KITSUKI AKANO<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"A name is the power of becoming something you are not. While you wait, your enemy practices."</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>As usual, a riddle. I thought about this, and as I did so moved closer to both the Dragon<em>Bushi</em>, Miromoto-san and the striking Crane<em>shugenja</em>. I spoke in a low tone but strongly so they both could hear me.<strong>"The obvious part of that is taking a name and becoming powerful - that refers to the <em>oni </em> and the poor fellow who had given it his name. The <em>oni</em> has become something it was not - powerful - by virtue of receiving a name."</strong><br/><br/><strong>"As to the second part, that is less clear. All I can understand from it is that while we waste time, our enemy grows stronger. I think we know this already."</strong><br/><br/><strong>"Ise-zumi-san,"</strong>I raised my voice and stepped up beside Shosuro-san, bowing to the monk who stood a little teasingly atop his mooring post,<strong>"We know the <em>oni</em> or the one who summoned it, seeks a certain mask, or masks. ...Why?... But I have heard that other objects were ransacked from houses. <em>Katana</em>, for example."</strong>My eyes flicked to the sword across his back, then back to his eyes,<strong>"If the masks are sought by the people these magistrates seek, why does the <em>oni</em> take swords also?"</strong>