At the Heart of the Empire

 

by Brian Yoon

Edited by Fred Wan

 

Toshi Ranbo

 

Isawa Ochiai had counted down the hours to this very moment, and yet she felt wholly unprepared for what she must do. The whispers of the Fire Dragon in her mind had comforted her through the harsh months following the battle at Toshi Ranbo. The Fire Dragon was a visible sign that she and the rest of the Elemental Council had not become crazy with power. Why else would the Fire Dragon support their regency, if it did not approve of all that the Phoenix had accomplished over the months?

Ochiai stepped lightly onto the roof of the Imperial Palace and immediately the tension in the air grew tenfold. The avatar of the Fire Dragon turned its head to face the shugenja, its eyes fixed intently on her. The air seemed to thicken as the fire kami around the Fire Dragon noticed her presence. The kami moved and sang furiously and rushed to envelop Ochiai in their dance. The power of the kami nearly knocked her off her feet. The song was breathtaking.

Ochiai raised a hand, palm forward, toward the Dragon.

“Thank you for everything,” Ochiai whispered. She closed her eyes and shook her head.

“You have done more than enough, my friend. The rest will be up to us… and Rokugan.”

At the Dragon’s silent bidding, Ochiai looked up at the mighty form once more. For an instant, for an eternity, the Fire Dragon stared into her eyes. Tears began to flow down her cheeks without shame as the Fire Dragon ascended toward the heavens. The Dragon unfurled and its majestic form extended to its full length. Ochiai watched as the Dragon disappeared behind the clouds. Ochiai did not move from her position until she could no longer feel its presence in Ningen-do.

“Now, it begins,” Ochiai said to the wind. She turned around and headed back toward the meeting chamber. She dried her tears and her face hardened with resolve.

 

 

Togashi Ieshige looked up at the vast gates of the monastery with a sense of unease growing within him. He knew that cowardice was not the source of the problem. Once, he had been a samurai and he had been a Lion. Neither of those beginnings was prone to bouts of cowardice. He laid aside those duties and become a monk in the Dragon mountains, but he had never forgotten the lessons he had learned in his past life. Perhaps it was a sense of unease that he would not live up to Togashi Satsu’s expectations. He no longer wore swords by his side, yet now he returned to the Imperial City to enter politics once more. Politics had been tricky as a samurai, and it would prove only more difficult now.

Or perhaps, Ieshige mused, his discomfort was a simple matter of memory. The monastery of the Four Temples Order in Toshi Ranbo was located right next to the district of Okura. In his past life, Ieshige had served as the governor of the district before it burnt down in a horrific blaze.

Whatever the source of his distress was, Ieshige decided, it was unimportant. He would answer the summons and represent the Dragon Clan in the best way he could.

“You did not need to accompany me, Fusami-san,” he said, turning to his companion. “I could have made the trip alone.”

The young woman looked back at him and shook her head. “I was not ordered to do so if that is what you mean, Ieshige-san,” Fusami replied. “However, I thought it was important that you had a competent yojimbo by your side. You cannot help the clan if you fall victim to bandits or ronin. Tengoku’s Judgment continues to harass towns near the foot of the mountains, and they are not known for their mercy.”

Ieshige looked at the duelist with surprise. “I had not heard that. You are surprisingly well informed, Fusami-san, for a simple instructor stationed at Shiro Mirumoto.”

“Between lessons, I like to travel to the villages,” Fusami answered. “I speak to the peasants on our land and share in both their triumphs and their losses.”

Ieshige nodded slowly. “There is more to you than I expected, Fusami-san,” he said. “Forgive me for underestimating you.”

Fusami smiled. “I had an ulterior motive as well. I have never seen the monastery of Toshi Ranbo. I might not get another opportunity to do so for many years to come.”

“We cannot allow ulterior motives to tarnish my mission,” Ieshige said with an exaggerated look of shock on his face. “Let us enter the monastery and satisfy your wish so that I may continue onwards.”

Fusami nodded resolutely and the pair stepped through the giant gates.

Ieshige lived in the High House of Light, a castle designed for monks, yet the sight of the monastery grounds still took his breath away. The monastery was enormous. Trees ran along stone paths that crossed the outskirts of the monastery grounds. Ieshige could see sand gardens in the distance, and other small centers of tranquility met his gaze. The path that led from the gate was lined with impressively large stone steps that were carved into the hill. On top of the hill, the steps led onto a courtyard that could assemble thousands of men. Four giant buildings lined the courtyard, and Ieshige could see hundreds of monks tending to their everyday duties.

Both Ieshige and Fusami paused for one long moment as they took the sight in.

“What do you know of this place?” Ieshige asked quietly. Somehow, it seemed a sacrilege to raise his voice in such a holy place.

“It is one of the monasteries belonging to the Four Temples Order,” Fusami answered. “They are the largest sect of the Brotherhood of Shinsei. They believe that monks should not go into isolation. Instead, they may only find true enlightenment and peace through interaction with the real world.”

“I suppose that explains its location,” Ieshige muttered. “Let’s find a monk to help us. We will never find anyone by ourselves.”

Without hesitation Ieshige strode forward toward the nearest monk. The monk had his back turned toward the pair as he swept debris and fallen leaves from the stone path. Even from behind, Ieshige could tell that the man was old, yet his motions with the broom were strong and steady.

“Excuse me, grandfather,” Ieshige called out. The monk straightened his posture and turned around. He looked expectantly at Ieshige, his broom still held firmly in his hand. For a second, Ieshige felt inadequate underneath the monk’s expectant gaze.

“I apologize for interrupting your duties,” Ieshige said, “I am Togashi Ieshige and my companion is Fusami. I seek Grand Master Tanari. He has called me for an audience. I hope you can help me find him.” Ieshige pulled out a small scroll from within his kimono and presented its seal to the aging man.

The monk did not bother looking at the scroll. Instead, he said “Follow me” in a calm voice. He turned around and headed toward a path that headed toward the wall of the monastery. Ieshige looked at Fusami quizzically then obediently began to follow his guide.

The trio walked along the path for what seemed like hours. The path followed the wall and led them behind the large buildings. Eventually the path curved upwards toward the hill away from the edge of the monastery. Ieshige was relieved when the old monk stopped at a small sand garden several hundred feet behind the closest building. He looked around. No one was near and no one seemed to be approaching. He frowned.

When their guide turned to face them, Fusami bowed deeply to the old man. Ieshige looked at her then stopped as realization began to dawn on him.

“Please, Fusami-san,” the guide said, “I am just a man, same as any other. There is no need for reverence among equals.”

“Tanari-sama,” Ieshige said and bowed. “I should have realized earlier. I did not mean to give offense.”

Tanari laughed softly. “You are no longer among samurai, Ieshige-san. You do not need to do that. Let us simply resolve the issue which brings us together today.”

“You requested the presence of a representative of the Dragon Clan,” Ieshige said. “I am nothing more than a humble monk, yet Togashi Satsu-sama and his hatamoto have asked me to serve as his substitute for this meeting.”

Tanari raised an eyebrow. “Hatamoto, you say?”

“Hai,” Ieshige answered. “Satsu-sama’s duties consume much of his attention. To better facilitate the incorporation of the three orders into the reunified Togashi, he has appointed Hit… that is to say, Togashi Maya as the head of the ise zumi. It was she who requested I represent Satsu-sama in this matter.”

“Maya? Interesting,” Tanari said. “It is a pity that he did not appear, yet I understand that he has many duties. I will not waste our time. I asked you here to offer the Dragon Clan our support.”

Ieshige’s eyes grew wide. He took a few calming breaths before he dared speak. “You are saying that the Brotherhood of Shinsei will support the Dragon Clan’s candidate for the throne?”

Tanari laughed. “Nothing that grandiose, Ieshige. The Four Temples Order wishes to support Togashi Satsu for the throne.”

“That is no small offer,” Fusami whispered in Ieshige’s ear. “The Four Temples Order is the largest sect of the Brotherhood, and the leader of the Four Temples Order is considered to be the leader of the entire Brotherhood by many monks.”

“I must ask you, what brought you to this decision?” Ieshige said.

“Who do you believe is able to bear the responsibility of the throne?” Tanari asked. “For forty years the lands have been rent by war over and over again under the guidance of the Toturi dynasty. For forty years men have died because the Emperor did not have the strength or the foresight to avoid what lay in the empire’s path.”

Ieshige stilled. “You come close to blasphemy, Tanari-sama,” he said quietly.

“Perhaps,” Tanari responded calmly, “yet I only speak the truth. The Imperial bloodline has ended. Who better than a god should ascend to the throne?”

“It is said that Lord Satsu does not wish to become emperor,” Ieshige said.

“What do you believe, Ieshige?” Tanari asked.

Ieshige stopped short. He gathered his thoughts into a coherent idea then spoke. “I wish for wars to end. I wish for peace among the people. A strong and wise man should sit on the throne, an Emperor that knows what is best for the people.”

“And who do you believe you have just described?” Tanari asked.

Ieshige looked into Tanari’s eyes. Slowly, reluctantly, he smiled.

 

 

One day later

 

Matsu Kenji stared out across the field at the walls of Toshi Ranbo. It was a sight that filled her with both pride and discomfort. Toshi Ranbo was the Imperial City now, yet it had only recently gained that honor. Before the change, Toshi Ranbo had been a city hotly contested between the Lion Clan and the Crane Clan. Kenji could still remember charging the walls with the rest of the Lion’s Pride as they fought the Crane armies. She had come a long ways since then, yet the walls of Toshi Ranbo would forever be linked in her mind to her youth.

Those days were gone; she was no longer a youth by any sense of the word, but here she was preparing to lead a charge on the city walls once more. She sat on her horse and waited for the others to be ready. She studied the city once more. She had grown accustomed to the sight of the Fire Dragon perched on top of the city. The city looked mundane and drab in its absence.

“Kenji-sama,” someone said loudly, “perhaps you should not be at the head of the group.”

Kenji turned to the speaker and smiled. Matsu Sakaki was a young girl who had recently joined the Lion’s Pride. Because she was younger than the others, she had a tendency to overcompensate and throw herself into combat. “Why do you say that, Sakaki-chan? Do you fear for my safety?”

“Yes,” Sakaki said bluntly. “Once the Phoenix recognize our plans, they may react violently. Who knows what they will do to keep power within their grasp?”

“But you will be there to protect me, sister,” Kenji teased. “With you by my side I would face the entire Phoenix armies without fear.”

“Mock me all you want,” Sakaki replied hotly. Her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. “The Lion’s Pride can protect you but we cannot knock arrows out of the air. Any smart commander will have archers in place. Please, allow one of us to lead the group.”

“Don’t worry, Sakaki-chan,” Kenji said. “The Phoenix will not risk a diplomatic disaster by opening hostilities. If you can follow my lead we will be fine.”

“Are you ready to risk your life on that gamble?” Sakaki grumbled.

“Yes,” Kenji answered. “What’s life without a little excitement? Go join your sisters. We’ll begin very soon.”

Sakaki bowed and walked behind her to join the rest of the Lion’s Pride. Kenji glanced out at the forces gathered behind her. Other than the Lion’s Pride serving as her unit of bodyguards, there were few others that would be joining her on her maneuver. Several courtiers, omoidasu, and other bureaucrats stood behind her soldiers. A unit of Akodo samurai waited behind the bureaucrats, but that was all. She did not intend to fight her way into the capitol. It was simply a political statement to assert the position of her Clan. It was, in effect, fighting without fighting.

She never expected politics could be so exhilarating. She might have to give it a chance some day.

“Let’s go,” she called out loudly to her men and pointed her horse at the city gates. The horse moved forward at a slow trot. The Lion soldiers behind her hustled to keep up. It was not long before the group reached the gate. At the moment there was no traffic entering or exiting the city, and Kenji smiled. It would make things much easier. Only three Shiba manned the gate; two bushi armed with naginata stood at either side of the entrance and a third waited with a scroll in hand. The Phoenix watched with grim determination as Kenji’s group drew closer.

“Good morning,” Kenji called out cheerfully to the Phoenix guards. They reacted instantly, stiffening their postures and barring the path with their naginata. The officer in charge stepped forward.

“Kenji-sama, I am afraid the decree is still in effect,” the guard captain said. He stared at her horse instead of her face, as if it would make his words more palatable to the Lion. “The Lion are not allowed access into the city.”

“Nonsense,” Kenji scoffed. “It was a misunderstanding on many parts, and I am sure all the issues have been resolved by now. We are coming through, so don’t bother getting in my way.”

“Kenji-sama—” the captain continued in a strained voice.

“Understand that you are in an impossible situation right now, Shiba-san,” Kenji said. “I outrank you considerably and I want to enter the city. Do you really think you are in a position to stop me?”

“My duties as given to me by the proper authorities give me the right over your—”

“I didn’t realize someone is sitting on the throne now,” Kenji said. “Otherwise, I don’t see how any orders would hold sway over my actions.”

“The Elemental Council—”

“The Elemental Council has not declared one of the Masters the Emperor yet, Shiba-san, and I do not fancy they will without much uproar from the other Clans. Look. Please don’t make this any harder than it needs to be. We mean no harm. We simply mean to go back to our homes.”

The guards hesitated as Kenji spurred her horse into motion. They could stop her by force or let her through. It was clear that neither option was appealing to the Phoenix guard captain. He hesitated until Kenji’s horse was directly in front of the guard’s naginata. He quickly gestured with his hand, and the guards unbarred her path.

“Thank you,” Kenji said. She rode her horse into the city — and immediately stopped at the sight in front of her.

Three units of Shiba samurai stood just beyond the gate, barring her entrance to the city. They blocked the road entirely as they watched her pass the gate. Several samurai from various clans watched the spectacle from the side; Kenji did not take note of exactly who was watching, but she knew this incident would soon become a widely spread story throughout the Empire.

A single samurai stood in front of the Phoenix troops, and Kenji instantly recognized him as Shiba Naoya. Naoya was the brother to the fallen Phoenix Clan Champion Shiba Mirabu and acted as the leader of the Shiba in the absence of a true Champion.

“So that is why no one was using this gate,” Kenji said to Naoya. “Well played.”

Naoya nodded. “I am glad you recognize futility when you see it, Kenji-san,” Naoya said. He gestured toward the gate. “Please, let us avoid a disaster. Turn around and leave this city at once.”

“Matsu are said to be brash. They say we like charging against even the worst odds,” Kenji said. She grinned and bared her teeth at Naoya. “I can assure you the reputation is well deserved.”

A ripple of nervous fidgeting spread throughout the assembled Phoenix. Naoya glanced at the handful of soldiers behind her then back at her. “Do not attempt this,” he warned.

Kenji shrugged. “Let us be reasonable about this, Naoya-san. I lead mostly courtiers and poets into the city. These soldiers are the Matsu Family Daimyo’s personal guard. I have no intention of beginning a fight inside the city grounds.”

“The Elemental Council decreed that all Lions must leave the city,” Naoya said. “The departure of the Fire Dragon means nothing. The Phoenix still control the city and we will enforce peace by any means necessary. Can’t you see that?”

“Yes I can,” Kenji responded sincerely. “If the Phoenix had not stopped the fighting during the Khan’s assault, countless priceless artifacts would have been destroyed. Who knows what could have been damaged? Perhaps records, shrines, and art might have been forever lost if you did not interfere. We are grateful for what you have done. That does not change the fact that the city remains stripped of its rightful defenders.”

“We have protected the city long after the Khan’s assault, Kenji-san,” Naoya said. “Do not make light of your own mistakes. If your brawl with the Mantis escalated, the destruction would have been just as devastating.”

“These events are irrelevant,” Kenji said. She narrowed her eyes. “It has been the duty of the Lion to protect this city. We have guarded this city for centuries. We are the Right Hand of the Empire. You will not keep us from our responsibilities.”

Naoya shook his head. “You cannot be allowed to ruin the city.”

Kenji frowned. “We are samurai here, not children,” she barked. “We come to resume the jobs tradition dictates we perform. We come to help save the city, not aid in its destruction. After I have settled back into my home, more of the Lion will come into the city. We do not come as conquerors, Naoya-san. We come as protectors.”

“Naoya-san,” one of the spectators suddenly said. She stepped out of the crowd and walked confidently toward the Phoenix detachment. It was a young woman dressed in the fashionable robes of a Crane courtier. Kenji did not recognize her, but then again, she avoided the courts as much as she could.

“Masako-san,” Naoya said warily.

Doji Masako gave a slight bow. “Your stand here is honorable, Naoya-san, but can you see that Kenji-san’s plea is no less honorable? She is here because tradition demands that Lion soldiers man these walls. She will not shame her ancestors by failing the tasks they set forth to her.”

Naoya hesitated as he examined the courtier’s words.

“I am sure that Lion soldiers will not instigate any more trouble inside these walls,” Masako added with a glance toward Kenji.

“Of course,” Kenji said.

Naoya sighed and it seemed as if all of his energy left him at once. “In the end,” he said, “we cannot stop you from entering the city without engaging in battle. That would ruin all that we have worked for. The Lion may enter the city, Kenji-san.”

“Thank you, Naoya-san. Let us work with you, and we will protect the Imperial City together,” Kenji urged.

“I promise you this, Matsu Kenji. If you wound the city once more, we will not allow you to stay. The Shiba will die, if necessary, to make sure Toshi Ranbo remains safe,” Naoya said. The fire in his voice was unmistakable. Without another word he turned around and headed back toward the city. His guards followed in his footsteps and began to march toward the Imperial Palace.

Kenji rode up to Masako. She turned and smiled. “Congratulations, Kenji-san,” she said.

Kenji nodded. “Thank you for your aid. I could not get my intentions across, but you were able to find words to my feelings.”

“It was what needed to be done,” Masako answered simply. She smiled brightly at Kenji. “The Lion are not as different from the Crane as you’d like to believe.”

“Perhaps,” Kenji said. “If you are right, the rest of the Empire has much to fear from us.”