Letter 6
(Clan Lion)
For days I have watched as armies begin to build outside of Otosan Uchi.
Two armies in particular have caught my interest. They are the armies of
Kitsu Motso and Ikoma Tsanuri, two armies that carry the banner of the Lion
Clan.
Tsanuri's
army stands before the gates, defying any who hope to enter. Behind her
family banner is the banner of the Matsu family. It is hard to believe
that the protege of the Fallen Lion has chosen to stand there. If I was
asked to guess which side of this battlefield she would be on, it would not have
been that one.
And on the other
side of that field stands the banner of the Kitsu family, also supported by the
flags of the Matsu. The proud and handsome Matsu has gathered quite a
force, but I do not know if he has the ability to hold his army together if he
should engage the army of the Lioness.
As I said, I
have watched for days as these two armies have stood, staring, waiting,
watching. A dark violence is building here, like the tension of a bow
string that has been drawn too long, too far.
Long ago, my
father told me a story of two cats and one bowl of milk. Both of the cat's
hovered over the bowl, staring and unmoving. They snarled and bared their
claws as each dared the other to try a sip. For days they sat still,
perfectly motionless, each muscle tense and ready to pounce at the first sign of
movement.
Each of them was so engrossed with the other that neither of them saw the wolf
that crept up upon them and tore each cat to pieces. Then, when he was
down tearing their meat from their bones, he washed it all down with a nice bowl
of milk.
Shinsei says, "When the student is ready, the Teacher is there."
I do not give my advice when it is asked for, but on this day, I watch the Lions
gather, ready to destroy themselves to prove their courage and I must ask
myself, "Why?"
For all of you who call yourselves Lions, I have only this to say.
The wolf is waiting.
If you are not ready for him, he will tear you to pieces.
Miya Yoto