Pakin adjusted his deel as he and Gera walked through one of the richer districts in Kumo. The buildings here deeply contrasted the ones in other districts of the city. Most of the buildings in Kumo were made of stone mined from nearby mountains or brick made from river clay, but the ones here were made of ornate wood. They were polished, painted in vibrant hues, and inlaid with precious metals like gold and silver. Every building looked like it was trying to compete with all the others to be the fanciest. Pakin thought a few of them looked gaudy, embellished with crazy huge entrances and tacky ornaments, but most were tasteful in their resplendence.
They were currently walking towards one of the more tasteful buildings. Two stone spears guarded the entrance, their shafts covered in an endless scroll of characters that Pakin could barely read. Most were symbols for words like courage, honor, and glory. A few were full poems inscribed down the length of the shaft. On the blade were two characters that spelled out signature. The entrance to this building was made of red wooden pillars and dark blue tiled awnings. Attached to the wall above the door, a big blue sign declared the restaurant’s name in golden letters, Tonbokiri.
Pakin fussed with the belt wrapping his deel in place and asked Gera, “Are you sure I look okay?”
Gera groaned and replied, “Yes, for the millionth time, yes! Look, Pakin, it’s not that big a deal. I’m in my normal stuff, belly button out and everything! He’s a nice guy who taught me how to wield weapons.” She turned and patted his back, mumbling, “Who also happens to be in one of the three most powerful clans in the city.”
Pakin pointed at her accusingly and said, “See! This is why I keep freaking out!”
Gera just laughed, patting him on the back again and pushing him towards the entrance of the fancy establishment. Pakin grew even more uncomfortable as they approached one of the intimidating doormen decked out in samurai-looking armor. One of the men looked on curiously as Gera approached the other and said, “Hello, Jomon, how’re you doing today?”
The doorman bowed and replied, “Very good, young lady Gera. Master Toshi has already arrived and is waiting for you in the usual room. A waitress will guide you there.” He turned to Pakin and asked, “May I have the pleasure of learning your acquaintance’s name?”
Gera smiled proudly and declared, “Of course! Jomon, this is my star pupil and nerdiest kid around, Pakin. Pakin, this is Hikkigu Jomon, the hottest spear wielder in the village!” She winked at Pakin and wiggled her eyes at Jomon.
Pakin took in the man in front of him and had to admit he was kinda hot. His facial features were square and manly, accented by his thick eyebrows and a large scar running across the top bridge of his nose. He had short-cropped, dark blue hair with piercing green eyes. He had tan skin dappled by freckles that ran under the scar on his nose. He had a pair of black metal studs lining the outside of his right ear and a long dangling chain hanging from his left.
Jomon sighed and said, “Young lady Gera, I would appreciate it if you stopped introducing me to all your acquaintances like that. It’s rather demeaning.” He reached out a hand toward Pakin and said, “It’s nice to meet you, Pakin.”
Pakin took the offered hand, shaking it and saying, “Likewise.”
Oh, that metal is high quality. That whole suit’s impressive. The articulation on these gloves is magnificent. Pakin hadn’t worked on a lot of armor while in his dad’s forge, but there were various metal gloves and protective gear required by various Fuwayama villagers. So, he had just enough knowledge to be impressed by the armaments clamped around his hand. The wrist and backhand cover is beautifully articulated, and the riveting on the glove is gorgeous.
After a moment, he realized he was still holding Jomon’s hand. He blushed and tried to explain, “Sorry, I was just admiring your armor. It’s really well made, and the metal it’s made of is very nice.”
Jomon’s eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise, and he said, “Thank you, Pakin. I crafted this set myself, so I am happy to hear it praised.”
Pakin found himself blushing harder at the man’s attention. He heard Gera let out a pffft of air, turning to face her. He saw that she was looking at him with a hand over her mouth and an amused look. She wiggled her brows again and whispered to him, “Told ya. Hottest spear wielder.”
Jomon pushed the door next to him open and invited Gera and Pakin inside, ignoring Gera’s comment.
Inside, they were met by a young woman in a uniform who greeted them cordially and asked them to follow her. Pakin was surprised when they weren't shown into the main dining area he'd seen from the entrance. Instead, they were shown up a set of stairs and hallways that snaked around towards the back of the building.
Jeeeeeez, this place is fancy. The interior hallways were sparse except for the occasional doorway or inset shelf with expensive-looking decor. Pakin recognized a Sea God's Pearl sitting in a glass case on one shelf, just like the one he kept under his pillow at night. Oh my god, that thing has to be ten times bigger than mine. This is why I was worried about looking shlubby. Gera managed to look utterly unconcerned as Pakin glared a hole into the side of her head, as the fanciness of the restaurant became more and more apartment.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Seated at a table close to the edge and against the railing was a distinguished-looking man who seemed to be in his mid-thirties. The man noticed them immediately, standing up as they entered.
He was short, probably about Gera’s height, and wearing a traditionally styled kimono. His brown hair was tied back in a long, neat ponytail that reached the middle of his back. Even though his skin was pale, a small scar was still visible on the corner of his mouth. His light grey and deep-set eyes stared at Pakin, a gentle smile warming his otherwise intimidating gaze.
Once they reached the table, the man said, “Thank you, Aina.”
The young woman bowed and excused herself from the deck, leaving them alone. Gera walked closer to the man and bowed respectfully towards him, saying, “Hello, master, I’ve returned.”
The man smiled and bowed back as he replied, “Welcome home, little one.” Then, he rose and looked towards Pakin. “Who is this you’ve brought with you?” He asked, sounding like he already had some idea.
Gera rose and gestured for Pakin to come closer. He obliged, feeling a little awkward from the man’s inquisitive gaze. Gera tousled Pakin’s hair, ruining the formal atmosphere from earlier, and said, “This is Pakin, my protege and a student at the Polisher Program.”
I should probably bow, right? Pakin quickly came to a decision and folded at the waist. He held his hands up in the same gesture he’d offered Kintaro and said, “It is a privilege to meet the one who taught my teacher.”
The man bowed, offering the same folded hand and giving Pakin face despite his younger age, and said, “I am Shomei Toshi, and it is a privilege to meet you as well, Pakin.” As they both rose, Toshi chuckled lightly and added, “That’s enough with the formalities. Come, let us sit.”
The three of them sat at the table, and almost as if she were waiting for that moment, the waitress returned with three cups of hot tea on a platter. As she placed them on the table, Toshi said, “Ah, thank you, Aina. It slipped my mind.” Turning to Pakin, he said, “You must forgive me, Pakin, I’ve let my excitement dull my sensibilities as a host. When Gera informed me that she would like to meet and introduce you to me, I was quite ecstatic. Every teacher dreams of the moment their student gains a pupil of their own. Why, I can remember like it was yesterday, my little Gera grabbing at anything with a blade and cutting herself on it.”
“Masteeerrr! Please don’t embarrass me in front of Pakin! He still thinks I’m cool.” Gera whined.
Toshi laughed and waved at Gera in a calming motion.
“Of course, of course, little one. You are a very mature and grown-up woman now! There is no need to revisit such silly memories.” He clapped his hands in realization and said, “Like that time you asked me to teach you a bunch of ‘cool moves’,” Toshi made finger quotes around the words, continued, “and then showed them off to that boy in the park. What was his name again? Toshino, or Torino, or something like that?”
Gera’s face turned red, and she buried her face in her hands as she groaned.
Toshi chuckled at his exacerbated student and turned back to Pakin. His eyes were amused, and he wore an easy smile that Pakin thought looked remarkably familiar. Toshi cleared his throat and stated, “Right, Pakin, enough about my student’s sillier moments. How are you finding Kumo? I’m guessing it’s very different from Fuwayama?”
Pakin nodded and said, “Yessir. We passed through a few towns on the way here, but none of them compare to Kumo. When we walked out of the tunnel, and I saw the valley for the first time, it took my breath away.”
Toshi replied, “Ah, and I’m sure you saw the carvings in the tunnel then.” He leaned back in his chair, taking a relaxed sip of his tea. He spoke contemplatively, “I was born and raised in Kumo, so I always love to hear what people think of my home when they see it for the first time. I like to think that the first group of Kumo-nin and the first Raikage must’ve felt something similar upon entering the valley.”
The Raikage and all those people would’ve just seen the valley below, and the tunnel wouldn’t have been there either. It probably looked a lot like what Gera and I saw from that shrine on the side of Toyokumo.
Pakin voiced part of his thoughts out loud, “I wonder what it looked like to see all those pillars and that huge lake before there were buildings lining the valley.” Pakin considered his own words and added hastily, “Not that the city is ugly or anything. It was beautiful looking down on it from that platform right outside the tunnel.”
Toshi chuckled, “Of course, I understand what you’re saying. It’s an interesting thought. To imagine what this place could’ve looked like before the touch of human hands molded it into something different.” He let that thought hang in the air for a while, Gera pulling her head out of her hands and sipping her tea quietly.
After a few more moments of comfortable silence, several waiters came onto the deck with food trays. Toshi placed his cup down and clapped his hands, saying “Excellent, I hope you don’t mind Pakin, I went ahead and placed an order before you and Gera got here.”
Pakin gaped at the food being brought out. There were piles of fish, plates of lamb, stacks of roasted and glazed vegetables, and more. Pakin closed his mouth before he drooled all over himself.
Gera laughed and said, “I remember the first time you brought me here. I bet I had the exact same look on my face.”
Toshi laughed and replied, “Yes, except unlike Pakin, you didn’t manage to stop yourself from drooling.”
“Masteeerrrr!” Gera shouted as Pakin felt his face heat up at being caught out by his martial grandfather.
Toshi just laughed and implored the two young people at the table, “There’s no room for embarrassment with all this food on the table. Come eat, eat. Our chefs are some of the best in Kumo, and I’ve asked them to prove it to you.”
Pakin grabbed an empty plate and began filling it with food as he processed Toshi’s words. He heard Gera start to tuck in as a thought crossed his mind, and he paused to consider it. Pakin looked around the large empty deck reserved just for them. He looked at Toshi and realized the man’s clothes were very high-quality. Then, he considered the spears outside and remembered two characters.
“Master Toshi,” Pakin asked, “What does your last name mean?”
Toshi’s eyes flashed mischievously as he replied, “My clan reads it as ‘inscription.’ However, many folks confuse it for another word.” Toshi pulled down his right sleeve to reveal a heavily muscled arm, with every inch covered by tattoos. They all seemed to flow into each other or link together in some way, looking slightly unreadable or strange. Except for two characters Toshi pointed to in the middle of his forearm. “Some people read it as ‘signature.’”
