An Ascended's Journey

I watched the Master swordsman walk out of the dojo. There is something wrong with that man. Looking at my younger brother, we made eye contact. It seemed like he knew something weird was also happening: If only Kazou would have listened to me.

I had tried convincing my brother we would attempt to kill this mysterious man before some disaster befalls us, lest he join the other side or curse us.

Something didn't feel right. The Master swordman was as eccentric as they come: Skipping formalities, long pauses, tying his sword wrong, and most of all, the hair and eyes.

Crystal blue eyes and a blonde bun. It had an almost mystical quality. I can't describe it, but I know there is something wrong about this "Master."

It was so strange to see a man so experienced in life act like a wakashū. (Young Inexperinced Samurai)

Was he acting like a buffon on purpose? If it wasn't for the distinct eyes and hair I might question his identity, but they were unmistakable.

This whole situation felt wrong in some way. The master spoke so informally, and he seemed so unknown to everything. The war between the two noble parties and the power of the shogunate, basic manners, and even how to speak properly. What reaction could the master be trying to get?

It's not like it matters, Oni-sama has made his call on this situation. I will trust his judgment. 

I remember when we were kids, my younger brother would always follow around our older brother. We used to play stupid games and annoy him, but since his training with the clan things had become more distant. 

Stepping out of the dojo, I found myself back onto the cobbled road. I could see the pillar of smoke rising not too far in front of the dojo to the left. It seemed like more of the city was scorched each day. The smell of smoke almost covered the city like a blanket. There were few people on the road, but towards the south I could see the backs of families leaving the city. 

I thought longingly to a time before this war when our family was all together. It hurt to see these families pushed from our city.

The fires and citizens mattered little to our journey though. We would be heading towards the northeast side of the city to the Imperial Palace— A base of operations near the enemy encampment. Not only was it a symbol of our claim to authority, but it also was a highly secured area with strong defenses. 

We had taken the palace a month ago in an attempt to lower enemy morale and give our side a higher political standing for the war. Instead it seemed that we had overreached our hand coming so close to the enemy camp. Skirmishes happened daily, and so we went out to recruit more warriors. 

We escorted the master in a triangular formation with my Older brother leading the front and my younger brother and I taking the back. From behind, I examined the Master's hakama. It was black with a large white dragon embroidered around the backside of the hakama. The dragon was fitting given his name.

"Ryuunosuke Kensei" I whispered to myself.

It truly fit the master swordsman. A Dragon's child and a Sword Saint.

I felt disappointed by what I had seen so far. This was supposed to be the pinnacle of experience and mastery. I should refrain from having such thoughts. I have yet to know the true nature of the swordsman. He could be testing us or might be incredibly eccentric. 

Traveling through the city, we came across a few bodies of unlucky citizens. Some were murdered in cold blood while others looked starved. It was a horrific sight. No matter how much they cleaned the streets, the smell of iron drenched the path. It was more apt to call this road a river of blood than stone. I couldn't imagine the amount of people who died in the city each day. I didn't want to. When would we and my brothers be next?

Shaking the grim thoughts and blocking out the atmosphere, I looked toward the houses we walked by. The district was filled with samurai houses, merchants, and such. Looking at each of their homes pained me. In the outskirts of the city, there was no such fancy housing. We lived in small wooden homes or tents while these people got to live in decorated homes with courtyards, gardens, or even dojos like this master. 

Oni-sama(Respectful way to address older brother) says we should respect our elders and the samurai, but it's unfair. We go through worse than each of those esteemed people and we receive no respect for it. We work and we farm and we have to give half of everything we make to these trash. Elders and samurai who have never seen a work or battle. They stomp us into the ground like we're tiny insects and my brother just rolls over for them. 

It's stupid for us younger people while these fools live happily. I might die in these streets one day on a patrol or from starvation while these aristocrats send us soldiers to do their bidding. I wish I had the respect Ryuunosuke Kensei had. I could do so much more with that respect and power than this fool could. 

Passing through the Nakagyō district we headed into the aristocratic district: Kamigyō.

Important shrines and temples covered the sides of the road as we passed. I mentally paid my respects to a Shinto shrine as we passed. Kansha shimasu, great Amaterasu.(Giving Thanks)

I looked up toward the sun and expressed my thanks to her again. It was a miracle we had survived a year in this war and I know we would need her protection and light to continue any further. 

Past the temples lie the great textile areas of silk production and… the aristocratic clans. Each courtyard owned by them was surrounded by large walls. They were truly powerful. 

I loathed them. I don't know when my hatred had started of them, but over the years of work and pain, this war was the straw in the camel's back. They used our lives like a game of Go.

Trying to get my mind off a problem I couldn't solve, I thought back to the Master Swordsman himself. Was he a trickster dragon dragging us along or some spirit in human form? I was scared he could be some monster, but curiosity also had its grip on me.

I looked over to my younger brother, trying to get his attention. I could see sweat dripping down his face; mine was no better. It seems her light was shining down on us today. Perhaps we would not find conflict with the rebel faction patrolling the city. 

Scooting closer to my younger brother I whispered to him, "Shiro"

Our footsteps clacked in the space of silence.

"Shirooooo."

"I know you can hear me." 

My brother sighed as he smiled in defeat.

"We're supposed to be escorting him, Takeshi!" My young brother is trying to educate me?

"Please, this 'Master' should be escorting us." Attitude dripped from me as I talked to Shiro.

"What do you think of him, Shiro?"

Shiro looked up for a moment in thought, twirling his spear as he thought over the question. 

"Hmmm, I think he will be a great help to our cause. He is a master of the blade and a renowned teacher. If his skills are as menacing as his skills, then he is a deadly foe."

My brother rubbed his neck with his hand and said sheepishly, "If I'm honest, I've never seen anyone with blue eyes or blonde hair before. It's almost unsettling to look at."

We both turned toward the back of the Master Swordsman.

My younger brother's reverence of this master slightly irked me, but his ideas about the 'cause' upset me. 

"Shiro," I sighed.

"You don't have to act so much like Kazuo. Unlike him, we won't be supported by the clans once this is over. Just try and take care of yourself."

The tone of conversation had turned serious in light of the previous playfulness. Kazuo had always been one to follow order, but I didn't agree with him. We still respected each other, but it was part of the rift in our relationship.

I bumped into Shiro's shoulder, making him stumble to get his back in line. He looked around to make sure no one had noticed and then he glared at me. 

I smiled mischievously, "Lighten up." I snickered a bit.

"This older brother of yours demands respect." He pushed me away with his hand and we both shared a quiet laugh. 

"Shiro, I wanted to ask what you thought was wrong with the Master Swordsman?"

Shrio gave me a puzzled look for a moment.

"Come on? You're telling me you haven't noticed anything wrong with him? What about how he tied those swords in?"

"And why would he pretend to know nothing about the war or the city? It's been a year and you're telling he doesn't know the situation? It's almost like he is a different person or some imposter." 

His brother looked towards his back for a moment.

"What if it's a test?" Shiro whispered excitedly.

What? My brother seemed so naive. What would he even test us for? This man seemed like he was not who he was rumored to be. Was he a monster or spirit impersonating the man or was the man himself possessed by a deity or a spirit? Perhaps he was testing us. If we could be trained by him, we might be able to stand alongside our older brother, and I could change things for the better. 

No, that was impossible. There was no point in getting my hopes up over nothing. This man could be cursed for all we knew. 

I grumbled to myself in thought.

Earlier I had been pretty hasty to get rid of the Swordsman, but we had somehow got stuck escorting him to the Imperial Palace? What happened if the rebel faction caught wind of this recruitment? I'm sure they wouldn't let them have someone of his strength and intelligence.

I absent-mindedly thanked Shiro for his thoughts and stepped back into formation.

It was strange for such a renowned master to not have joined a side for a year to join now. He could be a threat to both sides and yet he had been left unattended in respect of his skills and age. 

I tried to push the thoughts away from my mind as we walked through the noble district. It was strange for there to be so few people in a district. Occasionally, Monks could be found attending their shrines as we passed. It was so empty besides that. The streets smelled of incense.

It was almost eerie how 'safe' this side of town seemed. Man, it gave me the creeps.

I focused my gaze into the far distant as our target came into view—The Imperial Palace.

In the distance, a large stone and wooden wall surrounded a large palace. Watchtowers were laid around the key locations around the wall and guards were stationed outside the front gate. Peeking out from the wall and towers, the tiled roofs of buildings rose behind the walls and watchtowers while the Main hall itself towered over everything. The imperial palace was a work of art. Even from outside the walls, a person could see the beauty in its design. 

Surprisingly, we had made it to the palace without issue. 

I thought something bad was going to happen, but I guess I was wrong. Heh, what was I expecting? It's not like one Sensei would spell all of our deaths. 

My brother halted the group as he approached the gate guards. It didn't take long for the guards to open the gate. As we walked into the castle, the guards bowed to the "esteemed master."

As we entered the palace complex, Ryuunosuke Kensei stopped in what seemed to be shock.

I snickered to myself and had a smug smile on my face. He had never seen the palace before!

Heh, I did the same thing when I had first been here earlier in the year. It was truly beautiful. I would have never seen the palace if this war had never started.

I was sure he had seen the palace before. He was old enough to have been a part of the start of the civil incursion years before the current war? Hmm, perhaps the palace has changed since then.

A beautiful rock path with a garden on each side. Streams and ponds laid on each side with the beautiful cherry blossoms blooming. Small koi were swimming in the ponds and vibrant plants growing everywhere in the gardens. Inside the courtyard the air was pleasantly floral. 

"Woah," Ryuunosuke Kensei said.

My older brother turned around with a grin himself. Cheekily, he addressed the swordsman, "Esteemed Sensei, have you never seen the inside of the palace?"

"Oh… No, I have never entered the palace before."

He looked around for a bit and asked, "Where are you guys taking me to?"

God, Ryuunosuke Kensei was so informal. Was he renowned for his ultimate sword skill or his ability to make people uncomfortable? I chuckled to myself at the joke.

His sword skills must be quite great to make up for his eccentric behavior. 

Hopefully, this mission can further my brother's standing in the Yamana Clan. My older brother had always been talented and valued. He was a great brother and he deserved to become a samurai. I only wish he stood up more against the aristocrats. 

It burned me because I wasn't as talented as him, but I knew that if he could attain some standing, he might change things unlike other nobles. My older brother had always been kind, mature, and strong. It was hard not to look up to him.

Even if it stung my ego to stand behind him, I won't stop supporting him. 

It seemed like the master and my older brother were finishing up a conversation. It probably wasn't important anyways. We continued walking into the Palace grounds towards the main hall. Stone stairs led up to the large wooden hall as we came across the large doors to the interior palace itself.

For days the our army had fended off the enemy near the outskirts of this district and the palace. I'm sure it's only a matter of time until we have to fight them off at the gate or even worse they find some way to bring a section of the wall or scale it en masse. 

Our group made its way up the steps towards the large doors of the hall. Shiro and I hustled past Kuzuo and the master swordsman to open the large doors. Shiro and I bowed as they passed us and followed after.

Within the hall gathered many men from established families and powers. There were many samurai around the room with even the daimyo, Yamana Sozen, at the table. They were discussing something about treason.

I whispered to myself in contempt, "Politics."

My brother went off to inform a hatamoto or someone close to Yamana Sozen of a successful mission.

The meeting, while hosting many people, was quite orderly. The daimyo were seated at the ends of each table with many samurai and other significant figures between them. Currently, Yamana was reading out a declaration from the enemy noble faction. These political events were something I couldn't stomach.

This place was so orderly that whispering with my younger brother could get me in trouble. 

God, I had been such an idiot today. I had challenged my older brother's authority and attempted to convince him to kill a Master Swordsman. And not just any master swordsman, but one ordained with a title and a dojo. He could probably take us out with a hand tied behind his back. 

My older brother may have been training for war since he was a boy, but Shiro and I were thrust into this war with nothing. Just for fighting on this side, we have all been charged with being traitors, which would spell death if we lose this war. If we even win this war. 

Today I could feel it, I was scared. I had distracted myself with the thoughts that didn't matter to hide from how I felt. Smoke filled the skies of the city I had grown up in, and brutal street skirmishes took place daily around the city. It hurt to watch other young men lying still on the road or crying, as families flee the city, and we hadn't gone far from the palace. The blood and ashes suffocating me as we walked through the city. 

The areas near the palace were supposed to be safest given their sacred nature, but we were slowly seeing more skirmishes near its walls and the district itself. It's only a matter of time before we have an engagement ourselves.

I looked toward the back of the master swordsman and thought about how I had judged him today. I could give myself plenty of excuses like I was young or scared, but I had judged this Master swordsman for his hair and eccentric ways. I promise, in the future, I'll make up for this mistake. 

My older brother had come back and motioned us to follow towards the head of the table. Soon Ryuunosuke Kensei and Yamana Soren came face to face. They exchanged greetings with each other and soon my brothers and I were dispatched back to the camp behind the palace. We walked around the front of the palace through the beautiful gardens back to the tents. They were set up everywhere, crammed into the back courtyard and around the administrative buildings here. 

My brothers and I each split off towards our tents. I needed to get ready for my guard shift at the front watchtower. It was going to be a short shift. Yesterday, I had the watchtower to myself all day. It was a long day. 

I poked my head out of my white tent. The sun had already passed the halfway point in the sky. I bowed toward the sun as I made a prayer.

Great Amaterasu, Benevolent Goddess of the sun, thank you for providing my family with your light today and giving us this day.

Heading back into my tent, I had some onigiri. I wrapped up a couple of the rice balls in a cloth and tied them to the side of my belt. I grabbed my naginata off the side of the tent and crouched my head out of the tent. I threw the naginata over my shoulder as I began my walk back through the garden. 

Supplies were short in the small encampment. It was hard to deliver supplies from our war camp through the city. The distance was long and the city was unsafe. We were slowly running out of supplies while defending the palace and I just wanted some real food tonight.

As I walked through the garden I stopped by a small Hokora. 

It was a small miniature building with little stone steps up to its offering space. I laid my naginata up against a beautiful fence as I reached for my food. Unwrapping the cloth, I placed some pieces of my onigiri in the shrine. 

Maybe what I was doing was stupid, but I felt compelled. I kneeled my head and prayed. My family needed a miracle to survive this war and I had no problem praying to the great kami. I looked down at a small bowl of salt near my onigiri. It seems we all needed strength.

I grabbed my naginata off the fence and threw it over my back. It was time to go start my shift at the watchtower. I walked out in front of the shrine and back on the path towards the front of the palace. Usually they had true samurai defending the front of the palace, but it seems there was a shortage of people. As I neared the end of the garden, I could see the grand entrance of the main hall and the towers and gate from my position. I walked towards the front gate and talked to the samurai about the shift change, and walked up toward the watchtower. 

The tower had a stone base with large lattice-like wooden structures sprouting up from stone into the observation deck. The roof was double-layered and the wooden lattice structure near the edge of the observation deck could provide cover while not blocking sight. It was the perfect defensive structure.

I walked up the steep wooden stairs of the tower and relieved the man from his duty. He was a samurai and before he left he handed me his bow. I did need one, but his act of trust was something I did not expect. I guess I owed another favor to someone else today. 

It was a shame supplies were short. They couldn't even get more weapons to the palace!

For the first part of my shift, I sat near the end of the observation deck, cleaning the bow and checking the bow for cracks or damage.

It was a pristine bow. The samurai had taken a lot of care in maintaining it.

After my check and cleaning of the bow was finished, I just had to watch. And watch I did as the sun crossed the sky. I saw Soldiers come and go from patrol. Nobles and aristocrats visit the palace, and at one point Yamana Sozen and his party had begun to travel back to the war camp. 

Not only was there chaos on the ground but the sky as well. The Sun sat on one side of the sky, and dark clouds were coming in from the other, and in between it all was a city bathed in orange light and red smoke. I wonder if it's a sign from the great Amertasu?

After the sun had gone over the horizon, another guard had come to take my place. He already had a bow on him when he came up the stairs, so I laid the samurai bow up against a wall of the observation tower. I'm sure he would be back later for his weapon.

As I walked back through the garden, rain had started to fall from the sky. Rain lightly pelted my tent as I entered it. I took off my sandals. I then took off my armor and helmet, placing them in the corner along with my naginata, and grabbed a pot from my bag. Grabbing my shoes, I laid the pot outside to collect water while I went to the fancy privies they had. 

It was quite fancy compared to the pits we usually used. After I was done, I looked for a spot to shower off in this rain. Toward the back of the palace there was a spot between the administrative building and the wall where it wasn't too visible. 

The palace was sacred and needed to be honored. I had truly been fortunate to ever see the inside of the imperial palace. In my lifetime no regular soldier should have been able to. 

As I got behind the building, I placed my clothing on the wall of the administrative building and scrubbed myself down in the rain. It had been a while since I had the opportunity to get clean.

As I cleaned up in the heavy rain, others seemed to also have the same idea. Over time, almost twenty men had found their way behind the building. In the beginning, everyone was quite respectful, bowing to each other and giving a greeting to one another, but soon something broke that formal tension.

Some splashed each other with the water, cupping the rain in their hands and kicking up puddles, while others told jokes, or in my case, I was listening to a story.

"—over a Ri away. It passed through the sky like a snake until far in the distance it struck that straw bundle right in the center. Heh, you should have seen the look on that samurai's face. That's how I joined the Ōuchi clan and became a samurai!" 

Myself and a couple of others were laughing at the lusciousness of his story. Unlike most of the men here, he had nicer clothing on the way, and if that wasn't enough, his hair and demeanor gave it away. The soldier looked slightly older than I, with black hair and a defined but skinny body. 

"There's no way you made a shot over a Ri away. That's like the entire length of the imperial palace from wall to wall as a shot!"

The soldier laughed as he gasped for air in his next sentence.

"We can't even see the wall from here!" 

It was a nice relaxer from our time on duty and in war. Today had been... stressful to say the least. This must be a gift from the great Kuraokami. 

I wanted to stay and enjoy the rain a little longer, but I had to go clean up my gear during this rain and get food and rest.

He was right though about that distance. I could not even imagine the shot, let alone be able to take it or see it. I could get behind a samurai like him. 

I excused myself from the group of men and tried to dry off a little before putting my kosode back on. It would get slightly wet, but it was okay. I grabbed my sandals and walked, waving back towards the men as I exited this place of bonding. 

Cheerful goodbyes assaulted me as I left. Even in the cold rain, I could feel warmth in my soul.

I couldn't help but grin to myself as I dodged the growing mud and puddles around the camp.

I arrived at a fire pit portected by a portion of the roof above it. Soldiers lined the areas under the roof by the fire. They were dressed in casual robes like me, eating soup and talking. As I got close to the camp, a man greeted me with a bowl of soup with chopsticks. I bowed to him before and thanked him, and we went to join the people around the fire. I found a large stone under the edge of the roof to sit on. 

Holding the bowl in my left hand and the chopsticks in my right. The soup had some miso paste and seaweed with even a little salt. It was pretty good given what I had been eating.

As we ate and laughed together, it got darker until it was like this was our entire world. It was so dark you could not see the faces of your fellow brothers covered in the flickering orange glow of the fire. 

The men dispersed from the fire to their responsibilities as time passed. The clothing of everyone had become more damp and the night had become even colder. Eventually, I left too, but not before I thanked the man who had given me food.

It was moments like these that reminded me that my blood family was not the only family I had. We each had to take care of each other if we wanted to survive. Whether it was a common soldier like me or like the samurai I had listened to. 

I left the campfire to go back to my tent.

Darkness covered the land, making it hard to see shapes at this point. At this point, this rain had been going on for almost two hours. It seems that while this rain provided us with opportunity, it provided just as much of a challenge.

I sighed as I tiptoed through the dark, staying on the thin path of lanterns to guide me. 

In the pitch dark I found my way to my tent, peeking inside to see if it was mine. There was no one home, and feeling around I could feel my naginata up against its side. Stepping inside, I left my shoes at the front. 

My robe would have to be cleaned and dried, but for now I used it to wipe down my armor and naginata before drying it with my ration cloth.

I felt around for my pot outside, drinking the water it had collected. Food and water were harder to come by in the palace, especially hard considering our distance to the enemy. 

It wasn't the cleanest or safest option, but getting water was already hard enough. 

I tried to place the robe in the corner of the tent, and pulled out my last pair of clothing to keep myself warm tonight. I laid down on the tatami mat with my bag to hold my head.

Today was a good day. It had a pretty rough start, and I wasn't too happy, but the palace and with all my brother-in-arms, it was a great day. Thank you Great Amaterasu. Thank you Great Kuraokami.

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The pitter patter of rain comforted Takeshi Yamana as he fell asleep. The rushing of water as it rolled down the sides of his tent, and in the distance, the distant coming of lightning. The world was dark with the sun gone and the dark clouds covering the sky, but soon the world would become much darker.