Ill Omens
by Kakita Kaori
Set during the leadership of Daidoji Hachi and Asahina Sekewa following the Crane/Yasuki war.
My Dear Kaori,
Through the years, your letters have brought me great comfort throughout the sorrows that we have been faced with. Now, I fear, that correspondence may be at an end. I have known you since you were a small child, sheltering under your uncle’s care, and watched as the niece of my best friend grew to become a fine, honorable woman. I know that you are wise enough to know what to do with this missive. Do not despair, despite what it contains. Merely use it to walk, with eyes open, into that which awaits us. I hope that this knowledge brings you no harm, but, perhaps, will serve to save you one day when all is at its blackest.
For my entire life, I have studied the stars. I have always been entranced by their beauty. I have stared in awe as the moon fell to earth. I saw the new moon rise. I have plotted the paths of each constellation, the course of each planet. And each time I look upon them, they fill me with new wonder.
But what I see in the skies above now fills me with dread. I am filled with great sorrow, for the path I see for the destiny of my clan leads only to great suffering, suffering and shame, sorrow and death. Now I regret that I must share this with you, for I know that it will only cause you grief also. But someone must be told.
I have forecast the war that afflicts us. I see our forces, noble and harried, arrayed in glittering ranks of starlight against the constellation of the Crab. I have seen the death of O’Ushi…a darkness upon Yakamo’s bright form. We are fortunate that he is beyond us, now. I see a mighty wrestling between our dominions. But I see that the other stars gather around the constellation of the Crab, leaving the Crane in shadow. They were always there, Kaori. The Crane often flies alone. But never has it been as alone as it is now. But these omens, I think, are nothing new to you.
The beak of the Crane is a sword, Kaori-chan. But that sword is red, the color of blood. I did not wish to see it before. I have tried to deny it. But the light is as it is. It cannot be denied, as much as I would wish it to be. We teach that one’s soul guides a blade. But in the future my predictions foretell, the blade drives the hand, the blade drives the soul. Our will is stripped away, our freedom gone, sold to the intentions of that blade. We become the sword of the sword. I do not know if that blade will break us.
But I have looked long at the stars, tracing many pathways through the heavens to determine the source of this omen, a cause for these things to be. In my investigations, I have seen new dark nesses in the heavens, nurtured under Fu Leng’s corpse, where he lies, shattered, in the dark regions of the sky. These planets are a terrible evil for us all. All of Rokugan will feel their touch. Already three have made their presence felt in dark stirrings among the kami of the earth.
One dark planet touched us as it lay its dark light upon the great Emperor Toturi, and he fell. A shattering blow, mirrored in the stars in much the same pattern that we saw before Shoju assassinated the Hantei. Never had the Asahina seen that pattern in the heavens before, but we remember it well, now. One dark planet touched us at the Jade Championship, when my brother Sekewa became the Jade Champion, and beloved Kimita-san and honored Tamako-sama died. The first touch upon the Crane directly, but not the last. That dark star is not even aligned with the constellation of the Crane, but of the Phoenix, but still it targets us. There is a reason for this, Kaori-chan. The last dark planet moves armies, a planet of dark strife. It moves against the Lion now, and specifically targets the ancestors with horrible omens. I cannot see their purpose clear, but the cat is strongly featured in the martial aspect of this star, and when I meditate upon it, the image of a Lion shifting into a Man speaks to me from the void.
But those are not the true horror. For the red sword of the Crane was given to us for a purpose. The war with the Crab began for a purpose. We are being targeted by a dark force beyond that of these grim stars that act as mere heralds. The kami whisper a name to me. Daigotsu, they say. He goes behind. Stolen Wisdom. I know now, though, that there is another name.
It is a name that we have kept secret for many years. A name buried in the darkness of our hearts. Not the hearts of mankind. Not the hearts of the Empire. Not even the hearts of this clan, though it would be against all of this clan that this being would seek revenge. No…this secret is locked into the very heart of my own family. The family that has clung to peace with such complete desperation. We had to cling to peace, you see. It was the only way to identify, and control, that which could not be controlled. He who escaped all bonds, over and over again, to haunt us in our nightmares. For how can you capture the dead? How do you kill a spirit? Only our peaceful ways allowed us to see where he had grown strong again, and we could pursue.
But our peace was shattered. Clan Wars shattered us. The War of the Shadow broke us. The Spirit Wars tore us asunder and built us anew. In such time of dread and horror, when Fu Leng himself touched the earth, how could even a clan of great peace stand aside? The Asahina had to fight. Many things that should not have been forgotten were lost. And He has risen again.
I do not know his body. In my nightmares, he is a young man, masked to hide his face. He has the gifts of our clan for great speech. He wears robes of black, but forgets not his source, for his robes are trimmed with Crane silver. He knows Crane ways and dresses to show them. His hair is purest white. Whether these nightmares are true or not, I cannot tell. But I know his constellation, and I know what it will mean.
Horrible revenge for capturing him. Calling up his own creation from the depths of the sea and placing it in our hands. Making the Crane his sword, through his sword. All the clans will suffer at his will, for he draws all the darkness towards him. But at the center, always, always, that which he hates most. That which he was only able to wound slightly, but never kill.
I will write three copies of this letter. One I will send to Daidoji Hachi, the Emerald Champion. He will read it and set it aside, for he does not understand the world of Shadows and Omens. One I will send to Asahina Sekewa, the Jade Champion. I do not think he is the one, though he may be. He will understand, but doubt, and feel anger in his own helplessness to find the answers to these riddles. One I will send to Doji Kurohito. He will read and understand, but believe this all lies. He will command me to prove my sincerity.
When these letters are sent, I will put out my eyes. I no longer wish to see the stars that only show me such horrors. I hope that Kurohito will accept this as proof of my sincerity. It will not be enough. But I cannot afford to die, at least, not until the dark one sends a force to kill me for what I have seen. If I am lost, who will be left to see?
We are all struck blind.
Asahina Ukio
Set during the leadership of Daidoji Hachi and Asahina Sekewa following the Crane/Yasuki war.
My Dear Kaori,
Through the years, your letters have brought me great comfort throughout the sorrows that we have been faced with. Now, I fear, that correspondence may be at an end. I have known you since you were a small child, sheltering under your uncle’s care, and watched as the niece of my best friend grew to become a fine, honorable woman. I know that you are wise enough to know what to do with this missive. Do not despair, despite what it contains. Merely use it to walk, with eyes open, into that which awaits us. I hope that this knowledge brings you no harm, but, perhaps, will serve to save you one day when all is at its blackest.
For my entire life, I have studied the stars. I have always been entranced by their beauty. I have stared in awe as the moon fell to earth. I saw the new moon rise. I have plotted the paths of each constellation, the course of each planet. And each time I look upon them, they fill me with new wonder.
But what I see in the skies above now fills me with dread. I am filled with great sorrow, for the path I see for the destiny of my clan leads only to great suffering, suffering and shame, sorrow and death. Now I regret that I must share this with you, for I know that it will only cause you grief also. But someone must be told.
I have forecast the war that afflicts us. I see our forces, noble and harried, arrayed in glittering ranks of starlight against the constellation of the Crab. I have seen the death of O’Ushi…a darkness upon Yakamo’s bright form. We are fortunate that he is beyond us, now. I see a mighty wrestling between our dominions. But I see that the other stars gather around the constellation of the Crab, leaving the Crane in shadow. They were always there, Kaori. The Crane often flies alone. But never has it been as alone as it is now. But these omens, I think, are nothing new to you.
The beak of the Crane is a sword, Kaori-chan. But that sword is red, the color of blood. I did not wish to see it before. I have tried to deny it. But the light is as it is. It cannot be denied, as much as I would wish it to be. We teach that one’s soul guides a blade. But in the future my predictions foretell, the blade drives the hand, the blade drives the soul. Our will is stripped away, our freedom gone, sold to the intentions of that blade. We become the sword of the sword. I do not know if that blade will break us.
But I have looked long at the stars, tracing many pathways through the heavens to determine the source of this omen, a cause for these things to be. In my investigations, I have seen new dark nesses in the heavens, nurtured under Fu Leng’s corpse, where he lies, shattered, in the dark regions of the sky. These planets are a terrible evil for us all. All of Rokugan will feel their touch. Already three have made their presence felt in dark stirrings among the kami of the earth.
One dark planet touched us as it lay its dark light upon the great Emperor Toturi, and he fell. A shattering blow, mirrored in the stars in much the same pattern that we saw before Shoju assassinated the Hantei. Never had the Asahina seen that pattern in the heavens before, but we remember it well, now. One dark planet touched us at the Jade Championship, when my brother Sekewa became the Jade Champion, and beloved Kimita-san and honored Tamako-sama died. The first touch upon the Crane directly, but not the last. That dark star is not even aligned with the constellation of the Crane, but of the Phoenix, but still it targets us. There is a reason for this, Kaori-chan. The last dark planet moves armies, a planet of dark strife. It moves against the Lion now, and specifically targets the ancestors with horrible omens. I cannot see their purpose clear, but the cat is strongly featured in the martial aspect of this star, and when I meditate upon it, the image of a Lion shifting into a Man speaks to me from the void.
But those are not the true horror. For the red sword of the Crane was given to us for a purpose. The war with the Crab began for a purpose. We are being targeted by a dark force beyond that of these grim stars that act as mere heralds. The kami whisper a name to me. Daigotsu, they say. He goes behind. Stolen Wisdom. I know now, though, that there is another name.
It is a name that we have kept secret for many years. A name buried in the darkness of our hearts. Not the hearts of mankind. Not the hearts of the Empire. Not even the hearts of this clan, though it would be against all of this clan that this being would seek revenge. No…this secret is locked into the very heart of my own family. The family that has clung to peace with such complete desperation. We had to cling to peace, you see. It was the only way to identify, and control, that which could not be controlled. He who escaped all bonds, over and over again, to haunt us in our nightmares. For how can you capture the dead? How do you kill a spirit? Only our peaceful ways allowed us to see where he had grown strong again, and we could pursue.
But our peace was shattered. Clan Wars shattered us. The War of the Shadow broke us. The Spirit Wars tore us asunder and built us anew. In such time of dread and horror, when Fu Leng himself touched the earth, how could even a clan of great peace stand aside? The Asahina had to fight. Many things that should not have been forgotten were lost. And He has risen again.
I do not know his body. In my nightmares, he is a young man, masked to hide his face. He has the gifts of our clan for great speech. He wears robes of black, but forgets not his source, for his robes are trimmed with Crane silver. He knows Crane ways and dresses to show them. His hair is purest white. Whether these nightmares are true or not, I cannot tell. But I know his constellation, and I know what it will mean.
Horrible revenge for capturing him. Calling up his own creation from the depths of the sea and placing it in our hands. Making the Crane his sword, through his sword. All the clans will suffer at his will, for he draws all the darkness towards him. But at the center, always, always, that which he hates most. That which he was only able to wound slightly, but never kill.
I will write three copies of this letter. One I will send to Daidoji Hachi, the Emerald Champion. He will read it and set it aside, for he does not understand the world of Shadows and Omens. One I will send to Asahina Sekewa, the Jade Champion. I do not think he is the one, though he may be. He will understand, but doubt, and feel anger in his own helplessness to find the answers to these riddles. One I will send to Doji Kurohito. He will read and understand, but believe this all lies. He will command me to prove my sincerity.
When these letters are sent, I will put out my eyes. I no longer wish to see the stars that only show me such horrors. I hope that Kurohito will accept this as proof of my sincerity. It will not be enough. But I cannot afford to die, at least, not until the dark one sends a force to kill me for what I have seen. If I am lost, who will be left to see?
We are all struck blind.
Asahina Ukio