The Wheels on the Empire (D12, ME)

[Seppun Sadako]

"Jihen-san," Sadako says, "I would have you as a councilor. I value your judgment and your discretion. But there are some things that cannot be said."

She takes a deep breath, holds it, releases it.

"I can say that Bokushi was a different man in another life, and one of importance to many. More than that, I cannot safely say, even I, even here."

[Jihen]

"I would never ask beyond what you are willing to share." Jihen replied with honest warmth.

"Those we lose who are important to us leave a resonance, no matter who or what they were in life. I knew the man only briefly, but I could feel the strength of his persona on the world around him."

He asked, "How do you think one could best honor his memory?"

[Seppun Sadako]

The ghost of a wistful smile lifts the corner of Sadako's mouth.

"There's a temptation to emulate his incorrigibility," she says. "He was most refreshingly frank. But, then, he was favored of the Throne, so perhaps he had some leeway in that."

She sighs.

"I know he was not of your order, Jihen-san. I am less familiar with the ways of the Seven Thunders sect than with the Four Temples."

[Jihen]

"The Shrine of the Seven Thunders is far enough away from the rest of the that its followers often forget the niceties of shared society." He replies with a soft smile.

"Being incorrigible in public may be frowned upon, but in private I think it quite admirable. Sometimes we lock ourselves into patterns of thoughts that are best combatted by a blunt object heaved with great force."

He then tilts his head, "We are in private here... You can be as incorrigible as you'd like."

[Seppun Sadako]

Sadako raises an eyebrow at Jihen.

She says nothing.

[Jihen]

"No?" He asks with a smile on his face.

"Then let me tell you a story...."

There was once a revered master named Janpo who was known for his deep wisdom and his even deeper mischief. His students came from far and wide, hoping to unlock the secrets of enlightenment. But Janpo had strange methods.

One day, a serious young monk named Tenshin approached him and said, “Master, I have studied the Tao, meditated for years, and still, I do not understand the nature of enlightenment. Please, tell me plainly.”

Jampa nodded solemnly. “Ah, enlightenment! It is like a donkey chasing a carrot tied to its own tail.”

Tenzin furrowed his brow. “So… it is always just out of reach?”

Janpo laughed. “No, it is ridiculous!”

The students muttered among themselves. Was the master mocking them? Tenshin insisted, “Please, Master, I need a real answer.”

Janpo sighed, picked up a cup of tea, and threw the hot liquid directly into Tenshin’s face. The young monk yelped in shock.

“What did you learn?” Janpo asked.

“That tea is hot!” Tenshin exclaimed, wiping his face.

Janpo clapped. “Yes! And just like that, enlightenment!”

Still stunned, Tenshin asked, “So enlightenment is… pain?”

Janpo shook his head. “No! It is direct experience. No words, no thoughts—only what is!”

Tenshin, now 'enlightened', bowed deeply.

Later that evening, Janpo was heard chuckling in his quarters. His assistant asked, “Master, what is so funny?”

Janpo wiped tears of laughter from his eyes and said, “I just threw tea at a monk, and now he thinks he’s enlightened!”



Jihen smiled softly, "It's not bad to not take ourselves too seriously on occasion..."

[Seppun Sadako]

Sadako smiles softly.

"That's true enough," she concedes. "And levity is not an ill, in itself."

[Jihen]

"Without it we would miss an important part of life. We would not understand the reasons why we cry when we are both happy and sad. Laugh when amused or in pain. These emotions are linked within us... and with understanding, all things are one."

He smiled softly, "You can be as frank or incorrigible as you please with me at any time Lady Seppun. And if you require that of me, I'll be as vile as a foreign sailor in a bar with too much to drink."

[Kasuga Izumi]

"Foreign sailors, Jihen-san?" Sadako asks. "You've been spending time with Kasuga Izumi again, haven't you?"

[Jihen]

"I cannot say I have been so fortunate. I merely go off of what I have heard." He replied with a smile.

"Though... from what the tales say. They are a bit more hairy than someone like me." He rubbed his hand atop his head and smiled.

"I would need a wig and a fur suit if I were play the part properly."

[Seppun Sadako]

Sadako laughs at the comment.

"It does take some imagining," she says.

[Jihen]

He smiles warmly in return.

"One would be so lucky to occupy the Lady Seppun's imaginations even in such an unflattering light and even for a moment."

[Seppun Sadako]

Sadako looks at Jihen quizzically again.

"There you go again, Jihen-san, trying to talk me up. I'll have to get a bigger hat if you keep doing that."

[Jihen]

"When I am out acting like a foreigner I'll have to purchase just such a big hat from one of them."

He gestured with his hands at the size of a ridiculously large hat.

"One of those in the pictures with a giant feather coming from the top."

[Seppun Sadako]

Sadako tries not to laugh. She really does. But this roll, she fails.

Something about it just strikes her fancy, and she laughs and laughs, a tear welling out form the corner of her eye.

[Jihen]

A warm expression, followed by a smile and a laugh through his nostrils accompanies the Lady Seppun's laughter.

Today he again made her laugh... Despite all the darkness, that was sure to mean something.