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 Jan 26, 2012 1:33:47 GMT -5
Looking a bit out of her own sorts as well, Haruka stood there in an unfamiliar outfit with the wide brimmed hat resting on her back like the shell of a turtle while the air caught the strips of silk and allowed them to drift and flow. Her eyes glanced at him but also beyond him in the same direction as she noticed how untidy things had become.
"Yun, is it.. all right if I come inside?"
She saw the glow in his eyes and the health of his skin, it was an uncomfortable sight for her to have to witness, but the situation forced her to him. Rather than wishing to be seen speaking by someone in the alleyway Haruka gently pushed forward careful to grab and gently lead Yun backward by the cloth of what he wore, rather than risk skin to skin contact.
Haruka closed the door behind her and seemed to just glance a few times at the various items and things around the room. With her inexperience though she had no clue as to what they could be for beyond perhaps potion making. It did not concern her so much now.
She knew he would be embarrassed most likely but she was willing to overlook such a minor oversight on his part, but she was uncertain on how to tell him that danger might be coming for him. If she should tell him at all. Haruka walked over to the table, coming even further into the center of his little set up sanctum of truth and she found herself wrestling with her thoughts almost unable to contain them behind her lips. The feeling make her arm quiver like an old injury acting up.
"I can give you a moment to clean your appearance, but..." Her thoughts started to flow too easily, "Don't worry about your.. condition, Yun. So long as you don't expose me directly I will not try to flee from you like some terrified child."
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Zeure
Crane Clan
Crane Clan ? Samurai ? Duelist ? Artisan ? Guardian of Metal ? Unique
Posts: 826
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Post by Zeure on Jan 26, 2012 1:42:42 GMT -5
"Oh! Haruka-saaaa..."
He looked past her out into the hall as she gently pushed him backwards, in fact it was quite easy for Haruka to move him; but seeing that there was no one out there he just let the honorific fall. He took a few more steps back and glanced at the state of things.
"Uh, no, I... I had planned to clean up closer to dinner time, in fact I was just sitting down to begin meditations to...clear up my condition for a while. Please, do come in. You'll never be barred from my presence. As long as you want it."
He looked her up and down, taking in the sight of her, noticing the differences in her appearence and clothing choices. He had not seen her in anything but armor or loose flowing robes since he had known her. Seeing this quaint demure plain number was something that made him smile.
"Even in clothes like that you look good."
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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 Jan 26, 2012 1:56:23 GMT -5
Haruka couldn't help but smirk at his commentary, he was always able to find all the words she enjoyed hearing. "Perhaps," the faint red of a little blush catching what parts of her face could be seen. She tried to wave off his words a bit though to try and redirect the conversation.
"That being said, I don't feel you need to worry about subduing it just for me. There is still plenty of time before dinner." She glanced over at the table, the various scrolls and the calligraphy set all still laid out. "Here, let me at least help you prepare while I'm here."
For now she was able to buy herself some time, perhaps to think and decide what she should say. Removing the wicker hat from her back she placed it on one of the support struts for the room, allowing it to dangle and gently shift along with the breeze in the room. And sure enough without waiting for his reply she already gently took to her knees to help clear everything up for him putting the supplies away in a neat and easy fashion that she used for her own sets, her hands seemingly quite swift in handling a brush and revealing a little experience with one.
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Zeure
Crane Clan
Crane Clan ? Samurai ? Duelist ? Artisan ? Guardian of Metal ? Unique
Posts: 826
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Post by Zeure on Jan 26, 2012 2:04:46 GMT -5
Apparently, she does not know what any of this is used for... Yun thought. Mentally he sighed in relief and the effects of the spell translated it into a real one.
"Ah, yes, though, put that bottle in that slot, I know it's not normal but I use it more often..." He gently corrected as she was placing things away.
He, himself, took the filled and replaced set to his bedroom and put it back in his bag. He had never unpacked while he was staying here, sometimes he thought he should, no telling how long he would be here, but he had not yet.
"I understand on my time limits, but I have to begin preparation on the food before too long, seasoning and things, and I did not want to take a chance on it...."
He let the sentence trail off, but she knew what he was speaking on. He did not want to allow his taint to infect the food they would be eating.
"I guess now that you're here, you could help out with that!" He laughed gently, sincerely. "Though I think it will spoil the surprise if you see what I'm cooking, I had planned on a rather splendorous meal tonight when I'm expecting company of such caliber."
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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 Jan 26, 2012 2:14:44 GMT -5
Haruka gently arose from her position, smoothing out the folds that formed in the cloth of her simple kimono as she stood and watched him put the items away. Her gaze naturally wandered over to the cooking area.
"Oh hardly the matter, though you'll likely have to instruct me on some of the finer culinary points. I'm afraid my proficiency with cooking was largely with red meat and proper hearty meals..."
She rose the back of her hand to her mouth in shock as if she had just spouted some rather inappropriate curse at a trusted ally. "It's not to say that traditional Rokugani dishes aren't.. I mean." Haruka was still anxious as she continued to teeter in her own mind. A slight bit of panic flooding her as she did her best to continue to mask her thoughts, hoping that a simple activity like cooking would the quiet work she needed to make a decision.
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Zeure
Crane Clan
Crane Clan ? Samurai ? Duelist ? Artisan ? Guardian of Metal ? Unique
Posts: 826
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Post by Zeure on Jan 26, 2012 2:39:52 GMT -5
"Oh, wow, cooking a meal together." He couldn't help but laugh. "We are truly a couple now. I had actually planned on cooking some red meat, along side the seafood that we were normally have since I was entertaining a prominent once unicorn-turned-scorpion and a magistrate of no small skill born and bred scorpion."
He looked across at her from where he was standing and saw her, in the kitchen, looking at cooking, and his own spell worked against him.
"To tell you the truth, the sight of you in a kitchen has some appeal." He laughed again, to cover up his own remonstrations about the spell. I cast it too soon he thought.
He spent a few moments pointing out some of the spices and how they should be applied to the meat. She dove right in, not having any troubles with handling meats which sort of surprised him, and only reinforced in his mind: Unicorn, former Unicorn.
"Now place it on the slab and we'll let it set for a bit."
Maybe I could get something out of her ahead of time, maybe she'll finally talk while we're in this room, set up the way it is. I should have done this a long time ago.
"So, Haruka." He paused, trying to phrase it. "Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"
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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 Jan 26, 2012 2:49:20 GMT -5
She completely overlooked his words, believing them to be most sincere as she just gave a smile and a chuckle right along with him. His other spell allowed him the saving grace of speaking his mind with her. Haruka was more than well aware of her lure to have him think of her with such warm words and simply savored her talents as such.
Her hands worked quite quickly even applying a few more spices that she knew would add the extra flavor she enjoyed to compliment the recipe already in place, after all she was pretty certain that she would be the only one to stomach that particular dish that evening. She didn't look up from her work as she started to prepare for the next dish that would be more of a treat to the more tame pallets of a former Phoenix and a Scorpion.
"Certainly Yun, you need not worry on what to ask me. I'm an open book, ask away!" She was obviously quite delighted to have someone actually inquire about her, oblivious to how much of a danger she could be in.
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Zeure
Crane Clan
Crane Clan ? Samurai ? Duelist ? Artisan ? Guardian of Metal ? Unique
Posts: 826
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Post by Zeure on Jan 26, 2012 2:56:33 GMT -5
He had his back to her and smiled to himself. Maybe I did not cast it too soon. He turned towards her as he began to speak. His face was passive.
"Well, the first thing that's been nagging me is why you left the other night when you invited Kyo up to my dinner? And for that matter, why you invited a trained magistrate here anyways. Our situation is precarious and there was nothing I could really do there, especially with a man that will not converse."
His tone was even, he did not seem upset in the slightest, which was partially due to the other spell he had cast; the calming one. His life was really in her hands here and Kyo was a dangerous unknown for him, which is why he cut straight to it. Though this was not the most prominent question on his mind, it was certainly one that needed answering.
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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 Jan 26, 2012 3:58:54 GMT -5
As if they'd been friends since childhood Haruka continued to prepare the dishes as if it were second nature and startled to unload a bit of the burden that was hers to bear.
"If it must be said, Shosuro Kyo-san was a bit of a surprise for me as well. We ran into each other rather by accident. In the past I was able to share quite a few content little conversations, so I suspected he would be peaceable company."
The preparation required a knife and Haruka seemed all too easy with a blade, but found the one provided in the abode to be unsatisfactory as she reached into a pocket to fetch a whetstone and began sharpening the knife while continuing on.
"I also wondered what kind of trouble you would get yourself into that night. It isn't that I can't trust you Yun, I just didn't feel like I could trust you completely, and without my companion Nori-san I wasn't entirely certain you'd have the discipline to maintain full control."
She spoke so matter of factly it was a little cold though she put her warm voice to it and an almost playful tone on her words. Haruka got down to the business of breaking down the ingrediants into easier to cook morsels, she slowed down only slightly so as not to agitate her skill and potentially injure herself. She laughed a bit to herself as she did, speaking a little under her breath. "Wouldn't want the sight of blood to excite you too much Yun.."
Again she sucked her breath in before looking to him with some anxiety. Her words kept flowing so freely, she wondered if she was feeling well. "Oh kami damn me, I'm so sorry Yun."
She went so far as to place the blade down and turn to him, bowing apologetically as her long hair flowed forward over her shoulders and hung limply around her face.
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Zeure
Crane Clan
Crane Clan ? Samurai ? Duelist ? Artisan ? Guardian of Metal ? Unique
Posts: 826
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Post by Zeure on Jan 26, 2012 4:49:28 GMT -5
He just smiled, weakly, but he was smiling.
"It's ok, I don't mind caution. Though it does make one think about how you would trust a complete stranger over me, when I swore myself to you. But I don't mean to chastise you, I'm simply thinking out loud."
He leaned up against the wall he was standing at, looking at her while she bowed.
"No, no, please, don't. I'm really ok."
The calming effect of the spell was working in his favor here, even if he had truly been upset, or would have been at her comments, he was kept calm. One would think that he might be upset about her cleverly evading the question, having answered the second one and not the first; but again, the spell worked on him there.
"There is another thing that has been on my mind. Shoju-sama visited me and told me a great many disturbing things. Was any of it true?"
He hadn't told her anything about what Shoju had said, but she would know what he was talking about if she had any part of it. This question he would not let her evade.
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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 Jan 26, 2012 5:04:50 GMT -5
At this point Haruka went from apologetic to absolutely distraught. She didn't know why she should feel shame by knowing what she knew but there was this overwhelming emotion that forced her memories forward. Her form trembled as her lips started moving whether she was ready for it or not.
"I suspect more of it is true than I'd like to admit..."
With each answer her body started to physically sink in despair, her hands steadily climbed up until she was clutching her head and kneeling on the ground.
"The fact that I saved his vassal at Shiro Saisei..
The fact that I met him at my own wedding celebration but didn't raise the alarm..
The fact that I continued to communicate with him... as if he were an equal.
The fact that I gave up my son.. to him... because I thought it was the only way to save his life and preserve the line of the Champion..."
She broke down completely as her fingers gripped her hair and tested the roots to their limit, the flesh of her scalp becoming visible as the strands parted under the strain. Her tears started to flow openly and she was at a loss, she wanted to scream and thrash but something restrained her. She wanted to believe it was her own inner strength.
"Why, what more is there to tell? It's bad enough that he pledges to hunt my family down no matter what I wish I could do for him. With him and Senshi in a feud great enough for the heavens to notice how could I possibly help him!? Even now my husband is riding back on the steed I loaned to him..."
The trembling resumed and her body sank even further as her confession seemed unable to stop. It was painful, her own skin was tightening around her throat, but there was also a release with letting her worries and sins fall away from her heart.
"I... I didn't want to betray him, I swear! But when Senshi found out that I was communicating with him I had no choice but to obey!" She wept openly finally struggling to breathe enough that she had to find pause, unaware of just how much she revealed to one of Shoju's allys.
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Zeure
Crane Clan
Crane Clan ? Samurai ? Duelist ? Artisan ? Guardian of Metal ? Unique
Posts: 826
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Post by Zeure on Jan 26, 2012 5:20:46 GMT -5
Yun's face continued to darken as she said each word. His arms were crossed and he continued to lean up against the wall that he had taken to before he asked the question. He watched her slowly collapse and hit the floor.
His head tiled upwards towards the window, his expression becoming still more troubled.
"So, it's all true. Everything Shoju-sama told me... everything."
He went over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, he dropped into a crouch behind her and placed his other hand on her other shoulder. In a barely audible whisper, right next to her ear, he spoke again:
"You once told me that you husband was your duty and that was all that it was. Has your duty been fulfilled, with the erasure of my clan? With his line continued in the progeny downstairs? Has your obligation to him been fulfilled?"
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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 Jan 26, 2012 5:34:02 GMT -5
Her senses only partially returned to her as she began to panic and brace herself, her whole form tensing as she could hear his footsteps approach her, her hearing deafening to all other sounds and straining to hear the sound of a weapon being drawn.
I'm dead. After all this, my shame laid bare... this is it.
Haruka wasn't afraid to die as her eyes remained motionless and staring at the floor. But nothing unsheathed, nothing came down on her head with intent to harm, just the gentle grip of his hand.
She had forgotten to worry about coming so close to Yun in this state, the fact that he wasn't slamming down his blade on her as a traitorous wretch was the most impossibly stunning sensation for her.
"M-My duty?"
Her head would only raise slightly as Yun had lowered himself to her level, her eyes piercing the veil of her hanging hair to look at him to be certain she hadn't lost her mind. Haruka's eyes tried to search around for the answer, truly she did not know, nor could she feel like she was certain anymore. Instead she simply started listing off what she thought might count.
"I've given him his heir... I left the Unicorn, my old way of life... I've been nothing but loyal to him as the clan demands... I've handed his enemies to him... I've done everything that's expected."
Haruka started to tense deeply again, her eyes shut with the stress and anxiety. "But now he knows! He knows about our son, how he just killed his own blood. Oh gods... I've betrayed him in the worst way. He said it to me, he barely would speak to me."
Haruka started to sink down again, because as she could see it now, if she wasn't dead by Yun she would be as good as dead to Senshi. The scream again wouldn't escape her no matter how she wanted to.
"I'm... of no use... anymore..."
Her arms curled around to hold herself as she vocalized the realization. Haruka's body actually cooled in response as if accepting her fate there and then in that room.
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Zeure
Crane Clan
Crane Clan ? Samurai ? Duelist ? Artisan ? Guardian of Metal ? Unique
Posts: 826
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Post by Zeure on Jan 26, 2012 5:59:36 GMT -5
"You are to me, Haruka... I... I love you. And I won't do anything to harm you. But you are right, Senshi is a dangerous man. He will come for you, in his madness. He will come. We will have to figure out where we can go. Shoju's rage will be sated with Senshi, so he won't come after us as long as we are not in his way. But Senshi will."
He kept his posture, not wanting to make her more uncomfortable than she was with his physical touch. He dropped one hand down to help him balance, as he was slightly more clumsy than one would have thought.
"One more question. Once before, I asked you if you were going to be mine, my love, my lover, and you said yes. Do you still feel the same way? I would just like to hear it, a straight answer from you about how you feel towards me, just one more time. If you still want me, I will find a way to set you free, I will find a way to save you from all the monsters that threaten 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 Jan 26, 2012 6:17:19 GMT -5
Senshi's visage entered her mind, his hair whipping his rage unquenchable. She had seen him in battle first hand, there would be no mercy for her. But Yun's voice kept shaking her back to reality with a jarring force.
Haruka saw herself drowning now, looking so weak and pathetic before the former Isawa. She wanted to strike herself but instead settled for gritting her teeth. Sucking in her breath deeply she looked up slowly at him and a new sense of self reliance set in her chest.
"I came this far once as an Utaku. I was once a feared warrior rather than some puppet of a man."
Her disappointment in herself burned into a rage to improve herself, to turn away from this heap of a woman she'd let herself become. That fire helped bring her strength back as she stood slowly but firmly, she took only a moment to wipe the tears from her eyes and sweep one side of her hair back over her shoulder. Her passion was back in her eyes like it once was, full of life and the willingness to fight in spite of it all.
"Yun," she stood there, turning her gaze to him in all seriousness. "After having said all this, what would I know of love? I thought I loved Senshi, I wanted to die for him. But in the end what has all this gone and proven."
She took a steady step away from him, turning herself towards the window. "I don't know if I ever loved Yun, so I can't be sure anymore. You've been nothing but selfless for me, coming and helping to protect me like this."
Haruka took a few deep centering breaths in order to get her emotions in order, the desire to return to her old strength the one thing she would focus herself around. Her mind was made up quickly.
"I have to leave. If I'm lucky no one should ever find me again that once knew me. I'll find what I've lost." She laughed a little to herself, "Maybe even find the meaning of love..
I can't go home. Then again I've only ever known my parents' home, and that's nothing but ash on the wind now." She gave a huff of anger at her sister, but the anger was shoved down like a fuel for the fire in her heart.
"But I can never return, lest my life be forfeit now. I'm not going to tell you to help me, I'm no better than you now Yun. But..." Turning slowly to adress him eye to eye. "If... you wanted to come with... I would be honored... And I would like it very much if you did."
She gave a small but more formal bow to him, placing her hands together as if trying to show him all the more respect for having stood by her in spite of all she'd said and done.
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