Post by Shinto on Feb 27, 2006 19:06:51 GMT -5
Shinto’s home compound in Homare-Jima was part of a beautiful plain that was filled with wild jasmine, wandering animals of prey, and small village farms. His father, the local warlord, ensured the peace was kept between the various Daimyo’s of the land. He also trained their armies in the weapons and tactics of the Samurai and Ninja. It was in this setting that Shinto grew up. His father did not name him. His mother, Mochizuki, had been an orphan and had been trained as a kunoichi (a female ninja) before she met his father. She had been one of the best spies in the war after Seiji died protecting the emperor and it led to her meeting Shinto’s father. When Shinto was born, it was his mother who named him. She had hoped that such a name, owing to their ancestral beliefs, would engender grace and peace on the young boy in a land that had been torn by war. His father saw something else. As she told him her name for the boy, he smiled and said “Yes, our son will walk the ‘way of the gods’”. Shinto’s fate was set.
Shinto would often accompany his father on his long trips throughout the land. It was during one of these trips that he spotted Shizuka. He first saw her in an open field. She was sunning herself on a rock by an open stream, her long black hair flowing past her shoulders around her robe. Her silhouette showed the grace and lines of the emerging woman she would be. Shinto’s father noticed his son’s gaze. He inquired with the local village leader and learned that the girl was part of a family of merchants who were well known. They dealt in exotic and rare herbs and medicines. On his next trip through the area, his father stopped at an Inn with his son explaining he had a special meeting. Upon entering the Inn, his father went over to a tall, well-dressed, man. He turned out to be Shizuka’s father. Shinto’s father was famous throughout the lands and so this merchant was more than happy to meet. Shinto waited outside wondering what his father was doing, and hoping beyond hope, that he knew.
When his father emerged with the merchant, they were both smiling. “Shinto”, said his father, “This is Kano. He and I have been talking and we have agreed to have Shizuka betrothed to you upon your coming of age. You will be allowed to court her beginning your sixteenth year”.
Over the next few years, Shinto entered the training of a Warlord that focused on weapons, tactics, strategy, and the capabilities of a Samurai and Ninja. At the time of his courting, Shinto had become an “under-lord” to his father commanding platoons of warriors. Because of his expected marriage, he chose to avoid the specifics of the way of the Ninja; although it intrigued him and he could never quite let the idea go. During this time, he would travel the lands and, whenever possible, would pass through Shizuka’s village trying to steal glances at the young and beautiful woman that would become his bride one day. He would often see her in the town square in one of her father’s shops, or under a tree in the cool of the day reading and studying. He never dared approach her although his heart ached to tell her the secret he knew.
Shizuka and Shinto first officially met on the day his courtship was announced. Kano announced a feast for his daughter Shizuka when she became “eligible” for betrothal. Shinto rode to the feast in his finest dress uniform. The town square was prepared as a banquet area and Shinto was given a seat of honor. Shizuka entered with several other girls robed and veiled and seated near the great fountain in the center of the square. In due time, Kano motioned for the girl to follow him and she was presented to Shinto. Shinto did his best to keep his bearing but a smile slowly came across his face as her veil was lifted and their eyes met. In that moment, both of them knew they had been created for each other.
Over the next months and years, Shinto spent increasing amounts of time with his betrothed. He learned of her love for books and her skill and talent with herbs and medicines. In many ways, he had never seen such happiness. Irony, they say, is always ironic. It should have been no surprise, then, that within mere months of the time he was to be wed, the Hanzagiri clan came to the lands of Homare-Jima. At first, things were peaceful, although his father was wary of the clan leaders. Slowly, Shinto noticed a change coming upon the land. There were many signs of the impending war even though most of the people throughout Homare-Jima wished they were not there. For Shinto, the reality struck in a completely surprising way. He hadn’t planned on a visit to Shizuka, but he longed to see her. As a result, on a routine patrol, he had his lieutenant continue the patrol and he detoured to surprise Shizuka. As he arrived near her house, he heard strange sounds. They caused him to pull up short to the house. He quietly approached a window and peered in. What he saw would change his life forever.
Shinto would often accompany his father on his long trips throughout the land. It was during one of these trips that he spotted Shizuka. He first saw her in an open field. She was sunning herself on a rock by an open stream, her long black hair flowing past her shoulders around her robe. Her silhouette showed the grace and lines of the emerging woman she would be. Shinto’s father noticed his son’s gaze. He inquired with the local village leader and learned that the girl was part of a family of merchants who were well known. They dealt in exotic and rare herbs and medicines. On his next trip through the area, his father stopped at an Inn with his son explaining he had a special meeting. Upon entering the Inn, his father went over to a tall, well-dressed, man. He turned out to be Shizuka’s father. Shinto’s father was famous throughout the lands and so this merchant was more than happy to meet. Shinto waited outside wondering what his father was doing, and hoping beyond hope, that he knew.
When his father emerged with the merchant, they were both smiling. “Shinto”, said his father, “This is Kano. He and I have been talking and we have agreed to have Shizuka betrothed to you upon your coming of age. You will be allowed to court her beginning your sixteenth year”.
Over the next few years, Shinto entered the training of a Warlord that focused on weapons, tactics, strategy, and the capabilities of a Samurai and Ninja. At the time of his courting, Shinto had become an “under-lord” to his father commanding platoons of warriors. Because of his expected marriage, he chose to avoid the specifics of the way of the Ninja; although it intrigued him and he could never quite let the idea go. During this time, he would travel the lands and, whenever possible, would pass through Shizuka’s village trying to steal glances at the young and beautiful woman that would become his bride one day. He would often see her in the town square in one of her father’s shops, or under a tree in the cool of the day reading and studying. He never dared approach her although his heart ached to tell her the secret he knew.
Shizuka and Shinto first officially met on the day his courtship was announced. Kano announced a feast for his daughter Shizuka when she became “eligible” for betrothal. Shinto rode to the feast in his finest dress uniform. The town square was prepared as a banquet area and Shinto was given a seat of honor. Shizuka entered with several other girls robed and veiled and seated near the great fountain in the center of the square. In due time, Kano motioned for the girl to follow him and she was presented to Shinto. Shinto did his best to keep his bearing but a smile slowly came across his face as her veil was lifted and their eyes met. In that moment, both of them knew they had been created for each other.
Over the next months and years, Shinto spent increasing amounts of time with his betrothed. He learned of her love for books and her skill and talent with herbs and medicines. In many ways, he had never seen such happiness. Irony, they say, is always ironic. It should have been no surprise, then, that within mere months of the time he was to be wed, the Hanzagiri clan came to the lands of Homare-Jima. At first, things were peaceful, although his father was wary of the clan leaders. Slowly, Shinto noticed a change coming upon the land. There were many signs of the impending war even though most of the people throughout Homare-Jima wished they were not there. For Shinto, the reality struck in a completely surprising way. He hadn’t planned on a visit to Shizuka, but he longed to see her. As a result, on a routine patrol, he had his lieutenant continue the patrol and he detoured to surprise Shizuka. As he arrived near her house, he heard strange sounds. They caused him to pull up short to the house. He quietly approached a window and peered in. What he saw would change his life forever.