Rebirth
10 February 2006
by Jamison Leavitt

Entering Kyuuden Doji this time seemed like the first time that Katai had set foot in that glorious palace. This is the home of Doji Kurihoto one of the men most admired by Katai. This had been Katai's native home, at least since his mother had last taken him from Shiro Matsu, where he was born to Matsu Kio. He was raised by his grandfather Katsume here in Kyuden Doji, and in life Katai sought to emulate every move of his grandfather. Even after Katsume had left the mortal realm to sit with the revered ancestors of the Kakita family in Yumi, Katai has had a strong bond with his grandfather Katsume.

It is this bond that has lead Katai to a new life here in Rokugan, and most importantly Kyuden Doji.

Katai had contracted the taint while in the city of Ryoko Owari, the Journey's End City. He had consigned his life to failure and to being a Lost cause. However, he had kept hope while in the throws of the Shadow, but there was always a glimmer of hope off to the horizon. Katai attributed this to his grandfather Katsume, leading him when no one else seemed to care. This drew Katai even closer to Katsume, for if it were not Katsume it would be some other unwholesome force beckoning him further along the path to damnation. The only true method to abate the corruption that was beginning to take root in his soul was to commune with Katsume in deep meditative prayer, each day. Perhaps, it was the intervention of the ancestors that moved Kurihito's hand in releasing Katai from the wall, and from the Kuni who were ever vigilant in watching him.

However, this release was not what one would expect as he was sent deeper into the Shadowlands, the very source of his taint. What Katai needed now was more courage than he had. He needed to grab onto something new, something beyond the mortal realm. He found that strength through his grandfather Katsume. Maybe it was the courage of his ancestors that best defined the will of Katai; this he could use to fight his demons, both externally and internally.

It was the very trip into the Shadowlands that would afterall rid Katai of the taint. Katai knew that if he were not to succeed in this mission that he would forever be lost, maybe ever not being able to enter the Rokugan again. He felt at times that this was a desperate man's quest, a quest more for his own salvation than to serve his clan daiyamo – Kurihito-sama. At least these are the demons that tug at ones heart when away in corrupted lands.

Katai will forever be grateful to Takako-san for her strong will and steady hand in removing the taint. At first he was not about to trust her, nor any of his travelling companions. Surely if Katai had not already earned their trust during previous travels he would not have given up the kaiken to her. Instead he would have fled deeper into the Shadowlands to where he felt that he could attempt to administer the kaiken to himself. This was how desperate Katai had become, and after thinking about it in more clearer lands I realize that I would have become Lost.

This is a change for Katai indeed. Now I am faced with my past. These demons are my own to deal with, and after Kurihito has absolved me of dishonor to my past I to must begin to seek peace with my own past as well. I will never understand the actions of my father, and why he chose to stand down from his duties as he did. My grandfather warned me not to judge my own father for what he did. He told me that his same blood runs in his veins as does in mine and I must come to accept that. For so long have I fought this, seeking out my vengance on the Matsu, who I felt have kept me from experiencing the full glory that the Crane have to offer. There is one in paticular that Katai must seek to make amends with, Matsu Setsuko, his mother's niece. The last they met they promised each other a great deal loss of blood to one another.