The lithe, well toned figure of Usagi Sanjiro was leaning against a pillar inside the shrine of Osano-Wo. The Hare Samurai was half dozing, lost in his own thoughts, and barely paying attention to the discussion going on nearby. Sanjiro's companions, fellow samurai from a variety of clans, were in an animated conversation with one of the monks. They had all been summoned by the monk from the ongoing Tournament of the Emerald Champion. Once at the shrine the discussions had quickly turned to the topic of upset kami, offerings to gods, and something about an impending threat. Usagi Sanjiro knew nothing of these things and so he stood aside from the debate. Soon, his thoughts drifted to more pleasant things.

Too bad there aren't more single women here. No, too bad that ronin isn't here. What was her name? …Ahh, yes. Maeda. Now there was a woman who knew how to have a good time.

Sanjiro's thoughts drifted into the memory of a pleasant night many months ago, in the company of a certain ronin-ko. He settled into that kind half dreaming, half awake place. Soon he had to adjust his hakama. He was discreetly doing this when the conference broke up. Sanjiro reluctantly came back to the present and opened his eyes.
Usagi knew only three of his fellow samurai in this group by name: the Dragon Kitsuki Akime, the Crane duelist Daidoji Jutaro, and the Lion, Ikoma Edonichi. There were two others, a Tiger clan Samurai and a Kuni, but he did not know them well. Everyone looked grim as they walked over. Kitsuki Akime summarized the results:
"The monk explained that the earth kami are upset, very upset, by something, so much so that the tournament is threatened. He does not know why, but feels that Osano-Wo himself could tell us if we could get his attention.
"In life, Osano-Wo was known for his ferocious war against the creatures of the Shadowlands, and for his unusual proposal to a Matsu maiden whom he took as a wife. If we could do something to re-create his actions, we might be able get his attention."
Ikoma Edonichi took up the story at this point. "We heard rumors of trolls in the area when we arrived for the tournament a couple of days ago. One of their heads should be enough of an offering to Osano-Wo for him to at least let us ask him what is wrong. So, trolls it is."
Akime agreed. "Yes. Let's find those trolls."
Looking around at the assembled group, the two samurai saw the others nodding in agreement and understanding. Until they came to look upon Sanjiro. Expecting to see him buying in to the plan, they instead saw the Hare with one arm across his chest supporting the other arm, his fingers gently stroking his nascent goatee, a look of mischievous interest on his face. "What's this about Matsu brides?" Sanjiro asked.
Edonichi and Akime looked stunned for a second, the recovered. "You're not thinking…" Akime sputtered. "None of us would consider doing that. Besides, fighting trolls sounds a heck of a lot safer."
Sanjiro would not be dissuaded that easily. "Nonsense. The company of a Matsu maiden sounds more interesting than a bunch of smelly trolls. Besides, if I fail and live to tell about it, we can still go after the trolls. Nothing is lost. And if the offended Matsu-ko kills me, you can still go after the trolls without me."
The others nodded, although the looks on their faces all conveyed the thought that Usagi Sanjiro was crazy. A couple were heard to mutter under their breath "…braver man than me…" On the way back to the stadium, Ikoma Edonichi instructed Sanjiro in what Osano-Wo had done and as to the hair style unmarried Lion women typically wore.

* * *

Sanjiro scanned the crowd in the Lion section of the stands. Once back to the site of the competition, the details of just how to do this began to dominate the Hare's mind. Down on the field, the dignitaries were continuing to screen applicants in the competition for Emerald Champion. Right now, the Crane Clan Champion was interrogating the current contestant, a phoenix bushi who looked nervous as he answered question after question about Rokugani law. Sanjiro shuddered as he contemplated the sheer power and authority seated down on the dais.

Hmm. What to look for in a bride that I've never met. Now there's a question my sensei never brought up. Someone pretty at least. And healthy. And athletic,. I guess. Boy, of all the crazy things I've done…

Looking around, Sanjiro confirmed his companions were spread among the crowd to help should he need to beat a hasty exit from the stands. If the Matsu maiden didn't find this funny or romantic he could easily find himself running for his life. Sanjiro contemplated his frequent quip that "they can't hit what they can't catch." He hoped it was true. His attention went up to the women seated in the Lion stands. He still was half listening to the events transpiring down on the field. Timing would be important.

Ahh, there's a group of Matsu women. What do you call a group of Matsu anyway? Hmm, she's interesting. Nice form, pretty features. And as she turns her head where I can see her face … Yugh! No, she won't do at all. Maybe for a Unicorn. Or more likely his horse.

Sanjiro scanned the crowd in another part of the stands. He looked for gatherings of the kind of braid Ikoma Edonichi told him to look for. After a few minutes he spied a group about half way up the stands. Seven or eight were seated there together, all laughing at some private joke. They hadn't noticed him, so Sanjiro concluded the joke was not about him. He looked each one over in turn. Near the end, two seats from aisle, one young maiden made his attention stop. He looked her over more closely and was not disappointed with what he found.
She had sharp features set in a round face, with dark eyes that sparkled in the mid-day sun with mirth and intelligence. Her hair was short and sort of spiky with her braid tied back in a gold ribbon. But what got his attention was her physique. In contrast to many of her friends she was flexible, clearly strong but in an athletic way, not a woman trying to out-strength a man. She was graceful, as revealed by the way she leaned over to say something to her friend. She would be a cunning warrior as well as a beautiful woman at court. Sanjiro was captivated.

She has the same physique as me, lithe and well toned. I bet she fights like me too. Motion and speed rather than raw strength. Lithe, toned, flexible, beautiful. I wonder how she is in…Sanjiro stopped that line of thinking before it went any further, blushing slightly. No point in getting ahead of things. She may still try to kill me.

Refocusing on the task at hand, Sanjiro started to slowly make his way up the steps, as he thought through his next move. He paid attention to the pace of things down on the field. It would not do to interrupt the proceedings of the great and powerful of the Empire. He approached the correct row, where the Matsu girl was seated, second seat from the aisle. Sanjiro looked around, noting again the positions of his friends, the equal looks of fear and incredulous curiosity on their faces.
Finally, things on the field came to an end as the contestant was mercifully allowed to retire.

Alright. Here I go.

Usagi Sanjiro took the last few steps up to the correct row of seats and looked directly at the young woman. He waited until she noticed him, until he had her attention. She looked up, her sparkling eyes not paying him any special attention. It took a moment for her to realize he was standing there, not just moving past to a seat on a higher row. Sanjiro caught her eye, then took a deep breath. He pointed at her.
"YOU. YOU ARE MY BRIDE!" he bellowed. He then looked up at the assembled samurai and spread his arms wide as if to encompass the entire crowd. "LET ALL WHO SEE AND HEAR ME KNOW THIS!" he announced.
There was stunned silence throughout the stadium. Everyone was looking at him.
Sanjiro looked down to see what reaction the girl had. A number of emotions played across her face very quickly. First there was confusion. Then her eyes narrowed and her jaw set into a line that implied imminent violence. And then, realization dawned on her face as she realized what Sanjiro was doing and who he was emulating. The Matsu samurai-ko quickly looked Sanjiro over and liked what she saw. She raised her chin in a kind of haughty, defiant manner, but with playful joy in her eyes. With a mischievous smile, she replied "Yes. Yes I am."
The world then reentered into Sanjiro's consciousness. He had been lost in the moment with the Matsu girl. He now realized that there was clapping coming from down on the field. Looking that way, he saw a single person standing at the central platform where the dignitaries were sitting. The single person was wearing a incredible gold kimono. Usagi Sanjiro's heart stopped.

That's the Emperor!

Looking at the scene, he realized to his horror that the Emperor himself had stood up and was just about to start questioning the next contestant when Sanjiro had cut him off with his loud pronouncement.

I am dead. I only hope he doesn't ask for her seppuku as well.

But much to his surprise, more people followed the Emperor's lead and started clapping. Several stood up and were looking his way to see who had dared propose in such a public manner. The clapping continued to spread and even the dignitaries on the center platform stood and added their applause.
After a few moments, the Emperor raised his hand, signaling for silence. Everyone fell quiet almost instantly. The Son of Heaven looked up into the stands to face Usagi Sanjiro and the Matsu Samurai-ko, who had now stood up when she realized who was looking at her. The Emperor's voice carried clear and loud across the stadium. "Well done. Well done indeed, Usagi-san. You have chosen well. You will both be married in the morning. I will have my personal shugenja make the arrangements."
Stunned and awed, Sanjiro and the Matsu girl just bowed fervently several times. There was another round of applause and then things settled down and the tournament continued.

Well, there's no backing out of this now.

And that is how the Hare roared like a Lion, and so became one.