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Post by Bayushi Hiromitsu on Aug 25, 2011 13:22:12 GMT -5
The scorpion nodded in agreement with Kakita Hitoshi; he was in fact quite right, travel had become a really hazarous thing to do. -I guess I should stick around; after all, there's a better place for a bushi than inside the war itself? Yet, it's not the live of our very people in jeopardy? Of course that, as a scorpion, I should pay much attention in what should be done next. But, by now, I guess i'm not leaving.
OOC: Pls, put me next to Hantei so I can kill him myself and end this now. Just kidding. I'm gonna open the gates by inside, Trojan style. Kidding again... *waves to Haruka over the walls*
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Kakita Hitoshi
Crane Clan
Be more concerned with good actions than great ones
Posts: 306
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Post by Kakita Hitoshi on Aug 25, 2011 17:40:10 GMT -5
Hitoshi sighed.
I am sure that the defenders at the gate would welcome your blade. I am going to my lord for leave to lead one of the units myself, as so far my duty has kept me by her side and she is currently occupied with strategy rather than with fighting.
It is a strange thing; I have spent a lot of time in the lands of the Asahina and they have taught me a respect for life, and I have friends in the clans who stand against us and do not wish to end their lives, but despite all these things a part of me longs to fight.
He chuckled. And I am a relatively peaceful Crane. The kami only know how the Matsu are feeling!
Hitoshi turned and looked at Mikado. What do you think Mikdao-sama - is there any hope that this war will end peacefully?
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Post by Akodo Tsanuri on Aug 25, 2011 19:51:07 GMT -5
On the border of plains and forest, west from the Toshi Ranbo, appeared a lone rider. He was rushing his horse, nearly lying on its back and looking back to the forest as if he expected to see something. He was quickly spotted from the blanks. Soldiers, bored after long shift was looking down with interest. Not far after that one man, 4 or 5 other leave the forest. Some of them were chasing him with unsheathed swords, others with bows. The man managed to avoid all the shots but the distance between chasers and chased were constant.
As the whole group was coming closer to the blanks, it became clear that the chased is Crane, while chasers - Lions. Soldiers on wall started preparing to shot down the attackers. But they were still too far away for bows.
The next shot from Lion side was more effective. One of the arrows stroke Crane’s back. He lean even lower on his horse. The distance between him and the Lions started to grow. From next salve 2 arrows stroke: one hit man, second – horse which started to slow down. But they were nearly in the distance, where castle defenders could shot successfully. Before Lions could shot for the third time or use their katanas, 2 of them were hit with the defenders arrows. Only two more arrows were shot to the Crane and both missed. Lions fled to the forest. One of the wounded were hit two more times and fell from horse. Others managed to retreat. Crane’s horse were running to the gate, slower with every step. About 20 meters before the gate it fell. Rider somehow managed to jump down but arrow in his leg made proper landing impossible. Crane rose quickly and limped to the gate.
Then the gate opened she went in.
I had message from Permission City. Please, take me to Kakita Mitsouko-dono.
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Doji Naetaru
Crane Clan
Doji Daimyo - Courtier - Otomo Twin
Posts: 687
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Post by Doji Naetaru on Aug 26, 2011 1:40:01 GMT -5
Mikado glances at Hitoshi, her face serene, yet her eyes seem to contain the tiredness and trouble of these warring times.
"I think that there is always hope Hitoshi-sama. One can be as self-destructive as pessimist in these dark times. There is hope that the Shogun finds some reason in his heart, for he shares the blood of our Emperor. How can one turn against his own brother? The code of Bushido cleanses the heart of the samurai from ambition, desire and anything that can sway his heart away."
Momentarily she thought of her own brother. She could never picture her battling him. She had slapped him once, no one knew, but this was a normal outcome out of a "strange" incident. She discarded the thought and then she resumed her pleasant smile.
Mikado looked at the Scorpion and Hitoshi and wondered if they had any siblings at all.If they could share her view towards brotherhood.
"What do you think of my words samas? Would a brother perform such a deed without even the slightest guilt? Picture yourselves and your siblings...would you ever reach in such a state of mind?"
The only thing she wanted to provoke was an oratorical discussion based on family ties.
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Kakita Hitoshi
Crane Clan
Be more concerned with good actions than great ones
Posts: 306
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Post by Kakita Hitoshi on Aug 26, 2011 2:21:05 GMT -5
Hitoshi eyes flicked down momentarily as he remembered his siblings. His younger brother was able to talk to the kami and had passed his gempukku just over a year ago. He was a serious individual, although possessed of a dry wit, and as far as Hitoshi knew he was assisting the fight against the plague in Crab lands. This was assuming that the were not attacking non-combatants during these trouble times.
His sister, on the other hand, was much more like Hitoshi and possessed of an easy charm. She was studying at the Kakita Duelling Academy and had most of the boys eating out of the palm of her hand. She also had the same talent for getting into trouble, and last time he had stopped over to visit his sensei Hitoshi had observed several of the masters wearing a familiar harassed expression when speaking about his sister.
I would sooner cut off my own arm than raise it against my brother or sister Mikado-sama he said, looking up at her again. I suppose if they were found guilty of great crimes then I would have to bring them to justice, but I find even the thought troubling. Fortunately that is extremely unlikely to ever happen; they are loyal samurai and possessed of good character.
Thinking again of his sister he smiled again, mischievously, Well, for the most part, anyway! What about yourself, Mikado-sama - am I to divine from your words that you have a sibling?
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Post by Bayushi Hiromitsu on Aug 26, 2011 7:23:58 GMT -5
-Well, I am not a shugenja, so, I can't really foretell the karmic implications of those actions. But I can say that the Bushido forbids one to go against her master or her brother.
-The Bushido tenets are really clear; even more so to a Bushi.
-Sadly, in my view of the word, the Lion would rather fall over his sword then to betray his master. Or does the Lion not swear loyalty to the Emperor anymore these days? Neither I could even imagine that the crab could ever leave their duties in the wall.
-But wow... Seems like my view of the world was wrong! -Akodo Kami once said to Hida: "A child of heaven does not murder his brothers, no matter their crime." [1] And here they are, forgetting their own Kami's words. Ikoma bards may not be doing a good job.
The scorpion lowered his kabuki mask once more; actually it was sorrow that he is hiding behind it. As he felt in his own skin the dread of the dark times ahead.
1- A Gathering of Thunder, by Rich Wulf
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Kakita Hitoshi
Crane Clan
Be more concerned with good actions than great ones
Posts: 306
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Post by Kakita Hitoshi on Aug 26, 2011 10:05:46 GMT -5
Two men rushed to offer assistance to the injured Crane, placing themselves carefully under his arms and allowing themselves to be lent on, whilst a gunso yelled for a shugenja.
As swiftly as they could they began to escort the messenger through to the command tent where the Kakita daimyo was in consultation with Yasuki Chad. Outside were two guards with yari; one waited with the group whilst the other slipped inside to form Mitsouko that there was an urgent message for her.
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Post by Bayushi Hiromitsu on Aug 26, 2011 16:46:10 GMT -5
-As I said before, the right place to a Bushi it's on the heat of the battle. I can't hear the call of the dying and do nothing. Please excuse me if I leave you to soon and too fast. I mean no disrespect.
The bushi bowed with great respect to the samurais there. He seemed very worried, as he readied his katana in the left side of the obi, a really good sign that he was getting ready for battle. He raised his hands and made sure his ponytail was tight. He have brought no armor, no weapon heavier than his Katana, yet, he needed nothing more that the weapon he have inherited of his ancestors.
-And if we don't see each other again, please remember my name, and please, remember how one of the Bayushi have brought your letter and asked nothing in return. That's going to be important in the near future. It has been a honor to see how polite and wise the crane have become.
After the compliments and greetings, he left. Maybe to never be seen again.
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Post by Akodo Tsanuri on Aug 26, 2011 17:13:41 GMT -5
Thank you for your help samurai-sans but I am fine. Those are only scratches, nothing serious. She smiled gently or at least intended to. She was pale and breathless. Even though she tried to make her face look neutral it wasn’t difficult to tell she was in pain. The men hesitated for a moment but helped her still. She was thankful for it but tried to walk on her own as much as she can not to burden them. And also to ease the pain in her back which stroke with every move of her assistants. She intended to move at once rather that waiting for the shugenja. Their powers are great but it took time to recite the sutras and it took time to fell better. Even with help of their prayers.
She was quite tall for a woman and rather well-built. Her black hair were originally tied into a ponytail, but now they were messed, full of leaves, twigs and dirt. Her clothes were also messed, torned and dirtied with soil and blood where the arrows, and probably also swords, touched her body. They were rather dark for a Crane with Clan mon on the back and Daidoji mon on her sleeves.
While waiting before the tent she tried to tidy herself but with rather minor effect. Without a bath, brush and new set of clothes there weren’t many things she could do. Especially now.
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Post by Asahina Yuuto on Aug 26, 2011 23:24:30 GMT -5
Yuuto fingered the rank insignia left him by Yukihime as he bartered his patience with a disinterested quartermaster, "I expect you to guard those crates with your life," interrupting the logistics officer in mid breath, "I don't care what you think those supplies are for; they're medical supplies and need not be wasted on jittery nerves."
The supplies in question were controversial shipments of opium. Yuuto had put the narcotic to effective use during his trials on plague victims in Crab lands, but soldiers quickly found a secondary use for the drug -- a nulling edge when faced with the day to day life and death struggle on the fields around Toshi Ranbo. He shook his head, rubbing his strained eyes and stroking his thinning hair, "its getting more difficult to keep myself calm," he muttered. His feet turn towards the infirmary, unfortunately, his thoughts are soon interrupted by calls for help.
The swiftness of motion could be seen from the swaying of the trim of his robes, as his ears lead him towards distress. He soon finds a black haired, disheveled, samurai buckling at the knees of a command tent. Twigs and dirt litter her hair, fever from infection can be seen on her forehead, and crimsons stains encroaching on her worn clothing confirms the diagnosis.
Yuuto casually waves the wind through her hair, disrupting the chaos to be found there, "Perhaps you could use my assistance?"
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Post by Akodo Tsanuri on Aug 27, 2011 16:33:20 GMT -5
She instinctively touched her hair when felt the gust of wind. It took her a moment to link the man and wind and what it ment. She bowed to the coming shugenja. It must caused her pain because she suddenly stopped the move and rose her head slowly. I am grateful for your concern and help but hot water and a little bandage should be enough. It is only a slight injury. It would probably heal by tomorrow even without treatment.
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Post by Asahina Yuuto on Aug 27, 2011 23:37:16 GMT -5
"Oh," his eyes feigning disinterest and voice calmly playing along, "I do not want to keep you from your duties; I am sure they are most important," he dispassionately states as he moves past the distressed samurai.
As he finds himself to her back, he deliberately brushes against a crimson tear in her tattered teal, noticing a more than casual reflective cringe, "Although, I can see you are a very important person; I would be the envy of your belated benefactor to entertain you until they arrive."
He easily wraps himself around her shoulders embracing her pain, "In this environment, I may not get another opportunity to indulge you in my hospitality," shifting her shoulders to face her head to his eyes as she trembled, "if I must trick you to treat you, I will, but I think we see eye to eye on what is truely most important" The determined samurai's head bows away, failing to resist her new direction.
He motions to the hohei nearby, informing them to alert the commander immediately to the infirmary of the recent arrival.
OOC: I can delete this if you wish, but I wanted to write a hospital scene this weekend and you seem to fit the bill -- whats the worst that could happen? ;D
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Post by Akodo Tsanuri on Aug 28, 2011 2:00:54 GMT -5
She tried to slip past his shoulders but he anticipated her moves. Thank you for care and hospitality but I’m nobody important. I’m just one of many soldiers who are now fighting here. She looked down blushing lightly. Then bowed low and stayed in this position while talking. I’m truly grateful and I probably won’t ever be able to pay you back for your hospitality but I’ve lost much time in the forest and I can’t make this loss any larger.She rose her head looking with anxiety on the samurai hoping he wouldn’t be offended. Only a little smirk was present on his face. ‘Good, he isn’t angry.’ She felt dizzy and touched the nearest wall not o wobble. ‘Just make it look natural, he won’t pay attention to it.’ She raised her eyes on his face. [OCC: I didn't expect that, but it looks amusing, thanks I will pm you her wounds later. *trying hard not thinking what can happen* just please don't cut her too much, all limbs needed ]
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Kakita Hitoshi
Crane Clan
Be more concerned with good actions than great ones
Posts: 306
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Post by Kakita Hitoshi on Aug 28, 2011 17:45:29 GMT -5
Kakita Hitoshi looked at the back of the departing Scorpion and shared a glance with Mikado. Sometimes I think I'll never understand the Scorpion; they're worse than Dragon in some respects.
He shook his head. But now that I am sure you are safe I should return to Mitsouko-sama. Hitoshi bowed to Mikado and looked her straight in the eyes. Be well Mikado-sama - I would hate to think of you hurt in any way. With that he turned and left the gardens.
As he approached the command tent he saw a wounded woman propping herself up against a wall talking to Asahina Yuuto. What's going on here Yuuto-san? He looked at the injured bushi, noting the blood slowly making its way down her leg. Have you a message from the field?
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Post by Asahina Yuuto on Aug 28, 2011 18:34:54 GMT -5
OOC: Hitoshi, I noticed your post as I was finishing this, so forgive me if it does not do your entry into the scene justice
“You owe me nothing, honorable samurai,” consoling her apprehensiveness, “you have already done your duty today, now let me do mine.”
Hitoshi interrupts the conversation, but nods towards the pooling blood, "although she feigns her importance, I'm sure she has words that must be heard, but I feel it better that the conversation be saved for later."
The two inched closer to the infirmary, Yuuto attempting to converse consciousness into the struggling samurai, “are the flowers blooming in the forest? I have not been out of the walls in some time,” she grinned but did not reply. He noticed the contortions on her face as her facade fades, but continued, “I do not believe I have introduced myself to you; I am Asahina Yuuto and my duty is to command the shugenja stationed in the city while more accomplished hands are absent,” an inflection in his voice could be noticed as he continues from a brief pause, “you are most fortunate I was able to find you so quickly.”
The stench of sterilization greets the two as they enter the dilapidated building flanking the western wall, Yuuto’s muscles feeling the ever increasing weight of the samurai’s abdicating consciousness. His grip slips for a second, she tumbles briefly, nearly disturbing a sakuhachi that sits angled to the door. He had forgotten to even ask her name, a scene becoming all too common as days turned to weeks, and creep towards months. The bubbling of kettles keep a constant pace as they move through the rooms, a hohei noticing their presence, distinctively begins to finesse an unfilled ladle with tea. Ladle finds wooden cup, and attention is soon given to the click of unlocking box, as a ritualistic coronation is sprinkled above the mouth of the steaming anesthetic.
No samurai is prepared for the reality contained within these walls. It is neither poetic, nor inspiring, to teach young child of those in their death throes of the healer’s den. It is much grander to inspire the young towards dying gloriously for their Lord, their Clan, an ideal, or to even throw themselves upon their own blade. It is much more dangerous to teach them of the scene unfolding here, for it is far sinister to teach the young of a life without steel.
The young samurai now lies with her back propped to a stretcher, Yuuto’s blade hanging on the wall above. He had not worn it since the day Yukihime left him with her duties, and a spectacle had been made among the congregated shugenja that as long as the city stood, their honor, and the lives their skills protected, would reside above the door way his sword accentuates.
The hohei hands the cup to Yuuto, his gentle hands elevating her head as drink trickles from her cooling lips, “this will ease your pain as you entrust us to battle for you,” her cheeks flushed and her hair matting between body and stretched cloth. The belt clasping her symbols of honor are loosened and quickly stored for safekeeping. Another hohei delicately cuts away at the leather straps of her armor, removing the shell of metal, leather, and linen that conceals her wounded pride.
Despite dirt and filth, the symbols of the Daidoji shimmer as her armor is removed for cleaning and display. Whether in the Crane lands to the South, or the fields and forests of Toshi Ranbo, no family has spilt more blood to defend their Emperor. The beaming armor soon finds itself among kin, a thankless task begins to restore its innards and warmth – to allow for duty to be served once more. The armor’s dark blue hue, as it moves, imitates its owner’s worn skin as both prepare to be renewed.
The stretcher is lowered among many others, and a flicker denotes the igniting of incense. A haze can be seen in the young samurai’s eye, as her pupils fail to follow the shadowy figures darting around the room. Her nostrils stretch towards the exotic smells drifting from the burning incense, her guide as the diluted opium and loss of blood drag her towards unconsciousness. The allure of death’s embrace is as powerful to a warrior as the void can be to careless shugenja.
Where damage armor was once found now flows a simplistic white gown – displaying the vulnerability that could not be seen previously; Yuuto cleans his hands in a nearby bowl as his assistant Miga denotes her injuries, dulled moans signaling any shifting of the patient. Yuuto frowns, “Hmm, the barb appears to be lodged deeply,” pointing to a deep and discoloring wound on her back, “notice the blistering, it appears they are beginning to coat their arrows in a strong poison to bolster the killing power.”
His hands probe the wound for arrow head. Yuuto begins to hum an incantation of earth as his fingers meticulously massage life into the swollen flesh. As his concentration intensifies, the metal begins to crumple and contort to his concerns, becoming like water, casually gliding out of the infected and pulsing contours of the gash. He quickly cleans and sutures the wound, beginning the rituals to neutralize the toxins circulating her system and knit flesh and bone together harmoniously again. An audience of candles partakes of the pageant of magic and mysticism, weeping in frustration as their light waxes while daylight wanes.
Miga paints cuts and lacerations along her thigh with salve on brush, delicately pursuing her task as a geisha would prepare her skin for performance. She mumbles, “she may have to conceal these scars with make-up if the kami decides she must wear her lessons, but she is a resilient one.” Every stroke begins in conflict with pale canvas, but blends as artist’s touch brings order from chaos. She turns to the task of washing the samurai’s hair, cleaning twig and mud from her flowing obsidian locks, creating symmetry only Crane could truly comprehend. What started as a mess, now shows its true artistic form.
Night has fallen, and exhaustion takes its toll on the two as they finish their work. What began as something designed from destructive forces, ends with the restoration of former radiance. The young samurai lies perfectly, the crimson returning to her lips and cheeks as bandage, salve, and suture now conceal her wounded pride. Yuuto lays her hands symmetrically across her lap, placing his mirror between clasped hands, he whispers in her ears, “you will need to look presentable when your commander courts the message you conceal.”
Forest -- fate is felt In my arms, duty was restrained Life must swallow pride
Stained blood and dirt on his hands, Yuuto ignores his own disheveled look, exiting the door with the sakuhachi that once stood guard. He climbs to the walls, where flame, men and drum look onward to the fields afar that flicker and beat back in defiance. The treble sounds of sakuhachi now add to the Crane’s song, as men march and move toward their own destruction. What meager joy can be sojourned, is stored in disciplined souls as theatre of war plays one scene more. As eyelids fall the void steps forward to consume all.
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