Son of my Heart

The Water Dragon moved among the Mantis isles, its sinuous body rising with each gust of wind that churned the waves. It coiled, then lifted its massive head. The sea began to part.

Come, son of Osano-Wo, it called, and the roar of the waves echoed in its voice. It no more spoke with words than the sky could shout a battle-cry, yet its voice echoed within the Celestial Heavens and resounded through Kyuden Gotei, home of the Mantis Clan. Come, son of Gusai and of Yoshitsune. Give me your twenty strongest samurai, and I will take them to Volturnum to fight the Shadow.

Your twenty strongest samurai. Yoritomo removed his helm, looking across his lands' battered beaches. The last few Mantis samurai - weary, bloodied, and beaten by the Phoenix - turned their eyes towards him. They were prepared to fight once more - and to die, if he but asked them. Twenty bush to save the Empire... and if they went to war now, Yoritomo knew, they would never return from Volturnum and the Shadowlands. Without samurai, the Mantis would fall - his clan, his loyal bushi, and all of his accomplishments.

His clan.

His twenty strongest samurai.

He could not let them go.

Yoritomo turned to the Dragon, lifting his kamas from their sheaths. "I am my twenty strongest samurai!" he roared. "Take me, and I shall show you how the Son of Storms faces death!"

The Dragon rolled through sea foam and salt tears, prepared to work its magic, when another voice echoed from beside the Mantis general. Aramasu, Bayushi no more, stood at his father's side.

"And I am twenty-one."