Like a thief in the night... (Closed RP)

[Shosuro Kyo]

Kyo watched the both people carefully, his weariness momentarily forgotten. He noted that the lady of the clan was eating so he figured it should be safe enough for him to eat so ate as much as was polite.

He delicately picked up the chopsticks and ate at a slow pace. He kept quiet for the most part answering any questiong directed at him with a simple Hai or Iie to any question, even if it wasn't a yes or no question.

He continued to watch, the talking between Haruka and Zeure. Keeping himself out of the conversation as much as possible. he hoped his presence wasn't to inconvient but he still hadn't figured out why Haruka wanted him there.

[Bayushi Senshi]

In an odd occurrence, the most unusual thing happened. The crystal hidden in her sleeve grew warm. The telltale sign that had emanated each time Shoju had tried to contact her. But this time, it could mean anything. Had Senshi arrived there? Had he survived? Is this the first step in Shoju's wrath?

[Bayushi Haruka]

Haruka shifted a bit visibly as she felt the familiar and yet uncertain warmth. She swallowed slightly as she gently reached into her sleeve to clutch the small stone and confirm her feeling. As sure as could be, it was actively calling to her.

She glanced a bit, "Oh pardon me for a moment, I just need to step out and get a little air." She stood gracefully and bowed to them both as she made her way out into the open air of the hall. She wouldn't go far, but just far enough where she could speak softly without disturbing anyone. Yun could be needed at a moment's notice if this summons was what she thought it was.

[Zeure]

[OOC] I'm going to take some liberties here since Kyo posted that his character was trying to only answer yes or no to everything regardless of subject matter. I will remove this if it is a problem. [/OOC]

As Haruka left the room for whatever reason suddenly compelled her to, Yun was left sitting across the table from Kyo with little to nothing to talk about. However, it was Yun's way to try and keep the ball rolling and so he attempted to force some chit chat.

"So, Shosuro-san, you stationed here or are you newly arrived."

"Hai."

"I mean, which one is it?"

"Hai."

"So, both, then? Ok. Well, how long have you known Haruka-sama?

"Iie."

"Ok, guess you haven't known her long?"

"Iie."

"Ok, then... *sharp exhalation* Well... Let's just eat in silence until she returns."

"Hai."

[Bayushi Senshi]

Haruka had gotten without of earshot, and pulled the crystal from her sleeve. To her surprise, and much to her relief, Senshi could be seen, the wind rustling his hair only the way a horse a full gallop could.

"Haruka my dear, is it true?" It was a frank question asked blandly. But Senshi who never wavered when facing his wife wouldn't even make eye contact through the mystical device.

The pause was palpable before Senshi added, "She is dead, for good."

[Bayushi Haruka]

Her eyes widened in some shock and surprise, but her expression quickly relaxed into a more calm and almost satisfied one at the news. Her gaze never wavered from his form as she saw him ride.

"My Senshi..." she gasped a bit, catching the breath he always had the ability to steal from her. "I am glad to hear it, and to see you alive and well. Please, return home. I'll be there, waiting."

She was elated, her eyes glistening and restraining tears of pride. But a slight spark of memory hit her in that moment, her voice jumping slightly as she had to inquire. "What of.. Shoju-san..?"

[Bayushi Senshi]

"He escaped. But not before his clan was nearly exterminated by Shodai's flames, and Shoju's zombies. And not before telling me that my own child rested in her womb. Or was that a lie?" There was no accusation, no emotion, just the question repeated again. He clearly would not come off of it.

[Bayushi Haruka]

She had not understood his question initially. It was too vague and too bland for her to have known what he meant. But now, he had found out, and her heart sank in that moment as the joyful energy drained from her face into something colder and unfamiliar.

Fear.

A tense moment passed as she did her best to collect herself quickly, as she knew these words would likely be the way Senshi would look at her for the rest of her life. But what use was a lie now, to the only man she felt she could truly trust was something she couldn't bring herself to. Her defense was crushed under the punishing realization.

"Senshi..." her voice cracked a bit as she struggled to keep her breath in that moment, but for such a different reason. "I... Yes." She practically whimpered in defeat and didn't seem to have the strength to say much beyond that.
It seemed once again she had failed her husband, and she was absentmindedly gripping the hilt of her wakizashi at her side with a sudden heavy urge nagging at every fiber of her being. But she waited to hear his voice once again.

[Bayushi Senshi]

Senshi closed his eyes. He did not want this to be true. That he had sired.... no, he didn't want to think about it. He bit his tongue holding back a scream of anger. His voice pained and stretched with raw dryness asked, "Why."

He abhorred betrayal, but this spat of a dishonor that could cost everything he had ever held dear.

[Bayushi Haruka]

Haruka bit her lip sorely, drawing a little blood to help keep her senses. It was a bitter taste, as it should be.

"I was willing to die for the Scorpion, for Toturi... I had the chance to save our son. But in the end... this was all that came of it, this was what was left."

And with that her resolve failed her, and the tears came forth. She sucked in her breath but did not betray herself with a single sound, weeping for the young life that had been taken, mourning the son she would never see again, and the pain she had brought upon her family.

So many words swarmed her heart, but she didn't have the ability to utter them. She was under his command in every sense at that moment, in complete surrender.

[Bayushi Senshi]

Senshi was speechless, he never thought that the course of the war could cost him so much. "I sacrificed everything so that you, and my child, would be safe." Tears pooled in his eyes, and he closed them as Riku rode on. The silence from before robbed his voice again, and he rode on silently, and without looking at his wife. This was a pain he could not fathom. That the woman he would do anything for had done so much harm to him. That his own rage and pain cost the life of his own blood. That his progeny be nurtured in a chasm of taint. The his own blood freely given to the maho tsukai who had single handedly represented the largest betrayal committed to the scorpion in recent memory.

What came next though was an utter surprise. "I-I'm sorry, Haruka."

[Bayushi Haruka]

Haruka couldn't believe her ears, her heart actually skipped a beat. Her grip slipped from her weapon as she clutched her hand to her chest. Her balance shifted back as her spine rested quietly against one of the support beams.

"Senshi, please... don't apologize." She practically begged him to stop. "Just... please, come home... That's all I want right now... I need you."

Her eyes opened slowly and steadily to look to him once again. She spoke with her heart and nothing short of it as her form shivered with the tension and the shame she'd now have to stomach. The only comfort she could take in knowing that his return was imminent.

[Bayushi Senshi]

He nodded. Not wanting to say anymore for the pain it brought him. He was perfectly content to just let this stew for now. It also gave him a reason to carry on, something to do. A task to perform instead of wonder at the future of a child he had killed before it even could see light. He tried telling himself that the child was no longer his the second it left his wife's embrace, but he couldn't bring himself to believe it. It all felt shallow.

All of this was his fault. He should have never placed Haruka so close to his enemies, he should never have toyed with his foes and neglected to hold his wife closer to his heart. This is the cost Benten demands when you play with love, much as when you play with fire.

The thought yanked his memory back to his dreams and the pyre on which his child burned. Now, even Senshi's soul was scorched and black. All that was left to do would be to submit, and let the fires that had chased him so long consume him.

"...everything burns." It was such an odd thing to hear, but Haruka would notice the depressed resolution, and his agreement to her request. It was hard to tell what lengths he would take now.

[Shosuro Kyo]

[OOC] XD That was actually really close to how it would be Zeure so it's fine. :3 [/OOC]

Kyo set his chopsticks down a few minutes after Haruka's departure from the room. He had finished his meal in silence since she had left, but now his sleepless nights were starting to catch up to him. He stood and quickly bowed to Yun.

My apologies Zeure-san, but I must take my leave. Thank you for the food and hospitality. I will apologize to Bayushi-sama on my way out.

Kyo headed to the door and exited to the hallway and spotted Haruka a little way down the hallway. He started to approach when he realized that something was amiss. He casually glanced to make sure the cost was clear before he approached her and he made his presence known before getting to close, lest he find himself at knife point again.

[Bayushi Haruka]

There was a slight shift out of the corner of Kyo's eye, one that was familiar and unsafe for sure. The sheen of a hidden blade drawing his attention as the Mistress of Secrets was shadowed by her loyal guardian, Nori. She held her guard once again, but it was the time Haruka needed to quickly draw back her senses away from the previous conversation.

She gazed at her husband, knowing time was of the essence and that she had clearly lingered too long. "My love... just come home. I will be waiting."
All she got in reply from the distraught champion was a neglectful grunt. It was quick, it was coarse, but she couldn't spare another moment as she quickly stowed the gem in her sleeve once again. Not entirely able to hide it from Kyo, but quickly enough that hopefully his eyes would be the only one to catch a glimpse of it.

She turned to address him, immediately swallowing her emotions into a more centered expression. "Kyo-san, my apologies. Was I keeping you and Zeure-san from your meal? Is everything all right?"