The tattooed man, Mizujin, stood with the rest of the court as the Celestial Son passed by with his entourage. Over a hundred courtiers, diplomats, and advisors were present, as well as the dignitaries of the six great clans, and the seriousness of the day's decisions loomed over the court like a dark cloud.

Hantei, a handsome man approaching fourty, slowly adjusted his ornate robes and sat in the Emerald Throne. To his left kneeled his wife, a beautiful Kakita maiden, and to his right stood her brother, the Emerald Champion. Hantei looked to his chief Seppun advisor and, raising his outstreched palm, asked what the first business of the day would be.

The question was moot- everyone knew what the day's hearings would pertain- but tradition had to be upheld. The Seppun unrolled the Imperial Scrolls with a flourish, and, facing the crowds, declared, "My lord, the chief business of the day is determining the regency of the unclaimed `Ki-Rin' lands!"

A few whispers passed through the crowd, but were quickly silenced. Mizujin knew all about the controversy- these hearings were held almost annually, and he had been the Togashi representative at the Emerald Court for almost five years. Over 500 years before, there was said to be a seventh great clan, known as the "Ki-Rin". Legend said that they left Rokugan at the first Hantei's request to scout the lands beyond the Emerald Empire's borders, and that they would return. The tales of Shinjo supported the story, and one of the minor clans claimed descendance from the Ki-Rin However, the common view was that the Ki-Rin WERE legend, and only the Hantei's stubborn refusal to allow the Ki-Rin's lands to be dissolved kept them from being divided up by the Six Great Clans.

Mizujin did not believe that this hearing's results would be any different, but he could not shake the feeling that something was wrong. He knew that the night before he had gone into one of his fainting spells, but...

...no, nothing could have happened.

Then he looked up, and saw the wife of the Crane ambassador, Doji Mareko, staring at him. He nodded at her and she smiled...

a dark, secret smile...

TEN YEARS EARLIER

Unlike for most students at the Mirumoto Bushi School, Ryuhitsu's training had become easier in the two years since he arrived there. It was not because the instructors had not made it any more difficult- to the contrary, they had begun drilling Ryuhitsu in techniques that were beyond what someone of his age should learn. No, it was sheer determination that made the School easier for Ryuhitsu; stubborness, grit, and a desire to honor both his family and his uncle Hyru, the school's head instructor and son of the Mirumoto Diamyo. There was one thing keeping Ryuhitsu from being the finest student at the school: he had not grown an inch. Most swords were still imbalanced and too large for him to handle gracefully, and even his own family's new blade was somewhat difficult for him to handle.

Today, however, Ryu would not have to worry about a blade. Today, Ryuhitsu was to spar against the Ise Zumi who had out-wrestled him countless times since he had arrived, and given him three broken bones as memories.

"HYAA!"

Ryuhitsu ducked just in time as the Ise Zumi's foot whistled past his head at almost inhuman speed. Both of the Togashi's fists greeted Ryuhitsu as the Zumi responded to his feeble defense with attacks to the stomach.

"Come now, Ryuko, after all these years you still fall for that one?"

Ryuhitsu forced a grin, and blocked the Tattooed Man's kick to his face, trapping his foot in an X created by crossing his hands, and then pushed the Ise Zumi's leg back in one quick motion. The Ise Zumi flipped backwards...

...and landed on his feet.

"Ryuko! Ryuko! RYUKO!" cried the Zumi, and Ryuhitsu fought to keep the fire behind his eyes contained.

"The name still bothers you, doesn't it?"

"No, Togashi-sama." Ryuhitsu then landed a quick kick on his opponent's chest.

The sparring continued for several minutes, with the Ise Zumi doing his best to throw Ryuhitsu off-balance with his remarks, and failing. Then, Ryuhitsu saw an opening.

A roundhouse kick, then a chop to the neck, then a knee to the stomach...
a quick grab...
and a throw...

The Ise Zumi slammed back-first into the wall, and groaned. Ryuhitsu walked casually to the fallen man, and offered his hand.

"How did you do it?" asked the Togashi, "You... you've never beaten me before."

Ryuhitsu grinned, "First, Togashi-sama, you were overconfident. Second, and most importantly, you worked for me. I knew that you could not keep up your endurance for too long, and instead of letting your insults put me off balance, I channeled them. My anger kept me going until you were tired."

The Ise Zumi laughed, "Finally! I thought you would never learn the lesson I was trying to teach you. The `No-Mind' of a Samurai is good for a short duel, but it will never last in a prolonged battle... just do not tell that to my Mirumoto cousins! Now, ready stance, because I may now finally try my REAL technique on you..."

Ryuhitsu only smiled.