Drowning in Tea

[Nick]

Fuhen rolled his eyes, sitting in what could likely be described as some kind of throne, an uncomfortable seat made of gold painted finely made wood, the seat of the previous Shogun whom Ikuto had slain mere weeks before. Things still hadn't settled down from their takeover, and at the moment, the Frog was sitting and trying to listen to his 'aide' who was listing off a series of duties needing done.

With a sigh, he sat up from his slumped position, before sliding out of the chair to walk down the dais to meet the secretary face-to-face. "This kinda... Paperwork-y stuff is really more up Ikuto's alley, why am I doing this, eh?"
"Grand Shogun-sa-" The man began, only to be interrupted by Fuhen.
"No need to be so formal with just the two of us, aye? You can call me Fuhen! Iyashii? Save the titles for introducing me to great lords or something! Not tryin' to impress meself."
"Iyashii-sama." He said, trying to meet the frog man halfway. Fuhen grunted. "Ikuto-sama is dealing with the people of this country, something he said you were already well versed in...?" Another grunt. "He said you needed the experience of dealing with more... external factors, as the Grand Shogun, of course, and I'm to aid you in the, as you might call them, stiff bits?" Fuhen chuckled. The aide was a stiff bit, but at least he sort of understood his audience.

"Aye, aye." He relented, putting a finger on the man's clipboard and tilting it down, trying to get a look at what was written there. He squinted at some of the characters on the paper, trying to make them out. "P-E-B-B-L-E C-O-U-N-T-R-Y?" He said, sounding out each letter with intense focus. The aide raised a brow. "Pebble Country?" He asked, running the sound over his tongue sloppily.
"Very good, Iyashii-sama, you're learning quite fast, if you don't mind me saying." The frog had the decency to blush a little. He'd been practicing daily, and despite his natural charisma and knack for speaking heart-to-heart with people, he'd never been taught as a child to put such things to paper. It wasn't the way of his people, at least not in the poorer districts.

"Yes, a representative of Pebble Country should be here soon. They wished to meet the new leadership of the new Tea Country. Ikuto-sama specifically asked you be present for this. Pebble could be a good ally, he said." The frog looked over his shoulder at the throne, then behind the aide at the large, empty room. "Well, lets meet them properly, then! Tea! And a table we can sit across from each other!"
"Not to argue, Iyashii-sama, but that would be highly irregular, the man you'll be meeting is not the leader of Pebble himself, simply an emissary, below your sta-" Once more he was cut off by Fuhen, raising a hand.
"You can only judge a group by how they treat their lowest members!" He declared, clearly quoting something. "Plus, that throne hurts my back. I dinnae care if it's irregular, lets give the man a warm welcome!"

JutsuShow

Hard Work Style Promising Soldier
S-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
Despite being full of limitless potential and filled with vigor, Fuhen appears as nothing more than your average man in all aspects. This 'technique' implies that nothing about Fuhen's body language portrays that he is a trained/experienced killer, and everything from the way he walks to how his chakra appears to casual observers reinforces the idea that he is, if anything, clumsy and likely incapable of fighting. This is most useful in passing himself off as nothing special, putting most into a false sense of security, though with minimal effort Fuhen can break out of this technique to reveal his true self.

[ShinobiTruth]

Like so many others who had managed to survive the war, Hiji had his own stories to tell. But they were not the glorious tales of an aspiring swordsman rising to become a Daimyo. They were not the myths of grand battles, leading from the frontlines with courage, might, and wit. They were not the legends of the pain and chaos of a raging river being calmed by the hand of a benevolent king. Hiji did not aspire to such a station. No, his stories were much more humble. Much more startling. Much more harrowing.

The sword that Hiji had always wielded to teach others to value peace, to better themselves, to overcome their inner demons, was turned into an instrument of violence and carnage. Hiji had never fooled himself or any of his students in telling them what the true purpose of the sword was. It was a weapon. It was meant to reap life, to kill. But Hiji had also driven home the importance of not taking life with wanton abandon, and he was no hypocrite. He had lived by the same principles that he taught. He had fought, and he had killed, but it had always been to defend others and himself, to protect the innocent. Though he would never say such of himself, many would call him righteous.

Righteousness has no place in human war. War corrupts all that it touches. It is the death of innocence. He couldn't recount how many people he had killed during the war, and he wasn't even a soldier. Sure, he had started by protecting the lowly and plain as they retreated to the borders of the Grass Country and beyond. But as people became more desperate, their spirits quickly corrupted. Any sense of compassion or empathy disintegrated into basest sentimentalities and a violent fight for survival. Countrymen turned against each other with hardly a moment's notice. Agents from every side came to him and sought to draft him into their forces, only to seek his life for his principled refusal. Shinobi, some barely older than his students, did as shinobi do, spreading destruction and death in their wake. A few thought to confront Hiji directly, hearing tale of a naive little man trying to still be a saint in a blood pool full of the vices of death.

Those foolish enough to not heed Hiji's warnings never returned home. Hiji became their living memorial, haunted by the images of their faces contorted in pain and shock as their final breaths left their chests.

And when the war was over? Was there the peace that he hoped would finally return? Would the people cast off the shadows in front of their eyes and seek to restore the land? Restore each other? Seek redemption? Hah. What a child's prayer. War is not patient. War is not kind. War does not leave those who survive without indelible scars to remind them of what has been forever lost, to torment them with the vile deeds that their own hands wrought. Even now, as he walked through this town, though the townspeople seemed to be rebuilding well, there were still plenty of signs of how the war had touched this place. Everyone walked around with a weapon now. Though they still smiled, their eyes were sharp, critical. This town used to have a dojo. He had taught there before.

That dojo was now a military garrison.

This town had also exploded in size, given that the new emperor of Tea Country had chosen this place as his residence. As the Daimyo of Pebble Country had read the missive, Hiji's ears perked up. He couldn't quite recall, but the name of the Daimyo he was meant to meet rang familiar. Unlike previous summons, Hiji had readily accepted this one. Instead of shedding blood, it felt calming to put his energies towards what could presumably be called peacemaking. Presenting his diplomatic introduction to the guards in front, he was ushered through the castle gates. Hiji bristled internally at the display of opulence around him. He dreaded what kind of person the Daimyo of this place might be. Would he be so hopelessly obsessed with his own status and power as other Daimyo seemed to be? Hiji cast the thoughts from his mind. Even if he was, it didn't matter. If he wanted the peace that he sought, he would have to endure whatever discomforts may come.

The mood shifted once the massive doors opened to the throne room. While he had expected that the Daimyo would be sitting behind a veil, the format was much different. His eyes first caught sight of a long tea table, and his indigo eyes reflected mild confusion. That look transformed to shock once Hiji's eyes met the Daimyo's. This man... This was Fuhen Iyashii?! The one whom he'd escorted through the Grass Country half a decade ago. That calm but imposing presence. No, there was no mistaking it. This was the same man. That man.

The diplomats in the room wouldn't likely sense anything, but between swordsmen, the sharpening of Hiji's spirit from the sight would be unmistakable. It wasn't violent, but it was cautious. Hiji stared hard at Fuhen. War had a way of changing people. There were plenty of messengers who never returned from their missions, and Fuhen's power radiated off of him. Though Hiji was stronger than before the war, he was still eclipsed by this man's skill at even a moment's glance. He could not completely cast off the shadows of danger that clung to him from that tumultuous time. Was he in danger here?

[Nick]

Thankfully, the aide relented and granted Fuhen's request. A pair of palace servants brought in the table quickly, and a third set it with relatively fine clayware, which Fuhen found embarrassing, worried he would break them. He wasn't much for tea ceremonies, another thing he hadn't been brought up on. Nonetheless, he took a seat on a cushion at the middle of the table, much to the chagrin of the aide who at least wanted him at the head, but that would put him too far away from the conversation.

A servant was setting down a pot of steaming tea just as the doors opened, and he gave them a quick thanks, before turning to meet the gaze of his guest...

In a moment, Fuhen's eyes went from confusion, to recognition, to sadness, to happiness, and back around again at least once more. As the two met gazes, their souls were revealed to each other in a way that only fellow samurai could understand. The Frog's gaze was filled with an untold story, one of sadness, a fire that burned and someone had tried to put out with black powder. He saw it in Hijikata's eyes too, his own fire of course, and the fires he had doused with water.

Time had changed Fuhen in many ways. His mentor and the one he looked up to the most, his father, had been struck down by cowards during the invasion of his home country, now the so called "Realm of Titans", and what RoT it was. The role of the Shogun had been thrust upon him in an instant as he was forced to make the decision to pull his countrymen from their homes and take them as refugees away from the assailants. He had adopted many other refugee groups too, and had been forced to participate in both sides of struggles just to grant his people safe passage. His blades were not clean, nor would they ever be again.

Silence reigned. The aide looked back and forth between the two men for a moment, and gulped. He had been prepared to introduce his liege, would he have to call for a body cleanup, now? The Shogun blinked after what seemed like an eternity, and the corners of his mouth twitched, a hand moving forward, reaching out towards the guest...

"You..." He started, the second wave of recognition hitting him. The man had grown older, but he definitely recognized the face all the same, even if it was more mature than he'd last left it. His hand came together... to point, rather impolitely. "You're... Hikijiki?" Audibly, the room could hear the aide grind his teeth, before he leaned in and whispered something into Fuhen's ear. "Hijikata! That's what I said!" And he stood up from his cushion suddenly, and in a moment, a flash of wind and a clap of thunder he was standing in front of him, menacing... Before wrapping the man in a hug.

The two hadn't known each other well, but Fuhen was a child of many siblings, and closeness was something he was overtly comfortable with, even when it might be clear that others weren't so pleased with it. "It's been a long time! How've you been, friend? What are you doing here?"

[ShinobiTruth]

Fuhen's gaze met Hiji's, and as the samurai's eyes connected, so did their inner minds for a brief moment. Time dilated between the two in a space that only warriors could call home, and their spirits joined and intermingled. The moment of recognition passed, and the all too familiar image of dulled, hollow pain flashed across Fuhen's features. At the sight of it, Hiji's spirit calmed, empathy softening his look as he saw much the same of what he felt within. Hiji had only been a wandering teacher. His legend, his stories were thrust upon him from a lowly station, and the responsibility that Hiji took for the lives of others during those dark times was compelled by principle, but it was still his own choice to protect those he could. Fuhen, though, had the blessing and curse of superior authority. Though many of their experiences were mirrored in form, the weight it bore upon them differed. Just as Fuhen may not understand the pain and losses suffered of a common man who had even the most basic desire of peace denied him, Hiji would not understand the burdens of a leader doing all he can just so that his people might survive. With any luck, there might be time after the diplomatic pleasantries to speak frankly of their stories.

What did surprise Hiji, however, was that whatever horrid nightmares stained the blades he wielded, Fuhen's eyes still expressed joy. Not the guarded, skeptical politeness that so many seemed to parade around as kindness, but a joy born of inner peace. The fact that Fuhen was able to maintain such a treasure spoke volumes of his mental fortitude. Hiji was ashamed to say that his joy had yet to be found, and it was by no lack of searching. He'd yet to find himself in this new world, his place in it. The spirits had not revealed the answer to him. He would not give up his search easily, but to say that it didn't wear him down more than before would be a dishonorable deception. He would not shame his friend with such lies.

Hearing Fuhen finally break the silence also made the tension disappear. Closing his eyes to compose himself for a moment, Hiji took in a breath and exhaled slowly. He knew that once he opened them, Fuhen would be before him. What he didn't expect, however, was the embrace. Hiji hadn't recalled them being so close when they first met, but the show of comradery and fraternity further warmed the stoic ronin's heart. His eyes softened, and he couldn't help a smile as he returned the embrace. "Indeed it has, Fuhen-dono. It is good to see that these last five years have not dulled your spirit. As for why I am here, it is the same as when last we met. The Daimyo of Pebble Country saw it fit to send one with whom you were familiar as the emissary for his Excellence. It seems the spirits have caused our paths to intertwine once again."

[Nick]

The sound of grinding teeth only grew louder as Fuhen embraced the man as a friend. The frog slowly broke the hug, one hand remaining over the man's shoulders as he gestured towards the table. "Please, come, sit!" He said, a wide smile on his face as he finally dropped his arm, moving around to the other side of the table and sitting down, crossing his long legs uncomfortably, struggling to find a good way to sit for a moment. Picking up the teapot, he very slowly reached over to pour his guest some to drink, before doing the same for himself, not breaking anything, yet.

"Takiyasha-Hime works in mysterious ways, indeed!" He said, picking his cup up casually, as one would a sake cup rather than a fine cup of tea. "Ah, business." He said, his smile dropping to one of politeness. "I suppose it's only fair to get the worst part out of the way first?" He laughed, and the aide coughed politely, not sitting down with the pair, but stepping forward to be in the conversation.
"Ahem. Honored steward of Pebble Country, I'm sure what Iyashii-Sama means is... The newly established leadership of Tea welcomes you, and you are a welcome sight in the palace, but he'd like to know what exactly the Daimyo of Pebble Country wants from us."

Fuhen turned to the aide as he spoke and quirked a brow, laughing a bit. "That's unusually straightforward of you!" The aide had the courtesy to not grind his teeth. His new Shogun was wearing off on him already. "He's right, though." The frog said, taking a sip of the tea and turning back to his guest. "I assume ya didn't just come to meet an old friend! Was there a trade deal with Pebble that old Tea had established that you'd like to make sure is maintained? Or perhaps time to set up a new one...?"

He looked to the aide as he spoke, clearly unsure on some of the exact phrasing he was using. The two had been practicing such things, as well as the aide had been attempting to educate him on more diplomatic solutions to problems. Fuhen was a fast learner, but this was all still new to him, and it showed.

[ShinobiTruth]

At the mention of his home, Hiji's smile widened slightly, but his eyes clearly reflected a tinge of sadness. "Forgive me, but it seems there has been some miscommunication as to the purpose of my visit. It is true that I come from what was once called Grass Country, but my home has since been annexed by Fire Country. Rather, I am here on behalf of the Daimyo of Pebble Country," he clarified, bowing in respect to Fuhen's aide. "Through their extensive information networks, they ascertained that I had met Fuhen-dono prior to this occasion, and they sent me to help negotiate a non-aggression treaty with Tea Country's leadership."

Hiji hadn't been back since the war started. He wasn't certain exactly what had happened to his homeland, but he can certainly imagine that his town was likely the location of a shinobi outpost at this point. Hiji didn't bear hatred for shinobi, not anymore, but his heart still ached for the simplicity of his life before the war. What would become of his home village now? Would it be inexorably twisted by the selfish influences of one of the Great Nations? Would it still retain some of its soul, its warm relationship with nature around it and its spirits? These human politics often wholly ignored the spiritual aspects of life if it didn't strengthen their own military or political position.

"The Pebble Country would not be averse to a trading agreement, either, but their leadership did want to stress that any relationships on that front are purely economic. The Daimyo did not want to insinuate any sort or military or political alliance and strongly wishes to maintain its political neutrality," he continued. "It seems that their dealings with both the Earth and Wind significantly soured any further desire for political armistices. My primary purpose, however, is merely to help negotiate the aforementioned non-aggression pact."

This formal language wasn't quite Hiji's speed, but his education had helped him be well suited to wielding his words much like he did his sword: with precision and poise.

[Nick]

Fuhen's brows furrowed at the mention of fire country annexing Grass. The war had changed so much not just about him, but about the world he once knew and explored so freely. How many other countries simply no longer existed? How many had been destroyed in selfish takeovers, how many cultures would be absorbed and wiped out completely? How many writing projects made by people on the internet had been deleted or rewritten for no real reason? The villages had gone too far.

"I don't believe Pebble Country has much need to worry..." The aide began, only for Fuhen to interrupt him.
"Tell me about Pebble Country, would you, Hijikata?" The Frog said, a thoughtful frown on his face as he took another sip of tea. It was good quality, but it was bitter, unsweetened, certainly not how he preferred to take his tea. "You'll have to forgive me for not being the most knowledgeable on the world right now, information travels more slowly than it used to, with smaller populations..." His accent had nearly disappeared it seemed, only appearing on the back end, a gentle lilt.

The air was very serious suddenly as he locked eyes with his guest, a very intense look, not one of anger or disappointment, but simply an astute seriousness like one might see from an Iaido practitioner ready to draw his blade. His pink, flowery chakra began to leak into the air around him unwittingly. "I'd visited Pebble many times before..." He waved his hand in the air, indicating... everything. "But not recently. The people there knew me, I'd spent a lot of my youth fighting slavers coming from Earth Country to take their people. Leadership at the time seemed..." He chose his next words carefully, leading with a kiai rather than a draw for blood. "Unable to help their own people. How do they fare, now?"

Fuhen did not wait for a response as he continued. "I am not an aggressive man, but I am... What did you call me?" He turned to his aide, a gentle smile on his face. The aide looked nervous. "A rabid idealist?" He laughed, and turned back to face his guest, another sip. "No country need fear aggression from me so long as they're taking care of their people." The frog gestured back to the door that Hijikata had entered from. "The people of Tea suffered under their tyrant of a shogun, the country had no need to fear me, but its despot certainly did." He spat the words out uncomfortably, "tyrant" and "despot", his eyes flicking to his aide. They weren't words a common man like Fuhen would know, but he had been working on that.

"I want nothing more than peace and prosperity!" And like that, the dreadful seriousness seemed to come to an end, the chakra floating around him dispersing as he smiled. "So please, tell me, how does Pebble treat its people these days?" The aide looked unwell, Fuhen's raw presence finally allowing him to breath.
"Ah, I'm... sure..." He seemed to be gasping for air, and the Shogun looked apologetic. "Iyashii-sama would also be interested in hearing about what our countries can offer each other, economically?" He smiled at the aide and nodded, looking back to Hijikata, looking to see how he presented his blade in this confrontation.

[ShinobiTruth]

Hiji fared a bit better than Fuhen’s poor aide, but the man’s presence was nothing to snuff at. It was clear that the news of Grass’s annexation didn’t sit well with the young lord, all too aware of the invisible costs of such an acquisition. Fuhen seemed to value the intrinsic values of a people’s culture greatly, and he knew keenly what threats those cultures had faced in the tide of the recently bygone war. Hiji could only imagine what parts of their culture Fuhen’s people had lost in the wake of the violence and their displacement. Was this his way of making peace with that grief? Righting that wrong? Hiji could only wonder.

A single bead of sweat threatened to slide down his brow, but we wiped it away with a handkerchief he kept in the folds of his yukata. ”…Life hasn’t been easy for any of the people of Pebble since the previous war, the Daimyo included,” he began. ”Pebble has suffered in the past two wars now as a country caught between three great powers. The resources in the land are very meager, as much of their arable land is located in a singular small portion of the country. The people, though, are hardy and resilient, and they stand with their Daimyo, and he with them. As far as I personally have observed, he does all within his power to make sure of the basic needs of the people, as they are the population from which he conscripts members for their military,” Hiji explained, having learned about the general state of the country when he had been summoned to the modest, heavily fortified palace.

Taking a sip of the tea that had been offered him, Hiji continued. "During this last war, after they were occupied by the samurai of Iron Country, the country has been reborn as a police state. They maintain a strong military presence and unilateral neutrality pacts with all countries that wish to use its trade routes. They are ideally situated for this purpose due to their location between Earth Country, Wind Country, and Fire Country, and the Daimyo is unafraid to use that as leverage to charge tariffs for the use of their traderoutes. I wasn't directly ordered to share that with you, but it seemed only prudent you should know of this before deciding on any sort of trade agreement with Pebble," he further elaborated. "The Daimyo worried that to discuss too much of trading would muddy the non-aggression negotiations that were the priority of this diplomatic mission."

[Nick]

The frog set his cup down as Hiji spoke, staring directly at him all the while, expectantly. His gaze was intense but neither cruel nor angry, simply the look of someone who was taking everything seriously. The Grass bushi's assumptions would be correct, River was taken over by some new tyrant who cared little for the land of the people, or what occurred in their violent takeover, or even whether the people wanted them there. He had taken his people with him, and long before he made a move on Tea country, he'd made sure that the people needed his intervention. It was their country, he was only there to help them take it back, and then to make it prosper.

"I..." Fuhen began, before raising a finger and turning to the aide. "Would you mind writing this down for me?" He asked with a gentle smile, to which the aide reached into his overflowing sleeves to pull out a utensil and a rather nice piece of stationary. "The Daimyou of Pebble Country seems more of a shrewd man than I gave him credit for." The Frog admitted, and the aide scratched something more official on the paper. "Take this letter to him. So long as his people do not ever call our name before he does, we shall never take aggressive action towards his country."

It was quite a bold statement, and the aide's brows furrowed as he struggled to find exactly the right diplomatic phrasing to use to convey his liege's intent. The exact wording would go over terribly in a court, he knew. The Shogun waved a hand as if trying to collect his thoughts, picking the cup back up. "We don't need to discuss all of the specifics, but if you could pass along that for the first time since the war began, Tea country will be able to export its namesake again by years end." He smiled, proud. His people were fishers, not farmers, but he understood what a strong harvest meant all the same. "Ikuto says he hasn't seen a field so strong since he was a young boy."

"Hmm, maybe end the letter, there?" The aide did no such thing and continued to scribble furiously. This was the first draft at best. "The people of Tea do not want war right now. They wish to plow new fields, to get accustomed to their new land... What about you, Hijikata?" Fuhen took a long drink of his tea, emptying the cup, before turning it upside down on the saucer it came on. Someone would read the tea leaves later, surely. "Your war isn't over, is it?" He gave the young man a sad smile, he knew all too well what it was like to still be embroiled in it. "With Grass Country..." He paused, almost vomiting out the words as he tried to be gentle, but honest. "...Displaced, is being a messenger for Pebble your new lot in life? You were a teacher once, yes?"

[ShinobiTruth]

Hiji's eyes softened in comfort seeing that Fuhen's response was favorable. After living five years without feeling like he had control over much of anything in his life, it was reassuring to see something he'd put his efforts into bear good fruit. His eyes moved momentarily to Fuhen's fittingly anal-retentive aide as he pulled out parchment and began to pen down a politically appropriate response with the fury of a mother hen disciplining rowdy chicks. For all of his paranoia, though, at least his aide was both competent in his craft and diligently loyal to his lord, even if by his nature Fuhen lacked the instinct for political decorum. The young lord certainly didn't lack both skilled and loyal companions to stand at his side.

Hiji met Fuhen's gaze as he requested that he communicate Tea Country's priorities to his employer. It was impressive that so quickly after the war the fields of this land had been restored to the point of bearing a harvest. Perhaps they were crops that were resilient or easy to harvest? Though his family had a small farm of their own, they'd never tried their hands at growing tea plants. At Fuhen's request, Hiji nodded. "It will be done, Fuhen-dono. I will make sure to give an accurate explanation of Tea's stance to the Daimyo and his court personally. Pebble's leadership and their people will certainly be pleased with this development."

Shortly after his official diplomatic response, however, Fuhen presented a series of questions to which there were no easy answers. His consternation did not reach his facial expressions, but his eyes were clearly turbulent, a sign that Fuhen would perceive without fail. Hiji would be lying if he said he didn't wish to restore his homeland back to its previous state... but to be in a war would mean that he was fighting it. He'd not ever had the opportunity to fight a war for his homeland. His fight had merely been for his own survival and that of others who could not protect themselves. Aside from that, wisdom also had to reign supreme. Realistically, to topple Fire Country's control would mandate a level of power and influence that Hiji fell laughably short of possessing. And even if he did have that power, that influence, an army at his back... how would that change him? How would that reflect the ideals he sought? Could a sword that preached peace proactively seek war? Neither he nor Fuhen had asked for war; it had come to their doorsteps in the most literal sense. Regardless of his motives, it was difficult for Hiji to see such a course as little more than hypocrisy.

"For me to fight a war, it would require that I wage one, my friend. I... have neither the aspirations nor power to do so," Hiji replied, the burdens clearly evident in his voice as he looked down at the humble blade that hung from his hip. "The sword that I once taught... I am no longer certain there is a place for it here or a place for me in this land. To feel this way about the places that I once called home presents a conflict within me that has an end shrouded in a fog of uncertainty. This mission, this order really... was a welcome distraction from the vast unknown that my path has set before me."

[Nick]

Fuhen smiled and nodded at the political speak, it wasn't his forte. He knew what he wanted out of his position, he had a basic understanding of how to achieve it, but he was a tadpole released out into an ocean. Fuhen did not want war on any front. Even fighting the samurai guarding the old Tea Daimyo had proven difficult, not physically, but mentally taxing, yet throughout the entire encounter, Fuhen managed to not slay even a single samurai. He knew that those samurai were simply doing their jobs, and he was forcing them into a fight they didn't want, but their country needed.

The Shogun continued to peer into the soul of the man as he spoke further about his past, present, and future. His stance on the cushion adjusted slightly as their fighting spirits met once more. He let out a grunt as he processed Hijikata's words, closing his eyes and rubbing a hand against his chin for a moment. "Hiji... I dream of war." The frog said suddenly, making even the aide look concerned. "Every night I think about how weak and powerless I was, watching as the daimyo of River Country took my people for far more than they had. I left my country for months at a time just to scrounge for resources and money to take home to me ma n' pa..." His accent was slipping through, and he looked quite sad.

"The world is a strange place, Hiji. I dream of war so that my people's children and their children can dream of peace. I pray to Takiyasha-Hime that there be a day when warriors like you and me no longer have a place in this world, but that day is not any time soon." The Frog stood up and motioned for his guest to follow him, while the aide began working on the fourth draft. In the same throne room, Fuhen would lead his friend to a window that overlooked the town he had taken up residence in. From up here, it almost looked perfect, no signs of houses destroyed by the war, as they had been repaired by now, and the people, while armed, were not in the midst of a struggle for food or other necessities.

"These are the people of New Tea, and the people of New River." He said, putting an arm over the shoulder of his friend and gesturing outwards. "The right time for you to be here is now, Hiji!" The frog smiled, letting go of the man and turning to face him. "If you are not bound to the Pebble Country daimyo, then I ask that you let me give you a place here. Open your school. I'll ask that the building be made for you myself. You've got the right spirit! I can't think of anyone else I'd rather have to teach a new generation on the transition from war to peace."

He laughed mirthfully, clearly pleased with his own idea. "Y'don't owe me an answer right away, Hijikata. Take my message back to Pebble Country, please, use the travel time as time to think about it. There will always be a place for you here."

[ShinobiTruth]

It was good to see that Fuhen took the time he needed to formulate well-thought answers, Hiji noted to himself, as the brief silence hung between the pair. Such a quality was fundamental to rulership, and despite his own insistence to the contrary, Fuhen actually seemed well-suited to the role. Hiji’s eyes flashed in confusion at the start of Fuhen’s reply, but he held back his questions until he heard his friend out.

Fuhen’s rumination and fears reflected Hiji’s own with a frankly depressing symmetry. It was difficult to not see now exactly how fragile that peace they had really was, in hindsight. Hiji had seen much of the same behavior from the Grass Daimyo before his fall, sucking the people and its land dry. Still, it was fascinating that Fuhen’s solution was so contrary to his own. And despite how deeply Fuhen wishes for peace, he was not tormented so by wielding his blade for war. In his mind, his sacrifice and what that ransom wrought was more than worth the end he sought through it. And now, he stood atop a nation, free to further pursue the peace he sought. Certainly, there was blood on his hands, yes, but Hiji could not preach any different on that front. Perhaps… perhaps Hiji’s humility had simply been cowardice, a denial of shrewdness and realism. He’s been so determined to seek the realization of his open now that he may have condemned the future to a grim fate through his inaction.

Was that what had brought these two men together, then? We’re the spirits showing him a different way? A better one? Were the hopes he held not for his own time but for the future? The questions sent Hiji’s mind racing, and that was before he was led to the balcony to view the country.

Fuhen’s offer to build his own dojo was so unexpected that Hiji’s surprise could not be hidden. He drew in breath to politely decline… but then he exhaled, unable to utter the words. This was no mere coincidence. The spirits, or some other force, had brought these two together. He’d spent so much time in a dojo, but he’d never thought to own one himself.

”I have no formal loyalty to His Excellence, no,” Hiji admitted with a smirk, taking in the sight of the land before him. ”And I suppose I’ll have more time to think about your offer as we make our way around your domain, yes? If I am to report back to Pebble of your interest in trading, a personal testimony of these virulent fields you speak of would be advantageous for your position.”

[Nick]

Fuhen laughed as the man asked to see the fields, and it earned Hiji a pat on the back which was probably a little too hard. "Yer a smart one!" He complimented, steering him towards the door already. "You and I will go take a look then, eh? I don't know much about the fields meself, so maybe a learning opportunity..." He waived to the aide, who was still buried in his seventh draft and didn't notice the two leaving. The Frog led his guest out of the estate, past a pair of stern-looking guards who stood to attention as their new liege passed. He waved pleasantly and continued walking around behind the palace where the fields were.

It was later in the day, yet several local farmers ran up and down the fields, working feverishly to tend to their crops. A few elders who were still with enough vigor to work the fields instructed several younger members, some obviously not local to Tea or used to the concept of farming at all on how to work efficiently. Younger children and teens worked in teams to pull heavy plows across the land of what was once Shark Country, while women followed behind them with baskets of seeds. Several sections of the fields, however, were already sprouting nice green bushes, and an older woman walked alongside them slowly, inspecting each bush with an intensely torrid gaze.

"Hoi, Aoi!" He called as he approached with his guest. The woman swept her gaze up from the dirt to the tall man walking towards her. Her expression turned from one of scrutiny to one typically reserved for one's favorite grandchild. "Hohoh! Fuhen," She said, calling him as though he were a young boy, though it was clear from appearance alone the two were not related. "What brings you to the fields?" He laughed and patted Hijikata on the back once more. "Our guest from Pebble Country was eager to see the fields for himself!" He answered, and the older woman's face turned to Hiji's, beaming with pride.

"The fields are verdant!" She said, sweeping an arm quite dramatically at the show behind her. "I had doubts the soil would take to Ikuto-san's seeds so well, but the tea grows well, and will reach first bloom before we can blink!" She cackled. "The first harvest is never as strong as the later ones, but this start is..." She looked to Fuhen for a moment, then to the fields, where two groups of children were racing plows against one another. "Inspirational."

[ShinobiTruth]

Hiji couldn't help but rock forward slightly at the pat on the back, but it wasn't anything that risked breaking his composure as he was quickly led out of the palace. Even as he proceeded through the gates, Hiji could visibly observe the amount of respect and admiration Fuhen's mere presence commanded. Though he didn't indulge in the privilege it came with, he didn't shy away from it either. Hijikata had to admit that he found the concept fascinating. He couldn't imagine himself in such a position; he would likely find himself highly uncomfortable receiving that level of attention. As they strode through the town, Hiji's keen eye observed the citizens of the town. It saddened him that nearly all of them held weapons, but such a thing was inevitable given what they suffered. He took faith in that there were no homeless on the streets or beggars seeking food. All seemed to be cared for in one way or another.

Looking on the fields in the late afternoon sunshine further warmed his heart, the nostalgia of his homeland inescapable even in this foreign land. The difference in the type of interaction between Fuhen and this old lady was immediately apparent. Her happiness was infectious, and Hiji was unable to withhold his genuine smile as they briefly exchanged words. When it came time to introduce himself, he bowed deeply. "I am Hijikata Toshizou. It is an honor to meet your acquaintance, obaa-sama," he introduced himself, using the honorific to stress his respect for her seniority and the wisdom that comes with age.

Hiji's eyes once again scanned the fields, the elder's words evident to be true. To see the land so full of vigor and life after enduring humanity's violent vanity indeed inspired hope. "You and your countrymen are worth of praise, obaa-sama. I think many would find your efforts here just as inspirational as these fields you have cultivated, especially in the face of what you all have endured," Hiji commended. He knew that there was a bittersweet taste to such a comment, but he felt it more important to genuinely honest instead of being ignorantly optimistic. "You all should be proud of what you and Fuhen-dono have accomplished."

[Nick]

Fuhen wasn't paying much attention to the conversation between Aoi and Hiji, instead, his gaze looked over the field like a proud father. He had never taken part in the planting of such fields before, and it was amazing to see it all come together right before his eyes. His people had managed and tended small fields before, especially rice in the already wet climate of River Country, but nothing on such a grand scale. The people of River scraped by with what they could manage, subsistence farming, but tea by its very nature was a luxury crop that implied a degree of wealth they could only have dreamed of before.

"Eh, Fuuey?" She asked, her face turning much sterner as Hijikata praised the fields. "The young Frog's hardly done much of anything!" The mention of his nickname brought his attention back to the conversation, and he laughed heartily.
"She's right! I tried t'work the fields fer a day and they kicked me out fer nearly ruinin' a plow!" He laughed harder, his accent suddenly returning in full force. The old woman looked at him with scrutiny before her gaze softened once more and she reached over to pat him on the arm, as she would a child on the head if only he wasn't so tall.
"You've got your uses elsewhere, anyway." She said softly, a gentle smile on her face. Fuhen accepted the compliment without bragging or being overly humble, simply giving her a wink.

The older woman bowed shallowly to the both of them, before returning to her inspection of the fields, folding her hands behind her back and scrutinizing every piece of dirt once more. "Even the fishing is different here, now. Ocean fishing rather than river fishing." Fuhen said distantly, staring back out over the fields. "My people are out of their realm of comfort, but in some ways, I think that's what's making everyone work so hard." He chuckled a little, turning back to face Hijikata directly. "When the ground goes without rain, it hardens." The Frog looked quite sad as he said that.

He was quoting his father; it was something that had become words to live by in his travels. In some circles, he had a reputation for enjoying relaxation and being a lush, and while those weren't necessarily wrong, he had often chosen the hard way of doing things for the betterment of the people around him. Adversity had built the strong bonds he'd made over the years and had strengthened him to the mighty Shogun he was today. His grit was undeniable to any who knew him, and it showed in every aspect of his life.

"If we spend our lives preparing the fields and making the best fishing nets, perhaps our children can live to play in the mud instead of being thrown into the dirt. I have a dream, Hijikata, and not just of war." He gestured out to the sprouting fields grandly, a smile coming onto his face as he imagined. "Children that can spend their time learning how to read and write rather than needing to work the fields! Men who can look after their families without needing to work until no daylight remains! Women who can raise their children without needing to keep a daily headcount..." He let out a gentle chuckle. "A rabid idealist, indeed. Maybe not even possible in my lifetime, but I won't give up so easily."

[ShinobiTruth]

If what Fuhen had said before hadn't enlightened Hiji's perspective, this view of his countrymen and their determined focus on the future they hoped to leave their children certainly did. It was a strange contrast; when learning the sword, Hiji had always focused on the here and now, trying to find direction and grounding in the moment. He'd only ever had very general, vague goals for what he wanted for the future. Fuhen, on the other hand, had a dream, one with concrete, finite goals, and he pursued it almost religiously. It was a very different philosophy from his own... and yet Hiji could not deny the truth laid bare before him. Hiji's nebulous aspirations for the future were at minimum called into question, while Fuhen's, grounded in simple and straightforward reality, had borne some fruit, if not partially due to desperate action. It was clear to Hiji. He had to readjust his perspective.

And in order to readjust that perspective, he'd need to be close to the example he would need to follow.

"A fine dream, my friend," Hiji concluded. "And it will be one that I will watch bear fruit personally."

It was a bold statement, one that he wasn't certain how he'd fulfill outside of moving himself and his family to Tea. Getting his parents out of the country would be a significant trial. But after what he had seen, Hiji could not simply ignore what his instincts were telling him. In the most unlikely of circumstances, he'd found a place he could truly regain his bearings and find his way forward.