Still, the third section is not without merit. Many philosophers, poets, and story-tellers have found a great love for the letters in this section. Using them as inspiration for numerous tales, and other works, about the dual nature of the warrior and the beast that must be controlled within us all. In these letters, many have claimed, we get a glimpse of the animal that is man, and how hard we must all work to over come it. Lest we be taken over by it, and succumb to our base impulses. At the same time, it speaks to the hardships and obstacles faced by the bushi, forced to acknowledge, and even respect, that which they must destroy.
With that in mind, it is my fondest wish that you enjoy this third collection of letters, and the interesting perspective on moments of true historical perspective.
Ikoma Masshiro
The Letters
Father,
It feels like it has been a long time since I last put brush to paper and wrote you. No matter how short a time it may actually have been, I feel I must apologize again for missing our session this week. In explanation, I can only offer that the orders to move out came so fast I had no chance to inform you in anyway, but the quick note I sent as we were stowing our gear and heading out. As I'm sure you've found out by now, we are one of the units that has been dispatched to deal with the bandit problem in the north west. Though from what I have seen so far, there isn't anything normal about this particular bandit problem. I do not know how much of this I can tell you now, for the sake of saving face for others, save that there has been a dereliction of duty somewhere, and it is Gunso Chengensai's position that we will do what we can to resolve the issue expediently.
I can, however, tell you that it is on this trip that I have met the bravest person I have ever known. A woman, so bold that she was willing to stand against even the turning of the heavens, while still knowing her position in the world, and accepting, even requesting, the consequence of her actions be met out upon her. She was my soul's first taste of blood, and between that, and the strength she showed, an urge took me. Such that I feel she is now the name of my soul more so than the name it once carried was. I can not explain the move, just that it was something I felt was necessary and could be done in no other way.
The other thing of note I have found is that out here, in this lost area of Lion lands that barely even has a road. Where, from what we have heard, only the tax collectors know what villages and people may live here. This place, where there is absolutely nothing of interest, has been the resting place for the lost nagamaki of the heir to Kaiu's most famous disciple. Buried in the ground, and yet still showing no sign of the years of neglect. It barely took any work to get the haft glowing again as I took care of it. It is a heavy weapon, truly made for a crab, but it's quality is simply astounding, perhaps even the equal of your own spear. With luck, I will be able to show it to you before we present it to the higher authorities so it can be cared for properly, and if deemed necessary, sent back to the Crab.
I will write to you more as I am able to. Be well father.
Your loving daughter,
Matsu Mesutsume
Father,
There is a beast inside of me father. I can feel it, even as I write this. Prowling around inside my soul, wishing for one thing and one thing only, to be released. Freed to fight and kill until it's lust for blood is sated, freed to wreck havoc on all that would stand against me, and the cause I stand to protect. The more I think of it, the more I feel it resembles the one I am sure is inside of you. I've seen it on occasion, lying just behind your eyes, just behind the discipline you hone with every passing day. You let it out during that tournament didn't you? Pushed so hard, you had no choice but to let the leash loose, and fight as you are truly capable of.
I feel I am in the same situation. My motions seem slow to me of late. I know I can go faster, hit harder, but to do so would be to loosen my grip on the chain that is holding the beast back from killing my training partners. It has not been a problem yet for actual training; though, I think my comrades would be sad to know that I am besting them so soundly while holding back my true abilities. Still, I know now why you drilled discipline into me so hard when I was younger, why you were so disappointed in me when I injured Genji in that spar. You have prepared me well, I know I can contain this beast until the opportune moment comes to release it. From there, we will see what happens. I am confident in my ability to once more re-leash the beast inside, once the need for it has passed. You have trained me well, and for that I thank you. I will do all I can to bring honor to your teaching through my actions.
As for the matter I wrote you before, things are progressing interestingly. I still do not feel comfortable talking about it in detail, aside from that it is a situation I do not understand how it could even happen in the first place. Though it has taught me to always be prepared for what comes next, as you never know what it might be.*
Your loving daughter,
Matsu Mesutsume
It is unclear if Mesutsume is referring to one thing, or multiple things, with her father here. It is also entirely possible that there is still a letter missing from somewhere in the collection. Something that was not in Ikoma Tsuyokaze's possession when he died.
Ikoma Masshiro
Father,
I have become legend. I have cemented a place for myself in the history books, though, perhaps not where one would wish to make a mark. Perhaps I was already there for the events in Shiro Daidoji, or the war against the Dragon, but, if nothing else, this time will see to it. For you see father, in our most recent battle, I fought and killed the last of the Kitsu. I don't think I have ever been more disappointed in my life.
I do not mean to say the creature was not worthy of respect. It died well in combat, and fighting for a cause it believed in, I respect it, and how it died. I just wanted more from it. I am sure you will hear the full story later, but that feeling of disappointment is something I am having issue getting over. I wonder if it is blasphemous to feel a creature so majestic, and so related to the spiritual ancestors of mother's original family, was disappointingly weak in combat? As I said, I do not respect the creature less for how it chose to leave this world, just disappointed that the moment, the challenge, of facing it was not higher.
It is also because of this that I may be out of contact for the next few months. Out of respect for the creature I killed, I will be doing the majority, if not all, of the work in building a shrine over where the creature died. I will be leaving mikkadzuki and the magari yari that was issued to me in the shrine. They are the weapons that took the last Kitsu's life, I feel it only right they be left there to honor it. Though I must admit, it feels weird to not be carrying mikkatzuki. Since you gave it to me, I can not remember a time when it was more than six feet away for more than an hour. In the weapon's place, I intend to use the forge here and replace both with weapons of my own devising. You always said that a weapon one created for themselves would be a more true reflection of them, and thus fit their style better than anything made for them. I must admit curiosity at just what will be coming out of the forge, and if it is worthy of one of your students.
Lastly, there has been an interesting development with Matsu Sachi. After working herself to the point of breaking, I assigned our new medic to take care of her. Akodo Toki is, however, a strange one, and while he is doing a good job he seems to also be doing what no one else in the squad seemed able to do, and is actually breaking through to her. She is developing a friend in the Akodo, though I do not know if she realizes yet. With luck, he will be able to give her the added support she needs to clear the hurdle that is currently in front of her.
For now though, I must end this. Our relief forces are showing, and there is some tension as to just what the Lion's official reaction to all of this will be. We acted as directed, and in defense of our brothers. I, at least, would do it again if given the same situation once more. I will write to you as I can.
Your loving daughter,
Matsu Mesutsume
Father,
The next level is so close I can almost taste it, and, as maddening as it is to be able to see it but not experience, it is a relief as it gives some explanation to the strange feeling I've felt the last few times I've sparred. Speaking of, my training regimen has taken an interesting turn. Currently, the demands on my time do not leave me enough to do my own personal work as well as fulfill my duties. However, in their place I am regularly working with Rikugan Shogun Akodo Heihachi, the Spear Master for my legion, and Kiba the lioness that serves with Matsu Tomi. This, on top of the regular work the group does and my weekly sessions with you, means that the majority of my training is now combat application against multiple incredibly varied styles. It is through this that I feel my own style is growing even further, a change of beat the last time I sparred the spear master almost led to a victory, but my body was not quite ready to follow the sudden shift in rhythm. Hopefully I will adjust before too long.
In other news, our Unit has received more new members to replace those that have died or simply been transferred to other units. Among the new people is an adviser from Taisa Ikoma Genji. I do not trust the man, or, at least, I do not trust his intentions, but he is not my problem to deal with. Whatever his aim, I'm sure we will find out soon whether or not he is good enough to be here. Those who aren't generally do not survive for long.
Finally, though I do not know if it is confirmed yet, there is a very high probability that my unit will be being sent down for the war games with the crab. I must admit I am unsure of what to expect there. The Crab are reported to be formidable warriors that take a significant amount of punishment to go down. How this will factor in to a mock war I do not know, though I must admit that I am looking forward to the challenge should we actually be chosen to go.
Your loving daughter,
Matsu Mesutsume
Father,
I am at present unsure if this letter will beat me back to the Castle of the Swift Sword. I have no reason to believe that it won't, but we are down here in Crab lands for such a short amount of time that I do not think it would surprise me overly much to get back and find this missive had just arrived to your hands. It is interesting down here. The Crab are not at all like I expected; they are loud and very open yes, but there is a sense of discipline and skill behind it that is most worthy of respect. I have seem them shrug off blows that would slow, if not stop, a Matsu on the charge, and the ease with which they manipulate both their armor and their weaponry is truly something to see. The sights alone would make this trip worth it, and yet so much more has happened that I find myself wishing to get it down before I let sleep claim me this night.
The first, and least, bit of news is that I have won my second official duel with a spear in hand. I was honored to be chosen as champion for the Lion's side of the debate between how kills in the mock battle would be resolved. The crab leader had heard of me, calling me the 'Red Headed Killer,' and specifically found someone he trusted to put against whatever stories they have. At least, such was the impression. Hiruma Noriko was the woman's name, a skilled bushi with no holes in her defense that I could see. After the talk between the leaders that they did not wish an iaijutsu duel, our duel resolved very much like one. Neither of us dropped our defense as we moved towards each other, just barely getting into striking range, and then, in an instant, it was all over. I dropped my shoulder, feinting with my right hand that I was going for her, her reaction was slightly quicker than I expected in catching my hand as I went to pull it back but I was already in motion. As she grabbed my right wrist I used her pull to get in closer, and planted my other magari yari cleanly into her, just beneath the armor. She dropped with the one blow, and the Lion won the debate over which method to decide a kill in the battles.
Much more important is that our unit also performed well. We were a major contributing factor in the Lion's victory on all days that the Lion won the fighting. Even on the days that the Lion were the over all losers, we claimed more than our share in kills and glory, with the crab going so far as to sending the unit of Hida Elite Guard along with three Kuni Shugenja to deal with us when multiple other squads had failed to effectively reduce our numbers. Chengensai's leadership was spot on, and I have to wonder just how much more capable we'd have been if Ikoma Tsumaro had also been with us, his fighting style seems like it would be particularly effective against the Crab. Perhaps someday I will find out, though I do not see what could cause the Lion and the Crab to go to war.
On the more personal matter, Matsu Sachi, because of her new found friend in Akodo Toki as well as these war games, seems to have worked through much of what was bothering her. Watching her move shows a new found sense of confidence in her ability, not the arrogance of before but confidence in what she was built back up to after having failed so publicly. I am interested in seeing how she further develops, even as I myself seem to be continuing to evolve as a fighter. It is strange, I know she has set me as a goal but I no longer feel as though she is chasing me. I wonder if it is just that I feel myself too far ahead, or if my awareness of her chasing me is having no impact on my own desire to continue to improve.
For now though I must put down my brush and seal this letter to go out tomorrow morning. I will follow it to the road in the afternoon, though hopefully the courier will find you long before I do. I hope and trust that all is well with you.
Your loving daughter,
Matsu Mesutsume
Father,
Barely back in the Castle of the Swift Sword for a week and my unit was sent out on a mission. While I am thankful to have made it back in time; I am sorry that we did not have a chance for one of our practice sessions. Luckily, this march is not as long as some we have done, though I do find it interesting that we are once more heading to the North West to deal with a problem up there. Not that there is anything wrong with the situation, I will happily do my duty in protecting the Lion's honor wherever I need be, but this particular mission seems a little strange. I am not sure if I am allowed to talk about the specifics, considering Zugaiko-sama waited until after we were a day out of Swift Sword to tell us anything ourselves. Suffice it to say, first contact was made with the enemy, and our unit took no losses while achieving all our objectives soundly.
There is another matter I feel I should tell you about while I can. I am feeling frustrated, angry, again. I am not sure what the problem is, my spear training has been advancing well, the training with the Lioness Legion went well as well. I am back with my unit and on a mission with real combat, and while the first combat was somewhat disappointing we also were specifically attacking their weakest point, so such is to be expected. No, this is something else, and while I can control it, if nothing else you have taught me control, the unfocused nature of the frustration, the anger, is beginning to become worrisome. I had thought I'd moved past this after the war with the Dragon. It does not hinder my duties, so perhaps the only problem is that I am paying it so much attention, but I felt a need to write it down at the same time, and I long ago swore to never again not send you that which I have written down in one of these letters.
In other news, as I am sure you heard, the two weddings in the unit went off well. Kaori-san and Tsumaro-sama were married in the end of winter, and Sachi-san and Toki-san in the beginning of it. Sachi is upset that her pregnancy is keeping her out of this war, though I am sure she will get over it. With luck, it will have the same good impact on her that my own child had on me. Only time will tell, for now the more interesting point to me is to see how Tsumaro and Kaori will work now that they are husband and wife. Especially with him loving her so clearly.
For now though I must go, it is almost my watch. I will write again soon Father.
Your loving daughter,
Matsu Mesutsume
Father,
The days are long and tedious out here, long bouts of boredom occasionally broken with the sounds and rush of combat. There is less combat than boredom however, and while I have been happy to find that the enemy does have fighters worthy of me, the other happenings here have been confusing enough that I find myself wondering what exactly I should do.
As I said, there has been combat, of the 1/2 squadron that came up here we are down to just under 2 gunsen left. The first gunsen lost was to an ambush by the Ogres, we know only that they were killed 'messily' but from the way the Ogres talk I imagine they were eaten. Their daisho were left, arranged for us to find, and the gunsen that found the daisho ran them back to us intead of fighting. The next day Chui Zugaiko-sama allowed them to lead a counter-charge against the arriving Ogre forces. It cost them their lives, but the matter of death against an opponent so numerous was good for their souls, and whatever stains they may have carried.
It is from there though that things became strange. With Chengensai-sama reporting back to base, and retrieving more forces to deal with what is apparently a larger threat than originally expected, Ikoma Tsumaro has been in charge of the unit. He allowed his wife to do recon on the enemy, and, using her now public abilities as a spirit fox, she ventured over to do so. I do not know what happened over there - I am writing while I await her awakening to get her report for Zugaiko - but she ended up being found and attacked by the Ogres. In the ensuing panic, even with Ikoma Zenko over there to help her, the fear of losing his wife - a woman that I know Tsumaro-san truly loves - had the unexpected result of freezing him in place. Disappointing, yes, though I suppose it also speaks for how truly he cares for his wife that even a man such as he could freeze and become irrational at the thought that he was responsible for her death. Disappointments aside, I can report that Ikoma Kaori still lives and is with us, saved by Ikoma Zenko and Kiba, Matsu Tomi's war cat, while Matsu Tomi, Ikoma Tsumaro, and myself guarded their retreat.
In the aftermath, as Chui Zugaiko-sama found out what happened, I have found myself promoted. I am her Excecutive Officer for the squadron, and until Chengensai-sama returns in charge of the unit. Despite his freezing, I have entrusted the direct command of it to Tsumaro-san. It is, I feel, fitting with Chengensai's pattern of command that seppuku to make up for shame can be granted only after amends have been made, through action and deed, to the Unit as a whole. As such, Tsumaro-san has the skills the unit, and squadron needs right now. I do not, until combat breaks out. Which is where my dilemma begins, I know I do not have the skills or talents necessary for command, nor do I have the time to learn. I can only hope that there is truth to be found in the saying that leadership is delegation.
With luck, I will see you soon with the conclusion of this campaign. Until then, I can simply do my best outside of the fights so that we are prepared for them.
Your loving daughter,
Matsu Mesutsume
Father,
I am writing you, having just finished my second duel against these strange creatures. This time against the leader for the army that surrounds our small fortification. A happy perk of my new role as the squadron's XO, though now I find myself wondering how these Ogres keep themselves organized, and if my theory is correct how many better fighters exist in their army for myself or Chui Zugaiko-sama to test ourselves against. Though, I am getting ahead of myself, going on into my thoughts after when I have not even told you the situation that brought about the fight in the first place.
As I said, we are currently surrounded, nearly 1000 enemy to our group of forty two. We are secure behind walls, and awaiting the reinforcements that Zugaiko-sama sent my husband to retrieve. Ikoma Tsumaro-san is working hard to make up for his slip, keeping the defenses organized and set against any plans the enemy has. He has shown an ability in planning defenses and withstanding sieges that Hida himself would respect I believe, solving worrying problems almost as soon as they come up. With him, and the other gunso having the defense so well in hand, my task turned to keeping Zugaiko's head in the game. She longs to fight, her rage almost surpasses even her control. I felt an outlet would be good, and so the two of us walked out alone to face the enemy. Looking on it as I write, it may seem foolish, the fortifications could lose two strong fighters but I balance that with the fact that the demonstration of our ability could only help our cause along with the fact that with the wear her rage was having on her, Zugaiko may well have lost her edge had she stayed cooped up within our walls. I can also admit, that deep down I much like Zugaiko-sama, wished to fight now, not later on.
We were unchallenged as we made it to the halfway point between our gate and the enemy lines. Our challenges carried on the air and falling on deaf ears until Zugaiko-sama bellowed that she would fight one of them bare handed. How could they refuse? Almost double even her great height, one of them strode out. He didn't even last two punches before dying, she still punched him a third time. The earth kami themselves seemed to stand silent in awe and admiration for the feat so deafening was the silence, and then my voice broke it "Your champion is dead!" I sang out. Their leader called back, I retorted, the exact words I do not remember save that their effect was what I wanted. The beast came to face me personally.
The duel is perhaps my proudest accomplishment yet, so much so that I wish it had been against a man and not a beast, but in that fight I feel I found my true form. More to the point, I feel like I proved myself worthy of the attention Bishamon and Hachimon have surely given me over these last few campaigns. My spear felt heavier, my attacks a bit less precise than normal, and yet I still persevered. My spear still hit with unerring accuracy, the first time as he attacked me using the spear technique you've taught me since I was old enough to hold one. The next two as I moved forward onto the attack, putting my body weight into the blows, along with the spear technique I learned from emulating the Spear Elite, as he recovered from the counter I had just given him. The last, a final counter, a combination of the Lioness Legion's trainings merged with your own teaching as I struck at the opening he gave as he moved to attack, my full body weight and power as well as his full weight and power in one precise final strike that stole the life from his eyes and planted him defeated at my feet. It is hard to remember a time when I've felt so alive in the moments after a fight. I'll need to practice more to hold onto the memory of how that worked, but the feeling of everything I have learned coming together is there and stronger than ever. My only hope now is that when we return, I will be able to show it to you. I am curious as to what your impressions of it will be.
Your loving daughter,
Matsu Mesutsume
Father,
We stand victorious on the field of battle against the Ogres that were encircling us in the last letter I sent you. My unit received the most casualties of all, but we did so in part because we have stood this ground the longest, and because we hit the main part of the enemy camp. Our reward for holding the ground as we did. It is, as of right now, my unit, Matsu Zugaiko has fallen in battle. Felled by no less than four human warriors and two ogres who put all the strength their frames had into making sure she could harm them no more. I find the taste of it bitter sweet, I am glad that she died as well as she did, anything less I think would not be fitting the person she was. At the same time I feel the loss of a friend who I only realized at the end I truly had. Something noticed just in time to feel its loss. I feel I did her proud though, slaying six of the ogres in the seconds after she fell lifeless to the ground before I continued forward and lead our unit, by example more than tactical skill, through the remainder of the fight.
It is a strange feeling, victory that is. I've tasted it before, many times, but being in charge of so many people. Having them look up to you for direction as the battle goes on, even those whom you respect as a better leader then you. It is intoxicating in a way. I have to wonder if this is what Chengensai felt every time we pulled through a particularly tough fight. I do know that it is the first time in my life I've felt compelled to raise my spear and call out to the fortunes, to our enemies, to all who would listen: Here I am. I am still standing. Bring your worst.
From here, I do not know what happens though. The field is ours, and we are claiming it fully. There is no word yet if Chengensai-sama survived the battle, or how his unit fared. I am writing this now, as a shugenja follows me around performing secondary rights of cleansing over me. Writing is the only thing allowed me while Tsumaro-san gets our fit for fighting organized, and those not to the medics, and so I do it. I should be meeting the Field Commander Akodo Norikai within the hour. I would have met him already but I was informed it wasn't proper, barring an emergency situation, to greet your commanding officer as saturated in the blood of the enemy as I was. Though I think some of that may have simply been the shugenja not believing me when I said I was not harmed in the battle and wanting to be sure.
This war, if it can be called that, is far from over though I do not think that means it will take all that long. For now, I will simply continue to do the best I can in this strange situation I find myself in.
Your loving daughter,
Matsu Mesutsume
Father,
This is the sixth time that I have put brush to paper to write to you, the other five - each a failed attempt in their own way - now sit in my room's brazier happily feeding the fire kami and letting off a light blue smoke that tantalizes the eyes before being swept up and out of the tent. The last few days have been interesting to me, and mentally exhausting in a way I had not thought of. Chengensai survived the battle, though he was severely wounded while taking on two ogres on his own. From what Kaori-san said, she had to ask the kami to help regrow a significant portion of his chest, and he was not even expected to have lived through the night, let alone until Kaori could get there to see to him. Whoever performed the triage did not know that my husband neither goes nor does what or where he does not wish to.
That being said, I do not think he is taking his promotion particularly well. I would never say he was not capable, but I feel he dislikes not being a part of our chain of command anymore. We have been ordered to work together, and it is going well, though on a few occasions I have caught him handling things in my squadron without thinking. I have seen no reason to stop it as of yet, though it is something I have seen happen. Whether he notices it himself or not though I do not know.
Taisa Akodo Norikai has hopes for our squads working together. He is a cautious man, though not against experimenting. He sees something in our squads that he thinks could work to the advantage of the Lion and has asked us to do it. A roving hammer and anvil, to jump out and take the enemy by surprise with our usual bold attacks. While there is some variance, my own squad by in large seems better suited to be the hammer, Chengensai's the anvil, and so we are working things that way. I am looking forward to seeing how Tsumaro-san performs when let off the leash so to speak. Not having to stand hard and slow the enemy to be crushed against him, but rather to go forward and do the crushing. I think the experience will be good for him.
It is here though that I must end my letter to you father. I apologize for it's jumping from topic to topic, as I said the week has been mentally draining for me. The Ogres and their people are amassing their troops for a large fight. We have passed several holdings without a defense force to speak of. Though signs are there that we will meet with them soon, possibly even tomorrow. If I do not get a chance to write again, tell mother Goodbye for me, and know that I died fighting as you taught me and burning as bright as I could.
Your loving daughter,
Matsu Mesutsume
Father,
The battle was glorious. I wish you could have been here to see it. 5,000 Lion against over 25,000 opponents and we managed to win. The Ogres led their army against us skillfully, but ignorant of what it is that makes a Lion so strong. They used intimidation tactics, standing still as our arrows rained down upon them, killing fewer than Norikai had hoped, but we were not intimidated. We were excited. A worthy opponent was before us, how could we be anything but?
My and Chengensai's unit, 400 Spear Elite in all, were put on the far left flank to match up against the enemy's heavily armored cavalry, easily 1,000 strong. Kaori-san called on the help of the kami, flooding the battlefield as they charged. The ground turned to thick mud, almost up to my thighs. The first rank of horsemen crashed, their horses breaking legs as they launched their riders into the thick mud. The battle truly engaged shortly after. Tsumaro-san set a high pace that, try as they might, most of the unit seemed incapable of keeping. I think he is finally realizing just how dangerous a man he is. It is truly a sight to behold.
When the fighting on the flank ended about 200 of our Spear Elite were out of the fight, none of the Cavalry stood standing. We gathered up, and turned our attentions inwards. Intending to sweep right into the middle and provide aid to the other parts of the battle where things were not going so smoothly.
We killed our way through the center, I can not say how many people our unit killed on its way through save that my arm is still tingling from the feedback of thrusting and hitting so many times. The Ogre's leader was powerful, with a roar that managed to shake the hearts of some of the Lion facing him. His troops were skilled, fighting in a way and range that most, if not all of our troops had no experience in fighting nor knowledge on how to beat it. Those advantages, however, were not enough. As the regular line troops fell, the Akodo Elite Guard stepped up and held the line, pushing forward as our unit pushed in further from the side.
When the Ogre leader and his men came in to deal with us Kaori-san was ready, erecting walls amidst the battlefield to line them up for our spears. The unit went through the large gap she had made to challenge them directly, myself and Tsumaro went through smaller ones to take on the leader. In the end, Tsumaro-san killed their leader, stabbing him through with his spear before beheading him with a single iaido strike from his katana. The effect was immediate, many of the remaining humans broke and fled, as did many of the Ogres. We had only to finish off the unit already engaged with us and the battle was ours.
The final result left 24 alive from the Spear elite legion our unit is from, the Spear Master himself having died bravely on the right flank holding the line. Around 50 of the Akodo Elite Guard still stand as well. Akodo Toki, Ikoma Kaori, and Matsu Chengensai saved the lives of nearly 2,000 others, but their injury status leaves it unsure as to how many will ever fight again and how many will need to find some other way to serve the Lion.
For now though I must end this letter. The shugenja is here for a second cleansing, they are concerned about the amount of blood I, and Tsumaro-san, were coated and caked with when the army of 25,000 arrived this morning. I have already had two sets of clothing burned to assist with it, and bathed more than I thought possible on the field. Word seems to be that we will be being sent home to Shiro Sano Ken Hayai soon, despite the fact that many Ogres in this 'Empire' still live. Perhaps I will see you soon Father.
Your loving daughter,
Matsu Mesutsume
Father,
I was right, we are being sent back to Shiro Sano Ken Hayai. Rikugan Shogun Munyaki wishes those of us still able to fight to lead the wagon of injured back. We have been on the road for a few days, travelling at what feels a snails pace of less than 6 miles a day. Still, despite the fact that we are a convoy consisting of nearly 1500 samurai too maimed to continue fighting, morale in the convoy seems to be particularly high. I attribute this to Matsu Tomi, who, despite her own injury, is doing all she can to keep spirits up, going so far as to get those who have lost a leg and can not walk to begin arm wrestling. Chengensai is arranging an official tournament for them, and also spends his days moving from group to group talking and doing what he can also to keep spirits up.
We were stopped by a group of Crab heading towards the fighting the other day. The Kuni wished to inspect us all for signs of taint after having fought so many ogres. Not one of us is, though the crab did stick around for a few more days and participate in the other morale boosting activity Matsu Tomi has started, draw lot plays. It is an interesting experience being among so many who a week ago were so depressed at the thought of their injuries, and are now full of life and energy. I think, despite her injury, Matsu Tomi is far from done in serving the Lion.
I will write more later.
Your loving daughter,
Matsu Mesutsume
Father,
In all likelihood this message will reach you only a day or two ahead of our return to Shiro Sano Ken Hayai, but I felt I should tell you now that I am sure. I have yet to tell Chengensai, though I think I will once I seal this letter. I have become pregnant again, a natural reaction I suppose to the time spent with my husband now that he has more time for us to be together. If I had to guess, I would say that it happened the night that he himself took a leading female role in one of the draw lot plays with the Crab. It was a fun night, entertaining, and the longest I've managed to spend with my husband in one continuous length since our wedding night.
Kaori-san I believe is in the same condition, she is showing the signs of it though I am not sure if she is aware of it yet herself. I am going more off the way she picks at her breakfast in the morning, only to seem ravenous at other times. While I am unsure about her, I am fairly sure that this time our child will be a daughter, something that will make the Matsu happy. Perhaps one day I will get to teach her the spear the way that you taught it to me.
We will be home soon.
Your loving daughter,
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