(Just something I threw together to explore the backstory with my Gunso: RP'ed out the third part and then edited a little for continuity of style. Enjoy!)The Kakita frowned as she gazed at her new charge… no, new commander. Kitsuke-nikutai. What a mouthful; it wasn’t going to be fun to say that every day. Her fellow squad mates had other concerns; was the nikutai a male or a female? Being Crane, the Kakita didn’t see the point in prying into someone else’s private business.
The welcome that the Nikutai offered was eccentric; no gender pronouns. A level of extra dedication to androgyny. Fine. No shouting, like the Akodo, or deceitful smiles like the scorpion; the Kitsuki simply set out a series of tables with tea and bade them all partake. It was a solemn, quiet affair that concluded with the ringing of a small bronze bell. How… quaint.
With a sigh, the Kakita bowed when the rest of her squad did, and then filed off to her place. What an awful assignment; suitable punishment indeed for a stained blade like her; cutting down vermin alongside certifiable lunatics.
***
Another guttural roar washed over the ragged patrol as more barbarians descended the hill, weapons aloft.
For a moment, it seemed the line would fail entirely; that the handful of Samurai would break, and then the kitsuki was amongst the leading gaijin, blades dancing in arcs of bloody silver. Already, one of the foe had fallen, and then another.
The first to rally was the Kakita, the rest falling in behind her as they pushed back up the hill to catch their Nikutai. The wind was gusting violently, and the robes of the samurai were billowing wildly. The petals of spring were showering around them as they waltzed with death in the crisp mountain air.
There was something about the nikutai that was more than human; a feeling of invulnerability, stepping in and out of the gaijin ranks, blades dancing, without a scratch, it seemed nothing could stop the Rokugani warrior, its eyes alight with the joy of battle.
Soon, all was a simple melee, each for himself, and a gaijin stepped around behind the nikutai’s guard, weapon poised to strike. As he began the stroke, however, a flash of silver bisected his arm, and then his throat.
The Kitsuki wiped the splatter of blood from one’s features, and surveyed the Kakita, flicking clean her blade, her hair coming loose to blow raggedly in the wind, tangled with the sakura petals which were raining from the mountain slopes.
The nikutai grinned, the crane scowled, and then they were both lost in the dance of battle again.
***
A nervous ashigaru messenger approached the fire where the squad was eating hurriedly but respectfully, dropping to his knees to give a bow and waiting for a response after declaring "Kakita Miki-san. You are needed urgently by Kitsuki-gunso. It is very important". He remained bowed with his head to the floor.
Miki stared at the messenger for a moment, noodles trailing from her lips to the bowl, before slurping them up ungracefully. She snatched up her swords and slipped the contents of her sweets bowl into her obi. Save those for later... The rest she awkwardly set to the side of the fire.
Rising, she addressed the messenger. "Let's go then."
She finished adjusting her daisho as she walked; pinning up her hair and wiping her face. What on earth was so urgent anyways? Had some paperwork slipped through? The Gunso was unfortunately slack in such matters. Her last provisions request had been two weeks late. Two weeks without anything good to eat… nothing sweet at all.
With a sigh, Miki finished her clean-up by wiping her chopsticks upon the clean snow, and then spearing them through her hair bun. At least she was somewhat decent; though most Crane would find her appearance thoroughly disreputable.
The messenger stood up and bowed again "Yes, thank you!" He seemed quite nervous for some reason. He tagged along behind the woman as they left. Masakaze would be in their tent most likely. The troops were still moving and the camp was only a temporary one.
Arriving at the tent, Miki entered, bowing deeply from the waist and stating, simply. "Kakita Miki, reporting as ordered."
Then she straightened, waiting for an explanation, or a command, or something...
"Excellent. Please do take a seat" Came the reply, Masakaze was already sitting down and sipping some tea. A steaming cup was already in front of the only other seat laid out in the room, along with a small pouch. There was a vague scent of honey suckle in the room, in addition to the smell of the green tea. Miki remembered that it was Masakaze's usual perfume choice.
"You may go now. Thank you" Masakaze added, turning to the ashigaru. He bowed twice vigorously and then fled with a loud "haiiii!".
Masakaze shook one's head "one simple offhand remark about disembowelment for not adequately conveying my message and the man is hysterical...". Masakaze mock frowned then smiled at the woman one had known for some time now. "Tea?"
Masakaze's appearance was quite immaculate, the long black hair framing his... her face nicely, though the overly elaborate gold and green mask to the side of the new gunso's head was a little off.
Miki frowned slightly, but sat at the seat provided. She reached for the cup, hesitated for a moment, and then picked it up.
She took a sip of the tea. It was good.
It would be rude to press for details; the gunso would speak in their own time.
While she waited, she admired the presentation; she really looked pretty shoddy in comparison.
A long moment of calm passed as Masakaze took a sip of one's tea and then set it aside slowly.
With that, one looked at Miki "I am new to this position so do try to understand any difficulties this may initially cause". With a firm nod, not particularly aimed at Miki, the gunso continued "Now, with that said, there is much for me to adjust to. Have you considered this war? What we are protecting?"
Miki frowned slightly; an expression of vague contemplation.
"Not especially; no. I know that we defend the empire, though it sometimes seems very distant."
"True. But what does it mean to defend the Empire?" Came the stoic reply, an ever so slight smirk on the gunso's face, barely visible.
Miki paused, and lowered her cup carefully to the saucer. She took a moment to compose herself, and then spoke, each word seemingly chosen with great care.
"To defend the empire is to ensure that its people, divine mandate, and sacred lands, are not despoiled."
Politically neutral, noncommittal... seemed to be a safe reply.
"Ahhh~ such a textbook reply. Where is the sincerity?" Masakaze beamed. "I think that war is deeper. We have an important duty".
The gunso's voice started to rise. Was one going into a lecture again? "War is vital to keep the Empire strong but we in the Imperial Legions are important in keeping the Empire safe. The two go hand in hand. All are part of the way of the world. Animals and plants fight in nature, even the spirits go to war. Our duty is to ensure this natural conflict does not damage those that cannot defend themselves. Like a mother will protect its young. The people and lands, as you say, are all part of this. Each flower, each rock, every fish in the streams is a part of Rokugan and give it life.”
“They serve the Empire with their existence. They are all part of a cycle. Those that die go to the ground and feed the plants and animals that feed further creatures and then humans again. Invaders would destroy this harmony of life. Our sacred balance. To protect the Empire is to protect everything within it, for everything within it exists to serve the Empress - and all these living and unliving servants are endangered by these yobanjin invaders. This is why we make war with them". Masakaze finished with a serene looking impression, apparently happy with their choice of words.
Miki's expression of quiet disbelief was impossible to hide. They were fighting on behalf of fish and moss. That was inspirational.
"I see.”
Miki had missed her dinner for this?
“It’s the cycle of this world; death leads to life. All things are reborn; for instance… this tree is being reborn as a fire to warm our food, which is being reborn as a part of us; who serve the empress. Thus, even the trees are servants of the empress, which must be protected from Gaijin invaders.”
Miki glanced at her commander, and then sighed. “Kitsuki-gunso, that was the most fascinating explanation of the war that I have ever heard.”
Masakaze gave her a hurt look. “I don’t know if that was a compliment or an insult.
“Maybe both?”
Masakaze gave a mock frown. “You’re causing me to doubt a decision I made today; you should be mortified that you are leading me to such a sinful emotion.”
“… pardon?” Miki glanced askance at the dragon. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know what I could have implied to cause such a feeling.”
“You don’t?” Masakaze frowned slightly. “Oh, right, I didn’t tell you did I?”
“Tell me… ...?” Miki furrowed her brow. Had she been told anything important recently? Nothing stood out.
“Well, regardless, I expect you to stop incurring sinful feelings in me, Kakita-san. When you’re my Nikutai, you will need to keep that in mind.”
… Nikutai? … sinful feelings? Oh heavens.
“I’ll do my utmost, Kitsuki-Gunso.”
***
“You’ll need to seal it here.”
With an exaggerated sigh, Masakaze turned and took the paper from Miki, and pressed the official chop to ink, and then to the paper.
“What did I just authorize?”
Miki hid her sigh behind a polite cough. “The transfer of new legionnaires to take the place of last month’s casualties.”
“Does that bring us to full strength?”
“No.”
“Oh.”
Turning, the Gunso started off again, the crane trailing behind, a stack of papers tucked away under her left arm, to stop them blowing off in the wind. Every few steps, she would pull one out, scan it, and then tuck it away.
They walked in silence for a time, and then the Kitsuki asked; “You’re certain you don’t want the clerk to handle all of that?”
“Yes. I deal with important things, and then give it to the clerk.”
“All right then, tea?”
… The papers were returned to the stack.
“Why not Kitsuki-Gunso? Why not? But first… could you sign here?”
“… for tea, yes.”
