Vice

“Can’t get her out of your mind?” asked Togashi Udon as he wiped rain from his brow. “I know the feeling well.”

“Are you gonna tell the story or not, monk?” muttered Kibagami Kuno, the cold and wet night finally starting to bother him.

“You want to know about the lovely Togashi Nebiko, eh Kuno-san? You want to think about her on this cold and lonely night, poet samurai?”

The two Tanto Bearers sat back-to-back during the last watch of a raining night. It was silent and still, except for the constant patter of light rain. They had not been able to find shelter this night and were forced to make do sleeping under some thick trees. Their three fellow Tanto Bearers slept huddled together under a makeshift tent that they all had erected out of blankets and robes before settling in for the night. Close by, their dying fire let a weak trail of smoke out into the night.

The days of travel had been uneventful for the Tanto Bearers. Nothing had happened and it felt to them like nothing would happen. Soon it would be morning. Everyone’s spirits would be low due to the cold and lack of sleep. Tempers would flare between the companions, like brothers do. The group would spend the day trying to dry off as they traveled towards the Phoenix Lands in order to lobby for an audience with Isawa Tadaka, Master of the Earth.

“How about this, my friend? I will tell you a small story about her vice. Nebiko’s one little secret weakness that she loves to indulge in. Then you will know another side to her.” Udon said. Kuno grunted and Udon continued, asking slyly, “Care to take a guess where this strong woman’s weakness lies, Kuno?”

“Perhaps you shouldn’t tell me her secret.” Kuno whispered, not wanting to wake up his companions.

“Why not? Is it because you like that mysterious aura that surrounds her?” Udon teased. “You don’t want her spoiled?”

“No. But, what if she does not want you to tell me her secret. She would be upset with both of us. The secret is hers to tell.” Kuno paused, letting his words sink in. He almost let it end there, but he couldn’t let the opportunity go by. “But then again your good at blurting out secrets, aren’t you, Udon?” taunted Kuno.

“I already apologized about that, Kuno.” Udon sighed. They sat in an uncomfortable silence, listening to rain fall around their friends as they slept. “Her vice is nothing bad. It is something the two of us joke about now. I am positive she would tell you herself, without hesitation or else I would not offer.”

“Okay, then. Let’s hear it.”

“Kuno, do you remember what tattoo Nebiko has on her left shoulder and continues down her arm?” Udon chuckled, “I’m sure you looked.”

Kuno laughed softly, “Hai. I will admit I peeked, Udon. How could I not?”

Kuno coughed lightly at the memory and said, “ She has an elaborate beehive on her shoulder with intricate and colorful swarming bees going down her slender arm ending at her delicate wrist. It’s a beautiful tattoo.”

“She is the only one of our generation to receive that tattoo. Grandfather is quite proud of it.”

“Your Grandfather is truly a Master.” Complimented Kuno.

“Kuno, do you remember my story about Jikata?” Udon asked softly.

“Hai.” Kuno gently answered.

Udon sighed, “Well, remember how I was lost after Jikata’s passing? Empty. Drained. How I could not find my way again. I could not even pray?”

“Hai.” Kuno whispered.

Udon adjusted his seating slightly, still leaning back-to-back with Kuno. “This story starts there. It was close to two weeks before I was ready to climb the mountain again. In truth, I don’t think I was ready for the climb but I decided to let the fortunes settle my fate. I was tired. I sought and end to feeling hopeless and abandoned, one way or another.”

Kuno sat as silent and stoic, listening as Udon continued. “I was feeling slightly delusional as I began to climb. I hadn’t eaten in a couple of days, I think. I might not have slept also. I was weak in body, mind and spirit. It was not an experience I would recommend.” Chuckled Udon softly. “Like the journey we took, the rocks cut. Sometimes they cut dangerously deep, but that was nothing compared to the wind and the voices it carried.”

“The wind on that climb was strong and determined. It would push me down, or push me to the left or to the right. The wind played with me like a toy as the rocks battered me senseless. The voices on the wind tormented and tore my soul bare. Jikata’s beautiful voice would tell me that she loved me and we would be together, which is what I wanted. Yokuni’s sure voice would tell me I was not done, this was not to be my fate, my path had changed and I must find my way back to him. That he loved me and that we would always be together, which I also wanted.”

After a few silent moments shared through the rain, Kuno whispered, “How did you find your way? I mean here you are. I know you survived the mountain.”

“I am the person I am supposed to be, Kuno-san. I am the person I need to be. And apparently that is still open to change.” Udon said, thinking of the taint that ate away at him from somewhere deep within. He chucked again, softly. “I just accepted that simple truth and did not give up on myself. I awoke just behind that rock where we all gathered at the end of our climb. I am sure you remember the one.”

“Hai.”

“After all I had went through, I just wanted to see my Grandfather and Togashi Yokuni and my friends. And I wanted to take a hot bath. But when I walked around the corner of that boulder I almost tripped over Nebiko.”

Udon nudged Kuno’s side with his elbow, “So, Kuno, are you going to guess what she was doing there, crouched behind a boulder, hiding from the others?” he asked.

“No, but your going to tell me.” Kuno replied.

“Come on, Kuno! Take a guess!” whispered Sousha, surprising Udon and Kuno. They looked over at Sousha who was propped up on one elbow. “What was she doing, Udon? Playing with herself?” he drooled.

Udon and Kuno simultaneously shot Sousha the same look of death. Sousha chuckled uneasily. “Just kidding, guys. I was trying to make it a better story. That’s all.” Sousha said, holding up a hand. Then he whispered to himself, “Udon never tells those kinds of stories. I was just hoping.”

Udon looked over his shoulder at Kuno and after a moment he continued, “You wanted a story, my friend.” Udon smiled. “Anyway, I rounded the corner and there she was, crouched down with her back to me. I stopped short, startled and she jumped.” Udon stood up quickly and threw a handful of mud in the air.

“Out of her hands flew a large chunk of honeycomb, dripping with fresh honey. It went straight up into the air. She looked at me once then quickly dove after that piece of honeycomb, intent on catching it before it hit the dirt.” Udon suddenly dove face-first into a slick patch of mud.

“She landed on her belly with her arms outstretched.” He continued as he stretched out his body, mimicking his memory of Nebiko. “She managed to get a finger or two on it and flip the honeycomb back into the air as it fell. Then, like lightning, she twisted around so she was underneath it, as it fell down onto her.” Udon threw mud into the air and flipped over onto his back like a fish.

“She grabbed it with both hands and tried to catch it. But as soon as she touched it the honeycomb exploded and scattered everywhere. Pieces of honeycomb flew and honey was flung all over the place. But mostly, all over her! This graceful woman was covered in sticky honey and pieces of honeycomb. There were pieces in her hair, gobs of honey all over her face and chest. When she tried to stand, dirt and small rocks stuck to her hands.” Udon started to stand. He was covered in mud.

“It was amazing, to see this perfect woman, this woman I have idealized since I can remember, turn out to be so utterly, exquisitely and stunningly… human.” Udon put his hands to his side and searched Kuno’s eyes.

“She is beautiful and perfect, Kuno-san.” He said softly. “Even her vice, her uncontrollable urge, she wears like a badge of honor. Of course she was embarrassed and didn’t talk to me for a long time; well at least until she…”Udon trailed off “Well that’s a longer story for another day, Kuno-san.”

“Will you two shut-up! People are trying to sleep!” growled the irritable Hida Oku through his blanket.

“She is stunning, Oku. Much like your works of art.” Udon said as he flung a piece of mud in Oku’s direction. It landed just short of the cranky Crab.

“Damn it, monk! When our business with the Tunder’s is over, I am gonna kick your ass!” Oku snarled, rolling over to face Udon.

“You want to kiss my ass, Oku-san? Why would you want to do that?” Udon smiled, innocently shaking his head.

“KICK! I SAID KICK YOUR ASS, DAMN IT!” Oku screamed as he turned back over.

“You guys are hilarious.” Whispered the quiet form of Keshijo. His laughter was joined by the laughter of the rest of the Tanto Bearers as a serenade to Lady Sun as she began to peak over the horizon.