SHIGEKO'S DOSSIER: Baranato's (P14) heir and oldest son is charming, handsome, a fine hunter and a warm and sincere courtier. He is widely liked and admired, and seems to have no enemies within the city. His parents dote on him and he seems in all things destined for greatness.
"MEMOIRS OF AN OPIUM EATER": Nineteenth Year in the Reign of Hantei XXXVIII, Twenty First Day, Month of the Monkey
Today I was invited to a gathering at Iuchi Michisuna's (P24) residence. He was a magnificent host, and soon everyone was in a jolly mood. Many were partaking in sake, even though I thought it was early in the day for such things, and I suspect some few were even smoking opium.
Bayushi Otado (P7) was drinking but not smoking, and he became very aggressive. He began to boast of the fine horse that he had gotten from his father (P5). The Unicorns present looked irked at that - apparently Otado's father got the better of the Unicorn clan in some business deal, and bragging about the horse was Otado's way of insulting them.
Ide Michikane stood up and said that the finest chef in Rokugan couldn't make a simple sashimi if all he had was pork. When Otado asked what he meant by that, Michikane said that a horse was only as good as its rider.
"I'll wager you a koku that I can win a race around the entire city. In fact, I'll bet I can circle the city twice in the time it takes you to ride your horse around it one time."
Otado accepted his challenge - on the condition that they raise the stakes. "One koku? That's a bet for merchants. I'll stake my steed against yours."
This
was a grand wager indeed, but Michikane simply took a draw from his
pipe and said ''As you wish." There was great commotion and much
discussion as to how the race was to be monitored, and it was settled as
follows:
• Ikoma Yoriko (P29) watched the Gate of Oni's Teeth (L14), where the race was to begin.
•
Kitsuki Jotomon (P28) volunteered to watch the Unicorn Gate (L19) and
ensure that both contestants were outside the walls at that point The
contestants would be allowed to enter at the Unicorn Gate and cross the
Moment's Edge Bridge.
• True Word (P33) was placed at the Fisherman's Gate (L25) to watch for both contestants to emerge (thus preventing a
shortcut to the Bridge of Drunken Lovers). It was decided that the
Peasant's Gate (L26) would be a permissible point of return to the city,
so the contestants would not have to go through the Leatherworker Quarter.
The two men looked magnificent as they lined their horses up. Otado's steed was enormous, black as a winter night, with only a white star on its head and white bands by its hooves to break up the darkness. Michikane's steed was smaller but still large - the color of honey, deepening into a flame auburn mane and tail. When they took off, it looked like a sunrise chasing the night.
The race began exactly at noon, and Otado made an early lead, flogging his steed without mercy. He did not look completely comfortable,however, since he had consumed a great deal of crab water (G1).
When they were out of sight, we immediately made our way towards the Bridge of the Dragon, for there we had a fine view of the cliff's bottom by the river.
There was much discussion as we watched for the racers to emerge from the Little Gate (L15). It was agreed that Michikane was the better rider, but to circle the city twice before Otado could do so once seemed impossible.
It was Michikane we saw first - but not at the Little Gate! He had ridden past the Peasant's Gate, through the Leatherworker Quarter and, to the cheers of his family, swam his horse across the river!
There was much discussion of how much time Michikane must have saved, swimming his horse across instead of taking one of the bridges - which of course, we now realized, would be very congested.
Our conjectures were all for nothing when we saw Otado ride forth - also from the Leatherworker Quarter. Later, I learned that True Word had told him of Michikane's shortcut around the Moment's Edge Bridge. Otado looked very ill, but also determined. His horse balked and reared as he reached the river, but Otado struck it with his whip and it entered just as Michikane emerged from the Leatherworker Quarter for the second time.
Michikane's horse plunged into the water without hesitation, and it was clearly more calm in the water. Before our eyes, Michikane passed Otado,to the loud cheers of the Unicorns.Then the cheers turned to gasps; just as Michikane reached the shore, Otado was swept from his horse.
Hearing our cries, Michikane looked. He immediately turned his steed and entered the water again, reaching out for the younger samurai. Michikane pulled his opponent to shore. It appeared that he was going to dismount to help him, but Otado pushed him away and staggered towards his horse. Michikane shrugged, turned his own steed around, and began galloping south. Otado followed.
We all mounted up and made our best speed towards the Gate of Oni's Teeth, but even though our steeds were fresh, we still were unable to beat Michikane. We arrived just as Otado charged through the gate. We could see that he had lost by a minute at most.
Both men were panting, but Michikane, smiling, gave Otado a deep bow.
"Truly, I do believe your steed is the better; I never would have won without trickery."
Otado was silent, then closed his eyes, opened them and said, "My clan has always held that 'trickery' is just a word people use for when they envy another's idea. This fine steed is now yours."
"I cannot take it," Michikane said. "Having seen how well you ride, I would not separate you."
Otado offered twice more. Michikane finally said he would take the steed only if Otado would be mortified otherwise, but that he genuinely thought the horse and Otado belonged together. Otado blinked, and in the end, kept the horse. The two rode off together, Otado scratching his head.
"MEMOIRS OF AN OPIUM EATER": Twentieth Year in the Reign of Hantei XXXVIII, Ninth Day, Month of the Snake
Ide Michikane is dead and the whole city grieves. I heard it from Ashidaka Michitaka (P26), and initially hoped it was just a rumor, but then Kitsu Senshi (P30) said the same thing. He was found in an upstairs room of the Morning Star, pipe by his side. There was an empty sake cup by his hand, bottles... Michitaka said that he had been drinking liquid void (G1) as well.
(later the same day)
I've been crying, and trying to write a memorial poem to him. I can't write a thing. I wet my inkstone with tears, but all I see is a black smudge. All I can think is that this meaningless death could easily have been my own.