Post by Hiruma Koji on Mar 8, 2011 3:22:14 GMT -5
The Present
Koji sat near the little patch of greenery...leaving it untouched. It was untouched by all save the gardener by long tradition here, except in time of battle wherein it was one more part of the fiercely guarded castle.
The garden is small, unhealthy and the plants are often replaced. It is little more than a patch of hardy grass on top of soil brought in through sheer stubborn will and by single bagfuls tucked into the gardeners obi whenever he managed to get into a supply run.
The Hiruma chewed the dried fruit he'd received as part of that days rations thoughtfully. I've seen all the beauty gardens have to offer throughout the Empire. And they still pale next to this. Its ridiculous...but its ours. All others scream of falsehood and idleness, whereas this is a symbol of the Empire, brought here to remind us what we fight for.
*******
10 years ago...
Koji groaned into his palm, smothering the noise as he carried the rake down yet another series of stairs. There wasn't much open area in Shiro Hiruma that wasn't dedicated to the war, but he was headed towards the small patch of ground that stood apart.
He'd earned the most dreaded duty in the castle for having spoken his opinion too quickly and too unwisely. That of assisting the Hiruma's very own gardener. It was low, menial work that was gave nothing to the defense of the Shiro, of the Crab or anyone.
He sighed, smothering that sound as well with care. We're under orders to make no unnecessary noise. How am I going to rake quietly?
********
The Present
Koji chuckled at the memory, swallowing the last of the meal. Taking out his water, he sipped at it, adding up how much he'd need for the rest of the two days, against the water's weight.
He could manage without a little...perhaps the meditation tricks he'd learned from that monk would help tomorrow morning. As a type of fasting.
He poured a scant bit of water out into the garden's water trough, letting the gardener's ingenious method of spreading the water out go into effect. Some device from a Kaiu that spread the water into the dirt like an irrigated field...but then one couldn't always trust the rainwater to be of use, should a storm from the Shadowlands proper make its way over. The tarps that would shield the garden from any rain always saw to that...
I wonder who sensei has on tarp detail these days...and if they've learned the lesson yet.
He capped his water bottle and tucked it away again, standing to stretch. He had half an hour more before his duties would call him away once more...
Koji sat near the little patch of greenery...leaving it untouched. It was untouched by all save the gardener by long tradition here, except in time of battle wherein it was one more part of the fiercely guarded castle.
The garden is small, unhealthy and the plants are often replaced. It is little more than a patch of hardy grass on top of soil brought in through sheer stubborn will and by single bagfuls tucked into the gardeners obi whenever he managed to get into a supply run.
The Hiruma chewed the dried fruit he'd received as part of that days rations thoughtfully. I've seen all the beauty gardens have to offer throughout the Empire. And they still pale next to this. Its ridiculous...but its ours. All others scream of falsehood and idleness, whereas this is a symbol of the Empire, brought here to remind us what we fight for.
*******
10 years ago...
Koji groaned into his palm, smothering the noise as he carried the rake down yet another series of stairs. There wasn't much open area in Shiro Hiruma that wasn't dedicated to the war, but he was headed towards the small patch of ground that stood apart.
He'd earned the most dreaded duty in the castle for having spoken his opinion too quickly and too unwisely. That of assisting the Hiruma's very own gardener. It was low, menial work that was gave nothing to the defense of the Shiro, of the Crab or anyone.
He sighed, smothering that sound as well with care. We're under orders to make no unnecessary noise. How am I going to rake quietly?
********
The Present
Koji chuckled at the memory, swallowing the last of the meal. Taking out his water, he sipped at it, adding up how much he'd need for the rest of the two days, against the water's weight.
He could manage without a little...perhaps the meditation tricks he'd learned from that monk would help tomorrow morning. As a type of fasting.
He poured a scant bit of water out into the garden's water trough, letting the gardener's ingenious method of spreading the water out go into effect. Some device from a Kaiu that spread the water into the dirt like an irrigated field...but then one couldn't always trust the rainwater to be of use, should a storm from the Shadowlands proper make its way over. The tarps that would shield the garden from any rain always saw to that...
I wonder who sensei has on tarp detail these days...and if they've learned the lesson yet.
He capped his water bottle and tucked it away again, standing to stretch. He had half an hour more before his duties would call him away once more...