The Journey's End
28 January 2006
by Jamison Leavitt

Darkness is a festering pit of misery. Corruption slowly eats at his soul, even though it is light in its infancy. These are the thoughts of Katai. He has been infected with the plague of the Shadowlands, tainted by its icy touch. Meeting with Kuni Aiko and having her confirm this was a nearly crushing blow to Katai's psyche. He will never be the same.

Naganori the Blood-speaker spewed forth his corruption on many of the hapless Rokuganis of Journey's End City, Ryoko Owari. Even some of the better-off-class of samurai were not unscathed by it. This was an obvious observation that even a lay investigator could make, seeing that even some samurai were dependant on his wares of complacency with evil. They had a need for his liquid silver, and probably even more than just that.

This is where Katai found himself staring down the Blood-speaker and his barely noteworthy assistant. He was probably some street urchin that was easily fooled into believing in foolish and dangerous powers. All that matter now was the justice that was to be dealt to these evil men. That was what Katai and his companions were to do, and did.

However, the less than noteworthy assistant had already sacrificed much of his soul to do the dark powers of Jigoku, and unsheathed upon Katai after witnessing the death of his master. The fall of Naganori was nearly instantaneous, as he slid into nearly three pieces. Katai had masterfully moved into a position where he could take full advantage of Naganori's foolishness. This was done with the help of Ridachi's distracting him. All Katai needed was the signal to strike and the Blood-speaker was done with. Except for Shinjo Yul the others waited outside, incase any others might show up. Of course one could not count on dark powers at the end of ones journey.

How fitting that Naganori met his end in Journey's End City, and in a way so did Katai. In that momentous encounter a part of Katai was taken as well. The little crone of a man who was the Blood-speakers assistant sliced Katai with his blackened claws of the Shadowlands. At that moment Katai's life changed forever.