^^ 貴重な金- Precious Gold ^^

--- Arashi-Kumo ---

My sword tinkled softly as it scraped Lee-Kahn's, as I ducked his swing, and then I hauled off with all my strength, whipping my sword at his throat.

He leaned back, his eyes widened in alarm, and my dull sword cracked against his jaw.

I pressed my advantage, as I'd been taught, and punched a knee into his loins, while my sword dropped a few inches, and touched his throat.

He grinned, and I looked down. His wakizashi, the shorter twin of his katana, was against my kidney.

I groaned and stepped back. "Fine, but that's the closest I've ever gotten to winning."

Grudgingly, He nodded, rubbing his chin, where a blunt-force cut was bleeding slowly.

He placed some cut-poultice on it, and then shrugged, raising his sword again for another match.

I darted forward, and screeched to a halt when I heard mother shriek behind me.

He dodged my tumbling form, and I turned to look at her. "Hello mother? Are you alright?" I asked.

She got ahold of her facial features, and then alley frowned. "What are you doing?" She asked tightly.

I blinked. "Learning swordplay? The Emperor has asked for a display of my abilities on my Day of Birth."

Her expression turned from disapproving to full-on panic in a few seconds, and she grabbed me swiftly, nearly jumping down the stairs.

Lee-Kahn followed closely, as confused as I was.

We crossed the courtyard, and she stopped in front of Lord Ran's quarters, pounding on the door in a distinctly unladylike manner.

He opened the door, swiftly dressed, and gazed at us. "What's this about?" He asked calmly.

"The emperor wants him to duel someone on his Day of Birth. He needs to be made ready." She shoved me into his arms.

He blinked down at me. "Yes, I'd heard. And Lee-Kahn was training him, last I checked?" He asked.

Lee-Kahn nodded.

"That's not enough!!! He needs a Royal Tutor, and he only has a month left!!!" She chewed on a nail nervously. "We cannot disgrace ourselves in front of the Emperor... the Kumo Clan will not survive another such disgrace..."

He laughed loudly. "Oh Ye of little faith. I'm sure for a 6th summer child, he is rather advanced?" He asked Lee-Kahn.

He nodded seriously, and gestured at his chin, which was largely bruised.

"Ahh, he's already wounding you during training? Indeed. Calm yourself, Madame Kumo. He will impress the Emperor, and the rest of the Court, as well, I guarantee it. I, too, trained with Lee-Kahn, and if Arashi is already close to beating him, the old Captain of both yours and the emperor's Personal Guard..." he trailed off slowly.

She relaxed visibly. "You're right... of course, I was panicking for no reason... but still, perhaps a sparring partner? For future training, as well?"

He nodded. "I will handle it. You may rest, now. He's in good hands."

She patted my hair, sighing in relief, and walked away, her manners returning visibly, as she shortened her stride, and placed her hands in her sleeves.

Ran chuckled. "Come in, you two. She scared the hell out of you, hmm?" He closed the door behind us.

"More confused, honestly." I shrugged.

"Mm... well, I know just the person to spar with you. You're the only person who may spar with him, after all." He nodded.

I blinked. "Who's that?"

"My son, Tan-Quan-Tama." He said simply.

---

I gazed at the boy in front of me, who was supposedly 9 years of age, though he looked my age. He had long black hair, which he wore in a braid, hanging over the left shoulder of his golden armor.

I hummed. "I am Arashi-Kumo, your... uncle, I guess." I smiled welcomingly, and held out a hand to shake.

He blinked slowly, and looked at his father, speaking Chinese.

"Yes, he is your uncle. He is my half-brother, and the son of the Emperor. Speak Japanese, else risk being rude." Ran said sternly.

The boy nodded, then bowed to me. "Greetings to you, Uncle Arashi-Kumo. I am Prince Tan-Quan-Tama, son of Ran-Tama, and Grandson of Nihitsu-Tama, the Son of Heaven, the Great Jade Emperor."

I smiled. "Greetings. And, the Emperor doesn't like to be called the son of heaven, just so you know. He prefers you just say 'Great Jade Emperor', though in private you might be allowed to call him only 'Emperor' or 'Grandfather'. I would ask, first."

He blinked again, and smiled. "Thank you for that knowledge. I am told you are to be my Sparring Partner, as no one else is allowed to touch me, much less fight me."

I nodded. "Indeed. My teacher is Lee-Kahn, ex-Captain of the Imperial Personal Guard. And yours?"

He smiled. "My master is Wong-Fei-Quan, a master of Taoist Martial Arts in China." He gestured to a small, thin Chinese man, armored only in thin chain mail, who bowed sharply at our gazing at him.

I blinked. "He is impressive, yes. Lee-Kahn, could you beat him?"

He scratched his head slowly, and hummed, then shrugged.

"Why does your Teacher not answer you?" Tan asked.

"He has no tongue." I said simply.

"Oh... that must've hurt."

Lee-Kahn bowed, nodding.

"Lee-Kahn... can I ask you to Spar with his Master? I want to see his style, undiluted with the training of his pupil." I hummed, tapping my chin.

He bowed, then stepped into the ring, bowing once more to the Chinese master, who looked to Ran for permission.

He nodded, giving the permission, and they both drew their swords slowly, bowing to each other again.

I watched carefully, looking at the angles of his knees, the way his ankles shifted when he moved his feet. His sword-stance was a bit odd, but that was expected of a Chinese master.

Ran clapped once, and they both disappeared, leaving only sparks in the air to mark their clashes.

Tan-Quan gave up watching with a sigh, but I watched the shadows of their feet, marking their movements out in my mind.

Suddenly, everything stopped, and they stood, soaked in sweat, with their swords at each other's stomach and throat, though Lee-Kahn's short-sword had been disarmed, and his right palm was bleeding slowly.

I clapped slowly, and the other two followed suit.

Then I walked up to them as they bowed to each other, and then spoke to the Chinese master. "I think I lost sight of you as soon as the fight started, but I watched your feet, both of you, and I think I know what happened. May I have the pleasure of a mock-battle? At my speed, please."

He bowed. "Of course, Lord Kumo. This will give me an idea as to your skill, as well."

I nodded and took Lee-Kahn's place, drawing my swords, though he stood nearby, worried for my safety.

Ran hesitantly clapped, and I darted forward, eyes wide open, even though I was already ten steps ahead in my mind, and followed Lee-Kahn's footsteps perfectly.

I attacked and defended as he had, or my best approximation, and even got my hand wounded exactly the same way, ending up with my sword to his throat.

He blinked slowly, and then smiled. "You are very skilled, for a young boy. I appreciate the honor of working alongside you and your master." He bowed deeply as I sheathed my sword, and wrapped my hand in a bandage simply.

Tan stared at me. "You aren't going to have that looked at?"

I shrugged. "It's only a flesh wound. He held back... a lot."

He covered a smile with a cough, and Lee-Kahn laughed, nodding, then sat down in front of the ring, with Wong-Fei next to him. They conversed softly in Japanese, and I stood on the Sparring Ground, gesturing towards Tan-Quan, who was hesitant.

Ran nudged him forwards, speaking Chinese quietly. I caught 'pride' 'clan' and 'emperor'. The boy straightened his spine, and entered the ring of sand with a determined expression.

I smiled and bowed. "Then, let us begin?"

---

The gold and carbon had fused nicely, keeping its metallic luster, but also gaining the strength and durability of the carbon. I smiled at the small white ripples in the blade, not unlike damascene steel, and nodded to the Royal Blacksmith. "This is perfect. Can you make the handle from golden thread and the cap from gold?"

He nodded, wordlessly beginning his work.

Not thirty minutes later, he placed the blade before me, sharpened and ready. "And for a sheath?"

"The purest silver you have, decorated as the pommel and guard are, with the jade dragons." I nodded.

"Silver? Alright." He nodded, and began pulling bars of silver from his storage shed, and working them into the shape of a sheath.

His daughter, a girl a few years older than me, came out at his beckoning, and began the dragons, carving them into the silver with a white-hot quill, which she'd bravely pulled from the forge with her bare hands.

She finished quickly, around two hours later, and I snapped out of the trance I was in, watching her petite hands, scarred with old burns and cuts from over-sharp blades, work magic into the sheath.

I blinked, and then looked at her in wonder. "You're a mage?" I asked quietly.

She blushed, and refused to speak to me, instead handing the sheath to her father, and running inside.

He hummed. "She gets the magic from her mother. It's not very strong, but good for metal. Metal holds magic well." He nodded.

"Indeed... I am sorry I haven't introduced myself, sir. I am Lord Arashi-Kumo. Your name, and hers?"

He bowed. "I am Genji-Tanjo, the Royal Blacksmith, as my father, and his before him. She is Yoko-Tanjo, my youngest child. She has four older brothers."

I smiled. "Ah, siblings... well met, sir Tanjo. I dare say you will see quite a bit more of me... good day, and blessings upon your home." I bowed over the sword, which he had handed me, wrapped in a golden silk sleeve.

He smiled. "I will welcome you, and thank you." He bowed back, and I started walking back towards the Tower, passing through the gates with ease, as the guards all knew me well.

I set the blade in front of Lee-Kahn, who had just gotten out of the bath. "Is this sufficient?" I asked.

He blinked, taking the towel from his hair, and opened the package slowly. He drew his hand away from the gorgeous silver and gold, and frowned, motioning that it would break.

I shook my head and drew it, swinging it at the stick-and-straw target we used when we practiced the deadly moves. The blade sang as it slashed straight through the target, and I smirked.

He blinked, then clapped his hands, impressed.

I checked the edge, finding it still perfect, and sheathed it slowly. "And there. It won't break. It's very strong, as strong as any blade, and twice as heavy."

He hummed and picked it up slowly, hefting it a few times, then re-wrapped the package, nodding.

"So it's good to give to the emperor?"

He hummed again and tapped a word on the wall, 'Ran'.

"Okay, I'll ask him." I nodded, and darted out, clutching the sword with all my strength.

I knocked on Ran's door politely, and Tan opened it, yawning softly.

"What?" He asked.

"I need to speak to your father, it's urgent." I said simply.

He nodded and stumbled away from the door, then into his father's room. There was a loud 'OOF!', then some Chinese, And then Ran came out, grumbling. "What do you need, Arashi?"

"Here, this is my present for the Emperor! Is it good?" I asked, holding out the package.

He woke up instantly, and sat down with the sword, gently unsheathing it. "Its battle-ready?"

"Yes. As strong and sharp as any blade, but heavier, because of the gold and carbon." I nodded.

He hummed, and drew his thumb over the blade a bit, pulling it back and licking the cut. "Indeed... alright. It's freshly polished and finished... get it polished again, the day of the reception, and you should be fine." He nodded.

I wrapped it again, and bowed, then darted out, looking for mother.

She was drinking tea, so I knelt on the mat next to her, and waited patiently, sipping the tea one of her maids placed before me.

She smiled, looked at me from the corner of her eye. "You are very patient, and I applaud Lee-Kahn, for fostering within you a serene heart."

I smiled. "Indeed."

"What is this package you have brought? It looks like a sword." She asked, opening the conversation.

I held it out gingerly. "My present to the Emperor. Lord Tama has already said it is very nice, and the Emperor will like it, but I want you to see it, as well. I helped make it."

She hummed and drew the blade with a practiced ease, then smiled at her reflection in the golden blade. "Indeed a fine gift, my son... well done." She sheathed it slowly, and slipped it back into the silken sleeve.

I smiled and accepted it, setting it beside me, then continued drinking my tea.

"Where is Lee-Kahn?" She asked.

"He is taking a bath. He fought again with Wong-Fei-Quan, today, and so he was very tired and sweaty. I went to the city with someone else." I nodded.

"Hmm." She frowned.

"They are very well matched. Lee-Kahn wins as often as he loses, which is surprising, to say the least." I defended him.

She sighed. "I do not doubt him, you misunderstand me. I simply don't like you putting his comfort above your safety."

"I will always be very careful, Mother. I promise you that."

She smiled and kissed my forehead. "Good. That's all I ask of you. To be Proud and Careful."