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'One must strive to be valiant and honorable above all else.'
The family of Sazaku Hayato. Ryoga and Midori Hayato were wed at the tender ages of 20 and 19, Midori
giving birth to Sazaku a year later. Ryoga took care of his beloved son most of the time as Midori was quickly becoming a
legend on the battlefield, becoming a samurai in record time. After a few years she began to spend more time at home, leading
to the births of Sakura and Asuma. Sazaku became facinated with the Way of the Samurai while the other two children spent
many happy hours with their father in his fields. Midori became a favorite to the local Daimyo, her skill in battle
as well as her blue-tipped naganita Aoi-ryuu earning her the nickname the Blue War Goddess.
Sazaku began his path to becoming a full samurai when he was 21. Around this time Midori retired from active
duty, as she was now 41, and become more a tactician than a warrior. Ryoga suffered a back injury the following year, thus
being forced to leave the heavy work to Asuma and Sakura. Sakura met a young man named Ryohi, a man Midori thought would make
an excellent husband for her daughter. When Sakura was 18 Midori arranged the marriage and the following year the two were
wed, the Hayato clan now having ties with the wealthy Jumashi Clan. By the time Sazaku was named a samurai at 25 the young
Asuma was attacked by thieves. His older brother saved him, but he felt lost without proper combat training. Midori left it
to her eldest son to teach the aspiring farmer how to fight. This proved to be invaluable as around a year later Sazaku was
cast out. With Sakura and Ryohi having effectively taken over the farm, Asuma took up his spear and vowed to succeed where
his brother failed, becoming a samurai a short year later at the remarkable age of 22. To add to the family's hard times,
Ryoga fell ill with a heart condition and never recovered. Midori, now in her late 40s, blames he failure of an elder child
for the loss of her beloved husband, and is also deeply upset with Sakura and Ryohi for not having a child so Ryoga could
at least see a grandchild before he died.
Midori is a proud woman with a cool demeanor and the sharp tongue of an experienced fighter. Yet despite
this she still has a great love for her family (although she is deeply angry with Sazaku at the moment) and has even managed
to age quite gracefully. Sakura is a very beautiful and polite young lady, happy that her marriage was to a man she greatly
respected. The only problem is despite being married she still isn't entirely sure if she loves Ryohi, as she dreamed of a
man as strong as her brothers. Asuma, despite his talent both in battle and out in the fields, has never been that confident,
but his burning desire to retain his family's honor has pushed him along. The thoughts of glory and valor that dance in his
head during battle have been his fuel, but may yet also prove to be his undoing. He's resentful towards his older brother
for losing his honor, and has a longing desire to find someone to take as a wife.
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