Chapter 14

A/N: "Under Construction" is my excuse for not quite knowing what to say yet, or being under a timecrunch to post the Chapter.

Chapter 14 - Sparrow's Teacher!! Gramps-Sensei!!

How Things Work: The Triads
UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Act 1, Scene 1 [Court of Nobles]
Prince Irakura: With my permission, the Grand Tournament will be held in Kachigoru this year, under the joint care of our own Tuma and Bepo. I expect all of you to contribute. You wouldn't want to fight against the unity of this people, would you?

Scene 2 [Hall]
Noble Tuma: Zen!
Noble Zen: Yes, Tuma?
Tuma: Do you think you'll be able to find representatives?
Zen: Ah... I'm not sure. The monks have never really been good at getting the people together.
Tuma: I have a team who can represent your Clan. As a matter of fact, it'd be a large favor if it worked out this way... Please, let me help you!
Zen: Oh? Um, alright. Thank you!

Scene 3 [Moresuke]
Sparrow: Alright, team. We have 2 days to train.
Atana-Sensei: Er, Sparrow? I can't train without a partner who's good at Chisazu.
Sparrow: Everybody except Atana-Sensei has 2 days to train. Then, we set out for Kachigoru. Koiki, you can train with anybody you want, as long as they challenge you. You might need several partners, actually... Jyakuge, if you want to train you should go down to Devil's Gulch. Yu Yan, you're free to practice archery wherever you want, as long as you're practicing.
Jyakuge: And what about you? How are you training?
Sparrow: I'm going to see Gramps!

Scene 4 [Generals' HQ]
[Aside] Tuma: It's a good thing there's an entire hour between the Nobles' and Generals' meetings. Normally, Nobles meet with their Generals and debrief them, but I have extra time to get things in order. I am new around here after all...
Irakura: Tuma?
Tuma: My Lord?
Irakura: You're new so we need to explain a few things. Marore, why don't you explain?
General Marore: There are 12 Generals and 1 High General. Currently, 4 Generals and the High General are entrenched in Dracoa. This is why Irakura presides over our meetings instead of High General Sukaru. 2 more Generals were sent as reinforcements some time ago, and 2 Generals are watching over the battle at sea. Here, in Norea, there are 4 Generals. Yourself, Generals Hanzo and Gozen, and myself.
Tuma: I see...
General Gozen: I'm glad that a General for the Kachyu Clan is still here, instead of Hanzo replacing you. Don't get me wrong, Hanzo is a great General. It's just that, in my experience, the Kachyu samurai are among the fiercest of fighters when properly motivated.
Tuma: Indeed they are! You'll get to see some of that ferocity during the Grand Tournament!

Scene 5 [Moresuke]
Sparrow: It's been forever, Gramps!
Gramps-Sensei: Yeah. You only ever visit me when you need something from me.
Sparrow: Oh...
Gramps: So what is it this time?
Sparrow: I need a fencing partner. I'm a participant in the Grand Tournament!
Gramps: Wow, the Grand Tournament, eh? That's big stuff.
Sparrow: But that's only half of it. Atsura's captured. I'm going to try and use the Tournament as a front to rescue Atsura.
Gramps: I'll help your fencing, but you need to remember the most important thing: never go alone. You need the support of friends if you ever hope to accomplish anything.
Sparrow: Atsura may have been capture because I forgot that...
Gramps: Remember when you first showed up here, over a year ago?
Sparrow: Yeah.

Scene 6 [Moresuke, 1 year ago]
[Enter Sparrow]
Sparrow: Hi there! I'm Sparrow.
Gramps: Whaddya want?
Sparrow: How do you feel about our Prince, Irakura?
Gramps: Don't care. But I hear the Mayor has a grudge against him.
Sparrow: Perfect! Where's Town Hall? I need to speak with that man!

A Quick Look At ~ Gramps-Sensei
Gramps' children both died during the civil war. After that, he stopped caring about the state of the world, and quietly retired to Moresuke. When he met Sparrow, he was shocked because of a resemblance to his grand daughter. He took interest in her plight, and taught her that she should always keep her friends close. Apparently, he is an expert swordsman.

Next time, learn the story of Sparrow's arrival in Moresuke! There's a guy called Burei, and what's more, he's a member of the Kuzaya! How will Sparrow deal with such a dangerous enemy?