Daily History Lessons VII (Day 8, Late Afternoon)

[Usagi Tomoe]

"Minna-sama," the Usagi spoke up as she stepped forward once more in the Northern Camp. "I am Usagi Tomoe, historian of the Hare Clan. In the time before the followers of Lady Shinjo returned to us, much happened in the Empire - new Clans were founded, and new Families were formed as well. Today, we learn of the founding of the Asahina Family of the Crane, and the Victory With No Strike."

"In the year 353, the Lion Clan's food resources were exhausted, and starvation was rampant in their lands. As no help was offered, the Lion decided to expand into the territories of the Phoenix and the Crane, seeking to claim resources to aid their population. As this was in the time before the Imperial Edict banning large-scale open warfare amongst the Great Clans, the Crane could not easily counter the Lion in the Imperial court. For months, the Crane maneuvered the issue in the Emperor's Court, until they gained the upper hand on the issue and made the Lion sign a non-aggression treaty between their two clans. The very night the treaty was signed, the Lion marched upon the Valley of the Two Generals on the border between the lands of the Crane and the Phoenix, and proceeded to march upon the Phoenix lands."

"The Crane, allies of the Phoenix, were trapped by the words of their treaty with the Lion, which forbade them to send support to their Phoenix allies, and the armies of the Lion reached Shiro Shiba. The Lion forces suffered pressure from the Crane on other fronts, however, as the Honor of Lady Doji's followers could not allow them to turn a blind eye to their allies. The Crane proclamed a trade embargo against the Lion, effectively cutting off many of the supply lines for their army."

"With the assistance of an Imperial Herald, Miya Naganori, the Crane were able to find sections in the Imperial Laws that would allow them to press the Lion into a situation where they could end the war. And so, as the Lion engaged in battle with the Phoenix forces at the borders of Sleeping Thunder Mountain, a heavily armed group of Daidoji warriors were bringing supplies to the besieged Phoenix. The Lion couldn't allow the Crane to advance, but they also knew that if they were to attack the Crane forces, it would be the end of the treaty and would give them all the rights they would need to seek retribution, leading the starved Lion clan to fight a war on two fronts. Realising they were caught between a rock and a hard place, the Lion accepted to meet the Crane and the Phoenix to negotiate a truce."

"The truce saw an end to the hostilities between the Lion and the two other clans, as the Phoenix and the Crane agreed to support the Lion's bid in the Imperial Court to have undisputed rights to the lands that the Ki-Rin had left behind, which the Lion only had been guardians of before. The notion was approved in the Courts, and most assumed that this would be the end of the conflict."

"However, this truce was not well-recieved everywhere. Isawa Asahina, the Master of Air on the Phoenix clan's Elemental Council, felt that the Crane had meddled in a war he had been more than capable of handling himself, and that the Crane had dragged his clan into making peace with their attackers without getting any recompense for the damages done. He swore revenge and began ransacking villages in Crane territory personally."

"Hearing of these attacks, the Crane clan Champion's daughter, Doji Kiriko, rode out to stop Isawa Asahina. The two of them came face to face in the village of Kimura, and Kiriko bravely stepped forward infront of the heimin and assumed her stance. She made no move to draw her weapon or fight back, and she mutely stood her ground against Asahina. Enraged at this woman who dared to get in his way, Asahina unleashed powerful spells that hurt her and he drew his sword to cut her down, but Kiriko would not yield until all the people in the village had gone to safety."

"In the end, Kiriko collapsed from the violent attacks, hovering on the brink of death. Seeing his nearly dead foe, who had not even once raised her hand to strike him, Asahina woke from his rage and realised what a terrible error he had made. Without even drawing her sword, this Crane maiden had saved the heimin under her protection. Awed by her courage, as well as shamed by his actions, Asahina tended to Kiriko day and night to save her life and nurse her back to health. As Kiroko slowly recovered, Asahina swore to himself and the Heavens that he would never again resort to violence."

"In the time Asahina nursed Kiriko back to full health, the two of them fell inlove with eachother, and when Kiriko had recovered, Asahina renounced his title as the Master of Air in the Phoenix and his claim to the name Isawa. He and Kiriko travelled the villages he had attacked, working together to help rebuild the broken homes and heal the wounded ones. Eventually, he accompanied her to Kyuden Doji, where he apologized to the Crane Champion for his actions and praised the honor and loyalty of Kiriko who had made him see the error of his ways. Kiriko in return spoke highly of Asahina's actions after he had ended his attacks, reminding everyone that the Little Teacher's words advised to help one who sincerely wished to atone for their actions. The Crane Champion, sensing the strong bond between them and the blessing of Benten upon them, forgave Asahina for his actions granted that he would see to Kiriko's happiness."

"And so, Kiriko and Asahina were wed, and the couple's union would honor the alliance of the Crane and the Phoenix, as well as dedicating itself to the peace Asahina and Kiriko worked for. They saw to the construction of Shinden Asahina, a grand temple dedicated to the pursuit of peace. And many years later, as Asahina laid on his deathbed, the Crane Champion recognized his years of loyal service and declared that Asahina would be the new Family of the Crane Clan, and his descendants would go on to found the clan's first formal dojo for shugenja."

[Shinjo Taichi]

Taichi was there. He'd missed the last couple of these, but was keen to learn more from the Usagi.

And thus he stood, letting the lesson sink in. He had always been a little slower.

[Usagi Tomoe]

Remembering Taichi from before, Tomoe acknowledged him with a pleasant smile and nod.

"Did you enjoy the lesson, Shinjo-san?"

[Iuchi Batul]

Such stories the Unicorn had missed during their time in the sands. Batul stood up in awe to the story of the Asahina's family foundation. It was a story of Honor and Dedication, of Bravery like she had never heard before. Next to her, little Dibi pulled on a thick rope the samurai-ko had found in the animal pen earlier, and was giving the Unicorn a hard time while playing tug.

"Congratulations, Tomoe-san" She greeted with a bow "Another great story of the Heroes of the Embire."

They had not met before, but Batul had assisted the other history lecture of the Usagi, on the Crab previously, and was well aware of the fame of the minor clan one after her lessons.

[Usagi Tomoe]

"Iuchi-san," Tomoe bowed respectfully to the younger woman. "I'm glad to see you are enjoying these lessons of mine... it really makes me happy to share with your clan all these great tales that have happened during your clan's Exodus."

She gave a glance to the puppy playing with the rope. Her own Chibi-Usa had been told to sit while Tomoe did her lesson, and had dutifully done so the entire time, but since Tomoe was socialising now, she let out a loud whine. The Hare chuckled and waved for the puppy to join her side, which was soon enough rewarded with a small treat. "Good girl!"

[Iuchi Batul]

There was a sudden tug that the samurai-ko had unexpected and she side stepped a couple steps as the puppy pulled on her. He's getting strong, she thought. "Blease call me Batul." She corrected the Usagi samurai-ko with kindness. "I find these stories of yours enlightening, and really needed to understand all that has habbened during the travels of the Unicorn. When we left this Asahina family was unknown, and now they are an examble of dedication, beace and bravery to the Embire. These are the heroes of the Embire, like we too have our own heroes from the desert. All of their stories should be honored by all, for they are all sons and daughters of the Divine One who are testimony of Bushido."

[Shinjo Taichi]

"I'm glad that even in Shinjo-kami's absence, Compassion did not leave the empire." He thought for a moment. "I don't believe I've seen any Asahina here at the miai. Do they not travel much?"

Meanwhile, Daisuke the Wonder Dog was sitting near Taichi's feet, gazing heroically into the middle distance.

[Usagi Tomoe]

"Batul-san it is then," Tomoe gave a warm smile to the younger girl. "I look forward to hearing the stories of the Unicorn's heroes being shared far and wide across the Empire, that their legends will be as well known as that of Asahina and Kiriko."

"The Asahina Family tend to have a preference for remaining in the lands of the Crane, providing the children of Doji with spiritual guidance and being a force of peace. But, I have not yet seen all of the Great Clan's Families represented here, nor all the Minor Clans, so it could be that some are still waiting to learn more about the returned Unicorn?"

[Shinjo Taichi]

He smiled. "Then we shall just have to go to them. My story telling talents may not be as honed as my Marta cousins, but I'll do my best to teach them of our travels."

[Usagi Tomoe]

"The Crane are fond of all the arts, even storytelling, so I am certain they would appriciate your efforts, Shinjo-san. Do you perhaps see yourself as someone who will travel the Empire to share the glories of the Unicorn with the other clans?" she asked with sincere interest.

[Shinjo Taichi]

"That is a part of what i seek to do. We have only just returned, and there are many people in my clan - and many more than that in the empire as a whole. It is my intent to facilitate an exchange of knowledge between the two groups." He spread his arms wide, in a gesture intended to encompass the whole empire and everyone in it. "This miai is a start but we must continue this work, so that all may benefit."

[Iuchi Batul]

"There are stories of our own, yes, like the origin of the Moto family, the travels that each of our families made in the desert, not only sbiritual and bersonal." Batul was not good in history, she knew more or less what the Unicorn had done during their time in the desert, but she could not tell the story in such a way as the Usagi had done. "But it is not the stories that we come to share with the Embire, we also bring with us many goods, food and stories of the nations from outside. I believe you already tried our fermented milk and the kumis, neh?"