In pursuit of a (new) destiny

[Bayushi Hiromitsu]

War has dispensed a good fair share of pain and suffering for the Warriors. It has been arduous, tortuous and violent. As days goes by more and more friends live only in memories, and innocence fade away.

Not easy to be dishonored; not having this moral shield to justify every act. At night, you're not alone anymore. The trauma form a kind of large and lasting scar on the soul. ... even in the soul of Hiromitsu.

His usual easy smile is getting harder to come by. The friendly eyes were being replaced by emptiness and pain. He was no longer a boy, or even a peaceful man, he had become a dreadful warrior, capable of the worst atrocities in battle. The only thing that kept his mind healthy were the ancestors, the wisdom of the Tao and the possibility of having a happy future.

This "happy future" was just a very small hope, as well as the feeble light of a candle at a distance ...

... But even a candle at a distance can guide the way.

Hiromitsu was dressed in a nice outfit, vibrant colors and thick fabrics due to the winter cold. He walked the halls and corridors of Kyuden Otomo in properly and humbly posture. He sought Yukihime Asahina, the shugenja he had met a few months before ...

-Do not believe it, I got lost again. Why they don't have any signs to where you want to go?! I am incredibly stupid... If there was a test that measure intelligence, I would have a negative result! My old sensei had always told me "If you can not learn the art of intelligence, then develop good reflexes, you'll need them"

[Bayushi Hiromitsu]

Guys, the poll is off. Yuuka left the foruns. -_-;
Thanks for the attention and for the votes.

[Saiko]

I still think you should found the Squid Clan and save the Empire, twice. Just sayin

[Bayushi Hiromitsu]

Want to join squid awesome clan? Invite your friends.

[Asahina Yukihime]

(This thread may turn out weirdly due to the absolute change on the events we had planned)

After a few days Yukihime was able to be moved to a more reclusive area of Otomo Palace, an area more fit to her plans and nature. Away from courts and busy corridors, away from sight. Just close enough to keep her duty to Hantei's safety in case it becomes necessary. Her faith in the truce wasn't overflowing enough to allow her to leave Kyuden Otomo. But her hope for truce, still, is enormous.

By the corridor Asahina Shen is standing, he was able to maintain a nice amount of health despite his old age. His posture wouldn't deny his status, but the heraldry of family magistrate was there to confirm it.
With closed eyes and bald head, long white beard, light skin covered in wrinkles of age and a calm spirit, clearly he had devoted his life to move towards the fortunes.


The vassals of the Otomo rushes through the palace, lighting braziers and warming up water.
But Shen eyes are still closed. He listen to the music flow from a koto, and within the room behind him, facing the outdoors, Yukihime is playing, absorbed by the simple sounds emanating from the koto.

The wind around her is colder and faster than usual, revolving her long mane and giving the white hairs an even more phantasmagorical looks. The lesser kami surounds her, growing stronger and wilder as the winter draws nearer.

The room gives her access to a balcony, and view to a chilly garden. The door wide open would allow the winds to come and go outside, ruining some of the heimin's efforts to keep the place warm.

Hiromitsu's voice grabs Shen's attention, and the magistrate promptly bows to the arriving bushi.

[Kakita Sojiro]

(OOC Saiko, if you join I will too )

[Shosuro Aroru]

...I find it amusing that a third of the votes in the poll now are after it was cancelled.

[Bayushi Hiromitsu]

OOC: I can't leave Yukihime hanging there. >.o; But the poll is still off, thanks for the votes and the interest.

IC: Hiromitsu stood there for a moment, his ever talking manners suddenly disapeared with the sound of the music. He loved music, and this was so hard to come by lately. Bowing to the old samurai would be no hard task to him, after all, not even dire situations made him forgot courtesy.

It was a compliment that showed respect for the old one. For living a long live was in fact a great feat. And as he raised slowly his voice was low to avoid disturb the music more than necessary.

-Hi, I am Bayushi Hiromitsu and I am looking for Asahina Yukihime-sama. A samurai-ko who is a great and very wise Shugenja.

A second look to the old man made Hiromitsu think to himself: "With my luck, this old man is near deaf, and I bet that, only because I am trying to speak with a low tone of voice, he will amost scream a 'WHAAAAAT SON?!"

[Asahina Yukihime]

Shen rose his eyes slightly to find Hiromitsu standing near by.

"I'm Asahina Shen, magistrate of the Asahina family. It's a honor to meet the last defender of Toshi Ranbo. Bayushi-san is actually younger than I thought."

The magistrate's words were low in tone, avoiding to disturb the flowing song, but it could not hide all of his surprise. Once he heard about Hiromitsu's deeds he had pictured an older man. But upon this meeting, his few expectations on the current generation were just raised, once more.

With a gesture Shen indicated the open door, through it Yukihime could be seem, playing the Koto. Shen left the way to Hiromitsu, he wouldn't disturb her himself. Nor would he dare to ask what brings Hiromitsu here, but being visited by a Scorpion is always, at least, suspicious, when not dangerous.

[Bayushi Hiromitsu]

As he walked into the room with silent steps; his voice could not disturb the music, he was mute. His thoughts about destiny and fate were so full of sorrow that no word could heal.

He stopped; and wisdom spoke to him:

"Grace means more than gifts. In grace something is transcended, once and for all overcome. Grace happens in spite of something; it happens in spite of separateness and alienation. Grace means that life is once again united with life, self is reconciled with self. Grace means accepting the abandoned one. Grace transforms fate into a meaningful vocation. It transforms guilt to trust and courage. The word grace has something triumphant in it." (ooc: by Yrjo Kallinen)

That was then that Bayushi Hiromitsu was healed and whole again, and he knew then, what to do.
He seated next to Asahina Yukihime in silence and took a Shakuhachi out of his sleeve. The old bamboo wood was dark but it's notes was clear and pure... Pure as he is, once again.

[Asahina Yukihime]

The air kami whistled briefly upon the arrival of Hiromitsu, bringing swirls to the shugenja's hair.

Yukihime didn't bothered to open her eyes. The shakuhachi sound merged perfectly to the koto, it would be a offense to the composer to interrupt such perform.

By now, they would need no words, and the song would change everything.

[Bayushi Hiromitsu]

[Asahina Yukihime]

The music was finished, but they remained silent for a few more moments.
Yukihime nodded to the samurai beside her.

"So, we met again."

-Providential, at this time of the year.

"Didn't I told Bayushi-san I wouldn't be doing it again?"

-But you're the only shugen-... hum >.o actually, you didn't.

Yukihime is moveless, but her eyes scan around; Shen was out of sight and this area of the castle is mostly silent and empty. She gently touches the koto, involving her low voice with the music. As there is no one else watching she allows herself a brief smile.

"I know I didn't..." ^^

-Awesome! in that case...