"Marriage?" The shriek thundered like a hammer across a wasteland of broken pottery, and a sobbing maid cowered in a heap by the shattered balsa door. Another sakizuki bowl tore through the thin rice paper, and a guard in the hallway ducked to avoid the flying crockery. Within minutes, a snarling Hida O-Ushi stalked past them both, tying her helmet firmly over her jet-black hair. As she passed the hastily bowing samurai, she stormed, "If my brother sends for me, tell him I'm in the Shadowlands cleaning up some trash."

The Crabs did not move until she was far down the corridor, her iron-shod boots ringing on the solid mahogany like the pounding of a smith's forge. When she was out of sight, the samurai raised their eyes from the floor and looked after her. "Today," murmured one, "I can almost feel sorry for the goblins."

On the high parapets of the Kalu Wall, Hida Yakamo stood in the whipping wind, glaring out over the broken land that was his demesne. Every struggling branch, each wasted tree and blackened river, he knew them all. He fought them all.

His cold brown eyes looked down on the lone figure moving toward the great figure in battered armor. Behind Yakamo, a Crane peered at the Crab Champion's broad shoulders and spotted the samurai. "Your sister at last, Yakamo-sama?" Daidoji Uji asked.

Yakamo's only answer was a nod.

As she approached the wall, O-Ushi met an out-going party of Hiruma scouts, lightly armed and armored. Their ringing voices echoed up the stones of the wall - und Yakamo could hear the cheers and banter as his sister swung the tremendous head of an Oni in greeting.

"My sister," Yakama growled, "who has been 'hunting' in the Shadowlands for six days."

Uji laughed, a deep ringing sound that held little mirth. "Don't be be angry, my friend. With the news you gave her, you're lucky she's chosen tp return, at all!"

"She has her duty to fulfill to our Clan." Yakamn gripped the wall with clenched fists. "Even if she doesn't agree with me, she must obey my command."

"I'm sure she will, Yakamo-sama." Uji's voice lost all humor as he leaned out form the parapet wall. On the ground, O-Ushi was telling the story of her triumph with grand gestures and mighty swings of her hammer. The scouts gathered easily around her, their voices lost beneath the shouts of Yakamo's sister. "I'm sure any man would be glad to marry your sister. She's educated in all the courtly manners," O-Ushi's bloodstained hammer lifted towards the heavens, "And skilled in all the...ah..." With a gleeful scream, the hammer came slamming down against the darkened earth, and the Hiruma erupted into cheers of pride and battle. "...womanly arts."

A bit of powdered granite wafted down from beneath Yakamo's clenched hand, and the jade fingers shone in the noonday sun. "Call my sister here. Tell her I wish to discuss her wedding plans." A servant behind them bowed swiftly, rising from seize to dash down the high stone stairs toward the courtyard.

O-Ushi swaggered up the stairs toward her brother and the Daidoli daimyo, though she left the Oni's head behind. Her armor was stained and dirty, the shoulder plate in need of repair and one panel of her helmet entirely missing, but her smile was bright and fierce. "Good day, Uji-sama, Yakamo-sama." she said cheerfully, crossing her arms rakishly after a brief bow. "You needed me?"

Yakamo nodded and Uji returned the bow. "I needed you, O-Ushi, six days ago." His sarcasm seemed to be completely lost on O-Ushi as she grinned up at her brother.

"I'm very sorry, Yakamo-sama I wasn't given the word that you wished me back from the Shadowlands. And my prey was very troublesome..."

Yakamo waved his hand for silence, and O-Ushi cut off her excuse with a smile. "Enough. You must marry, sister. I order it. Now we must decide who will be your husband."

"I hope you choose a strortg husband, my Lort," O-Ushi's voice strained to be polite, and her hand twisted about the hilt of her hammer. "Or he may not survive the wedding night." Uji and Yakamo stared openly as her smile grew broader, and then Yakamo slammed his jade fist upon the stone of the wale opening a wide crack in the granite.

"O-Ushi!" Yakamo raged. "I will not tolerate disobedience!"

"I have not disobeyed you, brother," she snarled. "I agreed I would marry, didn't I?"

"You will be wife to this man! You will arrange his house, keep his finances and entertain guests!" Yakamo's veins bulged from shouting, but O-Ushi stood like a rock in his path. "Your duty is to be a good wife!"

"A good little wife" O-Ushi spat "If there is to be a marriage, why don't you bring in a good little wife, and let me be a warrior!"

before the altercation could come to blows, Uji stepped between the feuding Crabs. "Yakamo sam!" O-Ushir Uji waited a moment, watching the anger dim in their eyes. "Your brother will not relent, O-Ushi-san, and it is not your place to question his decision. Let us at least come to terms on your husband. There are many in the Empire who would seek your hand...Do you have a preference?" Her only answer was a dark glower, as Uji's eyes stared into hers with a challenge.

"I. Will. Not. Choose," O-Ushi said through clenched teeth. She would have said more, but Yakamo interrupted.

"Very well. If she will not choose, let the news go to all the Clans. A fight for my sister's honor."

"And the winner claims mer O-Ushi's face reddened. "So I'm rice for the champion's table?" Her fists rose and her voice turned into a shout. "A broodmare!'

Yakamo's roar broke through the air "You're a Crab who has a duty." In the angry silence that followed, O-Ushi bowed her head in fury and obedience.

"All right, brother. Have your contest. I'll marry the victor." O-Ushi spat. "But for duty. Nothing more." She bowed curtly, spun, and stormed down the stairs, away from the wall.

Yakamo glowered at her retreating form for several minutes, his face troubled and resolute. Finally, the Crab Champion turned to his friend, "You do it, Uji-san. I know you Cranes have much knowledge in... this sort of thing."

"As you wish, Yakamo-sama I would be honored to be your nakodo." He bowed, speaking the traditional phrases which formally accepted the position of go-between for a noble marriage. ~he tournament will be held in three weeks, on the grounds of Hida palace. I will invite members of all the noble houses of Rokugan."

"Three weeks, Daidoji-san." Yakamo turned and walked along the parapets of the Kaiu Wall. glaring out at the dark wastes of the Shadowlands.

"Yes, Yakamo-sama" Uji bowed again, and when he straightened, his eyes were narrow and cunning. "When we meet again, Crab Lord, it will be to congratulate me on victory... and offer me the hand of your sister."

The day dawned cold and gray, a light rain falling from the sky as the samurai gathered on the plains surrounding Hida Palace. Among them, the banners of the Lion the Unicorn and the Crane fluttered in a dull breeze. Even the bright colors of the minor clans assembled among them could not bring cheer to the day, and the courtiers stood huddled under the eaves of the palace's wooden walkways.

Yakamo strode onto the field with his house guardL bowing formally to the assembled Champions. Doji Kuwanan for the Crane, Shinjo Yokatsu of the Unicorn...even Hitomi. The dark Dragon Champion stood to one side of the courtyard, attended only by a single man whose skin was blackened by tattoos. "She makes my skin crawl," one of the guards muttered angrily as she half- mockingly returned Yakamo's formal bow from across the field.

"Enough, Tampako-san." Yakamo barked quietly. "Those days are over." Nevertheless, the Crab's eyes narrowed and his lip curled in a silent snarl as he turned away from his old enemy. One by one, the other dignitaries approached Yakamo, their smiles and bows churning his stomach and making his palm itch for a tetsubo. Finally, once the ceremonies were concluded, the Crab Herald stepped onto the rainsoaked field.

"Noble and honorable gentles," the Yasuki said, bowing to the field, "we, the Crab, thank you for coming to this most joyful celebration. It is our pleasure to be your hosts, and our honor to share this festival with the other Great Clans of Rokugan. Many years ago, the Clan of the Crab hosted another such assemblage..."

The Yasuki's voice droned on, and Yakamo began to scour the gathering for his sister. Unable to find her, he frowned and shifted uncomfortably on his chair. At last, the speech ceased, and polite applause drifted from the audience. Yakamo stood and raised his Jade Hand above his head.

"On this day, one of you will gain a prize above all other prizes. One of you who stand here will claim a place among the heart of my Clan." Yakamo's voice rumbled in defiance of the thunder. "Only the strongest."

"I would fight for that honor, Yakamo-sama!" The shout rang from the Lion forces, and a young bushi stepped out of the crowd. Another shout, from a Mantis, all in green. A third, then a fourth, then the field was full of cheers.

"I, for the Unicorn!"

"I for the Fox!"

"I fight for the noble Kaiu!"

"And I fight for the Crane." The voice was Uji's, and his black masked mempo hid the danger in his eyes. With a swift movement, he raised the tetsubo the Crab had given each of the competitors, and saluted.

As the shugenja completed the circle around the competitors, another voice called from the side of the fleld. "And I" it rang across the startled competitors, "I fight...for myself." O-Ushi strode down the walkway of the Crab palace in full battle armor, raising her hammer above her head mockingly. The shugenja looked up at the interruption, and there were murmurs and whispers from the field. O-Ushi glared challengingly at Yakamo. "There is no reason I cannot win my own hand. I demand a place on the field." The little Yasuki councilor gaped openly as she stepped into the ring, tying her mempo to her helm.

"You said anyone could fight in this match, brother," O-Ushi chided. "Is that not true?"

Outmaneuvered, Yakamo glared at the Yasuki running the tournament, and nodded once, briskly. At that, the little man in the gray robes stepped forward, and raised his hand above the ring. When it fell, chaos reigned within the battle-ground.

Tetsubos rose and fell in mighty strokes, and screams echoed from the fierce warriors in the huge chalk circle. Soon, the ground turned to mud beneath steel-shod boots and chiurgeons dragged away the unconscious and fallen challengers. In the center of the ring, O-Ushi stood in a wide stance, swinging her hammer in long, bonecrushing attacks.

To the side, three Lions formed a phalanx as they were charged by some of the minor clan bush). Their tetsubos flailed wildly, crashing against bone and armor, and chi screams ripped through the air. To one side, a Unicorn samurai dodged nimbly beneath his larger opponent's swing, slamming his own tetsubo into the Kaiu's stomach. Chaos reigned on one side of the circle, as the tattooed man lifted one of the Lion over his head and flung the protesting bushi from the ring. A savage smile broke through the Dragon's concentration, and a howl of battle rose from his chest. He leapt upon the Crane, reaching for a hold upon Uji's armor, but the Daidoji flung himself backwards, crushing the tattooed man beneath their combined weight Before the Dragon could regain his wind, the Crane had knocked him senseless with the ruthless swing of a gauntleted fists.

Two of the Lion had been eliminated by the Mantis contender, lying sprawled in the mud beneath him. He turned, and faced the Unicorn's swift blow. Stepping backwards and shaking his head to clear it, the Mantis steadied himself for the Unicorn's charge, only to find his feet knocked from beneath him by a charging Scorpion. But before they could stand again, both were crushed beneath the weight of an unconscious Hida samurai, his tremendous bulk pinning the two warriors and making them easy prey for the last Lion.

O-Ushi stood, confident and smiling with eagerness, in the center of the chaos, her great hammer whistling as she swung it over her head and smashed it into the side of her opponent As he fell unconscious, at her feet she looked up into the steel mask of the Crane.

Swing for swing, evenly matched, the two warriors parried and smashed their weapons, seeking an opening in their opponent's defense. As the last few samurai struggled to keep their footing in the heavy mud, O-Ushi and Uji struggled in a titanic match of strength and wilL With a heavy thud, Uji's tetsubo tore away O-Ushi's hammer, casting both weapons outside the boundaries of the chalk circle. The two competitors stared for a moment, then Uji reached down to pick up one of the discarded weapons.

Unwilling to let him have the advantage, O-Ushi charged. Her footing slipped on the wet muck beneath them, hurling her forward against the Crane. With a solid crack, their heads met and both samurai fell reeling to the ground.

Above them stood the young Unicorn, his purple and gold armor filthy from the mud and rain, a tetsubo hanging precariously in his thin hand. No other warriors remained in the circle of the tournament, and no others were standing to accept the honor when Yakamo leapt from his chair.

"Shugenjar Yakamo howled, pointing at the unconscious O-Ushi. "Quickly! Before she awakes.

The Kuni scurried into the circle, gripping the samurai-ko's gauntlet and pulling her bruised hand from within. With a lunge, he grabbed the Unicorn's hand and held the two together, murmuring the ancient rites of marriage. Others converged on the scene, their hands waving in a spell-like pattern as the first sprinkled water upon the ground as a benediction.

By the time O-Ushi awakened, it was over. The Kuni shugenja backed away as if her fluttering eyes were a striking snake, but the Unicorn knelt at her side. "Are you all right, Ushi-chau' He murmured, brushing a strand of sweat-and mud-covered hair from her eyes.

"Who are you?" O-Ushi roared, and her eyes focused blearily on Uji's oblivious face, half-ground into the earth.

"I'm Shinjo Yasamura, my sweet lady. We are married." O-Ushi looked down at the red ribbons which encircled their wrists like the ropes of a prisoner. She tried to scramble to her feet, reaching for her lost hammer, but the sucking mud and her own disorientation made her fall to a seat on the ground again. Yasamura's doting smile shone down through the steady rain.

Yakamo's hand reached out for O-Ushi's, and with a heave, the two men pulled her to her unsteady feet.

"Married..." she cursed staring at Yakamo. With a flailing hand, she gestured toward the slender young man at her side. "How could you marry me to this..."

"This is your husband's father, Shinjo Yokatsu." Yakamo glowered at O-Ushi threateningly. "The Champion of the Unicorn Clan." "A pleasure to meet you, O-Ushiko." Yokatsu stepped forward, his bowed legs making his body sway as he walked. "Congratulations on your wedding. My son is a fine warrior, fit to stand beside you on the wall. Of course, I have talked it over with your brother first," he smiled at Yakamo, Uand we have decided that Yasamura shall take your name, as a gesture of goodwill between our families." Yokatsu's smile was sincere, and he looked at his young son with pride.

As the two Champions began to negotiate the dowry, O-Ushi turned to stare at the grinning youth on her arm. "So, you thought to find yourself a slave today, Unicorn?" Her voice was low and venomous and Yasamura stepped away, to be stopped by the rope which bound them.

"No...no, not at ale Ushi-chan." His eyes were wide and surprised.

"Then why did you come to fight for me. Was it because you thought to take the dowry back to your own kind?" O-Ushi growled.

"Um, no." Yasamura smiled, and his limpid brown eyes met her hate with kindness. "Actually, we were just traveling through these lands. I didn't even know there was a tournament until I was here." O-Ushi's glare turned to confusion as the irony sank in.

"You didn't know?"

"Not at all. My father didn't tell me. It must have slipped his mind." Yasamura signed and U-Oshi wondered waht else tended to slip the Unicorn champion's mind when his youngest son was involved.

"So, tell me, my dear new love," Yasamura bowed with a courtier's grace, "what is the prize for the tournament? I'm ralher confused about the whole thing."

O-Ushi stared at him, her mouth hanging open, as Yakamo and Yokatsu returned. The gathering of the Clans was beginning to crowd around the young couple and offering their congratulations and numerous wedding gifts.

"So, my sister. What do you think of Hida Yasamura?" Yakamo smiled in victory, seeing the confusion on his sister's face.

O-Ushi glared at him, then bowed and stepped away, headed to the Crab palace with the rest of the courtly throng. As she yanked on the brightly colored ribbons that bound her to the Unicorn, he tottered and quickly fell in step behind her. O-Ushi looked back over her shoulder at her brother and muttered, "I think he will make a good little wife."

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