Bayushi Haruka
Scorpion Clan
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Samurai? Battle Maiden? Cavalry? Paragon of Courage? Friend of the Lion
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Post by Bayushi Haruka on Nov 5, 2011 10:58:52 GMT -5
Haruka saw him settle back now, seeing more than likely anyone had ever seen of him in a long time. She couldn't help but beam with a bit of pride as she watched his defenses drop and viewed him embracing the dream with his full delight. It was a strange sanctuary now in her mind, one that allowed these forbidden meetings to go on without concern.
She however, had a few lesser known talents her self. Akodo Tomatsu and Bayushi Senshi were the only two others to really know of it, but Haruka had quite the healing hands as well. Then again, this was a rare opportunity to forsake rank in order to aid another.
Haruka still faced him but her grip first went to his shoulders in a firm manner, rubbing and manuvering the key joint between his arms and body, finding that it soaked the most tension off horseback. And in all fairness she didn't expect this Isawa to have traveled much. Her hands would continue to wander and stroke the muscles that connected his neck and arms, his chest, his sides. She just seemed content to tend to him, for she never needed to answer to anyone but Senshi in the waking world.
"I am honored to know you see such things in me." Her voice becoming almost meek and shy now. The former battle maiden showing a more delicate side to her person. "I can only hope that it is something you will not soon forget. No matter how dark the coming days and years become, please remember that there is always a light to turn to, a hope to have.. And so long as I draw breath, I will be praying for your safety. Know now that I am aware that you do as you must with the taint, but it is never who you are. I will always forgive you no matter what deed you must undertake.
That gaijin spirit taught me one thing, and that is that life is too precious to simply forsake." As if to emphasize it, she gently kissed his chest again but allowed her lips to hang on his skin and remain. She had no wish to pull away from him, that much was clear now.
Everything had been moving so quickly, but in her mind it was all clear. If this was yet another powerful shugenja who'd crossed paths with her she wanted to give him what he needed. Haruka knew she'd need every ally, every single edge in this war and in life. The reason might not have been evident yet, but she knew fate found a way, and only the foolish relied on only themselves.
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Zeure
Crane Clan
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Post by Zeure on Nov 5, 2011 13:00:58 GMT -5
"I begin to like this Gaijin spirit you speak of. And I begin to think you a spirit of healing in my dream. The comfort you've shown me is astonishing. I would have never thought there was such a person outside the realm of the Kami. "
Yun could not stop letting out a slight moan as Haruka did her work on him. Yun recognized her skill just as he had displayed his earlier. As she continued to peruse his body he made no movement to stop her. Indeed his defenses were down, Haruka could have likely done.anything she wanted at that moment and he would not have been able to atop her. And then she chose to kiss his chest again, a sharp inhalation of air followed and Yun's physical symptoms of arousal would return.
"Oh how I enjoy your kiss, Haruka."
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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 Nov 5, 2011 13:20:13 GMT -5
Her smile grew like a blossom, quietly aware of his attraction. It was all too easy to blend the enticing natures of both physical and mental attention, which was something she had indeed learned from the Scorpion. Her fingers would continue their work as she just looked delighted by all of it.
"I am glad you enjoy Yun. It is my honor to help you much as we may help each other." Her nails only gently scratched across his bare chest, bringing him a slight pain and leaving a mark. She'd done this intentionally though, wondering if such things would be remembered or carry over. Haruka would dutifully kiss the slight wound apologetically.
"Compassion to all is something so overlooked and forgotten, but I only practice what Shinjo herself displayed to her brother. Though I may strive to always show courage, I still embrace all the tenants with all the power I can."
She rested her head against his form, her whole body shifting so he could lay up against his side, her shoulder slotting in under his as she held onto him.
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Zeure
Crane Clan
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Post by Zeure on Nov 5, 2011 13:39:22 GMT -5
"Compassion is indeed something I find lacking in the world. If only you were the paragon rather than the exception."
He paused briefly, considering how to word his next sentence.
"Haruka, are you happy in your life?"
He would pause again to allow her the opportunity to think about his very esoteric question.
"I mean, are you happy with what you have to do, and who you have to keep company with? I could come and claim you. As long as you picked a quiet spot outside the city, I could come get 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 Nov 5, 2011 14:04:24 GMT -5
She had let her gaze drift to him rather than his face, but she refocused as he spoke. Her eyes narrowed cautiously as it seemed her visitors in her dream seemed to have their own ideas about them, but what exactly was their aim.
"It's a very strange question you ask Yun. Happiness in one's life is something that comes and goes with the passing day."
She seemed to stop and rest her eyes, meditating deeply on the thought, but still stroking over his form. "I'll admit I've had a rather troubled heart as of late." Allowing her mind to acknowledge the pain she'd subdued for many weeks. "This war brings trouble in all respects. Brothers and sisters fighting against one another.. but it is a samurai of our caliber's duty to go forth and soldier on in the name of our lord. And yet I continue to hear the misery and the agony of those sworn to battle."
She let out a deep breath as if releasing her burdens while exhaling. "It's not to say this war hasn't been trying on my senses personally.. but my personal trials are only one person's problems. And that is something I will have to strive to conquer in due time."
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Zeure
Crane Clan
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Post by Zeure on Nov 5, 2011 14:23:40 GMT -5
"Oh, I would not place myself in the same category as you, Haruka."
Obvious feelings of inadequacy that Yun feels began to show.
"I am not a good samurai, my lady. I have done so much that most samurai would abhor. I have embraced a different ideology to grant myself some measure of code or honor. Have you heard of our shourido? It.is something I can cling to as many of the spider do."
His arousal would subside, and the new direction brought a light to his face and a glitter to his eyes. Clearly this as something he enjoyed talking about.
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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 Nov 5, 2011 14:46:20 GMT -5
She tilted her head a bit as if it somehow would make more sense or have her hear more clearly.
"I've heard whisperings of such pursuits, but I'm afraid I don't know much about these other codes of honor. Perhaps you'd be willing to enlighten me?"
She shifted her posture and put her elbow on the table to slink back a bit and listen intently.
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Zeure
Crane Clan
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Post by Zeure on Nov 5, 2011 15:52:51 GMT -5
Yun's posture would straighten as he came to his knees and his face would become solemn as he closed his eyes. He had the look of someone who had practiced this often.
"Our code is shourido, our tenets are: control, determination, insight, knowledge, perfection, strength, and will."
"Control allows on to manipulate circumstances so that there is only on possible outcome. Knowledge is the basis of right thinking, knowing the facta of a situation. Insight is the ability to see the truth behind facts, and it brings foresight. Acting upon knowledge with insight and control brings strength and thus victory. Will is the force which causes one to take the actions they must. Determination is using will to see the things you must do through to their conclusion. And all of them bring perfection, which is the goal that we all strive towards."
"That is the code that was given to me. That is the code I follow. It is brutal, but effective. What does my lady think of shourido?"
Yun's eyes continued to glitter. The look on his face sought approval, but he most wanted discussion. He thought: perhaps this is a way to win her over. She was a warrior and would no doubt see the merits that shourido held.
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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 Nov 5, 2011 16:49:14 GMT -5
Haruka continued to lounge, unchanged in her demeanor.
"You may not hold the formal rank of samurai, but you're still happy to embrace a code of conduct. You're willing to serve a lord faithfully to the point of infringing upon another. You're no mere servant and yet you're something in between... or something entirely new."
She rolled the tenants of shourido in her mind for a time, there was no denying that such things existed whether it was a formal pursuit or not. It was strange to have such self serving motivations become the focus of a life style.
"Do you embrace all the tenants, or any one in particular?"
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Zeure
Crane Clan
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Post by Zeure on Nov 5, 2011 17:04:47 GMT -5
"As with bushido, the objective is to attain all. I myself do not have them all."
Yun rolled the question around in his mind. Wondering what he could say to her, and finally deciding on the truth as the best message.
"I myself follow a sort of mixture. My personal code is control, insight, duty, sincerity, compassion, determination, and will. If I had put it into terms of tenets. There are several reasons I am not a good samurai."
A wistful sort of look came across his face as he looks off into the distant stars.
"I...I hope I haven't offended you."
A panicked lost look took hold of him.
"I don't want to do that. Did I?"
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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 Nov 5, 2011 17:16:56 GMT -5
She shook her head. "No of course you haven't offended me. I'm very interested in what this code has to offer for those who embrace it or I would not inquire as to your personal thoughts on the matter.
Such banter is... trivial, and I have no time for such wasteful words."
There was a crack in the sky like thunder. The sound of the cup breaking in the room tearing into her mind and alerting her of the violent change happening around her, but she was not fully awakened yet. She looked up for only a moment as she saw the light cloud cover in the distance but gave it little notice.
"I'm not certain what this has anything to do with me though. Shourido sounds like it has its place in every heart and whether the mind acknowledges what the heart knows, it resides with every soul no matter what their calling."
She put a finger to her chin as she thought about it, meditating on her own strengths and weaknesses to focus on in light of such a code of being. "I think I would be able to say I have never fully embraced any of those tenants to such an extent that I could be considered proficient. I suppose my will would be my strength naturally in that regard, not in such a way that I can exact it over others, but instead control myself."
She lied to herself, will was more likely her second tenant, control was truly her first considering all the things she'd been orchestrating around the empire. Haruka had quietly pushed politics and people into positions that they themselves weren't even aware they were being drawn into. But admitting such a thing might make Yun swiftly realize that he too was another target in her mind.
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Zeure
Crane Clan
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Post by Zeure on Nov 5, 2011 18:07:56 GMT -5
"Hmmm, I think my strongest is duty, then maybe control. I seek as many ways to force a situation into the course of action I think is most appropriate as I can find. But I know that my loyalty once gained is hard to lose."
Yun continued his course of telling Haruka everything. He saw no reason not to tell her the truth, after all he had sworn to trust her, surely she would not misuse that trust. He moved a few inches closer to her.
"As to what it has to do with you, Haruka, I would think that perhaps you might see some of it that might resonate in your self. I studied it mostly because my fellows in the shadowlands studied it; but I found that it had something to offer me. And you see that too, you said you were strong in will. That's all. I thought you might like to know. A lot of samurai follow bushido without considering that there might be an alternative. And it is remarkable how many samurai exspouse it without really knowing what it is. I am glad you aren't like that, Haruka. I'm glad you at least give it thought. Another remarkable, amazing quality about you."
He reaches out and lightly touches her hand.
"I am glad you are not like the others."
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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 Nov 5, 2011 20:32:38 GMT -5
She continued to smile sweetly at Yun. "Oh it's not the first time I've heard that. I often wonder if such things are a good or a bad thing though, considering who has said such things."
Haruka reached over and took up the cup of tea that was still on the table next to them, taking a long drink from it. "Ah well, I embrace the world with my heart rather than what everyone expects of me. Its not to say I don't follow the traditions of the families I'm tied to, but at the same time, I've no restraint on me now.
And if I should enjoy a life without such judgement always over my head it is only natural that I wish to provide sanctuary for others." Another ploy, she thought. As much as it was a genuine truth, it was also a means for her to come closer and know people better. Haruka could see the honesty in his eyes as she just stayed at his side.
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Zeure
Crane Clan
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Post by Zeure on Nov 5, 2011 21:24:08 GMT -5
"Your words are confusing to me. You seem to contradict yourself. You say you follow traditions, yet you have no restrictions. You say you are Bayushi Senshi's wife yet you do not hate me for being tainted or for following Shoju-sama. I know that Senshi hates Shoju-sama, or at least Shoju is very convinced that he does. You are a paradox, my lady Haruka. I think I would spend a lifetime trying to understand you and it would have been time well spent."
Yun looked sideways at the table with all the supplies for tea already upon it. Just something to shift his gaze so that he didn't stare at this woman so intently. He reached out a hand and touched one of the tea glasses and suddenly in it was warm tea. He picked up the glass and took a small sip and just held it in his hands, to give his hands something to do besides reach for this woman who he had now developed an infatuation for.
"I am legitimately terrified of what will happen when Shoju-sama and Bayushi Senshi meet again."
Yun shakes his head a bit and grabs one side of it and tousels his hair. He risks another look at Haruka before settling his gaze to the ground.
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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 Nov 5, 2011 22:04:16 GMT -5
Haruka laughed a bit to herself as she mused over the last meeting between Shoju and Senshi. "There's no doubt in my mind that he'll try to kill him with every chance he gets. But you must realize, I've never held contempt for him either. He has slain many people, Senshi's brother was killed by one of his followers. He got his revenge and Shoju felt the bite of death for it.
I did have to fight him when appearances were required, but he knew why I did. He never held it against me for a moment.
I do not know how he returned, all I know that is he has. I understand his desire for legitimacy, but while I do not hold him in contempt, there is an understandable fear that resides in the heart of the empire. A single tainted soul that goes unchecked in our midst is a great danger."
She ran her free hand up through her hair, flicking it gently over her shoulder. "I personally find that so long as a man retains their wits and can resist the bindings of the darkness, then they can still do some good in this world."
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