Kakita Sojiro
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When you die, will you be remembered, or will you be just another strand in the tapestry?
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Post by Kakita Sojiro on Feb 3, 2012 3:00:42 GMT -5
"I apologize, Battou-san. Mitsu and I got into it last night, and I imagine that I wasn't the quietest person in Kyuden Otomo when we were finished. As to where I'm going... well, for now I'm going to the strategy meeting that I promised Mitsu-chan I would attend in her place. After that..."
He sighed.
"Shodai-sama and I are going to Ryoko Owari to retrieve Mai from the hands of a Maho-Tsukai named Shoju. The same Tsukai that attacked the Unicorn village, and forced her to leave to defend it. There is... a [glow=blue,2,300]LOT[/glow] more to this than that, but those are the basic facts."
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Zeure
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Post by Zeure on Feb 3, 2012 3:07:06 GMT -5
Battou's eyes unnarrowed and he shut the screen behind him as he walked further into the room. He eyed Sojiro seriously for a moment and Sojiro got the feeling that he was appraising him. Eventually he shook his head.
"You have no focus in this. Frankly, I don't believe that you have a chance against this Shoju in your current state. Mitsouko should have staked you to the ground if she didn't want lose you."
Battou stood with his arms crossed still staring at him. This was the first time that Battou had ever shown anything but respectful deference for his sensei.
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Kakita Sojiro
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When you die, will you be remembered, or will you be just another strand in the tapestry?
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Post by Kakita Sojiro on Feb 3, 2012 3:19:55 GMT -5
Sojiro chuckled.
Insightful students, a sensei's blessing and worst nightmare, all in the same package.
"I'd love to argue that point with you, but after dealing with Mitsu-chan I'm not sure I have another argument in me, and on top of that I don't believe in fighting battles that are obviously lost."
"You're right. I don't have any real focus in this, which is why the Void Master insisted on coming with me. Besides, I don't have much of a choice in the matter. Shoju came to me in a dream last night to tell me that he had her. Either I go to him, or he kills her. To start with."
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Zeure
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Post by Zeure on Feb 3, 2012 3:29:57 GMT -5
"If I hadn't just swore myself into a task for Mitsouko, I would insist that I go in your place. And really, you should probably just let Shodai-sama handle it. He is more than capable and he has experience with killing bloodspeakers. You might just be dead weight for him in this task. Or worse yet, a fool hardy action on your part might endanger you both, and possible the woman as well."
He was turned with his body sideways looking at Sojiro. It almost seemed like he expected some form of physical reprisal and was ready for it.
"Believe me when I know the depths that someone will go to in order to chase after a woman, but you have to pick your spots, Sojiro. And you shouldn't go off and get yourself killed over this."
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Kakita Sojiro
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When you die, will you be remembered, or will you be just another strand in the tapestry?
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Post by Kakita Sojiro on Feb 3, 2012 3:40:31 GMT -5
Sojiro glanced down, the truth of what he was about to say hitting home like a hammer.
"She's not just a woman, Battou. Not to me. And if I could leave this to Shodai, I would. But Shodai isn't who he asked for. I am. He wants something specific from me, or maybe from us. I don't quite understand it, but... a part of me does. He just watched his pregnant wife get burned alive in front of him by Senshi. I understand that kind of damage all too well. I know what he wants me to do, but I also know he's testing us both. Separately, and as a pair. If either one of us fails to live up to the love we claim to have, Mai's life - and soul - is forfeit. She's passed her test. I'm not going to fail mine."
"I'm not going to fail her."
"Besides, Shodai-sama isn't the only one who knows a thing or two about fighting bloodspeakers. I've fought more than my fair share of them."
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Zeure
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Post by Zeure on Feb 3, 2012 3:49:18 GMT -5
Battou just shakes his head the more and more Sojiro talks.
"Just like Reina-san. You are hopelessly infatuated with this woman and refuse to see reason. You want this to turn out the same way?
[OOC] God I hate making short posts, but I really think Sojiro will react to this... [/OOC]
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Kakita Mitsouko
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Post by Kakita Mitsouko on Feb 3, 2012 3:52:34 GMT -5
After both left, Mitsouko just stood there, sitting, and then, something happened. She started to bleed.
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Kakita Sojiro
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When you die, will you be remembered, or will you be just another strand in the tapestry?
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Post by Kakita Sojiro on Feb 3, 2012 4:03:25 GMT -5
Sojiro's eyes looked as if they had caught on fire. Any shugenja in that section of Kyuden Otomo would be able to feel the ripples in the void radiating from him that he himself was unaware of. He looked up and stared Battou in the eyes.
"If you were anyone else, save for Mitsu or Saiko, you would be dead where you stand right now. I've spent years blaming myself for her death. A part of me still does, no matter how much I apply logic or how many people say otherwise, so I'll thank you not to throw that in my face. Ever. And you're a fine one to speak of infatuation, Battou. Your interest in a woman ends the moment you can add her name to your list of conquests, so don't presume to lecture me on infatuation when you're chasing Mitsu around for years because you're obsessed with adding her name to the notches on your hilt."
"And to answer your question, no, I don't want this to end up the same way, which is exactly why I'm going."
Sojiro's eyes still burned dangerously, silently daring Battou to respond.
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Zeure
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Post by Zeure on Feb 3, 2012 4:57:12 GMT -5
[OOC] Totally worked it out with Sojiro, no god-modding here... [/OOC]
The flash of the candlelight as it hit the steel of Battou's sword was all the warning that Sojiro had that Battou was drawing on him. The kakita blade that Battou bore was at his throat ready to kill if he had wanted to. The speed and precision that Sojiro's former student had was stunning even as it could have been deadly to him. As Sojiro raised his eyes form the blade to look at the duelist that could have killed him, he saw that his eyes were cold, serious, and deadly.
"You have no idea what you just said to me. And it is twice as bad since all I am trying to do is save your life, the woman's life and possibly Shodai's life from your willingness to fly off the handle when a girl you love is involved. Do not speak of how I feel about Mitsouko when I have never told you and you have never asked."
Clearly Sojiro had touched a nerve. He would never have thought he would be in this position with Battou.
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Kakita Sojiro
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When you die, will you be remembered, or will you be just another strand in the tapestry?
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Post by Kakita Sojiro on Feb 3, 2012 5:14:24 GMT -5
Sojiro's eyes widened in shock. By the time he saw the blade moving it was already drawn. By the time his hand found the hilt of his katana, it was already at his throat.
"It seems I'm not the only Kakita prone to flying off the handle when the woman he loves is involved. Put your blade away. If one of the servants comes in I'm going to have a difficult time explaining to them why you have a katana to the throat of the family Hatamoto. I can talk people out of a lot of trouble, but even I am only so good."
"So, now that we've both made our points, I'd like to point out that if you're trying to save her life, talking me out of going is the wrong way to do it, because it will have the opposite effect. Maybe you'd like to expound on that line of thought."
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Zeure
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Post by Zeure on Feb 3, 2012 5:24:19 GMT -5
Battou did lower the blade and put it away since he sensed the calm had returned to Sojiro. He looked incredibly angry at his former sensei.
"Unlike you, I've never pretended to be something that I'm not. Pfft, pulling your rank on me like that would stop me if I had really made a decision. You are many things to me Sojiro; teacher, brother, friend. Don't ever think that I won't rap you on the head if I think that you're being stupid, just as I would expect you to do the same thing to me. However, I'm quite convinced that I have nothing to say that I have not already said. Reason will not win you over. There are many ways to defeat an enemy, Sojiro, and while we have to be honorable or we are no better than them, others are not so kind. Congratulations on handing this Shoju the life of a master kakita duelist in addition to a Shiotome. Can't you see that no matter what you do here he is just going to kill you both? He is a bloodspeaker, they do not know what honor even is!"
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Kakita Sojiro
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When you die, will you be remembered, or will you be just another strand in the tapestry?
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Post by Kakita Sojiro on Feb 3, 2012 5:41:12 GMT -5
Sojiro actually grinned at battou's threat to "rap him on the head". That was the Battou he knew.
"I have several points to make, the first one being that I'm not pulling rank on you, I'm making sure that someone else doesn't walk in and pull my rank on you, because I'm not sure I could get you out of that situation, and I'd rather not see you in it. Secondly, I'm honestly somewhat confused by you accusing me of pretending to be something I'm not. I don't know what you're getting at there, and I'd like an explanation. Even if it's one I'm not going to like. Third... I'm impressed. You've become incredibly fast. And finally, if you're so convinced that this is the wrong approach, then how would you handle it? What if is was Mitsu instead of Mai? And don't even try to feed me some line about not going and letting her die. I think we're both well aware that you wouldn't be able to at this point."
He grinned again.
"Which I have to admit, even if the way I found out was unpleasant, I'm actually pleased with."
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Zeure
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Post by Zeure on Feb 3, 2012 6:04:52 GMT -5
Battou rubbed his temples with the thumb and forefinger of his left hand.
"For what it is worth, she flatly refused me... So... anyways, moving on away from Misouko. As I said there is no talking reason into you as there surely would be no talking reason into me given similar conditions. I recognize what you are going through, I think, but since it isn't me I also recognize that there should be a better way than walking directly into a trap. A deadly trap, I will reiterate. In trying to save her, you are already doing something foolish. In trying to save her in the future, I can foresee you doing something foolish. You will lack the ability to think with a calm head in this matter. And focus and center are required of us to perform our art. And again, as I said earlier, the best option you have in this matter is to not go yourself. But, you seem to say that you have to, like the bloodspeaker has made some sort of specific demands. Why don't we start there? What are the specifics of the deal that he arranged?"
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Kakita Sojiro
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When you die, will you be remembered, or will you be just another strand in the tapestry?
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Post by Kakita Sojiro on Feb 3, 2012 6:30:45 GMT -5
Sojiro sighed and pulled out a tobacco roll and lit it - not a good sign, as Battou was well aware. Sojiro was a horrible liar when it involved lying to someone he cared about, and Battou was not going to be happy about this.
"He requested two things of me. The first was a kakita blade, but I was able to convince him that a Kakita blade was a bad idea. Instead, he wants me to retrieve his Nodachi from the Dragon Heart plains, where he left it the day Senshi attacked him and killed his wife and unborn child. The thing is heavily enchanted, and it seems to know it's purpose is to kill Senshi, from what he has explained to me. The second..."
He blew out a puff of smoke and met Battou's gaze again, a look of warning in his eyes.
"Battou-san, you need to understand that I have already told this to Shodai, and he has agreed to help me. You must not tell Mitsu this. Not after what she has just gone through, and the... complications surrounding her health right now."
How do I stress that she's pregnant without revealing her secret? Dammit Mitsu, how do you get me into these situations?
"The second thing he wants is blood. My blood, specifically. Apparently he can use it to make the nodachi more potent, possibly because of the connection Mai and I share. It would certainly explain why he's been testing our feelings for each other the way he has."
"I know this may sound like semantic nonsense to you, but Shoju is not a bloodspeaker. He is a Maho Tsukai, and a powerful one at that, but the difference between him and a bloodspeaker lies in the fact that Shoju does not follow the 9th kami. In fact, he has a hatred for that creature that is only rivaled by his hatred for Senshi. While this doesn't make him any less evil, it does allow him to maintain a sense of honor - something both Shodai and Yasuki Chad have confirmed to me, as well as his own conduct towards Mai so far. He gave me his word that she would be unharmed and untainted so long as I did what was asked of me, and he also gave me his word that he would not use my blood to harm or taint me or Mai. According to Shodai, the man always keeps his word." Sojiro chuckled at the absurdity of his next statement.
"Apparently raising undead, murder, and kidnapping are acceptable, but breaking a vow is not. When he visited my dreams, he brought Mai with him, and she confirmed that he had not harmed her in any way, aside from a wound to her arm that she sustained during the battle to free the village... a wound that he actually went out of his way to clean and bandage. Shoju made a vow to me, and while I am reluctant to trust him on his word alone, Shodai has had several encounters with him and has also confirmed that he has a sense of honor that won't allow him to break a vow."
"Please Battou, you can not tell Mitsu this. It would have.... extremely bad effects on her right now. I can't tell you how I know this, but I do."
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Zeure
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Post by Zeure on Feb 3, 2012 6:46:34 GMT -5
His mouth actually dropped open slightly at this. But he was quick to regain his composure.
"And you lied to Mitsouko? You lied to your daimyo, your sister!? Wow, yes, you continue to prove my point about you being foolish for this unicorn..."
He shook his head in disbelief.
"I... well, I can't tell her before I finish the task that she has set me on, but I strongly suggest you revisit this issue with her.
He sat down on one of the stools in the room, seemingly trying to steady himself from the shock that Sojiro would like to Mitsouko. It was very unlike him.
"Given what you have just said about the "deal" that you have with this bloodspeaker. I.... well... I don't have any better plan than I have already said. But, the circumstances are so vile... Listen, if you actually intend to go through with this, and you sincerely believe that this Shoju will honor his word then there is only one recourse you have. You hand him the sword and the blood, you get her away from him, and then you truly test his honor... You challenge him to a duel and then you kill him. Regardless of his answer."
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