My visit to my home.
Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 8:25 am
The things that kept me who I was are gone.....
I stopped in Nagasaki to pay my respects to my family before seeking out my former student. The cherry tree that I had planted where my bedroom once was is no more, someone had it destroyed. The entire plot will never again bear healthy life.
I stopped by the Cherry Hill Temple to collect my thoughts before looking for my former student. The Master there was assassinated by a high power rifle while I was traveling. He was a better man than I, kind and generous with all.
Entering Hideoshi's quarters in Tokyo I found myself to be expected. Security took me directly to The Ashikaga's office, at his request as soon as I arrived.
"Master Li, I am so pleased that you have arrived. I have known for some time now that this is how this would end, your honor allows no other way." Hidieoshi stated as he slowly rose from behind his desk. Something in him had changed. In place of the cold "serpents mask" he wore so well for so long there was a haunted, tired look.
His agitation was gone, replaced by the grace I had tried so hard in days past to instill upon him. "Master Li, I just want you to know that my men did not attack your home, or the temple." As I noticed him gathering chi (something I had laid the groundwork for, in his training, but that he never understood the peace required to do) He spoke again. "I am sorry for the pain I have caused you, and am about to cause you, but it is time for one of us to find peace at last - and at long last Master Li, I understand."
With tears in his eyes he drew his his blade, the arc - perfect, the angle of the cut - perfect, the total subjugation of the self to that one action - perfect. His cut had finished before my blade had even cleared the scabbard, had it held harmfull intent I would not be writing this now. His blade flashed in a glittering arc inches before my throat. The arc of my blade, already begun, tore into his abdomen, and then his chest an arc of crimson and silver as he crumpled to the ground he spoke, more sofly than a whisper. "Thank you Master Li, I was not strong enough to do it myself."
Ashikaga Hideoshi, rest in peace - you died a good man.
I stopped in Nagasaki to pay my respects to my family before seeking out my former student. The cherry tree that I had planted where my bedroom once was is no more, someone had it destroyed. The entire plot will never again bear healthy life.
I stopped by the Cherry Hill Temple to collect my thoughts before looking for my former student. The Master there was assassinated by a high power rifle while I was traveling. He was a better man than I, kind and generous with all.
Entering Hideoshi's quarters in Tokyo I found myself to be expected. Security took me directly to The Ashikaga's office, at his request as soon as I arrived.
"Master Li, I am so pleased that you have arrived. I have known for some time now that this is how this would end, your honor allows no other way." Hidieoshi stated as he slowly rose from behind his desk. Something in him had changed. In place of the cold "serpents mask" he wore so well for so long there was a haunted, tired look.
His agitation was gone, replaced by the grace I had tried so hard in days past to instill upon him. "Master Li, I just want you to know that my men did not attack your home, or the temple." As I noticed him gathering chi (something I had laid the groundwork for, in his training, but that he never understood the peace required to do) He spoke again. "I am sorry for the pain I have caused you, and am about to cause you, but it is time for one of us to find peace at last - and at long last Master Li, I understand."
With tears in his eyes he drew his his blade, the arc - perfect, the angle of the cut - perfect, the total subjugation of the self to that one action - perfect. His cut had finished before my blade had even cleared the scabbard, had it held harmfull intent I would not be writing this now. His blade flashed in a glittering arc inches before my throat. The arc of my blade, already begun, tore into his abdomen, and then his chest an arc of crimson and silver as he crumpled to the ground he spoke, more sofly than a whisper. "Thank you Master Li, I was not strong enough to do it myself."
Ashikaga Hideoshi, rest in peace - you died a good man.
