A subtle breeze moved across the plains deep in Lion territory. Days had passed on his journey back to his home; they seemed the most uneventful in his life. Part of his heart ached with sorrow for the loss of such an honorable samurai, yet he knew that his spirit had retained the same honor it lived with. Not once had he regretted his decision to allow the duel to happen, and not once had he second guessed his motives as selfish. Although he had gained at the loss of this life, it was surely not his intent. The position of Emerald Magistrate had been appointed to him, and now he was in a rush to report this news to his Daimyo, Ikoma Toroku.

After only another days travel he had arrived at village that set at the foot of a castle. As he walked through the city, he heard the quiet chatter of peasants and the babbling of merchants talking about the goods they had for trade. He noticed two peasants having an argument and decided to turn his face away from such matters. He had been so busy taking in the sites of the village that he almost lost track of the castle bearing down on him.

As he reached the gates to the castle, the two guards quickly noticed the Ikoma Family Mon on his kimono, and bowed. He returned the bow; not out of respect for their rank, but respect for the job they held defending this castle and his Daimyo. He glanced at the walls around him, and stood amazed at the beauty of simplicity. Very few things were ornate in Lion lands and so Ikoma Yamato had learned to appreciate the simplest things in the world around him. In his mind he was writing a tale of how the great heroes of days long past must have stridden into this same village and passed through the same gate into the castle.

Minutes had passed before he reached the chamber of his Daimyo, and he had hoped that his letters had arrived before he had. A servant ushered him into a great hall which held a seat at one end. Upon it sat the honorable and noble Ikoma Toroku, Daimyo of the Ikoma Family. Yamato bowed before him, and waited patiently for permission to speak.

"I sent you with specific orders, what news do you return with?" Ikoma Toroku demanded of the young Samurai.

"I fear that although we were successful in our investigation, the Magistrate fell in a duel to the death." Yamato replied.

"Then he leaves us with his honor in tact." Ikoma Toroku stated.

"Yes my lord and I have more news." Yamato spoke quietly.

"Then speak your news Samurai." Toroku replied quickly, "For there are many matters to deal with at this time."
"I have been offered the title of Emerald Magistrate, but will only accept this charge if you see so fit." Yamato remained rather quiet.

"I can see no reason that the Ikoma family would allow you to turn down such an offer. You are free to take on the title of Emerald Magistrate, but remember you still owe loyalty to your family, and clan." Toroku said offering his permission.

"Many thanks Toroku-Sama." Ikoma Yamato spoke with honor.

"Before you leave Yamato-San, I have something I need you to do. My guards tell me that peasants in the village have been speaking rumors about a bandit camp that is not far from the castle. I wish for you to address this issue, and report back to me when you have learned that the rumors are untrue, or have dealt with these bandits. You have my authority to take a legion of ten men if you require assistance." Toroku said softly.

Ikoma Yamato bowed before his superior, and then slowly removed himself from the room. Behind him, the door was shut by the same servant that had ushered him into the hall to begin with. His march out of the castle would have been uneventful if it hadn't been for bumping into someone he had traveled with in the past. The large Kitsu looked down at a much shorter Ikoma Yamato. The two Lion bowed to one another out of sheer respect.

"It has been some time Kitsu-san, how have your travels been?" Ikoma Yamato asked politely.

"Things have been very well since our last journey together, and many things have changed." The proud Kitsu responded while pointing out the two very large war cats that followed him closely.

Ikoma Yamato was surprised that he had not noticed the very large and regal beasts before this gesture; however it is not a common site in Rokugan. With a nod he returned to his conversation with the large Kitsu.

"You seem to be doing very well for yourself my friend. Perhaps when you have finished your business here, perhaps you would join me for a drink at the Inn of the Setting Sun." Ikoma asked politely.

"I'm sure this would be acceptable Yamato-san." The Kitsu replied.

With that both men went their separate ways, the Kitsu into the castle and Ikoma Yamato into the village. Not far from the edge of the village was the Inn of the Setting Sun, an Inn very typical of the Lion lands with bland food and sake. Ikoma Yamato was a regular in this Inn, as was another Lion he spotted upon walking in. Her name was Matsu Seka, and he had traveled with her on several journeys on behalf of his Daimyo. He waved his hand for a cup of sake and made his way to the Matsu's table.

"Good day Matsu-san, how have your journeys been?" Ikoma Yamato asked politely.

"Ahhhh! Ikoma-san, things have been well and how about things with you?" Matsu Seka responded, "Would you like to join me?"

"It would be my pleasure!" Ikoma said as he found a spot opposite the Matsu.

"What brings you back to Kyuden Ikoma?" the Matsu questioned.

"My Daimyo had sent me to assist and Emerald Magistrate, and I have returned with my report. Now I am to investigate rumors of bandits outside the city, and stop them if the rumors are true." The Ikoma Tactician replied.

"Would you be interested in company on your journey?" the Matsu asked another question.

"That would be unnecessary, yet greatly appreciated Matsu-san." Yamato spoke clearly.

At that moment the large Kitsu entered into the Inn, he quickly spotted the Matsu and Ikoma and approached them. He seated himself beside them, and with a nod acknowledged the Matsu.

"Matsu-san!" the Kitsu said.

"Kitsu-san." the Matsu responded.

"We were just talking about an investigation I am going to conduct in and around the village, perhaps I could ask you to lend a hand Kitsu-san?" Ikoma Yamato requested.

"It would be an honor to travel with the two of you again." the strong Kitsu replied.

"Then allow me to ask around and if I find out that these rumors of bandits are true, then I will return here for both of you." Ikoma Yamato said as he begun to stand.

"This sounds fine my friend." The Kitsu responded.

"I will await your return." The Matsu added.

With that Ikoma Yamato took his leave from the Inn of the Setting Sun, and made his way through the village. It took him a little bit of work to find a few leads to the beginning of the rumor. He learned that a young peasant boy had claimed to have seen the bandits surveying the village and castle. Another lead pointed him in the direction of an older ronin, whom claimed to have been attacked by a couple of these bandits on his way to the village. It was rumored the ronin was seeking refuge and healing in a local temple.

Ikoma Yamato had decided that although the peasant was closer to question, he should start by talking to this ronin. Maybe the ronin could prove to be a useful witness to these rumored bandits. It was a short walk outside the village to make it to the temple. However, as Ikoma Yamato approached the temple he began to smell smoke, and see it too. He pulled his katana and rushed the temple as fast as his legs would carry him. As he crested over a small foothill his eyes set on the temple. Fires burned from a small shack just to the side of the temple, and the young Ikoma noticed a small band of five men carrying another man toward a horse. With a closer look he noticed bodies scattered around the temple and the shack.

The Ikoma rushed down toward the temple to confront the men, his katana already drawn. As he met the burning shack he barreled around the corner and brought his katana down across the face of one of the men. As he collapsed the others dropped their hostage and drew peasant weapons on Ikoma Yamato.

"You have committed a crime and in the name of the Emerald Champion, I Ikoma Yamato shall bring you to justice." the Tactician yelled out.

Without hesitation he moved forward and struck down another of the men with a mighty blow, the separation of the man's head from his body causing two of the men to flinch away from Ikoma Yamato. The man who held his composure struck at Yamato with a Parangu, meeting not flesh but the Ikoma's war fan. With a flick of the wrist he brushed the man's weapon aside and struck him down in the same instant. The other two men began to regain their calm and attack Ikoma Yamato when one of them was struck with an arrow from behind. Ikoma Yamato noticed that the ronin had propped himself up and fired the arrow. As the other man spun to see the ronin he caught an arrow to his weapon hand.

The last of the bandits fell to his knees and cried out in pain. With a slash Ikoma Yamato ended his life. Yamato looked at the ronin and bowed in a respect not commonly shown to him in Lion lands.

"It appears they do not approve of your stay here. Explain to me what has happened!" the Ikoma demanded of the ronin.

"A few days ago I was traveling through Lion lands on my way north when I was attacked by a group of these bandits. Fortunately luck favored me, and I walked away with only a few minor wounds. It seems that even though I killed all of that raiding party, they still managed to find me before I could alert the Daimyo. I asked the keepers of this temple to send word to the city, and it appears that word reached you just in time." the ronin replied while climbing to his feet.

"Do you know where they planned to take you? If I can find their camp, I will make sure no one else is attacked in this way." Ikoma Yamato spoke loudly.

"They said something about a small village between here and Bishamon Seido. I'm not sure where, but they way they spoke it was not far from the road." the ronin continued, "I only ask that I may go Lion-sama, so that I may make up for the pain I have brought to the attendants of this temple."

"Very well, your assistance will be welcomed. Come stay at the Inn of the Setting Sun, and we will leave in search of these bandits at dawn." the Ikoma responded hastily.

"My name is Makoto, and it will be an honor to serve you in this endeavor." the ronin said as the two began to walk back to the city.

"I am Ikoma Yamato, Emerald Magistrate. I hope the information you have will lead to the eradication of these bandits." Yamato spoke almost as a friend.

The two slowly made their way back to the Inn of the Setting Sun. After taking a second to introduce the ronin to his Matsu and Kitsu friends, he told them the plan. However, before they could depart he had word sent to his Daimyo of his plan to leave, and the believed location of the bandit camp. He would spend the night inside the Inn of the Setting Sun. As he prepared for his travels his companions began to gather around him. The Kitsu Beast Master, the Matsu Berserker, and a ronin archer were all prepared to journey with an Ikoma Tactician to bring these bandits to justice. Surely the four of them would be able to handle this adventure and so Ikoma Yamato had decided not to call for a unit of Lion troops.

After half a day's walk down the roads of the Emperor, the group noticed a small ramshackle village off in the distance. A small dirt path, which was clearly created merely by the feet of people traveling the same direction, headed off in the direction of the village. The Ikoma Tactician noticed the path first, and pointed it out to the others. The ronin was the first of them to take to the path, hoping to prove his worth to the Lion Clan Samurai. Behind him followed the Ikoma, the Matsu, then the Kitsu and both of his war cats.

After only an hour's walk the group came to a clearing, they stood only a short distance from three very quickly constructed houses. From their vantage point they could see that the leader had learned of his men's failure to capture the ronin and was assembling the band of about ten bandits in the center of the camp. They gathered around a fire, their leader sitting on a makeshift throne while the others kneeled before him.

"My brothers, my allies in the castle tell me that an Emerald Magistrate saved the ronin who killed our scouting party. It would seem this Magistrate has been given order to find us, and keep us from doing any wrong. I promise you brothers that we will never be found, and even if we were, one Lion can not stop us from achieving our destiny." the bandit leader exclaimed to his men.

"Kitsu-san you will take your companions and stalk around the wood line to the left. Makoto-san you will move to the right. Matsu-san you must wait here. I will wait for you to get into your positions, and then I will move forward to draw them toward me. When they break from the fire and head in my direction the two of you must attack from the sides. Then Matsu-san you will attack from my rear. Hopefully this will disorganize their attacks and allow us to gain a distinct upper hand." the Ikoma whispered to his allies.

Before a response could be given they were moving in the directions he had given them. The Matsu drew her katana, and nodded to Ikoma Yamato.

"My brothers nothing can stop us now! Not even the emperor himself will bring an end to the reign of the Bandit King!" the leader continued his speech.

Before he could finish his rambling Ikoma Yamato stepped out into the clearing with his katana drawn and a stern look on his face.

"You are all charged with blasphemy against the emperor. I am Ikoma Yamato, Emerald Magistrate. For the crime you have committed the only punishment is death." the Tactician delivered with authority.

The bandits scrambled to their feet, drawing weapons and moving on Ikoma Yamato's position. Before the bandits can react an arrow strikes one in the chest from the tree line. From the other tree line the Kitsu and both of his war cats leapt, each of them choosing a different target and taking them down. As one bandit made his way to Ikoma Yamato he struck at the magistrate, but missed if only by an inch. To his surprise the Matsu Berserker stepped out from behind Ikoma Yamato and struck him down at the Tactician's feet. The bandits flew into a state of panic, running in every direction, some fleeing.

"None shall escape their punishment!" the Ikoma Tactician yelled at his companions before striking down one of the bandits.

Of the five that still stood the leader was the only one who appeared to have his wits about him. The Kitsu cut another bandit down, and continued forward toward the campfire. His war cats had surrounded a fleeing bandit and pounced on him before he knew it was coming. Two more arrows flew from the tree line, each hitting a different bandit in the chest. The Matsu moved in on the bandit leader as did Ikoma Yamato, causing the man to collapse to his knees in fear of death.

"Please Samurai-sama, allow me seppuku to save the honor of my family." The bandit leader cried out.

"I can not allow such a thing, you are without honor in life, and you will die without honor." Ikoma Yamato says while bringing his katana down on the man's shoulder.

The team moves to the center of the camp, and inspect the three small huts. The ronin exits one hut with a journal, and a katana neither of which would have belonged to any of the bandits. Both bore the Mon of the Ikoma family, and so the ronin handed both to the only Ikoma who had ever shown him courtesy. Ikoma Yamato bowed before the ronin and vowed to find out who these had belonged to and return them to the family of their owner.

A few moments later the group was back on the road and going their own way. The Kitsu and Ikoma Yamato where to return to Kyuden Ikoma while the Matsu and the ronin where on their way to Bishamon Seido. The trip would be rather uneventful in both directions. Once in Kyuden Ikoma, the Kitsu made his way to the Inn of the Setting Sun, while Ikoma Yamato made his way into the castle to inform his Daimyo of what happened.

Just like before the guards at the gate bowed to him as polite as was possible. He passed them and headed toward the Daimyo's meeting chamber. When he was allowed in, he recognized some of the other Ikoma who had been gathered to meet with him.

"We are prepared to hear your report Yamato-san." Ikoma Toroku said. "Are you prepared to give it?"

"I am Daimyo-sama." Ikoma Yamato replied.

"Then go ahead." the Daimyo answered.

"The bandits had organized into a group with some sort of plot against the emperor. We were unable to discern their plot, however he have killed them and their leader. I believe that there will be no further threat from these bandits. Among their huts we found a journal clearly not belonging to the bandits at it bears the Mon of the Ikoma family. I present this journal to you so that you may learn something of the victims they had chosen. Also among the huts was this sword, also bearing the Ikoma Family Mon. I wish the honor of returning these swords to the family of the fallen samurai." Ikoma Yamato finished up his report.

"This is rather surprising activity in Lion lands." Toroku remarked. "I would like you to keep an eye out for any more activity of such criminal intent."

"I will do what it takes my lord!" Ikoma Yamato replied.

"In honor of your position and what you have done for our family, our clan, and the empire as a whole I present you with this gift." Toroku said holding out something covered in silk.

"I respect the offer my lord, but I can not accept this item." Ikoma Yamato responds.

"You have earned this and no doubt you should take what you have earned." Ikoma Toroku insisted.

"I simply can not my lord; my actions do not warrant a gift from one such as you." Ikoma Yamato denied the gift again.

"I insist that you take this gift in honor of your service to the Ikoma Family!" Toroku pressed again.

"I will take this gift from you, and my children will cherish it until the end of time Toroku-sama." Ikoma Yamato replied softly.