Tamori Manji
Dragon Clan Mod
Demon Fox (妖狐)
?Dragon Clan ?Hatamoto ?Fire ?Void ?Yamabushi ?Tattoed ?Nonhuman
Posts: 922
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Post by Tamori Manji on Sept 3, 2011 17:06:18 GMT -5
Manji had been traveling through the river for long hours since he left The Sun's Gambit, with an ominous feeling that he couldn't shake down and kept him constantly alert, that something important was about to happen. At first he thought it was just the paranoia settling in, because of the increasing difficulty to avoid the patrols that now filled the river all the way up to Toshi Ranbo. Navigating through the ever growing amount of floating corpses was quite unpleasant too, he thought. But the white fox taught him to trust his instincts and it wouldn't do to ignore such a valuable lesson.
He paid close attention to each patrol, each corpse, waiting to find something important but nothing came. The smell of blood and death permeated the air near the Imperial Capital, even though the main battle was away from the waters. There were always isolated duels and skirmishes alongside the riverbed and the sounds of battle and suffering soon filled the world.
When the dawn came, most of the danger had already passed him by, but his uneasiness persisted. He took a sigh of relief when he was finally able to see Toshi Ranbo's port in the distance. Moments after, a tragic scene caught his attention and all his relief was suddenly gone. Manji saw a lone samurai, bathed in blood, carrying an equally bloodied woman in his arms. He was a ragged thing, with torn clothes, a broken mask tied to his forehead and failing strength but the woman seemed worse, her face betraying a deep pain. Manji quickly saw that she had an arrow protruding from her back and, by the looks of it, she wouldn't last long without help. In the distance, he also glimpsed a black steed, galloping without a raider towards the duo. He instantly knew this was what he was searching for. Although no one in his sane mind would ever search for this.
By the Fortunes, will my life ever get any easier? he ranted to himself with a deep sigh, as he pulled his boat towards the margin. He jumped swiftly from his boat, his long white shaggy hair swaying in the wind. He carried with him two bottles of "medicinal" doburoku while he hurried to the samurai side. Then, Manji said with a calming voice, samurai-san, come, bring her here, let me take a look at those wounds, I'm a shugenja.
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Post by Bayushi Hiromitsu on Sept 3, 2011 17:18:59 GMT -5
In his point of view, lucky things almost never happened with Hiromitsu. But when they do... they shake the very foundations of rokugan.
The duo have more blood on them that a maho-tsukai birthday party, and Hiromitsu couldn't hold any more.
-I am Bayushi Hiromitsu, and... And this is Bayushi Haruka-sama, wife of Bayushi Senshi-Sama, Daimyou of the Scorpion... I think she is carrying his child, or gained more weight that the last time I met her.
He bowed to the shugenja and left her as gently as he could on the ground:
-But I don't really know if the child is son of the Daimyou, it could be... Or it could be not. I don't know... One thing I can say for sure. It's not mine.
And after this storm of information, he finally shut up.
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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 3, 2011 17:35:33 GMT -5
"This is his child. The son of our lord Senshi-sama.. And he will be Scorpion Champion.." She practically growled as she reached up and pulled her mask down. Her lips and teeth slightly bloodied from where she had coughed up blood. Haruka did her best to shove the comment out of her mind.
Haruka forced herself to sit up, as laying back would only drive the arrow deeper. Riku, her loyal stallion came rushing over naturally and nearly trampled over the two other samurai as they would likely jump in slight reaction.
But Haruka, even in her pain gave a small call to the animal with a click of her teeth and a whistle. Riku, obedient as always, stopped on a dime and settled down for his master.
And in one willful motion, while the two were slightly tense from the stallion's stopped charge, Haruka willed herself to rip the arrow from her back as she reached around and pulled it out with a wet sound.
Thankfully it came out completely and did not break off. But it was still fairly unclear how deep it went as her breathing was difficult. Her will and courage spent, her human strength faded and she passed out after removing the arrow. Limply she layed back, and looked almost serene. Riku pawed at the ground nervously, even neighing in protest as he worriedly looked over Haruka.
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Tamori Manji
Dragon Clan Mod
Demon Fox (妖狐)
?Dragon Clan ?Hatamoto ?Fire ?Void ?Yamabushi ?Tattoed ?Nonhuman
Posts: 922
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Post by Tamori Manji on Sept 3, 2011 17:59:20 GMT -5
Manji watched the whole scene, it was quite impressive how both bushi managed to find strength despite their grievous wounds. After Haruka pushed out the arrow, dark red blood started to gush anew from her injury. He couldn't help but think ahhh bushi, so impatient, always making my work harder.
When Manji tried to examine Haruka, her horse neighed loudly and complained, driving himself between them. Manji moved slowly towards the horse and talked with him in the special way the white fox had taught him, be calm my friend, I don't mean her any harm. But if I am to heal her, I need you to protect us and be on the lookout for strangers. Can you do that? the horse neighed in stubborn agreement as he moved out of Manji's way.
Manji sighed deeply and offered each a bottle of alchemically altered doburoku for them to sip on, rest easy for a moment, both of you. Here, drink this while I examine your wounds, it will numb your pain and speed your healing. This was one of the times Manji really wished he had finished his alchemical training with his Tamori grandfather. As he hadn't, he could only hope everything worked for the best. Well, at worst, they would all be royally drunk when everything ended.
Then he examined Haruka for a few moments, her wound was grievous, the arrow had penetrated her torso diagonally. By the weird gurgling sound she was making, labored breath and color of the blood, he assumed it had perforated a lung and almost trespassed her heart. The act of pulling the arrow out so brashly, had only made things worse. Hiromitsu's injuries were grave too, but at least he suffered less internal damage. He would have to work fast. Please, stay close together and very still, close your eyes, pray for your ancestors and try to empty your mind, for this will be unpleasant, he said in a imperious voice.
First Manji intoned a mantra, then he made a series of complex hand movements, focusing on Haruka's and Hiromitsu's injuries and suffering and slowly channeling them into the infinite ocean. As the wounds closed and their internal damage was fixed, a strange coolness spread throughout their bodies, as if they were being immersed on cold winter water. When his spell was finished, he said with a tired voice there's too much death and suffering around here, the water kami are restless. I was able to heal the worst of your injuries but you both will need rest to regain your strength, he gave Haruka a harsh look but said respectfully, especially you Bayushi Haruka-sama. Your condition asks for constant care and supervision, I don't mean to intrude, but you shouldn't risk yourself on the battlefield anymore for a while. You have another life to think about.
By the end of it all, both bushi were panting and weak from the generous blood loss, but alive, healed and reasonably drunk, as was the shugenja, who had been sipping on his own bottle of doburoku. Time and rest would do the remainder of the healing now. Their clothes however, had become completely blood soaked rags and were ruined. Manji's own clothes were now bathed in blood. He also knew the more they lingered here, the greater the chance of them being caught by stray warriors or patrols. So he said, in a careful voice:
Hiromitsu-san, Haruka-sama, my name is Manji and I'm a traveling shugenja who works for Inari, it's an honor to make your acquaintance, Manji made a small bow to the bushi and continued, I won't ask you what you both are doing so far from Kyuden Bayushi but I'll make an offer to you. This battleground is dangerous and we would all do well to leave it fast, unless you wish to be caught in another battle. Seeing how you both just survived death and that I have a boat, I can bring you across the river, towards a more peaceful place, if you so wish, he offered, while gesturing towards his small boat.
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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 3, 2011 18:48:39 GMT -5
Manji's healing was enough to bring Haruka back to her senses as she awoke with only a slight jolt, gripping onto herself. She took in his words silently as she looked onto Manji with a hint of pain in the reality of having come so close to losing her life. But what hurt her more was the thought of the life she was carrying, as the weight of it hit her.
She briefly looked to Hiromitsu who at least now looked far better off. "Manji-san", making a choice there and then that would spare both of their lives. "I owe you a great debt for saving our lives.. but I cannot refuse the chance to leave with the life we have left in us."
She nodded, pulling herself up much to Riku's satisfaction as he snorted out a powerful breath. "Let us make haste before we are discovered." While she tried to maintain a steely gaze, she would flinch for as much courage and bravado as she did have, she was only human after all. She would stand slowly and uneasily as Riku would gently come to her side to have her lean on him. He was much calmer since Haruka was awake.
But as she looked up and met gazes with Manji, he could almost see the pleading look in her eye, or perhaps even an apologetic one.
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Post by Bayushi Hiromitsu on Sept 3, 2011 20:15:14 GMT -5
Hiromitsu got aboard the boat with a great relief.
-Manji-Sama, thank you very much. Please accept my invitation to be my guest in the scorpion lands. I will show you the best sake-houses and gueisha-houses around there.
Then, he turned to Haruka and bowed again:
-This was never my intentions, Bayushi-sama. But somehow, Bayushi-sama's strenght and courage never cease to impress and inspire me. When Bayushi Haruka-sama where in my arms and your blood dripped as one in this battlefield, I felt that was right in my attempt to save our lives. I know Bayushi Haruka-sama don't have many familiars in our clan, so let me tell you that, when needed, Bayushi-sama can count on me as a friend and a brother in battle.
Than, Hiromitsu smiled a bit, his kabuki mask shattered, and his only mask, right now, was the broken nose.
-I knew I would get the beating of a life time. I really want a bath, a hot meal and my futon. Oh, yes, I almost forgot... Bayushi Senshi-sama probably would get me killed, so maybe the whole invitation and brotherhood should have to wait until we meet in the next life.
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Tamori Manji
Dragon Clan Mod
Demon Fox (妖狐)
?Dragon Clan ?Hatamoto ?Fire ?Void ?Yamabushi ?Tattoed ?Nonhuman
Posts: 922
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Post by Tamori Manji on Sept 3, 2011 20:56:26 GMT -5
Hiromitsu-san, no need for formalities, I'm just a humble shugenja. I fear you drank the doburoku much too fast, it may have gone to your head, Manji said with a smile, here, have something to eat, he offered Hiromitsu a small basket full of apples. I have some dried fruit too, he said pointing to another basket, also, feel free to feed the horse, he seems to like you, Riku neighed negatively.
He offered a courteous reverence to both bushi, Haruka-sama, it's an honor to have you four aboard my humble boat. In case you feel the need to change into some clean clothes, I have a spare set of traveling gear that should fit Hiromitsu-san and Haruka-sama can use my set of shugenja robes, they're silk and should prove more adequate and comfortable to you. I must ask your pardon though, for I have no red garments to do honor to your Clan's color. Upon inspection, the traveling clothes were akin to those worn by Manji, plain cotton dried brown and dark green, devoid of any mon. But the shugenja robes were made of fine silk, tinted with a sea green much akin to those used by Mantis shugenja.
During their crossing, Manji changed his clothes, throwing his bloodied ones away. Afterwards, he made yet another offer, in a respectful tone, I know of some shacks in the vicinity. They belong to three families of heimin but were abandoned when the hostilities began near Toshi Ranbo. They wouldn't object to our staying and you two need all the rest you can get. We can think about what to do next after a good rest. Or, we can try to find another horse and ride. The choice is yours. I'll accompany you until I can be sure you both are better.
[OOC: Feel free to guide the storyline now. I'll be with you providing health care and will try to keep my posts short, so as not to disrupt your story too much.]
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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 3, 2011 21:29:52 GMT -5
As they were finally out of harm's way and in the calm on the water, Haruka was able to take in a few more breaths. Still it was labored and painful, as it would take time to heal. Her eyes had gone distant as she did not really wish to look at them for now, painful thoughts tearing through her mind.
There is so much that has gone wrong... today was supposed to be a glorious day of victory. For Toturi, for the future of our empire, to find the truth and to spare the lives of as many honorable samurai... to end this war as soon as possible. ..But I have failed this day. ...And now my beloved Senshi will be so angered with me.[/color]
She sighed deeply as Hirumitsu spoke. And slowly she brought her gaze to him. Her voice was altered from her injuries as she occasionally would cough a little blood to clear her lungs and throat.
"What happened today.. was as I saw it Bayushi Hirumitsu-san. Loyalty... you have showed me today what that truly means." Again, her eyes locking onto him as they did on the battlefield. "A man acts to aid and obey the one he respects, the one he follows.. the one he is loyal to.
Bayushi Hiromitsu-san, we will return to Kyuden Bayushi. I will choose to remember this as the day of a glorious battle, and my unfortunate mishap forced you to come to my aid."
She did not need to correct herself, as she simply let her eyes wander distantly again. What she said would be truth, and anyone that would contest it would have to answer to her authority, personally.
Riku was a bit unsteady on the small boat, but Haruka had at least gotten him to lie down instead of stand until they were able to go back ashore on a quieter bank away from the battle. Slowly but surely she urged the Utaku steed from the boat and back onto solid ground. The horse though was sensitive to her state and lowered himself again to allow Haruka onto his back much more easily.
This was interesting to even Haruka, who had never taught this trick to her stallion. Riku stood powerfully as Haruka was able to turn back to Manji and his boat. "Again, I must thank you for your kindness and your aid in our time of need. And I would be deeply honored and continually grateful for your company on our travels. But I am afraid we cannot remain near Toshi Ranbo... we must leave for our home, as the battle is ever shifting we will not know in the morning what lands are friendly and which are not."
She bowed as deeply as she could without aggravating her injuries too harshly from horseback. And with that they were free to continue on down a quieter road back to Scorpion lands. The past behind them, the former battle maiden silently meditated on the events of the day, only to continue cursing herself for her shortcomings, and wondering why of all times to be injured did it have to be here and now.
Haruka was able to at least find a small stable on the road that was willing to lend them horses for a fee. Haruka easily payed for their use and both Manji and Hiromitsu were able to ride their Rokugani ponies alongside her.
For now things were quiet, the roar of battle behind them. Manji, Hiromitsu, and Haruka shared the long walk back to Scorpion territory. Silently, Haruka would pray that the road would remain a quiet journey home.
(OOC: Manji is free to come with if he so chooses, but that is more or less the conclusion for events in this thread. And thank you everyone for your interest and participation!)
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