The Messenger

<p>It had been a sunny day, but the crisp air of Autumn hung in the breeze. The Sakura Inn was near the foot of the mountains. Takeo had been training in the hidden garden since dawn, as usual. The ancient training scrolls of his ancestors glowed as he allowed the ice chi to flow thru him. It had taken him years to recreate the train ground of his youth, or at least create a temperate replica (even with his powers, ice and snow still melted this far south). He had trained since he was old enough to walk in the ways of the Ice Ninja clan and had barely begun training his son, Kaito who by this time had snuck inside to meet his father. Kaito tried mimicking his father's movements, often slipping on the cold icy ground into a pile of crimson leaves and snow. <br/><br/>Takeo laughed, inspite of himself as he dusted the snow from his son's clothes. "Keep at it, Little One. Even the greatest Masters and warriors were once babes in the cradle." <br/><br/>Takeo walked along a sheet of ice as though it were a path of dirt and picked up the boy. At barely 5 years old, he was already the spitting image of his father from the crystal blue eyes and dark raven hair to his mannerisms. "Dad, how can you walk on ice without falling on your butt?"<br/><br/>"Kaito, the blood on the Ice Clan runs through our veins. We are blessed by the Ice Goddess at birth with power over Water and Ice if only we let her power flow through us." answered Takeo. He set his son down. "Ice can be difficult to control. You must tread softily and carefully. Close your eyes. Feel the cold, imagine snow and ice, give it form."<br/><br/>Kaito did as he was told. Soon, small snowflake shaped suirkens formed around him. Takeo nodded with approval. He still had a long way to go, but Takeo remembered barely being able to form regular snowflakes. <br/><br/>"Some of the Masters can form multiple weapons, each with a different shape, style and use. You're well on your way, my little warrior." Praised Takeo. He ruffled Kaito's hair as the boy beamed with pride.<br/><br/>"Takeo! Kaito! Lunch!" sang Reisha. She stood by the koi pond in a black pleated skirt and indigo kimono. The father and son hurried into the main garden. Reisha took on look at them and gasped. "Boys! Can you go one day without being matted in snow?! Get inside and change out of those wet clothes immediately!"<br/><br/>"Yes, momma." Answered Kaito. He rushed into the house and to his room leaving a trail of small puddles on the wooden floor behind him.<br/><br/>Reisha shook her head then looked over at her husband. "That goes for you too if you want any food." <br/><br/>"Calm down, my little sakura." Takeo ran his hand down her cheek before leaning in for a kiss. Reisha placed a porcelain finger on his lips.<br/><br/>"Please." She begged with her topaz eyes and ruby lips. "In case you haven't noticed, Kaito is becoming more and more like you everyday. I just want you to . . . "<br/><br/>"Set a good example for him. I know, love, I know." Answered Takeo. "He formed throwing stars today."<br/><br/>"That's good, right? " replied Reisha. She had come from a long line of inn keepers and never set foot near the frigid Mount Shiva. As far as Takeo knew, he was the only member of the Ice Clan she had met. Besides their son. "Any chance he could use it to clean his room or those puddles?"<br/><br/>"It's a start. It will be a while before he can form swords, but I was still trying to form snowflakes at his age. It's amazing how something so small can be so difficult." Answered Takeo. It was amazing a half blood could out progress so quickly. Then again,. . .Takeo stopped there; no point in wishing ghosts back to life. He laughed. "But as far as cleaning goes, don't hold your breath."<br/><br/>"A mother can hope, can't she?" She flashed a playful smile as she escorted him to their room. <br/><br/>"Wishful thinking, but that knowledge is beyond me if it exists ornot." He stripped off this wet training gear into a waiting wicker basket. "Do you want to me send him to Mount Shiva to see if they . . .?"<br/><br/>"I'm not that desperate for magic ice cleaning." Reisha cut him off abruptly. She handed him some dry clothes. "After what you went thru there, I . . . I could never forgive myself if he was sent there."<br/><br/>"So, what for lunch?" Asked Takeo. It was time to change the subject. He sniffed the air and grinned."More sweet and sour short ribs?"<br/><br/>"I've almost perfected the recipe." She helped him into his jacket and tied the belt for him. "Our customers love them, yes, but compared to my sister's, they're nothing. I will cook the best food in the Empire and show Miko a thing or two."<br/><br/>"Dad," Kaito poked his head around the corner. "There's an Imperial messager here to see you."<br/><br/>"Invite him to the table and let him know we'll be out there shortly." Answered Takeo. He looked at Reisha and sighed. "Probably Prince Jia again."<br/><br/>"Considering how much trouble he's gotten into as Crown Prince, I shuttered to think how much he'll be in as Emperor." She shook her head. <br/><br/>"In his defense, it's probably a small two day mission he made up as an excuse to see me. It has been a while." The couple walked side by side to the restaurant's dinning room. <br/><br/>The messenger sat at the thick wooden table with little Kaito sitting across from him. There was no mistaking the green silk uninform. The man rose as Takeo and Reisha came in the rustic room to greet his hosts. He bowed before them. They bowed to the messenger. <br/><br/>"Rise, my friend. Tell me what brings you to our humble inn?" Takeo asked.<br/><br/>"Master Takeo, the Emperor has requested your presence at the Imperial palace in Yukimira." The messenger Said. <br/><br/>"First, a meal. It's a long ride to Yukimira." Takeo greeted his guest. He sat down and motioned for the messenger to do the same. "Besides, my lovely wife has prepared a delicious meal. It would be ashamed for it to go to waste."<br/><br/>"I suppose so. It is urgent though." The messenger agreed. Without a word, Reisha left to the kitchen and returned with several plates. The messenger took one look at his plate. "More short ribs? Why does every Inn keeper love to serve short ribs?"<br/><br/>"What do you mean?" Asked Reisha. She had never gotten that reaction to her cooking before. She looked at Takeo bewildered. He reassuringly squeezed her hand as she sat down beside him. <br/><br/>"Well, every time I have to go thru Basing the Inn keeper there is always serving ribs. Same whenever I go to Wulin and Junku." Reisha's sister ran the Inn in Basing and had cousins in Wulin and Junku. Takeo could only imagine the cooking rivalry went beyond the two sisters. The messenger took a bite. His eyes widened. "These are the best ribs I've had yet! My dear lady, you are a master in your own right!"<br/><br/>"Thank you. It is always a pleasure to serve my guests and Imperial officials." Reisha beamed with pride. One crisis averted, though Takeo hoped that Reisha would start fixing other meals besides ribs.<br/> <br/>"About that messenge; you said it was urgent. Any idea what Prince Jia is up to this time?" Asked Takeo. <br/><br/>The messenger gravely looked at Takeo. "I'm afriad the Emperor requested that he explain the gravity of the situation himself, in person. It does involve the Imperial Crown Prince, but I fear not in the way you would normally expect, Master Takeo."<br/><br/>After lunch, Takeo saddled his horse while Reisha packed his bags. She hid the worry on her face as she searched thru cabinets and draws for anything he might need. Reisha and Kaito saw them off. <br/><br/>"I'll be home before you know it." He gave Reisha a kiss and turned to his son. Takeo kneeled down to the child's eye level. "Kaito, you're in charge of defending your mom and the Inn while I'm gone, okay?"<br/><br/>"Yes, dad." Answered the little boy. <br/><br/>"Just comeback to us safe." Requested Reisha. Takeo nodded and off they went to Yukimira.</p>