Editing Memories of a Stone Wall (section)

===Act VI: Searching for Hida===
:>Many people know of the Twenty Goblin Winter.
:>In times where the Clan is desperate for manpower, the Crab Clan will allow anyone to enter into the Shadowlands. Those that return with the heads of twenty goblins will be allowed to join the Clan, joining a vassal family of the Hida, no questions asked.
:>There is another tradition that involves entering the Shadowlands and collecting heads.
:>Someone who has been terribly dishonored may go Looking for Hida.
:>Hida, you see, never died.
:>He simply picked up his Tetsubo one day, and announced that he was going to find Atarasi, Hida's son, and the first Crab Clan Thunder.
:>That's where the name comes from anyway. You aren't actually supposed to go find the Crab Clan Kami. 
:>That would be silly.
:>Instead you just have to get the heads of eight measly zombies. Sometimes more, if you've really really screwed up.
:>This custom arose as a means to salvage warriors who might still be of use to the Clan, so it's usually only invoked when seppuku is the only other outcome.
:>But I'm pretty sure just invoking the custom should be enough to convince the rest of the Crab we really aren't traitors.
:>I'll go on our behalf. 
:>The others were nodding along with my plan.
:>Except for Naomi. She was worried about me going alone into danger.
:>And Toshiro. His mouth was hanging open.
:>Aren't you leaving something out?
:>Some tiny detail they should probably all know before you seek their approval for this insanity?
:>All eyes turned to Toshiro.
:>No, I can't really think of anything else. Just a few minor details.
:>So you call going into the Shadowlands, stripped of your daisho, with no jade, food or water, armed with a single masakari and wearing only a white robe MINOR!?
:>The others were, of course, less than thrilled that I had left that bit out.
:>Toshiro decided to elaborate.
:>You're going into the SHADOWLANDS to get those zombies! Collecting the heads is the easy part; it's surviving everything else with no jade or supplies that's hard!

:>At this point even the Mantis was against my plan.
:>They were all protesting, talking over each other even. Naomi the most vocal of all.
:>"SHUT UP ALL OF YOU!"
:>I had never bellowed at any of them before.
:>"I understand your concerns. But I have thought this through. Thoroughly."
:>"The Crab detest Sincerity. Do you know why?"
:>"It is because when someone is trying to hard to prove their sincerity it seems, to us, that they are simply lying."
:>"An Akodo, when summoned by his lord, will throw himself violently to the floor, and shout his Lord's name so loudly it hurts his own throat. To show his sincere loyalty."
:>"Crabs have no patience for that kind of crap. Actions speak louder than words to us."
:>"That's what all this is about."
:>"Right now we are in a castle full of Samurai who think we were willing agents of a Maho-Tsukai! They'll kill us if they have the chance!"
:>"But just invoking the custom proves we were not!"
:>"THAT is Crab sincerity."
:>"And WHEN I come back, I'll have cleansed our shame as well."
:>Toshiro scowled. 
:>"Getting a bit full of yourself, aren't you?"
:>"Even a Hiruma would find it difficult to survive in the Shadowlands without supplies."
:>"Difficult, Toshiro. Not impossible. It's a race against time, I know. But it's not the first time I've been alone in the Shadowlands."
:>"It's been a long time since your gempukku, Ishigaki. And you had your armor, and jade."
:>"But I'm a better tracker now. I can do this."
:>Naomi butted in.
:>"I am sorry, what did you say Toshiro-san? About Ishigaki-kun's gempukku?"
:>"Did you not know? For their Gempukku a Crab goes alone into the Shadowlands and brings back the head of a tainted creature."
:>"No. I did not know that. So Daiko will have to do that one day as well?"
:>"Yes."
:>"... I see."
:>Naomi wasn't taking that very well.
:>I left before my heart broke, and before anymore protests could arise.
:>I had to speak to my Champion.
:>My friends all followed me, reluctantly. 
:>I stormed into the room my Champion was in.
:>"I WILL GO LOOKING FOR HIDA."

:>Every voice died.
:>Every eye turned to me
:>My Champions gaze bore down on me, almost crushing me with it's weight.
:>What did you say.
:>I am sick of the accusing stares following my companions and me. We are NOT traitors, we are NOT servants of evil, and I will prove that to you all! I will go looking for Hida.
:>Well, the die is cast.
:>Silence. 
:>Then
:>So be it.
:>If you return alive then none may question you or your companions again.
:>Make yourself ready.
:>You leave now.
:>Not quite what I hoped for. But it was alright. I really did plan on succeeding. I had just hoped that even if the worst happened my friends would be absolved.
:>I was taken into a private chamber. Stripped naked. A Kuni threw water on me, said a prayer to purify my body and soul.
:>A pure white robe, the color of death, was placed on me. Belted with a white obi at my waist. I looked for all the world like I was I dressed for my own funeral.
:>As I was taken out to the Wall, an impromptu parade formed up around me.
:>This was all very exciting for the assembled courtiers.
:>A secret custom of the Crab Clan, rarely seen by outsiders. 
:>The solemn air the rest of the Crab carried served to further impress the court.
:>My friends came with, to see me off.
:>An audible gasp arose from the throng as we stepped out onto the wall.
:>Eyes filled with tears as the fierce wind stung them. Frost formed up on eyelashes almost instantly. 
:>They hid their excitement behind their sleeves, as a fan would simply be ripped from their hands up here.
:>They could SEE the Shadowlands. 
:>All the Crabs about, especially the Champion, dispelled all sense of personal danger.
:>It was like coming very close to a dangerous animal in a cage. Scary enough to excite, but in reality quite safe.
:>I stepped up to the lift that would lower me into the Shadowlands.
:>Hida-sama held out a masakari.
:>I took it.
:>I got on the lift.
:>A cry arose from behind me.
:>I looked back to see Naomi reaching out to me. eyes pleading.

:>I lose sight of her as they lower me.
:>Forgive me, my love. I must do this. For all our sakes, for our future. For Daiko. I must cleanse this stink of shame off all of us.
:>It takes a very long time to get to the bottom. I'm still wet from the purification ritual. And there is nothing to shield me from the harsh winter wind on this lift.
:>I do not care. I don't even feel the cold. I am a descendant of the Fortune of Fire and Thunder. This much is nothing.
:>I reach the bottom.
:> The river of the last stand rushes on before me. There is a boat already here for me. Brought out from the tunnels, no doubt.
:>I hop into the boat and get to the other side.
:>HIDA
:>I need to call Hida's name until I am well away from the wall. I am looking for him, at least ostensibly.
:>HIDA.
:>That's going to draw some attention. My first real ordeal then.
:>Move quickly enough so I can stop letting everything know where I am, then deal with whatever DOES come to see what all this noise is about.
:>I break into a run.
:>HIDA
:>I can just make out the dark shape of all the people up on top of the wall, watching me walk into what they think is certain death.
:>I will enjoy the looks on their faces when I come back.
:>HIDA
:>I attempt to orient myself. I have a plan to find enough zombies quickly. Before the taint gets into me. Or I die of thirst.
:>Or worse.
:>HIDA
:>Finding your way in the Shadowlands is terribly difficult. For a horrifying reason.
:>The Shadowlands is a realm of pure taint. There are almost no Kami here. It is known that the most heavily tainted Earth becomes a swampy, soupy mass. And the Taint is constantly pouring into Nigen-do from the wound left by the fall of the Ninth Kami.
:>It was Hiruma Furoshoshi who first realized what this means.
:>The land moves.
:>The earth upon which you walk is but a thin layer, like tea leaves floating in wide bowl. And as more taint seeps into the world, the tea is stirred.

:>Fortunately, the drift is slow.
:>So long as you know of it, and your knowledge of where things are is fairly recent, you can plan your navigation so that you end up where you intend.
:>Most of the time, anyway.
:>Oh yeah, one more thing.
:>HIDA
:>I can still see the wall, better give out one more shout.
:>And a shadow falls over me.
:>Fuck
:>I look up. I'm on a fairly flat, rocky plain right now. 
:>I look further up.
:>I dive to the side in just in time as a great winged thing slams into the ground where I had been,
:>A thick body, covered in matted fur. Legs bent backwards like a chicken.
:>A tail. With boney spines at the end. Of course.
:>And a head like a human infant. Far to large, of course, but the proportions were right, and there was a layer of what could be called nothing else than baby fat on it's face.
:>It's too large eyes were pure white.
:>It shrieked at me.
:>I ran.
:>And dove under a tiny bit of rock that made a small shelf.
:>It was apparently used to it's food standing and fighting.
:>Still, it came after me.
:>There was just enough space for me to wedge my thick frame under the shelf.
:>The creature had no hands, only wings.
:>The shelf made it difficult to claw me, or strike me with it's tail.
:>I jabbed at it with my masakari. I could see whatever this was I was going to need jade to truly hurt it.
:>So I hunkered down, annoying it occasionally, until it got fed up and went in search of an easier meal.
:>I was scraped up more than I would have liked by it's clawing, but I was a damn sight better off than had I tried to kill it.
:>I thanked the shelf that save my life and headed deeper into the Shadowlands.
:>Seeking out the Fields of Hair.

:>I moved as fast as I dared.
:>Mostly I kept my ears pricked up for any danger.
:>I was no Hiruma Scout, but I knew the basics of moving without detection, and of navigating. I wouldn't have made it back from my gempukku if I couldn't so at least that much.
:>Outside of my armor, it was much easier to move silently, and while I was no Kakita or Mirumoto, I was more agile than average.
:>So my first day in the realm of evil was spent moving from cover to cover, hiding as mobs of goblins marched past, avoiding the cave where an Ogre clearly lived. and being very, very careful about what I step on.
:>I thanked Shiba-san for his teachings. The meditations I learned from him proved invaluable. I did not wish to eat or drink anything native to this place, lest I invite the taint into myself.
:>Nor did I wish to sleep. Sleeping would only get me eaten in the night, and any place that looked reasonably safe would assuredly already have a tenant strong enough to avoid being evicted.
:>So I meditated, quieting my rumbling belly. Setting aside the dryness in the back of my throat. emptying my mind to rest my body.
:>And was not surprised when the goblin warmonger came at me with a rusty katana.
:>My eyes snapped open as he came into my reach. I took up my masakari off of my lap and struck.
:>His blade bit into my shoulder. 
:>Mine struck his head from his shoulders.
:>I bellowed a challenge at his followers and they scattered, not wishing to fight something so strong.
:>I would need to be careful for a while. Goblins were dangerous precisely because they were weak and cowardly. They would set up an ambush for me later.
:>I was managing to make it deeper without being wounded severely, but I was also being slowed down by my own caution.
:>Without jade, I risked being tainted in a matter of days.
:>I continued on.
:>Sure enough those little shits tried again.
:>Up ahead the land rose sharply, into a mesa. Split on two by a narrow path down the middle.

:>Might as well just hang out a sign that says "COME ON IN AND GET EATEN!"
:>Nope, not having that.
:>So I tore off the top of my robe, fashioned a quick tie around my masakari so I could hang it from my neck, and set to work climbing up the mesa.
:>It was tough. I lost my grip twice, and got some nice cuts on my hands. But I made it.
:>And there they were. Staring down at the route through the mesa, rocks in hand.
:>I fell upon them from behind.
:>Panicked they tried to flee.
:>I hacked and hewed, shoved one over the side.
:>I let them escape only once I was certain I had culled enough they wouldn't try a third time.
:>Then moved on. My time was running out.
:>Every step I took IN,was one more I would need to take OUT. While still going without food, water, or most importantly, Jade.
:>What I wouldn't give to run into a friendly nezumi right about now.
:>But I didn't speak their language, nor did I have any baubles with me. So I didn't pin my hopes on that.
:>At last I found it. The Fields of Hair.
:>The Fields of hair look like a grassy windswept plain.
:>In the Shadowlands, looks deceive.
:>What, at first glance seems grass is actual hair. Thousands of corpses, buried up to their scalps.
:>And of course, in the Shadowlands no corpse in just a corpse for very long.
:>They wait, patiently for you to draw near.
:>When you disturb their hair, they rise up. This disturbs others. You can get overwhelmed very quickly.
:>So I stopped well back. I picked up a small pebble. And I tossed at the very first tuft at the very edge.
:>I got a bit more than I bargained for.
:>A full dozen of the damn things came up.
:>So I ran.
:>They gave chase
:>I turned and struck the one in the lead, knocked it on it's ass.
:>And ran through them.
:>As they followed I turned and struck. Stringing them out in a line.
:>Forcing them to fight me in small groups.
:>By the grace of the fortunes and my own prodigious resilience, I got my zombie heads.
:>Now to get out of here.

:>I turned to go back along my previous path.
:>And I saw a VERY large dark shape moving in the Mesa.
:>The size of a house, in fact.
:>I decided I wanted nothing to do with that and took off in a third direction. If my navigation was correct, I was now running parallel to the wall, going no further in, but also not getting out.
:>The zombie skulls left slimy rot all over my back. I had knotted their hair into the sling I made for my Masakari.
:>I was never so glad to have gone so long without eating. If I HAD anything in my stomach, I'm sure the sensation would have brought it all up.
:>Being a Crab you have to deal with some seriously gross shit from time to time.
:>WHOMPF
:>I hope I didn't really hear that.
:>WHOMPF
:>I hope that isn't what I think it is
:>WHOMPF
:>I looked over my shoulder
:>Yep, it's coming this way.
:>Fuck stealth, time to run.
:>I run at full speed. jagged rocks tear at my feet.
:>I'm covered in shallow cuts, scrapes and bruises. As well as a few decent wounds.
:>I had anything to eat or drink for nearly two days now. I've not slept.
:>I hurt. My whole body hurts. It's telling me to just lie down. To let go.
:>I 
:>WILL
:>NOT
:>FAIL
:>When something is chasing you there three ways you can get away.
:>One is to be faster than something else that it is also chasing.
:>I was alone.
:>Another way is to be faster than the thing that is chasing you to begin with.
:>I looked back.
:>It was gaining.
:>So that's a no on the second one then.
:>The only other option is to go somewhere it cannot or will not follow.
:>My eyes scanned the horizon desperate for salvation.
:>I saw it.
:>A forest.
:>The Shadowlands takes great delight in being WRONG.
:>In this case the leaves of the trees comprising this forest were all on the ground. Roots, not branches, spread out in a tangle above.
:>Praying that the forest was what I thought it was, I ran straight for it.
:>WHOMPFWHOMPFWHOMPF
:>It was almost upon me.

:>The trees at the outer edge were growing very close together.
:>No time to find a better way in.
:>I dove for an opening I judged I could fit through.
:>My shoulders scraped the edges of the trees.
:>The roots twitched.
:>Then they spat a sticky sap that burned like fire where it landed on me.
:>I fell flat on the dirt, desperately used my masakari to scrape off the burning jelly. Took a small bit of skin with it.
:>My weapon was smoking now, so I slammed it into the dirt, forcing the sap off it's edged and smothering the fire.
:>I could see the legs of the monster that had chased me in here beyond the trunks. 
:>They were like an elephants, but there were eight.
:>It didn't try to come in.
:>So I had escaped being trampled to death by getting trapped in a forest where the trees grew upside down and spit burning sap on you if you so much as touched them. And in the process had damaged my weapon.
:>Did I mention I am not a smart man?
:>Sensei once said 'Scars are proof a man can survive his own stupidity'.
:>I had a lot of scars.
:>I was very good at surviving my own stupidity, I would survive this as well.
:>I began to pick my way through woods. Very. Very slowly, in what I hoped was a northerly direction.
:>Eventually, I allowed myself to sleep.
:>Few of the larger dangers of the Shadowlands would come into these woods. I thought I could get just a little rest, enough to take some of the pain in my body away.
:>I was right.
:>I made sure to draw an arrow in the dirt pointing to what I hopped was still north before I slept. There wasn't much I could use within this forest to guess my direction, and I didn't want to shift in my sleep and lose my way.
:>I took up my masakari, the edge a bit corroded, my grim belt of zombie heads, and set out north.
:>When I emerged from the forest, I could see it.
:>The Wall.
:>Just a dim grey line on the horizon, but it was there.
:>If everything went well, I would be out of the Shadowlands by the end of day three, or was it four?

:>I only had to cross quite a few miles of blasted, barren landscape with no cover whatsoever.
:>After everything I'd been through, that shouldn't be a problem
:>I began picking my way across the rocks.
:>A part of me hoped that, this close to the wall, I would get picked up by a Crab patrol.
:>Mostly that part was my stomach. And my throat. 
:>I wasn't sure I could manage a yell loud enough to reach the top of the Wall in my current state.
:>Hold on Naomi, Daiko. Daddy is almost home.
:>I'm sorry I didn't bring you a present. Next time I pro...
:>My eyes snapped open.
:>The relief I had felt, so close to my goal, had almost killed me.
:>I was walking and falling asleep at the same time.
:>I slapped myself to get my adrenaline going again.
:>Not yet.
:>Not safe yet.
:>I will not fail.
:>A shadow fell over me.
:>Oh you've got to be kidding me.
:>I spun and struck with my Maskari before it had finished it's dive.
:>I managed to change it's diving assault into a crash.
:>Unfortunately, it crashed into me.
:>My old friend Oni no Baby Face was back for round two.

:>We tumbled, rolling end over end in the dirt from the force of its momentum.
:>It rolled past me, I regained my feet first.
:>I had managed to hold onto my weapon.
:>An invulnerable Oni COULD be killed without magic or the three sacred substances. But this was only accomplished by lots and lots and LOTS of arrows. Some of the more ingenuous, (and cruel) weapons and traps devised by the Kaiu could do it as well. Set a massive Oni on fire and it WILL burn to death. Eventually.
:>I had one corroded masakari.
:>Could I get close enough to the Wall the Crabs there could kill it, or drive it off?
:>It was picking itself up, shaking its head like a dog.
:>I looked at the Wall. Too far.
:>I looked around. No shelves, no miracles. Nothing I could use.
:>It charged at me, I dove to the side, and managed to fend of a swipe of its tail. 
:>It turned to face me.
:>It's foul breath steaming in the winter air as it's sides worked like a bellows.
:>No way.
:>What are you doing.
:>This is insane.
:>As it charged again, I leapt up over it.
:>And wrapped my arms around its neck.
:>It made a gurgling sound and trashed around.
:>Somehow I held on.
:>It rolled on the ground, scraping up my back.
:>I held tighter.
:>It couldn't reach me with it's legs.
:>It tried with its tail.
:>The spines dug deep into me, 
:>My grip loosened, and it took a breath.
:>But I held onto it's back anyway. I had one last desperate thought.
:>It swung it's tail again.
:>I let go in time.
:>The creatures spines stabbed into its own flesh.
:>It howled. 
:>And took off.
:>Looking for something to eat that wouldn't put up quite such a fight.
:>It was only fact that the thing had the mind of a wild beast that saved me. Had it been smarter, I'd be dead.
:>I limped off, heading towards the Wall.

:>I reached the edge of the last stand river. I waved my arms, made a sign to alert the Crab that could see me I was a returning Crab, not a monster to be killed.
:>I tried to yell but my throat was too dry. So I made the sign again.
:>Several Hiruma poured out from the hidden entrances of the tunnels. One got in a boat to come over and get me, the others drew back their bows aimed at me.
:>I was brought to the other side. The lift had been lowered.
:>Right. If I was in any way compromised it wouldn't do for them to show me a safe path through the tunnels.
:>I tried to ask for water. All I did was croak.
:>One Hiruma shook her head. 
:>"Up. First you get tested."
:>I nodded wearily.
:>I wasn't going to keel over in the next few minutes.
:>Up I went.
:>A Kuni was there. They took my trophies, and weapon.
:>The Kuni prodded me with Jade.
:>He brought a sliver of crystal near to my flesh.
:>He spoke with kami.
:>"THIS MAN IS CLEAN."
:>He made sure everyone around heard.
:>A ladle with fresh water was pressed into my hand.
:>I drank like a pig. Greedier than even my daughter.
:>The cool water pained my parched throat.
:>I drank more.
:>"Enough, Ishigaki-san. Too much water after so long without can hurt you."
:>I was surprised he knew my name.
:>"A lone man in white, with a masakari and carrying zombie heads? Who else could that be?"
:>"By now the entirety of the Wall has heard of your tale."
:>He glanced down at my heads.
:>"You only needed eight, you know?"
:>"I'm an overachiever." I croaked out.

:>I had to head several feet down the wall to get back to Kyuden Hida.
:>I fully intended to set out immediately, but the Kuni insisted I sit and have my wounds tended.
:>"This is one hell of a story! I cannot even think of one person who went looking for Hida that came back!"
:>There was a Kaiu there, bringing up some rice balls and water to help me regain my strength.
:>She spoke up.
:>"That's because going to look for Hida cleanses dishonor. It would be rude to bring it up again after they return, neh?"
:>"Hrm, I suppose you're right."
:>I woke up.
:>Shitwhatwhere
:>Oh.
:>Safe to say I had abused my body quite thoroughly. I didn't even know when, exactly, I had fallen asleep.
:>I looked around.
:>I was sitting where I had been when the Kuni was tending me, a blanket thrown over me.
:>Resting with her head in my lap was Naomi.
:>"We tried to stop her."
:>Kitsuki-san.
:>"We told her you would come back, once you had a chance to sleep."
:>"But we would have had to tie her up to stop her."
:>"And then, I think, you would have killed us."
:>He might have been right.
:>"I... what you did for us... Ishigaki."
:>"Stop."
:>"I only did my duty."
:>"What?"
:>"What I've been doing, all this time Kitsuki-san."
:>"Being strong so that those weaker than me can take shelter in my strength."
:>"That's what it means to be a Crab."
:>"I've explained all this already, haven't I?"

:>Our official dismissals arrived in the last week of the Winter Court.
:>Just a curt letter informing each of us our services were no longer required.
:>Hohiro set out to return to the lands of the Phoenix a bit early. There was a lot of pomp and circumstance surrounding the raising of a new Elemental Master, and he wanted to make a good impression on the sitting Council members.
:>Shoji went with him.
:>In all that time, Shoji never once spoke to his daughter, or tried to see his grandchild. That suited me just fine.
:>There was a part of Naomi however, a part that I suspected would never really go away, that still yearned for her father's approval.
:>This winter had been an emotional one for her. Honor demands loyalty to her parents, even when they don't deserve it. And as unnatural as Shoji's disdain for his daughter was, it was just as unnatural for a child to NOT seek their parent's love. 
:>Even though such emotions are not discussed and never admitted too, even the most rigidly honorable of samurai have them.
:>But we only acknowledge them in plays, in books and stories.
:>Because Desire is a sin. One of the three great sins that gave birth to world.
:>The ideal samurai has no emotion. They do not desire things for themselves; a samurai is one who serves. They do not regret; they simply follow the orders of their superiors. They do not fear; death is not failure, and they know they will be reborn again.
:>There has never, not once in all the history of Rokugan, existed this ideal samurai. Not even the most blessed of Ancestors dwelling in Yomi have even come close.
:>Perfection is NOT for mortals. Only the Divine may be perfect.
:>It is through our trials, as we seek this unattainable goal, that we advance along the path towards entering Yomi ourselves.
:>Given how badly this life was testing my wife, I was certain she would enter the realm of blessed ancestors.
:>I wasn't to sure about myself.

:>I had been comforting my wife through this emotional time. Quite frequently.
:>So the sting of our dismissal was lessened, for the both of us at least, by Naomi making an announcement.
:>"I did not wish to tell you before you left. I did not wish to add to your worries. But now that you have returned I have something to tell you, Ishigaki-kun."
:>She snuggled in against me, eyes closed and smiling. "We're going to have another one."
:>My mind whirled. It was so soon. Daiko wasn't even weaned yet. And Naomi's health... she had several close calls while carrying Daiko.
:>And yet, I couldn't NOT be happy at this news.
:>I truly desired a veritable brood of children. 
:>Crabs. We love big families.
:>We were all making ready to return to our own homes, our own Clans, and receive our new assignments.
:>At least, after what I had done, we could all count on avoiding being tossed off to some corner and being forgotten.
:>Still, our partings were sorrowful. We had no idea when, or even if, our duties would ever bring us together again.
:>We needn't have worried.
:>Destiny had a plan.

:>It was admittedly, a bit long in coming to fruition.
:>Toshiro moved in with us for the time being, to see to Naomi's health.
:>In the middle of spring, I was surprised by a visit from my Sensei.
:>I wanted Naomi to stay in bed and rest, knowing how things had progressed the last time, but she insisted on being a proper host and housewife.
:>She even chided me.
:>"Ishigaki-kun I am not made of porcelain! Let me out of this bed, I am going mad with boredom! Besides, it is the proper thing to do, neh?"
:>From over her shoulder Toshiro smirked at me.
:>"Fine, fine, I get it. But if you start coughing you're going right back in that bed!"
:>"Hai hai, Ishigaki-kun, whatever you say."
:>I met with Sensei, and the person he brought with him, as Naomi served us all tea.
:>"Ishigaki-san, this is Hida Kojiro-sama."
:>Sama? This guy outranks Sensei?
:>I took another look at this Kojiro.
:>He wasn't much to look at. Large, like most crabs. In fact you'd have a hard time picking him out in group of Crab. In some of that fancy armor made to look like shells. 
:>I'm not sure why, but I never really liked that look.
:>Then it hit me. If this guy, so easily overlooked, outranked Sensei then he must be possessed of undeniable skill.
:>Sensei continued.
:>"Kojiro-sama asked me to introduce you to him, and he has questions for you."
:>Kojiro-sama looked me in the eyes.
:>"Why did you go looking for Hida?"
:>"No one was saying it, but everyone was thinking that I was knowing servant of a Maho-Tsukai. I wanted to dispel those illusions before I got cornered in a stairway somewhere."
:>"You could have resolved the matter with a duel or two. Only Crabs would have done that, so it's not as though you'd be facing a Kakita in an iaijutsu duel."
:>"I'll ask you again. WHY did you go looking for Hida."
:>"It wasn't just me, though. All my companions were shamed as well!"
:>"Are they not Samurai themselves? Are you saying your friends are so weak they need you to protect them?"

:>"Of course they aren't weak! But they all have different strengths!"
:>I waved at Toshiro
:>"He's the last person I would call weak, but he can't move fast with his injured leg!"
:>"I am a bushi! When we are in battle, I stand between him and those who would hurt him! It's my duty!"
:>"It was the duty of an Emerald Magistrate to protect other samurai from the consequences of their own failure?"
:>"IT IS THE DUTY OF A HUSBAND AND FATHER TO PROTECT HIS FAMILY."
:>"Then show me."
:>I scowled. "Naomi, come with me please."
:>I got into my armor with Naomi's help.
:>She looked up at me questioningly.
:>I just shook my head. I had no idea what this was all about. I was being tested, that much was obvious. But for what I couldn't guess.
:>I went out into the garden, Toshiro handed me my tetsubo.
:>Kojiro was there waiting for me.
:>We fought.
:>Not a spar, a fight. Each of us trying to kill.
:>Naomi and Toshiro had been in battle with me many times. The could tell right away I was being serious.
:>But Naomi is an Honorable woman. She kept her composure.
:>Blow after thunderous blow was struck. Armor buckled and warped. Bones splinted.
:>At last Kojiro said Enough.
:>I straightened. It was a bit hard to breath. My ribs were cracked.
:>"I've seen your skill first hand. I know you have something personal to fight for. And to return alive after going looking for Hida. I know you know well our enemy."
:>"I will take you as my student."
:>That took me aback.
:>My previous Sensei explained from where he had been sitting.
:>There was a School that existed only for students who prove themselves part of an elite group. It teaches techniques far above the basic ones of Sunda Mizu.
:>Hida Kojiro was a Sensei of that School.
:>And I was now a student of it.
:>I was a going to be a Defender of the Wall.

:>I spent some time away from my home training in my new School.
:>I thought I would have an advantage, as the techniques of the Defender built upon those of the Hida bushi.
:>However there was a surprisingly great amount of spiritual training as well, something my straightforward training at Sunda Mizu had not prepared for very well.
:>My first lesson expanded upon the Mountain does not Move. But rather than simply passing the shock of a blow through my muscles and down into the earth, I was learning to fight back, upsetting the taint in an opponent with the purity of my own earth at the moment of impact.
:>This was a very difficult thing to get right.
:>To teach me this, Kojiro-sensei enlisted the aid of one of the Damned.
:>The man would not give me his name.
:>A witch hunter watched us practice. Everyone knew he was there to keep a close eye on the Damned Crab that was my sparring partner.
:>It took several weeks of nonstop beatings, but eventually Kojiro-sensei and my nameless sparring partner beat the technique into me.
:>As he saw me off so that I could return home to my expectant wife he gave me a rare smile.
:>"Now put that to good use, Ishigaki-san."
:>"Hai, sensei."
:>Time passed, and while Naomi did lose strength, she fared much better then she had when she carried Daiko.
:>I was feeding her dinner while she rested in bed.
:>She was perfectly capable of feeding herself, of course, but everyone likes to be spoiled from time to time.
:>"Toshiro-san must have made some improvements to my medicine; I am feeling much better."
:>"No, I don't think that's it."
:>"When I was fighting to get back to the Wall, it was you I thought of. You and Daiko."
:>"I'm a bushi. A warrior. For my friends, for my duty, I would fight and die without hesitation."
:>"But for you Naomi, for you I would live."
:>"And I know you're the same way."
:>"You've just found a strength you didn't know you had, that's all."
:>Naomi threw her arms around my neck.
:>"Ishigaki-kun you say the sweetest things."
:>"I say the truth."

:>The night Naomi gave birth, Osono-Wo rode the clouds over my house.
:>Rain lashed against the roof, the wind shook the whole house and lightning struck the ground almost in time with my own faked moans.
:>I appreciated my ancestor's help in driving the evil spirits away, though I couldn't help think he was laughing as I wandered about the house with a futonbaby stuffed up under my kimono.
:>The cries that arose from my second child seemed to be trying to outdo Osono-Wo for sheer volume.
:>I came in to find a tired looking Naomi holding an ugly red blob. This one was red because it was screaming with all it's might.
:>I picked it up, took a peek. And now I had a son.
:>"Hey, hey you. Knock it off eh? Your poor mother's been through enough already."
:>I stuck out my little finger for him, and he seized it immediately.
:>"Quite the grip you've got there, little Tetsute."
:>Naomi smiled in approval of the name I gave our son.
:>It was a year after the birth of my son that Destiny's plan came to fruition.
:>In the meantime, I had served my clan by taking a post on the Wall. My new training came in very handy.
:>I came home after getting some time off to find Kitsuki-san in my home, bouncing Tetsute in his lap.
:>"Not even a letter to let me know you're coming?"
:>"How rude."
:>I grinned, pleased to see my old friend.
:>"I wanted to surprise you with how far I've come, but it looks like you've been quite busy yourself!"
:>Tetsute gurgled with delight at the play.
:>Daiko came into the room, toddlerunning at full speed.
:>She slammed into the table.
:>Naomi caught the teacups before they could spill.
:>Daiko plopped heavily down onto her rump. Giggled, then stood up and took off running in another direction.
:>I managed to get the door open before she went through it.
:>Tetsute squirmed and fussed until Kitsuki-san set him down. Tetsute pulled himself up with the edge of the table, took a few wobbly steps, fell, and started crawling after his sister.

:>Kitsuki-san's eyebrows climbed up into his hairline. No mean feat considering he wore his hair in the traditional style, with a shaven pate and a topknot.
:>"Your children are very...energetic."
:>Naomi smiled with open pride.
:>"They are both quite strong. They take after their father in that regard."
:>"They got some of his bad habits to, it seems."
:>Toshiro thumpdraged himself into the room and sat down.
:>"You'd best teach them some proper manners Naomi-san, or they'll get themselves into no end of trouble when they grow up."
:>"Hey now!"
:>"Oh, I will be certain to do so."
:>Kitsuki-san sipped his tea.
:>"I've missed this."
:>"So, you said you had come along way? What was that implying."
:>Kitsuki-san grinned, and produced three folded letters.
:>"These are requests to your superiors. The Jade Magistrates have need of our assistance."
:>"Now, it's not as prestigious as our old posts, I know. And it's only Toshiro and Naomi who would be the Magistrates, we would simply be their Yoriki."
:>"However, the Jade Magistrates concern themselves very deeply with rooting out Maho Tsukai."
:>He needn't say anything else. Our nameless, faceless foe was a Maho-Tsukai. We were sure of it. We could finally take up the hunt again.
:>Daiko and Tetsute were both grown enough that we could leave them with a caretaker while we set off. Neither of us wanted to be away from them for long, but Naomi and I both knew we needed to find out old enemy, or they might one day target our children.
:>We took up the letters.