The Winter Garden Of The Kakita
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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

Akodo and Ikoma

 From the High Histories of the Ikoma Library
 
Akodo shook the dust from his shoulders and looked about the small town, taking in every detail. He threw himself from his horse and walked her to a tying post, eyeing the bath house. As he stepped across the street, a young boy ran out from behind a small home. He ran straight up to Akodo and stopped only a few feet from him.
 
“Are you a kami?” the boy asked.
 
Akodo smiled and noddd. “Hai,” he said. “I am Akodo.”
 
The boy jumped and made the sound of a crow. “Ha ha!” he said. “Are you looking for samurai?” he asked.
 
“Yes I am,” Akodo replied. ”Do you know where any are?”
 
The boy nodded. “Only one. Ikoma. He’s a samurai.”
 
Akodo asked, “And where can I find Ikoma?”
 
The boy turned and pointed at the sake house at the end of the row. Akodo nodded. “Thank you.”
 
Many hours later, when Lady Sun fell to the Underworld, Akodo went to the sake house. When he stepped through the doors, every man and woman fell to their knees and touched their foreheads to the floor. Akodo suddenly felt the weight of his obi and shrugged. He lifted his sword and gave it to the man standing at the door, who looked at it with trembling eyes.
 
“Do not fear the sword,” Akodo said. “Fear the man who wields it.”
 
The man nodded quickly and took the blade from the Lion’s hands.
 
Akodo stepped forward. “I am looking for samurai,” he said. “Men to stand beside me. Who here is willing to put their skills to the test?”
 
Akodo was used to the silence that followed that question, but this time, it was shattered by an ancient cackle. He looked over the bowing heads and saw an old man sitting in the corner.  Akodo stepped across the room, his steady footfalls making the wood ache under his weight.
“And who are you, that you laugh at…”
 
“You are very funny,” the old man said.
 
Akodo felt his fury build in his belly. “Who are you, old man?”
 
The gray-skinned man smiled, revealing a broken ridge of teeth and only half a tongue. “Me? I am no one of importance. Not in the shadow of such a great lord as yourself.”
 
The sarcasm oozed from the old man’s lips into Akodo’s ears, poisoning his temper even further. “Do you not know your place, old fool?”
 
“Obviously you do not know yours….boy.”
 
Akodo’s fury reached its limit. He reached down and threw aside the table where the old man was seated. “I am Akodo, Son of Amaterasu.”
 
“I know who you are,” the old man said impatiently. “But you do not know me. And how wise is it to challenge a man when you don’t even know his name?”
 
Those words settled Akodo’s anger only a little. “Very well,” he said through clenched teeth. “Tell me who you are.”
 
The old man smiled. “I am Ikoma,” he said. “I am the strongest man in the world, for no man has ever bested me.”
 
“A hearty claim,” Akodo said.
 
“But a true one.” Ikoma grabbed his cane and pushed himself to his feet. “Do you see this?” he said as his long finger touched a deep scar on his face. “I got that scar from an oger’s claw. He was strong, but I was stronger. I broke off his fingers…one by one. And the ones I could not rip off,” the old man grinned, “I bit off.”
 
Akodo saw the glee in the man’s eyes and was suddenly reminded of his brother Hida. The old man continued.
 
“And this scar here,” he said, pointing to a grisly rip down his arm, “I gained when I discovered the geisha I had in my bed was a bog hag. “ Ikoma looked about at those who now watched him. “But she fled the place screaming when I was done with her.”
 
Akodo saw the men nod and the women blush and knew the man was telling the truth.
 
Then, Ikoma pointed to his white eye. “And this eye was lost to me by some man who said he trained under Kakita. “Ikoma pulled a Crane mon from his obi. “Apparently he did not train enough.
“And this one,” he lifted his hair and showed Akodo a long, black scar along his scalp. “This one nearly did me in.”
 
“You were lucky,” Akodo said.
 
Ikoma frowned and hsook his head. “No, the Fortunes have been at my throat my whole life,” he said. Then he looked Akodo straight in the eye and said, “But I beat them too.”
 
Ikoma continued, showing each of his scars to Akodo, and with each scar, the old man told another story. Akodo soon found himself sitting and listening to his tales with a smile on his face.
 
Finally, Ikoma ran out of scars. “I am Ikoma,” he said. “And that is why I am the strongest man in the world. If you want to fight me now, I will fight you. But know this, Son of the Sky; you may win this fight – for every man meets his better, sooner or later – but you will not walk away from it. You will be one eye short, and you’ll be missing a finger or two, but if you are lucky, you may keep all your toes.
“So, if you’re ready, let’s go out in the street. Just you and me. No swords or knives. Just hands and fingers and feet and teeth and we’ll tear each other apart until one of us screams our mother’s name.”
 
Ikoma stopped there and leaned forward a bit. “And know this, Son of the Sky.”
 
Akodo leaned in to hear the old man’s hoarse words.
 
“I don’t know my mother’s name.”
 
The stare between the men seemed to go on forever, until finally, Akodo sat up straight and Ikoma followed suit.
 
“You are indeed the strongest man in the world, and I have no wish to fight you.
“At least,” Akodo finished, “not today.”
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