Toisian: Letters From After the War
Context: the Seiva War ended officially on June 25th of the year 302, following talks held in secret to prevent sabotage (which disrupted peace talks held in earlier years). Shiomaru and his company were captured during the last few months, and it was not confirmed until early July that they were even still alive; in the meantime, armies on both sides were ravaged by pneumonia, and casualties in the ensuing battles were also heavy. Ryoushi and Shiomaru grew up together, in a manner of speaking; they're from very different socioeconomic backgrounds, but met as children at the dojo in their village.
I may continue these.
Title: Letters From After the War
Characters: Koichi Ryoushi, Oomori Shiomaru
Rating: PG
Word count: 1425
July 19, 302
Koichi-san,
I should begin with an apology, shouldn’t I? For my errors-for the lives I put at risk with my poor judgment, for the time it has taken me to contact you, my dear friend. I can only hope that you are alive, still, and able to receive this letter.
My company and I were taken as prisoners. I do not know where we were taken or precisely how long we were held, but (to our great relief) we were treated, for the most part, as well as anyone could have expected. No one was unduly harmed, though the tactical position in which we found ourselves could have easily led to greater misfortune. Some of us were questioned, but my men gave nothing to our captors, and we soon convinced them that we knew nothing of Iseji-shogun’s or the clan’s overarching strategy (not as far from the truth as they initially suspected, I believe). We were released perhaps two weeks after the end of the war; they kindly treated our wounds and have attended to our needs with all care.
News from Minoru is scarce in Lonsuten, where I am currently residing until a way home presents itself. If you have the time, could you tell me what I have missed in my long absence? What were the results of our efforts-were the border villages and farms kept safe? How has the summer weather been? How is your family?
Additionally, if it is no burden for you to do so, can you tell me the names of our comrades who have died, so that I may keep them in my prayers? (I have heard the news about Katorou, regrettably, so there is no need to include those details.)
I eagerly await your reply, but if time or other obligations prevent it, I will bear you no ill will. Please give my love to our friends and your family.
Yours,
Oomori Shiomaru
* * *
August 30, 302
Shiomaru,
I can’t express how good it is to hear from you! We weren’t sure what had become of your company until recently, and a lot of us feared the worst. There’s no need for you to apologize, as far as I’m concerned. It’s enough to know that you and your men are safe now. Maybe I should apologize-myself, or in place of my superiors-for being unable to find you and rescue you, but it’s in the past now, and I hope you can forgive it-and I’ll forgive you for giving us a hell of a scare.
It’s busy here. There is plenty of cleaning up to do, and none of it is very pretty or easy. I’ve been promoted, since Himitsu-fukutaichou went on leave and they’ve given me her position until she returns, and it’s a lot of work in itself. We are slowly moving back from the front, and our task is now to preserve law in the outer villages and ensure that the refugees are taken care of. Most of the border populations were kept safe, and civilian loss of life was less than we feared it would be, but we lost a good deal of farmland. We also lost more soldiers than anyone expected, almost as many to sickness as to the fighting. As you asked, here’s the official list of those from our unit who died after your capture: […]
I am truly, deeply sorry about Himitsu-taichou. There’s probably nothing that I can say to make it easier-maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned it here at all. I’m sorry for that, too. I’m sorry for all of it. I hope you’re doing all right.
Summer is treating us well. It hasn’t been too dry, and thank the gods for that, since the harvest will already be meager. As for my family, we are well. Sayuri, my next-eldest sister, will be married in a few months. My mother’s health has improved since spring, and my father retired officially last month. Ayame (whom I’m sure you remember) is well, and Kenji is back on duty following an injury to his leg. His mother became ill last month and hasn’t felt well since, but the doctor believes she will recover.
The council is having a difficult time quelling fears of famine and political turmoil. I don’t think they’re justified fears yet, but it is a chaotic time. Many people don’t like how the council is run. I don’t know what to think, yet-but it’s my job as a soldier to keep the peace, and that’s the most important thing. When the clan is stable again, we can worry about politics, right?
Now you must tell me-what is it like in Lonsuten? The political situation there must be worse than here, but I’ve heard no news of upheaval or revolt. What is the food like? The weather? Have you found a way to get home?
It may be busy here, but I’ll always find time to read your letters and write to you, my friend. Take care of yourself.
Ryoushi
* * *
October 29, 302
Ryoushi,
I am delighted beyond words to hear from you as well, and to know that your family has not suffered excessively. Please send my best wishes to your sister-and congratulations to you on your promotion! As for our various missteps-indeed, they are in the past. Let us forgive each other and speak no more of them.
The talk of political upheaval concerns me perhaps more than it should. I’m sure that you are in a much better position to comment than I, so I trust that you will keep me appraised of the situation. Yes, both Aizin and Minoru have lost their ruling families. Aizin, it seems, will disband, unless the right parties take immediate action-and I do not fear a popular uprising nearly as much as I do the appetites of our neighboring clans for wealth and regional dominance. Minoru does not have such neighbors, but it does have-if one may-a sort of caste tension that is absent (or at least less prevalent) in the East.
Another problem that Minoru may not face (but which is quite prominent here), owing to the formation of the council, is that the roads are hardly fit for travel at present. Lacking any sort of governance, the areas between cities are falling into the jurisdiction of criminals (themselves motivated by desperation as much as by greed). This-and a lack of funds with which to hire a bodyguard-has prevented my return, and may for some time.
You ask about the food. It is quite different: they eat bread rather than rice (though all grains are scarce in comparison to the West), and a good deal more meat. They farm elk and a smaller breed of cattle. There are no citrus fruits, nor is there sake, but there is ale, and wine made from other fruit. They drink the milk of many animals, and prize the meat of several kinds of wild birds. As for the weather, it rains a good deal more-I suppose this is necessary to sustain the enormous trees and the density of the forests. Living in such a place-for the cities are nestled among the trees with hardly room to spare-is somewhat claustrophobic, but there is a kind of beauty to it, like the comfort of an embrace. Still, I miss the broadness of the sky and the endless plains.
Katorou. What can be said? In truth, it is as if a part of me has died-a part of my own body, rather than a separate being not physically connected to me. No word or balm or intoxicant can soothe this sort of pain. Though perhaps I should not feel this way-after all, I doubt that he and I could have been together for very long. My older brother already has a son, so my practices in this respect are of less concern, but Katorou would surely have had family obligations to fulfill. I suppose, given this, that my grief is unreasonable. I suppose I should be grateful for what time we had, and not yearn for what cannot be. (If only that gave me some sort of consolation.)
Again, I apologize. There is no need for you to endure my self-pity. I wish you the best of luck with your new duties, and may this year’s harvest end bountifully.
My dear friend, I hope I shall hear from you again soon. Take care.
Yours,
Shiomaru
I may continue these.
Title: Letters From After the War
Characters: Koichi Ryoushi, Oomori Shiomaru
Rating: PG
Word count: 1425
July 19, 302
Koichi-san,
I should begin with an apology, shouldn’t I? For my errors-for the lives I put at risk with my poor judgment, for the time it has taken me to contact you, my dear friend. I can only hope that you are alive, still, and able to receive this letter.
My company and I were taken as prisoners. I do not know where we were taken or precisely how long we were held, but (to our great relief) we were treated, for the most part, as well as anyone could have expected. No one was unduly harmed, though the tactical position in which we found ourselves could have easily led to greater misfortune. Some of us were questioned, but my men gave nothing to our captors, and we soon convinced them that we knew nothing of Iseji-shogun’s or the clan’s overarching strategy (not as far from the truth as they initially suspected, I believe). We were released perhaps two weeks after the end of the war; they kindly treated our wounds and have attended to our needs with all care.
News from Minoru is scarce in Lonsuten, where I am currently residing until a way home presents itself. If you have the time, could you tell me what I have missed in my long absence? What were the results of our efforts-were the border villages and farms kept safe? How has the summer weather been? How is your family?
Additionally, if it is no burden for you to do so, can you tell me the names of our comrades who have died, so that I may keep them in my prayers? (I have heard the news about Katorou, regrettably, so there is no need to include those details.)
I eagerly await your reply, but if time or other obligations prevent it, I will bear you no ill will. Please give my love to our friends and your family.
Yours,
Oomori Shiomaru
* * *
August 30, 302
Shiomaru,
I can’t express how good it is to hear from you! We weren’t sure what had become of your company until recently, and a lot of us feared the worst. There’s no need for you to apologize, as far as I’m concerned. It’s enough to know that you and your men are safe now. Maybe I should apologize-myself, or in place of my superiors-for being unable to find you and rescue you, but it’s in the past now, and I hope you can forgive it-and I’ll forgive you for giving us a hell of a scare.
It’s busy here. There is plenty of cleaning up to do, and none of it is very pretty or easy. I’ve been promoted, since Himitsu-fukutaichou went on leave and they’ve given me her position until she returns, and it’s a lot of work in itself. We are slowly moving back from the front, and our task is now to preserve law in the outer villages and ensure that the refugees are taken care of. Most of the border populations were kept safe, and civilian loss of life was less than we feared it would be, but we lost a good deal of farmland. We also lost more soldiers than anyone expected, almost as many to sickness as to the fighting. As you asked, here’s the official list of those from our unit who died after your capture: […]
I am truly, deeply sorry about Himitsu-taichou. There’s probably nothing that I can say to make it easier-maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned it here at all. I’m sorry for that, too. I’m sorry for all of it. I hope you’re doing all right.
Summer is treating us well. It hasn’t been too dry, and thank the gods for that, since the harvest will already be meager. As for my family, we are well. Sayuri, my next-eldest sister, will be married in a few months. My mother’s health has improved since spring, and my father retired officially last month. Ayame (whom I’m sure you remember) is well, and Kenji is back on duty following an injury to his leg. His mother became ill last month and hasn’t felt well since, but the doctor believes she will recover.
The council is having a difficult time quelling fears of famine and political turmoil. I don’t think they’re justified fears yet, but it is a chaotic time. Many people don’t like how the council is run. I don’t know what to think, yet-but it’s my job as a soldier to keep the peace, and that’s the most important thing. When the clan is stable again, we can worry about politics, right?
Now you must tell me-what is it like in Lonsuten? The political situation there must be worse than here, but I’ve heard no news of upheaval or revolt. What is the food like? The weather? Have you found a way to get home?
It may be busy here, but I’ll always find time to read your letters and write to you, my friend. Take care of yourself.
Ryoushi
* * *
October 29, 302
Ryoushi,
I am delighted beyond words to hear from you as well, and to know that your family has not suffered excessively. Please send my best wishes to your sister-and congratulations to you on your promotion! As for our various missteps-indeed, they are in the past. Let us forgive each other and speak no more of them.
The talk of political upheaval concerns me perhaps more than it should. I’m sure that you are in a much better position to comment than I, so I trust that you will keep me appraised of the situation. Yes, both Aizin and Minoru have lost their ruling families. Aizin, it seems, will disband, unless the right parties take immediate action-and I do not fear a popular uprising nearly as much as I do the appetites of our neighboring clans for wealth and regional dominance. Minoru does not have such neighbors, but it does have-if one may-a sort of caste tension that is absent (or at least less prevalent) in the East.
Another problem that Minoru may not face (but which is quite prominent here), owing to the formation of the council, is that the roads are hardly fit for travel at present. Lacking any sort of governance, the areas between cities are falling into the jurisdiction of criminals (themselves motivated by desperation as much as by greed). This-and a lack of funds with which to hire a bodyguard-has prevented my return, and may for some time.
You ask about the food. It is quite different: they eat bread rather than rice (though all grains are scarce in comparison to the West), and a good deal more meat. They farm elk and a smaller breed of cattle. There are no citrus fruits, nor is there sake, but there is ale, and wine made from other fruit. They drink the milk of many animals, and prize the meat of several kinds of wild birds. As for the weather, it rains a good deal more-I suppose this is necessary to sustain the enormous trees and the density of the forests. Living in such a place-for the cities are nestled among the trees with hardly room to spare-is somewhat claustrophobic, but there is a kind of beauty to it, like the comfort of an embrace. Still, I miss the broadness of the sky and the endless plains.
Katorou. What can be said? In truth, it is as if a part of me has died-a part of my own body, rather than a separate being not physically connected to me. No word or balm or intoxicant can soothe this sort of pain. Though perhaps I should not feel this way-after all, I doubt that he and I could have been together for very long. My older brother already has a son, so my practices in this respect are of less concern, but Katorou would surely have had family obligations to fulfill. I suppose, given this, that my grief is unreasonable. I suppose I should be grateful for what time we had, and not yearn for what cannot be. (If only that gave me some sort of consolation.)
Again, I apologize. There is no need for you to endure my self-pity. I wish you the best of luck with your new duties, and may this year’s harvest end bountifully.
My dear friend, I hope I shall hear from you again soon. Take care.
Yours,
Shiomaru