Forty years ago

------------------

Kaii stared over his surroundings, watching as his employer requested. Even though it was after sunset he could still see quite a ways. While it wasn't the most pleasant duty, a Ronin couldn't really afford to be picky - especially when their employer paid as well as his did. Being a bodyguard for a ronin shugenja wasn't bad work - most people were smart enough to leave them alone. Those that didn't usually "disappeared". Some simply forgot what they were doing and left of their own accord. But even after knowing her this long she never revealed her name, so Kaii gave her one - a nickname of sorts. Kage no Tora. "Shadow Tiger"

"They're coming."

It was only a whisper, yet it felt to Kaii like it was a tiger's roar. He couldn't see anyone coming yet, but that didn't surprise him. He probably wouldn't see them for another fifteen minutes. An hour if they were being careful.

"Six or seven of them, plus a horse."

Kaii looked back at his employer and shook his head. The smallish shugenja was sitting on a rock sipping tea, her long black hair framing her pale features nicely. She told him long ago that she had contracted the taint on one of her first journeys to the shadowlands, though it only showed through in her slightly paler than normal skin tone. One was hard pressed to recognize any sign of the taint in her, and yet there were people chasing her. He had assumed that it was because of the taint, but the pack hunting them now made him suspect differently.

Not that he would ever say anything, of course.

Forty five minutes passed before he heard the slight clip-clop of hooves. They were trying to be silent, but it made no difference. Kaii had some of the sharpest ears on the road - he would have heard them approach even if he didn't know they were there.

"We should see them soon" his employer whispered. "Tell me - what do you see?" Kaii waited for a minute before they came into view, apparently unaware that they had already been spotted.

"Eight." he said quietly, "Two shugenja, three bushi, a monk, and a girl on a horse with the Miya mon."

For the first time in a while his employer displayed surprise. "Eight?" she asked hesitantly, "not seven? Tell me of the Shugenja."

"One wears the Phoenix mon, apparently she is from the Isawa family. The other is a Dragon - a Togashi." Kaii stopped for a moment before he continued. "That's odd. I thought the Togashi were all monks?"

"Nearly" she replied, "but not quite all. His father was a worldly monk that chose to marry - I've been expecting him. Tell me more of the girl."

Kaii was still watching the group as they ascended the mountain. The Isawa stopped for a moment, and saw him. She looked at him for a moment, then she stopped and began to concentrate.

"She sees us. She's concentrating - I think she's casting a spell."

His charge sipped her tea for an additional moment, and then a smile appeared on her face. "Of course! The council loaned them an Ishi! That explains why I didn't perceive her - she blended herself with the void. A very useful trick, I'll have to learn that one."

Kage no Tora leaned back and took another sip of her tea.

"Tell them to hurry, won't you?" she asked casually, "The tea is getting cold."

"Hai."

Kaii stood on a large rock so the small group could plainly see him.

"The mistress bids you hurry" he shouted, "for the tea chills." The monk looked at him and a strange expression crossed his face, and then he consulted the rest of the group. The Miya apparently had made her decision, and they approached more rapidly. Finally the group approached and the Miya dismounted.

"You didn't run this time?" asked the Phoenix, somewhat perplexed.

Tora took another sip of her tea, and motioned for Kaii to serve the tea. It was a unusual request, to say the least, but Kaii had long ago learned to accept her eccentricities. The tea was a special blend of Jade tea from the Kuni lands, though this one was spiked with small crystals. He never quite understood why the crystals were necessary, but he had always accepted it. One by one, they took they took the cup that was offered them.

"I didn't run last time." she answered, "I was merely ensuring that ... the appropriate parties knew of my existence."

"Then why did you run from the council?" continued the Phoenix as she began to sip her tea. "You are an Ishiken. You have responsibilities." Except for the Miya, who appeared to be the most skeptical of the offer, the rest followed suit, as did Kaii.

Tora sipped her tea once again, apparently ignoring the question. The Phoenix was silent for a moment longer, and then continued.

"So it's true then. You know the ancient magics of Isawa."

Tora looked up from her tea. "Yes" she replied quietly, "but I can't use them." At the Phoenix's quizzical look she continued her explanation.

"Pure blood magic requires pure blood. My blood is tainted."

The Phoenix nodded. "Then how did you erase all memories of you? It took the combined might of the Ishiken to piece together who you once were."

"I didn't."

The Dragon was now visibly perplexed, wondering what they had gotten him into, but "I don't understand" was all he said.

"I had to employ ... an ally to assist me in that regard." Tora said. "I was once Isawa Kanoko, but that is no longer my name."

For the first time, the monk spoke. "If you have nothing to hide, then why are you playing these games?"

"Miya-Sama" Tora said politely ignoring the monk, "You haven't touched your tea." The Miya just stared at her and then spoke to her companions.

"I think it's time we take this criminal in." Tora looked back at the monk and smiled politely, ignoring the Miya's comment.

"Because, Chuda-Sama" she replied, "I still have one Kami to locate."

The two shugenja gasped in astonishment, but the rest of the party seemed unaffected. The monk nodded.

"Lord Bayushi."

Tora nodded and took another sip of her tea.

"If he doesn't wish to be found" the monk continued, "he will not." Apparently ignoring the monk, Tora continued sipping her tea.

"I know of your plan" the monk continued, "it is dangerous and foolish."

"True" Tora replied, "but it is the only hope the empire has. Unfortunately, I can not complete the plan without Lord Bayushi's help."

"It is not our place to meddle with the celestial order!" the Miya practically shouted.

Tora chuckled and looked straight at the Imperial. "On the contrary" she replied with a smile, "Only mortals are able to tamper with the celestial order." Tora took another sip of her tea, then stood gently, giving her cup to Kaii, and politely coughed into her hand.

Tora's look hardened as she stared at the Miya woman. "And that is what scares your master, isn't it Goju?"

The Goju's eyes opened wide, and as she drew a blade of darkness Tora threw one of the small crystals from the tea at the Goju. To their surprise, the crystal expanded and turned itself into a cage. The Goju screamed as it felt itself separated from the Lying Darkness.

From the shadows a rattling shaman appeared, surrounded by eight rattling bushi. "Her name was once Miya Kuon" Tora said calmly. The rattling nodded, and began to chant. Then a flash, and the Goju was gone as the newly freed Miya Kuon fell to the ground in the cage. The small group watched Kuon as the cage melted.

"Kuon-Sama will need to rid herself of the fear before she can be completely free" Tora remarked calmly.

"Rattling magic took your name?" asked the Phoenix incredulously.

"Yes" Tora replied quietly, "And rattling magic gave back Kuon's name."

A soft voice came from the shadows.

"You can return my Shosuro to me?"

"No" Tora replied quietly. "But they can."

Twenty years ago

---------------------

Bayushi Fujon watched as an apparently insane Shoju claimed the throne. Fujon was gladly loyal to his Daimyo, but he was also in love with Kagemi - the newly discovered daughter of the emperor - and he was still trying to figure out how to reconcile his duty with his love.

Soshi Shinryu, a minor tejina, approached the throne. Shinryu's family was unusual in the clan because they studied how to manipulate the Nothing without becoming a part of it. They had even cooperatively developed a new tattoo with the Dragon Ise Zumi - a brand made of pure crystal and sunlight - to be a counterpart for the traditional shadow brand of the Soshi.

"Lord Shoju ..."

The words were barely out of his mouth when Shoju's form began to waver and Shinryu felt his crystal brand pulse slightly.

"Goju!" Shinryu whispered in astonishment. "We've been betrayed!"

Outside Otosan Uchi, Togashi Doreju approached a small group of Phoenix shugenja. The Phoenix had been successful in retrieving the Crown Prince, but now he appeared to be in some sort of pain. Even worse, none of their petitions were being answered by the kami. As the Dragon shugenja approached, the Prince's face writhed in pain once more even as Doreju felt his crystal brand, a gift of the Kami Togashi and the Scorpion clan, pulse. The prince screamed once more, and his physical form vanished. One week later, a new oni would appear at the wall.

One with the prince's face.

Recently

----------

Empress Kagemi II walked the halls of the palace. It had been a long day, and she felt like resting alone. The Seppun guardsmen nodded to indicate that her chambers were secure as she walked in. She didn't spend too much time alone, but she enjoyed it when she got the chance.

As she kneeled before the altar that she had created herself, she became aware of a presence. Startled, she turned and saw the Ishiken once known as Kage no Tora.

"Mother!" she gasped.

The Oracle of the Void looked at her daughter, a sadness in her eyes.

"Our worst fear has come to pass." she said quietly. "The Bloodspeakers have learned the Secret, which means the Lying Darkness also knows. It begins at Kyuden Usagi."

The Empress was too shocked to do anything but nod. Suddenly, her eyes opened wide.

"But that's where I sent the Twins for safety!"

"I know."