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 10, 2012 0:47:37 GMT -5
She nodded, "You've already done me quite the favor by comforting me, but I shall not hesitate to seek you if I need of you again."
Gently she rose from him making the transition elegant and easy on them both. "I will not forget your kindness Yun, you've shown me what I believed to be true all along." She kissed his head and bowed to him again as she departed.
"Rest well dear Yun. I will see you in the morning."
Her feet slipped along as she closed the door behind her, but her heart was not quelled as she finally found herself confronted with the night. The women would ask of her burdens, if not with their words then with their eyes.
Haruka took a deep breath and thought it best to regain her center before settling for the night, it didn't do well to rest on such an uneasy heart. So, with a gentle stride she found her way into the gardens of the Geisha house, the canopy of bamboo and trees sheltering her from view as she took her chance to sit and meditate near the softly flowing waters of the koi pond.
With time the night air and the serene quiet helped calm her emotions.
((..Almost done with the night!))
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Post by Shoju on Jan 10, 2012 10:03:39 GMT -5
A long way away from The Geisha House, in a town under siege
Shoju had secured the inn, secured his new... 'recruits', and excused himself to his quarters. He prepared his meditation area, and worked an incantation. He had lost his crystal in the Ambush by the Master of Secrets, but he hoped that he would be able to find the one that was carried by someone he once considered an ally.
He had given Saiten clear instructions that no one was to enter the room for anything. Not even if the villagers were stupid enough to attack.
He spilled the blood and began to work the incantation. He could feel his spirit leaving his body. The painful memories it brought back were almost too much for him, but he fought against the memories, and soon moved through the Empire, faster than a human eye could see. He vaguely recognized the geography, until he was right upon Ryoko Owari. His spirit flashed here and there, and then stopped.
He was in a garden, there was a koi pond, and there she was.
Shoju's rage was immense at the sight of her. The woman who had betrayed him to his mortal enemy. The woman who was ultimately responsible for the death of his love. The woman who was ultimately responsible for the death of the child. The woman who was responsible for the hatred and rage that now fueled his soul.
He composed himself, and forced himself forward. He was 'standing' behind her when he finally had the will to speak. You betrayed me, Bayushi Haruka.
He appeared ghostly, as a spirit, he resembled the way he must have looked the day of his first death. Clad in Armor befitting a magistrate, with long black hair tied back at the base of his neck. His eyes, and nose visible, while the lower half of his face was concealed by a mask that looked like a dragon's jaw.
I put my trust in you, and you took the last shreds of my humanity.
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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 10, 2012 10:18:13 GMT -5
That voice...
The Mistress of Secrets turned slowly to see what she already knew by sound.
Haruka's eyes lit up almost immediately, but not in any sense of joy or pleasant feeling, but instead that of gut wrenching terror that nearly swept her off her feet. The pale appearance of Shoju caught her completely off guard as she was just trying to settle her emotions after having confronted her husband. The emotions were all too much as she clutched her chest as if her heart would escape as she heard the words pour from his mouth.
In spite of all the strength she had ever shown, Haruka was at her most weakest. And much to even her own dismay she sank to his appearance to a knee, submissively as she still attempted to hold herself together. The wetness of her eyes being revealed as she had not parted from Yun's side for more than a few minutes, not long enough for her to dry her tears.
"Shoju-san..." She gasped, whimpering. Her voice nothing like what he knew, her nature unlike anything he'd ever seen.
"I... I had no choice. When Senshi-sama found out, he forced me to do this! I couldn't escape, I couldn't... I had no choice but to tell him what had transpired."
Her voice rose a bit with desperation and anxiety. "Please, you must understand! I never wanted any of this to happen... I never wanted my sister's life to end like this... I never wanted to have my son perish..."
Haruka broke down before his very eyes, completely and utterly spent from the day's events. The woman she had spent the last year refining herself to become finally failed her as she degraded into the frail helpless girl she was inside. Speaking of her unborn child only plunged her further along as she began to sob and shake.
"Please.. Shoju-san... I beg of you!" The rest of her pleading words failed her as she started to sob incoherently.
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Post by Shoju on Jan 10, 2012 10:36:46 GMT -5
Shoju stood, looking down at her form, as she broke down. Since the death of Senshi's Brother, I have done nothing but show you patience, trust, and honor. You saved Kijiro, and you listened to me. As a repayment, I gave you closure to the disappearance of your sister, and honored her last request Shoju paused for a moment.
She wished to live again and serve the Empire. I found her alive, near death in a chasm. I sadly did not have the resources to save her from Death's Touch, but I was able to save her from its embrace, and honor her request. Shoju's form wavered, and his voice became softer.
After the Empire spit on our proposal to aid the true son of heaven, It was your sister by my side that made me see that the Spider didn't hold the answer. It was your sister that gave me the desire, and the courage to ask to claim my birthright. It was your sister that pushed me to be more than vengeful.
It was the child you tasked me with guarding that pushed me to abandon Saisei sooner than I desired, and begin to make a way into the Emprie. It was the chance for an honorable life that put me in the position.
Shoju turned away from her, and looked at the sky.It was your betrayal of her that doomed this empire. Watching your husband destroy his honor, and my humanity, and knowing that it was your betrayal that deemed it so... Shoju turned slowly back towards her. I've realized that there is nothing in this empire worthy of being saved.
Shoju looked around at the city. I will burn this empire to the ground to have my vengeance if I have to.
He stood for a moment, waiting, watching.
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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 10, 2012 10:49:06 GMT -5
Haruka's insides squirmed at how easily the words came to him. The fire in her heart that wilted with sorrow came bursting into life with a rage. Her tears never ceased as she raised up on the knee she had lowered herself on, taking a forceful, determined step towards his visage.
"How dare you!
You have seen what good there was. You will only prove the fears of the Empire with your words. I was one of the many who stood by the side of the Spider! I never faltered when it came time to show my faith in the hearts of those who were tainted!
And yet now you mock me for everything I believed in, what faith I put in you, what faith I put in Yun..."
She choked back a reaction, sucking in her breath and collecting herself. She took her hand away from her chest and ripped away the head wrap from her face, causing her hair to flash in the open air as she tossed it away.
"If you think... for one second that I ever wanted this. Any of this..." She shook her head in spite as she clenched her fists and stood firmly there before him. "Then you underestimate my heart much as you underestimate the power of this Empire."
Haruka stood there with a focus for her emotion, for a focus for all this chaos as she stared right back at him.
"Do as you will, but you will never make me believe any different. The heart of the tainted will never be lost. Not to me.
Go ahead, wage war, just like the rest of the Spider who believe that is the only way. But when you see the truth of it one day, I pray as only I know how, that you will see only what I ever meant for you and those who aspired to be like you."
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Post by Shoju on Jan 10, 2012 11:07:50 GMT -5
Shoju laughed. How. DARE I!? Tell me Haruka. What is there to save?! An Emperor who would rather see his precious city destroyed than take a chance on my honor? A spiteful brother who wages war because he didn't get to play?! Clan's who line up to slaughter one another?
Shoju turned away and looked at a city. What good is there?! TELL ME THAT. Show me the good in a man you profess to love who murders his own child. Who Ambushes diplomatic envoys with murder in his heart. An.... an... Elemental Master who would aid him!
Shoju's spirit began to glow red, unnaturally as if it were ready to explode EVERYONE who has shown me the... good as you called it, in this world has betrayed me, or been killed for their devotion to me. You betrayed me, Yun betrayed me, The Master of the Void Betrayed me, Daigotsu sent his guard dog to destroy me after granting me my birthright, Your husband, killed her. The Spirit stopped glowing... And the tears ran freely.
HE. KILLED. her Shoju's eyes bored through her.
Through the tears, he choked out I am nothing. There is nothing left of me except my hatred. My rage. No matter what honor I have shown to the people of Rokugan, I am nothing but a monster.
He looked to the sky. I am not Scorpion. I am not Spider. I am not a husband or a lover. I have from now until this world ceases to exist to be nothing.
He leveled his gaze back at her. So tell me Mistress of Secrets, What am I to be if not the monster everyone sees me as?
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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 10, 2012 11:20:02 GMT -5
Her fire dimmed, the fighting spirit finding its place again as she looked right at him while she spoke, in spite of all the fire and hatred he poured back onto her. For once this evening she stood undaunted in spite of it all.
"You are no different from the man I once knew, only now you have seen what it is to lose. I lost a brother in law. I lost my sister, I lost my entire family, I lost my son...
You are not a monster Shoju-san, no matter what color hatred paints your heart now. You are in suffering.. agony."
She stopped herself only for a moment hoping that her words would somehow reach him in his turmoil. Her time for tears had passed, her resolve starting to reform in her heart as she hoped she had not lost the maho tsukai to complete and utter madness.
"We are those that live on. We suffer... we struggle. We are still alive."
Haruka bowed her head for a moment as her voice became audible only to him. The pain of it enough that it needed clarification on its own.
"And Senshi never knew it was his child, until someone told him... I never told him... He was never supposed to know he was killing.. his own.. blood..."
She kept her head bowed in shame as she turned her back on Shoju's image, she gripped her sides and held herself as she did, taking what little solace she could now that she had said her peace.
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Post by Shoju on Jan 10, 2012 11:52:17 GMT -5
Shoju's spirit nodded as he realized she never told her own husband what he was truly being tasked to do. But you see Bayushi Haruka, I do not live. To live is to die, and I'm bound to this world. Shoju looked down at the ground. With your sister gone, so too is what I sacrificed to make her whole. I cannot reclaim it, and the pain is more than I can bear.
He looked back at her. and back to the sky. I wish I could believe the way you do. I wish I believed that I could be something different, that I could be something more than a monster. Suffering, Agony, and Despair. They are all that I have left.
Shoju's bowed his head. I'm sorry Bayushi Haruka. But my vengeance will be served.
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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 10, 2012 16:23:10 GMT -5
"Then if the kami will it, I will be waiting at the end of it."
Haruka swallowed the bitter feeling as she knew the two entities had lost those they once loved that night. There was no escaping the situation, but where she had taken the path of prayer, meditation, and discretion he had taken the path of destruction.
She could understand, even relate. By Jigoku she was even a bit jealous to see him have his rage be sated in some way. Bearing this pain was something she could never imagine being capable to do, but she swallowed it down and still stood there, a stark contrast to the image of a man behind her. Perhaps just another one of the many differences between hearts of the untainted and those burdened by the taint.
Haruka didn't have the strength to fight against Shoju in emotion or in force. Shosuro Nori had kept vigilant watch, but in the end this is why she had called on Yun to come this far, even if it only bought her a little time before the two maho tsukai realized what she had done to selfishly protect herself.
With that she turned and bowed deeply to him allowing herself one last unrestrained tear to help ease her weary heart. "You always will know where to find me it seems, seek me out if you so wish. But I fear there is nothing more that I can do to ease your spirit now, Shoju-san."
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Post by Shoju on Jan 10, 2012 16:32:29 GMT -5
The spirit nodded. The totality of my losses on the Dragon Heart Plain cannot be overstated. It was by mere chance that I was able to find you. Goodbye Mistress of Secrets. And the Spirit turned, and began to move from the garden. As he did, his form changed from the Scorpion Samurai, to the form of the Crab Scout whose body he now inhabited, to a being that looked something like an amalgamation of the two. And then he was gone.
Shoju's spirit flew at unbelieveable speeds back to Kibukito, and collided with his body, and he fell sideways as he regained consciousness in his own body. Vengeance will be served. Shoju closed his eyes and laid on the floor, contemplating if he still had the strength in him to take the life of the wife of the Master of Secrets.
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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 11, 2012 2:07:29 GMT -5
[OOC] From here: Clicky! [/OOC] That night, Yun had fitful dreams. He was haunted by the ghost of Shoju, and the words that they exchanged. He could not find peace. He sat there for a long time in the dream scape trying to figure out what he should do. Shoju will come for her eventually, that much is true, he will come for Senshi at the very least, which is justifiable, understandable. that man is a plague. His sense of honor is a sham.... Of course.... I suppose that I didn't help...Thoughts of all the dreams that he had sent Senshi rushed through him, he had truly provoked the man, but the outcome was something that he had not foreseen. Surely he was not the most direct of causes, but he had played a part. Of course, the main thought that he wondered as to the veracity of is if Haruka had really set Senshi against Shoju. She had promised him aid and then Senshi had shown up... It was too strong to be a coincidence. But... How could and Why would Haruka do that... Was everything that she was saying to Yun a lie? Did she really not care at all about salvation or redemption? She was so sad tonight... Her son had died. ARGH!! She confused him. He couldn't think straight when it came to her. Ah, well... I guess I will have to report in. I'll open my mind and leave the choice up to him. I hope that he won't decide on anything too drastic... He has already chided me once for letting my emotions get in the way of things...Yun's eyes fluttered open in the waking world. He sat up on his bedroll and wiped the sweat from his brow. He stood and stretched for a moment before moving towards his pack to retrieve his scroll satchel. From it he pulled 'that' scroll, the one marked with an air symbol that he had used so many times to contact those who he had to across great distances. He sat back down on the bedroll and unfurled the scroll and began praying. A tenuous line of communication opened with the recipient that allowed thought to be expressed and across the vastness of the empire, he had found the subject he wished. " It is late, Yun-san. Why at this hour are you contacting me?" "Because I need an immediate response on what to do next... something has changed, again, that bears me informing you and asking what the next move should be. And because you don't sleep, and so the hour is almost entirely irrelevant." A small snort of mirth was issued. " Go on, then, open your mind and I will direct you." Yun allowed the figure to wander through his mind, looking at everything that had transpired since the last time he had reported. The figure took special note of how Haruka and Shoju were central to what Yun was trying to decide over, and how again Yun had allowed his feelings for the woman get in the way of his better judgement. However, he had a more sinister plan that he would not even tell Yun about. " Yes, I see. Yun-san, you know what you must do. Invite Haruka to dinner tomorrow again, and attempt to ascertain her true motivation. Use whatever means you need to, including 'that' spell if you have to. I am not your babysitter and I should not have to tell you what to do in this regard. You are right to report in, but you should have waited until you knew for sure where everyone stands. Figure out why that other man was with her, also. That other scorpion that she brought tonight. And then report again." "Ok then, I will." " And don't forget what I've said before. Do not let your emotions sway you. Do not be a fool, Yun-san. Or I will cease to have a use for you." "I... I understand." With that, the presence left him and he was sitting in the bedroll alone again. Once more, he wiped sweat off of him. That man scared him a great deal. He was so serious and drastic, and no amount of attempting to lighten the mood with him ever bore fruit. Yun moved over to the writing desk and began writing a tiny missive to Haruka to invite her to the dinner. Haruka-sama,
If you could, please attend a dinner with me again today at the beginning of the hour of the rooster. I will make something better than last night, and make sure to include red meat.
I've also sent with this a similar letter to Kyo-san. I do not know where he stays, so if you could see that it gets delivered to him, I would be most appreciative.
I look forward to seeing you again. I assume that it will not be the case, but I dearly hope that your mood will have lightened a bit.
ZeureAnd then he began drafting the aforementioned similar invitation to Kyo. Kyo-san
I've taken the liberty of inviting you and Haruka-sama over for another dinner. This time I shall be prepared for your company and will make food more suitable to an unfamiliar guest in my house.
I do not believe that we had the time to get acquainted and I feel that there may have been something bothering you. I dearly hope that this day will find you in better spirits. I look to see you at the beginning of the hour of the rooster in the same apartment above the geisha house.
Zeure
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Shosuro Kyo
Scorpion Clan
*Magistrate *Loyal *Paragon of Duty *Lord of Dance
Posts: 123
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Post by Shosuro Kyo on Jan 13, 2012 10:43:04 GMT -5
Shosuro Kyo woke early from his fitful sleep the next day. He felt a bit more rested than before, but he still felt tired and worn. His night stayed full of nightmares, but he was undisturbed by his yoriko for the rest of his sleep.
He quickly called for a servant and asked for a small meal and several cups of tea. He decided on just having rice for breakfast, small but filling. He then ordered his yoriko up and told them to start searching the previously searched geisha houses. And to leave the one he visited alone as he had business to conduct their later.
(ooc: I'm not meta gaming, before I knew of the note I was receiving I had planned to see Haruka anyway.)
He then went and sat on the balcony and watched the sun rise as he had everyday since he started his stay here. He did his morning meditation rites and cleared his head to face the day. Shortly after he started, he received his food and a cup with a warming plate full of tea. He quickly poured himself a cup and drank deeply from the tea.
Niamu came in and sat down with her head bowed while Kyo finished drinking his tea. He largely ignored her as they had recently set up a routine where he didn't receive any new information and rumors till he finish his morning meal and meditation.
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Shosuro Kyo
Scorpion Clan
*Magistrate *Loyal *Paragon of Duty *Lord of Dance
Posts: 123
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Post by Shosuro Kyo on Jan 15, 2012 10:07:15 GMT -5
((Done, got sick yesterady with a stomach flu and didn't see a comp, when I got on this morning I forgot where I was going with it. XD ))
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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 16, 2012 0:28:34 GMT -5
The night did not come easy for Haruka, her nerves about Shoju's possible aggression were sated, but the pain of his heart could not be forgotten. And her husband, his voice tormented her for hours even into her sleep, if she had gotten any at all. Drifting between dream and reality the flickering lights of the people residing in the rooms above distorted her perception of time and through her mind further off balance.
After the morning had passed and she had not risen to receive her breakfast, the lady of the house came to check on her, the old woman's slow pace into the hidden space below rather obvious now. It was enough to break Haruka back into a sense of reality as her glazed eyes turned to the side to see who had come.
"My Lady, there is a message for you, from the visitor who you host."
Haruka did not answer her, but instead seemed to drift back and turned away from the woman. The lady of the house was used to dealing with people who might have overdosed on substances so she was not deterred, but instead of pestering her a moment further she simply approached and left the note for her reading at her leisure. With that simple duty complete she departed and sealed the Mistress of Secrets back into her dark seclusion.
It took her a great deal of effort to steady her shaking hand as she reached for the letter. Her eyes flitted over the words, some blurring as she read them, but the message was understood at least. For now she was not required. Her chin turned upward as she wondered if the open air might help to center her, the threat now turned onto her husband, for the moment she felt that there was nothing hunting her. This would never console her, but at the very least she was able to emerge from the back entrance and onto the streets.
She was dressed incognito for now in order to avoid causing a stir with her presence. A wide brimmed rice hat with light silks helped to obscure her visage even though she still wore crimson robes and her head wrap. Her destination was unclear, for now her only purpose felt like it was to simply walk and find her senses again.
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Shosuro Kyo
Scorpion Clan
*Magistrate *Loyal *Paragon of Duty *Lord of Dance
Posts: 123
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Post by Shosuro Kyo on Jan 17, 2012 16:41:45 GMT -5
Kyo left the inn he was sleeping at and walked along the main road. He had dressed himself very lightly, only taking his jitte and badge to show his position, otherwise, he was wearing a very humble dull red kimono and walked about the town deciding his first order of business.
He was tempted to go pop in on Haruka to see if she was getting along okay. He realized that would be rude and he was lucky yesterday that he was unaware of what he was doing. Today he felt the need to see her, to check and make sure everything was okay.
Making up his mind he headed towards the inn she was staying at. He'd check in through the front door first this time. Thinks, Much safer, less chance of getting stabbed when going through the front door. He continued occasionally glancing around to make sure everything was okay.
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