Gonten stepped into the Yaroka garden. They had just arrived here, after two days of walking at a leisurely pace. Gonten wondered if they could go to Gael, spend a week or so there, and be back in time for him to meet Hassai when he returned.

Gonten felt split inside. Did he even want to meet the man again? A part of him wanted to meet him, but the rest of him didn’t want to. Inaki hadn’t been alive long enough to even remember Hassai, but Gonten had been six years old when he had left for his sage’s pilgrimage.

“Come on, get ready, no food if we don’t work,” Takehito said.

“You are the son of my father’s master aren’t you,” Gonten said.

“Yes,” Takehito said.

“Have you met my father?”

“Yes. Very recently in fact.”

“Did he say anything about Inaki or I?”

“I don’t remember,” Takehito said smiling.

“What?” Gonten said. “You don’t remember your conversation with one of the strongest swordsmen in the world?”

“Well, he tried to challenge me, and I won. I don’t really look for conversation after I defeat a swordsman with my shears,” Takehito said. “Well enough stupid talk, let’s get back to work.”

The two of them stepped into the garden. This was a more barren garden, with few twigs here and there and with patchy grass. This would be the opposite of the lessons that Gonten learned in the monastery in Tomoka.

“Time to carry in the seeds,” Takehito said. “You’ve got a lot of bags to carry, so come on quick.”

The monastery for the Yaroka was somewhere in the middle of the city, the garden was at the back entrance of the place. Nobody was there in the garden, since most of the monks would be at meditation at this time.

Gonten thought that Takehito was strange, he never sat and meditated like a monk, he would muse like a monk, act like a monk, just would never pray like a monk.

Gonten stepped out. They had to carry in several bags of seed, even though they would only be using a few, to keep the rest in storage. After all this wasn’t farming.

“Most of these are seeds that will thicken the grass, that is the first priority, thick, yet short cut grass looks best,” Takehito said.

Takehito and Gonten exited the garden through the gate. The alleyways here were too small for carts to fit through this place, which is why they had to walk five minutes away from the monastery garden to the cart of seeds.

They reached the cart, and saw that in the cart, except the seeds was an unkempt boy. His long hair was not tied and loose, covering his face. He wore white swordsman’s robes, but they had turned almost entirely brown. In his lap, he had a wooden practice sword.

He looked at the two of them and jumped off the cart.

“I reached,” He said weakly, then using his practice sword like a cane began walking towards Inaki. The boy once again looked at Gonten, then looked at Takehito, and he suddenly began standing straight. He pulled his hair behind his head and tied a quick pony-tail.

It was Inaki. Gonten couldn’t help but hold in a laugh.

“What is so funny,” Inaki said standing up straight. He was still recovering from his wounds, so he looked like a beggar who had lost a fight. No one would believe that this man was Inaki-son-Hassai of the Tomoka.

“What happened,” Gonten said.

“I needed to catch up with you,” Inaki said. “I needed to catch up to him.” Inaki pointed at Takehito.

“I see,” Takehito said. “So, you think that just because I am Ganryu’s son I will train you?”

“Yes,” Inaki said. “Only one as skilled as you or your father could teach me how to defeat a Platinum in less than a month.”

“So you have walked into the enemy's nest,” Takehito said, “In hopes to train here to defeat him in his own home?”

“Yes,” Inaki said.

“Well, not the dumbest thing you’ve done,” Takehito said. “It would be the dumbest thing if you actually went and challenged him.”

“Not if you train me,” Inaki said.

“Now that you’re here, help your brother pick up these bags of seeds,” Takehito said, and walked into the alleyway.

Inaki looked at Gonten, then walked up to the cart and picked up a bag of seeds. “When did you become so obedient?” Gonten said.

“I obey my teacher,” Inaki said, holding three of the heavy bags. Gonten picked up one of the bags and began walking through the alley.

“So, the defeat still stings, huh?” Gonten said. Inaki was completely silent, groaning under the weight of the seeds. About ten minutes later, they found themselves standing outside the monastery garden, where they saw Takehito talking to himself.

“Picking up a single seed is extremely easy, picking up a whole bag of them, not so easy, you see the power of unity,” Takehito said. “Nah, too typical, oh you both reached.”

“What was that about,” Gonten said.

“I spend a lot of time coming up with the musings I tell you,” Takehito said. “But I won’t talk too much about it, otherwise it ruins the magic. Now anyways, time to plant.”

“Will you train me in the sword,” Inaki asked, after putting down the bags of seeds.

“Not sure,” Takehito said. “Though if you want a hot meal, you’re going to have to help us.”

Inaki softly grunted and began working alongside Gonten and Takehito. Takehito walked up to Gonten and whispered into his ears, “Have you ever seen him smile.”

“I don’t think I have,” Gonten said.

“You would think someone with his talent, his skill, would be happy all the time,” Takehito said. “Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“I don’t know,” Gonten said, throwing the seeds on the ground.

“These grass seeds are special, the monastery paid good money for them. By the next morning, they should be as long as the rest of the grass here, and by two days from now, they will have completely overtaken the grass here, then we’ll chop the grass,” Takehito said. “Inaki, your favorite part will come soon.”

They walked around the field throwing seeds on the ground, making sure that they got every spot. Gonten did not enjoy this hard work, but enjoyed the feeling of the warm sun on his back, the smell of the earth and the grass, the wet feeling of the soil on his bare feet. The potential of the field.

He had been a gardener only for a few days and already found himself imagining how amazing this garden could look in a few years. Unfortunately, he wouldn’t be here for that. He would only be here to see some grass.

He told Takehito about these feelings, and the man responded by saying, “Oh, we’ll return soon enough, It will take a few months more for these flowers to grow, and once we’re done with our contract in Gael, we’ll return here.”

“When are you leaving for Gael,” Inaki said, his first utterance in a while of working.

“Oh, a month from now,” Takehito said. “This monastery said they’d cover my trip expenses with Gonten if I make their garden look like a place Okan would want to reside.”

Gonten and Takehito continued working in the garden. They were jolly and singing, while Inaki seemed to have a perpetual scowl as he worked. Inaki usually just had a straight face, but he seemed to really hate the field, but he didn’t voice any of his concerns.

After working hard from noon till evening, they walked into the monastery for food.

“You need a change of clothes,” Takehito said. “Some advice, black robes are the best during travels. As you can see, white robes become visibly dirty much easier, how long were you traveling?”

“A day,” Inaki said.

“Your white robes make you look like you have been traveling for a year,” Takehito said. “Hey, can you give my friend here some extra robes?”

A monk walked over with fresh clothes, Inaki walked into a room while the two of them continued towards the food hall. It wasn’t the largest room in the world, but it was enough for Inaki to change, and get a few minutes of shut-eye. A few minutes later, Gonten saw Inaki walking into the foodhall while they were being served dinner.

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They sat in rows and ate the food. The monastery food was extremely bland and everyone ate in complete silence. Gonten wasn’t really used to eating this way in silence, but he didn’t speak.

Inaki looked the most comfortable in the silence. He finished his food quickly, spoke to a monk at the head of the room and was quickly gone.

“Where has he gone,” Gonten whispered.

“To sleep,” Takehito whispered back.

“Are you going to actually train him,” Gonten asked.

“I should,” Takehito said. “Otherwise he will go to the Yarokas in his current state and get killed.”

“You think he can actually match up to Taral,” Gonten whispered.

A monk sitting next to Gonten shushed him, “Savor your food, thank Okan for the sustenance with every bite.”

“Sorry,” Gonten said.

“We’ll talk about it later,” Takehito said.

----------------------------------------

Inaki fell off his bed.

“Time to wake up, boy,” Takehito said. Inaki was always on time. He slept on time, and always woke up on time. So he knew without a doubt that the sun wasn’t out yet.

“Give me a second,” Inaki said.

“Done,” Takehito said.

“What,” Inaki said.

“One second,” Takehito said, smiling.

“What are you five years old,” Inaki said standing up.

“Yes, a five year old, who is here to teach you the sword,” Takehito said.

Inaki instantly became aware. “I am sorry.”

“Oh, it’s fine,” Takehito said. “Now come out.”

“On my way,” Inaki said. Inaki quickly dressed up, and arrived in the garden. He looked around him and suddenly the barren field was already looking much more lively.

“Do you like the grass,” Takehito said.

“Yes,” Inaki said.

“Why do you want to defeat the Yaroka,” Takehito said.

“For my honor,” Inaki said.

“And why is your honor so important,” Takehito said.

“Because it is not just my honor at stake, it is my father’s honor.”

“Okay, I will accept whatever reason you give for now,” Takehito said, pulling out his shears. “I am going to tell you this, even my father wouldn’t be able to train you to be able to defeat a platinum from not even having a steel blade.”

“I know,” Inaki said. “Just train me enough to defeat a Diamond, and I’ll be good enough.”

“That’s like saying, don’t train me to fly, just train me to jump into the clouds,” Takehito said. “I most likely won’t be able to do that either.”

Inaki knew that. Inaki knew that he probably wouldn’t win, but he would rather die than have his honor disgraced like that. He felt the long dagger that he still wore under his robes. His hidden weapon.

“Who has been your master before,” Takehito said.

“Nobody,” Inaki said.

“What?” Takehito said.

“My father wrote books,” Inaki said. “I taught myself from those, occasionally asking the masters to explain things I couldn’t understand.”

“So in essence, your master is your father,” Takehito said.

Inaki touched his sword, and heard Hassai’s voice enter his mind. He said, “Yes.”

“I believe that the only way to learn that fast is experience,” Takehito said. “So attack me.”

“Just like last time?” Inaki said.

“No,” Takehito said. “This time I won’t use just the handles.”

Inaki felt a stab of fear going down his spine. How could he be so scared? Why did he spend the last day working in a garden like someone inferior? Why did he need to ask this man to train him, when it should be an honor to have him as his student?

Inaki bit back his doubts, and ran at Takehito. Takehito swung his shears, holding one of the handles, the other handle swung at Inaki’s head, Inaki blocked with his wooden sword. Takehito twisted his arm, and the blade of the shears came at his eyes.

Inaki stepped back, barely dodging. Inaki smelt blood dripping down his nose.

“Do you still want to continue,” Takehito said.

“Yes,” Inaki said.

By the time Inaki couldn’t get up, the robes that the monks had given him were in tatters. He had more shallow wounds on his body than he could count. His wooden practice hadn’t even touched Takehito.

“That was good,” Takehito said. “Time to begin working the garden once more. We have to plant flowers today.”

Inaki hated the day. He begrudgingly worked the garden. He hated every single second. It wasn’t that he hated hard work, no he was better than that. What he hated was the fact that he was a swordsman, he wasn’t a gardener, he shouldn’t be working a garden. They walked around planting seeds. It was tiring to work in the sun, but it was nothing compared to some of the training routines that Inaki undertook.

Once they were done in the evening, Takehito walked up to Inaki.

“Time for the second part of your training,” Takehito said.

“What is it,” Inaki asked, eager to start training with the sword after having to work in the filth.

“I’ve been hired at a nobleman’s garden nearby here,” Takehito said. “You are going to hedge bushes.”

Inaki sighed and began following Takehito. Maybe this is just like attacking a dummy

They reached the garden, and the two of them walked into them. The client was standing in the garden, and watching. Inaki looked at the client and a chill ran down his spine.

“Oh, that’s my friend, Itto-son-Taral Yaroka,” Takehito said. “Just one of Shinra's two brothers.”

“What?” Inaki said. “Are you trying to get me killed?”

“Open your hair,” Takehito said. “Don’t worry, he won’t recognize you in tatters and covered in soil.”

The two of them stepped into the garden, and Takehito stepped towards Itto. “Hey, Takehito, how’s the old man?”

“Still alive, at least I think so,” Takehito said.

“Good, good,” Itto said. “So, now that you’re a gardener, who’s gonna be the next Sword-Sage of the Koji?”

“Don’t know,” Takehito said. “I take half the payment in advance.”

“Okay,” Itto said, “Who's the animal you have with you?”

“Animal?” Inaki said.

“You look like you want to kill everyone and everything around you,” Itto said, laughing. “Young swordsman, what are you doing with this waste of talent?”

“Oh, he’s a runaway, living with me for just a meal and a place to sleep,” Takehito said.

Inaki wanted to scream at him, but didn’t.

“Oh so you’re a failure,” The man said. “Did you lose your sword?”

“Yes,” Inaki said. “It broke in my last duel. Which as you can see, I lost.”

“Ah, so saving up for a new sword are you?” Itto said.

“Yes,” Inaki said.

“Well, then I’ll leave you two to work my garden,” Itto said.

“Go on,” Takehito said, then walked to Itto and began having a conversation with him that Inaki couldn’t really hear the beginning of. He stepped closer and eavesdropped on the two of them.

“I asked you to bring Inaki to me,” Itto said.

“I am sorry, he refused to leave Tomoka,” Takehito said.

“Tomorrow is Shinra’s fortnight,” Itto said. “Please make this garden as beautiful as possible for it.”

“I will,” Takehito said. “I apologize for my friend’s son’s actions.”

“The only apology will be his head on a plate,” Itto said.

“I hope that you get him soon,” Takehito said. “And I hope you forgive him when you do.”

“Only a crazy monk could say something like that,” Itto said. “You keep being you.”

Inaki felt a chill run down his spine. But, he had an idea. Those bastards were going to bury Shinra here, and he would make sure that they would be able to bury Shinra in a place worthy of him. If Taral could walk in and throw dirt on Inaki’s honor, then Inaki could do the same to his son.

“Okay,” Takehito said, “Now, I am going to work here, which is the important part, these bushes need to be removed anyway, so you can work here. Try to make these bushes look like the bushes that I make.”

“Okay,” Inaki said. “I don’t have a metal sword to cut through this.”

“Don’t you have some sharp metal tool, let’s say a long knife that if it was any longer would qualify as a sword and be illegal for you to carry,” Takehito said, comically holding his chin and tapping his forehead. “If only you had such a tool.”

“That’s oddly specific,” Inaki said, uncertainty in his voice.

“Well, you’re in luck, because I have such a weapon,” Takehito said, handing him the knife that Kashim had given him.

“What,” Inaki yelped, feeling the inside of his robes. His knife was still there. “How?”

“Well, it was difficult to get that knife in one night, but you’ll be surprised, the markets of Yaroka are really nice,” Takehito said. “Can you give it back once we’re done, I have to return it to the store, I don’t have enough money.”

Inaki handed the knife back to Takehito then drew his own knife and stepped up to the bush.

“Why were you trying to keep that weapon a secret,” Takehito said, as he began hedging an overgrown bush.

“You don’t fight with rules, when you haven’t even had your swordsman’s ceremony yet and your opponent is a step away from Sage,” Inaki said.

“Well yes,” Takehito said. “Anyways, practicing with that knife will be useless since it has a different balance. I’ll go ask Itto for a sword to borrow.”

Takehito came out with a steel sword, Inaki held it in his hand. Except for briefly holding Gonten’s sword, this was the first time that Inaki had actually held a real sword.

“Time to start working,” Takehito said.

Takehito began hedging bushes, and Inaki tried to reproduce them, failing each time.

“You’re even a failure as a gardener,” Hassai whispered to Inaki. Inaki tried to ignore the voices in his head, and stepped forward, trying to hedge the bushes again.