Ascension

Yasuo's Ascension

Drifting on a breeze

Free at last from jealous ground

A fledgling no more

- Shimazu Yasuo

I am the stillness of the first moment of dawn.

I am the eye of the hurricane.

I am the immovable mountain.

I am enduring.

Uumaga

I refrain from releasing a sigh that has been building up for what seems like hours on end as Uumaga fusses and frets about imaginary imperfections in my every look, from out of place strands of hair to the obi not being tied perfectly level around the waist of my kimono.  And when everything is perfect, she goes over it again.  She is tireless in her pursuit to torture me.

Finally it is done, and my escort is summoned.

I am taken to a garden that has been skillfully redone in the manner of my homeland.  It is an honor and an allowance from our host, who seems to think it could give him the edge in the eternal struggle for the new and trend setting fashions the petty nobles find so universally amusing.

In the center of the garden is a pond, and in the center of the pond is a small island connected to the shore by an arcing bridge.  The island is just big enough for a small, single room building that can seat four comfortably.  It is an exquisite tea house.

I cross the bridge alone and kneel before the door to begin the ceremony.  With practiced, smoothly precise movements I draw water from the small cistern to wash my hands and face, and dry them with a cloth I have brought with me.  I am still kneeling when I enter the empty building through the tiny doorway and begin preparations.

The tea house is well stocked and soon I have a small fire going to take the chill out of the air and to boil water.  I lay out the tea, the bamboo spoon, bamboo whisk, and the other implements of the ceremony.  All of this is done from a kneeling position.  I then wait by the small door.  I am ready.

The sun begins to set, painting the sky intriguing colors.  Eizo-san will be arriving soon.

Before long I hear soft footfalls followed by the gentle sound of water and I know that he is here.  When I hear him pat himself dry I slide the door panel aside in welcome, as befits the guest of honor, and close it again when he is seated inside.

I have timed his arrival well, and the water begins to boil.  I pick up the spotless simple stoneware bowl and wipe it clean with a folded, elegant cloth, carefully rotating it three times.  I then carefully measure out the tea with the bamboo spoon and add it to the bowl.  When the water boils with the most harmonious sound I lift it from the fire and pour a measured amount over the powdered tea, whisking it in with movements honed and handed down over the centuries to provide perfect accompaniment to the sound of the boiling water.

The aroma is subtle but instantly appetizing.

No words are spoken as the ceremony continues, out of respect for the ceremony itself and for my required mastery of it.

In due time it is complete and I have made no errors of significance.  Eizo-san bows and departs into the darkened night, still without a word.  I am satisfied that he has understood my appreciation and respect for all of his guidance, and has accepted my show of gratitude.

I carefully clean and store everything, and make my way back to my awaiting escort and then on to my apartment.

I spend the rest of the night considering each of the lessons I have learned along the way down this path that I have chosen, poking, prodding, and turning each one all around to examine them from every vantage until I am satisfied that I have learned what I can from them.  I will continue this practice throughout my life as new experiences provide new insights with which to contemplate all things.  But for now I have only what I have, and I am determined to make the most of it.  Discipline and self-awareness are cornerstones of The Way.

When dawn makes its first blushing appearance I am again seated and enduring the meticulous attention of Uumaga as she ensures that my battle armor is presented to the greatest effect, and that I look every inch the lord that I am.  Perhaps today more so than any other.  Today I earn my battle name.

At precisely the eighth bell of morning my escort arrives, and I am taken to the courtyard where all Samurai and no small number of local nobles are waiting.  The nobles are off to the sides, watching as respectfully as can be expected of such as they.  Two columns of Samurai flank the pathway leading to a small dais which has been tastefully improvised for the occasion, upon which sit Eizo-san and Hatsuo-san.  They are accompanied by the delegation's priest.

Behind the columns of Samurai are chu-daiko drums, the largest drum we could reasonably bring with us.  Traditionally the giant o-daiko would be used as well.

The priest raises his hyoshigi and claps them together twice, the clear, unmistakable sound of the colliding wood signaling the start of my ascension.  Complete silence falls.  Then, with precise synchronicity, the chu-daiko measure out my footsteps with their deep bass notes.  As I slowly walk the path toward the dais the Samurai, all seasoned veterans, bow as I pass.  It is difficult not to give into pride, and I force the feeling away with no small effort.  Will I never be free from such vices?

When I reach the end of the path I kneel, bowing my head until it touches the ground in a display of utter respect for my Senpai.  I do not need to see his nod to know that he has done so, and I rise to my feet.  The priest then begins to read out the fullness of my titles, save one that I have not yet been given.  He then steps back, and Eizo-san takes the lead.  He speaks to me of the duties and obligations of all Samurai, which all of us know by heart.  It is not just our way of life, it is who we are, defining our very existence.  I could no more break those obligations than I could stop breathing.  And if I broke them I would indeed draw my last breath, taking my life with my own hand to cleans my family name of my shame with my own blood.

Eizo-san then goes on to lay out each of the additional obligations that I personally have, being the first son of the head of the Emperor's personal guard.  He finishes this list by reminding me that, though I shall seemingly live the life of a Ronin until I choose to come back home, I am in fact obligated to a lord.  And not just any lord, I am obligated to the Emperor himself.  If I learn enough and am good enough, and if I prove myself worthy, perhaps I will even become part of the Kono-Shidan myself, like my father.  That is my life's ambition, to prove myself worthy of following in his footsteps, as it is of all first born sons.

Eizo-san then asks me to tell him why I feel worthy of such an honor as to become a full Samurai, and to tell all present what my qualifications are.  I begin by speaking of my heritage, of my family name and the deeds of my ancestors, for are we not all the product of our ancestors?  I then speak of the training I have received and of the instructors who have provided it.  I have learned from the greatest warriors of our time, and the greatest strategists and philosophers of antiquity.  I have listened to the wise men and I have read the written histories.  And I have tested myself in battle.

When I finally come to the end of my qualifications I present one last thing as a final argument: I offer up The Blue Eye.  Eizo-san takes the eye from me and holds it high, and asks if this final proof is sufficient.  The roar from the assembled Samurai is deafening, and the drums thunder like the sound of my beating heart.

When the noise dies back down Eizo-san attaches the eye to my helm and loudly proclaims to all assembled that I am Shimazu Yasuo, Lord of the Eye!

Graceful movements

Efficient precision

Man and sword are one

- Shimazu Yasuo