Editing Memories of a Stone Wall (section)

===Act LIII: The Hour of Obsidian===
:>And it would burn now.
:>Flames began to lick out of the top floor of the barracks.
:>Then the bottom floor.
:>Hida-sama called for his honor guard to from on him.
:>I WILL DEAL WITH THE LEAVINGS OF OUR FOE!
:>EXTINGUISH THOSE FLAMES!
:>I began to run towards one of the wells in the courtyard.
:>When I saw Masagoro leave the barracks.
:>Alone.
:>With a torch in his hand.
:>He threw it down as bushi ran past him with buckets of water and earth.
:>He drew his sword as he passed just behind Hida-sama, who was already charging ahead.
:>He strode to the gate of Shiro Kuni as I ran to catch up to him.
:>He placed his shoulder under the bar across the gate as I screamed for him to stop.
:>He looked at me.
:>Don't you see?
:>We CAN'T win!
:>All their blood, all their lives spent for NOTHING!
:>One day the other Clans will demand too high a price for the jade, the food we need!
:>They will think it will be the same as always!
:>And our Clan will DIE!
:>His face dropped, jaw slack, eyes half lidded.
:>I can't order them to meaningless deaths anymore.
:>He took a breath.
:>I WON'T!
:>He heaved up with his shoulder, unbarring the gate.
:>Almost immediately the gate began to tremble.
:>It's time for us to die. Let Rokugan see what we've been holding in check all these years.
:>He took his stance before me.
:>I took mine.
:>I didn't know if Heaven really did decide the outcome of duels, if it did declare who was right and who was wrong this way or not.
:>Right now I fervently wished that it did.
:>I could see plainly his technique outclassed me in every way.
:>And I was wounded, tired. Nearly spent.
:>I almost could not find Mushin no Shin.
:>The gate before my eyes trembled and began to creak open.
:>Behind me flames raced throughout Shiro Kuni.
:>Above, the Moon eclipsed the Sun.
:>And my enemy was not an oni, not a tainted madman.
:>My enemy was a true hero of my Clan, a tired old man who could no longer forgive himself for living as long as he had.
:>We drew our blades and charged one another, moving as one.

:>Masagoro bore no taint upon his soul.
:>His blade bit deep into me.
:>I staggered past him and almost fell to my knees.
:>He turned, left arm hanging limp from my own cut.
:>This hurts a bit, Ishigaki-san.
:>I don't think I'll be able to take as many of those monsters with me now...
:>He shrugged with his good arm.
:>I sank down to my knees, letting my blade fall from my hand.
:>He walked over to me as the gate opened wider.
:>Don't you have anything to say? Not going to tell me how I'm wrong?
:>He lifted up his blade over my head.
:>I scooped up my own blade and drove it up into his throat.
:>His eyes went wide.
:>I answered him then.
:>I really, really hate that you're so good I had to fight like a Scorpion to kill you.
:>Blood welled up out of his mouth as he bared his teeth.
:>I think it was a smile.
:>The light in his eyes died, and he slid off of my katana.
:>No time, I threw myself against the gate.
:>I put my back against it, digging in my feet, and pushed with everything I had.
:>It wasn't enough.
:>I saw Hida-sama surrounded by the last few Oni. He could not get away.
:>The rest of the castle was fighting the fire that raged on, or racing to save armloads of scrolls from the Kuni libraries.
:>I began to wonder if anyone at all had seen what happened here.
:>Then I saw Kitsuki-san, pointing at me and shouting.
:>The others broke away from what they were doing and raced over to help.
:>Satoshi, Daigo, Takeshi, Toshiro and Naomi all came up and pushed alongside me.
:>The gate began to close.
:>Then it stopped.
:>A long green claw with too many joints curled around the edge of the gate over our heads.
:>Then another.
:>Then a third.
:>The gate began to open again.
:>And a great Oni emerged into the courtyard.
:>Three eyes.
:>Three tongues of flame.
:>Oni no Akuma stood before us.

:>It gave us no time to think or plan.
:>As the terror washed over us it lashed out with it's claws, tearing into Mantis-san and Monkey.
:>It's tongues whipped about.
:>One pierced my shoulder, leaving it's burning saliva in my wound.
:>Another caressed Toshiro, setting his Kimono ablaze.
:>The last slashed Kitsuki-san's chest.
:>Naomi fell back, scroll in hand and chanting.
:>I dove and caught up Kimimaru before striking at Akuma.
:>It batted the Jade tetsubo aside.
:>Monkey rushed over to Kitsuki-san trying to put out the flames.
:>Mantis-san ripped Toshiro's kimono top off taking the flames with it.
:>Toshiro could not be bothered with it, as he was chanting a prayer.
:>Courage filled us, driving off the fear that Oni no Akuma brought.
:>With a final shout, Naomi finished her prayer.
:>The spirits of Water rushed up around us all. Even as my flesh burned, it regrew.
:>It's eyes whirled about, two of them coming to rest on Toshiro and Naomi.
:>Then it plunged both claws into me, lifting me up and tossing me down.
:>My vision went black as I faded in and out of consciousness.
:>I could see the others, blurry shapes desperately avoiding it's tongues.
:>I could smell my flesh burn, but I could not even see properly, let alone move.
:>Naomi's spell was still working, but I was too far gone.
:>I'm sorry... papa can't come home this time...
:>Only for all my pain to vanish.
:>My eyes snapped open.
:>All of it. Even the aches and pains of old wounds I had long since forgotten.
:>There really are no words to describe what it is like to feel no pain at all, to be made aware of pains only by their sudden absence..
:>I stood, readying Kimimaru.
:>Toshiro panted beside me.
:>That.... that was my last one...
:>Make it count.
:>I attacked the Oni, seeking to overwhelm it with rapid strikes first.
:>Even without the pain of my wounds slowing me down, it still defended itself well. Only a glancing blow took some chitin off it's forearm.
:>Mantis and Monkey powdered their weapons in a hurry, covering each other as they did so.

:>Toshiro yelled at me, as he knelt to bandage Kitsuki-san's wounds.
:>STOP HOLDING BACK YOU'RE ALREADY DEAD!
:>I glanced down.
:>It was true.
:>I could see my own organs in the gaping wound left by Akuma's claws.
:>Toshiro's spell hadn't healed me.
:>It had pushed aside, briefly, the pain and re-anchored my spirit..
:>It would not last.
:>As I moved in to attack the Oni no Akuma I saw the others look at Toshiro in shock.
:>I could not look at Naomi.
:>The sight of her would make me want to live.
:>I could not afford that.
:>Not if I wanted to save everyone.
:>I slammed Kimimaru against the Akuma.
:>It caught Kimimaru. With its hand.
:>A Jade stud punched through it and smoke rose from the wound.
:>It roared in fury, and lashed back at me.
:>I took the full brunt of it's assault, and remained upright.
:>Though my body burned from where it struck me with it's tongues, though my flesh was torn from my limbs, I still stood.
:>I imagined I looked worse than Akiyama at this point.
:>While the Oni and I struggled with one another, Mantis slashed into its side, cutting furrows through it's chitin.
:>The cuts smouldered as the Jade powder coating his kama came off in them.
:>Monkey stood still, staring at it, waiting for the right moment.
:>Kitsuki-san stood, though his own chest burned, Naomi's spell was keeping him alive.
:>In pain, but alive.
:>He powdered his blade.
:>The Oni slammed it's shoulder and knee against me, breaking away.
:>I wasn't about to let it turn away from me though.
:>I attacked it's legs, hoping to do some serious damage.
:>Chitin and bone crunched and cracked as I struck, and it's left leg bent oddly at the thigh under my blow.
:>It howled and lunged at me.
:>I wondered if I would still be awake if it tore me clean in half.
:>I was grateful that that question was not answered.
:>By now my wounds were so severe I doubted even Naomi could heal them all.
:>I readied myself for another attack, wondering how long Toshiro's spell would last.
:>I doubted I had much time left.

:>Then Mantis-san grabbed me.
:>He threw me back to Naomi.
:>Stop trying to save everyone you IDIOT!
:>Before he could turn around, two tongues wrapped around his leg.
:>He cried out as they burned him.
:>Then the Akuma jerked it's head, and sent Mantis-san flying into the gate.
:>Monkey screamed and stabbed the Oni in one of it's bulbous eyes.
:>Kitsuki-san followed up, slicing off one of the burning tongues.
:>As I fell backwards, Naomi caught me.
:>I felt cold. I never felt cold.
:>Yet my teeth were chattering.
:>Toshiro's spell must be wearing off.
:>I had heard tales of warriors who had been so severely wounded they could not feel it.
:>This must be that then.
:>I tried to apologize to Naomi, but my mouth would not obey me.
:>She was crying.
:>And praying.
:>She had been praying this whole time.
:>Blue white light enveloped me.
:>My wounds were gone. The fires that burned on me extinguished.
:>She smiled down at me.
:>Coughed once.
:>And fell on top of me.
:>I held my head to her chest and listened desperately.
:>Faint, erratic. But her heart was still beating.
:>I rose and turned to the Akuma.
:>Monkey and Kitsuki were fighting side by side, trying to find an opening to reach Mantis-san.
:>I would give them one.
:>I raced in, driving myself and Kimimaru both into the Oni.
:>I drove it back a handful of steps.
:>Enough.
:>Kitsuki-san raced to Mantis-san's side.
:>The Akuma turned it's claws on me again.
:>But Monkey was there, striking at it, turning aside it's blows.
:>We struck together, Kimimaru smashing its other leg, and Monkey's katana stabbing yet another eye.
:>His blade came out the other side of the Oni's skull.
:>It did not roar this time.
:>It made no sound.
:>It just went limp.
:>And slumped to the ground.
:>So did we.
:>Smoke filled the courtyard, I could no longer see Shiro Kuni from where we were.
:>I was spent. Monkey was too. I doubted either of us could stand.
:>My heart skipped a beat as a massive shape loomed in the smoke.
:>As the clouds parted, Hida-sama came into view.

:>Hida-sama came over and looked at the Akuma.
:>Your doing?
:>I wondered for a moment why he wasn't trying to shut the gate.
:>Then I realized I didn't hear any fighting anymore.
:>Monkey and I both pointed at one another.
:>We stared at one another, then pointed to the others...
:>The others!
:>I scrambled on hands and knees over to Naomi.
:>Then I stared... waiting. I couldn't get any closer, couldn't make myself touch her.
:>And then she took a breath.
:>I almost fell over, as the relief flooded through me.
:>I glanced back over my shoulder.
:>Monkey was helping Kitsuki-san get Mantis-san up on his feet.
:>His leg was badly burned, the clothing gone and his flesh blackened and charred.
:>Toshiro was leaning back against the wall beside the gate, sweat and blood ruining his face paint, and coating his bare chest.
:>We locked eyes, and he smiled. It took him a few starts to work up enough energy to do so completely.
:>Glad you're not dead after all!
:>You too...
:>I cradled Naomi's head in my lap, waiting for help to come.
:>Hida-sama coughed, and I almost jumped out of my skin.
:>I had just turned my back on my champion without being dismissed...
:>He waved his hand as I looked up, aghast.
:>It's fine. I know the aftermath of battles well.
:>Then his eyes narrowed.
:>The IMMEDIATE aftermath, mind you.
:>H-HAI!
:>I managed to bow, Naomi's head still in my lap.
:>Adachi came up through the smoke that was beginning to clear, armor blackened and face covered in soot.
:>He dropped to one knee before Hida-sama and yelled.
:>Tono! The fires have been extinguished, the damage is widespread but not severe!
:>Hida-sama sighed.
:>Good.
:>Adachi then saw Masagoro.
:>And the Akuma.
:>... what...?
:>Good question.
:>The Crab Champion looked at us all.
:>Well?
:>We relayed the events to that occurred to them both.
:>Hida-sama's frown deepened as I told him what Masagoro said to me before he opened the gate.
:>By the time I was done his eyes were narrow slits, his frown deep, brow furrowed.

:>Hida-sama pulled off his kabuto, and rubbed his hands against his face.
:>He walked over to Masagoro's body.
:>Knelt.
:>I am sorry, old friend. I did not see how your heart was troubled. I should have made you retire to the dojo sooner...
:>He stayed there for a moment more, then stood. He took Masagoro's daisho, and struck his head off with his own katana.
:>Find every eta that's still alive, Adachi-san.
:>There's a lot of work for them.
:>The smoke cleared fully.
:>Shiro Kuni stood, blackened, burned, the walls damaged in places.
:>But still upright.
:>The courtyard was a sea of death. Corpses everywhere.
:>Dozens of Samurai, their movements sloppy from exhaustion, waded through it, taking heads lest any lingering taint reanimate the fallen.
:>And there were many, many fallen.
:>I found myself glad that Naomi was not awake to see this.
:>My friends joined me as I scooped her up, Monkey supporting Mantis, who could only hop on one leg.
:>Mantis-san glanced over at me.
:>Your Jade...
:>I glanced down. My finger of Jade was completely black. When I wrapped my hand around it to take it off some oozed between my fingers.
:>Everyone checked their own jade, and found theirs in the same state.
:>We cast aside our spent jade.
:>I found a room in the castle that had escaped the flames, and had an open window, and laid Naomi down there.
:>Then I went and looked around the quartermaster.
:>I found him, the new one anyway, recording damage on a ledger.
:>He looked at me as I walked up.
:>Ishigaki-sama!
:>I... don't think I outrank you...
:>The young man snorted.
:>That hardly matters! You and your friends brought down the Oni no Akuma!
:>What is it you need?
:>Jade. We're all wounded, and my friends...
:>...are not Crab. I understand.
:>Come.
:>He led me deeper into the storehouse.
:>We still have enough I can spare some... five.
:>That was fine. I could wait for fresh Jade for a bit.
:>I thanked the quartermaster and took the Jade back.
:>I placed one on Naomi, then passed the others out.

:>I was startled to see Akane with them, bandaging Toshiro's wounds.
:>You know, this isn't necessary... I can do that myself.
:>Hush you. You're wounded.
:>So are you!
:>And my wounds have already been seen to.
:>Besides, pain does not bother me as much as it bothers you.
:>Oh, I doubt that...
:>She reached for his face with a cloth.
:>He flinched back.
:>What are you doing?
:>Your paint is all smeared, and your face bloody.
:>She grabbed him behind his neck and pulled him in close to clean his face off.
:>I could feel Toshiro's distress.
:>If given the choice to be seen without his face paint, or without any clothes, Toshiro would choose the latter every time.
:>However, I didn't try to stop her.
:>She wiped his paint off, barring his scars.
:>Then smiled.
:>He blinked at her.
:>What? Scars are sexy.
:>He blinked again.
:>So did I.
:>O... on that... we can agree, Akane-san.
:>I whipped around, to see Naomi struggling to sit up.
:>I knelt and pulled her up.
:>Are you okay? You mumbled something there but I didn't hear you right.
:>She gave me her brave smile, hair matted to her forehead with sweat.
:>Then she touched me, right on the bride of my nose.
:>You did not mishear, Ishigaki-kun.
:>Akane and Naomi exchanged a glance, smiling at one another.
:>Monkey sat, chin in hand and grinned.
:>Looks like you're finally caught, eh Toshiro?
:>...-sama...
:>Toshiro blew out a sigh through his nose.
:>If anyone can drop the honorifics with me... it's one who killed an Oni no Akuma.
:>Monkey blinked.
:>But we all killed it together...
:>I know.
:>Hah?
:>...oh.
:>It was then that Kitsuki-san sobbed.
:>We all looked.
:>He had his right hand balled into a fist, left clenched over it.
:>He was shaking.
:>He opened his hands.
:>Showing us the Jade in his palm.
:>The Jade that smoked and blackened in his bare palm.

:>It was recorded in the Imperial histories as the Battle of the Hour of Obsidian.
:>The eclipse was seen throughout Rokungan, and lasted three days.
:>So why the "Hour" of Obsidian was lost on me.
:>Of the one thousand five hundred bushi stationed at Shiro Kuni, 437 survived the battle.
:>Seven hundred ninety two more Crabs died in battle along the Wall.
:>The Damned fought to the last. Their ranks were quickly replenished.
:>Ten berserkers from the Fortress of the Forgotten survived. For their heroics they were given one last chance to serve the Clan in a more public posting. None of them squandered their opportunity.
:>For a time, the Fortress of the Forgotten was, itself Forgotten. But the Crab Clan had no shortage of troublemakers, and after lying empty for seven months a new crop of the worst of the worst arrived at their new, and likely final, home.
:>All told, the Crab Clan lost two thousand, three hundred eighty six lives to the Horde raised by the Akuma no Oni.
:>There is no official count of the size of the Horde.
:>In the wake of the battle, the Angry Season continued unabated.
:>The Emperor praised the Jade Champion for driving out the Bloodspeaker cult, and ending it's threat once and for all.
:>He then ordered the other Clans to turn their eyes south, and aid the Crab in their time of greatest need.
:>Bolstered by food, arms, armor, jade, and even troops from the Lion, Unicorn and Dragon Clans, the Crab held fast against the near daily attacks.
:>Those who knew anything about the Bloodspeaker cult knew they were not destroyed completely, and went about quietly investigating those who had sudden increase in fortunes over the last few years.
:>Toshiro, old enough that the Clan insisted he be married, did indeed give in the pursuit of Hiruma Akane, and the two were wed.
:>With the Bloodspeaker cult suppressed for the time being, I took up duties along the Wall, as a simple Gunso.

:>Naomi of course, was worried about me deeply.
:>I could hardly blame her, after what she had been through.
:>She would cling to me fiercely whenever I would come home.
:>I hated to be apart from her as well. But Ishigaki Mura was a week's ride from the Wall.
:>My children were a week's ride from the Wall.
:>Given the passion with which we clung to each other, it's not all that surprising what happened next.
:>We were joined by our fourth child, Hida Isao.
:>Naomi bore his birth well.
:>For his part, he was a calmer infant then the first two, and very curious. He loved to stare at the Koi watching them swim about for hours.
:>Toku Satoshi returned to his little home, and wrote many letters to us. His family did not grow any larger, but he gave us steady updates on the growth of Masanori and Tokichiro.
:>Monkey found it funny that his younger son, Masanori, was growing faster than his older sibling.
:>The boys were alike in many ways, personality wise, friendly and welcoming to all, regardless of station.
:>Monkey proudly declared they were already helping their father in the fields.
:>I blinked and reread that last part.
:>Only Monkey would bend his back to work in a rice paddy alongside his peasants.
:>I wondered idly if it was his wife's suggestion.
:>Well, he wasn't complaining of marital difficulties, so it must not be that bad.
:>With some help from Naomi, Tsuruchi Daigo's leg healed up fine.
:>We saw him often, as he regularly brought shipments of Jade and rice during the angry season.
:>He was a bit tight lipped about personal issues, but Naomi pried them out of him eventually.
:>He shrugged, and just said "It's boring really".
:>The kids grow, Tatsuki and Kaoru are coldly polite to one another when I'm around, and a little bit catty when I'm not.
:>...They got out of hand once. A teapot got thrown. So I gave them both a good spanking.
:>Naomi gasped at that.
:>They settled down after that.
:>And they're both pregnant. Tatsuki first, but then Karou insisted she wanted one more after all.

:>Kitsuki Takeshi was far too valuable to his Clan to throw away.
:>He shaved his head, taking the name Kera.
:>From the monastery where he lived, he wrote numerous journals detailing his experiences as both an Emerald and Jade magistrate.
:>Though few dared seek the wisdom of the tainted monk, those who did swore that his advice was always of great help.
:>It was rumored he even found another to teach the final lesson of Kitsuki's Method too.
:>That rumor was the last I ever heard of him, for he stopped writing a short time before then.
:>He answered no letters either.
:>Naomi continued to write to him, not knowing if he read them or not, and told she would continue to do so until she was told he had died or he asked her to stop.
:>Privately, I wondered if he bore us a grudge.
:>It was my fault he was dismissed as an Emerald Magistrate. We were involved in the events that led to his friend's seppuku, and he became tainted fighting a battle that was not his to fight.
:>I took some small comfort in the fact that while he never replied to Naomi's letters, he also never asked her to stop writing him.
:>A year passed by, and the angry season finally abated.
:>Then, a letter arrived for Naomi.
:>It was terse.
:>Your father is dying. Come home. Bring Jade Magistrates.