[L5R/S7] In their season;
“In Their Season”
L5R, Alternate Universe
Includes original characters. L5R belongs to Wizards of the Coast, S7 belongs to GONZO.
Prompts: season, rice balls;
Once A Yojimbo.
She had offered him the rice balls with a simple smile, her eyes betraying none of the sadness he’d glimpsed earlier on when the procession stopped for a brief breather. “Thank you,” she’d told him, though he wasn’t quite sure what she meant. After all, from the way she’d looked in her palanquin, her long silver hair set loose from its bindings, anyone could forget that it was springtime, the most promising season of all.
He didn’t know who she was at first; the curtains had often been drawn. But when he’d asked the other samurai, they had simply told him that she was the daughter of the man whose body they bore on their shoulders.
Heihachi watched her go, her posture perfect as she walked gracefully back into the house with all the dignity that she’d been born with. He had never known the General, though many others within the ranks spoke the name Kakita Nobu with pride. The short samurai was new to the Isawa family, having pledged his sword and his service to the Isawa Mori’s eldest son, Hiroshi only recently.
Though from two completely different clans, both generals had a long history of friendship together. Mori and Nobu had known each other as young boys, and then later had stood by each other on the battlefield as grown men. It was not simply courtesy for a fellow samurai then that had compelled this particular branch of the Isawa family to attend if not participate at Nobu’s funeral procession. It was out of love for a lifelong friend who had died with honor, though too soon by the standards of many.
“Leave it to Kotori-chan to think of seeing to everyone else even at a time like this.” The samurai glanced over his shoulder to see his liege-lord approach, the younger Isawa brother, Seiichiro, at his side. Hiroshi smiled at him, the tall Phoenix samurai’s normally stern features softening just a little.
“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” He asked, his eyes wandering back to where the girl had gone. “You should hear her play the koto. My mother and father told me that her beauty multiplies a hundred fold when she weaves her music. Though I am not that surprised.” Heihachi noted the way his liege-lord slid a meaningful glance at his brother. The shugenja had his hands hidden in his sleeves, and his head was turned to where the young maiden had gone. “She is her mother’s daughter.”
The Phoenix samurai shifted his footing and looked kindly upon him, a simple newcomer to his retinue. “I have been invited to stay awhile longer. My brother and myself are to sit close to the front when Kotone-san and Kotori-chan play a duet to honor General Nobu.”
“It is too high a privilege, Hiroshi-sama.”
“Nonesense.” The Phoenix let out a soft snort. “You are my yojimbo, and I will be offended, Heihachi, if you did not join us.” His features sobered once more, and Heihachi followed the path of his gaze.
The crowd was gathering and mother and daughter stepped from behind the sliding doors and onto the clean cut grass, still moist with the day’s early dew. He noted how the guests seemed almost handpicked: family, with few others from the various clans.
“Where is Hideaki, brother?” He heard his liege-lord ask.
“He will be here, aniue. I suspect he is retrieving Nobu-san’s sword. I heard that Kotori could not bring herself to look upon it.”
So sad, Heihachi thought then, as he watched her smile, his steps following those of his liege, wondering inwardly why the girl felt the need to hide her grief in a smile.
L5R, Alternate Universe
Includes original characters. L5R belongs to Wizards of the Coast, S7 belongs to GONZO.
Prompts: season, rice balls;
Once A Yojimbo.
She had offered him the rice balls with a simple smile, her eyes betraying none of the sadness he’d glimpsed earlier on when the procession stopped for a brief breather. “Thank you,” she’d told him, though he wasn’t quite sure what she meant. After all, from the way she’d looked in her palanquin, her long silver hair set loose from its bindings, anyone could forget that it was springtime, the most promising season of all.
He didn’t know who she was at first; the curtains had often been drawn. But when he’d asked the other samurai, they had simply told him that she was the daughter of the man whose body they bore on their shoulders.
Heihachi watched her go, her posture perfect as she walked gracefully back into the house with all the dignity that she’d been born with. He had never known the General, though many others within the ranks spoke the name Kakita Nobu with pride. The short samurai was new to the Isawa family, having pledged his sword and his service to the Isawa Mori’s eldest son, Hiroshi only recently.
Though from two completely different clans, both generals had a long history of friendship together. Mori and Nobu had known each other as young boys, and then later had stood by each other on the battlefield as grown men. It was not simply courtesy for a fellow samurai then that had compelled this particular branch of the Isawa family to attend if not participate at Nobu’s funeral procession. It was out of love for a lifelong friend who had died with honor, though too soon by the standards of many.
“Leave it to Kotori-chan to think of seeing to everyone else even at a time like this.” The samurai glanced over his shoulder to see his liege-lord approach, the younger Isawa brother, Seiichiro, at his side. Hiroshi smiled at him, the tall Phoenix samurai’s normally stern features softening just a little.
“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” He asked, his eyes wandering back to where the girl had gone. “You should hear her play the koto. My mother and father told me that her beauty multiplies a hundred fold when she weaves her music. Though I am not that surprised.” Heihachi noted the way his liege-lord slid a meaningful glance at his brother. The shugenja had his hands hidden in his sleeves, and his head was turned to where the young maiden had gone. “She is her mother’s daughter.”
The Phoenix samurai shifted his footing and looked kindly upon him, a simple newcomer to his retinue. “I have been invited to stay awhile longer. My brother and myself are to sit close to the front when Kotone-san and Kotori-chan play a duet to honor General Nobu.”
“It is too high a privilege, Hiroshi-sama.”
“Nonesense.” The Phoenix let out a soft snort. “You are my yojimbo, and I will be offended, Heihachi, if you did not join us.” His features sobered once more, and Heihachi followed the path of his gaze.
The crowd was gathering and mother and daughter stepped from behind the sliding doors and onto the clean cut grass, still moist with the day’s early dew. He noted how the guests seemed almost handpicked: family, with few others from the various clans.
“Where is Hideaki, brother?” He heard his liege-lord ask.
“He will be here, aniue. I suspect he is retrieving Nobu-san’s sword. I heard that Kotori could not bring herself to look upon it.”
So sad, Heihachi thought then, as he watched her smile, his steps following those of his liege, wondering inwardly why the girl felt the need to hide her grief in a smile.