Legend of the Ronin (Legend of the Five Rings)

You had barely been dragged away from the street where the still cooling body of Tachimiko was left when you decide you want to read the letter. You look at a small ramen bar and decide that will do.

"Isawa-sama, put me down here, lets read the letter and see if it says what we need to say" You manage to get out.

Kyoko, honestly happy to have an excuse to put you down, quietly slides you on to one of the stools and orders some ramen to keep people from being too upset that she had dragged a half dead ronin into their shop. The owner an older fellow of maybe forty summers, simply grunts and makes a motion for a few more bu. Kyoko growls but hands it over.

Silence bought, Kyoko takes out the letter, and lays it out for you both. In fact there are three letters. One addressed to Moshi Naeko, one addressed to you, and one addressed to Katsuie. You glance at Kyoko and then raise a hand to the shop keep to get some tea as you settle in to read your letter.

From the hand of Hida Tachimiko, Daughter of Hida Otaru, student of Hida Muriki and sister of Kakita Katsuie.

Sakura if you're reading this, then you've won. Etiquette says I should congratulate you, but fuck that. We've been enemies too long for there to be anything like courtesy between us. I know that I went trying to kill you, and my fondest wish is you die of the wounds I gave you.

You never understood why I hated you though, not really. I don't think anyone did, and I suppose that is why I'm writing this now. Because I want someone to know, I want someone to bear witness to what I am. There's only two people in the world who could or would. My brother and by some forsake fate you.

How you survived as a ronin remains a mystery to me. I had dismissed you as an empty bimbo who had some how seduced my brother. Somehow been everything I was not, somehow, gained his love. I'm not going to give you a sob story about how I was born technically a bastard, unloved but taken care of because honour demanded it. How I was consigned to only barely being legitimized in exchange for never holding any real power...how Katsuie was the only one who made time for me. The one who raised me more than any other.

I'm not going to tell you that story, because it doesn't matter. I know, now that something in me broke a long time ago. Some sort of restraint or...support, I don't know what to call it. Most people, most Samurai have a sense of what they are in the dark, some don't like it, some love it, but there's always an intrinsic knowledge about that.

I have never had that. I defined myself by being Katsuie's beloved sister, the only woman now that his mother passed, that he would ever truly love. And you took that from me, for taking something so dear, there was really only one choice I had, to kill you.

This thought drove me here, following you as I recognized your description even as Megumi moved west. This thought brings me to the state I'm in now, barely held together by magic.

Don't spit out your drink or whatever. There's an explanation, and as much as I want to kill you, if you killed me, then maybe, just maybe you have a shot of avenging me. See, if I had my way? We would have fought after your little break out. Quick, simple and clean...but that wasn't allowed.

Sagon, the Rakshasa did not allow it. He had a use for me, and how or why he knew of my difference I never discovered, but he used that weakness, ruthlessly. His magic is...powerful, a greater master of air does not exist outside of the Isawa. He trapped me in mists when I went to kill you, and showed me....

It does't matter what he showed me, what matters is that he broke open my cracks, the daughter of a daimyo, even a legitimized bastard can move in ways that would benefit him. Slowly over the course of days and weeks he manipulated me, changed me. Even now a part of me is screaming at the betrayal, screaming that I must destroy this letter, and follow instructions. Its hard to fight, but I manage, by holding on to my hate for you.

He had me investigate the Yasuki dying, you know the one. I found the truth Sakura, that you have the princess...and now Sagon knows as well. He intends to capture her on the way, but he fears your sword, no I don't know why but he does. He'll use his own cultists and catspaws to harry you, to drag you down before he comes and takes her as his own. To corrupt the Empress of Rokugan, would that not be a fine trick? That is what he said to me.

Sakura, I have no right to ask this of you, not when everything I am still yearns to kill you, but kill that bastard, kill him, and end his madness. Kill him and bring my letter to Katsuie. A final word of advice? Sagon can shape shift.

Farewell Sakura you bitch
{Hida Tachimiko's Chop}

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Click to shrink...

"Huh fancy seeing you here Megumi" A voice calls out to you from behind. You know that voice, it is Kitsuki Kisu.

Why of all the magistrates, did he have to be the one to respond to the disturbance?

"Kitsuki-sama" You say stiffly, turning around to bow.

"And the infamous Isawa Kyoko-sama as well, an odd pair to be sure...do you mind if I ask you a few questions?" Kisu asks calmly.

You can already sense several yoriki moving around you. You are in no condition to fight. So all you can say is "Yes"

"Ah good, now tell me what do you know about the recent death of one Hida Tachimiko?" Kisu asks.

His face says he's friendly, his body says he knows your involved somehow....

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