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Memories of a Stone Wall
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===Act XIII: Kenzan=== :>I woke up, the light in the room stinging my eyes. :>Why is it so bright? :>Oh, Naomi had every window in the room open. :>The dull thudding in my head became a fierce pounding as I tried to sit up. :>Good morning, Ishigaki-kun. Would you like some breakfast? :>Naomi cracked a raw egg and mixed it up into a bowl of rice, then shoved it right under my nose. :>Yo-ulp. You're doing this on purpose. :>Whatever do you mean, Ishigaki-kun? :>She daintily ate some rice. :>Oh, this is very good. Are you sure you do not want some? :>She offered me the bowl again. :>Right under my nose. :>I lurched to my feet and got outside in time. :>Mantis-san was already there. :>He wiped his mouth and grinned at me. :>Taught those little girls how to fight, didn't we? :>I grinned back. :>Yeah. :>Though I think Naomi is upset with me. :>Kitsuki-san appeared in the mouth of the alleyway. :>Of course she's upset with you. Both of you idiots made a real mess last night. You're retainers of Jade Magistrates! You should have some consideration for your position. :>Now she's going to have to reprimand you publicly for your shameful behavior last night! :>Mantis-san and I exchanged glances. :>Then burst out laughing. :>And what do you find so funny? :>Kitsuki-san's confusion only made us laugh harder. :>Thumpdrag. :>Thumpdrag. :>Thumpdrag. :>The situation has already been handled Kitsuki-san. I paid the fine. :>But, their actions...! :>I was there with them, did you not know that? :>Ishigaki and Mantis-san are as much my subordinates as Naomi's, and I will not reprimand them. :>For the love of the Fortunes, WHY? :>They won. :>We left Kitsuki-san there, his mouth working like a fish out of water. :>We sat in the common room, nursing cups of tea along with our hangovers. :>Naomi came and joined us. :>She looked between me and Mantis-san a few times. :>Then at Toshiro. :>You planned this. :>Toshiro sipped his tea. :>I didn't plan on this hangover being so bad, no. :>Naomi sat down with just a slight huff. :>That is not what I meant and you know it. :>I spoke up. :>Sometimes, Naomi too much sake is actually a good thing. :>Too much sake is the go to excuse for when you slip up and breach etiquette. :>From an emotional outburst to bad table manners, if you do something wrong you apologize and blame it on too much sake. :>It doesn't mitigate your shame, and it only works on minor things, but most people will accept your apology and not bring it up again. :>After all, everyone has had too much sake at least once or twice. :>A runner came up with a letter for Mantis-san. :>He read it. Then went pale. :>I looked at him. :>What is it? :>My wife. Says there's trouble and I need to come home right away. :>Naomi asked if his wife had elaborated on it. :>Just a name. Kenzan. :>He practically spat the name. :>Who is this Kenzan? :>MY problem. I'll deal with it. :>I put a hand on Mantis-san's shoulder. :>He may be your problem, but youβre our OUR problem. :>Naomi and Toshiro nodded. :>I'll go wake up the Monkey. :>And that was how we found ourselves on a ship headed to the Islands of Spice and Silk. :>Along the way we pressed for information on Kenzan. :>Mantis-san opened up more quickly than usual. :>Mantis-san had, in the past, captained a small kobune. :>It was how he got his start, and ended up with a favorable marriage. :>Kenzan had been his navigator, for a time. :>Kenzan, however was far from reliable. :>He was not a drunkard, or addict or anything of that sort. :>On the water, he was a fine navigator, one of the best Mantis-san had ever worked with. :>However, Kenzan did have a problem with gambling. A very big problem. :>When a full two dozen Mantis samurai stormed onto his boat, beating any who tried to stop them unconscious and taking his cargo to pay back Kenzan's gambling debts, Mantis-san threw Kenzan off the boat. :>Literally. :>Mantis-san complained to his lord, who complained to the lord Kenzan owed. :>Who responded that the Captain is responsible for the conduct of his crew and refused to give back the cargo. :>Mantis-san's Lord did not want to force the issue, since it was his retainers' weakness that led to this mess. :>So Mantis-san's lord settled for casting Kenzan out of the clan for making him look bad. :>Kenzan blamed Mantis-san for being made a Ronin, and swore vengeance. :>That's the last I heard of the bastard, until today. :>I expected his gambling to catch up to him, leaving him floating face down in a river somewhere, before he could cause any trouble. :>I thought you said you didn't know anyone who could have been THEM? :>Kenzan's a bastard, but he's no Maho-Tsukai. :>I leaned over the side of boat, checking Kitsuki-san's face to see if he was still conscious. :>He was. :>He was as green as his Haori, but he was still awake. :>It wouldn't do to let him pass out and fall overboard, after all. :>How long till we get there, do you think? :>If the weather holds, another two days. :>Kitsuki-san managed to make his vomiting sound especially distressed at that. :>And then a fog bank that seemed to come up from nowhere enveloped us. :>Somehow, I knew this was the Monkey's fault. :>The ship lurched as we collided with something. :>From where I was I managed to grab Kitsuki-san and keep him from falling over. :>I pulled him aboard, dumping him unceremoniously to the deck, as I went to check on Naomi. :>I am fine Ishigaki-kun, just a small bump. :>Then I heard a cry. :>Which turned very quickly into a gurgle. :>I turned to see a man pulling a tanto out of one of the sailors. :>How a man at sea got that dirty I will never know. :>I missed my chance to ask, since I cracked his leggs with my tetsubo and shoved him over the side. :>All around us, pirates swarmed onto the deck. :>I backed Naomi up into a corner and swatted anything that came near, as she gave me strength and speed with her magic. :>I could barely make out Toshiro and the Monkey fighting side by side, defending Kitsuki-san who was still feeling the effects of his seasickness. :>Mantis-san was in his element, he stode the deck with confidence, his kama were a blur as they scythed through necks, bodies and legs. :>Then a blast of water slammed into Toshiro, the Monkey and Kitsuki-san. :>The mist parted, revealing the whole deck again. :>The captain was laying on the deck, bleeding :>Over him stood a shugenja, with a bloody tipped trident. :>Toshiro and the Monkey kept their feet, but Kitsuki-san was knocked clean off the boat. :>Monkey dove in after him without hesitation. :>Crazy Monkey. :>Toshiro was in a tough spot. He could fight quite well with his tetsubo, but most of his Earth magic was for dealing with the taint. He had Fire for more mundane foes. :>Only, we were on boat. :>A big, wooden, boat. :>I batted aside another pirate, unwilling to leave Naomi's side. :>KENZAN! :>Mantis-san rushed out of nowhere, swinging on the shugenja. :>That then, must be Kenzan. From navigator to ronin to pirate. :>Quite the fall. :>Kenzan's eyes widened in surprise to see Mantis-san. :>He spun his trident as he backed away. :>Kenzan spoke. :>It has been too long you bastard! I'll have your head now! :>As Kenzan and Mantis-san squared off, preparing to clash with one another, a pirate on their ship blew a horn. :>Kenzan looked up :>Already?! Shit. :>He leveled his trident at Mantis-san :>We'll settle this another time! Jaa ne! :>As Mantis-san swung at him, Kenzan leaped over the side of the boat. :>And landed on the water. :>And ran to his ship. :>On top of the water. :>A hand appeared on the rail of the boat beside me. :>I looked over, Monkey was hauling himself up a rope with Kitsuki-san slung over his shoulder. :>Little help here? He's heavier than he looks! :>I grabbed Monkey's hand and hauled them both in. :>And then the water between our boats burst up. :>The water rained down. :>Off of the head of a giant snake. :>It opened its mouth as it's head swept from side to side, looking at both ships. :>Inside I could see fangs as long as a man. :>It hissed. :>Um. I don't think it likes us. :>Got a real knack for stating the obvious Monkey, you know that? :>Ishigaki-kun, that's an Orochi! :>Aren't Orochi smart? :>Very. :>So we can talk to it? :>The Orochi slammed its bulk against both ships, still hissing, still looking around. :>He does not seem to be in the mood. :>Mantis-san took charge, shouting orders to get the ship clear. :>The sailors lept to obey. :>WE'RE TAKING IN WATER! :>Mantis-san grabbed the nearest man. :>Where's the carpenter? :>The sailor pointed to a body laying on the deck, throat cut ear to ear. :>Okay, you're the new carpenter. Get down there. :>He gave the man a shove. :>Mantis-san then looked at me and Monkey. :>Plugging a hole water is pouring in from takes a lot of strength, and I've got my hands full up here! :>Got it. Let's go Monkey. :>Naomi-sama, this ship needs to move faster, and it needs to stop taking on water. The latter is a bit more important though. :>I do not think I can hold back the entire sea but I will do what I can. :>Mantis-san was right about plugging the hole. :>It took everything I had, with Monkey and another sailor on either side, to get the boards in place so the new carpenter could nail them in place. :>That Orochi tore a pretty big hole, by the time we got it plugged I was standing in knee deep water. :>Naomi pulled out a scroll and started to pray. :>Then, the water moved. :>All of it. :>It flowed up the stairs, swirling around Naomi's legs, onto the deck, and back over the side into the sea. :>The last little tendril of water, wrapped around Naomi, stretched out quite thin. Almost as if it didn't want to let go of her. :>She smiled at it. :>Thank you, my friends. :>Then it let go, and the water was gone. :>Water still leaked in from around the edges of the patch, but it was slow. :>Hey, Naomi can you do something about that, too? :>She shook her head. :>I could certainly ask the water Kami to stop coming in, but there are so many out there, and we're moving past so many... I am but a drop in the endless ocean. I am sorry. :>Don't worry about it, Naomi-sama! :>The carpenter gestured to the patch. :>This will keep the worst of it out until we can make better repairs. :>The carpenter left a few men to keep an eye on the patch and to occasionally toss out buckets of water, then went up on deck to let Mantis-san know the state of things. :>We all went with. :>Mantis-san nodded. Pointed over the side. :>In the distance I could see a dark shape. :>An island. :>We'll need to beach the boat to make a watertight seal on the patch. :>As we got close, we could see the jagged rocks that ringed the island. :>It was tense sailing, the Mantis on the tiller with crewmen looking over the sides of the boat, yelling to him how much clearance he had. :>But somehow we got through the ring of rocks. :>Naomi spoke to the water kami once more, and the water beneath us surged up, and eased us onto the beach. :>She smiled at us. :>Asking the kami for a quick favor, however, is well within my ability. :>Once ashore, we got off the boat, and Mantis-san inspected the damage from the outside with his carpenter. :>There were several places where the boards had been rubbed thin by the Orochi, aside from the hole it had punched. :>Mantis-san rubbed his chin. :>Day, day and half at least. :>Need to slap some sealant on the patch, keep it from leaking. And that needs time to dry. :>We're not far from the Mantis Islands though, so we should be able to make it. :>Kitsuki-san, no longer green, spoke up. :>There is a mist beginning to rise. Depending on how long it lasts we may be here longer. :>We looked around. Sure enough the mist was rising. Fast. :>Too fast. :>Shit! :>It was Mantis-san. :>He got back aboard the boat, yelled for the navigator. :>He came back out with some maps and charts. :>...and we were here, last time you checked our position? :>Yes, I'm sure of it. :>FUCK. :>I folded my arms. :>Bad news then? :>Yeah. We're on the Isle of Mists. :>The other sailors around came to dead stop and stared at Mantis-san. :>Monkey glanced around. :>What's the 'Isle of Mists'? :>A legend. Or at least, it's supposed to be. :>There's a part of the sea between the Crane coast and the Isles of Spice and Silk that have a thick mist all the time. :>Been that way since forever. :>Easy to get lost in mist that thick; ships get lost in that area all the time. :>Some old sailors would say there's an island in the center of the mists. :>A cursed island, where the mist comes from. :>Mantis-san looked down. Stamped his foot. :>Guess it's real though. :>He looked up. :>Hey! Get back to work you louts! Anyone not working on repairs, get a camp set up! :>And calm down! We know why ships get lost now! They don't know about the rocks, don't see them in the mist, and sink! :>But we've got a navigator AND a water tensai with us! We'll be able to come back alive! :>Think about how many drinks this story will be worth once we get home! :>That put some life back into the sailors, and they sprang to work. :>We all sat around a small fire, discussing our current situation. :>Now, we are currently stuck on an island that is perpetually surrounded by thick mist, which makes navigating the area around it difficult. :>Kitsuki-san waited for Mantis-san's nod before continuing his recap. :>We were attacked by Kenzan, who is a Shugenja, with formal schooling in the Yoritomo school before being made Ronin. :>And he hates Mantis-san with a passion. :>Another nod from Mantis-san. :>A conservative estimate puts us at two days until we can effect repairs. :>After which we will need all the assistance we can get from your navigator and Naomi-sama to clear the rocks surrounding this island due to the thick mist. :>Lastly, Kenzan is still out there somewhere. And also, it would seem, a rather hostile Orochi. :>Have I left anything out? :>The part where this is all the bad luck Monkey's fault. :>C'mon Ishigaki-san, that was one time! ONE time! I'm not a jinx! :>Sounds like something a Jinx would say. :>Ishigaki-san, please. This is hardly the time for our usual banter. :>I shrugged, and decided to let the jinx off the hook. :>For now. :>Naomi spoke up. :>There were a great many water kami swirling around the trident that Kenzan was carrying. :>Others as well, but I am not as skilled at sensing them, so I cannot be sure. :>A Nemuranai, then? :>I believe so. :>Everything has a spirit. :>From the proudest and most ancient mountain to the lowliest mushroom growing on a rotting log. :>For most, those spirits are dormant, passive. :>Items that are very old, that have passed from hand to hand across many generations, that were wielded by great heros or ignoble villains, or that were part of a turning point in history, they could all cause their spirits to awaken. :>These things are called Nermurani. They are all sacred treasures, most belonging to a great family, or even the Clan itself. :>It is a great honor to be given stewardship of a Nemuranai. :>A simple ronin pirate getting his hands on one was nigh unthinkable. :>Naomi, even after we get fixed and going, it's still two more days to the Mantis isles. Will you have enough medicine? :>She checked her pouch. :>Hai, I believe I do Ishigaki-kun. :>Some part of me really wanted to look in that pouch myself and make sure. :>But since her medicine consumption varied depending on good days and bad days, I realized I wouldn't be able to judge it on my own. :>The mist bothered me. :>It made the air thick and damp. Cloying. :>Even I felt a little short of breath. :>Mantis-san spoke up. :>Our provisions will hold up as well. :>He glanced over at the sailors working on the repairs. Then lowered his voice. :>It might have been an issue, but we've got fewer mouths to feed now. :>Naomi looked away. I gave her back a few soft rubs and she, in turn, gave me brave face smile. :>Not for the first time, nor the last, I was torn between my desire to protect my wife from emotional pain, and my desire that her gentle nature never harden. :>Toshiro spoke up. :>Mantis-san, I assume that patch would not fare well in a storm? :>Mantis-san frowned. :>It wouldn't, but I can't see a storm like that coming up on us so fast, given where we are and the time of year. :>And another ship battle? :>... :>No. We would not fare well in one of those at all. :>Kitsuki-san tapped his fan to his lips. :>You think that Kenzan may attack again. :>I think he is here, on this island. :>We all looked up sharply. :>You said it yourself, Mantis-san. He was one of the best navigators you ever worked with. :>Now Naomi says the trident he wields is a Nemuranai. :>A disgraced ronin, a pirate, with an awakened item? :>Consider the fact that we were engulfed in mist just before he attacked us. :>I think the trident controls the mist. Somehow, someway, Kenzan made his way here. He found the trident. Now he uses its power, and the island's reputation, to prey on shipping while eluding even the Mantis navy. :>And even if they DO chase him this far, he must know every safe passage through the rocks. :>No one would be able to root him out of the natural fortress. :>Shit. :>That all made sense. :>I spoke up. :>We should find out where he's hiding here. Take him out now. :>We can use the trident to clear out the mist, won't have to worry about the patch holding up in a fight if we do it now. :>Several of the others nodded in agreement. :>Naomi did not, but she did not object either. :>She simply gave me a look that said "please be careful." :>The Monkey surprised me by being the lone voice of dissent. :>I don't know, this mist is creepy as Jigoku. :>How will we even find our way around this island, or get back? :>It's not like we have a better option. You heard Mantis-san, we'll be at a huge disadvantage in a another ship battle. :>And that's not even counting what might happen if that Orochi shows back up. :>Yeah, that Orochi. What do you think his deal is, anyway? Why was he attacking us? :>You're asking me how an ancient giant snake thinks? How would I know? :>Monkey stood up in a huff. Shoving his katana back into his obi. :>I still don't like this, but if you're all gonna go, I'll go too. :>Not all of us, I said. :>Ishigaki-kun, you don't mean to leave me behind? :>I do. Look, I know you're not going to complain, but I also know you're having a hard time breathing in this shit. :>Because I'M having a hard time breathing in this shit. :>Kitsuki-san, Mantis-san, you should stay too. :>Mantis-san began to protest but I cut him off. :>I know you have old business with Kenzan, but he wants your head too. :>Who would captain the ship if something happened to you? :>There are others in the crew who could, and if we have the trident then I'm certain with Naomi and the navigator they could get through the rocks. :>I looked at him. :>You're certain? :>You're not just saying that because you want a piece of Kenzan? :>Yes. :>I searched his eyes for any hint off falsehood. :>He didn't look away. :>...Okay then. :>But watch your ass, you hear me? :>Yeah, I got it. I'll be fine. :>It was then Kitsuki-san's turn to object. :>Ishigaki-san, while I appreciate the vote of confidence in trusting me to look after your wife, I think my abilities will be of better use looking for Kenzan that sitting here. :>Son of a bitch. He saw right through me. :>I really did want to have at least one person stay behind and keep an eye on her. :>Ishigaki-kun, you should not worry so. I will be quite fine. Just sitting here is not tasking in the least. :>The way she said that made me feel guilty about leaving her behind, even though there wasn't the slightest accusation in her tone. :>Toshiro spoke before I could even look at him. :>If all else fails, I can speak with the earth kami and get a feel for where we are and where we are going. :>So I'm going with you, to make sure we really can all make it back. :>You can really do that? I've never seen you use magic to navigate before. :>Never had to before. But I can. :>Well, that settled it. No way I was leaving the jinx behind with Naomi. :>And I was the front line. the first line of defense for my friends when battle was joined. I would have to go. :>I hated my idea more than Monkey did. :>We set forth boldly heading to our fated showdown with Kenzan. :>5 minutes later. :>So uh, which way should we be going, anyway? :>That depends, how big is this island, anyway? :>I don't know, I can't see shit. :>We're coming up on a bamboo forest guys. :>How can you tell Monkey? :>I ran into some bamboo. I think this mist is getting thicker the further in we go. :>Well shit. :>We all looked at each other. :>Kitsuki-san suggested we start by returning to the beach and walking along it until we got back to our boat. :>We'll figure out how big this island is, and we stand a chance of spotting Kenzan's boat at least. :>And we're very unlikely to get lost. :>Yeah, let's do that. :>You holding up, Toshiro? :>Oh I'm fine. After all, I'm not the one rushing through a mist so thick you can hardly see. :>We all slowed down a bit. :>Hours later. :>I was sweating hard. I kept sinking deep into the loose sand on the beach, there was sand all in the joints and seams of my armor, and the mist was still cloying and oppressive. :>Mantis-san was only wearing the Do from his own suit of armor, and Kitsuki-san wasn't wearing any armor at all. :>FUCKING SHIT. :>Wow that was some impressive cursing from Kitsuki-san. :>He found a rock, half buried in the sand. :>With his foot. :>I knelt down by where he had fallen in the sand, once I got close enough I could see there was blood soaking through his tabi. :>In only a few hours we were exhausted, panting and now injured. :>This island was kicking our asses in ways that bandit lords, Maho-Tsukai and even Oni had not. :>Fuck it. :>Good Idea Kitsuki-san. Let's all take a break. :>Should probably wash that out. :>Kitsuki-san looked at the water rolling in from the beach. Then at Toshiro. :>He chose the salt water. :>The Monkey took long thirsty gulps of water from his gourd, passed it to me. :>Hey, Toshiro-sama. :>How come your face paint never runs no matter how humid it gets or how much you sweat? :>It's kabuki makeup. :>Uh, Okay? :>Kitsuki-san filled in the blanks for Monkey while washing his foot. :>Kabuki makeup is for actors. :>Ah, tshtshtshtsh. :>That salt stings. :>They move around in heavy costume, sometimes on a stage with many lights. :>It is natural they would sweat quite a bit. :>So, OW. So they add compounds to the paint, to keep it from running. :>Oh, okay. Why didn't you just say that to begin with Toshiro-sama? :>I thought you, of all people would know about Kabuki face paint. :>What gave you that idea? :>You are a strange person. :>I can't remember ever seeing you without that makeup on, and you're calling ME strange? :>He wears the paint to be polite, Monkey. :>Monkey looked over at me. :>Yeah, you've said that before. But I wanna know. :>We've known each other for years now. :>C'mon, lemme see your face. :>No. :>C'moooon. :>I spoke up again. :>Let it go, Monkey. Did you sit on a sand bur or something? The hell's gotten into you? :>You guys all think I'm weird. :>Mantis-san clapped Monkey on the shoulder. :>It's not a bad thing. We're all weird, in some way. You've just got a simple honesty about you. :>Monkey glared at us. "You make fun of me all the time and think I don't notice. You know what? I'm just fine. You all sit here on your asses, I'm going to go find Kenzan." :>He bounded off, into the mists before we could stop him. :>... :>... :>... What the fuck just happened?
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