A Mantis' Love

She stood still at the dock, a black shape against the white moonlight. Her kimono, rough and worn from the day’s events, clung to her in the humid summer air. She had no lanterns, but could still hear the sounds of waves lapping against the aged and the creaking wood she stood on. In the distance she could see the lights of the great Imperial city, Otosan Uchi, striving against the enveloping night. It had been her home, more or less, for some time. That time was over. She had been cast out among the waves once again, and her fortunes taken from her.

The ronin known as Naomi shrugged. Fortunes come and go, she thought, but at least I'm still alive. It was then that she noticed a figure moving towards her. He carried a lantern with him, but as he walked under the light of the Lady Moon she could see that he would hardly need it. He was covered in green and gold, his strange tailed haori flying behind him. On a red headband, embroidered in gold, was the mon of the Mantis Clan. Yoritomo Mifune, she recognized. As he drew closer, she could see his tattoo-covered arms and chest.

He strode up to her, casting glances about. The light of his lantern, she thought, was mostly unnecessary given the garish nature of his clothing. Anyone could see him dressed like that, even in complete darkness. He bowed lightly in acknowledgment, saying “Naomi-san I am pleased to see that you are well.”

She returned his bow, deeper as a sign of respect. Mifune had saved her earlier in the day from an overzealous Shinjo magistrate and from her gaijin partner. It was only proper to show him due respect, but still she knew not to trust the Mantis in front of her. He had effortlessly bypassed her guards, taken her to a magistrate, and in no small way destroyed the comfortable life she had built in the city. Now his clan had put her here with no explanation, only saying to be at the Higashikawa docks at the hour of the boar. Naomi, though ronin born, was still samurai trained and maintained her On. “It is good to see you again, Yoritomo-sama. I was hoping that someone would explain what I am doing here.”

“First, a question,” the Mantis said. “Do you want to stay in Otosan Uchi?” Naomi narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?” “Simply that,” the Mantis answered. “You were involved with several lords of the Great Clans, Naomi-san. Surely you must know that they will not share Moshi-sama's kindness. That he let you keep your head was little short of a miracle, given that you kidnapped his son.” “I kidnapped no one,” Naomi emphasized. “In truth, I ensured that his son was not harmed.” “I'm sure that is the case,” the Yoritomo said. “Still, you must realize that not all lords will be willing to agree with that outlook.” Naomi shifted her eyes. The Mantis spoke true, but she knew that a Mantis never did anything for free. “That may be, Yoritomo-sama, but I don't understand what your role is in this. I am no Mantis samurai and charity doesn't sit well with me.” Mifune looked away. “I don't really know how else to put this, so I'll just say it.” “A moment, Naomi-san,” the Mantis interrupted. The ronin followed his eyes, but besides a small bit of rope laying on the dock saw nothing. Mifune, though, grabbed hold of the rope and began pulling. After a while, Naomi could hear something on the waves and before long a small rowboat, tied to a rope, came into view. “There we are,” Mifune said triumphantly. “What is that?” Naomi asked. Mifune raised an eyebrow and looked at the ronin. “It is a rowboat, Naomi-san.” Naomi's frowned. “I know what it is, Yoritomo-sama, but I don't know why it's here.” “This boat, much like myself, is here for you,” the Mantis replied. His eyes widened as he realized what he said, and he attempted to recover. “That is to say that I hope you will find this useful.” “Useful in what way, Yoritomo-sama? I'm no sailor and that boat wouldn't get me much past Otosan Uchi in the first place.” Mifune stood, still holding the rope that held the rowboat in place, and glanced around quickly as if worried anyone might overhear. “It won't take you past Otosan Uchi, but it will take you to a ship of mine. Fortune's Fortunes is waiting just past the bay. She's a fine ship, a merchant kobune and crewed by trustworthy Mantis.” Naomi could not help but arch her eyebrow at “trustworthy Mantis.” Mifune, though, proceeded. “They are my crew and that is my ship, and we will both take it to my home in the Irie Province of the Islands of Silk and Spice. The islands are different from Rokugan but I believe-” “You want me to run away with you,” Naomi interrupted. “I, er,” Mifune began. His eyes shifted uncomfortably and the ronin enjoyed seeing the courtier twist in the wind. “A... simple outlook, but not incorrect.” “I see. There's still a question you haven't answered Yoritomo-sama.” “Oh?” “Why are you doing this for me?” Mifune looked away, across the great bay of Otosan Uchi. For a time, the only sound was the wind and the waves. “I don't know, Naomi-san. There's the truth for you. Yet, the way I see it, you have two options. You can stay in the city, in the mainland, and eventually samurai will find you. Samurai who look down on any sort of dishonorable actions, samurai who disapprove of less than honorable methods, they'll find you and then your life will become very hard indeed. Or you can come with me, leagues away from any sort of attention. The Sea of Amaterasu is dangerous, Naomi-san, and few besides the Mantis can sail it.” He stepped into the rowboat, leaving his lantern on the dock. “What will you choose, Naomi-san?”

The ronin stood on the docks. She cast her eyes back to Otosan Uchi, the great capital of the Empire. She thought of home, of the friends she'd made. She thought too of the enemies, and the foreigners who'd given her more opportunities than anyone native to Rokugan ever had. She thought finally of a samurai who had shown her something new.

The Mantis reached out his hand to her..

Months Later...

Yoritomo Mifune, fresh from an outing in the jungles, knelt before his lord Yoritomo Date. Date, for his part, was reading a map on his desk whilst lazily smoking a long wooden kiseru pipe. After several long moments, the Mantis lord addressed Mifune. “Word travels fast around the island, you know,” he began. “You are never very... subtle, Mifune-san.” “My lord?” Mifune questioned. “The ronin girl on the island. Naomi, was it?” Date was looking at Mifune directly now, yet the young courtier averted his eyes. He would offer no insult, not to a Mantis. “What of her, Date-sama?” “If the scuttlebutt is to be believed, you like her.” “I have found her useful on occasion but I hardly see how that-” “Mifune,” Date interrupted. “I am neither blind nor deaf, or so the healers tell me. I've seen you with this woman. Your intent is clear, even if you don't know it.” Mifune kept his head held low, and all but whispered, “What is my intent, Date-sama?” “You want to marry a ronin,” Date concluded. “A penniless sell-sword. A refugee from some failed scheme in the capital, as I understand it.” There was a long pause as Mifune considered how to proceed. “What is your opinion, my lord? Date took several long drags on his pipe. Gray smoke flushed from his nose, whirling and gathering in the humid air. “Grandfather Tsubasa dreaded the matchmakers, you know. There was a particularly terrible woman named Jitoki, and such was Tsubasa's luck that he would have her as his matchmaker. When he learned of this, he flew into the largest geisha house near the Dojo Raiden and picked the first woman he saw. Lucky for him she turned out to be a Scorpion and not some peasant, neh?” He smiled wryly, smoke lazily hanging out of his mouth. “I think no one wants a matchmaker in the Mantis, Mifune.” “I... think Tsubasa was a lucky man, Date-sama.” “What do you see in her?” the Mantis lord asked. At this, Mifune finally met his gaze. “She has no family to gain advantage with, no dowry to offer. She has no real connections with lords of any importance, certainly an unfavorable standing with magistrates on the mainland. What does she bring to the table?” “She is worth all of the koku I have ever earned, Date-sama.” Mifune's voice was careful and controlled, but his eyes betrayed his On. The Mantis samurai had told no one of this before, Date could tell, and even strong hearts could waver when discussing marriage. “What she accomplished in Otosan Uchi was nothing less than incredible, my lord. With no resources, she amassed a fortune that was spectacular. She allied with gaijin, but was canny enough to keep the relationship distant.” “She kidnapped the children of samurai, Mifune,” Date said with a look of disapproval. “Only by your work was retribution avoided.” “She did what she had to in order to thrive, Date-sama. Does the Mantis not do the same?” Mifune asked. “From Kaimetsu-uo to Yoritomo no Kami himself, we have never shriked from doing what needs to be done. The other clans may think us criminals or bullies already, what is one more criminal in a gang to them?” “This will be very hard, Mifune,” Date said. “You are sure that you want this?” “I want this more than all the koku in the Imperial Treasury.” Mifune responded. Date nodded. “You have served me well, Mifune, and I will grant you this boon. Remind me later, to tell you of the Luck of the Mountains and the princess Toyotama. It was one of Grandfather Tsubasa’s favorite stories…”

Later...

Thunder crashed above them. Lightning danced in arcs among the clouds. Rain, fierce and whipping, tore at his skin but Yoritomo Mifune could not help but smile. The din of battle crowded around him, Mantis sailors fighting against pirates and ronin. He ducked a lazy swipe of a parangu and thrust his wakizashi into the man's belly. With a shout, he kicked the dying man off of his sword and looked around him.

The storm darkened the skies and the sea was alive with the ocean's wrath. Sea water splashed over the deck of the large kobune his men fought upon. Behind them, the burning wreckage of his own ship could be seen as the sea reclaimed it. He thought, for a moment, of the mission that brought his crew this far away from the Mantis islands.

“Duck!” shouted a familiar, feminine voice. Mifune dropped as an arrow whistled above him. He followed it to see a scarred, angry man readying another arrow. A figure moved behind him, and as he brought the arrow back a blade erupted from his chest. His arms dropped, like a puppet with its strings cut, and Mifune smiled. Naomi wiped the blood off of her katana and favored the Mantis with a smile. Two brigands surrounded her quickly, brandishing stolen katana. Their eyes held Naomi's doom.

Mifune leaped to his feet. He rushed through the melee. He dodged a clumsy stab from a hooked knife and rolled under the sweep of a battered yari. He grabbed one of the kobune's mast ropes and pulled himself on it. Bracing his legs against the mast, he pushed and swung out over the battle. Mantis sailors swung parangu, kama, and improvised weapons against pirates not much better armed. He couldn't tell if his own crew was winning their struggle or not. All he could do was trust in the Fortunes that they would be victorious, and resolve himself to win the battles at hand.

He let go of the rope as he was a few feet above one of Naomi's attackers. He fell through the air with a shout of “YORITOMO!”, landing roughly on top of the pirate. The other man smelled of sea salt and shochu, his breath exhaling in shock at Mifune's attack. Mifune readied his wakizashi short sword as lightning flashed overhead. His opponent rolled away from Mifune's strike and stood. He held his katana above his head, poised to bring it slashing down in an overhead strike. Thunder boomed above them and the ship pitched roughly against the churning seas. The fighters fell to the floor.

The sudden motion caught Mifune by surprise, but he seized the opportunity it provided. His opponent groggily stood, his feet uncertain and Mifune lashed out. His foot smashed into his opponent's ankle, making the unkempt pirate flail and stumble backwards. Mifune watched as his opponent pitched overboard and smiled. He rose quickly, the bucking of the ship making his feet unsteady. He moved forward, his feet carrying him toward the last assailant. He felt his left foot lose purchase and he stumbled forward before falling on to the deck, only able to watch as the pirate readied a wickedly curved sword. He shouted as he swung, a roar backed with the froth of rage, but a katana pierced his chest. His war-shout became a gurgle as his throat filled with blood. He fell slowly, and above him stood Naomi.

Clad in light combat clothing marked with Mantis green and framed by a flash of lightning, she was the most beautiful thing Yoritomo Mifune had ever seen. She walked over to him and helped him up as the fighting died down around them.

“You really should pay your sensei more attention, husband,” she said with a smile. Her dark hair was plastered to her head from the rain and sea. Mifune smiled at the vision she offered. “I will listen when he has more things worth teaching,” he said with a wink. They stood and looked over the cheering Mantis sailors. The pirates had been slain or had surrendered, which meant their cargo was now the property of the Mantis Clan. Naomi smiled with Mifune at the sight.

“You never answered my question, you know,” she said after a few moments. “Which one?” “The one I asked you in Otosan Uchi. Your lord paid for my dowry and took my oath. You’ve shown me the ways of the sea, even paid for a sensei so I can learn the way of the Mantis. Why would you do all of this for me?” Mifune grinned and stood in front of her. “For all the reasons there are in the world,” he said. “For the only reason that ever matters. We are Mantis now, and we take what we want.”

They kissed, embracing deeply, to the crash of thunder.