In his mid-to-early 20s, Kakita Daiatsu felt a sudden calling. A strange disembodied voice told him he needed to make his way to Kyuden Togashi. Taking only the bare minimum, and leaving his ancestral daisho behind, Daiatsu left for the mysterious dragon castle.
Since there are no roads leading to Kyuden Togashi, Daiatsu had to make his own way there somewhow. The climb was arduous, and when he finally reached the top, cut and bruised, his pristine kimono in stained and in tatter, he was surprise to realize that someone was waiting for him there. Togashi Basho was here to welcome Daiatsu and give him his tattoo. On that moment, Kakita Daiatsu was reborn Togashi Suzume, a member of the Ise-Zumi.
Togashi Basho briefly trained Suzume before telling him that he needed to travel the empire and find his own way. So, Suzume did. He first went back to the Cran Clan, feeling he needed to give explanations to his family and especially his fiancée Asako Tumie. Strangely enough, everyone were very understanding, and even if they did not quite understood Daiatsu's reasons for leaving, they at least respected his choice... almost as if Togashi-Kami had already explained everything to them... Oh, there were still people who were upset, but they still respected his decision.
Feeling he had many things in common with his cousins among the Sparrow Clan, he decided to visit there next. The Sparrow peasants and samurais were glad to see the Ise-Zumi come and visit them and help them cultivating their rough and non-fertile lands. As such, Togashi Suzume will always be welcomed in the lands of the Sparrow.
Suzume travelled to many of the other Clan's lands, both major and minor, meeting with people and learning from them before making his way back to Kyuden Kitsuki juste before that year's winter court. There he met the Scorpion courtier Bayushi Gangoro, and the Dragon courtier Kitsuki Jianguo. The Bayushi was fascinated by Togashi Suzume, a man who had left a life of luxury and opulence to join a relatively poor clan, and an ascetic order to top it all! It became a popular game for this winter court for Gangoro to try and figure out Suzume as the both of them shared many a go game.
When that winter court ended, Suzume heard the disembodied voice again, telling him to return to Kyuden Togashi as he would need to greet someone. On his way there, he accompanied Kitsuki Da-Xia, Jianguo's little sister, as she had business to conduct at a village near Kyuden Togashi.
When he arrived at Kyuden Togashi, Suzume somehow knew exactly where he needed to wait, and that he had to bring along a tattooing kit with him. After three days and nights of waiting, a young, small woman made her way up the mountain. She had the exotic look of the newcomers Unicorn Clan, and her purple kimono was shred and stained, very much like how his was over a year ago. He greeted her and knew he had a tattoo for her. The image was perfect in his mind: an intricate snowflake design. After receiving her tattoo, the young woman took the name of Togashi Sakura.
The two had become master and student. The disembodied voice had informed Suzume that it would be that way. Three months into Sakura's training, and angry samurai-ko of the Unicorn clan came stomping up the mountain. She confronted Suzume and demanded that he released her sister. Suzume informed the battle-maiden, Otaku Reiko that nobody was holding her sister hostage, that she was here of her own volition after having heard Togashi-Kami's call, like all Ise-Zumi. Sadly, this answer did not seem to please the fiery battle-maiden who bloodied Suzume's nose before leaving and informing Suzume that things were not over between the two of them...
For years, master and student have been travelling the Empire, sometimes with Da-Xia in tow as it would seem she often had business in areas near where the master-student pair were heading. Suzume did not mind as Da-Xia was good company, and her brother was a good friend of his. From time to time, there would be a confrontation with the angry Otaku Reiko seeking to "free" her sister, but escalation always seemed to be avoided, usually by Suzume letting Reiko punch him to vent frustrations...
Last edited April 6, 2020 5:05 pm
