Air and Blood

"When were you intending to tell me?" Isawa Sutada stood before his sensei defiantly, radiating anger.

"When you were ready." Master Oragi's voice was calm, gathered.

"When I was ready? Ready to discover that I had no home to go back to?" Sutada's voice rose. "The knowledge was not yours to keep!"

"Oh, but it was." Isawa Oragi answered his student patiently, though the irritation at his student's tone was clear. "It was bound to cause you distress. That would damage your studies, and thus I was quite within my rights to withhold it from you."

Sutada was taken aback by Oragi's arrogance. He'd got quite used to his master's attitude over the years, but in class it was justified. Oragi was, after all, his teacher - even if Sutada wondered which of the two of them commanded more raw power. But still (and he could feel the rage well up in him at the thought) the man had gone too far this time. And Sutada wasn't going to stand for it any more. He was fed up of being treated as a pet. He was fed up of Oragi's overbearing, meddlesome nature. Turning his back on his sensei, he strode towards the door.

"Halt, boy." Oragi's voice was tinged with fury as his patience snapped. "You do NOT turn your back on ME." Sutada ignored him, and carried on walking. Behind, Oragi lost control. "Worthless dog!" he yelled, "You are no longer welcome in my house! Get out!"

Sutada looked back over his shoulder at the irate shugenja. "I was already leaving. Good-bye, sensei." And he stepped through the door.

"You have no right to call me that!" But Sutada had already gone.

"Impudent boy," muttered Oragi, and sat down at his desk again. "Someone should knock him over the head before long." It took him several days to notice that several spell scrolls had gone missing from his library.

Sutada stalked through the woodland that surrounded Oragi's estate, a roll of scrolls under his arm. Air kami swirled around him, interested in this angry shugenja who had come to visit them, but he ignored them. He was desperately planning what to do next. He was a skilled shugenja, but with no reference from his sensei and no immediate family to support him he may as well be a ronin as far as his chances of getting an official position were concerned. Certainly, if Oragi were to report his behavior (and knowing the old man, he would do so immediately) no amount of explanation would be enough. Oragi was a distasteful and unpleasant master, but Sutada would still be told that his behavior was wrong. No, there would be no place for him among his clan.

Suddenly, he was furious. Furious at Oragi, at the world, and at himself. The kami responded, swirling around him thick and fast. Instinctively he reached out, and a fiery katana took form from the air around him. Grabbing it he swung it in a sharp arc, swinging the tops off a nearby bunch of brambles and leaving smoldering stems behind. It was mindless, but satisfying. Calming down, he freed the spirits and the blade melted away into the air. Taking stock of his position, he headed for the nearest village. He needed food and supplies if he was going to travel. As for where he would go... he would head south, and see. A shugenja could always find a living somewhere.

Several days later he was strolling through the forest on the borders of the Phoenix and Lion lands. A handful of kami had attached themselves to him, following him on his quest for reasons of their own. Entertainment probably, he thought to himself. The kami take delight in the strangest things. Still, at least they would be with him when he needed them.

As he finished that thought he felt a tingling on the back of his neck and dived to the ground. An arrow flew where his head had been just moments before and stuck into a nearby tree, while a second whizzed harmlessly over his new position. He looked around to try and catch a glimpse of his aggressors, and thought that he could make out movement behind some bushes about fifty feet to his right. Keeping low, he started to work his way closer to them, calling upon the air kami to conceal him. He could see them more clearly now, three men dressed in brown nondescript clothes.

Bandits, most likely.

He'd managed to close about half the distance when one of them saw him and cried out. He rolled aside just in time to avoid the next two arrows, before the third bandit arrived to swing at him with a sword. Leaping to his feet he dodged the man's first clumsy blow and called to the kami. His flame blade appeared in his hand with a faint hum, causing the bandit to pause for a second. Taking advantage of the opportunity Sutada swung into the attack, slicing deep into the man's arm before he had a chance to react. Dropping his katana, the man tried to flee, but Sutada was having none of it. The air kami picked the man up, and held him motionless in mid-air while the shugenja's blade cut through him. The bandit fell to the ground in two pieces.

"Freeze. Don't try anything stupid." Damn, Sutada thought to himself. I forgot about those two. Turning slowly he saw the other two bandits, about ten feet away, both bows trained on him. Looking around desperately, he tried to think of a way to escape, some cover or something to dive behind. There was none - even the closest tree was too far. "Hands in the air."

Slowly, Sutada raised his hands. As he did so a barbed arrow flew from somewhere to his right and impaled itself in the throat of one of the men, who gurgled and fell to the ground. The other turned his head to see what has happening, taking his attention off Sutada for a moment. Leaping forward he swung his elemental blade and split the man's bow in two. The bandit tried to draw a long tanto from his belt, but he was far too slow. An eyeblink later and he was at Sutada's feet.

"Impressive." He couldn't see who was speaking, but they weren't shooting at him. "What is a shugenja doing, walking these woods alone?"

"My business is my own." Sutada put his back to the nearest tree, and kept looking around for the owner of the voice.

"That's a little rude, considering that I just rescued you." The voice appeared slightly amused, though there was a hard edge to it. "But be warned. I don't like mysterious men wandering these parts."

Ah, thought Sutada to himself. The kami are agitated. He must be using magic. Concentrating, he became aware of the focus- a bush about fifteen yards away. "I have no reason to be here, but then I have no reason to be anywhere." He started to walk slowly towards the bush, sword in hand.

"I see you have spotted me. Congratulations." Sutada felt the kami dissipate, and a man walked out from behind the bush. He was slight of build, with ruffled hair and a dull orange robe - nearly brown. And yet there was something slightly odd about his features, almost as if he were a misplaced courtier. He carried a bow, with a barbed arrow nocked in it. The figure bowed to Sutada. "Asako Idouta, at your service. It is pleasant to meet a fellow shugenja in these woods." The man seemed friendly enough, but his eyes never left Sutada's and he didn't bow.

"Isawa Sutada. Thanks for the assistance, friend. Was it the Fortunes who caused you to stumble upon me when you did?"

Idouta smiled. "Not exactly. I've been watching you for two days now."

"Two days? Why?" Sutada felt distinctly nervous. "Did Oragi-sama send you?"

"Who? No, nobody sent me. I was merely curious, wondering where a lone shugenja could be going."

"You have a lot of time in which to pursue your curiosity then, Idouta-san." "You could say that."

"You could also say that I have recently gained some time of my own."

"Paid holiday?"

"Leave of absence would be more accurate." The bitterness in Sutada's voice was obvious.

"I... see. What will you do now?" Idouta looked at him appraisingly. Sutada obviously wasn't used to living rough - the first night that Idouta had watched him had been almost comical as the Isawa tried to build a comfortable bed - and he clearly hadn't learnt to avoid bandits.

"Head south. Get away from the Phoenix lands and find some village or other to settle in, I guess."

Idouta's eyes narrowed slightly. "A wandering discontent, then. I wonder..."

"What?"

"Ever heard of the Kolat?"

"The Kolat?" Sutada enquired.

Idouta watched his reaction carefully, and didn't reply immediately. "A band of traitors and spies. They come to the low-ranking and discontent, and offer them power." It was Sutada's turn to be surprised by the bitterness in the other's voice.

"If they offered me revenge on the pig of a man at whose feet I studied for years, then I would probably join them." Hatred boiled up in him as his thoughts returned to why he was standing here.

Idouta's eyes flared. "If you join the Kolat, the next time we meet all you will see of me will be my arrow. I don't know what your master did to deserve your anger, but the Kolat have earned mine."

Sutada stepped back at the sudden change in his companion's manner. "That is what you are doing here, then? Seeking this... Kolat? You suspected me?"

"Yes," Idouta replied bluntly. Few men choose to wander the borders alone. Even fewer carry no provisions."

"I assure you, I serve no traitors. I wish only to leave."

"May I ask what drives a man to leave his life behind?" This stranger was committing a massive breach of etiquette, Sutada thought to himself. Still, to refuse to speak might deepen this Idouta's suspicion. And he wanted to live to see the end of the day. His reactions were fast, but his 'saviour' still had his bow and arrow out.

"The death of my family and the reluctance of my sensei to inform me of such." A simple answer. Hopefully this man would consider it sufficient. "You abandon your Clan over a falling-out with your sensei?" Idouta sounded faintly incredulous. "Few would have made that decision."

Damn, thought Sutada. He's right, of course. Oh well, there's no harm in explaining it slightly more thoroughly. Taking a deep breath, he replied. "Few have had to suffer under Oraga-sensei. He took every opportunity to make me feel inadequate, make me feel a disgrace to the Clan and to my family. Whatever I did it wasn't enough- and instead of teaching me more, he would leave me to perform manual labor for him, as a servant. After my gempukku I was assigned as his research assistant, despite my objections. I think he took delight in tormenting me, and wanted to keep me nearby. He continued as my sensei, but his reluctance to teach me anything seemed only to increase. I am leaving nothing behind by leaving him."

Idouta nodded, seemingly satisfied. "Go, then. May the fortunes watch over you, and may the light of Lady Amaterasu drive the shadows away from you."

Relief at passing the interrogation and anger at this stranger's high-handed manner flooded Sutada. With a shallow bow, he turned and continued on his way. Idouta watched him go, and wondered if he should have killed him to make sure. He seemed truthful, but something in the back of his mind told him that he- and the Phoenix- hadn't heard the last of Isawa Sutada.

(Sunset about a month later in the village of Dosho Owari Mura, near the Dragon/Lion border)

Sutada gratefully accepted the latest gift of rice from Pena, one of the local peasant women, and returned to the rough table he'd set up in the corner of his sleeping room. Living among the peasants wasn't luxurious, but it was comfortable enough. The people of the village showed him the proper respect, and in turn he called upon the kami to bless them and their crops. It was a peaceful life, and left him with plenty of time to study the scrolls he'd liberated from his old sensei. Already his knowledge and understanding of the kami had grown. However, he was on to the last of the scrolls now, and wondered idly where he would find more scrolls to study. Maybe he'd start on his own research. It would be simpler than acquiring ofuda, at least. His thoughts were disrupted by a knocking on the door. He frowned- peasants normally chose not to disturb him after giving him his evening meal. Maybe there was some sort of emergency. Putting the bowl down on the table, he returned to the door and slid it open to reveal a tall, gaunt figure in slightly tattered orange robes. The mon of the Isawa was still visible on the man's chest, nearly hidden by grime. But Sutada's attention was not on the man's mon- it was on his face. Immediately he fell to his knees and pressed his forehead in the dirt. "Father! You live!"

"Sutada-chan. Get up, and go and fetch me some tea." His father's voice was just as he remembered it, though maybe slightly harsher than the normal genial tone normally used in conversations between the pair. Rising, he went into the next room to the small and unimpressive tea set that he had managed to acquire from a peddler. He returned with two cups of tea to find his father reading through the scrolls on his desk. As he entered the old man looked up. "What brings you to these parts, son? I had to expend considerable amounts of magic to find you."

Sutada presented the tea with a slight bow, and tried to work out how to respond. "There was a message. From Dani-sama." He didn't know how to continue.

"Ah yes, our beloved provincial daimyo. No doubt it reported me dead?"

Sutada was surprised, and let it show on his face. "Along with Mother, yes."

The older man's face darkened, and his voice became bitter. "That, alas, is true. She is gone. I, however, am only dead in the minds of my Clan. But you still haven't answered my question. Why are you here?"

He didn't dare ask his father what he meant. And he couldn't think of a way to excuse his behaviour. In the end, he decided to simply tell the truth. "I couldn't bear Oragi-sama's treatment of me any more, and there was nowhere else to go." He paused, waiting for the outburst of anger. It never came.

"I see. Why here?"

"Here seemed as good as anywhere."

"What will you do?"

"For now, study. One day, I wish to humiliate Oragi as he humiliated me for fifteen years of my life."

"Then you had better hurry. He is old, and may not have fifteen years left to live."

Sutada shrugged. "If I were to try now, he would easily defeat me. He has power, and he has connections. I have neither."

The old man grinned. "Power I can give you, if you desire it."

Sutada looked up from his tea into his father's eyes. There was something alien there, some hint of madness. Realisation dawned. "The Clan wishes you dead for a reason, then." He didn't know whether to be afraid or disgusted.

"Join me, Sutada-chan. Take the power you need to defeat Oragi and fight against the Clan that has cast your family out. You owe them no loyalty now."

A purpose. A chance for revenge. Sutada's eyes gleamed as he replied: "You are my father, and I obey."

(A year later)

Idouta retrieved an arrow from the corpse, and started searching through the list of papers. Bingo, he thought to himself, as he examined a scroll covered in mystical symbols that meant nothing to him. Several of them were familiar- if he could find a few more, he could start trying to decipher them. But since this scroll represented the culmination of eight months' work he wouldn't realistically be getting anywhere for several years yet. And he would have to move on. There was no way the Kolat would send another lone messenger through this area... they were more paranoid than that.

Checking the other scrolls from the case (normal letters and other communications being passed between towns) he returned them to the satchel and headed off quickly towards the nearest village. He would report the messenger killed by bandits and pass the messages on. More Daidoji than Asahina, he thought to himself, but one cannot find shadows while shining with an inner light.

As he slipped between the trees he became aware of a figure walking through the woods alone. There was something vaguely familiar about it, and he crept closer to get a better look. Now where had he seen that face before... suddenly it came back to him. A shugenja, running from his old life. But something had changed about him- he walked with more confidence now, more purpose. And he was returning to the Phoenix lands. Before he could decide what to do, however, the man noticed him and stopped.

"Asako Idouta, I presume?" He paused for a second, a faint smile on his face. "Or maybe that should be Asahina Idouta?" The smile widened at Idouta's obvious shock.

"That name has never existed."

"Really? I can see into your heart, little Crane."

"Then you're reading it wrong. There has never been an Asahina Idouta." This man was worrying him.

"Not as such, maybe. But your blood stinks of Crane."

Idouta's eyes narrowed. "What do you know of my blood?"

Sutada's grin widened alarmingly. "Everything. Do you not wish you had such power? The power to read a man at a glance? To know the secrets of his blood? Such knowledge would assist you greatly, if I remember you correctly."

Idouta's eyes sparkled. "So the wandering discontent was picked up then. But not by those I seek."

"And I am discontent no more. Do you not envy me? You who wander alone?"

"I do not wander alone, Isawa Sutada. I have my companions."

Sutada laughed. "The kami?"

"Not only the kami."

"Interesting. But does the power I offer interest you?"

"Certainly, but the price does not."

"It is such a small thing, really."

"It may seem as such now."

"You spout trite sayings like a schoolchild."

"The innocence of children is their greatest blessing."

"You would turn down the power to accomplish your goal?"

"What value is my revenge if I lose myself in the act. If it is no longer me who takes revenge, but a mere pawn of a dark power."

"I am no pawn, Idouta-san. I am in control of my actions."

"You are only just starting on the path. Master Zokani often spoke of his time traveling with the Kuni. Many servants of the dark one believe themselves their own masters."

"Who cares whom I serve, if the illusion of freedom is maintained?"

"In the truth of the act lies its value, not in the perception of it."

"You are truly both Crane and Phoenix. You spout philosophy as a Crane spouts politics."

Idouta grinned, accepting the insult as a compliment. "I know where I stand in the world."

"You will not accept power offered to you?"

"I have no desire to leave my current position. Knowing where I stand brings me power, and freedom."

"Does it not matter to you that your efforts are worthless and ineffective?"

"I make enough progress to be satisfied. And not too much to draw undue attention."

"With the power I offer you would have nothing to fear from such attention."

"Really? When facing a group that has the power to set the entire Inquisition on your trail?"

"Blind idiots who stumble to seek those on the true path."

"I see that with your power you have also been granted arrogance."

"You seek to insult me?"

"There are none so blind as those who will not see."

"Enough of this then. If you will not join me, then step aside. I have business to attend to."

Idouta shook his head slowly. "I think not. The very kami themselves are revolted by your passing. As their servant I cannot let you proceed."

"Foolish idiot. The kami obey me just as they obey you. What makes you think that you can stop me?"

"They serve me willingly. That is enough."

"Step aside, Crane. I give you this final warning."

"Consider your warning duly ignored."

"Then I shall take great pleasure in crushing you with the kami you serve. Ibikaze merudine!" A flaming katana, dripping black blood, appeared in Sutada's hands. Idouta was already chanting, the air around him forming the shape of a yari. "Yamahuze togasha tabada!" Sutada pointed the flame blade at Idouta, and a blast of fire headed towards him. Lifting a hand and calling upon the air kami, Idouta deflected it past him where it impacted with a nearby tree. It burst into flames, and fire began to spread to nearby bushes. Idouta tried to summon the air kami around him to fling his opponent back through the air, but with a burst of maho from Sutada the kami fled from him.

Except the ones bound in his spear. Running out of other options he swung into the attack, his yari meeting the tsukai's blade with a sound like lava hitting water and a flash of pink light that nearly blinded him. Sutada staggered back under the blow, but quickly recovered and launched into a counterattack. Idouta blocked one attack with the head of his yari and the next with the butt, using it as a quarterstaff to parry. Sutada was certainly faster than he looked, appearing to blur slightly from one position to another. Despite his speed, however, he was clearly unused to combat and though Idouta was hardly a veteran he had seen people fight like this before. Wild and passionate, but with little real skill.

But Sutada was fast! Faster than anything Idouta had seen before, and certainly faster than him. Retreating before the onslaught, he nearly stepped back into a burning branch that fell from the tree above. The whole surrounding area was wreathed in flame now, the heat getting uncomfortable and the grass on both sides of the path beginning to smoke gently as dew and damp soil fought back against the rain of flaming twigs and leaves falling from above. And still Sutada came on, pausing only to block on the rare occasions that Idouta managed to get a blow in. Wild strikes came in from all directions, but there was a sort of pattern to them. Predicting an opening, Idouta summoned the kami to him once more and thrust them out at his assailant. Sutada's defense was too slow and he was thrown back into a flaming bush, sword and all. Attempting to take the initiative Idouta leapt forward, but Sutada was already standing. The flames had caught his robes, but he seemed unconcerned. As the two stood facing each other, the fires on his robes dimmed and died, snuffed out as if by a fist closing around them. Idouta felt rather than heard the cries of the fire kami as they were crushed by the power of Sutada's magic, consumed by darkness.

In anger, he lunged forward once more, using the superior reach of his weapon. Sutada was barely able to dodge, swinging his sword to push the yari slightly further to one side. "You cannot beat me, shugenja. You can only slow me down." Sutada's voice was mocking, confident. "Even the kami themselves fall to my power." Grimacing, Idouta wondered how he would get past this one. He was not expecting to hear a voice from behind him.

"So this is the event that causes such disturbance in the kami on my estate. Who do..." the voice trailed off. "Sutada. Perhaps I should have guessed." The voice sounded elderly, but still strong. And seemed to harbor an intense dislike of Sutada. Stepping to the side of the path, Idouta tried to get a view of the person behind him while still keeping an eye on Sutada. The voice's owner was a slight, balding shugenja, in robes clearly designed for use around the house. His thin, graying hair covered a sharp face and sharper eyes.

"Master Oragi." Sutada's voice brimmed with satisfaction. "You should have known that I would return to repay you for the years of misery you gave me."

"It appears that they were not enough. It appears that despite my attempts to limit your arrogance you have let it get the better of you."

"Watch your words, old man. I am somewhat more powerful than when I left you."

"Ah yes. When you left me, stealing one or two of my ofuda. I don't suppose you've come to return them?"

Idouta watched this display with some puzzlement. These two obviously knew each other, and had some history... he considered retreating into the forest while their attention was otherwise occupied. It seemed that things were about to get violent again.

"I have not come to return them, though you are welcome to them. The little power contained in them is worthless to me now."

"You always bore the mark of one whose ambition would exceed his good sense."

"You are going to regret those words, old man, as well as many others you have spoken."

"You wish to challenge me?"

"I wish to destroy you. A challenge would be acceptable. It would stop this gnat from interfering, as well." He gestured at Idouta with his free hand. "Unsanctioned duels are against the laws of this land. But since you have exiled yourself from the Celestial Order, I think we can bypass the formalities. If you are ready...?"

"Formal to the very last, I see. Very well, let us commence."

Idouta took several steps back. He did not want to be anywhere near what was about to happen, and probably wouldn't want to be near Sutada if he won. Maybe an arrow would solve what magic could not... he pulled his bow from his shoulder and nocked an arrow to it, then turned to watch. He could feel the power building. Oragi was drawing on the power of air, while Sutada was using something far darker.

And then it happened. Powerful wind flew from Oragi's fingertips, meeting with a wave of blood surging from Sutada's feet. Both men poured power into the tumult between them, as the two forces battled to push the other back. Idouta felt the air kami near him rush to Oragi's side as the shugenja drew on all kami in the vicinity to join his tide. Open wounds appeared on Sutada's hands and face and blood bubbled on his skin. More and more wounds opened as Idouta looked on fearfully, and soon none of Sutada's skin could be seen under the blood and wounds.

Wind and blood fought to a standstill, each shugenja pouring all of their power into the maelstrom. And Sutada was winning.

Gradually, the wave of blood beat back the tempest, gathering momentum. Idouta watched as it smashed into Oragi's frail form, and washed... through?... him. As it receded, all that was left of the elderly shugenja was a skeleton, crumbling to the ground. "Die, old man," gloated Sutada, drawing his wounds shut with some sort of maho spell.

Wasting no time, Idouta fired at the still-bleeding figure. The arrow tore out his throat, and the tsukai fell to the ground. Putting an arrow through his eye for good measure, Idouta headed off to look through Oragi's house. There was a chance that the old man may have been an agent, after all.

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