School Days - A Winter Court 5 Sequel Fic

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Re: School Days - A Winter Court 5 Sequel Fic

Postby KakitaKaori » Sat Apr 01, 2017 8:26 am

Karasu needed to become Emerald Champion. It was the only way to get a castle big enough to keep all the kids his wife keeps bringing home in.
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Re: School Days - A Winter Court 5 Sequel Fic

Postby Kakita_Harun » Sat Apr 01, 2017 2:07 pm

I was watching something about The Roosevelts yesterday, how Teddy Roosevelts kids turned the White House into their playground and knew that's what Karasu's kids would be like.

The next story will probably be the last in this series. Harun is finally going to be told about his biological parents so I won't put the details here yet.

There is something I'll say though that won't be in there. Harun's mother Utaku Yamada named Harun after her own father. He was a Moto in the White Guard. Chinua knew him fairly well as they fought in a few wars together.

Chinua also knew that Yamada was pregnant as it got to the stage where she couldn't hide it. It was a bit of a disappointment as it meant right when he needed her when they started taking back the Unicorn lands she was basically out of action. He let her go to Otosan Uchi where she stayed with Kyoumi for the birth...and that was the last time he saw her as she never came back.

Where she's been since I'll cover in the next story a little, but she didn't tell Chinua about it as she knew he wouldn't understand or even let her. It's why seeing Harun in powder blue was such a shock to Chinua, the right thing in his eyes was that Harun be a Unicorn.

There's probably an angry off screen scene between him and Karasu, Chinua demanding an explaination and wanting to know where Yamada is. I might do that conversation next.

Anyway, thanks for the feedback guys. :)
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Re: School Days - A Winter Court 5 Sequel Fic

Postby Kakita Karasu » Sat Apr 01, 2017 2:19 pm

THere is a story about how Teddy Roosevelt would play with his kids at the White House. Once he even lowered each out the top floor window on ropes. He is by far my favorite president. F.D.R was good too.
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Re: School Days - A Winter Court 5 Sequel Fic

Postby Kakita_Harun » Mon Apr 03, 2017 6:12 am

School Days – Part 4

Spring, 1234 - Shiro sano Kakita

Arahime and Harun stood in the dojo courtyard. Facing each other, perfectly still in the stance of Void. Each had a katana in a saya tied to their obi. The Academy’s, not theirs, and while they were now allowed to borrow they could not own one. Not yet, but soon.
At sixteen, Harun had the look of a man of almost twenty. He was tall, taller than even some of the sensei at the Academy. His fuzzy teenage beard that had appeared the year before was now thicker and had to be constantly kept in check. There was a confidence in him, a quiet one that did not flaunt itself but was still was apparent in his every word and movement.
Arahime had grown into a beautiful young woman. She wore her white hair long to the middle of her back, tied neatly off her face. She carried herself with an elegance that suggested more a courtier than a duellist. Her stormy grey eyes suggested what she was capable of, of the fire just beneath the surface that she called on in her use of the blade. Still with the mischief, the joy, but ready to cast it off like a garment if she needed to act.
Almost together, they struck, leaping flashes of steel in the sunlight as their blades went through their air to find their targets.
For a moment, there was silence, they locked eyes. Then Arahime bowed in concession.
“Your point,” she said.
“It could be yours next time,” said Harun softly.
From the door of the dojo building, Kenshin watched them. The years had thinned his form but not stricken his body or mind. He nodded briefly and went inside. He knew it, it was time.

A week later in the dojo, Kenshin called a few names of students to see him afterwards. Harun was among them, Harun wasn’t. She waited for him in the courtyard outside.
When he emerged, it was as if he was in a trance. He walked into the courtyard as if he could not believe what he was seeing.
“Harun-san?” Arahime walked towards him.
Harun started as if he hadn’t seen her. “Arahime-san,” he said, but rather absently.
“What happened?” she asked, sitting down with him. “What was that about?”
Harun seemed hesitant to answer. “Sensei Kenshin says…” He paused, avoiding her gaze. “He says I’m ready to make my gempukku.”
At first, Arahime was pleased, then realised what Harun was not saying. “But…” Her voice petered off. “I thought we would make our gempukku together.”
Harun nodded sadly. “So did I.”
Arahime started to stand, angry.
“No, Arahime-san,” said Harun. “If you go now and ask the masters why you are not getting your daisho you only hurt yourself. Delay it more.”
“But…you don’t want to?” Arahime asked, reluctantly sitting back down.
“Of course I do!” said Harun passionately. “But there are some things you can’t change. It’s only another year.”
“But you…” Arahime found herself blushing and looked down.
“Calm yourself,” said Harun. “You’re only proving them right. When you are ready, you will be unstoppable.”
“That’s not it,” said Arahime, shaking her head. “I…don’t want you to go. Not yet. Not without me.” She looked down. “You say it’s just another year. But we’ll change, you’ll change. You’ll…forget all about me…”
She looked up at Harun. He looked into the stormy grey depths of hers and he saw something he had never seen before but had long since suspected. He at once wanted to take Arahime in his arms and run far, far away from her.
He looked away, not daring to say anything.
“I’m sorry,” said Arahime, standing up and walked away.
He let her go.

Several weeks later, Harun and Arahime made their way with the other senior students to the village of Tsuma. It once had been a booming village, devastated by the Onyx like all of the Crane lands. But with the recovery of the land thanks to the now Imperial Treasurer, Doji Arami, things had improved significantly.
They were to stay at the Kakita dojo in the village with others from other clans from all around the Empire that had come to compete in the most prestigious gempukku tournament, the Topaz Championship. There were also a few tents surrounding the village from those who had come to watch.
Standing out among them, Harun could see the banner of the Emerald Champion fluttering in the wind outside his tent.
They were packed fairly tight in the dojo’s barracks, but there were so many there that Harun’s dark face wasn’t that noticeable among all the other varying ones. Once they had stowed their possessions and Harun had signed in, they set off to explore the town.
“They’re all here to make their gempukku,” said Arahime, a touch angrily. “I’m only here to watch.”
“Next year will be your year,” said Harun.
“Will you be here?’ Arahime asked.
“Of course I will,” he promised.
Arahime smiled and seemed to draw closer to him.
“Arahime-chan!”
She turned at the sound of her name. It was Kyoumi, her mother, coming away from one of the bazaar stalls that had sprung up to cater to the abnormal number of visitors.
Time, children and her duty to the Voice of the Emperor had left their mark on Kyoumi’s face, but it somehow seemed to enhance and not diminish her beauty.
“Mother,” Arahime said with a smile. “I didn’t expect to see you.”
“We were always going to come,” said Kyoumi. “I’m not sure where your father has gotten to, but he can’t be far.” She turned to Harun. “Harun, I swear you get taller and more handsome every time I see you.”
Harun smiled, Kyoumi had always been like a second mother to him.
They walked through the village together, trading the news they had. Arahime’s brother Hideaki was progressing nicely as a shugenja. She and Kousuda had seen Prince Iweko Hideyoshi at court last winter, but he usually was not far from his mother the Empress.
“A very sweet boy,” Kyoumi said.
By then they had arrived at their destination which was Karasu’s tent. The guards kept several petitioners back. But when they saw Harun, they waved him straight in annoying some of the people outside.
Inside, Karasu was at work. Standing at a table of maps and documents, talking things over with his right hand, Akodo Ryoichi. Behind them on a stand stood the brilliant Emerald Armour and Emerald Champion’s daisho that were his badges of office.
Harun knew Ryoichi quite well. He was a sort of uncle to him and his siblings, he often was the one who gently escorted the children out of important meetings. There was even a story Karasu liked to tell about a four-year-old Harun who had wandered the corridors of the Imperial Palace when he had been promised a story. Ryoichi had found Harun asleep behind a shoji screen while his father and the Emperor were having a meeting in the same room and carried the sleeping boy back to bed.
“Do you ever stop working, cousin?” Kyoumi asked, amusement in her voice.
Karasu grinned. “When the war stops, I will,” he said. He turned to Ryoichi. “Take care of that then, then go and enjoy yourself. That’s an order.”
“Hai,” said Ryoichi, bowing and then leaving, nodding in greeting to the others as he left.
Work done for now, Karasu went to greet his son. Harun was taller than him now, looking at him made him feel old.
When the tournament is over, I’ll tell him, Karasu thought, it could break his heart, but it’s time.
Tea and mocha cakes were provided and the tent of the Emerald Champion was filled with stories and laughter.
Harun related of how Arahime had captured some small birds and hidden them inside her document box.
“Sensei Yoriko kept asking what the twittering was,” Harun said, grinning wickedly. “When she finally made Arahime open it, there was dung everywhere. All over her calligraphy work.”
Karasu had to put his cup down, he was laughing so hard. Kyoumi laughed, but she couldn’t help noticing the easy Harun and Arahime were with each other. How natural.
They make a good couple, Kyoumi thought, I’ll talk to her, she probably is thinking about it.
Karasu met her eyes, he seemed to know as well.
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Re: School Days - A Winter Court 5 Sequel Fic

Postby Kakita_Harun » Mon Apr 03, 2017 6:13 am

There should be more later once I type it. I'm heading to bed as its after midnight
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Re: School Days - A Winter Court 5 Sequel Fic

Postby Kakita_Harun » Tue Apr 04, 2017 1:41 am

The tournament started the next day in the dojo. Beginning with the sumai contest, which was dominated by the Crab and Unicorn contenders. This was followed by a test of heraldry, a footrace though an obstacle course and then a test of horsemanship.
Finishing the first day were questions on the law, bushido, and etiquette. It was there that Harun did his best, having begun his studies early on these matters under the instruction of his father.
The competition was fierce, but Harun finished the day with three points of the necessary five to complete the tournament. He would have to make them up the next day of tests.
The second day began with the weapons contest. Harun, choosing a katana, faced a Hida with a tetsubo and came off second best. He had more success with the poetry contest, his verses on sunlight winning acclaim from the judges. His go match was close, his Mirumoto opponent achieving a narrow victory. The courtier debate follows next, the question put to him on the tenets of bushido. His Akodo opponent’s responses seemed more thoughtful, at least to Harun, but then he remembered but then he remembered sensei Yoruki’s lesson on it years ago. He was stopped by the judge and declared the winner.
The final test was the hunt, the competitors were broken into groups of three to bring back a Tsu Fish egg within two hours. Harun was teamed up with the Hida who had bested him earlier that day and a Moto who looked rather amused at Harun and asked a few questions.
Thanks to the Moto they found the egg and made it back with time to spare.

As he had attained six points in the first two days, Harun was among those who would compete in the iaijutsu on the final day.
The dojo courtyard was crowded with the spectators, everyone who had competed, come to watch and a lot of people from the village crowded in to see it. Arahime sat in the crowd with her parents, Karasu sat in one of the official seats near the judges.
Harun actually a little nervous. He was used to the small group who would watch their duelling practice at the Academy. It was hard to stay focused on the competition ahead.
His anxieties fell away the minute he started his first duel. In the stance of Void, he knew exactly where he was and all distractions fell away. This was where the Kakita lived, as his father had told him once.
After the first round, when Harun effortlessly dispatched his first opponent he emerged as the clear favourite. So it was no surprise when he made it to the final round.
All was silence as the Topaz Championship was decided. In the duelling rung stood Harun, his opponent was Akodo Takara who he had faced in the debate the day before.
When the judge gave the signal, Harun sank into the stance of Void. He examined his opponent for flaws, reached deep within himself for the reserves of energy that he would call upon when the moment came.
Then then, he struck! Harun’s blade slashing through the air to cut Takara’s arm before he even had time to move. Takara bowed to Harun. The judge came forward to proclaim him the winner to the applause and cheers of the audience.
Karasu burned with pride and joined in the celebration of his son’s victory. He couldn’t have done it better himself.

A little later, most of the villagers had scattered as the gempukku ceremonies began. One by one, each participant in the tournament that had gotten to this point was called forward, received their daisho from a family member and swore allegiance to the Clan Champion or appointed representative.
Harun was called last of all. When he approached the altar, his father met him, resplendent in his emerald green armour, and handed him his daisho.
“Your grandfather’s sword,” said Karasu, with a small bow. “But Harun knew these were just the ritual words, as the daisho was entirely new.
The tsuba was wrapped in pale blue silk, so pale it was almost white. The Kakita mon proudly on the habaki. The saya was the most wondrous of all, it was covered in a bright enamel that appeared to be blue, but changed from turquoise, to indigo to purple depending on where the light hit it.
It was beautiful. Harun accepted his daisho with a low bow.
Harun then went forward and knelt before the Crane Clan Champion, Doji Ayumu, offering his swords.
“This one offers you, Doji-no-kimi, his oath of fealty, his life and his sword to use as you see fit. This one wishes to serve you to the fullest extent of bushido and to follow you wherever you lead, as called Kakita Harun.” He then bowed low.
Doji Ayumu accepted it with a nod. “I accept your oath, Kakita Harun, and the honour you will bring to the Clan of Doji.”
Harun got to his feet, tying his daisho to his obi. Then he was presented with his prize. A gold decorated kabuto and the armour of the Topaz Champion.
The ceremony over, people came forward to congratulate Harun. But all Harun could see was Arahime.

Some of his fellow competitors had wanted to buy Harun drinks at the sake house, Harun let them but didn’t stay long. He had promised his father he would be at the family celebration at his tent.
The weight of his daisho on his obi was a constant reminder of how things had changed. He was an adult now, a samurai, he would go where his superiors saw fit. Harun knew what he wanted to do, to serve under his father. Perhaps it would all be arranged tonight.
The family celebration was quiet and relaxed. Karasu made a speech of how proud he was, Hitomi said a few words of encouragement. As did Kyoumi and Kousuda, the latter seemed to be watching Karasu, as if waiting for him to do something. Finally, Karasu seemed to come to a decision and stood up.
“Harun, walk be a little, will you?”
There was something grave, almost sad, in his father’s voice. This confused Harun. What could his father have to tell him?
There seemed a silent agreement between them all, except Arahime who seemed confused as he was.
Harun joined his father, both of them leaving the tent.
Arahime looked questioning at her parents. “What’s going on?”
Kyoumi smiled sadly at her daughter. “Harun will tell you, when he knows,” she said. “And he will soon.”

Outside the tent, the spring night was warm the Obsidian Moon made a waxing crescent. Karasu looked up at it and not for the first time that day wondered where Yamada was.
If only she could have seen him today, thought Karasu, and what I am about to tell something that could break his heart.
He looked at Harun. A man now, a samurai. And still, his son. Still the little boy that wandered into his father’s strategy meetings. Still the baby, swaddled for warmth, that had been placed into his arms in the dead of night.
“Harun,” he said, coming to a stop some distance from the tent. “I couldn’t be prouder of you, my son, than I am today,”
“Thank you, father,” said Harun. “I want to do you proud.”
Karasu nodded. “Even though you don’t share my blood, you are my son and I never saw you as anything less.”
“Like all of us,” Harun said.
“But,” Karasu added, “there is something that makes you different from my other children.”
“Is it how I look?” Harun asked.
“A little,” Karasu answered. “But there’s more, I knew your parents. Your real parents.”
Harun’s eyes widened at this, but still took it calmly. “My real parents?”
Karasu nodded.
“Are they…still alive?”
Karasu sighed. “It’s best that I tell you the whole story.” He set his mind back, sixteen years to fulfil the promise he had once made to Yamada. “I was at the Winter Court at Shiro Mirumoto in 1217. It was the first one held for many years. The Clans gathered, including a contingent of Onyx Spider and Scorpion. Your father was with the Crab delegation. And,” he looked at Harun, “your mother was the Delegation Head to the Unicorn.”
Harun took this in quietly, as was his way. Karasu continued.
“Her name was Utaku Yamada. She was a shiotome, a battlemaiden. Still strong despite the fact she had lost all her close family when the Onyx hordes conquered the Unicorn lands. Most if not all of the Unicorn had suffered in the same way. She had unwavering courage and was not afraid to be honest, even to her enemies. It was not long after court began that she met your father, Yasuki Nakura, and shortly after that they married.”
“She married into the Yasuki?” Harun asked.
“No,” said Karasu, “Nakura married into the Utaku, it’s their way. I was at their wedding. They were so happy, so in love. We could hear their wedding celebration in the Unicorn camp from the castle, it went long into the night.”
Harun listened, trying to picture this. “What was he like?” Harun asked. “Nakura, my father?”
Karasu winced at the use of the word, but still answered. “I didn’t know him as well as your mother. From what I know from your Uncle Kousuda, he was a merchant, a brewer of sake privy to the secrets of Friendly Traveller village.” Karasu grinned. “He had this bright pink kemari outfit he liked to wear.”
Harun frowned, there seemed something that didn’t fit. “I don’t understand,” he said, his tone angry, almost accusatory. “There’s no great secret here. What you just told me, you could have told me years ago. Why didn’t you?”
“Because,” Karasu explained patiently, “I knew I would have to tell you how Nakura died. He didn’t live to see you, Harun.”
“Did he know? About me?”
Karasu nodded. “He knew Yamada was pregnant, and this probably explains a lot about what happened.” He took a deep breath as if bracing himself, then continued. “The very day after they were married, Nakura was challenged to a duel to the death by the Onyx Scorpion. On the dais, in front of the entire court including the Chosen and the Emperor. Your mother naturally stepped forward as his champion. I helped her prepare, along with the other duellists who were at court and that was when I really got to know her well. She was worried, she was not a duellist and I was too. She had a better chance in a duel to the death though and I was trying to save her life. She did give me a good beating in the ribs though.” Karasu smiled at Harun, then his tone grew serious again. “The day of the duel came, there were a lot of people gathered in the training grounds of the castle where it was going to be. And there was an argument between Nakura, Yamada and the Scorpion. I didn’t know what was going on at the time, but I found out later that one of the Scorpion had approached your Uncle Kousuda beforehand and said was the best outcome for all was if Nakura committed seppuku, for if the duel ended in his favour the Scorpion saw the insult so grievous they would not let it rest. Yamada saw this as a threat and challenged them on it, saying the duel would be invalid if they would not honour the result.” Karasu sighed, looking up again at the moon. “I wish she had told me about this earlier, we could have done something, we could have stopped it all. But in the duelling ring it was too late, and it didn’t work. Just before it was to start, Nakura stepped into the ring and waived his right to a champion. They killed him, right there.”
Karasu looked over at his Harun, his son’s face was impassive, expressionless.
“You saw it?” Harun asked after a long moment.
Karasu nodded. “Yamada, she was…broken by it,” he said. “But the very next day she was fighting at my side when the Voice of the Emperor needed us. And after that she put forward my name to the dais for Emerald Champion. She had strength, Yamada, and she would be there if you needed her. He took another deep breath and then continued. “We spoke again just before we all left the mountain. She told me she had been approached by the Obsidian Hand, Shiba Michio whom we both knew. She knew she would need to show mercy when he couldn’t. So, she asked me to take you.”
“Wait, she said this to you before I was born?” Harun asked. “She…didn’t want me?”
“No, no, of course not,” said Karasu, feeling like he was comforting a much younger Harun. “She wanted you to have the life that she could no longer give you. And if she were to know you now, to know the man you have grown to be, she would not regret it for one moment.”
Harun looked down at his hands, dark against the sleeves of his pale blue kimono. Was this from his mother’s side? Did she have Moto blood? Is this what Chinua had meant when he saw him that day? And then there was the enigma of his real father, dying before he was born. Dying so that he could live?
Harun had always known there were things about himself he didn’t know. He thought that finding out answers settle these questions. But all it did was create more.
Who am I really? Harun wondered. A Crane? A Unicorn? A Crab? Where do I belong?
“I thought finding out about myself, where I finally come from would explain everything,” said Harun. “But it doesn’t. And now I know, nothing is simple anymore.”
Karasu put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “And that’s part of being a man.”

The next morning, Harun left the dojo early and made his way to the tents. He fortunately found Kousuda was around early.
“Harun-san,” Koususa greeted him like he always did, with a handshake. “About early, I thought you would be sleeping off the celebrations.”
“I was wondering you could help me, Uncle Kousuda,” said Harun. “Can you help me get a horse? A good one?”
“A horse?” Kousuda raised his eyebrows. “Where are you planning on going?”
“West,” said Harun.
Kousuda didn’t say anything, but he was sure he could guess what was going on. “I should have something suitable.”
Harun paced as he waited. His mind was made up. The plan was to first go to Shiro Mirumoto. He wanted to see where it had all started. Where his parents had met, where his father had died. And from then, further west to the Unicorn lands and whatever he would find there.
Karasu emerged from his tent. He could see Harun ready for travel.
“So, you are really doing this?” Karasu asked.
Harun nodded. “There’s things I want to find out for myself. Who I am…where I belong. I’m sorry, there’s no way I can really explain.”
Karasu sighed. “I thought this would happen, one day,” he said. “It’s just so strange that it is finally here.” He reached into a pocket and handed Harun a purple medallion.
Harun examined it. It was a piece of amethyst, round and polished flat. Engraved on it were the mons of the Unicorn and the Crab lands.
“Yamada gave this to me,” said Karasu. “It wasn’t hers, but yours. Meant for you.”
Harun examined it further, then put it around his neck.
“Harun,” said Karasu, sounding a little worried, “you are coming back?”
“I promised Arahime that I would be back for her gempukku,” said Harun. “This hasn’t changed things, and don’t blame yourself for this. It’s just…something that I have to do.”
Karasu embraced his son, something he had not since since Harun was a little boy. “Remember, you have a home here,” he said. “You have a family.”
“I know, father,” said Harun.
Karasu smiled, he could feel tears pricking the corners of his eyes.
Kousuda arrived with the horse then, a Unicorn mount that was well provisioned. They made their farewells and Harun mounted and rode away. Karasu stood with Kousuda and watched him go.
“I can’t help but think that I failed him,” said Karasu.
“Oh, you haven’t, Karasu-san,” said Kousuda, with the hint of a laugh in his voice. “You haven’t failed him at all.”
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Re: School Days - A Winter Court 5 Sequel Fic

Postby KakitaKaori » Tue Apr 04, 2017 5:37 am

Oh, this is terrific. :) Thank you so much for sharing it. Did Zetsubou make the medallion? It sounds like his work. It's interesting that he would choose to go to Kuyden Mirumoto.

In any event, thank you for sharing it. There sounds like there would be much more to the story, but good stories are like that. :)

Oh...and thank you for making Arihime's eyes gray.

I have thoughts about a story for Arihime, but they're all a little dark. Actually, right now I'm imagining something happening that causes Harun not to be able to make it back in time for the Topaz Championship, and by the time he gets back to the Academy, Arihime has just been shipped for a year or two to Zogeku because one of the Doji Courtiers need a yojimbo/duellist and she's is, or seems, very diplomatic and gracious.

But I think she'd have a rough time in Zogeku dealing with the flip side of Harun's problems at the Academy, where she's the pale one who stands out...and the rinjin may have OK official relations with the Crane, that doesn't mean that individuals do. I'm sure that many resent the Crane managing their debts to the throne, for example.
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Re: School Days - A Winter Court 5 Sequel Fic

Postby Kakita_Harun » Tue Apr 04, 2017 5:48 am

Yeah, that was Zetsubou. He gave it to Yamada on the last day of court. Not for her but "the one yet to be born". He must be fun at parties.

I'll probably write some more adventures of Harun in Unicorn lands. Sort of like a coming of age road trip story. That would be hard if Arahime (did I spell it right) isn't there, as when comes back he's riding back to her.

Love never works well in Rokugan anyway.
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Re: School Days - A Winter Court 5 Sequel Fic

Postby Kakita Karasu » Tue Apr 04, 2017 5:52 am

I don't know. I think Karasu and Hitomi worked out pretty well. All things considered.
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Re: School Days - A Winter Court 5 Sequel Fic

Postby KakitaKaori » Tue Apr 04, 2017 6:12 am

I think it would still work out...but what's a good love story without some bumps in the road? I've been going over in my head what the scene would have been between Kousuda and Kyoumi if the Chosen had demanded Crane Clan mass seppuku in order to remove the death sentence over the Crane and to allow the Crane to contribute firearms to the fight against the Onyx.

"Did you know this would happen?"
"Um...I hoped it wouldn't? I hoped that everything else would be enough. But we asked /everyone/. They all said more was required. We had more. It's the only way."

I think Kousuda would run off to become a Kolat at that point. Or maybe take over the Mantis. ;-) Or both.

Karasu and Hitomi? <chuckle> Of course...no problems with relationships there. :) That one is filed in my 'It's complicated' relationship status bucket.
Kakita Kaori
Kenshinzen of Golden Petal Village and overly prolific fiction writer
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[Kakita Kyoumi/WC5]


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