Kitsu Sayomi's Story

[Soshi Eiji]

In the weeks leading to winter court, a letter is delivered to Sayomi. At the top of the letter, two kanji stand out, one very large Star and one much smaller Star.

The strength of the Lion has always come from numbers. Thousands of Akodo minds, Ikoma hearts. Kitsu souls and Matsu fists all marching along as one, following the well worn if narrow path laid down by their ancestors, marking the way for their descendents to follow. It takes libraries to contain the glory of the Lion; attemping to hold it within a single tale would be like trying to put the entire ocean in a sake cup.

And yet, if you are to empty the sake bottle, you do so a cup at a time. Let this story be the first cup, then. A tale of two stars of the Lion; one brilliant and golden, one faded and crimson. All eyes are drawn to the more brilliant of the pair, and yet those eyes who seek guidance might be wise to follow the faded. Still, the brighter of the pair is where we now focus this story.....

From the shadows of the court,

Soshi-ke no kaishin Miura Eiji