Letters to the Lion and the Scorpion

To Doji Kaetaru san,

My name is Matsu Kaito, son of Matsu Ayako and Ikoma Saito, student of Matsu Seijuro. I fought against the Yobanjin horde and hunted maho tsukai with furious anger. Akodo Tomatsu sama, Champion of the Lion honored me with the task of represent the Lion clan among the Crane clan. He read your letter and uses my voice to answer it.

In the name of my clan I must humbly thank our Crane cousins the remind us for the virtues of Bushido. Though without any offence it is strange from the mouth of a diplomat to lecture the leader of the clan of the warriors for this – not mentioning deficities in your education. Bushido consists of seven virtues.

Gi teaches us to treat our friends and enemies with honesty and justice. That’s why if our enemy is tired of war and asks for peace, we would give him honest and just treaty. This also means we wouldn’t ask for favor in the name of others for the benefit of our clan.

The virtue of Rei asks us to use the appropriate salutation if we make any connection with the different levels of the society. For example a clan Champion as Akodo Tomatsu sama.

May I talk about courage, Yu, which we show not only on the battlefield, but also in the courts. It doesn’t only refer to our acts but the content behind it. Yu is also in our honest and true words, even…no especially if we speak to our enemy. Courage is shown when you tell what you want into the face of the enemy.

Next virtue is Meyo, honor. It is easy to live it among the Lion, but harder to explain it. There’s no honor in slaughtering emissaries from a neutral clan.

A bushi also have to follow the code of Jin so he must be always aware of the duty to protect others. Though the Lion clan can be seen in the eyes of the Empire as furious and bloodthirsty warriors, this virtue remind us for the purpose of war: to maintain peace.

Embracing Makoto is very close to show courage, but this is a mixture of inner courage and self-knowledge. Complete sincerity is when there’s no difference in your actions and words. If this is learnt well, you don’t hesitate to tell your true wish and you wouldn’t write dishonest letters to hide your weakness.

The list wouldn’t be complete without Chugo - duty. Maybe the most important virtue, because it defines the essence of being a bushi. A samurai’s role is to serve his master with honor. The Lion bushi’s duty connects him to Akodo Tomatsu sama, who takes his role with unquestionable honor and keeping the code of Bushido. That’s why we follow his orders with our full heart.

As you can see Naetaru san we, Lion know what Bushido asks from us, and we also do our best to follow that code. We are sure that our Champion will choose the best choice for our clan, and whatever it will be, we’ll follow it with the passion of our ancestors. If the Scorpion clan will ask for safe passage to Toshi Ranbo he will make the decision which will be based on the opinion of his consultants, his ancestors and his heart only – not on a coward letter from his enemy.

To tell you my private opinion: I would feel to be offended in place of the Scorpion leaders.

So tell your Champion Naetaru san, if he wants something from the Lion, he should ask for that directly "in the honor of Jin and Rei".

May your ancestors guide you:

Matsu Kaito, general of the Matsu armies and ambassador to the Crane clan

To Doji Naetaru san,

A honestly thank you shared the view of the Crane clan about the code of Bushido. I'm deeply disappointed if you found hatred or ignorance in my words. I can assure you there were none, only the calm decision of a clan was written down in my letter.

Your answer showed me a different side from what my sensei, Matsu Seijuro had thought me about Bushido. If you visit the library of the Kakita Academy, you're going to find, his name among those who were taught there, and I don't remember him as someone who didn't keep his masters advices. This is why you're thinking of the way of the warrior is wierd to me sometimes.

The most outrageous was how you dared to insult the Lion Clan Champion again with overriding his decisions, and giving orders to his nominated representative. If I were your sensei, I would not recognize you as my student due to your failure to recognize your betters with even the basic elements of courtesy. Hopefully he has enough honor and sense to do so.

I regret the prejudice you feel towards the Lion clan, but I hope the years or this war will change this.

Matsu Kaito, general of the Matsu armies and ambassador to the Crane clan

(OOC: I hope our letter-changings doesn't make you think me rude, arrogant or anything bad in real life. The letters are just RPing for me. I can assure you I'm a definetly cool guy, and I have no bad feeling towards you in RL, I'm just enjoying my bushi character :-))