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[Guest]

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This area was secure ..for the moment. Rryn opened her book, recited the proper words and arrived back at the Garden Freehold. She was sore, tired and just a little bit hungry. Nothing a quick bath and a meal would not cure. The Garden was quiet at the moment with everyone out defending Britain . Feeling refreshed from her bath and meal she decided to make a quick visit to her family. They were still in the throes of their move and feeling useless there she decided to visit Master Po and see how the preparations were coming about for Tai's surprise. He had been so busy at the front that it did not surprise her he had not discovered Master Po's plans. After doing a few small errands for Master Po she headed back to the Gardens.
Many had returned from their patrols and were just settling in for meals and drink.A quick glance found her brothers of the Guard and Tai at a table eating and telling tales of their victories. She joined them noting small observations of needed repairs and equipment replacement. A small movement caught her eye ...Tai's hand was shaking. She had been seeing this for a few days now but when asked he denied any illness. Usually within moments it passed. She watched his hand quietly and sure enough the tremors stopped.The evening went swiftly by and soon may of the patrons were saying their goodnights and heading to sleep. Most would be replacing their comrades in the morning to continue to hold off the attacks heading into the city.
With much of the distraction now gone she glanced over to see Tai limping towards the table. He bumped into a chair and doubled over with a look of intense pain. Why had he not told her he was injured? Reaching his seat he denied any questions of an injury by quickly changing the subject. Within minutes he was up and running across the room to get more sake with no limp to be seen. Returning to his seat he seemed to have all but forgotten any pain. She could not understand it but something was very wrong here. He was not talking sense and his hands had begun to shake again. He reached for the pitcher of sake and it fell from his grasp crashing to the floor. He laughed it off but even now Count Grishnackh and the handful of patrons in the tavern could see something was not right here.Hurrying to retrieve the pitcher she glanced up and saw a familiar face. Lord Galnor glanced at her questioningly then quickly back at Tai. She could ask him..he might know what was wrong. Poet trusted him for his advice and help with things medical. She placed the pitcher on the bar then turned and quietly spoke with Lord Galnor for a moment.
Lord Galnor rose from his seat and said in an authoritive voice " Tai..front and center!"
Tai lept to his feet and snapped to attention before Lord Galnor as if responding as a student does to the master. Realizing his moment of confusion he relaxed and tried to laugh it off but Lord Galnor would have none of it. Realizing he would just keep stalling Rryn spoke out an order
"Count Grishnackh please escort Tai-san to his quarters so that Lord Galnor might look him over."
Tai glanced at her as if to say she could not order his men about. She shrugged her shoulders at him as Count Grishnackh took him firmly by the arm and with a wink at Rryn, lead him towards his quarters. He sighed and went quietly with Lord Galnor following behind them.
Soon the muffled, loud, obvious disagreements that floated into the tavern stopped and Lord Galnor returned to the tavern. A quick discussion found he had discovered Tai had not slept in days. He was returning to the front day and night with no rest other then brief meditation periods.
" I have gotten him to agree to rest , but not here." Lord Galnor spoke. " There is too much activity here for him to rest. He says he knows a place where he can rest and has left to go there. Someone" ,he glanced directly at her," must see that he does not get disturbed and that he does rest."

" I believe I know of where he will go. It is also close to his office." she said frowning.

" Well whatever you have to do...If I see him with a weapon in hand before the twenty-four hour rest is up I will put him down myself." he said sternly.

She nodded at him and quickly sent out pigeons to Arakad and Master Po to apprise them of the situation and one to her family that she would be away for a short time but not in harms way. She then left strict orders with Vito that should any look for them that he was to tell them nothing other then to say Arakad would be in command for the next couple of days.
She quickly summoned her llama and swiftly left the tavern in hopes she was correct in where he would be. She arrived at the Inn and quickly spoke with the Tavernkeeper. He told her indeed that the shogun had arrived and headed for the zen garden to meditate. She dug into her bag and produced funds to cover the hiring of two discreet guards and servants for the next twenty-four hours and that no one was to know they were there. They were not to be disturbed. The Innkeeper grinned and winked at her and assured her that no one would disturb them! Her jaw fell open in shock and her face went red. She glared at him informing him that the Shogun was ill and required rest..nothing more.She gave him such a tongue lashing he bowed his head in apology, face ashen, and offered his staff free. He assured her they would join her in moments. She quickly ascended the stairs and rounded the corner to the zen garden. Walking in she found Tai sprawled on the ground. She quickly dropped to her knees as he started to come around. As he tried to get up she gently pushed him back down , laying his head in her lap.
" You are to rest my ryu."she spoke quietly to him.

" You are here, I can rest now." he said

She quickly looked for any injury in his fall and noticed the small bruise starting to form on his forhead. The servants appeared and she sent them for blankets, pillows and food. The Innkeeper peered in and introduced the guards and assured her they would not be disturbed in the garden. He seemed to relax then and began talking of his father. He felt much guilt at being the reason for his fathers death.
She replied to him
" Your father gave you life and gave his so you might live. Had you not children , would you not also give your life for them?"
" I would die before a child of ours....",he hesistated,"before any child of mine would suffer."
She smiled at the slip but said nothing and began unbraiding his topknot braids and rebraiding them carefully putting the bells back in place. He kept speaking of his home his future and his wants. Soon his talk drifted into mumbles and finally he fell into a deep sleep. She lowered her head and placed a gentle kiss on his forhead as he lay with his head in her lap still. She quietly called over the servant who placed a few pillows behind her so she could lean against the wall. She released the servant and asked of her to please inform the guards on her leave that they do not allow him to leave should he awaken in case she were to doze off. Tonight she would be the one to stay awake so he might rest.....

[Tai Kwan Leap]

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A distant voice called out Tai's name repeatedly. At first he was surrounded by complete darkness, and then he could sense and feel the darkness receding leaving the land of his birth in it's wake.

He thought to himself, that it was the dream that had haunted him since his arrival in these lands.

He stood in front of the temple watching cranes take flight, and watched the morning mists burn off the the low lying lands. Tai stood there as the farmer took to their fields.

Then, the temple bell rang. He knew what was about to happen, because this was as much a memory as a dream.

A young soldier bowed in front of Tai.

"Sensei, the Shogun commands your presence."

Tai just nodded and followed the young man.

There in the temple sat the Shogun. Another man, much older and very feeble was prostrate in front of the Shogun.

"Captain Tai, this man has broken the laws of the Emperor. He dared to sire two sons. He has turned himself in to us, hoping for a single wish be granted."

Tai bowed to the Shogun and nodded silently.

"His request was that you be his second when he commits seppeku" the words of the Shogun chasing spiraling echoes throughout Tai's mind.

"It would be an honor," responded Tai.

Tai then helped the older man to his feet.

"Come grandfather-san, let us go out into the shadow of the mountain so that one last time you feel it's weight move through you." Tai said as he led the man and the man's horse from the temple to his favorite spot to meditate.

Tai then unrolled the man's ancestral cloth containing the seppeku knife. He helped the man tie back his hakama-rubbish. Then stepping back he started to draw his no-dachi.

"Iie, Captain Tai. I have some gifts I must give you, first. I know you to be a man of honor and will not refuse these gifts."

The old man then reached walked to his horse's pack and retrieved a long bundle and a small intricately carved rosewood chest.

He first handed the long bundle to Tai.

"I wish you to wield my familys blade. Inside the wrappings you will find a book containing my family's bloodline. I ask that you return it to my wife."

Tai placed the book in his pouch and unsheathed the sword. It was a work of grandmaster level craftsmanship.

Then Tai unbelted his own blade and laid it on the ground and tied on the old man's ancestral blade.

"That blade has served our family well for nearly 700 years. When we are done here, I bid you find the rightful owner."

Tai nodded and said, "I will honor you."

Then the elderly man said, "This box contains something that was commissioned to celebrate one of the best decisions I ever made. This box contains a porcelain egg that represents the birth of my second son. This egg was what my wife and I would pray over when wondering what had become of our second son. This egg was commissioned to celebrate your birth, Tai Kwan Leap of the Otori clan."

It is often difficult to shock a monk who spends most of his life meditating. However, Tai was indeed astonished.

"You are my father?"

"Hai. Now, that I know the man of honor my son has become, I accept my karma. Let us finish this."

"I have so many questions."

"They will be answered when you find the owner of that blade."

Tai's father kneeled in the desai position and meditated a moment before picking up the blade. While he meditated, Tai poured water from his canteen on the blade and chanted.

Then the man picked up the seppeku dagger and in one fluid motion buried it into his abdomen just below the ribcage. He staggered slightly and, feeling the weight and power of the mountain flow down through him and into his feet Tai swung with precision.

Tai woke screaming "Iie!"

He was laying on a tatami mat with his head resting in Rryn's lap.
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"He's been fired from the Shrimp Boat?" -- Charlaine Harris "Living Dead In Dallas."