For Today
by Kakita Kaori January 2000
These events took place around the time of the release of Ambition's Debt, but before Strike at Midnight. I dedicate this piece to Kakita Seiteki, who has hosted the Crane Letters and maintained the main Crane Home Page, on the occasion of his wedding. Thank you for all your hard work, Joel.
His father slid the shoji aside and came into the room, pulling it shut behind him. The old man wore a thin, scraggly beard, the honorable mark of a blessed life. He had to reach up to lay a hand on his son's shoulder. "I know that Lady Doji is smiling on you this day."
Dressed in conservative colors, his hair neatly bound into a tight top knot, the younger samurai nodded back distractedly. He adjusted his wakizashi in his obi. "I have looked forward to this day for thirteen long months. How I dreamed of returning to your quiet library, Father."
"I do not think it was these musty scrolls that you missed, my son." The old man had a twinkle in his blue eyes. It was reciprocated in the shining eyes of his eldest child.
"Perhaps not just the scrolls, Father. Though I know what you went through to save them for me. I hope to one day pass them on to my own children. I will always tell them how they were saved from the destruction of the Academy."
The older man waved his hand. "Ha ha. You talk about war, again? I thought you had had enough of that in our Clan's recent bloodshed. You should be thinking about dancing and celebration! Put those shadows behind you. You would not want her to see the darkness behind your eyes. This is a day for joy!"
The samurai nervously tugged at his haori a final time. "How long can I celebrate, though? Soon, I know, we will go north, to fight Yoritomo, or south and into Darkness. I know she is thinking of that day. She is afraid."
The sage paused, and stepped back. "There is no tomorrow. There is only today, and today promises only joy and happiness. Tomorrow you may die, so live this moment with laughter , and never let her see your fear." He smiled fondly, the gaps in his teeth showing. "She is beautiful, and she is waiting. A Crane never permits a beautiful woman to become impatient."
The young man grinned. "Oh, never. I learned that lesson well. I thank you for it, Father."
"You are welcome, Seiteki-san."
These events took place around the time of the release of Ambition's Debt, but before Strike at Midnight. I dedicate this piece to Kakita Seiteki, who has hosted the Crane Letters and maintained the main Crane Home Page, on the occasion of his wedding. Thank you for all your hard work, Joel.
His father slid the shoji aside and came into the room, pulling it shut behind him. The old man wore a thin, scraggly beard, the honorable mark of a blessed life. He had to reach up to lay a hand on his son's shoulder. "I know that Lady Doji is smiling on you this day."
Dressed in conservative colors, his hair neatly bound into a tight top knot, the younger samurai nodded back distractedly. He adjusted his wakizashi in his obi. "I have looked forward to this day for thirteen long months. How I dreamed of returning to your quiet library, Father."
"I do not think it was these musty scrolls that you missed, my son." The old man had a twinkle in his blue eyes. It was reciprocated in the shining eyes of his eldest child.
"Perhaps not just the scrolls, Father. Though I know what you went through to save them for me. I hope to one day pass them on to my own children. I will always tell them how they were saved from the destruction of the Academy."
The older man waved his hand. "Ha ha. You talk about war, again? I thought you had had enough of that in our Clan's recent bloodshed. You should be thinking about dancing and celebration! Put those shadows behind you. You would not want her to see the darkness behind your eyes. This is a day for joy!"
The samurai nervously tugged at his haori a final time. "How long can I celebrate, though? Soon, I know, we will go north, to fight Yoritomo, or south and into Darkness. I know she is thinking of that day. She is afraid."
The sage paused, and stepped back. "There is no tomorrow. There is only today, and today promises only joy and happiness. Tomorrow you may die, so live this moment with laughter , and never let her see your fear." He smiled fondly, the gaps in his teeth showing. "She is beautiful, and she is waiting. A Crane never permits a beautiful woman to become impatient."
The young man grinned. "Oh, never. I learned that lesson well. I thank you for it, Father."
"You are welcome, Seiteki-san."
