(Koutetsu) The Hanabi Blade

The following is an ongoing side-plot for Ashidaka Koutetsu. We'll run this until we can't get more energy out of it. As a note, references in parentheses are meant to be out of character reference. For example, Ikaro (Toyotomi) is meant to tell you that the district is currently called the Ikaro, but on the map is listed as the Toyotomi.



Ashidaka Koutetsu walked through the streets of the Ikaro (Toyotomi) in disguise. He was still the interim governor of the Juramashi and it would not do to be seen wandering about the city without the required entourage. He turned down a long street towards the great Enchanted Walls of the Ekohikei. No matter how many times he saw them the walls managed to surprise as tremendous feats of construction.

Long before his arrival, Koutetsu could smell the Agasha's forge. Since getting to know Hiroshi, the Ashidaka had come to expect a certain oddity about the man's persona. He was fully dedicated to his craft, the art of making blades, but his style was as different from the Ashidaka's as a Hida was to a Doji. Koutetsu stood before the small building and let the smell of raging fire, exotic burned wood, and incense wash over him.  He had learned from the first few visits that it was best to get used to the smell before opening the door and being consumed by its fire.

With a deep sigh, a deep breath, Koutetsu walked forward. As always, Hiroshi's devoted servant Kokoshi, slid aside the door just before he entered.

"He is in the back, my lord, as always." Kokoshi gestured to a boiling pot and two cups. "The tea is almost done."

"Is that Kou-chan?! Get back here, Crane! I have made a discovery!"

From somewhere deep within the forge Ashidaka Koutetsu heard a bass rumbling that shook the house. Sparks of all colors flew out in every direction. Something had exploded.




Link to Agasha Hiroshi Image

"You Master never ceases to provide a dull moment," Koutetsu quietly intoned to Hiroshi's servant after a spray of colorful sparks. "If you excuse me I may have to see for myself what your Master has gotten himself into today." The Crane swordsmith excused himself and pressed on past the servant where he was normally received. He walked through the halls out onto the veranda where he circled the small samurai estate to the forge beyond. The Dragon were a truly eccentric and mystifying clan. He knew this very well from his earliest encounter with the Togashi monk in his father's court but his meeting of Agasha Hiroshi only improved his perception of the clan. He could not deny the Dragon had a swordsmithing tradition that he truly respected.

As he stepped out near the forge he raised a hand over his eyes to protect himself from the sparks. "Hiroshi-san! What are you doing back there? You're like to burn down half of the Ikaro," the swordsmith bellowed as he braved the sparks and flames. Having lived and breathed the Ashidaka forges, Koutetsu was not afraid of heat and fire. He had plenty of burn scars himself, small little things that littered his hands and arms from folding steel for so long. While he was wary of what was yet to come, he was also excited at the same time which thrilled him. Whatever Hiroshi had discovered, he hoped it would be as valuable as the vials he had been given.

Koutetsu had trouble fathoming how the shugenja could manage to infuse Hanabi into steel. There was surely no explosions inside of the forge but he had surely heard them when he had first arrived. He had surely seen the sparks of color too. However, much to his surprise, there was nothing more than the eccentric Dragon, the sweltering heat of the forge and the copper pots full of colorful powders all around. The Crane swordsmith inspected the steel with a scrutinizing eye - he would take the tongs himself if allowed to and closer inspect the work. The obvious question came to the forefront of his mind.

"What does this do in a practical sense? It sounded like the Juramashi wall exploded again," Koutetsu noted as he looked up from the black stained steel. It still amazed him Hiroshi was whole and he didn't have to call the eta to scrape him off of the wall.

His eyes flickered over the copper pots: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. While he knew the steel had taken on the strength of Hanabi, he didn't quite grasp the breadth of its potential. He already found himself wiping sweat from his brow.

"Should I change to help you here in the forge?"

If needed he could change into clothing more appropriate to the forge as he had before.

"What happens if we take this unworked steel now and forge it into a sword? You said it was an improvement on the previous process, so does it work as quickly? I am testing the formula you provided and already I am weeks ahead of schedule on a project," he murmured as he set the metal on the anvil yet he held onto the tongs. He reached for Hiroshi's hammer and wanted to see what happened...

What happened had Koutetsu reeling as the intensity of the sensation reverberated through him. The hammer fall exploded and in that instant he felt he was going to die; he felt a pull on him unlike anything he had ever experienced before. Fire burned around him in a rainbow of color but he was neither burned nor singed. All at once it was sudden yet enduring as his soul churned with the magical fire. His understanding of sword smithing was daunted by the prospect of a new method, a new technique, a new process - fundamentally, this was unlike anything he had known before.

Yet he had no idea what it was.

Koutetsu had a bewildered look on his face as he looked down at the anvil. His eyes flickered up to Hiroshi in awe. After a time he found the words for the moment in time.

"What... Is this? What does this do to the forging process? This is clearly some trick of the kami you have invoked, but its effects... Are absolutely bizarre. I have no idea what this will yield but judging from your excitement and the burning sensation in the pit of my stomach, I hope something good."

He dropped the hammer on the anvil and brushed his sleeve across his brow, drenching it in sweat.

"The unnatural seasonal warmth we've encountered likely has something to do with this spirit's disposition," Koutetsu quietly noted with a contemplative look. He leaned back on one of Hiroshi's work benches and mulled over the information the shugenja offered. "But if all the spirits are agitated, I can understand the anger of a far more powerful spirit such as this... O-Ka no Kami, was it? Yes, but... Why is it angry? Why is it vengeful? These are the questions I'd like to know."

The Ashidaka was curious why the spirit was reaching out. If Agasha Hiroshi could harness the spirit of creation, he was sure it would only be a flash in the pan; if winter and the unnatural seasonal heat passed, would the power of the spirit fade with it? If the spirit could be appeased, could they do more? As a bushi he knew little of spiritual affairs but he was curious if he could research the matter on some level. He was sure the Blessings of the Eternal Kami would be interested in this insight.

"I'd be very interested in assisting you, Hiroshi-san," the swordsmith offered. "This could be an opportunity to push the limits of my craft. I can't quite master my art without expanding the breadth of my knowledge, ne?" A look of confidence - or perhaps smug, Crane arrogance bled through. Every Kakita valued perfecting their art, even the Ashidaka.

He licked his lips and met the Agasha's gaze with methodical scrutiny. He was not oblivious to the man's age, being twice as old as either of his sisters if not himself. However, he did see the convenience it offered him in removing Ichiko out of a threatening range to his claim and birthright as Ashidaka daimyo. That left Niiko as the sister he'd prefer to see wed and assume the role with a husband if his plotting went awry. The Crane smirked with a devious, fiery glint in his eyes.

"I will consider it," Koutetsu said firmly. "I am tasked with arranging my sisters and given the political nature of this, a marriage would benefit allying our houses. I would actually like to broaden our studies in this endeavor to benefit the Agasha and Ashidaka together instead of just ourselves. Together we can harness something seen but once in a life time... But what if we can usher in a new age of understanding?"

He licked his lips again - the forge dried him out though he should have been used to it. Koutetsu wondered if the unique fires they invoked was the cause of it. He looked at that pile of rods and touched his chin as he considered the potential he found in the Dragon's forge before accepting the man's pipe.

He puffed on it, unlearned in its practice, but found he liked the taste of the herb.

"Let's research this method and learn more about O-Ka no Kami together. I think we can do more than you propose... But we'll start out with the research and see where this leads us."

The Ashidaka swordsmith gave Hiroshi a firm nod. "Hai, Hiroshi-san," Koutetsu spoke in a low yet sure voice. "I'd be honored to have you bless my forge with this great spirit. To work with you on this sword will be a wonderful venture into the unknown. I'm looking forward to folding steel and creating something absolutely exciting - something that transcends what I can do on my own." There was a touch of Crane arrogance and subtle humility in his demeanor. He readily accepted the man's recognition of his craftsmanship yet heunderstood he was far from the master of his art. He saw opportunity in harnessing something new and breaking the boundaries of his own potential.

"The only problem will be balancing my duties with my other projects. I owe a man a sword and I intend to keep my word. I also have designs to forge a wedding gift though it should take but two weeks to finish that project. So, I think us forging this Hanabi Blade as you call it will take time... But given the nature of this unique experience, taking it slow may be a wise discourse."

He finished smoking on the kiseru and handed it back to the Dragon. Koutetsu was undaunted by the proximity as he tried to exercise an On of stoic resolve. As heir to the seat of the Ashidaka daimyo, he needed to become stalwart in the face of social pressures. With the potential of new allegiances and learning new techniques of swordsmanship, it was worthwhile to endure minor discomfort. He smirked and rapped his fingers on the work bench.

"With all that said... When do we start? I am not oblivious to piety and meditations so if necessary, I'd like to join you in your prayers and venerations, Hiroshi-san, might it better appease this spirit."

The thought of gifting Kitsune Sojin, a man whom he was only forging the sword for so that he would not be asked to join the Mondai Ketsu, with a sword using the new forging process left him conflicted. He despised the concept of the Mondai Ketsu but he had began to abhor them less and less with each passing day. Kitsune Sojin and his men performed their duty just as he did; their reputations were both darkened because of it so they were similar. However, it would be convenient to gift the sword to Sojin so he could begin other tasks. The Ashidaka licked his lips and quietly conceded to the convenience of the idea... At least for that moment.

"Let me wash up and we'll make our way over to the Murabai district," Koutetsu murmured.

The swordsmith stepped out of the forge to wash off in the house. The soot of the forge readily clung to him so he washed his face and hair in a water basin to make himself presentable. His ventures to visit Hiroshi were always quiet; he didn't need Kurotema's men following him and reporting on his activities. That was an aspect of the Imperial City he despised: constantly being watched, resulting in a lack of privacy. However, he understood the necessity and the value. He needed to speak with Old Geshiki on the matter later on.

When he was done he waited for Hiroshi to head back to his estate in the Murabai district to meditate. While he did not show it he was quite eager to begin.

OOC

I think this thread is done unless you have something else?

OOC

I think this thread is done unless you have something else?