When the Lion were expelled from the Imperial City, Kitsu Katsuko made it her first priority to find a suitable shrine for her prayers. She could have prayed at any of the dozens of shrines and temples that dotted the countryside, but none of them met her exacting specifications. When she did come to a decision, however, many people were mystified by her choice. It was a small shrine to a minor, local kami; only peasants ever frequented the place to pray for good crops for the year. Still, Katsuko was satisfied. Though it was a few miles away from where the Lion had set up camp outside of Toshi Ranbo, Katsuko regularly made the trek to the shrine to pray. Those near the Kitsu Daimyo simply shrugged and attributed it to her oddness.

When news of the Imperial Family's new proclamation reached Katsuko, she immediately called her advisors to the shrine. It was only a matter of hours before everyone was assembled there.

Kitsu Ineko was the first to arrive. She entered the room with a respectful bow to the ancestors and a short prayer. Although some might have taken offense at the way Ineko had ignored her family daimyo, Katsuko smiled fondly at the young woman. She had left the Kitsu lands to train with the Phoenix Elemental Masters – a grand honor, and while Katsuko had been excited for her pupil, in her heart she had sheltered a concern that Ineko would forget her Lion ways for the Phoenix. Katsuko was relieved to see any signs that Ineko was still a Lion at heart.

Ikoma Tatsunori was the next to step into the room. The young, honorable samurai was part of the Lion delegation at the Imperial City. After the Lion were expelled from the city, Tatsunori stayed with them and now performed whatever tasks needed to be done. Today, Tatsunori served as Ineko's yojimbo. He looked around with a neutral expression, but his feelings were clear in his eyes. He was a proud man, and he obviously felt the small, humble shrine was not worth the attention of the Kitsu Family Daimyo. To his credit, Tatsunori did not express his opinions and simply knelt to pray to his ancestors.

Katsuko's small council was complete once Kitsu Tanoyame stepped into the room. The older man grumbled under his breath, at everything around him – the humidity of the room, the long trip, and even the circumstances that forced Katsuko to call him across the countryside. He knelt slowly and made a short prayer. Katsuko did not let his complaints bother her. Tanoyame was one of the oldest shugenja to serve the Kitsu, and she always welcomed his sage advice. She knew that beneath his cranky exterior lay a heart and mind that sought only the strength of the Lion.

Katsuko waited patiently as everyone concluded their prayers. The small room felt cramped with the presence of several Lion samurai, but luckily no one else was there that day. Once she was sure she had their attention, she spoke. “I assume you know why I have called you to this shrine.”

“Yes, Katsuko-san,” Tanoyame said. “Though I do not see why we could not have met within our tents near the Imperial City. The travel was quite uncomfortable. I do not look forward to the trip back.”

“I am sorry you were inconvenienced, old friend,” Katsuko said gently. “I felt the conversation would be more comfortable if we were all at ease. I find conversation with my ancestors always sets me on the right path.” She looked at Tatsunori, waiting diligently at the back of the room. “I chose this shrine because the kami feel warm and inviting here. We need to spend less effort to call upon the aid of those who passed on before us.”

Tatsunori's face flushed and his posture grew even more rigid, ashamed at his lack of composure and for disturbing his superior's meeting.

“The Jade Championship,” Ineko said, answering Katsuko's original statement. “It seems premature, following the recent Emerald Championship so closely.”

“Sekawa has left the Empire, and while his fate was not as grim as that of Hachi, he left a void,” Katsuko said. “The position of the Jade Champion does remain empty.”

“Well, I will be the last to applaud the Imperial Families' diligence in this matter,” Tanoyame grumbled. “It is a matter of politics and nothing more. They just want to undermine this young Jimen by thrusting yet another person into a powerful position.”

Katsuko smiled. The keen insight was exactly the reason he was so valuable to her. “There is no doubt on that count, Tanoyame-san. However, I believe their reasons are not completely heartless. Perhaps they truly believe the Empire needs a Jade Champion.”

“Still naive, Katsuko-san,” Tanoyame said. “People are not as trustworthy as the dead.”

“Tanoyame-san brings up a good point, Katsuko-sama,” Ineko interjected. “Does the Empire need a Jade Champion right now? Would he help the land settle from the madness that sweeps it, or will filling this position only cause more tension among the Clans?”

“Do not worry about that, girl,” Tanoyame replied. “It does not matter if the position is needed. The call has gone out. It is out of our hands. The only thing remaining is our response to the invitation.”

"Then it remains for us to select who will represent us in the tournament," Katsuko said.

"Katsuko-sama, please forgive my temerity," Ineko said, then abruptly stopped.

"Speak your mind, Ineko-san. You are among friends here," Katsuko said.

"As much as I hate to admit it, Katsuko-sama, the Lion schools do not prepare us to adequately serve as the Jade Champion," Ineko said. Her jaws tightened as she explained what she believed was an unsavory truth. "We are skilled in our methods of speaking to the ancestors and traversing the Spirit Realms. But our schooling lacks the focus on the elements that the other clans teach. We would be woefully unprepared to fullfill the Jade Champion's duties."

"Has your stay with the Phoenix addled your wits?" Tanoyame demanded. "The Lion are not as weak as you think."

"One Lion was," Katsuko said quietly. The room fell silent as they all remembered Kitsu Okura. The shugenja had surprised and delighted the clan by becoming Jade Champion. He had crushed the hopes oh the entire clan when he fell to maho and corruption. His legacy still cast a shadow upon them all.

"What are your thoughts, Tatsunori-san?" Katsuko asked.

Tatsunori's eyes widened at being addressed. He quickly gathered his composure and spoke calmly. "Whatever formal training the Lion shugenja may lack, Katsuko-sama, they can make up with force of will. The Lion armies protect the Empire. It must be a Lion shugenja to do so as well. That is in my opinion, of course," he added, stammering.

Tanoyame smiled. "Out of the mouth of babes, as they say," he said.

Kasuko nodded. "You are right, Tatsunori," she replied. "We must assume that duty. We must clear the shame of our failure decades ago. One of us must win the tournament. Ineko-san, are you willing to be one of our representatives?" Ineko's face grew pale, but she nodded. Katsuko turned to Tanoyame.

"I'm too old to be an effective Jade Champion," Tanoyame grumbled. "I'm in no condition to follow rumors of maho across the countryside."

"My friend, you were born old," Katsuko said. "Your skills would be indispensable. Even if you do not become the Jade Champion, you cannot escape your duties. Come, Tanoyame-san. Where is your dedication to the Lion now?"

Tanoyame drew back with an offended look on his face. "You doubt my dedication, Katsuko?"

"I have never doubted you, Tanoyame-san," Katsuko replied. "We are the Lion. It remains to us to protect the Empire. If we lend our strengths to each other, we cannot possibly fail."