Day 24 - Kyuden Tonbo

At the base of the Dragon mountains, the white banners of sorrow fly above a jewel-colored palace. Shining walls could not brighten the loss that they suffer, nor could they forget the damage that has been done by the Naga.

Why had the Naga attacked? To defeat the Shadow that rested within the walls of Kyuden Hitomi--once Kyuden Togashi, the oldest palace of the Dragon. Naga instinct served where the Empire's knowledge failed, but still the Dragonfly do not curse Hitomi for awakening Shosuro.

After all, it had only been a matter of time.

She stands at the edge of their practice field, watching as Mirumoto Sukune teaches a young bushi the method of Mirumoto's Niten. Here, men have died for her. They have struggled against the anger of an Empire when she used Togashi's knowledge to gain the secret of how to defeat the Shadow. When the Emperor himself had been turned, his face slipping to nothingness, these men had still sworn their allegiance.

How could she leave them now?

Source: posted to www.wizards.com/l5r on 2/14/00