Kakita Aikawa was a bushi of the Crane Clan. He was a young, charismatic man who was appointed as a yojimbo to a courtier sent to the Phoenix lands, where he fell in love with a young Phoenix shugenja. Aikawa let slide his duties, and was sent among the Crab as the price for his failure, and later to the Lion border. He was an honorable man with an inability to control his emotions. Aikawa killed two Lion in illegal but justifiable duels, although he managed to keep that information secret.