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Alive and well.
Was once Tainted due to wounds suffered in combat with a maho-tsukai and his apprentice. The Taint was cut out of him by Isawa Takako with Misako's Kaiken, a long-lost nemuranai recovered from the Shadowlands.
Only the Glory and Perfection of the Kakita will do.
Kakita Katai takes after his grandfather Kakita Katsume. Kakita Katsume was one of the more famous individuals in the empire from before the time of the great clan wars and through out that troubling time. He had been through many adventures serving his daiymo and others, and then serving the empire as an emerald magistrate. He had become well known as a lawgiver, magistrate, and expert duelist. He had even been inducted into the hallowed training halls of the Kenshinzen. He is a great ancestor to be honored and revered; a true hero of the Crane clan and all its famillies; a patriot to the empire; and most of all a standard for the way of Bushido. He is honored both for his courage and justice as a magistrate and duelist. He defended his honor and the honor of others on many occasions. He was someone to be looked up to with the uttermost respect and awe. These are the feelings in the heart of Katai.
However there is another side to this history that has a profound impact on the life of Katai. Katsume was once deeply in love. His love was a very unlikely love, for he had met his match at the courts Shiro Matsu to a battle maiden. This was unheard of indeed. Of course many did not care for such a union but it was done with political weight behind both parties. The couple sooner than expected had a son name Kio. They were a happy familly at the time, even though Katsume never did take the Matsu name. This enraged daggers in the dark, and Katsume's young wife lay dead. Now he had a son to take care of, which would conflict with his duties. His father-in-law, Matsu Chokuko, took the son in on behalf of Katsume and raised him, but because Katsume never did take the name of Matsu his son would take the name instead. He was raised as Matsu Kio and trained to be a lion. Kakita Katsume enjoyed the rare privelage of free passage into Lion lands (even as a Crane no doubt) to visit his son on a regular occassion, and he was well-known in the halls of Shiro Matsu.
This story gets even more twisted, like an afternoon samurai soap opera. As the clan war developed Kakita knew that he would have to choose sides, and that duty would take him to the side of the Crane. Afterall he also loved his family and heritage, and would defend its honor with his life. He wielded the Kakita blade of his grandfather and hoped that he would also pass it down to his grandson some day. However, there was no doubt that he would end up fighting against the Matsu. Matsu Kio also loved his father as he loved him, but the battle would pit father against son. In a lesser known battle during this time, the battle where father faced son came to pass, but in the end Matsu Kio could not stand against his father. Kakita Katsume's kin were also Kio's kin, and his ancestors were his. He could not fight against them. He had a conflict of interests, and so he decided to not fight, knowing that this would mean instant death. He implored his lord Matsu Nimuro for sepukku, but it was not granted. Instead he was executed as a traitor and someone who abandoned his post.
Some time before this Matsu Kio also fell in love and had a son, Katai. During these first few years Matsu Kio could not be parted from his son, for he loved him with all his heart just like his father loved him. But it was the political climate of the time that would drive them apart causing the very son to loathe his father. By this time Kakita Katsume had seen the writting on the wall, and with what political influence he had left he arranged for his grandson, Katai to be trained in the Kakita school. He also implored the emperor (who was not yet assassinated) to decree Katai to be a Kakita. Katsume needed an heir to pass on, and bequeath his Kakita blade that had been in his family for many many generations. This was done and Katai was known as Kakita Katai. At the time he was sad to leave his father and his native lands of the Matsu, but when the clan wars began he would never return to see Shiro Matsu again, at least not as his native land.
Shortly after this Matsu Kio chose to abandon his duty, because of the love he had for his father Kakita Katsume, and was promptly executed as a traitor. The dishonor was felt by many, Katai none the least. Kakita Katsume was greatly sadened by this and shortly after he chose retirement and joined his one true friend in life, Bu. He entered into the brotherhood of Shinsei leaving his troubled yet dutiful life behind. The last of his days were peaceful.
Before he left though, he left his inheritance to his grandson Katai. Katai had been greatly scarred by what had happened to his father. He felt that his father was wronged by the Matsu, for they did not understand love and respect for one's father. However even amongst the Crane, Matsu Kio's disgrace was known to many. They looked upon Kakita Katai as possibly having the same craven blood of a Matsu in him. No one ridiculed him openly but it was spoken in whispers, behind his back, and behind closed doors. Katsume-sama made sure that his posterity, knowing that Katai was deeply scarred by all this (and knowing that he bore much of the responsibility too) made sure that Katai received the best training a Kakita could get – the very same training he had received when he was young. Katsume even paved the way for Katai to someday attend the Kenshinzen dojo if he proves himself worthy to attend. Katsume-same was able to pass on his families Kakita blade to his grandson, with the hopes that it will serve the ancestors, Crane, and the empire like he did. Some say that, actually, the very blood of Katsume flows through his veins insted of that of his father's Kio, and that he may overcome his jaded past and attain the glory and status of his grandfather Katsume-sama.
Now, this was a chance to prove his worth. Katai found himself in the front lines of the battle on the White Orchid Road. It was a small battle of little worth, but at least one where he could show his courage and bravery, especially against the Matsu. But secretly he knew that his nemesis, Matsu Setsuko, was at this battle, and he would be there to challenge her. Katai has no great love for the Matsu, nor does he absolutely hate them. But what he truly feels is that he is better than them, and wants to take every oppurtunity to prove his Crane superiority over the Matsu. One of those who was most vocal against Matsu Kio and his spawn Katai, was his cousin Matsu Setsuko. There is absolutely no love between these two, but a bitter feud that will surely result in the death of one of them. She has the advantage in years over him, recieving gempuku eight years before Katai did. This does not discourage Katai as his Crane training in the Kakita dueling school will prove superior in every way. This little family feud is no secret, either.
Oh, Katai also likes to play Go, just like his grandfathed did too.