-will. Let us pay our own respects and humor her gesture in return."

He then moves his hand from his son's shoulder to his katana's handle and grips it, saying, "Jealously guard your life my son, and leave it to me to strike at theirs if lady luck smiles upon us."

Entertainers were quickly called up from the village accompanied by a great assortment of food, including a supplement of tea, freshly killed boars, choice fruits, and mochi. In a show of swordsmanship, the young Suzuya prince was pitted against the chamberlain of the castle who, himself, was of great expertise. Surrounded by a ring of taiko drummers, the chamberlain and heir to the Suzuya fought like lions. Whereas the chamberlain was direct and stoic in his movements, the prince was like water and would strike to defend and defend to strike. Such was his philosophy as both a son and future daimyo.

"My my," the female daimyo remarks to Koroki, "your son is quite fierce. The chamberlain is known to run-over his opponents within the opening strikes and yet, your son is instead pushing him back." She sips her tea and waves over a servant to bring her more. She picks up a cracker and sticks it in her mouth then bites into a slice of sashimi and chases the cracker down. Her guards as well were enjoying themselves and were talking with their Suzuya counterparts as if they were old friends. The sake and tea flowed freely between the tables and all were joyous and none the wiser.

"My son is the pride of my life. Like how your daughters are the pride of yours," Koroki remarks. Koroki sighs deeply and smiles. This daimyo was quite friendly and it strangely puts him at ease. "I apologize for not bringing any gifts for you. As I did not expect to find you here, Yuki Kirin." Kirin, in response, waves her hand dismissively as Koroki looks around the courtyard and takes in a scene of faint tranquility. As if the bout between his son and her chamberlain were simply part of the background, the birds were chirping, the flags of the castle floated elegantly, and off in the distance, he could faintly hear the sounds of the town which this bastion stands in the defense of. Life itself within the domain of the Yuki Clan seemed almost utopian-like. Slowly, Koroki could feel his suspicion fade into a drawer he keeps just off to the side of his mind. In its place, a strange calm settles in and soon, both tea and sake were brought to his table. The sake itself was not strong; a morning drink that puts one in a cheerful mood with little effect on the senses.

At least if one could hold their alcohol that is. Koroki could see to either side of the courtyard some attendants of the castle getting gloriously drunk on the cup of happiness present. Already, the entertainers were flowing to their lap-sides and one wouldn't need his wits about to conclude what might happen next.

"My chamberlain didn't expect me either today," she quips. They both laugh after which she says, "You may call me Kirin, Koroki. We are both daimyo after all." Her servant returns with a fresh pot of tea to which she offers to Koroki. He bows slightly in thanks but waves it away. Pouring another cup of tea, Kirin smiles.

"I would be lying if I did not tell you now that I want your territory," Kirin casually says as if she were talking about something as plain as day. Koroki was taken aback. Was she planning on executing him and his son after feasting with them? Was she evil even if on the surface, she seemed carefree and kind and gentle? "But," she continues, "I do not wish to make enemies of you or your clan."

"How would you accomplish your goal without making enemies of us?" Koroki inquires. "You would become a vassal under the Yuki Clan," she replies. Koroki almost spat out his tea in disbelief. "The Suzuya clan would never bow to the Yuki," Koroki responds to which, surprisingly, Kirin stands and bows; prompting a few puzzling looks from those nearby
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"I understand. We both have the same dream you know. At least if the whispers are true," Kirin says. The dual between the chamberlain and the prince had just finished. After a few mis-steps by the Suzuya prince, the chamberlain had laid him low. He offers a hand to the prince. After looking at it suspiciously, he takes it. They both bow to each other and to the audience and exit the circle to a round of applause, cheers, and sporadic requests for an encore.

"Koroki," Kirin begins to say as Koki, Koroki's son, is dragged to the table where Kirin's daughters were drinking, "would your son be interested in marrying one of my daughters?" Koroki, once again, was taken aback. As the dancers once again take center stage, Koroki sits enraptured by this strangely formal question. The daimyo of the Yuki first says she wishes to conquer an opponent, then make that opponent an ally? "Daimyo Yuki, I think you might’ve had too much to drink," Koroki says hoping to call his host to some sense.

"Daimyo Suzuya," Kirin responds in kind, getting up again, "I think you’re mistaking my intentions."

After another show put on by the performers, Kirin stands. Koki, having entertained his host's daughters, found himself hard-pressed to leave their side as their stories, their laughter, and their hearts have begun to transform the shadows over his into something more at-home. And above all, Kirin's daughters were truly beautiful. Especially...

"Sheki," Kirin shouts. As if on signal, five bodyguards stand with her and start towards the circle of taiko drums which were once again, in full beat. "Watch Suzuya Koroki," she says in an almost entirely different tone from just a moment ago. It was filled with vim and vigor, like that of a warrior, a warlord, or one of the three great generals currently present in this era. Koroki was again taken aback. What did Yuki Kirin wish to accomplish by this petty display of swordsmanship that was about to take place? Against a five-on-one, truly this must be part of the impromptu show.

Koroki's son takes his place next to his father and beckons towards the daimyo who has since shed her kimono to reveal a lithe body partially covered in armor. Her left breast is bare revealing a sakura tattoo above it while her shoulder is protected by lightweight padding that discontinuously extends down her arm to her hand. Her upper arm is bare while her lower arm and hand are protected. Her right shoulder is covered in a partial kimono that extends down to her hand. Just peaking out from under her kimono sleeve was the same kind of padding on her left hand; one could tell just by how the kimono fell. But, if that were true, then her right shoulder had no protection. Her lower chest has no protection as her partial kimono-like shirt extends to her waist. At her waist is a short skirt reinforced with padding. Her legs were likewise covered lightly with some lightweight wooden armor. She wore form-fitting sandals with shin guards.

Koroki thought that her guards would go easy on their daimyo. His son even sighed slightly, thinking that this was just a stunt to show her superiority to her peer.

They were wrong. Two attendants with bamboo swords in their hands begin to run around the circle of taiko drums now beating a steady but anticipatory beat. One stops and tosses his bamboo sword at his daimyo already under siege by her five trusted attendants. Like the wind, Kirin moves with their strikes. An attempt at her chest is met with a sidestep and a retaliatory rebuff at the assaulter's chest. A slash to her right shoulder is met with a slight movement back and a lightning fast kick forcing the man away. The bamboo sword, already in mid-air, is jealously caught by the daimyo at its grip and is immediately used to full effect. She commits to a wide sweep warding off her assaulters and creating a null space around herself at which her bodyguards enviously attempt to violate. The second attendant was now circling around the ring of taiko drums, trying to find an advantageous angle to chuck his bamboo sword into the fray.

The taiko drums that make up the ring have stopped and in their place, those large drums that sit upon majestic stands of dark wood surrounding the courtyard count every fifth beat with their large, drowning voices. The spectators around the courtyard, a moment before rambunctious and celebratory, have fallen silent having become immersed in their lord's performance; Koroki and his son included.

Upon the tenth beat, two bodyguards move in unison and attempt to land a hit upon their daimyo. However, she refuses to be checked. As their strikes approach their target, Kirin parries the strikes with a single block and in rapid session land kicks to their upper chest prompting the other three to move. Now the bodyguards must be careful because their target was armed. Where their initial attacks were full of reckless abandon, they now struck in almost subtle, near undetectable patterns and choice target selection. While one would shout, "head!" another would sweep in from either flank attempting to catch Kirin on the defensive and land that decisive single blow. While one swept at her feet, two others would strike like wolves at her chest and arms in a flurry of blows. Kirin was being backed into a corner and the crowd held its breath for almost the same reasons. Those who served the Yuki Clan were becoming scared for their daimyo while Koroki Suzuya, being an avid practitioner of Go, saw the cunning strategy behind the daimyo's movements.

He was ready for the reverse sweep that Kirin knew he saw. A smile spreads across her face as the second bamboo sword flies into her outreached hand. Unknown to the audience, a chill goes up each bodyguard's spine.

"Time's up boys," she says with a wicked grin. Her bodyguards did not dare back down. The taiko drums were now pounding a war beat. The air was humming with tension as the bodyguards, hungry like sharks, began to circle Kirin to look for an opening, now slightly desperate since their daimyo was now fully armed. Around the courtyard, not a soul makes a sound, nor eats or drinks. Kirin felt at ease with two blades. With the odds as they were now, they were stacked in her favor as she has practiced against greater odds with better swordsmen. Not to say her bodyguards weren't counted among the best, but she could think of at least two blademasters that had a chance to best her as she has bested them.

And one was sitting in the audience and was, with exception, the only one still drinking and eating; albeit respectfully of the daimyo's plight.

As one, two swordsmen attack the daimyo; one from the front and the other to what should've been her blindside on her right. As quick as a flash, she blocks to the front and parries to the back. She then assaults the man to her left with a series of surgical strikes that forces him onto the defensive. The strikes make him stumble into the dirt nearly crashing into a drummer who scrambles out of the way. Meanwhile, another takes his opportunity to strike at his master from behind with a strike aimed at her heart. Almost as if on instinct, she ducks to the ground and counter strikes at his groin then his chin. The man takes two solid hits and flops to the ground probably thankful that his chinstrap blunted the worst of the bruising. Two men humbled, three more to go. Those taiko drums making up the circle are playing a now steady rousing beat while those gigantic taiko drums lining the walls of the courtyard create an almost restless humming sound. Shingles ring somewhere off to the side, counting each other moment that passes with a drop like falling water.

Kirin steps to the left, her two bamboo swords swaying as if trying to feel their welder's intentions. The man who fell near the drummer and the man on the ground get up and begin to look to either of their comrades for reassurance. They in return look back. Their daimyo was like no other. A woman that asks for the same respect that one might give a man. Declaring herself the rightful contender for the Throne. Thinking that she could unite Yukkira and end this age of strife.

This woman dares to dream the impossible which in and of itself should be improbable for any woman in this day and age. Yet, here she stands, besting not one but five noteworthy swordsmen in a competition where little relent is given.

"Gentlemen," says the chamberlain, "I thought you were charged with protecting your lord. How can you do so being so damn timid? Need I get in there and whip you as well into shape?" All eyes turn their attention to the chamberlain in bewilderment while in the same moment, all five shout their battle cry and launch themselves at their daimyo intending to drive her into submission.

She sighs however and waits until the first strike is nearly upon her. At that moment, her left blade moves and she lands a swift strike upon the first man across his chest plate. She quickly follows it up with a swift kick to the upper chest dispatching the man while her right blade stop two cuts aimed at her chest. Sidestepping the third attempting to slice at her breasts, she then kicks out the knee of her closest attacker and lands a resounding whack upon his helmet. A jab is swatted away and a cut dodged. Both men instead receive a whip to their armpits and a whack to their necks. As they fall, the drumming peters out into silence.

Five men dispatched in two minutes. Koroki and his son were astonished. The daimyo and her bodyguards were either really good at acting or the daimyo is something else. "Father...who is she?" asks Koroki's son to which, he has no answer. The drumming has stopped, and not a sound was made until the daimyo begins to help up one of her fallen bodyguards. The crowd in the courtyard erupts into rapturous applause and cheers for the Kirin. The chamberlain walks up to a recovering bodyguard and pats him on the shoulder laughing and saying, "It's okay. This must be quite normal." To which the man had no reply but laughs.

Returning to her seat, somewhat sweaty, however very elated, Kirin turns to Koroki and offers him another cup of tea. This time, Koroki accepts. Noting the change in his demeanor, Kirin dares to ask, "What is your dream Suzuya Koroki?" Koki, Koroki's son, overhears what Kirin is asking and decides to listen intently to his father's answer.

"Yuki Kirin, what do you wish for your daughters?" Koroki instead counters. Kirin thought for a moment and decided to answer saying, "Although not of my own womb, these daughters of mine are as much my blood as they are of my vassals. I adore each and every one of them. I adore the land from whence they came. I adore their kind if somewhat unique fathers and mothers as I have been fortunate enough to meet them if I could. I adore my own people and the lives they live."

Kirin stops to sip some tea and to let all she said sink in before she finishes, "I wish to end this age of strife and to usher in an era of unified peace and prosperity for all of Yukkira. What say you, Suzuya Koroki?"

"Your grace," he says bowing towards Yuki Kirin. The crowd falls back into silence as they await the daimyo's proclamation. "You show great skill in the ways of the blade. And I have little doubt your tongue is not as sharp if not sharper. I shall think about your request when I return back to my tenshu." Turning to his son, he beacons him to quickly come about as their bodyguards begin to form up around their charges. It had been a good day of celebration and with closing formalities exchanged, they make like the receding tide and wash themselves of the Yuki Clan.

As they leave hastily, his son inquires, "What is the matter father?"

Looking at his son with an almost grim face, he replies, "I saw our runner out in the woods from here with a red flag a little while ago. The Tokkaku are coming." His son's face quickly shifts mood and as soon as they were out of hearing distance from the Yuki castle dispatches runners to their own. Their horses galloped towards their own walls like gale winds; the forest, likewise, blurs by.

As Yuki Kirin watches as her guests beat a hasty retreat for their castle off in the distance, she hands her bamboo swords to a nearby attendant and in their place, a report detailing intelligence gathered on the plans of the Tokkaku Clan. She needs not open the document in order to know what they will confirm. Instead, she continues to watch as the sun sets upon the valley below.

Two weeks later, her regent, senior retainer, and one of two most trusted advisors, Shinzo Orochi, awaits with bated breath. The chamberlain himself was busy donning his armor while the retainers which he oversaw begin to ready the local militia. "Kirin?" Orochi asks almost timidly. Kirin turns to her friend. All Kirin does is nod once and immediately, Orochi turns around and lights a flare. Already, outside the castle walls, the Chamberlain begins to marshal his troops into rank and file as captains begin to report in. After a few moments, the flare goes off in Orochi's hand. Nearby, her standard bearer and loyal retainer holds the Yuki Clan banner in his hand while his own lord's banner is strapped to his back. In response to the flare arising from the castle, several shine in return with their own castle's commanders having pre-emptively readied their troops the day before.

"Chamberlain, are you ready to march?" Kirin inquires of her chosen servant leader. He nods and bows to his daimyo while in the background, his troops rally to Yuki Kirin's name. Fast moving scouts who were dispatched several days before suddenly begin to appear at the edge of vision with headbands embossed with the Yuki Clan markings appearing across their centers. While many run past the gathering troops closest to them intending to deliver their information to their respective commanders, one approaches Kirin with two guards in tow. A trusted retainer in his own right, he had lost an eye once upon a black moon to a demon not at all human. On his patch sits a golden hawk for just as Orochi might be considered Kirin's right hand, so too, this man her eyes. Like that majestic bird on his eyepatch, he swoops high and low in order to best ascertain the layout of the field. To that extent, he is known as the Hawk of the Dragon and today, he indeed carries precious information. "The Tokkaku army is ten thousand men strong my liege! They advance upon the Suzuya main stronghold across the valley with sir Tokkaku Minichi at their head! All across the Suzuya domain, their castles are about to fall under siege as it seems that the Tokkaku Clan has devoted many of its resources to conquering the Suzuya Clan!"

"It is a gamble then," Kirin says as a statement, not a question. "Ol' man Tokkaku finally decided to roll the dice with the Suzuya. Regent!"

"My liege," she says almost flatly without enthusiasm. Kirin was slightly taken aback, "Regent? Do you think that we can save the Suzuya Clan? And henceforth, my own?" Shinzo Orochi smiles and chuckles just a little, "How much can I afford to lose Kirin?"

Kirin turns back to her old friend with a knowing grin, "None. We march for the Suzuya stronghold across the way!"

At the Suzuya main stronghold, the retainers were readying themselves for war. Grieves both new and worn are pulled up the shins of those able-bodied and willing. Chest plates are checked and strapped over thick clothing while headbands and helmets are donned with deathly anticipation. A certain desperation has overtaken the men at the castle and many were secretly hoping that the threat would be negligible with the truth hidden below the shallow depths of their hearts.

"Do you think Kirin will come and help us father?" beseeches Koroki's eldest son. He is worried and does not know why his father, was calm as he donned his armor. "You are of sharp mind Koki," Koroki says in reply, "What do you think?" Koki shakes his head and bows to his father saying, "As a soldier father, my job is not to think but to do. You are our leader father, so I shall follow your lead." Koroki walks over to his son and lightly slaps his son's cheek, leaving his hand where it lands. "My son," Koroki begins.

"If a soldier does not think, how will he know if his sword strikes with righteousness? To that extent, do you think Yuki Kirin's blade strikes with righteousness?"

Leaving his son to ponder these questions, he turns around from him and heads for the sliding doors intending to rally the troops.

The Tokkaku army was indeed twenty men wide, five-hundred men deep, with spatterings of cavalry marching both ahead and to the sides. Horses bayed and shook their heads with anticipation. The men, marching to the sound of the steady beat of the drum, know fully that it might be their last; an anthem to their imminent glory. They march for their oaths to their lord and to the way of bushido. They march for their hidden ambitions that is the way of all men and women willing to don the armor of their birthright.

They march to turn the clock of time that determines yin and yang and the passing of the age they were fortunate to be born into.

To meet them was the Suzuya clan and its garrison of barely thirty men wide, two-hundred deep. The odds were not in their favor but Koroki was calm in the face of overwhelming defeat. Stalwart was what he was and to the end, will be. Even if what that daimyo said was but smoke in the wind, he took solace that his domain might become but part of a larger dream. And maybe one day, his son might attempt to rise up against that daimyo to become her equal or become a senior retainer in her court.

Either was fine with him. As the encroaching enemy is arrayed before him, he takes a deep breath not noticing that off in the distance, the armies of the Yuki clan were out in a show of force.

"My liege!" says a Tokkaku retainer to Lord Minichi, "Banners to the east! It's the Yuki Clan sir!" Lord Minichi was not taken aback. The ambitions of the Yuki Clan were no stranger to anyone to the east of Xia. Whereas to the West, the rising clan was that of the Oda, the East had the Yuki. The Yuki, within a span of a few years, managed to dwarf the Oda. But both were led by daimyo with near limitless ambition; one that every competitor begrudgingly acknowledges. Those that don't risk getting swept away like rust-colored leaves in the autumn winds.

Rumor has it that the Oda and Yuki Clan were both allies and enemies on the account of Oda's relations with its neighbors. This, however, is a story for another time.

The Suzuya, sensing a slight discomfort in their would-be adversaries, scan the valley for the source of this distress less that same source trouble them as well. Their fears were quickly elated however by a wave of purple banners waving proudly in the morning sun. At their head, two familiar faces, both women, with a full escort in tow, march towards the meeting place of adversaries; the null zone known as a battleground.

As the forces of the Yuki approach, all hold their breath for what is inevitably to come; a confrontation between two great powers of eastern Yukkira.

A delegation from the Tokkaku, bearing both their clan flag and the white flag of treatise begins to make its way to the middle ground between the three armies; a bare patch of clearing marked by a fallen tree well on its way on its return back to the Earth. So too do the Yuki and the Suzuya likewise follow.

Here, negotiations begin.

"Ol' man Tokkaku," says Kirin walking over and embraces the daimyo, "how nice of you to join us on this fine day! I would've never thought you'd show up considering how your eastern border seems to be riddled with insurgencies." Kirin says with a snide look while walking back to her side of the neutral zone.

"Ah! It is very good to see you little girl," says Minichi Tokkaku while mockingly bowing to Kirin, "I thought your father would've taught you better than to make trouble to old men."

"My father was one of very few men worthy of my respect ol' man," Kirin rebukes, "respect is earned; not bought." Kirin pointedly looks at a few of Minichi's delegation. These few individuals in turn shifted uncomfortably for arguably obvious reasons.

"Tokkaku Minichi of the most esteemed clan of the Tokkaku," says Suzuya Koroki completely ignoring the exchange full of barbed comments. "For several days, your troops have trespassed upon lands under the protection of the Suzuya clan. Please withdraw your troops immediately and return to your castles so that we might avoid unnecessary bloodshed."

"Oh? But I am at my castles," says Minichi opening his arms and motioning to Koroki's castle. "I've already offered you several times to become my vassal and yet you still flatly refuse. Blood might only be spilled if you side with the Yuki clan lord Suzuya. The choice is yours."

"That home of mine will be yours over my dead body Minichi," rebukes lord Suzuya. Minichi smiles.

"Is that an invitation?"

"You must've become more deaf ol' man," mocks Kirin, "lord Suzuya says you’re sticking your neck out where it doesn't belong. If it helps lord Suzuya, allow me the honor of chopping your head off!" Kirin says while drawing one of two katana blades at her waist. Instantly all of the Yuki draw their weapons. Regent Orochi quickly draws her bow to full length with an arrow notched on the string aimed at Tokkaku Minichi's head. The bodyguards quickly arm themselves with an array of weapons from naginata to sickles to muskets. The Tokkaku and Suzuya quickly did the same.

Both sides were tense, waiting for the other to make a move. The air became still and the world silent as the sun awaited for blood to spill upon the nurturing soil beneath each man's feet. This, however, did not happen as Kirin, the first to draw her weapon, puts it away. Slowly, everyone else follows suit.

"Ol' man, I have a proposal for you," says Kirin, "Pit a hundred men against me and my Regent right here in a battle of skill. If we lose, we'll have died an honorable death. But if we win, you withdraw your commanders across the Suzuya domain and thereabout, my own. Because as of today, the Suzuya clan is under my protection!"

"Little girl, do you think that I'm stupid? Do you think that I do not hear the rumors of you defeating single-handedly entire armies with but a hundred of your own?!" Tokkaku Minichi says making motions as if to exaggerate what should've been an absurd notion for all the right reasons but instead are but for the exact opposite.

His attendants however, whisper into his ears quickly and Minichi's expression quickly changes. Kirin takes this time to embrace Koroki and dote over his son, both whom don't know how to react to Kirin's proposal and her reaction to the Tokkaku actually deliberating over it.

Finally, they come to a decision. "Yuki Kirin, we accept with these modifications. We are able to field hundred-fifty men and each are able use whatever weapon they wish with exception to muskets. You, in turn must bring forth the Third Dragon and all three of you must fight."