▱▰▱A massive man who stood at nearly seven feet and weighed over two hundred and fifty pounds of muscle sat at the head of the dining table in the great Raiu clan castle. It was meal time and Katsuro, as the clan head, held the ceremonial dinner for the Raiu clan. The mighty warrior glanced up as a red messenger bird entered the building with cold air following him. He stood from his seat as the bird dropped the sealed letter addressed to Clan Raiu into his massive hands. All the clan members in attendance looked up from their meals at Katsuro with intrigue at the message. They all knew that red messenger birds were from the Seinaru Enjo.
"It's from the Eien Hono Temple." Katsuro finally spoke with a low voice as the meal conversations died down. He tore open the scroll's seal with haste, eager to see what important message from the Seinaru Enjo had to be sealed. Katsuro's large and mighty voice echoed through the cavernous dining room as he read it aloud.
"It's addressed to the entire Raiu clan. It says that Akaran Kaguya has proven himself to be the reincarnated Asaryu of legend by controlling the eternal flame through his Reiken no Michi." Katsuro read it word by word as the room filled with whispers and murmurs as dozens of Raiu clan elders lined the table.
"Clan Seinaru Enjo is putting their full support behind Akaran Kaguya as the new Shogun by his divine right as Asaryu. Signed, Eiji Seinaru Enjo, the Elder Sage of the Eien Hono Temple." Katsuro's rage grew as he read each and every word. Silence filled the room once again when the words confirming that the Seinaru Enjo were supporting Akaran Kaguya were read aloud.
▱▰▱Katsuro seethed for several seconds before throwing the messenger scroll across the room.
"TRAITORS!" Katsuro thundered, his deep and authoritative voice boomed across the entire dining table.
"Lord Katsuro, we cannot stand for this!" One of the elders piped up as a servant ran over to collect the thrown scroll for others to look at. Katsuro turned away for a moment as the discussion began. Many other elders in the clan began echoing that sentiment as the chatter elevated. He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration as his mind ran at a mile a minute.
"I didn't expect the noble Seinaru Enjo to usurp us over a myth but they have. And all of you are right, we must act!" Katsuro now leaned over the long table with his hands on the surface above his abandoned meal.
"I know you wanted to wait until our wounds healed from the civil war, but it's very close to being too late. That yokai has the backing of one of the clans after only a month. Unbelievable" One of the other Raiu elders advised the younger Katsuro.
"Well, I've purchased the additional mercenaries. Once they arrive, our forces will be back at full strength..." The Raiu patriarch told the others the news that he had received from this morning. He used the month of time to allow Zaishin to rebuild and for his army to get stronger before asserting his claim.
"We must show our strength, my lord. We chose you as our clan head despite our young age because you're the mightiest samurai among us. We know what you can achieve." The Raiu elder re-affirmed his faith in Katsuro, who was frustrated but now relieved and gaining in confidence.
▱▰▱A thunderstorm began brewing in the mountains above the castle as Katsuro simmered. The thunderclaps were loud as Katsuro looked at a servant and pointed.
"You! Fetch my ink, brush, and scroll!" Katsuro commanded before speaking up to the rest of them again.
"Seizo died. Musunde has 'disappeared,' so they say. Then a damn oni now sits on a several thousand year old samurai throne?! That's no coincidence, that yokai killed him and usurped his throne! He posed as a mere advisor and now he's taking control. His yokai powers have deceived the fire sages as well. The only solution, is, to kill him!" Katsuro shouted with decisiveness as the other elders erupted in grunts and cheers.
"I'm going to siege the Iron Castle, kill that yokai, and take my rightful place as Musunde's heir! I'm the Raiu clan head and our dynasty must go on!" Applause filled the room of dozens and dozens of Raiu.
▱▰▱When the servant returned to draft the letter, Katsuro dictated in front of the clan.
"Send this to Eiji and then create copies for the other clans as well. State that Akaran Kaguya is a yokai usurper who assassinated Musunde. He gained his trust as his 'yokai advisor' and killed them. Now he's using his yokai powers to deceive the Seinaru Enjo into thinking that he's the Asaryu. The Raiu clan stand against him and press the claim of I, Katsuro Raiu, as the Shogun of the Iron Country!" Katsuro slammed his hands on the table as thunder released the sound of drums in the sky above. Once the letter was complete copies were made by other servants, sealed, and sent to the other clans with Raiu clan messenger birds. The energy in the room climbed as the Raiu chanted with their leader who filled in the gaps when Musunde became Shogun and he became the new Raiu clan head after his mighty act slaying the most dangerous of yokai.
"We shall be rid of Akaran and the yokai once and for all. LONG LIVE THE RAIU!" The samurai shouted at the top of his lungs as lightning struck the top of the castle leading to an extremely loud thunderclap just as he finished speaking.
"LONG LIVE THE RAIU!" The elders chanted multiple times as they looked to their heroic leader, Katsuro Raiu.
"LONG LIVE SHOGUN KATSURO!" The group chanted back as they all stood from their seats.
▱▰▱The great yokai hunter looked down the center of the long table and smirked triumphantly.
