For all of the traveling that Hijikata did around the country, it was never to promote his own glory. It's true that he wanted to find students for the Hiten School, once he had expanded and perfected the techniques of his battojutsu, but it was always for the sake of further unifying the people by the virtues of the sword. He did not go around declaring his greatness, nor did he seek it. He simply sought to be the best swordsman he could be, and he sought to teach others the discipline, grace, and self-respect he learned through the steel that now hung from his hip. Anything else that he might receive would simply be bonus. Indeed, it was humility, not pride, that was the mark of a great warrior, whether samurai or rurouni such as himself.
Thus, it was with a look of disbelief when the royal horns blew through the town he was staying. He, like any other person, came outside onto the street to see the procession of messengers. It was three horsemen fully clad in the armor of the royal guard. His curiosity turned to shock and concern as the messengers called for him by name. He was nobody. He was no one, not even worth mentioning outside of his students. How had his name managed to travel all the way to the royal city? The people, just as clueless as to the intentions of the guards as he was, were unsettled by the sudden announcement. The royal messengers were a stern looking bunch, and they likely made the people uneasy. So as to shift the burden of concern away from them, Hijikata stepped forward and announced his presence, much to the surprise of many in the village. He wasn't certain what was happening, but he would face it with dignity, as he did in all other aspects of life. His face was visibly awash with the shock as the soldier dismounted and bowed to him, even granting him the honorific of "sensei". Before he realized it, he had in hand an official directive from the Daimyo himself, asking that Hijikata be the guide for an extremely important diplomatic envoy. Understanding that the Daimyo had chosen him for a reason, Hijikata humbly accepted.
He now stood at the border of Grass Country, the sun shining, offset by a cool western breeze. Hijikata wasn't still quite certain how he'd wound up in this position. He awaited the arrival of the envoy, staying about fifty paces behind a line of royal guards on a fine horse provided by the royal stable. He frankly wasn't certain himself as to why the guards wouldn't guide the envoy themselves. Any one of them could easily best Hijikata in combat. He understood the Daimyo's missive stated that he wanted to show consideration for the personal guard of the envoy, but they were all children of the Grass. The horse had been provided for Hijikata, but he would at least show their hospitality and offer it to the envoy. Once the envoy was in line of sight, HIjikata would dismount and prepare to greet the envoy, this... Fuhen.
He was likely a famous individual, but Hijikata did not normally concern himself with politics. He was curious to see what kind of person Fuhen was, at least.
The Mighty and the Humble
Hijikata x Fuhen
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ShinobiTruth
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The Mighty and the Humble
The Mighty and the Humble
"Well yes, Fuhen, but it's about the appearance." Said a man who, while tall, was dwarfed by the man dressed in dark blue next to him.
"Aye, but am nae worried about that." Fuhen replied, throwing his hands up and rolling his eyes. "Dinnae even know how t'ride a horse, is it a better appearance to 'ave me fallin' off o' one?" The man next to him made a disapproving clicking noise with his tongue. "I've been trying to tell you to take lessons. And watch the accent! I know you've been in speaking lessons." The Frog simply sighed at this, but did not respond.
The group had been travelling for several days. The people present in his retinue were from places all over the world, those who had given their loyalty to him, and by extension, his cause. There were bright haired individuals from waterfall country that carried with them instruments, and dressed in equally bright clothes. There were a handful of young samurai with spears slung over their shoulders, bits of iconography marking them from the Holy City of Towers, and a few others still riding horses and carrying weaponry consisting of various blades, hailing from Pebble country. It made for an odd sight as they traveled down the road, not made any less odd by the existence of a somewhat ornate covered wagon pulled by a short team of horses, inside of which rested a few others trained in diplomacy who were not as used to travel than their warrior brethren.
Overall the group was somewhat small, and the people who made it up didn't seem to fall into what most would consider a disciplined military. The men from Pebble country raucously told dirty jokes and attempted to push each other off their horses. The bright haired individuals from waterfall played discordant notes, seemingly on purpose, and made rude noises. The spear wielders from The Holy City seemed to be arguing back and forth over a series of stances and which one was best in different scenarios.
The spear wielders were at the front of the group, and they announced first and loudly that there were strangers on the road. The convoy did not stop all the same, though several of them shouted to the strangers in various greetings, including Fuhen himself. The man walking next to him attempted to pull his arm back down, and chided him that it was unfitting. As they got closer, it became apparent that the men were not just strangers on the road, but in fact some sort of welcoming party. The man next to Fuhen rushed ahead through the group of spearmen, and the Frog followed after halfheartedly.
"Greetings gentlemen! We are the envoy of Lord Iyashii, I take it you are here to escort us to the Daimyo's presence?" Fuhen was not far behind as the retinue slowly came to a stop. "Ooh, drop the lord this and lord that, eh?" He whispered into his companion's ear. This was only responded to by another clicking noise.
"Aye, but am nae worried about that." Fuhen replied, throwing his hands up and rolling his eyes. "Dinnae even know how t'ride a horse, is it a better appearance to 'ave me fallin' off o' one?" The man next to him made a disapproving clicking noise with his tongue. "I've been trying to tell you to take lessons. And watch the accent! I know you've been in speaking lessons." The Frog simply sighed at this, but did not respond.
The group had been travelling for several days. The people present in his retinue were from places all over the world, those who had given their loyalty to him, and by extension, his cause. There were bright haired individuals from waterfall country that carried with them instruments, and dressed in equally bright clothes. There were a handful of young samurai with spears slung over their shoulders, bits of iconography marking them from the Holy City of Towers, and a few others still riding horses and carrying weaponry consisting of various blades, hailing from Pebble country. It made for an odd sight as they traveled down the road, not made any less odd by the existence of a somewhat ornate covered wagon pulled by a short team of horses, inside of which rested a few others trained in diplomacy who were not as used to travel than their warrior brethren.
Overall the group was somewhat small, and the people who made it up didn't seem to fall into what most would consider a disciplined military. The men from Pebble country raucously told dirty jokes and attempted to push each other off their horses. The bright haired individuals from waterfall played discordant notes, seemingly on purpose, and made rude noises. The spear wielders from The Holy City seemed to be arguing back and forth over a series of stances and which one was best in different scenarios.
The spear wielders were at the front of the group, and they announced first and loudly that there were strangers on the road. The convoy did not stop all the same, though several of them shouted to the strangers in various greetings, including Fuhen himself. The man walking next to him attempted to pull his arm back down, and chided him that it was unfitting. As they got closer, it became apparent that the men were not just strangers on the road, but in fact some sort of welcoming party. The man next to Fuhen rushed ahead through the group of spearmen, and the Frog followed after halfheartedly.
"Greetings gentlemen! We are the envoy of Lord Iyashii, I take it you are here to escort us to the Daimyo's presence?" Fuhen was not far behind as the retinue slowly came to a stop. "Ooh, drop the lord this and lord that, eh?" He whispered into his companion's ear. This was only responded to by another clicking noise.
"It's so sad!" the reader said to the writer with a frown. "The character in my book just died!" The author turned to her and burst out into tears, "I know!" he said, "So did mine!"
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 | Suzuko Just another girl |
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ShinobiTruth
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The Mighty and the Humble
Well... It was clear that Hijikata knew absolutely nothing about diplomacy. He looked down at the unfurled missive in his hands, which gave a detailed description of the man he was to escort, along with his party. This was the man. Him. Really? Hijikata knew he had much to learn, but the level of his sheltering was never more apparent than it was now. Still, despite that, Hijikata's warrior senses told him that the appearances mattered little here. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up in alert. His eyes quickly scanned the entourage that approached the border crossing. Frankly, he was likely dwarfed by every one of the people with weapons in that group. And if he had to guess who this Fuhen individual was... most people would say the tall composed gentleman who was the first to greet the royal guards at the crossing, but Hijikata knew better. It was the man next to him.
It was impossible to miss the confident strength that exuded from him, even in his relaxed state. The sensation was like fireworks going off in his nerves, and it took all that Hijikata had to still himself.
The guards would bow respectfully but hold up their hands. "The Grass Country recognizes the diplomatic envoy of Iiyashi Fuhen-dono," the guard captain stated. "Though we wish not to act disrespectfully towards Fuhen-dono and this diplomatic party, we must ask that we be allowed to conduct an inspection of your carriage and horses. Entering our borders is contingent on compliance with this request. We would be failing in our duties to our own Lord if we did not address every possible safety concern."
Well, at least the guard captain was cordial and learned enough in the art of conversation, not much like the messengers that had brought him his orders from the capital. Walking up towards the guard captain, Hijikata politely asked to be let through. The guard captain, recognizing the royal seal on the scroll that Hijikata held in his hand, bowed and stepped aside. Formally presenting himself to the envoy, Hijikata bowed deeply. "Welcome to the Grass Country, Fuhen-dono. I am Toshizou Hijikata, and I have been blessed with the privilege of being your guide through the country as we head towards the capital. We hope your grace can forgive the necessary security measures that we must take before allowing the horses and vehicles into the country," he explained, motioning towards a modest, traditional pagoda. "Would you and your party care to join me in the waiting area? We have light refreshments prepared for you, so that you will not be terribly famished when we arrive at the first stop on the way to the palace."
It was impossible to miss the confident strength that exuded from him, even in his relaxed state. The sensation was like fireworks going off in his nerves, and it took all that Hijikata had to still himself.
The guards would bow respectfully but hold up their hands. "The Grass Country recognizes the diplomatic envoy of Iiyashi Fuhen-dono," the guard captain stated. "Though we wish not to act disrespectfully towards Fuhen-dono and this diplomatic party, we must ask that we be allowed to conduct an inspection of your carriage and horses. Entering our borders is contingent on compliance with this request. We would be failing in our duties to our own Lord if we did not address every possible safety concern."
Well, at least the guard captain was cordial and learned enough in the art of conversation, not much like the messengers that had brought him his orders from the capital. Walking up towards the guard captain, Hijikata politely asked to be let through. The guard captain, recognizing the royal seal on the scroll that Hijikata held in his hand, bowed and stepped aside. Formally presenting himself to the envoy, Hijikata bowed deeply. "Welcome to the Grass Country, Fuhen-dono. I am Toshizou Hijikata, and I have been blessed with the privilege of being your guide through the country as we head towards the capital. We hope your grace can forgive the necessary security measures that we must take before allowing the horses and vehicles into the country," he explained, motioning towards a modest, traditional pagoda. "Would you and your party care to join me in the waiting area? We have light refreshments prepared for you, so that you will not be terribly famished when we arrive at the first stop on the way to the palace."
The Mighty and the Humble
As the guards approached, the retinue of Fuhen seemed to disperse a bit, their tones moving to be more hushed. At the mention of inspecting what they carried, Fuhen simply shrugged, turning his head to the side a bit, and yelling over his shoulder. "Oi! Out o' the wagon!" The carriage visibly shook as a collection of people began to step out, including a rather fat, bald monk with a large pot on his back, a few young men and women dressed in fine clothes, and notably a young woman who looked remarkably like a shorter, prettier version of Fuhen.
The Frog quirked a brow as a man stepped from between the guards to speak to them, but he nodded his head respectfully all the same. The man next to Fuhen gave him a sideways glance, as if telling him to behave, before walking back to the people in the wagon to relay what the plans were. The young samurai however stepped forwards with arms open wide, approaching the man who had spoken to them. "Hijikata, izzit?" He asked quite boisterously, a large smile on his face, and as he got close enough he'd place one of his large hands on the man's shoulder. "Noice t'be meetin' ya! Thousand thanks be fer yer hospitality, oi'm sure the fellas could use a drink!"
He looked back at a few of his retinue and the group chuckled, as though it were part of an inside joke. He let go of Hijikata, and made a 'lead the way' gesture with a wink. "So eh... Hijikata! That's right... About how far from the palace would ye say we are, anywho? 'Aven't been t'Grass Country in many years, and dinnae think I ever passed through the capital! Sure is a pretty place ye've got 'round by 'ere..."
The Frog quirked a brow as a man stepped from between the guards to speak to them, but he nodded his head respectfully all the same. The man next to Fuhen gave him a sideways glance, as if telling him to behave, before walking back to the people in the wagon to relay what the plans were. The young samurai however stepped forwards with arms open wide, approaching the man who had spoken to them. "Hijikata, izzit?" He asked quite boisterously, a large smile on his face, and as he got close enough he'd place one of his large hands on the man's shoulder. "Noice t'be meetin' ya! Thousand thanks be fer yer hospitality, oi'm sure the fellas could use a drink!"
He looked back at a few of his retinue and the group chuckled, as though it were part of an inside joke. He let go of Hijikata, and made a 'lead the way' gesture with a wink. "So eh... Hijikata! That's right... About how far from the palace would ye say we are, anywho? 'Aven't been t'Grass Country in many years, and dinnae think I ever passed through the capital! Sure is a pretty place ye've got 'round by 'ere..."
"It's so sad!" the reader said to the writer with a frown. "The character in my book just died!" The author turned to her and burst out into tears, "I know!" he said, "So did mine!"
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| Suzuko Just another girl |
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ShinobiTruth
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The Mighty and the Humble
Hijikata took a moment to scan over the others present in the Frog Lord’s entourage. Though he quickly memorized all of their faces, there were two additional members of the group that stood out. One was a... healthy looking monk carrying a large gourd or pot on his back. Looking at him, he was older than Hijikata. He would remember to pay him the proper deference.
The other was a woman of startling beauty, the likes of which Hijikata had never seen before. She clearly had to be related to Fuhen-dono; their resemblance was undeniable. By most standards, Fuhen would be considered a dashing rogue. His family member, possibly his sister, was all of the beauty but with more refinement. Hair darker than the night sky, eyes carved of emerald and ivory, she was simply breathtaking. Hijikata was ashamed to realize that his eyes rested on the young woman’s face a moment longer than the rest.
His eyes returned to Fuhen, who quickly approached. A seemingly informal man, as opposed to a bow, the Frog Lord placed a single hand on Hijikata’s shoulder. His hand was fairly large, but that was what made Hijikata’s entire body freeze momentarily. No, it was the strength of that hand. His suspicions had been correct.
This man could snap Hijikata as easily as any dried twig stomped underfoot. His power was overwhelming, even with the gentlest of touches.
Though he could not hide the realization from crossing his face. Hijikata kept his composure overall. It was not fear, but profound respect that Fuhen would see in that fleeting moment. ”From here, it will take roughly twelve hours, Fuhen-dono,” he replied as he led the group to the pagoda. ”The Daimyo wished for you to have a relaxing, intimate view of our land before arriving at the capital. Regrettably, it seems that he may not have fully realized you had already visited our country, Fuhen-dono. Though I personally would want to adjust the schedule to be more expedient for your envoy in light of that knowledge, unless it involves your safety, I am bound by our Lord’s missive. I pray you can forgive this oversight.”
As they stepped in, chefs lay out a colorful variety of sushi and sashimi, capable of satisfying most pallets. Sweet or savory, spicy or mellow, carnivore or vegetarian, there was something for just about everyone. Paired with the fish was cool ginseng tea laced with cinnamon wildflower honey, a refreshing, earthy compliment to the light saltiness of most of the fish in the sushi and sashimi.
The other was a woman of startling beauty, the likes of which Hijikata had never seen before. She clearly had to be related to Fuhen-dono; their resemblance was undeniable. By most standards, Fuhen would be considered a dashing rogue. His family member, possibly his sister, was all of the beauty but with more refinement. Hair darker than the night sky, eyes carved of emerald and ivory, she was simply breathtaking. Hijikata was ashamed to realize that his eyes rested on the young woman’s face a moment longer than the rest.
His eyes returned to Fuhen, who quickly approached. A seemingly informal man, as opposed to a bow, the Frog Lord placed a single hand on Hijikata’s shoulder. His hand was fairly large, but that was what made Hijikata’s entire body freeze momentarily. No, it was the strength of that hand. His suspicions had been correct.
This man could snap Hijikata as easily as any dried twig stomped underfoot. His power was overwhelming, even with the gentlest of touches.
Though he could not hide the realization from crossing his face. Hijikata kept his composure overall. It was not fear, but profound respect that Fuhen would see in that fleeting moment. ”From here, it will take roughly twelve hours, Fuhen-dono,” he replied as he led the group to the pagoda. ”The Daimyo wished for you to have a relaxing, intimate view of our land before arriving at the capital. Regrettably, it seems that he may not have fully realized you had already visited our country, Fuhen-dono. Though I personally would want to adjust the schedule to be more expedient for your envoy in light of that knowledge, unless it involves your safety, I am bound by our Lord’s missive. I pray you can forgive this oversight.”
As they stepped in, chefs lay out a colorful variety of sushi and sashimi, capable of satisfying most pallets. Sweet or savory, spicy or mellow, carnivore or vegetarian, there was something for just about everyone. Paired with the fish was cool ginseng tea laced with cinnamon wildflower honey, a refreshing, earthy compliment to the light saltiness of most of the fish in the sushi and sashimi.
The Mighty and the Humble
The groups from their varied home countries all seemed to act without much input from anyone. The horsemen dismounted and handed the reigns over to the guards, the man leading the carriage calmed his own horses so that their luggage could be inspected freely, and everyone else followed Fuhen as he began to walk with Hijikata. They each seemed to have either their own individual leaders, or at the very least varying levels of self deference that led them to lead themselves.
The bright haired individuals from Waterfall Country began to play a happy little tune, rather low so as to not disrupt conversation, one of them singing lyrics to a song in some strange language.
"Aye pal, dinnae need t'be in too much o' a rush, I s'pose..." The large man shrugged. He didn't look particularly pleased by the revelation, but any annoyance he held was clearly held elsewhere, and not in the present moment. "Ye kin drop the formalities though. Ah'm the son o' a fisherman..." He started, but was interrupted by one of the samurai wielding spears "And a breaker of ships!" the man shouted, earning a chuckle from his fellow spear wielders, but only received a dismissive wave from the Frog. "I appreciate the respect, but eh... Well, I'm sure that sword is nae just for show, eh? Make the respect as a fellow swordsman, then." He gave the man a smile, clearly looking rather uncomfortable with the politics.
Fuhen's existence as a 'noble' had only begun less than a year ago, in truth. He was well known in many countries before then for his exploits in everything from helping small villages take on bandits, to breaking up slave rings. His existence as a 'noble' began when people who no longer felt at home where they were, or who felt like they owed him something, began to show up in River Country, looking for something different. It was from there that the civil war had started, but that was a story for another time.
The young samurai's eyes turned wide as they stepped into the building, obviously pleased by the sight of all the food. The fish, especially, seemed to strike a chord with him, something that reminded him of home, even if the types of fish were likely different than those available in River. He sat down at a nonspecific spot, and gestured for his 'guide' to sit with him. His people followed suit. "Tell me, Hijikata, what walk o' life d'ye hail from? Were ye plucked from a dojo just to guide me through the tall grass?"
The bright haired individuals from Waterfall Country began to play a happy little tune, rather low so as to not disrupt conversation, one of them singing lyrics to a song in some strange language.
"Aye pal, dinnae need t'be in too much o' a rush, I s'pose..." The large man shrugged. He didn't look particularly pleased by the revelation, but any annoyance he held was clearly held elsewhere, and not in the present moment. "Ye kin drop the formalities though. Ah'm the son o' a fisherman..." He started, but was interrupted by one of the samurai wielding spears "And a breaker of ships!" the man shouted, earning a chuckle from his fellow spear wielders, but only received a dismissive wave from the Frog. "I appreciate the respect, but eh... Well, I'm sure that sword is nae just for show, eh? Make the respect as a fellow swordsman, then." He gave the man a smile, clearly looking rather uncomfortable with the politics.
Fuhen's existence as a 'noble' had only begun less than a year ago, in truth. He was well known in many countries before then for his exploits in everything from helping small villages take on bandits, to breaking up slave rings. His existence as a 'noble' began when people who no longer felt at home where they were, or who felt like they owed him something, began to show up in River Country, looking for something different. It was from there that the civil war had started, but that was a story for another time.
The young samurai's eyes turned wide as they stepped into the building, obviously pleased by the sight of all the food. The fish, especially, seemed to strike a chord with him, something that reminded him of home, even if the types of fish were likely different than those available in River. He sat down at a nonspecific spot, and gestured for his 'guide' to sit with him. His people followed suit. "Tell me, Hijikata, what walk o' life d'ye hail from? Were ye plucked from a dojo just to guide me through the tall grass?"
"It's so sad!" the reader said to the writer with a frown. "The character in my book just died!" The author turned to her and burst out into tears, "I know!" he said, "So did mine!"
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| Suzuko Just another girl |
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ShinobiTruth
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The Mighty and the Humble
Noting that the envoy acted more like a group of friends, even more akin to a family, Hijikata found himself surprised. It seemed that the coalition Fuhen had formed was not one of force or one of lineage. They acted as if a more fundamental bond united them. One of respect, of frienship... of belonging. Though he felt not in the position to say it, the sight of it warmed his heart. That sense of brotherhood, camaraderie, that Hijikata wished for those who wished to study the sword. Often times, bloody feuds erupted between dojos simply due to their perceived superiority, and it stained what learning the sword could do for people. Yes, swordsmanship was a way to kill. But learning that deadly art entailed discipline, hard work, empathy... Knowing when to use the sword was just the same as learning how to use it. To see there were others that saw the truth in this principle warmed his heart.
Hijikata further had his expectations subverted when Fuhen continued to address him. The son of a fisherman? And yet now he was a man of such status so as to merit a personal meeting with the Daimyo! Hijikata could not imagine the amount of work and struggle he'd gone through to rise to his position. At the mention of his swords, Hijikata looked down at his blades and nodded knowingly. Despite how much more he had to learn of the sword than Fuhen, Hijikata understood. The man simply wanted to be shown the respect he had earned, not false praise due to title or status. Allowing himself to relax just a bit, Hijikata agreed. "Far be it from me to deny the simple request of a fellow of the sword, Fuhen-san," the man offered, allowing himself the use of a more personal honorific when addressing Fuhen now. "I simply hope that one day, I might radiate the same strength you do. The road ahead for me is still a long one."
Sipping the lightly sweet and deliciously refreshing tea, Hijikata caught Fuhen's question regarding his own origins. "I am also of modest origins. My father was the smithy in a small village near the southeastern border of the country. He was the one who taught me the swordsmanship I use today," he replied, setting the cup down. "Frankly, when I received the orders with the royal seal, I was quite shocked. I am no one noteworthy. I simply travel the country, and sometimes outside of it, to teach young ones basic swordsmanship... and more importantly, the virtues behind it. Discipline. Dedication. Industriousness. Empathy. Swordsmanship is a means to kill... but we also live our swordsmanship in the way we treat others. Just as we should not wish to cause needless pain even to our enemies, how much better should we treat those we cherish."
Shaking his head in disbelief, he pondered the circumstances in which he found himself. "Though I know not how, word of me must have reached the capital. The Daimyo wanted you to know not only the land, but its people... and I guess he feels that I enumerate the children of the Grass well enough to present me to you under his authority."
Hijikata further had his expectations subverted when Fuhen continued to address him. The son of a fisherman? And yet now he was a man of such status so as to merit a personal meeting with the Daimyo! Hijikata could not imagine the amount of work and struggle he'd gone through to rise to his position. At the mention of his swords, Hijikata looked down at his blades and nodded knowingly. Despite how much more he had to learn of the sword than Fuhen, Hijikata understood. The man simply wanted to be shown the respect he had earned, not false praise due to title or status. Allowing himself to relax just a bit, Hijikata agreed. "Far be it from me to deny the simple request of a fellow of the sword, Fuhen-san," the man offered, allowing himself the use of a more personal honorific when addressing Fuhen now. "I simply hope that one day, I might radiate the same strength you do. The road ahead for me is still a long one."
Sipping the lightly sweet and deliciously refreshing tea, Hijikata caught Fuhen's question regarding his own origins. "I am also of modest origins. My father was the smithy in a small village near the southeastern border of the country. He was the one who taught me the swordsmanship I use today," he replied, setting the cup down. "Frankly, when I received the orders with the royal seal, I was quite shocked. I am no one noteworthy. I simply travel the country, and sometimes outside of it, to teach young ones basic swordsmanship... and more importantly, the virtues behind it. Discipline. Dedication. Industriousness. Empathy. Swordsmanship is a means to kill... but we also live our swordsmanship in the way we treat others. Just as we should not wish to cause needless pain even to our enemies, how much better should we treat those we cherish."
Shaking his head in disbelief, he pondered the circumstances in which he found himself. "Though I know not how, word of me must have reached the capital. The Daimyo wanted you to know not only the land, but its people... and I guess he feels that I enumerate the children of the Grass well enough to present me to you under his authority."