The Winter Garden Of The Kakita
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          • Chapter 1
          • Chapter 2
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          • 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
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          • Chapter 19
          • Chapter 20
          • Chapter 21
          • Chapter 22
          • Chapter 23
          • Chapter 24
          • Chapter 25
          • Chapter 26
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          • Chapter 1
          • Chapter 2
          • Chapter 3
          • Chapter 4
          • Chapter 5
          • Chapter 6
          • Chapter 7
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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
Chapter 12
Late Autumn, 1236 – Toshi Ranbo Guest Author Kakita Harun!


It had been raining for three days when the message came. Three days of raids at the city walls while the mud grew deeper and thicker. Three days, and Isawa Taka said the rain would probably continue.

The day had been bad, losses to Kyoujin Platoon though the Nikutai Utaku Kenji told him not to blame himself.

He sat with a writing tablet in a corner of the tent he shared with the other Nikutai. The letters never got easier, and Harun wasn’t even sure if they would get to the families of the dead. But it was important to write them, it was his responsibility to his men.

“Gunso.” Utaku Kenji poked his head inside the tent. “Messenger for you, from the Champion.”
From his father, this could mean good news...or bad. All the same, he couldn’t keep him waiting. He pulled the hood of his purple wool cloak over his head and headed out into the rain.

Soon he was on his horse, heading towards the Emerald Champion’s tent. He could see the emerald green banner, flying free in the middle of the vast encampment that surrounded Toshi Ranbo. They had been laying siege to the city for three weeks and only had just begun to make an impression on the city’s defenses. Hopefully, that would change and soon, before autumn had turned to winter.

When he arrived at the tent, Kakita Karasu was talking with his second in command Akodo Ryoichi. At Harun’s arrival, Ryoichu made a bow and took his leave. He gave as small smile to Harun, it looked sad and a little sympathetic. Harun had known Ryoichi most of his life, he was almost family. What did he know that Harun didn’t?

Harun made a bow, as was fitting of a soldier of the Emerald Legions. But the informal way that Karasu received his bow made it clear that he hadn’t sent for Harun as his commander, but as his father.

“Father, is there something wrong?” Harun asked. One of his siblings? His mother? Or was it...no, that was too terrible to think about.

“Sit down, Harun,” Karasu said. He looked tired, older than his thirty-nine years.

“Is it something terrible?” Harun asked. “Is it...my mother?”

“No, no,” Karasu said, shaking his head. “It’s...Arahime.”

Harun held his breath, he had been dreading hearing her name. Surely, nothing could have happened to her…

“She was travelling onboard ship with the Crane ambassador,” Karasu said. “During the night, she fell overboard.”

The words cut like a blade at Harun’s heart. “But...she knows how to swim...she couldn’t...”

Karasu shook his head. “Even if she did manage to swim to shore, there’s no hope. She would have been torn to pieces by animals. I’m sorry.”

I’m sorry...

I’m sorry...

There’s no hope...

There's no hope...


The words seemed far away to Harun.

Arahime couldn’t be dead. It couldn’t be true.

He saw her, pushing him into a cupboard at the Academy to hide from Hayate. Proudly shouting that if they wanted to know where Harun was, they would have to fight her.

She was in the garden, beneath the blooming sakura tree, playing The Promise of Heiwa on her shamisen. A trailing pink hana kanzashi in her white hair.

She was beside him, riding her horse in the summer twilight, her long hair streaming behind her as she urged her horse into a gallop. Taking off and yelling for Harun to hurry up.

Arahime couldn’t be dead. How was it possibly so when she was so full of life?

Karasu’s hand touched his shoulder gently, like a father comforting a child. And like a child, Harun sought reassurance in his face. A denial, that it was all a terrible mistake.

But there was none, only truth.

Harun fell to his knees, a low moan escaping his lips. Tears flowed down his cheeks, his hands pulled at his beard, his hair. He wanted to feel pain, anything to deaden the pain he felt inside.

Karasu grabbed his hands. His voice was cold, and harsher than Harun had ever heard him. “Harun, we will find who did this and make them pay. The Crane have sworn.”

“Send me, father,” Harun pleaded. “Let my blade avenge Arahime’s death. Send me!”

Karasu shook his head. “No,” he said. “I know you want to; I know your heart burns with the rage of vengeance. But that is not your place, my son.”

Harun bowed his head, letting his tears flow freely. Each one a reproach on himself for never speaking to her, for never telling how he felt. How he loved her, that she completed him, how he was lost without her. There were not enough tears, not nearly enough.

It was evening when he returned to camp. Kenji, seeing him riding in, made sure that everyone kept their distance as Harun went to the tent. His grief was soon lost in the nothingness of sleep.

The next morning when he awoke, his eyes were swollen from crying, his mood grey and lifeless. But still, he dressed, still donned his armour. Still, he mounted his horse and went into battle with his men.

The morning after his father Nakura had been killed, his mother Yamada still got her sword and fought beside Karasu in battle. Still went before the Emperor and petitioned to have Karasu made Emerald Champion. There were still battles to fight, she had said. There were always battles to fight, Harun knew, and this was his duty.
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