Bayushi Haruka
Scorpion Clan
OOC Cleanup Crew
Samurai? Battle Maiden? Cavalry? Paragon of Courage? Friend of the Lion
Posts: 1,054
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Post by Bayushi Haruka on Sept 6, 2011 11:42:04 GMT -5
Haruka could not have been more pleased. She bowed in gratitude after refusing the gift most graciously twice and accepting it with delight and sincerity dripping off her words. But what more caught her interest was certainly the 'favor' he would call in now. It wasn't the first time that a gift had come with a request, but Haruka had never been asked from someone as distinguished as Akodo Tomatsu for anything.
Her mind whipped back to the woman he was speaking with before and her head filled with utter amusement at it all. "I would be honored Tomatsu-sama, I trust you speak on a certain other rider then..?" Her words only hanging and hesitant to ensure she had not guessed wrong.
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Akodo Tomatsu
Lion Clan Mod
The Shining Lion
Lion Clan Champion?Samurai?Tactician?Loyal?Paragon of Sincerity?Defender of the Empire
Posts: 1,042
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Post by Akodo Tomatsu on Sept 6, 2011 16:39:02 GMT -5
You would be correct, Bayushi-san. He moved slightly, still facing her, but allowing his body to frame Mai so that Haruka had only look over his shoulder to see her.
I believe you should make your kami proud and work your court magic on her. I shall wait here unless you shall need me of course. He said with a mock bow and a smile.
The best of luck to you friend, I'm counting on you.
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Post by Isawa Kaida on Sept 6, 2011 17:05:24 GMT -5
Meanwhile, Kaida simply waited. The gifts Tomatsu had given surprised her, seeing as how the Lion were currently in the middle of seiging the capital. The shugenja remained quiet, hardly daring to look around.
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Akodo Taiyo
Lion Clan
Lion Clan Hero ? Samurai ? Tactican ? Shireikan ? Honorable ? Loyal
Posts: 196
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Post by Akodo Taiyo on Sept 6, 2011 20:57:01 GMT -5
(OOC: Sorry for the delay Kaida, I will try to get something in soon. Long hours at work have left me with little brain power for RP'ing. Should be rectified shortly.)
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Bayushi Haruka
Scorpion Clan
OOC Cleanup Crew
Samurai? Battle Maiden? Cavalry? Paragon of Courage? Friend of the Lion
Posts: 1,054
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Post by Bayushi Haruka on Sept 8, 2011 8:06:26 GMT -5
Haruka nodded and bowed deeply to the Lion Champion. He had indeed become such a dear friend to her since her ascendancy into the Scorpion clan and frankly he did not have to give a gift to call on her aid. But the gesture was certainly appropriate and she did appreciate it.
Bayushi Haruka then had one of the attendants send the gift back to Kyuden Bayushi, as she wished it to be secured away from the throws of war. And then of course it was now to her delight that she would finally be able to speak with the Utaku she had been noticing. With a few gently placed steps she did her best to at least make her presence obvious, but still slightly set the two samurai-ko somewhat apart.
She bowed to the Unicorn as she would bow to her equal. "My name is Haruka," knowing she'd already been announced. "And who may I ask do I have the honor of sharing the presence of tonight?"
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Utaku Mai
Unicorn Clan
*Battle Maiden* *Paragon of Honor* *Goddamn Rockstar*
Posts: 484
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Post by Utaku Mai on Sept 8, 2011 20:31:18 GMT -5
"I'm called Mai, Bayushi-sama. It's a great pleasure to finally meet you." Mai said sincerely. The presence of a fellow unicorn in this strange grouping, a former shiotome no less, was comforting. "I managed to read through a few reports from the forces during the conflict at Mountain Watch Keep. Your actions saved many lives." A threatening thought tickled at her mind, Not enough by one before she pushed it away. "I hope I can someday live up to your example."
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Utaku Mai
Unicorn Clan
*Battle Maiden* *Paragon of Honor* *Goddamn Rockstar*
Posts: 484
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Post by Utaku Mai on Sept 9, 2011 13:01:59 GMT -5
(I'll be gone for the weekend just so you know I haven't forgotten you)
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Bayushi Haruka
Scorpion Clan
OOC Cleanup Crew
Samurai? Battle Maiden? Cavalry? Paragon of Courage? Friend of the Lion
Posts: 1,054
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Post by Bayushi Haruka on Sept 11, 2011 12:56:17 GMT -5
(I've had a lot holding me up as well! No worries ) Haruka's brow raised quite a bit when Mai actually immediately opened recalling her true proud moments from the former conflict. She had to contain herself in order to continue. A breath of a delicate laugh pouring from behind her mask. "Oh Mai-san, yes I certainly hope you do achieve such greatness. And please.." in a strange gesture she lowered her gaze and shook her head, "As former sisters of the Shiotome, I would ask that you call me Haruka only, not by the name and mantle that's been bestowed upon me." She even went so far as to bow as she said it. She certainly retained the sincerity of her past clan as she looked to Mai with great relief and some delight. "This war tears many from their homes and lives. Many honorable souls will perish for the cause of the Emperor." she looked her straight in the eye as she continued, almost looking to see what she would say next in response. "It is our duty to ensure that the fewest necessary honorable souls are slain, don't you think?"
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Utaku Mai
Unicorn Clan
*Battle Maiden* *Paragon of Honor* *Goddamn Rockstar*
Posts: 484
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Post by Utaku Mai on Sept 12, 2011 10:09:13 GMT -5
"It is a duty that I hold very dear." Mai paused for a moment before continuing. "Things must have been much simpler at the Keep, after a fashion. We knew who our enemy was. Even in the battle today, I found it difficult to say the same for the Crane defending the capitol. I have family among the Daidoji, and friends and acquaintances among their bushi. I know them to be honorable samurai after their own fashion. Please do not misunderstand, I do not doubt Toturi's cause" Mai added, though she could not tell through the silk mask what Haruka may have thought of this revelation. "I think ultimately his actions as emperor will preserve many honorable lives. As much as know that our cause is right, the idea of possibly facing a familiar face on the battlefield is...unsettling."
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Bayushi Haruka
Scorpion Clan
OOC Cleanup Crew
Samurai? Battle Maiden? Cavalry? Paragon of Courage? Friend of the Lion
Posts: 1,054
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Post by Bayushi Haruka on Sept 12, 2011 11:04:29 GMT -5
It might've been somewhat unsettling to not see her face. But Haruka couldn't have agreed more, or been prouder. However she had to keep the aura of calmness, because it would be rather uncouth to take any delight in war.
"You're very right. It was much easier to fight when the entire empire was at your side. But those were much darker times where the Unicorn were forced to fight alone for far too long as well...
In war, we can never be sure who will rise to become our greatest ally or.. greatest enemy."
She gave a rather deliberate glance back to Tomatsu while he spoke among the others. "I'm pleased to say Tomatsu-sama is one of the allies that the Unicorn can always hold dear. And Emperor Toturi is blessed to count him as one of his commanders."
But her tone shifted from something even, to something slightly quieter and more curious. "Tell me.. what do you think of him?"
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Utaku Mai
Unicorn Clan
*Battle Maiden* *Paragon of Honor* *Goddamn Rockstar*
Posts: 484
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Post by Utaku Mai on Sept 12, 2011 14:25:48 GMT -5
"He seems a most capable general and warrior, and in some ways quite unlike many Lion I have met before." She gave the barest nod in the direction of Taiyo-sama for want of a more obvious example. "I was glad that circumstances allowed me to report to him directly, protocol be damned. I can't abide important information languishing with subordinates when it could be saving lives."
She thought on the later conversation, and felt a bit odd about just how much of herself she had managed to share in his presence. "Considering his rank he seems very easy going, though in his position I suppose he doesn't feel the need to prove himself through bluster." Though perhaps not completely, his I am the highest cause of death amongst Crane clan samurai these days notwithstanding, she thought wryly.
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Bayushi Haruka
Scorpion Clan
OOC Cleanup Crew
Samurai? Battle Maiden? Cavalry? Paragon of Courage? Friend of the Lion
Posts: 1,054
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Post by Bayushi Haruka on Sept 13, 2011 13:59:39 GMT -5
"Ah yes, well I can certainly agree. He is a bit unorthodox compared to the rest of his clansmen."
She kept a soft tone in her voice, continuing the positive flow of the conversation.
"But Mai-san, I wonder if you also then realize that he is not a man who typically places himself alone with another to speak. It seems every time he appears, so do those who require his wisdom and direction. You should consider yourself quite lucky."
She ran her fingers through her hair a bit, as it flowed past her armor. Her gaze averted to hopefully reduce the intimidation of her own rank.
"Do you think you would like to speak with him again, alone?" Her eyes flashed a bit, certain of some possible desire unspoken. "Because such a request is certainly well within my powers to fulfill. You need only ask."
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Akodo Tomatsu
Lion Clan Mod
The Shining Lion
Lion Clan Champion?Samurai?Tactician?Loyal?Paragon of Sincerity?Defender of the Empire
Posts: 1,042
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Post by Akodo Tomatsu on Sept 13, 2011 19:10:28 GMT -5
He tried to keep himself busy, not watching the two women. He moved around the room, talking to the various gathered bodies. He could not believe that he was such a popular person, he often traveled as a generic samurai to avoid such trappings of office, but it was once and a while nice to be reminded he was important.
He traded pleasantries with a member of the Mantis clan who had found their way to his party, assuring him that the Mantis effort would not be overlooked and that he would do his best to remind Toturi of their continued support when he saw him next. Yet all the while he could not keep his attention on any one particular subject, wondering what the two lovely women were talking about, and if that subject strayed onto him.
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Utaku Mai
Unicorn Clan
*Battle Maiden* *Paragon of Honor* *Goddamn Rockstar*
Posts: 484
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Post by Utaku Mai on Sept 13, 2011 20:31:21 GMT -5
Mai's brow furrowed slightly at the invitation. "He seems to have the attack strategy well in hand, I'm not sure what more I could contrib--..." before the realization hit her of just what Haruka wasn't saying. Her eyes went wide, and for the first time in her life Mai felt an uncomfortable heat rising up her neck. Oh. Oh no. Haruka knew that they had been alone for some time. Not very long, surely, but apparently long enough for people to start thinking...
She looked into the silk visage of her glorified older Utaku sister and wanted to hide in her own mask about now. Better yet, she wished the ground would open up and swallow her where she stood. So this is why protocol exists, she thought, to keep uppity Utaku chui from climbing rather different rungs up the ladder of military leadership. With the Lion Champion, no less. Oh, by the kami, can she not do anything by halves? She wondered what she could possibly say to preserve herself. My intentions were honorable seemed so very wrong. Having never felt anything akin to shame before, Mai could not quite understand why her traitorous blood kept rising up her face, or why her tongue felt so heavy trying to say something, anything. Was Haruka offering to help her 'finish the job'? Was that expected, now?
A quiet, awkward, monosyllabic laugh escaped unbidden from her lips as she tried desperately to cling to her unapologetic demeanor. She felt somehow clumsy, unsure of what to do with her hands. A lifetime seemed to pass before she started her new response, though it was in reality only an instant. She tried lamely to make a sweeping gesture of "Well...I'm sure he is very..." when her left arm hit a stack of bowls carried by one of the servants, knocking them to the ground with a loud clatter. Though the accidental blow would cause no more than a bruise under normal circumstances, she gasped as she felt her wound reopen with a sharp, wet pain. She grasped her forearm with her right hand, only to see fresh blood begin to pool around her fingers.
With a sudden inexplicable calm despite the pain and a pounding in her ears, she bowed to Haruka and the other guests starting at her as she backed slowly toward the open flap. "Maybe some other time, Haruka-sama. I think I've delayed my trip to the surgeon for too long. I'm afraid I must go." She gave one last bow to the Lion champion, unable to meet his eyes, and without another word she walked purposely out of the tent.
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Bayushi Haruka
Scorpion Clan
OOC Cleanup Crew
Samurai? Battle Maiden? Cavalry? Paragon of Courage? Friend of the Lion
Posts: 1,054
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Post by Bayushi Haruka on Sept 13, 2011 22:14:31 GMT -5
Haruka would sigh and grin all in the same motion. Her eyes were the feature that followed every motion Mai made, and while she had half the desire to grasp onto her shoulder to stop her from running away, for now she thought it best to let her regain her composure once again.
She reached into the sleeve of her kimono to snap out her hand fan with a sharp flick of her wrist. She seemed to use the idle motion of it to keep her train of thought. "Oh Mai-san..."
But even though her mind kept pouring over the embarrassment the woman had suffered, she certainly saw one thing apart from what most honorable souls might consider. As even samurai performed daring acts of heroics beyond their call of duty at times, and acted out of sorts in the face of their lords. To all who looked upon such hearts with a simple understanding they would simply assume that they were disloyal or perhaps spellbound by something greater.
But it was the why that always pushed into Haruka's mind. She could see the younger Utaku, much as she once saw herself only a few short months ago. The memory vividly flashed through her mind at the thought of meeting a mysterious messenger in a garden and the message he truly held. The fear that quickly could overtake even the bravest heart in the face of such.. authority. Her smile broadened as she came back to her senses.
She glanced over to where Tomatsu now stood and slightly rumbled at the thought of having to work to gain his attention again. A trivial trial
She would jot down a brief note out of sight for now. You must meet her alone again, it must be you to show the initiative as she cannot, sama.
When it was finished, her very practiced courtier skill came into play as she interrupted Tomatsu and his Mantis conversation partner only momentarily. But while his attention was on her as she simply gave her greeting and appreciation for his being here, she slipped the note out of sight to the Lion Champion. With that she gave a sound bow to them both and departed to the edges of the gathering again.
She hoped this would be understood by the Shining Lion, for she could speak to the clan on his behalf in due time. But unless the Utaku was in understanding and willing to fight for him, there was no amount of convincing that would suffice without great negotiation for any further relationship to be persued.
Thank the kami we do believe in love and the strength of the family.[/color]
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