The carriage wasn't even fully stopped before Hiroshi threw open the door and ran out. The climb down from the carriage made him stumble a little, but he recovered quickly. His legs pumped and the weeks of working them out carried him quicker than the gerbil had ever run before. He heard Ezra shout something, but it didn't quite register. It didn't matter what the old grump said, Hiroshi didn't hurt himself. He didn't trip up the horses or anything. There was only one thing that mattered.
"MOOOOM," he yelled as loud as he could just before his short, round form slammed into Hikari.
"Hiro -" she didn't finish the word before, just like always, the round gerbil slammed into her midsection. Only this time, while she used to brace herself and hold herself up to his crashes, this time, she fell back. Her small form sprawled backwards and all of Hiroshi's weight crashed down on her as he followed her to the ground.
The smaller form stood there, mouth agape and eyes open wide in surprise. "Hiroshi, what…" Asami didn't get to finish either. She was pulled down into the dog pile on their mother by Hiroshi.
He squeezed both of them tightly together, his face buried in his mother's body. His body shuddered when his mom's and sister's arms came around him in return.
"By the kami, the boy went mad. He did wrecked them," Ezra yelled down to Nishikigi, who barked a laugh.
Itaro just stared out of the window, watching the display from his junior, confused. "What's going on?" He looked over at Nishikigi.
"Oyakata sent off to pick up Hiroshi's mother since they live so far away. I think they actually got to town last night? This was all planned," Nishikigi said with a broad smile.
Itaro just smirked and nodded his head. "Nice. He's been missing them. Come on, let's go help," he said as he climbed out of the carriage when Ezra finally got the horses to stop just a few feet away from the dog pile on the side of the road.
"Well, that wasn't exactly planned," Nishikigi said and pointed at the clump of people on the ground. "Yeah, we better," he said and followed Itaro out.
"Oh wait! I have something for you!" Hiroshi jumped to his feet. "I made it," he said as he went through the front gate and up the walkway into the house.
"Wait, Hiroshi, you need to help with the… Ugh, forget it," Ezra shook his head and reached down to help Hiroshi's mother up.
"Welcome to the Hajima stable. I'm Ezra. Sorry about that," he said as he helped the woman to her feet with a smile.
Hikari gave a small laugh and brushed off her kimono. "No, no, it's fine. I'm glad he was so excited to see us," she said before she crouched down to help Asami get situated as well.
"Yeah, but he didn't have to be so rough," the small girl said and puffed out her cheeks. "Boys," she said dramatically and shook her head.
Hikari smiled and nodded her head. "He's excited to see you," she explained.
Ezra just gave a small laugh and nodded his head before folding his arms against his chest. "We don't get any better, I'm afraid, young lady. So, what's your name?"
The girl looked up at the old man and smiled. "I'm Asami. Hiroshi's younger but obviously much more mature little sister," she said with a confident nod.
The other two men, seeing everything was in hand, set about getting the stuff they purchased from the markets. They walked past Ezra with their hands full. "Don't worry, you get these guys situated. I'll send someone out for the rest of the rest," Nishikigi said.
Ezra just waved the two down and crouched down to Asami. He smiled and nodded to the young girl holding out a hand. "Well, it is good to meet you. I'm sorry we didn't teach your brothers any manners while he's been staying with us," he said with a grin.
Asami shook Ezra's hand and nodded her head. "It's alright, I know my brother well enough. It's being expected."
Ezra gave a laugh and stood when Hikari gave a small laugh. "Sorry for her. I told her she was to be a proper lady while we were here. Think it went right to her head," she explained with a small smile.
Ezra waved the concern away. "It's no worries. It'll be nice to have a proper lady around after dealing with all these brutish sumo wrestlers," he said with a wink at Asami.
As the three of them spoke, a few other men came out to get the rest of the groceries. They stopped and bowed softly as Hikari while they introduced themselves. It was Udo and surprisingly Yoshitaro who came out. Though when Yoshi learned who the woman was, he glowered and went away from the little group without another word. He grabbed a few bags quickly and then left to go inside.
"Sorry about him as well, he's uh… well, he's the difficult one in the house," Ezra explained when Hikari watched Yoshi leave with a curious glance.
"Mom, here I got it," Hiroshi yelled, and interrupted any further conversation about the stable bully.
Hikari knelt down when her son came rushing out towards the walk again to look and see what had him so excited. "What is it my little gerbil?" She asked him.
He offered a small wooden box to her. Asami gazed at it before she pouted and crossed her arms. "No gift for me?"
Hiroshi ignored her and Hikari just laughed at the young girl.
"Open it," Hiroshi said. "I've been working hard on it. Master Botan gave me some very special wood to help," he explained as she opened the box.
Hikari's eyes grew wide, and she pulled the small wooden sculpture from the box. It was just as Hiroshi wanted. A small rose on its side was held up by some small pieces on a pedestal. The wood Botan gave Hiroshi to remake the piece was a deep colored wood that seemed to have a natural polished look to it. It was intricately carved and Hikari almost couldn't believe that Hiroshi's stubby little fingers were able to carve such a thing. The carving for the pedals went deep so that it almost looked like he carved the entire pedal out and stuck it back on somehow.
"Sorry, I wanted…" Hiroshi started, but Hikari cut him off.
"No, it's beautiful," she said and looked at her son while her eyes got glassy. "Thank you, my little gerbil," her arm reached out and pulled Hiroshi into her embrace.
Asami just watched the ordeal and rolled her eyes before she turned to Ezra. "Gooey family stuff," she said and shook her head. "Come on, pops, why don't you show me the place?"
Ezra looked down at the girl, and Hiroshi looked up at Ezra. The look of pure shock and disbelief at what the girl who just moments ago was trying to be prim and proper just said.
"Uh…" was all the old curmudgeon could say.
Asami stared up at him and shrugged before she walked up the path to the stable's front door herself. Hiroshi's mother had objected to Asami just barging into a house populated with large men who fight for a living.
"No, it's okay, mom. Most everyone is getting stuff ready for the cook-out. Besides," Hiroshi said as he ran to catch up to his little sister. "I'm with her. It'll all be okay."
Hikari just stood there and watched before she gave a nod and a smile before she watched them leave. Ezra stood next to her and gave her a nod and a smile. "Hiroshi had a rough start in the house, but he's been doing well. He's well liked. Even the Master took a shine to him and has been giving him extra attention," he explained with a nod of his head.
They walked towards the house and spoke a little about what Hiroshi had been up to, and general life in the stable. The siblings, however, had already made it inside and Hiroshi began showing his partner in crime around the stable.
"Okami, we have visitors. This is my sister, Asami." Hiroshi said as they entered Auntie Yi's domain.
The stable mom was standing in the kitchen with her hands on her hips, looking over Huan and a few of the other younger ranked disciples, including Itaro. When she heard her title being called, something she definitely wasn't used to hearing, she turned towards the voice with a frown. The frown instantly turned right way up when she saw Hiroshi and the younger girl he had that followed him.
"Now, your sister can call me Auntie Yi as well," she said with a nod down to the little girl. "It's a pleasure to meet you Asami, but we're pretty busy in here. Why don't you go show her outside? Maybe the Oyakata will have something for you to do." Auntie Yi finished and looked at Hiroshi.
The pair took their leave from the kitchen with a bow of their heads at the Okami and Hiroshi set off to show his sister the rest of the house. The only place they didn't go was the training room. Hiroshi explained he wanted to show her and their mother that at the same time. He was rather proud of the area that he had been working so hard in and really wanted to show his mother the area.
When they finally went out to the backyard, they found most of his stablemates lounging around and relaxing. The Oyakata stood over a large open fire that had a metal grate sitting over it held together with some rocks. Next to him stood Ezra and Hikari and the three of them were chatting while Kenjiro was cooking various meats over the fire.
Auntie Yi was sending out vegetables, and side dishes with the people Hiroshi had seen in the kitchen. Everything was set down on a large table they had set up by where the Oyakata was cooking. He was flipping meat and fish and adding vegetables like sliced peppers, asparagus, and even some green beans to the grill and let everything get a nice char flavor it before he pulled them off and set them in dishes.
"Come, come, start eating. Some of the fish is ready and. vegetables. The meat is almost ready as well," he said and waved at everyone.
"Come mama, let's sit over here?" Hiroshi said and took his mother by the arm. He led her over to his favorite little spot on the bench under the large crooked tree. "And let me and Asami make you a plate,' he said once she took her seat on the bench.
Hikari gave a mod, and the pair was off.
The food was all good. It was only cooked by Kenjiro, and with a heavy watching gaze from Auntie Yi. She had pre seasoned everything and did most of the actual work in the kitchen before she sent the things out to be cooked by the stable master. Hiroshi especially liked the fish they had served. There was grilled octopus and squid, as well as some tuna.
Any differences between any of the people who lived there had, was set aside for the night. Even Yoshitaro was mostly agreeable with everyone. There was a feeling of goodwill between everyone as they ate and joked around with each other. Hiroshi mostly stayed with his mother and sister, however, so excited to see them. Itaro joined them once all the food was actually done being made.
The air was a little warm, but it cooled once the sun set. The air turned crisp and a feeling of excitement and nervousness flooded the area. Tomorrow was the start of the new tournament. The Spring Tournament, the tournament of the Emperor. It was the biggest tournament of the year at the heart of the Empire.
"Alright then. We're close to the theater house. We should get going," Botan called over everyone, and the crowd hushed. "The theater promised to give a good show tonight. Apparently, they have a special guest. All the stables should be there, so I expect you all to be on your best behavior." He said this and gave a side eye to Kenjiro with a slight grin.
The Oyakata smiled and raised his hands in surrender. "Yes, yes, but that goes double for the rest of you," the stablemaster called out.
Botan nodded his head. "Go on, get dressed. We leave in ten minutes."
They were seated in the middle of the theater. As the stable, which housed the winner of the last tournament, Nishikigi, they got the best seats in the house. Nishikigi sat in the third row, right in the middle of the large theater. Kenjiro and Botan to his left, and he allowed Hiroshi and his sister and mother to sit next to him on the right. Everyone else was scattered around the middle section that the Hajima house had claimed as their own.
The theater was huge. It was the biggest and most popular theater in all the capital. Hiroshi couldn't believe the amount of gold and jade that decorated the building as they walked in and around to their seats. They were on the bottom, but there were large private balconies over them on either side. He figured the Emperor and those sorts of people must be in them. Rich people.
There wasn't anything wrong with the seats they were in at the moment from what Hiroshi could tell, though. They were high back comfortable chairs with thick cushions sewed into the seat under silk fabric. Hiroshi felt like a king sitting there between his mother and one of the two yokozunas.
They saw the Oyakata from the Ichimon stable when they entered, and Kenjiro purposely stayed away from the man. Botan instead moved to greet Kaisho. The man, or any of the people from that stable, didn't make a scene or anything. Ren was the only one who even made a sneer towards any of them, which, of course, was directed at Hiroshi. The gerbil ignored it and went off in the direction that led further into the theater with his mother.
The stage itself was as opulent as the rest of the theater. Massive structure just a few feet away from where Hiroshi now sat. Large curtains came down from the ceiling and he wasn't sure what sort of fabric it was, but it looked like better material than the kimono he now wore. In the middle of the stage, was a lone man who stood there and looked over the crowd with a soft smile.
The man was short, and a little rounder than was quite normal in the midsection. Not quite like a sumotori, but he didn't seem like the kind of man to turn down good food or drink. The man had a shaved head and wore black outer robes with gray inner. He had a chin beard and wore thick rimmed black glasses. He held his hands up to the crowd to silence them.
There were some shushes and a few more moments of quiet chatter before everyone got the message. Everyone in the theater looked up to this man, and Hiroshi heard Botan whisper.
"That's him," Botan almost shouted the word before he went quieter after a glare from Kenjiro. "That's Ami, the storyteller. I can't believe he's here."
Oyakata held up a hand to silence his assistant, and eventually Botan did. Hiroshi didn't know who Ami was, or why Botan was so excited to see him, so he just concentrated on the figure on the stage.
"Welcome to the Emperor's Theater. I am your story teller for the evening, Ami. It's wonderful to have all the sumotori here. I saw Nishikigi and Zoichi walk in," Ami said as he motioned towards them both.
Lights came down from the ceiling and centered on the two yokozunas sitting in the crowd, and Hiroshi gasped. The boy tried to squeeze over closer to his mother as he tried to avoid being in the spotlight as much as he could. He looked up while Nishikigi gave a wave and clapped his hands together before he bowed his hands to the man.
Hiroshi couldn't quite figure out how or where the light was coming from. He figured it was a cultivator of some kind using aura or even mana to make the focused beam of light. The fact that he stared right up into it, though, didn't help, and just blinded him for a moment. By the time Hiroshi was done rubbing at his eyes and looked back up, all the lights in the theater had been shut off. The only ones still lit were behind or above the stage to illuminate it.
The boy scanned the stage and found Ami had left the center of the stage and was now off to the right side, sitting on a tall stool. The man looked relaxed and happy before he spoke once more. "Now, since tomorrow, the Spring Tournament begins. Allow us here at the Emperor's Theater to present the story of the original Sumotori; Kentaro."
He paused once the crowd applauded. Hiroshi was right there with everyone else. He loved the story of Kentaro. The mortal sumotori turned Kami. The man saved the town Hiroshi was from. Not only that, but handled the entire sport that brought most if not all the people in the theater together for tonight.
Hiroshi sat on the edge of his seat. He had been to theater shows before, but with the occasion and being in the capital at the most noteworthy theater, they will put on an excellent show. Between the use of cultivators, and then with someone Botan was so excited to see? Hiroshi could barely contain his excitement.
"In the beginning there was a fierce war Kami known as Kenichi…" Ami's voice grew louder than it was before as he began the story.
As he spoke, someone ran up on stage dressed in warrior's garb. Full armor and helmet with a stylized mask that covered the lower half of his face in the shape of a dragon. Behind this man wasn't an army like with what happened. That would be impractical. Instead, they had a few men dressed as soldiers and then more people offstage yelling and shouting.
Hiroshi blinked. Then he squinted. Was there an entire army at the man's back on stage? He felt something he couldn't quite grasp playing with his eyes. When his hands went up to rub at his eyes and blink, he heard Botan's voice come from his spot a few seats over.
"They have an illusionist. A cultivator who trains in illusion. It's very rare," he said lowly.
Nishikigi gave a nervous chuckle from beside Hiroshi and put his hands down at the same time as Hiroshi.
"I don't think I like that…" he said lowly. Hiroshi could only nod his head in agreement.
"Like I said, it's very rare. They must be powerful to trick the minds of so many in such a large space…" Botan said, looking around the theater. All around people were doing much like Hiroshi and Nishikigi were. They rubbed their eyes and shook their heads in disbelief.
"Then maybe not. I don't think they expected any cultivators to be in the audience. Just mortals like yourselves. Might not be that hard to manipulate the aura in the room," Botan said before Ami's voice rose once more, continuing the story.
"The Great War Kami came to the gates of a small town on an island just outside of the Empire. Kenichi had spent his time defeating lands to the east of the Empire and now it was time for him to test his mettle, but first he figured he would take care of this island," Ami said.
As he spoke, the actors were positioned and acted out his words. Hiroshi saw props move around as Ami set the scene as well. The walls of his hometown were set up. They floated through the air, no doubt being moved by some sort of cultivator in the background.
"You can't come in! We shall defend our home and defeat your army!" someone shouted. The actor was dressed plain in shirt and pants standing in front of the walls of what was supposed to be the town.
"The lord of the town wanted nothing more than to protect his land and his people, but Kenichi's army was so great he knew he didn't stand a chance," Ami told the story.
"Don't worry, my lord. I shall protect the city," another actor called and stepped out from the side of the stage. This one was a large man, hulking and barrel chested.
This drew a snort from Kenjiro, who, until now, was silent. This drew a look from those around him. Even Hiroshi looked at him with a cocked eyebrow. When Nishikigi elbowed the Oyakata and went to question him about the abrupt noise, he simply put a finger in front of his lips and shushed the yokozuna. Nishikigi gave a little chuckle and looked back up at the stage.
When Hiroshi looked back up to the stage, Kentaro and Kenichi were locked in a grapple. Around the two on stage were some people dressed in the same style as Kenichi. Full armor and war banners flew behind them. On the other side was dressed as regular people, wearing robes or pants and shirts. They were cheering for Kentaro, yelling his name and calling out words of encouragement.
The men in the middle broke apart, and Kentaro advanced towards Kenichi. His arms pushing and thrusting out. The man even got in a slap to the kami's face before relocked in another grapple. This time, though, Kentaro had Kenichi by the belt. It only took the mortal a moment to lift the larger brutal looking kami from his feet and throw him to the ground.
The current scene once more drew a snort from the Oyakata. "It didn't happen so fast," he mumbled. This time, everyone ignored him. Or well, tried to. Hiroshi noticed Botan gave Kenjiro some side eye, but this was the best part, so Hiroshi focused back on the stage.
A man in all white robes and a staff walked from the left side of the stage. Kenichi's army parted to let the man threw and advance on the kami. The new person, Hiroshi, couldn't really tell if he was supposed to look old or young. He somehow looked young, but the mustache and long eyebrows were only ever seen on seniors well past the primes of their lives. He looked like one of the old cultivation masters that sat on top of their mountains in the stories.
The man looked over at the two who just fought. Kenichi was still on the ground and looked up to the hero, Kentaro. Everyone on the stage stayed silent as he looked over the scene.
"Well, this is disappointing," the man finally spoke.
"Father," Kenichi said before he climbed to his feet.
This drove the mortals into action. Hearing the Kami call this man father drove everyone else to their knees prostrating themselves in front of Rei. Rei was the father of the kami. No one was exactly sure if Rei was a god or just an all powerful kami. There were stories that said both about the one the kami called father.
Rei didn't spare a second glance at Kenichi, instead, he moved over to Kentaro and put a hand on his shoulder. "You did a great thing here today. All of these people put so much belief and hope into you." he motioned to the mortals in front of the city walls. Not only that, but you saved them. Their hope in your was justified," Rei said with a nod and a smile.
"Welcome," he continued and put a hand on Kentaro's shoulder.
There was then a bright flash from the back of the stage. It blinded the audience for a moment who struggled to clear their eyes. Hiroshi rubbed and blinked. The flash was the brightest thing he had ever seen. When he could focus in on the stage once more, he ignored the floating worms he had in his vision and scanned the stage.
There were only two people on the stage now. The old man in white robes, and Kentaro. Kentaro, though, had changed. Instead of wearing the plain drab gray heavy loincloth he had come out in, he now wore a brilliant purple mawashi. His hair that had been roughed up in the fight was once more freshly greased and the topknot in prim and proper form.
"Welcome to the family," the old man said with a smile before he walked off the stage in the direction he had come.
Kentaro gave one last look over the audience with a broad smile on his lips. He gave a firm, confident nod and then turned to follow Rei off the stage.
Once they were both gone, the lights came up a little around the theater and the heavy curtains fell from the ceiling. Ami stood out in the middle of the stage once more and had his hands resting on his belly, and he had a soft smile on his lips above his beard.
"Thank you for coming tonight. I hope you all enjoyed the production," he said as he looked around the room. "Good luck tomorrow to all of those competing in the tournament. May Kentaro and Rei look over you and give you the strength you need. Those of you hopeful Sumotori," he said, and Hiroshi got the distinct feeling the storyteller looked right at him.
"You can do it. You can do what you need to do," he said with a confident nod that matched Kentaro's on stage just a moment before. There was what appeared to be a puff of smoke, and when it cleared, Ami was gone.
Hiroshi looked over at Nishikigi and then at Kenjiro and Botan. Nishikigi just looked like he enjoyed the story and was nodding his head. Botan looked like a kid in a candy store. Hiroshi couldn't really believe what he was seeing. The usual gruff, rough assistant coach had the look of pure and utter glee. His wide smile and bright eyes looked over at Hiroshi.
"Can you believe we saw a story told by the famous Ami?" he asked, his smile undiminished.
Kenjiro looked sad, however. He looked longingly up at the stage and with a shake of his head, he glanced at Botan.
"He could have told the story better," he said shortly. Kenjiro stood and looked around at all the people in his stable. "Alright then, we have to get back. It's going to be an early morning for everyone," he commanded.
Just like that, a switch flipped in Botan and his glee left and the normal gruff, commanding assistant coach came back out. "You heard the Oyakata, everyone up. Let's try to get out of here quickly," he said and climbed to his feet.
Most of the other people from the stable were already on their feet, speaking of the show in hushed tones. Most people liked it. Sumo wrestlers always liked the telling of Kentaro the first Sumotori. Botan and Kenjiro rounded everyone up and kept ushering them towards the aisle and then the exit. They paid no heed to the opposing stablemaster, or any of the others, for that matter. Everyone seemed to keep to themselves as they hurried out of the theater. It was going to be a big day tomorrow.
Hiroshi walked side by side with his mother, and Hikari was carrying Asami, who fell asleep halfway through the play. They talked a little if they liked the play and what they thought of it. When Hikari asked Hiroshi if he was excited or nervous for the following day, Hiroshi just went quiet. They walked the rest of the way in silence with only soft chatter amongst some of the other wrestlers or the clapping of their sandals against the stone walkways.
It wasn't until everyone was inside and Ezra was going to show Hikari and Asami their room for the night before Hiroshi spoke again. He looked up at his mother, held her hand, and frowned.
"I just want to do good for papa," he said.
Hikari melted and while she juggled Asami in her arms, she wrapped an arm up around her son. "Don't worry, my little gerbil. Your father would be proud. You've done well, and no matter what happens tomorrow, you can remember that," she said before she leaned down to kiss him on the forehead.
"Right, besides. He's the shoo-in, in my book," Ezra said with a grin. "The boy has it in the bag as far as I'm concerned," he continued before he started off towards the staircase. "Alright then, your room is up here on the top floor. I think the Oyakata Kenjiro has your room right next to Nishikigi, so hopefully he doesn't snore too loudly for you."
She gave a small laugh. "I'm sure it'll be fine," she said as she followed him up the stairs.
Hiroshi went up with Huan and Ansei just a few minutes later. The three of them nervously stayed silent as they walked and went to bed.