The Winter Garden Of The Kakita
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          • Chapter 11
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  • Home
  • BLOG
  • RPG Tools
    • One-Sheet Primer to L5R by Katrina Ostrander
    • 5th Edition Opportunity Table
    • Of Dojos and Study >
      • The Kakita Academy
      • Other Clan Traditions
    • Rokugan Local Governance >
      • The Samurai Family >
        • Servants
        • The Samurai House
      • Of Koku: Samurai Economics >
        • Demographics
      • The Structure of a Village >
        • A Typical Village
        • Ashigaru and Levies
      • The Development of Cities >
        • The Layout of the City
      • The Transition to War
      • Courtiers with no Court
      • Clan Variations >
        • Crab Clan
        • Crane Clan
        • Dragon Clan
        • Lion Clan
        • Phoenix Clan
        • Scorpion Clan
        • Unicorn Clan
    • The Influence Game >
      • Creating a Court
      • What is Influence
      • Court Sequences and Events
      • Earning Influence
      • Spending Influence >
        • Rendezvous
        • Favors
      • Sample Courts
    • The Game of Letters
    • Rokugani Clothing
    • Rokugani Food and Feasts
    • The Tea Ceremony >
      • An Index of Teas
    • The Language of the Fan
    • Superstitions of the Clans
  • Fiction from the RPG
    • Stories of the Crab from the RPG >
      • Hida's Gift
      • What Does Not Kill Me
      • Letter Addressed to Akodo Hirano
      • Research of Kuni Mokuna
      • Hida and Shinsei
      • The Beginning of Meaning
      • The Story of Osano-Wo
      • Battle of the Cresting Wave
      • Lion and Crab
    • Stories of the Crane from the RPG >
      • Kakita's The Sword
      • The Lady Doji
      • The Marriage of Doji and Kakita
      • The First Crane Thunder
      • The Legend of Daidoji Hayaku
      • The Origins of the Asahina
      • The Silver Kirin
      • A Soldier's Report
      • To Win a Heart
      • The First Hantei's Bride
    • Stories of the Dragon from the RPG >
      • Mirumoto Hojatsu's Niten
      • The Sword Path
      • The Mysterious Nature
      • Journals of Matsu Chinojo
      • From the Novel Winter
      • Togashi's Secret
    • Stories of the Lion from the RPG >
      • From the Journals of Shinjo Gaemon
      • A Treatise on the Heart of the Lion Clan
      • On a Pedestal
      • A Letter by Akodo Rujo
      • Akodo and Matsu
      • Akodo and Ikoma
      • Akodo and Kitsu
      • Akodo and Shinsei
      • The Death of Akodo
    • Stories of the Phoenix from the RPG >
      • The Measure of Mortality
      • The Journal of Ide Amu
      • Regarding the Death of Matsu Kaiki
      • Observations of Agasha Tamori
      • A Kami on his Knees
      • Shiba's Wife
      • The Lady Asako
      • Battle at Fate Gate
    • Stories of the Scorpion from the RPG >
      • The Honest Scorpion
      • From the Journal of Matsu Sanuro
      • Letters from Daidoji Kukojin to Doji Yari
      • From Kakita Ryoku’s Famous Novel Winter
      • Bayushi's Promise
      • Frog and Scorpion
      • The Betrayer
      • Scorpion Fables
      • Bayushi's Thunder
    • Stories of the Unicorn from the RPG >
      • Unicorn Travel Poetry
      • The Lady's Heir
      • Regarding Shosuro Kenjo
      • Letters from Akodo Toturi to Matsu Kojike
      • A Ride into Darkness
      • Exodus
  • Fan Fiction
    • AEG Timeline >
      • Kaori's Stories >
        • A Ghost Story from Otosan Uchi
        • A Rokugani Fairy Tale
        • A Thousand Wishes
        • Broken Wings
        • Bushido
        • For Today
        • Gekidan Boukire - The Search for Doji Shizue
        • Ill Omens
        • Little Truths
        • Reflections of Honor
        • Shadow Stolen
        • Sunset at the Sake House
        • The Victory Tribute of Daidoji Uji
        • Watching the Heavens
        • War of the Heavens
      • The Stories of Other Writers >
        • Paper Folding
        • Arrival of the Crab Clan Ambassador
        • Forbidden Knowledge
        • The Journey of the Tear
        • A Song of Infinite Sadness
        • A Letter from the Scorpion - And Response
    • Children of Kashiwa Arc >
      • Beginnings
      • A Letter to the Fox Clan & Makoto - Complete Sincerity
      • March of the Kitsune
      • Words Against the Shadow
      • A Fox in the Works >
        • Chapter 1 - A Fox in the Works
        • Chapter 2 - The Way of Things
        • Chapter 3 - Maiden's Hand
        • Chapter 4 - Three Little Riddles
        • Chapter 5 - What Dreams are These
      • I Have Known Fireflies
    • Onyx and Ivory Arc >
      • Background for the Onyx Empire >
        • The Events of Winter Court 5
        • Between Winter Court and Empire Reborn
      • Who is Doji Arami
      • Light in the Leaves
      • A Hard Road
      • Kyoumi's Stories >
        • Jealousy (A Beginnings Retelling)
        • Snowflakes
        • A Piece of Truth (A Retelling of A Fairy Tale for the Scorpion Children)
        • The Crane Wife
        • A Horror Story
        • Bright and Precious
      • Kibo's Stories >
        • A Life Offered
        • A Life Taken
        • A Life Given
        • Mirror's Edge
      • Empire Reborn Arc >
        • Birds in their Nests >
          • Chapter 1
          • Chapter 2
          • Chapter 3
          • Chapter 4
          • Chapter 5
          • Chapter 6
        • The Banner of the Shogun
        • School Days >
          • Chapter 1
          • Chapter 2
          • Chapter 3
          • Chapter 4
        • Chasing the Wind >
          • Chapter 1
          • Chapter 2
          • Chapter 3
          • Chapter 4
          • Chapter 5
          • Chapter 6
          • Chapter 7
          • Chapter 8
          • Chapter 9
          • Chapter 10
          • Chapter 11
          • Chapter 12
        • Ditched >
          • Chapter 1
          • Chapter 2
          • Chapter 3
          • Chapter 4
          • Chapter 5
          • Chapter 6
          • Chapter 7
          • Chapter 8
          • Chapter 9
          • Chapter 10
          • Chapter 11
          • Chapter 12
          • Chapter 13
          • Chapter 14
          • Chapter 15
          • Chapter 16
          • Chapter 17
          • Chapter 18
          • Chapter 19
          • Chapter 20
          • Chapter 21
          • Chapter 22
          • Chapter 23
          • Chapter 24
          • Chapter 25
          • Chapter 26
        • Duty of War >
          • Chapter 1
          • Chapter 2
          • Chapter 3
          • Chapter 4
          • Chapter 5
          • Chapter 6
          • Chapter 7
          • Chapter 8
          • Chapter 9
          • Chapter 10
          • Chapter 11
          • Chapter 12
          • Chapter 13
          • Chapter 14
          • Chapter 15
          • Chapter 16
          • Chapter 17
          • Chapter 18
    • FFG Timeline >
      • The Lady's Last Journey
      • Tales of Golden Petal Village >
        • The Story Begins
        • The Emperor's Road
        • A Summer Squall
    • Clan Wars: The Storm >
      • Storm Rising
      • Storm Breaking
      • Calls the Lightening >
        • The Fires of Otosan Uchi
        • The Iron Citadel
        • The Battle of Beiden Pass
        • Flight of the Crane
        • A Higher Cause
        • Fire and Smoke
        • Lost Souls
        • The Battle of Asahina Fields
        • A Flash of Lightening
        • The Day of Thunder
    • Stories from the Jesters >
      • Winter Warfare
      • Toturi and Mikio
      • Reju's Return
      • Careful Planning
      • A Political Water Conflict
    • 1000 Years of Darkness >
      • 1000 Years of Darkness - Go Not Gently
    • Empire of the Emerald Stars >
      • Shinwa - Space Ronin >
        • Benjiro's End
        • The Field of Dreams
        • Catching Dragonflies
        • The Lantern Arc >
          • A Plea from the Lantern
          • The Shinjo Shipyards: Recruiting
          • Flyby the Lantern
          • Gennai's Garden: The Aftermath
          • Gennai's Garden: Late Night at the Hotel
      • Called Away
      • Hope is a Butterfly
  • Rokugan Mixology
    • Crab Mixology
    • Crane Mixology
    • Dragon Mixology
    • Lion Mixology
    • Phoenix Mixology
    • Scorpion Mixology
    • Unicorn Mixology
    • Others Mixology
The Winter Garden Of The Kakita

A Summer's Squall

“Be wary.  A storm is coming.”  The old man didn’t look up from the basket he was weaving, his gnarled fingers bending and twisting the wet strips of bamboo.  He was seated on a blanket on the side of the road, under the shade of one of the golden-petaled cassia trees, now golden with summer. 
 
“Now you are making things up, Old Man.” The village assistant magistrate standing next to him scanned the horizon, but the sky was a perfect, cloudless cerulean blue that stretched from the glittering rice paddies to the east to the dark rolling hills to the West.  “There’s not a cloud in the sky.”
 
“As you say, Doji-sama.” The basket-weaver looked up with a toothless smile.  “Believe me. Don’t believe me.  It makes no difference to the rain that is coming. These old bones know the truth.”
 
Doji Ienobu snorted.  “Makes no difference to me, Maito.  It’s just rain  If there’s a storm, Golden Petal Village will weather it.  We always have.” The village basket-weaver was not often wrong, he had to admit, but rain did seem very unlikely on such a beautiful day.  The bushi scanned the western horizon a second time, and his eyes narrowed.  There…. a cloud of dust, kicked up by the hooves of a horse, most likely.  Well, it’s not rain…  He straightened his kimono and shifted his grip on his spear, ready to confront this lone horsemen when he finally arrived.
 
“Halt!  What brings you to Golden Petal Village?” 
 
The newcomer was dressed in the simple garb of a merchant, his hat pulled low over his face.  His voice, thoughtful, but deep, still sounded very young.  He handed over a set of travel papers. “I’m traveling to Kuyden Kakita.”  He paused, and added, “I ran into some bad luck in Lion Lands.”
 
A quick glance at the papers, and Ienobu’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.  That voice…it was too young for a travel-worn merchant.  The horse was weary, but a fine specimen. The cast of its rider’s shoulders was proud..too proud.  “Show me your face,” the assistant magistrate ordered.
 
In the distance, a low rumble of thunder echoed across the cloudless sky.  From his blanket on the side of the road, the basket weaver looked up.
 
After a moment of hesitation, the rider lifted his head and tipped up the broad-rimmed straw hat that had concealed him.  White hair framed a handsome, stocky face with proud eyes of pale, watery blue.  A young face. A face Ienobu recognized.  It was not that long ago that he’d caught this young man visiting the cassia trees following the Topaz Championship, fresh from his gempukku.  Ienobu instantly stepped back and bowed deeply.  “Doji Kuwanan-sama!” 
 
Beside him, Maito pressed his face to the ground.
 
Kuwanan sighed.  “Sounds like rain is coming, and there is no need to keep the disguise up now.  Take me to Kashiwa-sensei.”
 
Doji Ienobu shot the basket weaver an incredulous look.  Then, shaking his head, the assistant magistrate answered “Hai, Doji-sama,”  as he led the brother of the Crane Champion to the home of the village Sonchou, Kakita Kashiwa.
 
Maito gave a toothless smile in return and gathered up his supplies.  Not even his old bones could tell when this storm would end.
 
---------------------------------------------
 
Golden Petal village was a mere two hour’s ride from the famed Kakita Academy.  It had been under the projection of a single family for as many generations as anyone could remember.  The line of Masarugi held an unbroken line of Kenshinzen dating back to the early days of the Empire.  Many members had taught iaijutsu at the Academy, leaving the running of the village to the shōya, or headman, and assistant magistrates and yoriki like Ienobu.  But most evenings, the current Sonchou, Kashiwa, could be found here, in the village, with his wife and young children. 
 
“Doji-sama, you honor our home.  Please, enjoy this meal and take your ease.”  Kashiwa Nishoko, bowed deeply to young man, and to her husband, before laying out small plates of soup, noodles, and finely prepared vegetables before the two of them.  She bowed again and then retreated, shooing away the two small children who peeked around the shoji screen with wide and prying eyes to see the family’s honored guest.
 
The heavy summer rain beat against the engawa walkway that surrounded the home.  And look what this summer storm blew in, Kashiwa thought as he considered the young man who knelt opposite him.  After thanks were given to the Fortunes for this bounty, the two began to eat. Kashiwa noted the injuries to Kuwanan’s side as he reached for each plate, and the still-healing bruises on the young man’s wrists, as though he had been bound.  Still, he ate with courtesy and restraint, as should be expected.
“It is good to see you again, Kuwanan-sama.  There had been no word of you since the fall of Shirei Mura.” He nodded at the younger man’s merchant’s garb.  “Though it looks like you have traveled an interesting road.”
 
“Indeed.” Kuwanan’s answer was short and evasive.  “It is a story for another day.  Where is my sister?”
 
“I do not follow the fronts as closely as I should, but I believe that the command group camps on the Osari plains near Three Trees, and she is with them.  Will you go to her?”
 
“Most likely.  Has there been any further word regarding the murder of my father?” Kuwanan’s voice was grim, and made the iaijutsu sensei wary.
 
“I have heard none.  There are Emerald Magistrates staying at the Kyuden..  They can tell you more.” He lifted a bowl to conceal his expression as he drank his soup, then lowered it again.  “Toshimoko-sensei is teaching senior kata briefly before returning to the front, but has little interest in dealing with them.  Yoshi-ue is, of course, in Otosan Uchi, as his Karo.”
 
Kuwanan looked up.  “Kakita Yuri-san is in the capital?  What of his daughter?” 
 
Kuwanan feigned only casual interest, but Kashiwa was not fooled.  “It is for that reason that Yuri is in the capital.  He pleas for support to free Asami from the Lion.  They have taken her hostage.”
 
The thundercloud that hovered over the young man darkened…more anger, and disappointment.  “No help here, then,” he muttered to himself, though Kashiwa pretended not to hear.  Kuwanan finished his rice and set down his plate.  “Is there any other news of the Empire I should know before I approach the courts?”
 
Kashiwa sipped his tea.  “The Emerald Championship has been decided.  Akodo Toturi defeated Bayushi Aramoro in the final rounds.”
 
Thunder rumbled outside.  “Of course a Scorpion was in the finals,” Kuwanan said darkly.
 
“I heard it was a masterful blind stroke that finished it,” Kashiwa answered, keeping his tone neutral. “We have high hopes. Toturi is known to be an honorable man.  It was decided that Toshimoko-sensei not compete.”
 
Kuwanan did not reply.
 
The rain continued for two more hours before the summer squall faded away, leaving the air fresh and cool with the smell of growing rice. 
“Fortunes favor you, Kuwanan-sama,” Kakita Kashiwa bowed as he saw the brother of the Champion as he pulled on his travelling cloak to make the final push towards Kyuden Kakita, and from there, perhaps, the fields of the Osari Plains.
 
Kuwanan returned the bow.  “Fortunes favor us all,” he offered, the traditional reply.
 
As his horse left along the muddy road towards Kyuden Kakita, a pang of grief struck the Iaijutsu Master, though he could not determine its source.  He was glad to see this young man, who once he had, however briefly, instructed in the way of the blade.  He was happy to see he lived. But  there was a darkness now about the serious young man, the pain of loss, that was new.  Perhaps it was merely a boy growing into a man, and learning that the world did not shine as golden in the sunlight as it did in the stories.  Disillusionment was always a bitter song.
 
Or perhaps this song was darker still.

All Kashiwa knew was that he would do whatever it took to protect Golden Petal Village, and those travelers who passed through it, no matter what storms that summer brought in.

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