The Imperial City, year 1169,
Month of the Rooster

Isawa Ochiai folded her hands into her sleeves and strode into the audience chamber without preamble. Her brilliant orange and yellow robes swept against the screen as the guards opened it before her. The mood in the chamber was somber, and the tension settled over the small woman like a blanket. Ochiai showed no sign of having noticed, and instead smiled warmly at those awaiting her. "Please forgive my tardiness, my friends," she said, bowing respectfully as she walked amongst them. "It has been a most busy morning already, and I fear it will only grow more so as the day progresses!"

The three Lion all bowed crisply to Ochiai in perfect unison. The eldest among them, clearly their leader based on the body language of the other two, raised one eyebrow. "If the administration of the Imperial City is becoming too great a task for the Phoenix to maintain," he suggested, "then perhaps this meeting will bear more fruit than I had imagined."

The Master of Fire smiled again, although with somewhat less sincerity. "If that is the matter of discussion again, Akodo Setai, then perhaps our time could be better spent on other endeavors," Ochiai fanned herself lightly. "We have discussed this several times, and the result is always the same!"

"Today will be different," Setai said. "On behalf of the Lion Clan, I formally petition that you release stewardship of Toshi Ranbo to the Lion, and recognize the legitimacy of Toturi Shigekawa as the logical heir to the throne."

"Toturi Shigekawa?" The young Mantis courtier could not contain her surprise, apparently. "The commander of the Seventh Imperial Legion?"

"The same," Setai replied coolly, glaring at the Mantis. "He was a vassal of Empress Toturi II, serving as one of her private military officers, and likewise served her successor, Emperor Toturi III. Furthermore, he is a cousin of the late regent, Empress Toturi Kurako, who held the throne following the death of her husband, until she was killed in the attack by the Mantis and Unicorn upon this city!"

"There will be no purpose served in inflammatory remarks of such a nature," Ochiai cautioned. "Please remember where you are."

"I am in the Imperial City of Toshi Ranbo," Setai replied. "A city ceded to the Imperial authority by the Lion and the Crane, and currently protected by both clans despite the unnecessary intervention of the Phoenix Clan. On behalf of my Champion, I must insist that you relinquish control of the city immediately!"

"That would be foolish," Yoritumo Yashinko said. The young woman remained calm, tapping her folded fan lightly on her chin as if in deep thought. "The Lion failed to protect the previous capital, after all. Failed rather spectacularly, as I recall. Any relinquishment to their care would be foolhardy!"

Ochiai held up a hand to forestall Setai's reply. "You of course have a similar suggestion?" she asked, a hint of fatigue in her voice. Yashinko bowed, her face devoid of any emotion. "I can only submit that, like the Phoenix, the Mantis have been working for the people of this Empire. We seek to save lives, to preserve order, just as the Phoenix have done in taking this city. We do not wish to take it from you, Lady Ochiai, we only wish to aid you in protecting it."

"Bold claims," Setai said. "Particularly considering the role of the Mantis in the destruction wrought throughout this city only a few months ago!"

"A matter of philosophical difference," Yashinko insisted, turning back to Ochiai. "Setai-sama glosses over the matter of the Mantis Clan's defense of the Empire, because he knows he cannot refute it. In the short time since its construction, our clan's magistrate efforts from Houritsu Mura have..."

"Houritsu Mura," Setai said flatly. "The so-called 'Village of Law! A transparent attempt to curry favor with your betters!"

"The Mantis have no betters, only equals," Yashinko purred, "and even then, none among the Lion!"

"We shall see how your bravado endures when your master Yoritomo Naizen is brought to justice on a Lion blade," Setai said, his voice cold and completely empty.

"Enough!" Ochiai's voice was not loud, but commanded a certain quality of power that could not be denied. There was a momentary stirring of the air, one that could easily be attributed to the Fire Dragon atop the Palace, if one were inclined toward imaginative solutions. "This is but another demonstration that the Phoenix are needed within this city for the time being. Were we to withdraw our protection, it would be enveloped in flames within a matter of hours. I am sorry, my friends, but your petitions are denied!"

Yashinko's expression grew dark, and she turned and left the chamber without another word. Setai only stared at the Master of Fire for a long moment "This matter is not at an end," he finally said, and then followed Yashinko from the chamber.

"No", Ochai said under her breath. "No, I fear it is not."