Mournful Chirping (D8, LE)

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

Once again, Chihaya came to the dojo.

She wasn't drunk, not as much as she wanted to be, nor was she sober.

Nor was she happy.

The day had been a tempest of short-sided foolishness, mixed with prideful arrogance, youthful brashness, and the slowly impending sense of doom that the oncoming hoard brought.

She missed her husband, even if she secretly feared he did not miss her.

She wondered if her children would recognize or welcome her, after all this time.

She wondered if she even had a home anymore.

Moving to the center of the quiet dojo, she knelt in seiza on the fresh tatami mats, where the old ones had been removed and discarded after the violence of that morning.

Taking her flute in her hands, she closed her eyes and began to play, pouring out all of the pain and sorrow that seemed to spring up from within. Maybe the wind could take this away, and give her peace before the coming storm. Maybe the fortunes or the kami might, for once, give her some sign that there was hope yet to come.

Tears sprang unbidden, running down her right cheek, and she played through them, invisible save the reflection of distant torchlight in the water that wet her face, her body and soul caught up in the tune that flowed out from her core. It was a raw performance, meant for none save the wind and the stars, and whatever kami cared to watch over her. Perhaps it was only in her mind that she could hear the drums of war, pounding in her ears, carrying her tune along like a hurricane roaring over the Suzume hills, or maybe it was simply the pounding of her heart in her chest - who could say.

The music flowed from her flute, raw, emotional, and unpolished.

For just a moment, all her guard was gone, and she was simply a woman, alone and far from home, with a war hanging just moments away - a battle coming she knew she might yet be asked to fight.

Kodama · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:17 pm **Posts:** 404

Tired from his time sending scrolls onwards and outwards, Kodama found his way to the dojo again. If he was going to have to fight, and if the spirits got here he was, then he needed to be as ready as he could make himself.

The flute music was less of a surprise after yesterday had another musician.

The display of emotion was one that caused him to head first to the dojo's shrine, in order to honor that.

His steps are mostly quiet.

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

Eventually, the music stopped, and she dried her cheek with one sleeve.

It was strange, how only one eye could cry. If she were blind, would tears be beyond her entirely?

Sitting alone in the darkness, she listened, letting the sounds of the city flow over her, the drumming of rain and the tension of the day washing away.

Perhaps in the dark, there was a moment of peace, amid the storm.

Kodama · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:17 pm **Posts:** 404

Finishing his primary prayer, Kodama adds to the music of the night. He sings a song to Hotei, a prayer, a wish, a remembrance.

It is wistful, it carries a sadness that is folded in on itself.

Slowly, it pulls apart the folds, to offer itself to the Fortune. To ask, how can one be content with such a weight.

There is a silence for three heartbeats as the Fortune does not respond.

The song offers the sadness again, questing after the possibility of happiness when the sadness blocks out the horizon.

There is a silence for five heartbeats as again the Fortune does not respond.

The singer offers the sadness a final time, accepting that they can endure it. That it's been with them so long that it's a part of them.

And, in the song at least, the Fortune answers. It unfolds the sadness again, from seams unseen by the one who held it. It shows that each part sprung from a thing that brought happiness, brought warmth. That the sadness would be there when separated from those things, but the warmth of those memories were there as well, wrapped up, an unbreakable core.

The song ends with a call of thanks, the monk's voice serene, if a little surprised at the quality he was able to bring to the occasion.

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

She listened in silence, making no movement.

Only once he had finished, did she speak into the darkness.

"Konbonwa. Who joins me in the darkness this night?"

Kodama · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:17 pm **Posts:** 404

He moves forward away from the dojo's shrine.

Eventually, a bow. "I am Kodama, monk of the Thousand Fortunes, dedicated to the Fortune of Heroes, Reichin-no-kami."

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

She rose to her feet, turning and bowing.

"This one is Suzume Chihaya, Sparrow clan Shoi and Sensei. I was honored to hear your song this evening. I pray I am not intruding upon your practice this evening."

Kodama · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:17 pm **Posts:** 404

"It seemed more appropriate to remember, if for a moment, a reason that we continue to struggle on, despite it all." He offers a small smile.

"Truth be told, I don't know that I can practice enough to matter. I have visions of standing off an army on a bridge saving the day and being remembered for all of time by doing so. But really, I expect, that's just the wish for a simple solution and to know that I mattered. Still too much of my old life wrapped up in the new."

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

She contemplated the man, in the darkness, and then replied. "I think we all wish for a simple solution to the problems we currently face - to believe that a solution exists at all."

Rubbing the back of her neck, she added, "Still, without practice, one can never be ready."

Kodama · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:17 pm **Posts:** 404

"Oh, a solution always exists." He says warmly.

"The issue is, we always want to be part of the solution. The urge to be a hero is strong. Gain glory for your family, reach Yomi after death like the stories. Each problem's not always for us to solve, sometime's it is for another."

He shakes his head and moves to one spot of the mat, in order to start his slow stretches.

"Still. You're right. If we're not ready, the problems that are for us will continue onward after leaving us in the dust."

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

So grim.

Running her fingers along the splendid flute, she wondered how long it had taken to make. Such skill the craftsman showed... so easily broken by careless hands.

"Perhaps we full we must be part of the solution - so many seem eager to rush in and break down, instead of investing the time and effort of creation."

Kodama · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:17 pm **Posts:** 404

"Hai. Destruction is the easiest of solutions." He looks around briefly. "May I say something that sounds political, but is meant to look at how the Great Clans may be out of balance?"

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

Chihaya, standing as she was in the darkness, did not need to hide her wary expression, but she answered, plainly, "Yes. Speak freely, Kodama-san."

Kodama · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:17 pm **Posts:** 404

He nods briefly. "Thank you Suzume-sama. I have many reasons to love the Lion and Scorpion clans. But neither are focused on the art of creation. Both sharpen their blades to decide what should remain of what already exist."

A look up to the ceiling. He swallows some old pains. The Lion could not spare a single healer when the Hare and Lion fought the Forest Killers. Not one. A shake of his head. "Both are needed. There are things that come to be that are too dangerous to remain. But with them so ascendant, where are those who create? Who allow us to see the world anew?"

He starts into a slow kata, hand moving incrementally.

"They're not gone. Two evenings in a row, I've come here and heard music. And I've been given strength by it, a calm, a sense of knowing what is being fought for."

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

Chihaya listened, and then said, softly, "Your own song was good reminder - and there will come a day when those who build may speak once again."

I must believe this.

Kodama · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:17 pm **Posts:** 404

"Thank you." He says simply.

He continues his movements for a few breaths.

"I heard stories about some of the heroes at Shiro Hiruma using flutes in some of the bleakest hours to help bolster morale. If you wish to help show the worth of such speech earlier than later."

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

Chihaya chuckled.

"I imagine there are better flutists than I - and were we hard pressed I would be duty bound to stand in the line. Still, if my song can inspire any, then I offer it freely."

Kodama · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:17 pm **Posts:** 404

"Hai, Suzume-sama. In matters of war I of course bow to your wisdom. My experiences in it saw Reichin-no-kami die and the loss of my arm." He continues his slow practice.

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

"Oh?"

She sounded surprised.

"So you fought alongside the Hare?"

That was intriguing indeed.

Kodama · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:17 pm **Posts:** 404

"Hai. I've some leave to talk about my past lives, because it is so wrapped up in the Fortune that I now serve. I knew him before he gained a clan, joined the Hare after his deeds got him the clan. Lost my arm when he lost his life."

Waved the armless shoulder slightly. "Didn't seem right to continue on after that. Joined the Brotherhood to try and serve a different way. We had a slew of monks traveling through by that point. Brotherhood got my spirit fixed. Then he became a Fortune. And I figured someone who knew him in his lives should join that order. Make sure what is known gets passed down from the start."

Mournful Chirping (D8, LE)

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