The Sword That Cuts Deepest

Mirumoto Yokuni breathed in the cool morning air of Ryu mountain. It was good to get away from the Iron Mountain Dojo, home to the Bushi school for the Dragon clan. This was the last day of a three day pilgrimage to the Temple of the Air Dragon, in which he was accompanied by another gifted student, Matsu Tesomi of the Lion clan.

"Ah, so the great Dragon finally awakes." Yokuni smiled, partially from amusement at the comment, partially from the sense of comfort that was beginning to become associated with that voice. "And I suppose the great Lion has been up and roaring for hours, already. " "I didn't travel to these inhospitable mountains for fun--I came here to train. And if Master Tetsuo wants me to meditate by day in temples dedicated to creatures of the past as part of my martial training, then I will wake up early to practice my kata."

Though Tesomi's remarks were delivered with a wry grin, Yokuni knew she was only half-joking. He knew she questioned the spiritual nature of the Mirumoto sword-fighting style. Strength and tactics were all she respected, like many of her clan, though she could not resist the lure of learning the two-sword technique that lord Mirumoto, a distant relative of Yokuni himself, had developed some one thousand years earlier.

"Strength can be measured in many ways, my sweet Lioness," Tesomi bristled at the playful language, "and what good is a strong sword arm guiding a cleverly-aimed cut at an opponent without the guidance and resolve of one's spirit and conscience."

Tesomi, armed with her two blades, slowly approached Yokuni. Raising one blade towards Yokuni's neck, she tried to adopt a threatening posture, but had difficulty hiding her smile. "And while you and Master Tetsuo are meditating, your enemy will have your head."

"Such rage in you--you are certainly your father's daughter." Tesomi's smile quickly disappeared. "And what would be the problem of that? Should I rather be likened to a famed general of the greatest clan in the empire?" Yokuni knew he had hit a nerve. Tesomi's father, Matsu Genai, was a brilliant man, but forced by Lion politics to a minor position. By now he should know better than to test the pride of a lion.

"Tesomi-ko, you misunderstand--I meant that as a compliment." Tesomi's demeanor softened. She let her swords fall to her side as she playfully took a step closer, teasing Yokuni with her closeness, as she had many times over the past few days.

"Ah, I misunderstood you, now?" Yokuni tried to remain composed, but he found it hard to hide his affection for this hot-tempered, fiery young woman. "No, Yokuni, I think I know you all too well." As the two were about to embrace, Yokuni deftly disarmed Tesomi and quickly pulled her down to his sleeping pallet.

"It seems I am defenseless."

"It is always a good idea to declaw a cat before allowing it to play in the house."

***

Yokuni and Tesomi had traveled nearly half the distance between Ryu Mountain and the Iron Mountain Dojo.

"We should make it by nightfall at this pace," Yokuni noted. He was hoping to break the long silence that had lingered since the activities that had occupied their morning before they broke camp. Did she have regrets, he wondered?

"Tell me Yokuni, do you think your brother Yama will become the new Dragon champion." It was hardly the topic he thought they should be speaking on. His father had become ill in recent months, the injury from the Kyoso no Oni troubling him again, and there was much speculation as to who would lead the clan upon his death. Too much speculation--his father was strong, and he would not succumb to illness so easily.

"I don't know. He is a gifted tactician, a fine swordsman, and the eldest son of my father; however, my father is still very much alive and in control. I hardly think it warrants much discussion at this point."

"Yes, but if the Mirumoto family wishes to remain in control of the clan, a capable successor needs to be ready. I doubt the Togashi family has forgotten that they headed the Dragon for centuries before the Mirumotos. And the Hitomi are always looking to regain power. If the is hesitation about a successor, they could make a play for control." Tokuni really didn't see the point of discussing politics when there were other, more pressing concerns

"Don't forget, my mother was a Togashi, and we are good terms with them. Besides, do you not think my brother capable?"

"He is indeed a gifted tactician, with impressive resolve. In fact, of all the Mirumoto, he is the most akin to my own clan." She slowed her pace and turned to him. "But I know of another Mirumoto who seems destined for greatness." Yokuni relaxed, now he saw where she was headed--perhaps she wanted to secure a stronger alliance between the Lion and the Dragon by a union with the Dragon's clan champion, as opposed to the champion's brother.

"I wonder if it would have been Yama who was hearing this praise from you had he not gotten engaged last month."

"Don't be silly. You are more gifted a warrior than Yama. It is you who should represent the proud heritage of the Mirumoto family."

"What if I don't want that kind of power and responsibility," Yokuni replied. Tesomi stopped, and slowly the look of excitement and hope disappeared form her face. Disappointment replaced it.

"Have you no ambition, Yokuni?"

"Yes, I have--but there is more to life than making plays of power and commanding armies into battle."

Before Tesomi had a chance to respond, three men jumped out onto the road from behind trees, all armed with short spears. Two of the spears were leveled at Yokuni, while one of the men grabbed Tesomi around the neck, holding the point of his spear firmly against her back.

"Give us your money and food, or we shall kill you" screamed the bandit that held Tesomi.

"Fools," Tesomi spat. "Do you now who you have assaulted?"

"Shut up, woman." That bandit pushed the spear into the flesh of her back. Yokuni, seeing her wince with pain, moved into action. In one swift move, he spun around, grabbed the spear of the bandit to his left, and had run it through his side before the would-be thief had a chance to react. He immediately moved back a step, pulling the spear out of the bandit in the process, and threw the spear towards the heads of Tesomi and the bandit who held her.

The spear, as Yokuni had intended, flew several inches over their heads, but it was enough to shock the bandit into ducking--giving Tesomi the chance to break free. Within a fraction of a second, both Yokuni and Tesomi had swords drawn and ready for the two standing bandits. The wounded bandit, lying prone on the ground, was busy trying to stop blood from running out of his spear wound.

Tesomi did not hesitate. She moved towards the bandit closest to her with two flashing blades raised high above her head. She could tell the bandits were not well-trained, so she went for an obvious but effective series of strikes that would end the fight quickly. And so it did.

Yokuni made a similar advance on the bandit in front of him, but his opponent offered no resistance. He dropped to his knees, begging for mercy. Yokuni, prepared to ignore the pleas of a thief, raised his sword for the death blow, but at the moment of the strike he noticed the emaciated frame of the bandit showing through the tattered rags he wore. It looked as if he had not eaten in weeks. He met the gaze of the poor soul. Even his eyes looked malnourished--hollow.

"Please do not kill me Samurai--we did not know."

"Go ahead and finish the poor wretch," Tesomi exclaimed. "He should die for daring to raise a weapon against us."

Yokuni could not remove his gaze from the helpless man at his feet. He remembered one of Master Tetsuo's lesson: Let compassion guide your blades, not aggression. Kill when you need to, not when you want to.

Yokuni lowered his swords.

"No. Leave him here, with the other. They have learned their lesson."

Tesomi was shocked.

"How could you let them go free--they tried to rob us--they may have tried to kill us had we been peasants ourselves."

"They are hungry--acting out of desperation, not evil intentions. We will leave them here--alive. "

"This would never happen in Ikoma-"

"This is not Ikoma, Tesomi, this is Mirumoto--I suggest you remember that."

Tesomi did not respond. She picked up her pack, looked at Yokuni, not hiding her disappointment, and walked ten steps ahead of him for the remainder of the journey back to Iron Mountain.

***

It had been nearly two weeks since Yokuni and Tesomi had returned from their meditations on Ryu Mountain. The other students at the Bushi School could not help but notice the distance they kept from each other since their return.

Yokuni was going to confront her when he was summoned to his father's bedside. His illness had worsened, and it looked to all as if he would die soon. When he arrived at his ancestral home, he joined his older brother Yama, his younger brother Yodin, and his mother at his father's side. His father had explained to them that it was his wish that Yama take over as the Dragon clan champion until such time as Yokuni finished his training at the Bushi school. After his training was complete, Yokuni would become clan champion. Yama had showed ambivalence about taking over political affairs--he was a soldier and a tactician--his place was on the battlefield. He was also the most keen on warring, and Yokuzi had hoped that Yokuni may be able to keep the Dragon lands free from the wars, free from the chaos of battle that had occupied so much of his own life. Peace and prosperity--that is the way of the future--it must be. He put his faith in Yokuni.

***

Yokuni, after morning the death of his father, returned to Iron Mountain to complete his training. He had much to occupy himself with in recent weeks, but he had not forgotten what had transpired with Tesomi. He could not stand to have her think poorly of him. Perhaps now, that he was in line to assume control of the Dragon, now she could respect him.

He proceeded to her chambers. Upon approaching her door, he could hear her talking with someone. He recognized the voice. It was Hida Takezo, of the Crab clan. He was the only other non-Dragon student at Iron Mountain. He knew it was wrong to eavesdrop, but as he was leaving he could not help but hear his name. He quietly approached the door and listened.

"I tell you, Takezo, he is not fit to lead the Dragon. He is soft--weak. If he is afraid to punish thieves, squeamish about killing criminals--.he does not have the strength to be a leader. It is just as well that Yama was named successor to Yokuzi."

"But didn't you hear--that is only temporary. Yama is to step down as soon as Yokuni finishes Bushi training."

"What--where did you hear this?"

"The shugenja, Agasha Hiro, arrived yesterday from Shiro no Mirumoto and informed Master Tetsuo. Many have spoken of it--I had assumed you had heard."

Yokuni heard only silence for several moments, then Tesomi spoke--in a much softer tone.

"All very interesting. Perhaps Yokuni has some hope after all."

Hearing this infuriated Yokuni. He stormed into the room.

"Is that all you care about then, Tesomi? Power? Position?"

Both Tesomi and Takezo were startled. Tesomi, in a panic, tried to console Yokuni, but he wouldn't let her speak. Yokuni turned to Takezo.

"Leave us!" Takezo quickly left the room.

"I offered you something more valuable than all of those things--and you refused it. Or, rather, you didn't want it unless it came with political benefits and status for you." Yokuni turned to leave the room and as he walked through the door, turned back to face Tesomi for the last time.

"If it is power you wish me to wield, then so shall it be. The lands of the Dragon shall no longer be gazed upon by either of the two faces of Matsu Tesomi." With those final words, Yokuni went to the quarters of Master Tetsuo. It was time for him to make his first executive decision. It was time for Tesomi to leave.