A Tale of the Jade Championship

 

by Brian Yoon

 

 

 

“This was a mistake,” Moshi Minami said to herself.

The young Mantis courtier stood among the crowd as they watched Tamori Wotan and Kuni Ochiyo locked in combat. The sight fascinated those around her; they were all courtiers and sycophants, looking for the next Jade Champion so that they could make connections to the new source of political power. To them, the sight of the spells that rent the ground was just magnificent entertainment. It was awe inspiring to see mere men command the power of the kami.

To Minami, the sight of the shugenja in midst of the taryu-jiai was a cruel reminder of everything she had lost.

She stood up from her seat and grabbed her parasol. She pushed past the others, politely excusing herself whenever she impeded the view of another bystander. The people were entranced by the duel and would not move out of her way. She kept the annoyance off of her face and tried to move away from the crowd. By the time she finally extricated herself, polite applause began to ring in the air. One or the other would now advance to the next level of competition and was one step closer to the mantle of the Jade Champion. At the moment, she could not possibly care less about such a trivial detail.

Minami stepped away from the crowd and walked toward the tent reserved for Mantis competitors. She recognized where this line of thought was taking her. She knew from experience that this mood would possess her like a demon and color every word and gesture from her. She could not risk meeting a high ranking samurai in this state. She would no doubt make a foolish remark, and that would certainly be the end of her short and rather uneventful career as a courtier for her clan.

The sound of a chuckle reached her ears and Minami turned her head toward the noise. A Crab stood next to a tent, his eyes fixed on her. His companion, a Lion bushi by the look of it, looked stiff and uncomfortable as he watched her approach.

“Your pretty face is creased with unhappiness, Mantis¬san,” the Crab said, a gentle smile on his face. “Did the duel not meet your fancy?”

Minami smiled back at the man and racked her brain for a clue of the man’s identity. He was a Kuni; that much was obvious from the traditional face paint and the large Kuni mon on his breast. His personal mon decorated his clothes in a more discreet manner. Minami simply could not figure out who this person was. The Lion was an Akodo in the Lion armies, but she knew too little of Lion heraldry to determine any more than that.

“It’s not a matter of enjoying the duel, Kuni-san,” Minami replied. She gestured to the crowd that had begun to disperse. “I simply could not stand being in a crowd of people who thought the display little more than a spectacle.”

            The Kuni raised an eyebrow and turned to the Lion. “A courtier that speaks what is on her mind, instead of a bunch of flowery nonsense? What a treat!” The Crab stepped forward with a slight hobble, and Minami noticed for the first time that he relied on a cane to walk.

“It is refreshing,” the Lion said gruffly. “Perhaps if courtiers were to do it more frequently, I would be able to stand to spend more time with them.”

“I am new to the courts,” Minami admitted. “Perhaps I am too foolish to last for long without relying on, as you say, flowery nonsense.’

“I don’t believe it for a moment,” the Crab responded. “I am a wonderful judge of character, and I say that you could succeed at whatever you’d put your mind to. It’s a gift. More of a burden, really, as it is difficult being correct all the time.”

Minami hid a grin. This Crab was an oddity. Most Crabs she had met were uncouth and unpleasant to speak to. This one had a sense of humor that she could appreciate. Even his flirtatious words seemed fueled by a desire to lift her spirits rather than any other nefarious thoughts.

“A burden,” Minami repeated. She bowed slightly to the Crab. “I thank you for continuing on with such responsibility on your shoulders. Lesser men would be crushed under its weight.”

“I am afraid that Umibe-san’s ego will be able to bear it,” the Lion said. He smiled slightly, as if the expression was unfamiliar to him, and he looked years younger for doing so.

The Crab threw his head back and laughed heartily. “I am Kuni Umibe, shugenja of the Crab Clan.”

“Akodo Koun, gunso of the Lion Clan,” his companion said.

Minami smiled. “I am Moshi Minami. It is a pleasure to meet you both.”

“Exchanging pleasantries already? I thought you were one of the honest ones,” Koun said. Minami turned to him, the smile freezing on her face. She knew that tensions between her clan and that of the Lion were rough, but it did not warrant an attack on her. Before she could say something scathing in response, a cloud passed over Koun’s face and he raised his hand to stop her words.

“My words were too harsh, Minami-san,” Koun said. “I have a habit of speaking before I can examine the import of my words. I have no quarrel with you, though there are harsh relations between our clans. I hope that you do not judge me unfavorably from my outburst. I do not intend to insult you.”

Minami held back her response and studied the gruff bushi. He did look contrite. From the other side of Koun, Umibe studied him with an impassive face. Perhaps the Crab was surprised by the man as well.

Minami shook her head. “Perhaps it is a good thing that you do not spend much time in court, Koun-san. As for me — well, it is a beautiful day outside. Let us leave the influence of the court far behind us.”

            Umibe and Koun nodded. “I hope you are not on a task for your daimyo, for I would hate to be deprived of your presence,” Umibe said.

“Nothing of the sort,” Minami responded. “I was headed toward the Mantis tents for a rest.”

Umibe studied her with an intent look on his face. “Perhaps you would join me on a stroll to the center of the testing grounds? I am not used to walking at such a slow pace.”

“I hope no malady afflicts you,” Minami said politely.

Umibe shook his head. “No, I am simply weakened from exertion. I have recently undertaken a project that has consumed much of my time and powers. You attempt to distract me from my goal, and I would appreciate an answer to my suggestions. After all, I would appreciate listening to a courtier’s viewpoint on all the madness that surrounds us, without any of the deception.”

“I am afraid I can only offer Umibe the viewpoint of a warrior,” Koun added. “He hears it every day from the others on the Wall. I offer him no challenge, no interesting viewpoint. I must say he was ready to find an excuse to stop our conversation when you walked by.”

“With such an invitation, how could I possibly say no?” Minami responded. She opened her parasol and gestured to the Crab. He started his walk with the help of his cane, and the pair slowly made their way up the road.

“You thought the others were too disrespectful while they watched the match?” Umibe asked softly.

Minami lowered her voice in turn so that others walking by would not overhear — or worse, take offense. “I think the whole thing is a travesty,” Minami said.

“These people do not realize what it means to cast a prayer to the kami, to borrow their aid with spells. Yes, the shugenja in the duel were making fantastic changes to the ground, the air, nature itself. Still, the kami must be respected and the works of a shugenja should never be reduced to yet another way to kill the opponent.”

“You say that shugenja should respect the kami,” Koun responded. “Showing respect for the kami is not at odds with utilizing them to fulfill goals. A shugenja may be a priest of the kami, yet he is also a samurai. It is part of his duty to follow the orders of his lord, and use the resources available to him to defeat the enemy. To kill, if necessary.”

“I am unsurprised to hear you say such a thing,” Minami said. “I do not mean to condescend, Koun-san, yet you do not know the relationship between a shugenja and the kami around him.”

“I believe it is a rather popular viewpoint in the empire these days,” Umibe added.

“Every morning when I wake up,” Koun said, “I pray to my ancestors that I do not fail in their eyes. I can sense their presence every day, and in battle I can feel the joy of the ancestors as I charge. Perhaps it is not a physical matter, but I can certainly understand the sacred bonds one can have with the spiritual realm.”

“I do not mean to imply you are not spiritual,” Minami quickly replied. “I simply mean that the kami cannot be used like a tool. To call upon their aid is to ask the elements to bend for our benefit. That is a mighty power that must not be misused.”

“Who is to judge what uses are proper, and which are a violation of the ties between shugenja and kami?” Umibe asked. “We are a warrior caste, and in these uncertain times war has come upon us. With the help of the kami, a shugenja can fulfill a combat objective more easily than a unit of bushi. If a prayer to the kami can accomplish something that would otherwise be bought with blood, how can a shugenja refuse to come to his clan’s aid?”

Minami looked at her companions. “Where does one draw the line between saving the lives of his comrades and murdering the lives of his opponents? The kami are not weapons to be wielded at one’s opponents. They are not so simple as a yari or a tetsubo. They must be respected and revered.”

“Murder is a strong word, Minami-san,” Koun said. “When a bushi steps onto the battlefield, he expects to face his enemies. He accepts that he may die for his clan. In this case, it is not murder.”

“Ideology is one thing,” Umibe said, “and experience is another.”

“This is quite unfair,” Minami said with a slight smile. “You are working in concert against me.”

Koun bowed. “I must admit that my experience with shugenja is limited. I have never fought by a shugenja’s side nor lived the priest’s life. I can only address this issue from life as I know it. Umibe-san, what do you believe?”

“I believe that the matter is clear in some cases,” Umibe said. “On the Wall I face the horrors of the Shadowlands as they attempt to gain entry to the empire. There I must call upon the aid of the kami to bring down creatures that are invulnerable to weapons. Can I stand aside, knowing that my intervention means life or death to Crab samurai?”

“Of course not,” Minami said. “It is an unfair comparison, Umibe-san. The Shadowlands is an abomination to all living creatures. We must do all we can do repel their influence, and the kami themselves jump at the chance to destroy the filth.”

“I simply choose the most extreme example. If a shugenja faces a maho-tsukai, ready to spill blood for Jigoku, should he hesitate in destroying the enemy?”

Minami glanced at her companion. “Yet again, an example of the Shadowlands Taint. They are exceptions to the rule.”

“What if dozens of bushi rushed a shugenja, weapons at the ready?” Koun asked.

“You cannot be arguing that the shugenja must face personal peril to call upon the kami, Umibe-san,” Minami said. “If the shugenja were not on the battlefield, he would not face the situation.”

“Yet it is a position that many shugenja face. If your lord were to ask you to do everything you can to further the influence of your clan, you would not refuse,” Umibe said.

“I would not,” Minami agreed, “but there are limitations to that demand.”

“How can one refuse to do everything if your lord demands it of you?” Koun asked.

“I believe that each shugenja is given responsibility for his actions when he earns the right to speak to the kami. One must not pervert that responsibility for anyone, even one’s lord.” A small smile graced her face. “I doubt you would look favorably at the use of maho for one’s lord.”

Umibe grinned. “Another example of the Shadowlands Taint. They are exceptions, as you said.”

“I simply use the most extreme example to make a point, Umibe-san,” Minami said with a small laugh.

Umibe was silent for a few moments as they passed a group of loud, boisterous samurai. “Your point is received,” he said. “I do not sense the gift of the kami in you, Minami-san, yet you have a keen insight into the minds of the shugenja. How do you come by this knowledge, if you do not mind my asking?”

Minami spoke past the sudden lump in her throat. “I was once able to speak to the kami,” she said. She struggled to keep the despair from her voice. “I lost the ability to do so after a certain experience on the field as a magistrate.”

Umibe and Koun did not look at her, instead choosing to look straight ahead at the road. Minami was glad that they did not shame her by witnessing her burst of emotion. “I cannot imagine what that must feel like,” Umibe finally said, the humor gone from his voice. “I apologize for bringing such pain to you.”

Koun simply remained silent, instead choosing to stare at a food vendor as they crossed the road.

“Do not worry,” Minami said, her emotions finally in check. “It was a long time ago, and I know that it is all for the best. I believe we have reached your destination.”

Umibe and Koun looked around at his surroundings. The center of the testing grounds was a gathering place for vendors selling everything from small doodles to food. The crowd seemed to be drawn to the central testing area, where two shugenja prepared to match strength of will to see who would succeed.

“I must depart, Umibe-san, Minami-san,” Koun said. He glanced over toward the Lion tents then bowed to the pair. “I have to attend to my duties. Thank you for your company. You have taught me much.”

“An unusual man,” Umibe murmured as Koun walked away. “I seem to be just in time for Daigo’s match. Thank you, Minami-san. You have given me much to think about.”

Minami bowed back. “You as well, Umibe-san. I hope you find your answer to the questions.”

And I hope that one day, you can find peace, Umibe thought as Minami walked away.