==This piece was drawn in mid-2023. Following my first art commission, my Ko-Fi supporters voted for me to begin uploading art here, including pieces that have been up on FA that I still like. This is one of those pieces.==

Hana politely stepped into the guest room, the shorstack skunk samurai demurely sliding the door shut behind her. The very moment it was closed, she stretched and groaned. “Fortunes, these people suuuuuuck!”

Instantly, the antlered rabbit seated in the corner gazed around the paper walls cautiously, wings ruffling upwards as the fellow mask-wearer followed the outlines of those moving in the nearby passages. “Hana!” she hissed in alarm.

“”sfine, Hina,” she said, waving down the tense shugenja, “eavesdropping is dishonorable, remember? Even if they heard, these guys would just have to swallow their pride and say nothing. I mean, otherwise, they just prove my words right.”

“And if they persist, you just need to tell me who to hit, imouto,” the beaver near the sliding door chuckled, lounging upon the floor as if it were the most luxurious seat, hands behind her head. “Do not worry, oneechan. You are safe here.”

The adorned rabbit twisted at her own wrist tensely, walking away from the walls to slump atop the mat in the room’s middle. “...I don’t like it here, shimai. I don’t want to be here,” she muttered to her fellow Scorpion, shifting in the old, formal kimono she wore.

Yoshiko did not move from her seat. Hana, however, was quick to skip and sit next to her “older sister”. “Hey. Hey, Hina,” she testingly asked. “...that the fear speaking, or the shadow?”

Hina winced. “...discomfort,” she eventually concluded with a nod. “...I…I don’t think the shadow has moved.”

The small skunk girl’s ears perked back to their usual full excitement. “Well, then, there’s nothing to fear!” she giggled. “You’ve got me, and we’ve got our yojimbo. And with the three of us, there’s nothing that’ll stop us from honoring the very heavens and stinging the very hells!”

“...except for my ta-”

Their large beaver friend stood up. Both bold courtier and guilt-ridden shugenja quieted. Slowly, the Bayushi bushi strode as if to approach them…before suddenly lunging for the door, slamming it open, and skidding into the hall. Suddenly, their eyes caught movement: a silhouette behind the paper walls that recoiled from where it had been pressed and thudded flat on its ass.

“...I did not know the Unicorn Clan had forgotten the most basic rules of honor,” Yoshiko toned threateningly, stepping forwards to form a shadowy silhouette on the wall as the fellow figure of darkness scrambled back, the two other Scorpion watching the shadow play ensue. “Tell me, fellow guest Moto-san…is it custom in the barbaric wastes beyond to press your ear against the private chambers of three ladies, three samurai-ko at that, or are you simply so despicable you could not help but sinfully desire to deliberately and shamelessly eavesdrop?”

The tall-eared fox scowled. “I need not explain myself to you, Scorpion,” he spat even as he crawled further back. “Do not dare touch me, or I shall call our hosts to eject you.”

“...you misunderstand,” their beaver sister playfully sung. “...you are guests, same as us. Your status is equal to any one of us. Your honor...despicable compared to my sisters. Three words against one? A trial over this would see you exiled, not us. Justice is on our side, Moto-san. And even were it not…do you truly believe you could defend against me in a duel? Do you believe your body somehow impervious to being crushed beneath my tetsubo?”

“You would duel with such a cowardly weapon?!” he scowled, hands pressing as if to shove back to his feet.

They could tell without seeing: their sister was grinning. “...of course, Moto-san. You do not deserve to dirty my katana,” she whispered, and then she stepped forwards.

crk-CRKRK! “AEEEEEEEEH!”

The shadow on the floor contorted beneath the beaver’s paw, that broad tail swinging side to side as the Unicorn’s leg bent unnaturally. There would be no standing to his feet for a long while.

“Ah! You poor soul,” the beaver gasped, stepping off and clutching her hands to her chest. “I told you to watch your step! Such a delicate samurai such as yourself surely was going to trip and fall stepping off to the garden so recklessly amid this moonless night!”

“You…you monster!” he sobbed.

“Your words hurt me,” she lied, her very voice infantilizing him even as the host’s servants began to arrive, their eyes wide as she lifted the fox in her arms, “but I, as a proud samurai, will let them pass. I know your lord taught you little of bushido, so I will remind you that compassion to one’s lessers is a core tenet. Come! I will carry your sad, frail form to our hosts so you might receive treatment from this terrible accident.”

“I despise you!” he howled.

No longer did the beaver seem to pay any mind to his words, an expression of false concern on her face as she raced to fulfill her sincere words.

As soon as the crowds of shadows on the wall dissipated, Bayushi Hana bowled over, hands clenching her chest as she laughed uproariously. Even Soshi Hina couldn’t help but cover her exposed mouth, quietly snickering more from the joy of Hana than from the scene performed before them.

“Fwahaha! You…you see, Hina? Nothing to be afraid of!” the skunk cheered, tears of mirth slipping from the dark holes of her mask’s eyes. “Nothing except getting on our bad side. And you are our sister! We will stand by you until our dying breaths. Now let us rest while Yoshiko-chan handles the trash. We have much to do for our lords and emperor, and the more we do…the more we might banish the shadow.”

Soshi Hina nodded, finally settling down to rest as the skunk comfortingly nestled against her. Slowly, her wings relaxed and her antlers ceased to ache. She looked upon the skunk, who shifted from laughter to snoring in little time at all, taking peace in the closeness of these two who would shirk all rules to bring her peace and allow her to continue living. They’d break every sin if they had to, if it meant their enlightenment and Rokugan’s gain.

Every rule except loyalty.
______________________________________________________________________

I had a cursory glance at Legend of the Five Rings (4th Edition) a long time ago. Well, a friend mentioned possibly planning a campaign, so I started reading the books. What hit me, like a flood, was a rare case of deep inspiration. Character after character flooded my mind, and, sure, while I have no idea if my interpretations will be possible, correct, or in-line with the canon or my friend's design...I didn't have many avenues to vent my hyperfixation. And, well, I did say I needed to draw spontaneously more, especially if I'm to improve...so...two birds, one stone!

The character:
Bet you recognize some of these! Behold, Bayushi Yoshiko, Bayushi Hana, and Soshi Hina...the Rokugani forms of Clementine Byrne, my beaver, Helena Troi, my skunk, and Tia Darling, Terith's wolpertinger! I got a chance to gossip with him before his con adventures about potential interpretations of characters, and he was curious where Tia would end up. Given her, ah...undead nature, I figured there was a good chance she was revived in or at least involved indirectly some unspeakable ritual...and those? Well, they usually leave folks tainted. Tia's not entirely bad, though, so...she'd definitely want to remain faithful to her family and clan where possible. But that's hard to do when tainted, which is most illegal to hide and usually requires seppuku or seclusion when honorably revealed. But hey, if Helena promised to help guard you socially, to keep the secret of the taint under risk of her own execution, while looking for a way to cure the taint...and Clementine offered to keep the secret and defend you physically to do so? Well...you've got a very, very, very dangerous trio...ones who'd do anything for the Empire, for their Clan, for their families...and for each other.

The art:
Drawing multiple established characters in the same image is REALLY REALLY HARD. Ahhh, but I think this one came out SO GOOD! I always want to do my best when other people are involved, and I'm absolutely delighted I did all three characters and their outfits justice. I honestly believe the only clear weak link here is Helena's mask. Some of the clothes could be better, wrinkles and folds especially, but...ahhhh I'm really really proud of this!~ :love:

Art, Yoshiko aka Clementine, and Hana aka Helena (c)  MavenTreecat
Hina aka Tia (c)  Mimzy

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