The Renegade: Oblivion

Ch. 5: The Shogun's Matters

Aspect yawned and stretched, sleepily blinking in the dawn light. Then memories of the past night flooded him.

Snowshoe!

He looked around and relaxed when he remembered that he had returned to his room after his time out in the woods. His spar with Snowshoe had given him the exhaustion he needed, but perhaps it was something more than that that had given him a reassurance of sorts.

Was it her presence that calmed me?

He wasn't about to challenge that assumption, and he let a warm smile cross his face.

He rose, dressed himself, and headed out into the hall. Suddenly he ran into Todokii, the tanuki who had joined Kojo on his travels and had accompanied them to Jiang-lao. "Oh! Black Warrior!" He bowed hastily before the black fox, looking flustered. "I've been looking all over for you. The Shogun Isu wants you to meet him out in the palace gardens."

Aspect dipped his head respectively. "Of course. Lead me there, will you?"

Todokii nodded and led him through the hall, eventually passing through a large passageway and ending up outside.

Aspect looked around as they walked. They were surrounded by blossoming fruit trees and fragrant hedges, lining the cobblestone path that ran up the hill. At the top was an ornamental fountain, with statues of tigers and dragons on either side. Sitting there was the Shogun, accompanied by the Blacklai official Kojo. They looked as if they were in deep conversation, but went silent when they saw the Black Warrior approaching.

Isu's eyes gleamed, the rosy dawn silhouetting his figure against the gradually brightening sky. "Mighty Black Warrior! I'm gratified that you have come. I must speak with you."

Aspect narrowed his eyes. "Any reason?" He dared to challenge him.

Kojo returned the warrior's glare coldly. "One."

Isu motioned for the tanuki to leave, and the three of them sat in the garden alone.

The tiger spoke first. "Firstly, I know you are commonly referred to as the Black Warrior among these parts, but surely you have a true name you call yourself. May I ask what it is?"

The black fox groaned inwardly. I was hoping I could keep that secret for now. Perhaps I can come up with an alibi instead, or it'll come back to bite me later.

"I am Mien." He replied after a moment.

What an absurd name. It seemed to be passable enough for the Shogun, however, and Aspect suppressed a sigh as he nodded warmly. "Fine name. I shall address you as such from now on, if you wish."

Aspect, or "Mien", as he called himself, twitched his ears. "Either one is sufficient. But I would take care to address me as the former 'Black Warrior' when I am in public. I had preferred to keep my name a closely guarded secret." And I still plan to keep it that way. Only Snowshoe knew his real name, and that was good enough for him. She had given him a secret to keep; he hoped she would do the same for him.

Isu laughed. "As you wish. But now for my second question." He leaned in, so that his breath stirred Aspect's whiskers. "Forgive me if this is yours to keep, but I am bound by my own duties to protect my people. I hold nothing against you, and I hope you don't hold anything against me. But what are your reasons for coming here?"

Aspect caught his breath, taken aback. Although Isu seemed apologetic about it, he couldn't help but feel that he was being too nosy.

Finally Aspect replied. "...I was sent here by someone close to me to hold residence here until someone else came to join me. I'm not sure who it is yet, or whether or not they have already come."