Anything

[Johan Batara]

Faerun. What a strange name, he thought. A land filled with opportunities. Wealth would be a great reward indeed, even in so harsh a land. However, all was not well with Kojiro. He stood silently on the Sea Dragon's prow, watching the moon-bathed horizon that led to the west. They would be dropping him off in an island known as Prespur, south of the main continent, said the Shou sailors. Bah, all these foreigners. But he had to get used to it soon, because he won't be coming home in a long while.

He heard footsteps behind him, the loud clomping of wooden slippers. The handsome young man did not need to turn to know who was with him. "Brother. I am glad that you have joined me this far," said Kojiro quietly. He had matured quickly in his three years in Shou Lung, a place he did not love very much. From a long and lanky youth, he had become a swift and graceful swordsman. His black eyes were now as cold as dark obsidian stones, and just as hard. He looked more intimidating than a black pirate ship stalking a merchant vessel.

"You are welcome, honorable master, and I assure you, it was only my rightful duty to the daimyo of our great clan. The Konjo high priest asked just as much." Kyoda Akitsuki's voice was soft, but that was quite good for a warrior monk, or sohei, who spent his days fasting and meditating. Kojiro turned to regard the short sohei. He wore the black armor of the Kyoda, and an identical dark helmet proudly sat on his shaved head. A sharp and keen naginata was clutched in his oiled gauntlets, and he looked all the more a vigilant guardian. Of course, one did not become one of the daimyo's most respected samurai by carousing in wine shops and laughing with street thugs, nor was letting your equipment rust. One always had to have the presence of mind expected in a noble samurai knight. He was proud of this one.

Kojiro inserted his long black sleeves inside each other and gave a grim sigh, his eyes flitting towards the beautiful full moon. "Nay, our clan does not prosper, Aki-san," said Kojiro quietly to the dignified sohei. "That is the sole reason that I leave behind all that I love just to restore our clan to its former glory." And inside himself, Kojiro was desperately hopeful of such a fate. Only the gods could help their half-ruined clan stay alive, and it was a miracle that he was not yet considering honorable suicide. No, that would be cowardice. The clan cannot be abandoned, and even the spirits saw to that.

"Then...why this Faerun? Why not travel to Koryo or Malatran territory, or why not stay in Shou Lung? Why to the west?" The question was innocent, but Kojiro was struck. Of course, he had considered it well. Kara-Tur itself does not focus on being the richest continent of the world. Faerun, on the other hand, was filled with gold and treasure. He heard that mercenaries, adventurers and even travelers had good opportunities and there was no shortage of them. If only he could stay in Kozakura. The Land of the Little Cherry Blossom. He would miss it very much. Akitsuki does not know how lucky he is.

"Because this...Faerun is a very rich place. Our land suffers from warfare and turmoil, and I do not know how many more Masaharu sieges we can take. I will need to earn plenty in this Faerun, and with that gold I will take in more willing clansmen, ronin and mercenaries," said Kojiro, his eyes gleaming and his hand lifted. "And crush the Masaharu." He balled his hand into a fist, as if destroying Masaharu Castle inside.

Kojiro gritted his teeth. "I hear your family was slain by those fiends when Kyoda Castle was attacked fourteen years ago. Is that true, Aki-san?"

The sohei cast his eyes shamefully on the wooden floor. "Yes, they did," he murmured softly.

Kojiro snarled at the wind, and put two fingers on his temple. A vein was throbbing rapidly, and, despite the cold sea breeze, beads of sweat began to drip from his face. "They will pay for this. They destroyed countless lives, halted incomplete voyages into the enigma we call life. They killed your family, they slew my parents...will they be slaying children and elders next? Will their bloodlust and conquest for power ever end? Their heads will all be on pikes when I return. Then the bodies will be tossed into the volcano of Shinkoku, sprinkled with salt, and their castle will prove to be a bonfire for the demons. There will be no mercy, as what was shown years ago."

Akitsuki looked nervously at his lord and patted his shoulder as Kojiro sighed deeply. "My lord, worry not. Their time shall come, and I will make certain of it. The Masaharu are nothing but squabbling pigs with thousands of peasant ashigaru. Power-hungry, yes, but skilled? I think not." He directed his eyes at the rippling waves of the moonlit sea. "I think it is time you had rest, Kojiro-sama. I will ask Yuki to prepare some tea for you. You look very stressed."

Kojiro nodded slightly to his vassal. "All in due time, sohei-san. I am only fifteen winters old. I have plenty of time, but the clan does not. The clan matters, not me. If I must return from heaven to save my clan, I will do it. Anything for the honor of my clan." He turned and walked away, leaving Akitsuki gazing at the waters.

Akitsuki chuckled and grimaced, wiping his moist face with his hand. "I hope you do not stray far from the path, sire...for if one strays from the path, hell follows."

Anything for my clan. Anything.

[Brokenbone]

*sigh* Hate to be the first cheerleader yet again, but I'm really enjoying this series. Good stuff.

If Kojiro goes hunting for treasure in the Isles, someone remind him to bring a shovel.

[Tynndahl]

*second cheerleader*
aye, its just warming up.