Isawa Ijime

Isawa Ijime was a very gifted young shugenja. She was tormented by her family as a child, and died young as a result of the scars she received at their hands. Though she was not loved by her own family, she was honored by the Isawa family following her death.

Childhood
Ijime was born a Shiba to a very large family. The youngest of many children and the only girl to many boys, Ijime was often the target of the abuse of her older brothers. Her childhood was a long period of torment at the hands of her malicious brothers and uncaring parents.

To combat the terror she faced in the real world, Ijime learned to retreat into places within her own imagination. Her imaginations became real to an unprecedented extent. The things she dreamed actually spilled over into the real world, allowing her to create images for everyone to see. Unsurprisingly, she attempted to keep this from her uncaring family.

Rescue
When Ijime was nine, a Magistrate came to visit her family. While there, Ijime lost control of her gift, releasing a shower of dancing butterflies and sparkling beetles upon her family and the Magistrate. The Magistrate, throroughly impressed at the girl's abilities, inquired about her training. Ijime was old enough that the Isawa would have begun her training years before.

The Magistrate was answered only with silence. He quickly deduced the answer and took Ijime from her home. She never returned.

Training
Ijime was delivered to the Isawa family for proper training. The Isawa were impressed with her talents and took her into their tuteledge. But they were not lenient with the girl. She may have started three years later than most of their students, but she was expected simply to work hard and catch up with the rest of her class. Ijime poured herself into her work, and by the age of sixteen, she was ready for her gempukku.

Death
Unfortunately, Ijime died shortly before her gempukku ceremony. A blood vessel ruptured in her head, killing her. When she was found, blood was trickling from her ear, and a savage snarl was forever frozen upon her face. It was the picture of the years of neglect and abuse she had suffered at the hand of her unloving family.

In death, Ijime was granted the Isawa name and burned with honor. The powers of her magic were never fully known by the Phoenix Clan.

Major References

 * Way of the Phoenix Pages 76-77.