Legend

The surface of the pond was besieged by minute tremors, mere breaths of motion, idle creases of silver distorting the surface as the pond rippled so faultily, that the whispered shadows of silver, gold, crimson, and alabaster were lost for a breath. When the silver waters had calmed once more, there came a joyous squeal of innocence, and a minute, plump hand once more dove into the chill waters, making a spontaneous grab at the darkened shadows of meditative koi as they fanned their fins liked overheated, elegant women at a masquerade ball. With a flicker and sigh of their tails, the bright jewels would flash from side, only to gaze out with eyes the shade and shape of harvest moons from beneath a lily blossom. Giggling with the pure sound of genuine innocent amusement that can come only from a child, the dark haired child clapped her hands in delight as the fish once more drew from the shadows, only to be chased back again by the pallid flash of her hand as she sought to capture their sun-kissed brilliance for herself. However, she soon tired of her sport, as is the way of children, and instead drew herself with an inquisitive air to Kane, watching him with dark, solemn eyes.

The rasp of stone upon steel was a methodical melody, and she drew closer, sucking a thumb with a mild, contented air, eyes darting like startled koi as she focused on the bright shine of steel. Kane halted for a moment, his task forgotten as he smiled at the child. “Hello, bijin,” he greeted softly, parting his arms. The youth returned a toothless smile, but evaded his reaching grasp, only to lay hands on the katana resting in his lap. She pulled with a sharp air, until the sword’s tip pierced the breast of the earth. With a delighted grin, she enfolded her minute hand around the hilt, a strange air about her as she did so. Her eyes took on a solemn air, yet still sparked within inner flame and wonder. Kane chuckled and gently removed the sword from her grasp, tousling her hair as she did so. Toukon slumped visibly, the smile vanished from her face, brief as summer rain. However, her eyes alit once more upon witnessing Katsuro. Katsuro lazed within the warm jade of the grass, golden eyes veiled against the warmth of the noonday sun, his silver-white chin resting upon the bare feet of Kane, fur plagued in a cascade of pink cherry blossoms. With yet another sequel of open delight, Toukon flung herself across the length of the great cat with a grunt, burying her face in his silver fur and burbling happily to herself as she seized double-fistfuls of his gleaming pelt. For his part, his coiled muscles merely shuddered with the slight increase of weight, before he shut his eyes and purred with an audible, rumbling air.

At length, Fëanor arrived, sliding the double binary panel of the door shut as she ventured into the gardens. With a gentle smile, she deftly seized the sword from its cradled position in Kane’s lap, and seated herself in its stead. “You’re awake,” he observed as she smoothed back his hair and planted a kiss atop his head. She nodded, suppressing a yawn. “Indeed.” She then turned a amused gaze upon Toukon, who had managed to leap astride Katsuro, minute feet digging into the feline’s side an a vain attempt to urge the feline to rise and walk forth like a horse. Katsuro pinned his ears to his tapered head in annoyance, shaking his broad head from time to time and shooting a rather pleading glance at Kane, who merely smiled and fluttered his hand open and closed in a mocking greeting. With a rumble, Katsuro rolled to his feet. Toukon slapped eager feet into his sides in wild triumph, burbling “K…k…” though speech eluded her, it was clear that she was urging the great cat onward with all the authority a child can muster. With an agitated flick of his tail, Katsuro pressed on, with Toukon astride, giggling with delight as Katsuro bore her once around the garden. When at last he came to a halt, he gave a buck of his hindquarters, dislodging the small girl with an audible thump. Kane and Fëanor looked up sharply, concern clouding their gaze. Toukon sat in silence for a moment, lip trembling, though she did not cry. Not at first. However, when she did at last cry, it was a wail of a breaking heart. Before either Kane or Fëanor could rise to comfort her, Katsuro bathed her face in rough licks. Toukon looked upon him slyly seizing a twig in one hand and piercing Katsuro’s chest.

Katsuro toppled over onto his back, to all outward appearances quite dead. This façade lasted not long at all, for no sooner had he rolled to his back, than the child seized his whiskers and pulled, causing the great cat to yowl. Toukon giggled. “She’ll make an impressive warrior someday,” Kane commented. “Not even a year old, and she already aches to handle a sword.” “Consider who her father is, that is not surprising in the least,” teased Fëanor. The two leaned in to share a kiss, but were quite rudely interrupted as, with a minute wriggle, Toukon squeezed in between them, demanding to be held. With a chuckle that ended in a sigh, Fëanor obliged. Toukon yawned vastly, her head resting against Fëanor’s chest, her eyes beginning to drift closed. When at last Toukon abandoned herself to the realms of slumber, all was silent. For a moment. With the sound of breaking air, a silver ninja star embedded itself into the thick bark of the old cherry tree, gleaming with a cold, ethereal light in the last rays of the sun.