Akodo Kibigama Kuno
Kuno grew up in the southern-most tip of Lion lands, between Shiro Matsu and Mizu-umi no Fuko, the second (and last) son of Kibagami Kazuto. As an Akodo amongst the Matsu, Kuno learned early that strength was required, even amongst the strong, in order to save face. The Kibagami line were samurai who guarded the Lion's southern border from the Crane and western border from the Scorpion as far north as Roka Beiden. Many of the Kibagami also became merchants further north and were hard pressed by the Crane taxation - thus mistrust of the Crane run as deep as Scorpion are considered dishonorable. Much to his father's disgust, Kuno's older brother opted for a (quite successful) merchant life rather than the warrior's path. He had neither the build nor the apptitude for a samurai, however for the first born to choose not to fight was viewed as shameful. Kuno took to that path much better and strived to fill the gap his brother had left. He often ventured over into Scorpion and Crane terrirories to train in the mountains and along the lake, which at age 9 brought him into contact with Tomoe Akira of the Crane Clan.
Akira, also a skilled young warrior, was tired of testing himself against his Crane classmates. He met Kuno at the shores of Mizu-umi no Fuko and the two quickly took a liking to each other, their competitive natures playing out through sparring and racing in the forests and mountains nearby. Occassionaly they would be joined by other Crane and Lion from similarly awkward backgrounds - rising stars, child samurai-ko, and the overburdened kids of political elite. The border bred an odd mix of companions, such as Kakita Chizu-chan, who often followed Kuno and Akira about. Kuno, though focused, lost his competitive drive earlier than Tomoe and their friendship began to wane. However, it was Kuno's father that abruptly ended their time together when he found out about Akira.
Kuno's brother was 16 and had already given up on being a warrior; he was apprenticed with an architect in Toshi no Meiyo Gisei. With Kuno the only hope for a warrior in the family, he was sent to China for training. China was a far different place than Rokugan - families (even warring families) were more localized and a warlord's lands might be the size of Rokugan several times over. Along the southern coast, a remote school with Shaolin roots accepted Kuno for training. When word came scarcely a year later that Kuno's mother had passed away of disease, Kuno became the pet project of Chen Bai Fu. He studied there for seven years, mastering Kung Fu and Jin sword styles.
At 17 Kuno returned to Rokugan and begun studying Bushido and Iaijutsu at Shiro sano Ken Hayai. His unorthodox style, though far more disciplined than his fellow students, again set him apart. Though his teachers enjoyed teaching him, none would claim him as their disciple - preferring students with a purer background. Kuno was also significantly mellower than he had been in his youth, and fighting for the sake of the Kibagami line was no longer as important as fighting for honor or to protect peasants (which he had met many of in China). As in his youth, Kuno wandered frequently into neighboring lands, in particular near Toshi Ranbo wo Shien Shite Reigisaho which had recently been lost to the Crane. There he met two old friends, now betrothed, Akira and Chizu. The lure of puppy love and old friendships drew Kuno closer to Chizu - and they made plans for eloping. Believing Chizu had been touched by Kuno, and in a move to thwart their plans, Akira killed Chizu for infidelity - though he intended never to reveal that it was a lion who nearly stole a Kakita girl right off the Crane's newly won land.
Kuno kept close to the school from there, and at age 23 he moved back to the western Lion lands in order to avoid Akira. He was stationed there as an Akodo guard for local clan leaders, shipments, inauspicious ceremonies, and battles against invading Scorpion and Unicorn armies. In an attempt not to embarass his elders, hide his past, and generally fit in, he never demonstrated his skills - they'd only gotten him in trouble in the past. Yet it soon became the running joke that Kuno ate lucky rice before each battle - no matter how horrific or terrible the odds, he somehow came shuffling back at the end of each day. Then, one particularly rainy morning on the shore of Kawa Mittsu Kishi, Kuno's fishing line got caught. He dove in and (with much splashing) released the line from the branch it had snagged on. Kuno surfaced and returned to his mat where a tanto sat squarely in the center.
The leaves rustled lonely in the rain as Kuno set out on a new journey.
Kuno's stories:
The Missing Lesson
Few Words in Shinomen
Kuno's Poetry