Shosuro Hokatsu knealt in the main hall of Kyuden Yoritomo, bowing low to the ground before the daimyo of the Mantis.
"My lord," he said, in a low, almost inaudible, tone, "I wish to join my cousin, Aramasu, in swearing fealty into your clan." Yoritomo leaned back.
"Why is this, Hokatsu? I thought that the Scorpion taught loyalty above honor. It seems quite odd to me that two Scorpion would swear their fealty to my cause in such a short amount of time."
"Because I have felt him, my lord, I have felt the Thunderer. I know my calling now. The Mantis require the capabilities of a skilled diplomat and courtier now more than ever."
"Why, pray tell, is that, Hokatsu-san?" Hokatsu dared to raise his head. his voice spoke clearly now, and with a confidence that came so easily to those of his clan.
"Surely, my lord, you cannot deny that your Alliance is slowly falling apart. The Wasp are growing wary of your militant ways, and the Fox are nearly leaving as well. Two of the greater clans of the Alliance are preparing to leave you, my lord. I am certain that none of us want that."
"Bah. Let them go. If they will not accept my assistance, then they willk have to fend for themselves." Hokatsu stood.
"My lord, it is not they who need us. It is us who need they. Can you deny the assistance that Ryosei and her shugenja have brought the Alliance, or the aid that the ranks of Wasp archers have provided us on the battlefield? My lord, the Mantis will survive, with or without their aid. However, with their aid, we will all prosper, whereas without them, we sill simply survive." Yoritomo almost scowled beneath his helmet, at this upstart Scorpion who asked for a favor by judging his actions. Hokatsu could see his eyes grow narrow, and his breath nearly caught. It took all of his training to keep his emotions from showing.
"Hokatsu, you know that I could have you killed here and now by speaking in such a way before me."
"Is it not threats such as that that are tearing this Alliance apart?" Hokatsu hit a chord. "I can remedy this, my lord. The Alliance can remain strong, powerful. With it intact, we can fulfill Toturišs charter, and bring peace to the lawless lands of Rokugan. In time, we could be the source of law for Rokugan, none could deny that. However, it is the aid of the other minor clans that have brought us this far. We must, in turn, aid them."
Yoritomo leaned forward. "Kneel, Hokatsu." Hokatsu swallowed and did as commanded. "You have shown the fire that is the deepest heart of the Mantis clan. You have shown me that you have the soul of thunder. Swear your fealty, and work as you have before."
Hokatsu barely kept from smiling. "I, Shosuro Hokatsu, swear fealty to the Mantis clan, and its daimyo, the lord Yoritomo-sama. May my every action work toward his gain." Yoritomo smiled. "At the same time I relinquish my former name, in favor of a new. Sasori, the scorpion."
"Rise, Yoritomo Sasori, and be welcomed to the Mantis." There was applause from the gathered samurai as Sasori rose and was draped in the green robes of the Mantis.
'Now,' thought Sasori, 'to save the Alliance...'