A Destined Meeting

[Agasha Shodai]

After resolving things with Kazuma-dono - at least as far as either man had the heart to deal with on this night - Agasha Shodai began to aimlessly wander the halls of Kyuden Isawa as he tried to come to terms with how sharp a turn Ningen-do seemed to have taken in a single night.

'Void Master.' Shodai thought to himself, his heart filled with equal parts excitement, trepidation, and sadness. He cocked his head to one side, sending this thoughts towards Yomi, where he knew Ojiisan Isawa now resided. 'Don't think I can't hear your laughter from here, Ojiisan. I know this is what you always wanted for me, but if I'd known it would potentially cost Tadaka his soul I never would have promised you I would accept the job if it was ever offered to me.'

Finding himself on a open air walkway, Shodai paused, looking up at the darkening night sky. He closed his eyes and whispered a chant that was equal parts spell and meditative mantra. As the mantra was finished, Agasha reopened his eyes, now milky white instead of his normal emerald and steel pairing, as he peered into the Void.

Shodai's enlighted gaze fell upon the impermeable barrier that shielded Tengoku from the eyes of all mortals, save for the Emperor himself. The barrier was known as the Divine Wheel or the Skein of Destiny and it was where the Fortunes charted the destined course of each soul's trip through Ningen-do.

The Wheel was too enormous for any one mortal to grasp and sometimes it took Shodai hours to find the spot he sought... The Skein, like an immortal weaver's loom, moved continuously every second of every day. More complex was that a given thread of life would change colors depending on which Fortune had - or was soon to have - influenced it.

'Fukurokujin, Fortune of Wisdom, and Megumi, Fortune of Heroic Guidance.' Shodai called silently towards the Wheel. 'I emplore you; illuminate my thread of life that I may try to act in accordance to my Destiny."

A thick strand in the tapestry began to glow. Looking at the recent past, Shodai saw his thread bore the colors of Goemon, Hamanri, Hofukushu, Muzaka, and Toku in addition to the two patron Fortunes whom the Tensai had just called upon. Indeed, the recent dealings with Kazuma and Tadaka had drawn upon feelings and needs for wisdom, guidance, heroes, stability, vengeance, enigmas, and virtue.

Raising his gaze, looking towards the future, Shodai's focus was shattered and the vision ended... In the the near future, his life was going to be touched by none other than Musubi-no-Kami!

"Why would the Fortune of Marriage choose NOW of all times to interact with me?! I have been on the Omiai market for nearly a half dozen years with no interest from a socially suitable match forthcoming..."

A sigh escaped Shodai's lips as he rubbed the gritty feeling from his eyes. Where the sun had been only setting when he began his meditative trance, geuine night was now at hand. He craned his neck and, judging from the crick in it, he'd been motionless for the better part of an hour...

'Proving yet again that time is but a mortal illusion...' The five Element Tensai chuckled to himself as he resumed walking.

Agasha managed to make about a half dozen steps when the strap of his humble straw sandals popped. The shugenja grumbled softly to himself as he knelt to form a functional knot long enough to get him to the Void Master's chambers. 'Must have seen harder wear than I thought...'

As he stood, he paused in surprise as he saw a face he actually recognized in the busy thrall of the city. It was an older woman that Shodai had met while in the City of Tears while undergoing the Tensai exams for the Water Element. It took Agasha Shodai a few moments to pull the name that he thought went with the face to mind as he approached her politely.

"Isawa Tisuke-san?"

[Kakita Mitsouko]

The lady turned to him, her green-golden eyes, like shimmering twin lakes in the dusk, scrutinizing every inch of the Void Master before she finally smiled at him.
"Shodai Agasha-sama. I see your communion with the Whole. Accept my congratulations for what you have achieved this night. The omens are everywhere in the stars. I see you have now a new and well deserved task. There's no need to conjecture the reasons, all we must learn to bow to the destiny and the will of the Fates. And..." she looked at his feet, then smiled gently at him again. "Seems your old habits and old life must be renewed, to better serve the new purpose of your life, If I may say..."
The senior Tensai of Water was a confident and focused shugenja, as the new Void Master could remember of her in his long past days at the City of Tears. The white strand on the forehead, due the years of study and dedication to the clan, had increased but she had still a healthy appearance. Tisuke was the first sensei of the current Water Master, and they were still friends. Some say she would ask her retirement soon.
"I would say it was a fortuitous coincidence, but there's no coincidences, Shodai-sama. I was at Firebird Falls four days ago, and had a sudden thought of you." She had a slight smile in her face. "May I have your gentle company in the path back the castle?"

[Agasha Shodai]

"I would be honored to walk with you, Lady Tisuke. I am certain that you would be better companionship than my own feelings at the moment." Shodai said with a wry grin. "Omens... I haven't contemplated omens since I achieved Enlightenment in Reihado Shinsei two years ago; communing with the Fortunes directly has been so much more effective and are less likely to be misinterpreted." He raised a finger to his lips. "But do try to keep your knowledge of my new job under wraps until our new Clan Champion can make an official announcement in the morning; it is going to be difficult enough for everyone to bear the sadness that my predecessor's exile will cause."

The two Tensai entered the main part of the palace. Thinking about the past made it easier to brush aside the man's concerns for the future. "So, how is Grand Sensei Uikku? I haven't seen or heard from that irracible old man since I completed the final test of Water... Sugoi, eight years ago now; where has the time gone? I think he was rather irritated by the fact that I was not satisfied with having already mastered the Void and Air schools of magic before coming to Firebird Falls from the Mori Isawa, but his respect for my Grandfather forced him to accept my application."

[Kakita Mitsouko]

“Much less irascible now, believe me." She laughed briefly. "That was a great year, indeed. Anyway, when you are accustomed with reading omens, it’s not easy to ignore them. It’s like look at an opened scroll in front of your eyes and avoid reading the content. Of course, my young master, we will wait the proper words and proper time to everything. Time... Time is like the movement of fluid elements, my dear. And it have moonson too. And sometimes it tides so slowly it seems not to pass at all, sometimes it flows and swallow the future in a blink." Lady Tisuke seemed to be thoughtful for a brief instant, then spoke. "I know, by experience, Shodai-sama, how sad is to bear alone the impact of such sudden changes. Sometimes a supportive person by your side is essential to go through moments like this. I do no wrong in suppose you are not yet married, do I, Shodai-sama?"

[Agasha Shodai]

"You suppose correctly in that regard, Tisuke-san. I suspect that despite my high social standing, the string of military and personal combat victories, and the fact I am one of the few Five Element Tensai in the Empire, my odd-duck nature... That I live aesthetically despite my personal wealth, that I try to treat members of every clan equally, and that people fear the unexplainable..." He gestured to his eyes: one emerald, one steel gray. "Have apparently been a sufficient detractor that my previous Omiai envoy was not able to overcome them in negotiations.

Fortunately, a few weeks ago I made a deal with Shiba Kazuma-dono, our new Clan Champion and one of my oldest friends, that going forward we would act as the other's envoy. Perhaps someone who ACTUALLY knows me would do better than one who doesn't."

A soft sigh escaped his lips as he thought about the vision in the Divine Wheel. "It's strange. Until this night, I was content with my course and my methods... Sure, I was physically alone, but I always had a good friend on a similar path to look up to." A scowl crossed his features. "A friend that, unfortunately, has begun upon a course that I cannot bring myself to follow. Without him, my life - for the moment - looks like it will merely be one mission after another. Until now, I never realized just how alone standing on the peak of the mountain truly was..."

Agasha Shodai shook his head, then smiled at the matronly Water Tensai. "Apologies for my moroseness, Lady Tisuke... I find I am suddenly looking out upon an emotional abyss that I knew was possible to encounter, but never expected to. Especially with no warning whatsoever. Why do you..."

His voice trailed off and his twin-colored gaze went momentarily out of focus as his nearly perfect memory reached into the past. Shodai remembered a young woman in the first stages of maidenhood that had been at the Firebird Falls Water Tensai dojo when he'd been there. The girl was not yet an actual student of the School, but she'd almost always been near Isawa Tisuke and wore her clothing and hair in the style that had been popular in Crane lands at the time.

The girl had had the same green-gold shade of eyes as the woman before him, but he'd never gotten around to inquiring about her... Water had been - and still was to this day - one of the Elements he was weak in and it had required all of his focus to justify the time spent to teach him the Tensai way of Water. By now that girl would be...

"Very interesting..." Agasha Shodai said as he intuitively put the pieces together. "Did you ask your question as an envoy or as a mother, Tisuke-san?"

[Kakita Mitsouko]

“We were talking about destiny, friendship, feelings, Shodai-sama. And there’s nothing wrong in what you have done or been since then. When a path ends, others begin. No, I am envoy of no one, sorry. But yes, I have a daughter. Mitsouko. I must join her soon, as I had news that her father is now dead. She’s a truly destined woman. You and her surely would be friends, I am sure. My heart is proud of her. But she’s also a Crane and the final decision about what noble man would marry her is not in my hands...” she dismissed her daughter from the conversation subject with a gracious gesture of hand. “Shodai-sama, I truly support the decision of our Champion. You are worth of it. Maybe we can talk further, I’d appreciate it.”

[Agasha Shodai]

Agasha Shodai nodded sympathetically. "My condolences to you and your daughter. I will not pretend to know how you might be feeling, but I pray that Hotei, the Fortune of Contentment, may bring you and your daughter whatever comfort you both might need at this time."

The Phoenix Clan Void Master covered a yawn with the sleeve of his traveling robes. "Forgive me; it has been a long day and I was in Shiro Hiruma just this morning." A wry but tired grin crossed his lips. "Grand Sensei Uikku's jaw would probably crack the stone tiles if he knew that his 'least dedicated student' was now able to teleport across the Empire almost at will. And I do thank you for your support; perhaps we can meet in the morning before you set out on your journey to the Crane lands?"

[Kakita Mitsouko]

"I know how proud of you he can be even if not letting you to know it." She smiled with sincerity. "I think we can meet by the morning, of course. I'd really appreciate your company to tea, if your duties permit you to so. I wish you a good night of rest, young master." She bowed to Agasha Shodai.

[Agasha Shodai]

The Void Master bowed to the Water Tensai before completing his intended journey.

Agasha Shodai, now in the privacy of the Void Master's quarters - HIS quarters - sat cross-legged atop a futon on the floor. Isawa Tisuke's suggestion of a union of their families, while still in the early planning stages, was sufficiently interesting that the Tensai wanted to see if this would be the union he'd seen hints of in his previous inspection of the Skein of Destiny or was merely coincidental...

"This time I will need to do more than merely glance at the Divine Wheel... I will need to examine it thoroughly."

The shugenja pulled a scroll from within his travelling robes: this one lacked an element glyph, but was twice as thick as the others. He unrolled the scroll to a particular section. "Air Element, Dokyou-sen spell: Sutra of the Mandala of Heaven." He said, concluding the incantation.

A few seconds after he finished, the air came to life all around him with the voices of the local air kami forming a chorus of what sounded like one thousand monks chanting at a distance. They sang the words written on the scroll over and over again. As long as the chant continued, it would prevent Shodai's vision from ending before he chose to end it. Shodai joined in the song as he drew in the elemental energies around him to open a porthole into the Void and, from there, the outer barrier to Tengoku.

'Fukurokujin, Fortune of Wisdom, and Megumi, Fortune of Heroic Guidance.' Shodai spoke aloud. 'I implore you; illuminate for me the thread of life for myself and for Kakita Mitsouko, that I may glimpse into her Destiny and see if it links with mine.'

Two strands of "string" - one thicker than the other, but not by much - began to glow. From the coloration of the larger one, Shodai could tell that it was his own, so he turned his attention to the other. Mitsouko's thread possessed a variety of colors: some he recognized, others he didn't. As he cast his gaze to the future, a gasp of shock escaped his throat: Mitsouko's destiny...

Forked.

Such occurrences were extremely rare within the Divine Wheel. It meant that the two Destinies were equally possible and as long as one or the other was fulfilled, Mitsouko's soul would remain on course in the cycle of reincarnation. Willing himself to fly closer within the meditative dream, he frowned in dismay. Mitsouko's thread leading to the fork carried - even now - the color of one of the nameless Fortunes that Shodai had the misfortune of recognizing: the Fortune of Assassination.

Kakita-san's current trip through Ningen-do was threatened... The fork was occurring because death was not yet a certainty.

'A slow acting poison, then.' Shodai guessed to himself.

The Tensai followed the course of the right fork first. The color of the Fortune of Assassination grew deeper and darker until it finally turned into the black of Emma-o, the Fortune of Death. Shortly after it did so, another thread, bearing the healthy green of blend of Jurojin - the Fortune of Longevity - and Jizo - the Fortune of Mercy, crossed Mitsouko's thread. As the two threads parted, the second thread turned the color of the Fortune of Regret for a short time then shifted to that of Xing Guo and Emma-O.

'Someone already knows Mitsouko's been poisoned. He or she must be seeking an antidote, but arrives too late to save Kakita-san's life. Filled with remorse, her would-be savior commits seppuku in an act of penance for their failure...'

Shodai continued to follow the two black threads. After a time, Mitsouko's thread then shifted into the white of Tsukune, the Fortune of Rebirth, and disappeared under the adjacent threads of life to take its place in her next reincarnation. The would-be savior's thread, however, disappeared into hole that left a rend in the Weave of Destiny along the line it had previously been heading.

Agasha shook his head regretfully at the sight of the potential future. "Not good... If this fate occurs, Mitsouko will return to Ningen-do to a new life based on her karma. The one who would have saved her life, however, will not be so lucky... Their self-sacrifice is not meant to be - and their soul, carrying an uncompleted Destiny from this life, would be lost in the realms of the afterlife; probably in Maigo no Musha."

Shifting positions back to the fork in Mitsouko's Thread of Life, Shodai examined the left fork. The area just after the fork showed his glowing thread sliding a loop that circled Kakita's thread and after her thread passed through the loop, the color of Jurojin became vibrant. If he interacted with Kakita Mitsouko, her life - and that of the would-be savior - was saved. But the area where his strand looped hers was blurry and the threads did not actually touch...

"Curious... I may save her life, but I must do so in a way that she doesn't know my identity... A rather odd condition, to say the least."

Following the "good" Destiny fork, Mitsouko's thread began to shift positions and gained the color of Musubi-no-Kami - the Fortune of Marriage - and of Sudaro - the Fortune of Perseverance. Suggesting that she would not go willingly into marriage, but she would go out of duty...

Then another odd thing appeared; something that despite his skill at reading the Skein, he had no clue what it meant...

Shodai's own thread crossed with Mitsouko's - indicating a formal introduction - before moving in unison... The second they crossed, Sudaro's color vanished from Kakita-san's thread and both their threads gained an odd mixture of both Tsukune's and Benten's colors. Agasha tried to look further, but the skein disappeared into the mists of the extended future which contained the details of destiny that not even the Kami could know.

Agasha Shodai sighed as he allowed the vision to end. He then dismissed the Air kami with gratitude for their assistance before lying down to sleep. "So Mitsouko is the one I am meant to be with. We will travel together before our eventual marriage and get to know each other; enough for Benten to bless our future union... But why would the Fortune of Rebirth be involved? The Divine Wheel says nothing about either of us dying."

"What an interesting development..." Shodai yawned as he snuffed the candlelight in his room to end a long day...

[Kakita Mitsouko]

The morning in Kyuden Isawa was rainy and, when The Master of Void Agasha Shodai and the Tensai of Water Isawa Tisuke met for breakfast, it was clear the lady had not a good night of sleep. The sign of tiredness and concern were visible as well.
"Good morning, young master Shodai-sama." the lady slightly smiled at his arrival, while dismissing a servant with a message. "I was wondering if we'd able to have a conversation before I leave. But fortunately we will. Please, join me in this meal."

[Agasha Shodai]

Agasha Shodai arrived at the quarters of Isawa Tisuke, dressed not in the humble but high quality robes he had worn constantly since achieving Enlightenment. Today, instead he wore a jade and white kamishimo, a white amigasa hat, and a gleaming white mempo hanging around his neck and a simple leather pouch at his hip containing his assorted notes on the treatment of poisons.

In the course of his studies across the Empire, there had been times that being Agasha Sho or Agasha Shodai had been inconvenient and so the samurai had developed one or two alternate persona depending on the task needed. He had not needed them in some time - not since attaining Enlightenment - but the vision he'd seen the night before indicated that it was called for.

And to be perfectly honest, it felt good to be "Asako Jinjutsu," the gifted healer who gives peasants the same priority as nobility, again.

"Such conversation at the moment will have to wait, I'm afraid, Tisuke-san. My divinations last night revealed troubling information that requires immediate attention: I fear that your daughter has been poisoned. If she is not treated in the next day or two, she will pass from this life..." He raised a polite hand to still her concerned response. "Which is why if you will take my arm and show me on a map where she should be preparing for her father's burial, I will teleport us there and treat her immediately. Come."

His hand rotated, reaching out to the Water Tensai, palm side up.

[Kakita Mitsouko]

Isawa Tisuke didn’t argue, asked, or showed surprise. Just bowed to him and grabbed Shodai’s outstretched hand, telling him the way; her face subtly showing now signs of relief, hope and a renewed confidence.
In her other hand, the Tensai lady held a Hina Ningyo.

[Agasha Shodai]

Shodai nodded at the instructions provided as he affixed his white mempo and his amigasa, leaving only his bi-color gaze visible.

"When we get there, please call me Asako Jinjutsu. Don't ask me why, simply accept that for whatever reason the heavens have decreed that your daughter is not to know of my assistance." He said, the resonance of his voice subtly altered by the mask

The five element Tensai closed his eyes focusing on the destination that Tisuke had described. "Air art, Teleportation spell."

A brief tornado swirled around the two shugenja as the Air kamis made the humans one with their domain and they faded from view.

OOC: And here this story ends. It is continued in Kyuden Doji story "Where the Threads of Destiny Meets"