The Day of Thunder

"You make sense," he said, taking a sip. "It is a fear I also understand better than failure. A failure you can potentially recover from. Those who are too late lose much that can never be recovered. One cannot turn back time."

Kichi raised an eyebrow at Ukyou, then looked back at Ranmaru. "I am the student of Ukyou-sensei primarily."

He glanced at Ukyou. "Sensei..."

"I am not from there, buy I lived there for many years," he said. "Like many people in the early days traveled far from their homelands to follow their Kami before the Clans began absorbing those nearby." Kichi nodded, taking another sip from his tea. "I have seen the occasional group that used effi...

"We are often traveling and subsist on what people are willing to offer us," he replied. "It has been years since I was in Crane lands to enjoy the tea there."

He accepts the cup, taking a careful sip. "Ahh... delicious. The Crane truly know tea the best." He lowered the cup. "Strange? How so?"

A faint smile appears as he bows in apology. "It is the fate of monks to stick our noses where they don't belong," he observed before approaching and seating himself. "I will accept the tea, though. It's been too long."

One of the monks, who had been meditating in camp, opened his eyes and looked to him. He bowed deeply, even in a sitting position. "You seem troubled, Doji-sama, if you will forgive my rudeness in saying so. I am Kichi, student of Ukyou. Is there anything I may do to help?"

He nodded, though he paused. "Do you think so? I wonder."

"I would be honored to speak with you again in the future, Doji-sama. Please let me know when would be suitable."

With that, he bowed deeply and made his way down the garden path.

He nodded in assent to her. "And so, I am simply Kichi, merely the monk who had the honor of listening to your concerns, Doji-sama. If you ever had need of an ear, I would be glad to lend mine again." He smiled as she talked about Hajime, though, looking down at his hands. "I am not surprised. I hav...

"If it was all lies, in his smile or in his following of Bushido, the strange bird wouldn't have been in denial," he notes. "It would have simply been successful manipulations. That doesn't change the harm done, though. To the family, and to his own hatchling, who must struggle because of him regard...

"They can be, and often are. What they have in common is that they put your focus away from yourself," he says. "They can also both give meaning to life's difficulties. The conflict comes in when it comes to who they're focused on." He leans back and sighs, seeming placid with his eyes closed. "If y...

"Indeed it does," he agreed. "Do you know what pure love and bushido have in common?"

"What you say is true. It was a twisted place, where nothing is ever freely given. All things of the forest where the bird came from came with a dire price," he said. "That does not excuse him hiding from himself, or from understanding what was in front of his face. He could have learned, but fear d...

"Like all of us, I go where I need to be. It seems that has always been the case." He looks up at the sky. "Ukyou talks a lot about destiny, and I'm starting to understand a little bit." "..." He takes a deep breath. "Let me tell you a story about a bird that died." "There was once a strange bird. H...

"Some come to monkhood from a life of excess. Others have some issue with themselves they're trying to resolve. For them, strict vows can be beneficial early on, to ensure they don't stray from the path," he explained. "Perhaps we've met. Some part of you knows that, and is looking for confirmation....

"He's lucky to have such a thoughtful aunt under such trying circumstances," he said with a nod, looking out into the garden. "Some things are worth that sacrifice. Just don't be too eager to run into danger. The world is better with you than without." He considered the question. "I have somewhat st...

He nodded once. "I am his student, yes. I am as well as can be. And yourself, Doji-sama?"

He gestures to the bench. "May I join you?"

A monk soon appeared out of the corner of her eye, standing a generous distance away to avoid being too forward. Once he saw she had noticed, he bowed deeply. "Please excuse me, Doji-sama. I hope I am not interrupting. You seem... thoughtful."

The taller monk bowed to both of them. "Kichi. An honor to meet you, samurai-sama, Doji-sama."

Kcihi sighed, forehead resting on his fingers as he rubbed it as if with a headache. "So, where did you learn to cook, Wu-sama?"

"What does your family think of your choice to pursue monasticism?" she asked, "Surely those that cared for you still care for you and miss you." "Truthfully, I don't know. They are largely unaware of it. My exit was... dramatic, and I became a monk later, after I understood the true weight of what...