I vouch for him
“Imamu?” Kirabo asked after recovering from his fall. “What just happened?”
“It seems that Zecora managed to convince him to do something.” Spike replied.
“I got that, but what?”
“I have no idea, but for her to... act like that it must have been something important. She always seemed so wise and mysterious.”
“Heh, wise and mysterious? Adanna?” He asked jokingly.
Spike just stared at him. His attitude brought up a lot of questions, but before Spike could ask them Imamu, having placed Zecora down, spoke to Kirabo.
“Kirabo. After some careful deliberation, I have decided to allow Spike to join the Black Sun as a kurutu, placing him under your care.”
Kirabo looked up at the giant figure of Imamu staring at his face, trying to make sure he was serious, he was.
“Imamu... I cannot take him as my kurutu, he...”
“You will take him. I Imamu Sagoma order it.”
“No.” He said defiant.
“You dare question the order of an Imamu?”
“Great imamu...” He said pointing towards Spike. “He is not of ours.”
“Many of the greater ones were not.”
“Great imamu... while that may be true, all of them were picked by Thema herself or had someone vouch for them.”
“I am the Imamu, and I vouch for him.”
Kirabo looked at him and angrily shouted, “YOU CANNOT.” Before calming down and continuing. “Your chuo, your student has not taken the oath, nor is she dead.”
Imamu’s eyes were now red with anger, as opposed to his natural orange.
“I am sorry Imamu, the Laws of the Firsts say that you cannot vouch for two at the same time.”
He paused.
“Find a jelani to vouch for him and I will train him.”
“KIRABO.” Imamu shouted angrily causing the entire cave to shake,
“NO IMAMU.” He shouted back.
“The Laws of the Firsts are sacred.” He placed his hand on his sword’s hilt.
“AND IT IS OUR DUTY TO PROTECT THEM.” He squeezed it tight.
“I vouch for him!”
Kirabo’s grip loosened as he turned and looked at the one who spoke.
“You. You are still a chuo, you cannot vouch for anyone.”
“I am Adanna. I am Zecora, Adanna Zecora, second in command of the Black Sun. And I vouch for him.”
“You have not taken The Oath. You are free, you command nothing and no one.”
“I challenge you,
For my title I put on the line.
And you are not going to argue,
I know you will be inclined.
Are you prepared to accept?"
“As much as I would love to stop calling you Adanna. You still can’t vouch for him.”
“Then how about this,” Imamu spoke and both of them turned toward him. “If she wins you will vouch for the dragon.”
“Hey I have a name you know.” Spike tried to but in but was completly ignored.
“And if I win?” Kirabo asked raising an eyebrow.
“If you win you get to be Ikenna.”
“Hmm... Ikenna Kirabo chipo Otieno... I accept.”
“Excellent.” Imamu spoke. “Battle shall commence when Zecora’s body is restored.”
“No.” Zecora said. “We shall fight,
At the first sign of daylight.”
“You cannot be serious, you are still recovering.” Imamu tried to convince her to wait.
“If that is her wish, I accept.” Kirabo said. “As much as I would enjoy seeing you at full power, I cannot wait to take that title away from you... So you can truly be... free.”
It was quite a sight to see, as well as to hear, and almost feel, as the giant beast that was Imamu Segoma facepalmed.
“You two haven't changed a bit in twenty years.”
Both of them smiled sheepish at him before turning to face each other.
“Tomorrow at sunrise.” Kirabo said grinning.
Zecora returned the grin and nodded in confirmation.
“Wonderful, now if you will excuse me I need to find a fresh pair of blades for the occasion. Nothing but the best for our great Adanna.” He departed with a spring in his step.
Imamu was still rubbing his forehead when Kirabo disappeared from sight,.
“Just like old times.”
“Are they going to kill each other?”
“I don’t think so, maybe not.” Spike hoped he was joking.
“But regardless of the outcome, tomorrow you will witness a dance like no other.”
“A dance?” Spike asked confused.
“A dance.” He replied smiling.
It did not answer his question. He looked around hoping that Zecora could provide a better one, but the filly was nowhere to be found.
“Zecora?”
“Do not worry, she just ran to her hut to get her stuff... Now of to bed with you, tomorrow is going to be a long day.”
“Fine.” He asked while he was stretching. “So where is my bed?”
Spike looked at Imamu, then at his hand, then at his finger, and finally at the place the finger was pointing towards.
“You have got to be kidding me.”
Imamu was pointing towards the pod Spike was in earlier.