In the common room, Rikimaru stands, clears his throat and adresses those present.
My friends. I have a tale about Benten, the Fortune of Love. He is not always so kind a being as many tales would say, and does not smile on everyone in Rokugan the way he watches over the pretty Crane maidens. This is a true story, and I hope it serves to shed some light on the nature of one of the most beseeched Fortunes in the Heavens.
He looks into the flames of the fire, and his eyes lose focus as he begins his tale.
There was once a young Scorpion who spent all his time training harder and harder to be the best he could, so that one day he could demonstrate his loyalty and courage to his idol, Bayushi Aramoro. He gave no time to relaxing, the arts or meditation and was rarely seen outside the dojo where he practiced and practiced and practiced. All the sensei said he was one of the most promising young students they had ever seen, and he would go far if he applied himself as diligently as he did now. One even went so far as to say that perhaps they were witness to the original Aramoro born again.
Until one day, our young Scorpion met a woman. Unlike all the other women he had met before and disregarded, she captured his attention, imagination and heart completely. He ceased his continual practice and devoted himself to wooing her. However, it was not to be, and our young Scorpion was always to be found returning to his home crestfallen and heartbroken. Although the woman held him in high regard, it was only for his skills as she too, sought to train to be the best she could.
The following season, the time came for her to attend the school and begin her training. Of course, he followed and returned to the dojo, and continued his training. The weeks passed, and one day she failed to show up at the dojo.
Concerned for her well being, and despairing that he might not see her again, the young Scorpion enquired with the sensei about her.
"She has gone elsewhere to train in arts not taught here,
my student."
"Will she return?"
"Who is to say? Her new tutors have a lot to teach her and
she may be there some time."
"Where is this new school? Can I attend?"
"Shush, young man. Do not let your heart rule your head.
When it is your time, you may have earned the right to attend.
For your own sake, I pray you do not."
With that cryptic answer, the sensei turned away to see to the class.
The following year, a strange visitor arrived at the school and hand picked the new class for a special training school. Our young Scorpion was amongst them. He trained as hard as ever, turning away his family, friends and even his personal life just as she had done before him to train harder. He believed that if he trained well enough, he could catch her attention once more and finally make her his. Even once he had realised the cost of his decision, he kept going. He left it all behind until he was a shadow of his former self.
And then one day, not so long ago, he finally met her once more.
She barely remembered who he was, and was not the least bit impressed with his newfound skill. He had become one of the best there had ever been and yet she cared not. Her interests and her love lay on another Path. She turned him away and went on her way, out of his life forever. And left the shell of the man who had once been a young Scorpion behind. He had nothing left. He had lost his family, his friends and his home. He had the skill he had desired, but having turned from the family he would not dare ever meet with Aramoro-sama. He had chased his ambition and his love for years and what had he to show for it? Nothing.
He turned to face the way she had gone and with a final gooodbye, he returned to his school. It was all he had left.
"I will always remember you, Ogoku."
The young Scorpion is not so young anymore, nor is he a Scorpion. And to his shame, he finds he can no longer remember her - the way she looked, sounded and smelt. All of these memories have passed and so much more.
So remember, my friends, the Fortune of Love is fickle. He smiles on those who, to some of us, are undeserving and they marry their true love. And he ignores the unfortunates like the man in my story, who give everything in the name of love and still lose.
Rikimaru's looks up and focuses on the world around him once more.
I hope my tale has been worthy of this audience, who must have by now heard many tales which would make mine pale in comparison. Perhaps someone else here has a tale concerning another of the Fortunes?