[RP] A Prelude to madness.

[Zeure]

[OOC] From here: Clicky! [/OOC]

"I will be with you soon, my love." In a barely audible whisper, Yun murmured this as he came back to the waking world.

He shook his head and placed his left hand upon it and rubbed down the side of his face. "Ugh". He looked down and began winding the silver chain up and placed it back into the bag that was nearby. The candle was almost spent and he decided to just let it burn down; allowing it's miniscule light to remain in the tent.

Just one more person for me to contact before I begin my preperations to meet with Haruka...

Yun cleared his mind and opened the same air scroll he had used to contact Thrakhath earlier. He spoke the incantations softly and sent his words across the empire to another location. This one further away than either he had already attempted to contact.

Mentally he communicated "There have been some developments that you should be made aware of."

The spell of communication was evidently successful as a voice responded: "Go on then."

Yun opened his mind and allowed his memories of the past few days to be picked over by the other shugenja with which he was apparently keeping correspondence. Afterward the other one spoke again: "So, what are your plans then?"

"I plan on going and meeting Haruka. She is at the very least a strong ally, and at the very most mine. I will ascertain her role in this more successfully from her side, and I admit that I am eager to be near her."

That is fine, but do not let your...emotions get in the way of our overall agenda."

"Of course not. I know what must be done."

Yun severed the link to the other shugenja and began packing up his things. The room he was in was not his, rather it was something Tamihei Shoju had brought along for them all. Something about unison and looking similar. Yun could not remember clearly.

He would spend the rest of the night readying himself for the coming journey.

As early as day broke, Yun was waiting to speak with Shoju. He stood diligently outside Shoju's tent to await his allowance of entrance.

[Shoju]

Shoju noted the Shugenja's presence outside of his quarters. He rose, walked to the entrance, and smiled at Yun. Good morning Yun-san. I trust that you rested well, and have prepared for the day. We have reinforcements arriving from an ally soon, I don't know what, or how much, but I would assume at least 6 or so, arriving from the South.

Shoju walked completely out of the tent, and stared at the early morning light. I have a message for you from Bayushi Haruka. Shoju looked back at him over his shoulder. She sends her regards. You must have made quite an impression on the mistress of secrets Shoju said with a slight grin on his face.

He looked back to the sky, and closed his eyes, letting the first rays of light in the day bathe him in their radiance.

[Zeure]

"I believe that I did. I spoke with her again last night to convey your wishes, Shoju-sama. And it's actually her that I was waiting to talk to you about."

Yun sighed heavily. He was not smiling, in truth he looked worried. No way to approach it but directly so...here we go... he thought.

"Shoju-sama, I believe that Bayushi Haruka is in danger for aiding us. Our meeting last night went completely differently from our last one. She was defensive and saddened and she spoke at length of us all, herself included being, in a great danger."

He looked up at Shoju from the downward turn his head had taken while he was speaking.

"I would like permission to leave to protect her. If I understand our situation well enough, any ally we have is important. And the mistress of secrets is most certainly our ally, but I believe they may strike at her a way she can't defend. Magically. So that is what I seek."

Yun double stepped in front of Shoju and bowed deeply.

"Please give me leave to go and protect our ally from any threats that she can not protect herself. I'll send you mental communications to update you, and as I'm heading out, southward, I will tell you when I pass by the reinforcements so you'll know about how far out they are from you."

Seemingly he bowed again and lower, holding it this time.

"Please, allow me to do this."

[Shoju]

Shoju listened to the plea by Yun. He made a good point. Haruka's devotion to the Shoju, and her ability to see past what the rest of the Empire saw did make her very important to him. On the other hand, the timing... Something was gnawing at Shoju, he just couldn't put his finger on it.

It will be a shame to lose your aid here with this cause, but I can see in your eyes that your decision to leave has been made up, and very little I could say now would change your mind. Shoju looked up at the sky again. It was a beautiful morning for sure. Take your leave. Protect Haruka. But be ever wary Yun-san. There is something in play that I haven't unraveled yet. Haruka's meeting with myself last night was far different than normal as well. She was more direct, more open, and she was in the presence of another while we spoke. Shoju turned and looked at Yun. I know you are willful, I hope that you are mindful.

Shoju bowed slightly to Yun, and entered his tent, he watched over Tenshi, her condition would soon be one of a new mother. He cursed his idea that she had been fit for travel. His desires to keep her safe, and regain the lands of his ancestors had pushed him to choose poorly in this matter. He tried to shove away the thoughts about Yun leaving from his mind, but knew she would know them anyway. Instead, he called upon the handmaidens with an air kami, and set them to task making her as comfortable as possible. Maybe he would be lucky, maybe the child would be born while waiting for the courtier, or shortly after the courtier had arrived. Maybe waiting for the courtier would be a blessing, and this life he had been given to guard would be safe.

[Zeure]

The elation in Yun's eyes was obvious. He let out a sigh relief at how easy that had been as Shoju continued to speak. His posture relaxed and he stood up straight again. He nodded emphatically as Shoju laid out his warnings.

"Absolutely Shoju-sama. If you told me not to go, I would be unable; but I'm glad that you are willing to let me do this."

He looked after Shoju for several seconds as he went back towards his tent and he bowed once more. As the tent flaps closed, he rose and ran back to his quarters to get his things. He changed his clothes to those that he wore to travel in the empire. He wondered as he put his dark clothing into his pack if there was a spell that could change the color of fabric, as he had done in the dream state while meeting Sprinkles.

Sprinkles...that was who Haruka had mentioned, and seemed to be wary of. Good, she should be. That man is dangerous, and should probably be killed...

He put on his traveling cloak made of simple straw and tied the strap to his hat around his neck so it would not fly off as he hastily exited the area.

Even though I'll be flying for a bit, it wouldn't do well for me to enter into Owari like that, so I might as well get into the spirit of being ronin again. Who knows when I'll be back. Haruka might be in danger for a long time because of her help here... More so than being a champions wife, anyways...

He shouldered his fukoriki sack, secured his daisho and threw his scroll satchel in with his other things. Flight was one of the few spells Yun had taken the time to master such that he didn't need the scroll. You could never be too sure when you'd need to make a hasty exit or entrance from or to an area. For a moment he prayed and spoke the proper incantations to lift himself on the wings of the kami.

I'll fly high, hopefully no one will see me.

He stepped out of the tent and gently moved upward so as not to disturb the camp, any more than he would by flying out of there. After reaching a safe height, he started moving to the south west at an accelerated rate.

[OOC] Follow here: Clicky! [/OOC]

[Shoju]

Shoju prepared himself for the day. He dressed himself in light black armor, and for the first time in 3 lifetimes, his Scorpion Mempo. It was brushed metal with silver inlays, covering his nose, and lower half of his face with a fearsome visage. Shoju had worn it often when he had hunted Maho Tsukai in Ryoko Owari, and in his travels across Rokugan.

Shoju sheathed his No-Dachi, and placed it across his back. few could draw such a large weapon as fast as Shoju, and while he wasn't a kenjutsu master, his training was only bolstered by his knowledge of battle magic.

He carried one scroll, hoping to rely on the incantations he had put to memory, and if need be.... the power of Blood. He knelt and kissed Tenshi on her forehead, and left the tent, heading out to the edge of camp. he unfurled the scroll, and began the spell. If there had been any onlookers, it would look as though Shoju had made the camp disappear. With the Ox patrols getting close, and the reinforcements a distance away, it would be better to hide the camp in plain sight than to risk being discovered.

After the spell was completed, Shoju moved to a rock outcropping just south of camp, and began to meditate. While he wished for peace, and desired simply a place in this world to call his own, he knew violence was coming. He knew that whether it be the Ox, or the Phoenix, or possibly even the enigmatic dragon, someone would deny his claim to the lands of his ancestors.