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

Bushido

  by Kakita Kaori
Set sometime

Breath.  Each tiny quiver in the air is mine.  Each warm exhalation, from the first scream of an infant torn from his mother's womb to the last sigh of the aged monk on his deathbed...each is mine.  Each sound, each whisper between lovers in the dark, I rule.    Each battlecry is my domain, just as the birds of the air are my servants and the  winds of heaven my ship to carry me across the vastness of this world.  All of these are mine.

It was I who heard Doji Kanuto murmur into his lover's ear.  "I will protect you, Izuko-chan.  I am only a simple painter, painting pretties for the court, and no warrior like those found in your clan.  But I will protect you with my life...on this battlefield, or against the hordes of the Shadowlands themselves, or I will give my life trying." 

It was I who carried her merry laughter to the waiting ear of the Scorpion nearby.  It was I who, with a fierce gale, muffled the sound of an assassin's footsteps.  I tasted her last breath.  I dried his tears.

And it was I who rang with taunts and jeers as he mounted the steps to the top of the Wall.  He knew the ways of court enough to understand contempt.   "Pony..." the word hovered around him as he presented himself for duty on the wall, though no soul knew the reason why.  I knew.   For I carried his last prayer strip to the ground below the wall, drenched red with his blood.  I knew the name that was on his lips.  Though I alone knew secrets whispered in the dark, a whisper for these mortals is enough.

***

Blood is mine.  The surge of the tides echoes the beating of ten thousand hearts, and each drop that spills freely is mine.  Quick to spring forth, quick to pour out, and slow, so slow, to dry on the hard ground, forgotten yet again.   Mere droplets, blood, in my vast domain, for the seas, wider than the earth, and more terrifying, could swallow a thousand lives and be no greater for it.  Great beasts of the sea are too small for my depths, and each day the rivers carry my domain across the world.  The celestial heavens adds endlessly to my abundance, tiny drops of rain, and mortals, too, sacrifice to me. Sacrifices of blood, and tears.

I claim the blood of Yasuki Izuko.  I was there when she was born, I washed her and surrounded her in blood and water upon the birthing bed, and I knew her weakness, and her gifts.   I was the first clouds of dream that crept into her.   I was the ripples on the sunlit pool, revealing to her young eyes images of what was to be.   I was the tears she wept at night as she remembered a future of war and fire.  A crumbled wall.  An old samurai-ko cut in two.  A thousand bushi in blue scattered across the battlefield as crows feasted on their eyes.

In my depths, I showed her the image of her own death, the day her blood would return to me.  I know well the tears she spilled, the fear she felt as her sensei told her she was too weak for the wall, that she must go to Otosan Uchi and use her gift to help the Crab.

The people of the Crab know the city of Otosan Uchi only as a city of lies.  The familiar Shadowlands held more comfort to her as she left. But only her tears tasted of her fear of the death that awaited her.  Her voice, her face, her spirit did not waver in the face of death, even a death so far from her home and the life she had known.  The waves of Earthquake Fish cove lapping on the shore were my departure gift as she traveled north.

My waters danced in silver fountains in fair gardens, gardens where she learned to love a man of another world.  The poison  that touched her lips remembers the soft, sad smile she made as she set down the cup.  And the blood...

All blood...

Mine.

***

Racing, burning, tearing, flaming, fury....anger...I heat...I burn...I kill.  Light is me, and I am light, and my fires consume what I touch.   Anger, sweet hate, fury...these I live off of, and sweet tenderness.  I am the lamp a mother lights to stave night-fears from a child's cradle.  I am the harbinger of war, and leave ash in my wake.  Passion, I know, and fury, and desire, and hate.  None rule me, none control me.  I am free!

But I have seen those who are not.  I flickered and lit the masks of two mortals in the night.  I shone, reflected, in the dark eyes of Shosuro Gozen as she was told what she must do.  I could feel the sweet fury, sweet vengeance of Bayushi Doku as he declared Izuko must die.  Hatred filled him, anger swelled in him, and my lamps burned brighter for it. 

Doku was offering homage to me.  Two clans, a great war.  A war to burn the fields and villages of the Yasuki provinces, to tear two clans apart for my glory.  The flames would race across the lands. The once-rich rice fields would be barren testimonies to me,  and he would claim vengeance of generations of wrongs, the burdens of a thousand lifetimes he held in his debt.   

I cared little.  My fires would burn, and I was glad of it.

I felt the stirring of flame in Gozen's heart.  I could feel her spite, her anger, her hatred towards Doku then.  I leaped and licked the ceiling in flickers of light as she bowed deeply to him.  I could sense the bitterness in her words.  "Hai, Doku-sama.  I shall kill the Yasuki.  There will be no child for her and the Doji, no heir for the Yasuki lands."   She knew.  She knew that others, deeper south, in the land of shadows, were offering me further war, a great war that pledged to race across the Empire.  She knew tbe Black Emperor's horde would burn those fields swiftly if the Crab and Crane went to war.  She felt no delight in such fire.

But I was in the coals that heated the tea.   I felt Gozen's hate towards Doku as she slipped the poison into Izuko's cup.

I danced with joy on the woman's corpse as I consumed her utterly.

Much more will burn with her.  Much more.

***

Silent and unchanging as the mountains, I am here.  I am always here.  There is no past in me, no future, only  the endless cycles of the seasons.  Rains caress me in spring, the fires of summer rage.  The winds of autumn come and go in the space of a single heartbeat, and a white blanket of snow covers me at night.  All of these gone in an instant, and I remain.  I have seen four hundred generations of these mortals dance upon my surface like the flickering of fireflies.   And always, always, I am there.

I was the Wall that crumpled. My bones broke and shattered that day.  I felt the oozing taint come from the twisted darkness, seeping through my stones.  But I remain.

I was with Shosuro Gozen as she knelt in the dust of the empty road.   I held the crumpled missive she let fall from her fingertips.  "The Wall has fallen" it read.    I was the steel of her wakizashi  as she drew the blade.  I could feel her trembling fingertips.  But I remain.

I bore the hoofbeats of the pony that drew close, and the heavy footsteps of Matsu Kenuchio as he settled heavily on the ground.   "What are you doing here?  Why...stop!"  Quick steps as he hurried closer.

Red blood splashed in the dust as I cradled her.  I was the steel of the blade that touched her belly.  One word, then...too short for me.  "Mercy."

I was the one, the blade he drew from his saya, the blade he brought down upon her slender neck.  "It is dishonorable to commit seppuku without permission of one's lord," he said.  "I will bear this shame for you, though I do not know your name."   She was dead, and I carried his burden for many hours as he waited for her body to be consigned to the flame.  But I remain.

I will always remain.

***

I am the shadow between the stars.

I am the darkness.

I know all.

See all.

Feel all.

The world of man has many mysteries, but perhaps there is no greater one than this:  The way of life for man is to follow the path of death.  The greatest glory of his days is his greatest sorrow.

I know why.

But first you must ask me.

And by the time you find me, you will already know.

I do not need to die with glory.

My children's children need not be proud.

Honor hidden remains untarnished,

It is enough that I lived, and lived well.

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