Shiriko was thrown to the ground by rough hands as the room was filled by screams. The sound of automatic gunfire thundered through the room, and she saw someone she knew from the party a few nights ago die. Her black-masked yojimbo muttered, "Stay down my Lady" and pulled out his gun. The guard did not move from her, knowing that the Emperor's men would handle the situation. His duty was to his Lady, and to her alone.

Bayushi Shiriko looked aroun the room, her eyes scanning everything with cold detachment. It was almost surreal as the Badger daimyo sprayed the room with bullets. The most eerie part was when Emperor Yoritomo, the man who was perhaps the easiest target, simply locked eyes with Shiriko for a moment, and she could see the same unconcerned detachment in his eyes. It was an unsettling moment, and then, one shot rang out loudly over the din, and the gunfire stopped.

Shiriko turned to watch Ichiro Chiodo, the Badger Daimyo, fall to his knees and slump to the ground. Several guardsmen and Magistrates began shouting commands over the people's voices, still panicking. Shiriko raised herslef on her arms just as another round of runfire was heard, and her bodyguard fell over her. Two black boots stepped in front of her eyes, and someone kneeled down in front of her, offering their hand.

"Are you alright, Lady Bayushi?" Came the voice of Magistrate Tetsugi. Shiriko looked up to see the man with a wakazashi in his free hand. His eyes were covered with green-glassed goggles.

She smiled beneath her thin veil, took his hand, and she stood. "Magistrate," she said, "How nice to see you again." She gave a look at his goggles and raised an eyebrow. "What are those things?"

Tetsugi smiled, "Just another piece of Doji equipment I've been asked to test for the Guard." He adjusted them on his face, "They're supposed to work with a specially designed sidearm to improve targeting."

The crowd milled around them as Tetsugi escorted Shiriko to the exit, and her yojimbo looked at the Magistrate scornfully beneath his mask. "Does it work?" she asked.

"I don't know," Tetsugi said. "I was too busy protecting the Emperor to get a clear shot at any of the assassins. Tsuruchi Kyo and some Kitsuki managed to stop them."

A long car pulled up to the doorway, and Shiriko bowed to Tetsugi. "Thank you, Tetusgi-san. I shall see you another day."

Tetsugi bowed low to her as Shiriko's bodyguard helped her into the limo. "Perhaps under better circumstances, Lady." he muttered as the car sped away.

Magistrate Tetsugi sighed and pulled the goggles off his eyes as the elevator sped him up the building's side. No one had seen it coming. The Badger Daimyo had walked into the Emperor's presence and simply began spraying bullets into whoever was in the way. No one had known. Tetsugi walked into the hallway when the elevator doors opened, and walked to his office. His secretary, a young Kakita intern named Daikan, smiled as he approached, and he nodded to her. She was working on her computer and humming some happy tune to herself.

"You've got some mail, Tetsugi," she said cheerfully as she raised the letters to him, not taking her eyes away from the screen as she typed with one hand.

"Thank you Daiken," he muttered and went into his office. He flipped through the mail as he walked to his chair. What if the Ichiro had better aim? Why didn't he? Yoritomo was in plain sight, an easy target. Just as the Emperor's name crossed Tetsugi's mind, he saw a letter with the Imperial mon on the front. He quickly tore open the evelope and read the short message from his Emperor. Tetsugi was to meet with Yoritomo in a matter of hours, and the letter had been delivered perhaps an hour before he had gotten to his office.

What could be so important? Absently, he flipped the intercom to Daiken on and said, "Daiken, I need to you run a few messages and find a few people for me."

"Sure thing." Came the reply.

"I need to find that Kitsuki detective that was at the Emperor's appearance tonight, and round up Ichiro Chiodo's personal guard for me." He flipped through the messages, reading one from Doji Meda, and his eyebrows arched instinctively.

"That all, sir?" Daiken's voice rang through the speaker.

"No..." Tetsugi mumbled, and said, "Tell the Emerald Champion 'yes'."

There was a pause. "Yes?" Daiken asked.

"Yes, Daiken."

Tetsugi walked across the silent room, his boots making light echoes as he approached the great door that lead into the Emperor's office. He nodded to the guard at the entry, who opened the door and waved Tetsugi in. The Magistrate had been in private audiece enough to be recognizable to the guards in the Palace. And he had passed countless fingerprint, voiceprint, retina, and passcode security measures in the entrance hall.

He walked in, and saw Emperor Yoritomo and his two children, Kameru, his son and heir, and Ryosei, his daughter. Tetsugi bowed low before his Emperor and looked to the children. Kamreu had his father's fire in his eyes, but something was troubling him. That same look was betrayed on Ryosei's face. He locked eyes with his Emperor again, awaiting instruction.

"Greetings, Tetsugi," Yoritomo's voice rang through the chamber. "We are glad you have come. We have much to discuss."

Tetsugi simply nodded and came to stand next to the Emperor's desk. he waited a moment, then Kameru's voice broke the silence.

"Is that it?" the young man said, "Is that all you will say, Father?" His voice was an odd mix of pleading and anger.

"Yes, that is all," The Emperor replied simply. "Your father I may be, but we are also your Emperor. As your father, I love you. As your Emperor, you are nothing in our plans. Now if the both of you will excuse me, we have much to do."

Tetsugi watched as the Emperor's children walked out of the chamber. He knew his Emperor well enough to know that Yoritomo's cold demeanor was not becuase he was an emotionless man, but simply because he was an honest one. He did not waste time with comforting words or embellishments.

Yoritomo motioned for Tetsugi to sit, and the Magistrate did so, taking a chair before the great marble desk. "I await your will, my Emperor" he said.

"Tetsugi, you have served us well for nearly ten years now. You have never failed your duty to us, and for that, we thank you." Yoritomo's tone was the most affectionate Tetsugi had ever heard the Emperor use to one of his Magistrates.

"It has been an honor to serve you, my Emperor," Tetsugi replied.

"We charge you with readying our armies for the coming war, Magistrate. You will bring to us a full report of our standing militay abilities, and implement any changes you see fit to improve the efficiency and capability of them."

Tetsugi paused a moment. He was shocked earlier when the Emperor had made his declaration of war against the entire world. Tetusgi had not heard even a small rumour of Yoritomo's plan, and it had caught him completely off-guard. His surprise gave way to a small amount of understanding in mintues, however. After he had helped clear the scene of the shooting, the Magistrate began to realize that his Emperor was not mad.

"My Emperor, as your adivsor now, it is my duty to inform you that according to the last report on our armies, we would have a vast tactical disadvantage against the combined might of several other nations." Tetsugi's voice was even, logical.

Yoritomo simply nodded. "You fear for the people of our Empire, do you not, Tetsugi?"

The Magistrate bowed his head. "My Emperor, I do not question your wisdom, I simply ask for something to put my fears to rest."

"I understand, my Magistrate," The Emperor said, "You have known much of our plans in the past, and is it not wrong for you to feel the need to continue to know. But for now," He locked eyes with Tetsugi, "do not fear. You have your Emperor's word that Rokugan shall not suffer."

Tetsugi nodded in understanding, but remained silent.

"That is all, Magistrate. We expect your report by noon in three days."

Tetsugi stood, then bowed low to his Emperor. He stood and walked out of the great chamber, eyeing the pictures of Rokugan's history on the walls. The Magistrate made his way to the front door of the great buidling, and a car with the marks of the Emerald Champion drove into view.

The driver got out of the car, and opened the door for Tetsugi as he came out the front of the building. "The Emerald Champion will see you now, Magistrate." Was all the short man said. Tetsugi looked around for a moment, and mentally made a prayer to the Fortunes as he stepped into the car.

Tetsugi walked into the Fantastic Gardens, dimly lit by the city lights outside the great building, and by low lights above. The pretty Doji escort bowed low to him and said, "Doji Meda-sama will arrive shortly. Is there something I may get you to make your wait more pleasant, Tetusgi-sama?"

The Magistrate turned to her, and said, "Domo, but that will be unneccesary." The woman bowed low, and she left the Gardens, closing the doors behind her.

Tetsugi looked around the Fantastic Gardens of Doji Tower in wonder. he had only been in them once before, and it only seemed as if the beautiful flowers and small streams had grown more lovely. The small stone carvings of the Fortunes and did not seem different at all.

"Magistrate," Came a voice from the doors. Tetsugi turned to see the Emerald Champion, Doji Meda, stride in. He had not even heard the doors open.

He bowed, and Tetsugi returned the gesture. "Doji Meda-sama. Are you well?"

"I am, Tetsugi. Thank you." Meda walked past the Magistrate and motioned for him to follow. They quietly moved through the gardens, and occasionally disturbed a cran that had started to sleep for the night.

"You mentioned something about needing my assistance, Champion?" Tetsugi asked quietly.

Doji Meda simply nodded. "Yes, Magistrate." He came to a small reflective pool and knelt down beside it. As if on cue, an Asahina priest came into view from behind a tall bush. In tow was a small, delicate little boy, dressed in the robes of the Asahina. The priest had an eye covered with a white silk patch, and the boy's smile seemed almost unreal. He recognized the priest from his last visit, but could not think of his name.

Meda motioned for Tetsugi to sit, and he did so. "For the sake of the Empire, we have very much to discuss, Magistrate."

Tetsugi looked from the Doji to the priest, then back to the Emerald Champion. He looked to the young boy again, who seemed oblivious to anything other than the gardens as he looked around. "For the sake of the Empire?" He asked, an eyebrow raised.

The two Cranes exchanged a look between them that could only be called conspiritorial, the Doji Meda smiled at him warmly. "Yes, why don't you have some tea, Magistrate? It promises to be a long night."