Zeure
Crane Clan
Crane Clan ? Samurai ? Duelist ? Artisan ? Guardian of Metal ? Unique
Posts: 826
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Post by Zeure on Feb 21, 2012 21:16:23 GMT -5
"Leave Haruka to the path she has chosen to follow. She made this decision of her own will. She was going to walk the earth as a ronin to get away from you, Shoju, and all the rest of the people in her life. I have set her free to do as she wants. Now, one more time. Get out of my city. Before you force my hand."
Yun had stopped moving sideways. He would be out of the way if Senshi struck at Bob, but well within Bob's reach if he needed to jump to his defense. Shiba trained Yojimbo are something to be reckoned with, after all; and doubly so when protecting their charges. Senshi may not know it, neither would Haruka, but Bob had not lost any of his abilities in the transition and had only gained some mastery over his undead condition since. Yun was sure that Senshi would not take his offer, and accordingly was readying to cast his first offensive.
"Master swordsman or not, we will have you if you don't leave."
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Bayushi Senshi
Scorpion Clan
Scorpion Clan * Clan Champion * Samurai * Kensai * Experienced * Loyal * Unique
Posts: 1,891
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Post by Bayushi Senshi on Feb 22, 2012 9:27:47 GMT -5
Senshi carefully and cautiously stepped closer to Rin. Then without looking to her, his eyes always watching Yun and his surroundings, he reversed his grip on his blade, and offered the hilt of it up to Haruka to take from him. As he held it there waiting for her to take it, the blade crossed his body, defending him from any sudden attack as he transferred the blade over.
He had wished for a second arm more only once, and that was when he held his wife in his arms. Now he was hindered by the fact that if everything went to plan, he would be disarmed for only a brief instant. The distance between the foes was enough that Senshi was confident he would at least be able to draw his wakizashi if he needed to.
Senshi showed absolute trust in Haruka, though he knew she was in a state of crisis. "You are not free," Senshi observed of Yun, more referring to the condition of being tainted, then anything else. Though his words always carried weight as he spoke to Yun.
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Bayushi Haruka
Scorpion Clan
OOC Cleanup Crew
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Posts: 1,054
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Post by Bayushi Haruka on Feb 22, 2012 16:17:45 GMT -5
As Haruka took the weight of the blade into her hands she seemed all too startled by the motion of it all. This was not the same Senshi she had bore witness too, though the feeling and the damage was all too real a memory for her. She blinked gradually clearing the fog from her mind.
It was only a vision!
Her gaze seemed to soften then as she took hold of the Champion's weapon and pulled it out of Senshi's grasp. She sheathed her own wakizashi as it was such an inadequate weapon to fight with, and to spill any other blood with it than her own would sully the very nature of the blade. She only used it before out of sheer desperation.
Rin turned to face Yun and his undead comrade with a sort of glint in her eye as though to say, 'the second she says go, you're mine.' A blast from her nostrils seemed to confirm the clear distaste the mare held for everyone else here. Haruka was gradually coming to a decision as the realization of Senshi's feelings started to touch her.
"Enough, Senshi-sama. Let us leave this place without spilling more blood, without encouraging more senseless violence."
Her gaze lifted up to Yun as she was poised with Churetsu in her hand and looking calmer than ever. "You have my eternal gratitude for your assistance during these harsh times for me Yun-san. But I'm afraid our natures are too different for me to remain here, and remain the woman I am. I will still stop at nothing to find a way to save you."
Her gaze was tender as it had always been. Surely with these two men caring so deeply for her would come to some unspoken agreement and allow them to leave. She didn't seem to care what fate could possibly await her now, she was just ready to put this place behind her.
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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 Feb 22, 2012 20:50:36 GMT -5
Yun's face went blank and cold, all the thoughts of his time, the sacrifices he had made, the things that had been done in his absence, the murder that had been committed and she was still going to leave with this man. After he had sacrificed everything to get her free of him.
Oh hell...
"Bob, hold them for a moment. I'm almost done."
The energy that Yun had been gathering and preparing to launch his assault against Senshi was now very evident. Several dark lines of energy began arcing around him and a ball of the same energy was forming in his hands in front of him. Several moments of preparation had already gone into this and he only needed a few seconds more.
Bob moved forward towards Senshi, he was sweeping his katana left and right, more trying to hedge him backwards away from the horse, away from Haruka and Yun. Senshi was incredibly agile and was not taking any blows, but Bob wasn't trying to kill him.
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Bayushi Senshi
Scorpion Clan
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Posts: 1,891
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Post by Bayushi Senshi on Feb 22, 2012 22:51:51 GMT -5
Senshi had finished attempting to stall him with inane observations, he couldn't hold them at bay long enough to get mounted. He ducked into a backward roll drawing, not a wakizashi, but a finger of jade sharpened to a point. He threw it full force toward Bob, but it sailed over his shoulder heading straight at Yun.
"He will cast, don't let him!" he commanded to Haruka. Continuing to backpedal from the former Shiba's swings, he did not look to see if his jade reached his target. But drew his mother's wakizashi, defending himself, and freeing up room for Haruka to act. Confident now in her ability to act with clarity. Actions speak louder then words to a Unicorn. She knows my heart.
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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 Feb 23, 2012 0:41:27 GMT -5
Bob continued to press into Senshi keeping his hand busy blocking and parrying the strikes that he was offering. There was a sensation that would occur to Senshi that Bob was not striking wildly, nor was he reacting to Senshi's own blows, but rather, it seemed that he was striking exactly where he would need to in order to keep Senshi on guard, to keep him moving and focused on him rather than Yun.
The jade finger was well aimed, and though Yun had displayed exceptional reflexes earlier, he was so caught up in finishing his spell as soon as he could that he payed it no mind. The pain it illicited was much more intense than the wound that it delivered. But Yun would not be distracted. He sectioned that part of him out of his mind and continued to focus on the spell. The ball he had generated was much bigger now. Inside of it, the image of a cage formed, no, two cages, and a pedestal. The dark aura that was emanating from him became much more intense for several seconds and then seemed to extend over the entire area.
"CALL TO JUDGEMENT!"
Time seemed to dilate for the six of them, becoming ever slower over several seconds. The darkness that had pervaded the area from Yun was now a dark sky overcast with black rolling clouds mixed with the flash of lightning and the roll of thunder. The ground fell out from underneath them all but they did not fall with it; instead they found themselves floating in the eerie darkness. Then, the man that would have been the sacrifice for Haruka's training, Bob, and Rin faded away, as if disintegrated, though Haruka was quite sure Rin was not dead for some reason. They were not targets of the spell.
The pedestal that had been forming in the ball in Yun's hand rose up underneath Haruka raising her up on to a much higher plane than the other two. Yun's eyes were closed and his arms were pressed at his side. He and Senshi both found themselves enclosed in spiked and barbed cages made of some cold foreign material. A chain was extended from the darkness of the cloudy sky and latched on to the top of the cages that they were in raising them up higher, above Haruka but only slightly. Senshi could see that behind Haruka there was a titan of a man, a literal giant that had a sword of equally enormous portions wearing some form of heavy armor that seemed of foreign design.
A deep booming voice from behind Haruka said "Choose!"
The cages were of an open design and anyone could speak freely with anyone else.
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Bayushi Haruka
Scorpion Clan
OOC Cleanup Crew
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Posts: 1,054
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Post by Bayushi Haruka on Feb 23, 2012 7:35:55 GMT -5
Haruka looked on in horror. No matter the speed she had in her, the spell went off and consumed the three of them. She looked up at the darkness surrounding them all coupled with the booming voice of this greater entity, it was startling. Her gaze then started to go between the two men as she started to put two and two together.
"Yun-san, why do you do this!? Why are you making me choose?" His calm and collected state worrying her as he seemed all to ready and willing to offer his life up.
Her shock then turned to Senshi who was also trapped by this wretched spell. A quick appraisal of his situation showed her that he wasn't hurt. But the ominous feeling of this moment put a weight on her heart that made her whole form ache.
She sank down where she was placed on this raised platform, tears welling up in her eyes as she continued to look frantically between the two. On one hand this man who had brought her up through the social standing far beyond anything she could have ever hoped to attain alone as a warrior, having taken her into his clan and under his wing in every right, and having shown her that there was so much more she was capable of.
And yet on the other was this newer friend. Tainted, but with a heart that wanted to strengthen her, to protect her and claimed to desire redemption even if it was unattainable in this moment. He had stood by her in the darkest hour.
But to her horror now she had to choose, and by the tone of the entity behind her, which she dare not look upon, it was a matter of life and death.
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Bayushi Senshi
Scorpion Clan
Scorpion Clan * Clan Champion * Samurai * Kensai * Experienced * Loyal * Unique
Posts: 1,891
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Post by Bayushi Senshi on Feb 24, 2012 16:34:48 GMT -5
Senshi only truly lowered his guard after he realized the intent behind the cage. A cage is a simple tool with a simple message, one of separation and control, not immediate danger. Why go through the effort of caging a man if you wanted him dead? He sheathed his wakizashi and looked out at the giant in western armor.
Same origin as the cage, he thought. This was beyond simple maho, this was magic from a people who supposedly the kami did not talk to. Senshi made a mental checklist of his remaining combat options. Wakizashi was a known factor to his foe-... he caged himself? What an odd creature...
When he heard the booming voice, Senshi could have laughed. Instead he looked over to his foe, who seemed resigned to his fate. Senshi said to him in the same cold weighty tone, "I was wrong. You are a fool."
Senshi looked back at his wife, "Take care that you know exactly what you are choosing." He pulled down his mask so she could see his whole face, and nodded to her, encouraging her to think and process everything she saw.
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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 Feb 26, 2012 19:17:13 GMT -5
Yun chuckled for a moment at Senshi's comments and then opened his eyes to stare at Haruka upon the pedestal. He moved his arms in front of him and checked the area that was afforded to them in the cages. He had never been on the receiving end of it. He placed one of his hands around one of the cage bars to rest against.
"Haruka... this is the call to judgement. The thing behind you is the executioner. You are going to choose between me and Senshi. One of us will be banished from the realm of humans. One will return to the city of the lost with you."
All the memories of the time they had spent, brief though it was passed through Yun. He thought on it all for a moment, his goals, his desires, everything that this woman had sent spinning off kilter just by existing, just by the sheer accident that he even met her because of a botched spell cast by a Gaijin Sorcerer. He was doing exactly what he had been told not to do, he was letting his emotions run away with him, but such was his burden.
"It is not right that this man has such a control over you Haruka. Everything that we've done together... I set you free from all that. I gave you everything that I had, I gave up everything that I had for you. And I can not live with half of your love. If this murderer is who you want to wrap a chain around your neck for the rest of your life, then so be it. I will be gone... or... or, you can choose freedom, you can choose me."
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Bayushi Senshi
Scorpion Clan
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Posts: 1,891
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Post by Bayushi Senshi on Feb 26, 2012 21:29:49 GMT -5
Senshi hooked his thumb in a leather strap of his dirtied armor, he never broke gaze with Haruka however as he spoke, "Your selfishness will be your undoing, tainted one. You and I both know Haruka's love for life and the celestial order I suspect. This brash attempt at winning her heart will only serve to demonize you in her eyes. And when you die, in your attempt to martyr yourself to her heart and poison our love, she will curse you for forcing her to choose."
He continued to gaze into Haruka's eyes, "I love you, my Haruka. And were you able to make the choice, I would let you save us both. But this is a lesson you must learn...
...you can't save everyone. No amount of it will ever change the fact that your family is dead. I know you blame yourself for not being able to save them. I tried to help you deal with the loss by killing your sister. But you must cope with the fact that you cannot save everyone. We can no longer tarry, let us return to our son."
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Bayushi Haruka
Scorpion Clan
OOC Cleanup Crew
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Posts: 1,054
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Post by Bayushi Haruka on Feb 27, 2012 15:24:02 GMT -5
Senshi's words were piercing as always. He was always one to choose few words and make each and everyone count with enough weight and strength to make even a devout Utaku impressed. But this did not bring Haruka any comfort at all, while the situation was now explained to her she couldn't even stand to look at either of them knowing that the blood would be on her hands.
He was also right, as silently Haruka was cursing Yun in her mind for such a horrible choice. There were so many unknowns, so many factors to weigh in, she wondered how a lord might choose one man over another as they might stand before him challenging one another's validity as a legitimate vassal. But such stories always had the time and leisure of a test to be performed, or some great profound understanding that the lord already had before the meeting was ever called. Sadly Haruka had no such great divine understanding before her, just two men who both had done so much for her.
She dropped to her knees with an audible hit, like a limp body against stone. Her knees were protected by her hakama at least this time around. The experience was nearly shattering considering the prison she had only just departed, but only Yun might understand that. Her mind hurt with how much it swirled with memory and how it was forced to try and weigh one man's life against another. All the drills Senshi had put her through to teach Haruka the tenant of Duty, the Scorpion's loyalty.
In this realm her thoughts and feelings became exaggerated as the gaijin executioner could feel her turmoil, he seemed to feed on the sheer difficulty of her choice, glowing with more power as it seemed to grow along with her anxiety. It's resounding voice blasting her senses. "CHOOSE."
Gripping her head she tossed and physically held on as if she might lose her own mind if she didn't. Her intensity was evident but only one of these two souls was going to live on to see her past this moment. Tears started to run down her face as the words all started to settle in...
((I'll do my 'choice' tomorrow.))
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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 Feb 28, 2012 23:12:42 GMT -5
Haruka couldn't bare it. Every moment ripped her mind apart as she could feel an unseen pressure in her mind. To delay was to show fear, to delay was to have no faith in oneself, and that was something she couldn't stand.
Even with all the acts of heroism and the faith his soul had instilled in her, Haruka could not be forced any other way.
Slamming her fist on the ground she looked up with tear-soaked eyes, forcing herself up.
"Yun, I'm so sorry. I... I have to choose you."
Her choice was made, the executioner would not mistake it now. Slowly, painfully, Haruka lifted her hand and pointed at Yun, her piercing gaze following it as the pain was etched in her eyes.
"This man must die.."
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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 Feb 29, 2012 4:27:56 GMT -5
"SO IT IS CHOSEN!"
The giant in gaijin armor swept up his huge sword. An obvious yellow flash of light escaped his eyes as he hefted it. Time again, seemed to slow for all those involved.
Haruka could not keep her eyes off of Yun during the weird adjustment of time. On his face, she did not see any of the anger that she expected, none of the fury that he had displayed while protecting her, while freeing her from any of the horrible situations that she had been in any of these past few weeks. Instead, she saw only sorrow. Something hurt, remorseful, that may indeed live with her for the rest of her life.
The sword swept through the chain suspending his cage above the roiling pit of clouds and lightning, for some reason it looked hungry and eager to accept Yun into it. As he fell, he did not scream, he did not call out, his cage sunk into the clouds and a peal of thunder was the only sound that any of them could hear. It was almost as if he was being called into it, rather than being plunged horribly against his will, though that last look on his face did not look happy with the situation.
Their sense of things became distinct even though they still felt like they were moving faster than everything else. Senshi's cage shattered into a millions pieces of metal that burst out in a cloud around him, away from him, in every direction that he could see; and gently he floated down to Haruka, still sobbing from her choice. He landed on the pedestal and reached out an arm for her.
Suddenly the face that he saw was not Haruka's, instead it was Bob's. The Sword cut deeply into his midsection and if it wasn't for the armor that Senshi was wearing, it likely would have cut him in two. This was the sensation that greeted him and then, Bob collapsed in a heap in front of him. the bright green light that had been pouring from his eye sockets dimmed and vanished entirely. Then the sensation of time returned to normal. It was clearly over.
All were back in the city of the lost, back in the positions they had been before they left because of the spell. Except for Yun. Haruka was upon Rin, who was very disconcerted, seeming to understand that something had happened that was unusual and bad; she stomped furiously, wanting to take off immediately. Churetsu had slipped from her grip and the tip of the blade was buried in the dirt, making the sword stand on end.
The man whom had been intended as Haruka's sacrifice was still bound, gagged, and quite put out.
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Bayushi Senshi
Scorpion Clan
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Post by Bayushi Senshi on Feb 29, 2012 17:52:11 GMT -5
Senshi buckled from the blow, very much displeased that he couldn't exact proper revenge for the cut. He remained analytical despite his injuries. He tried to stand straight and go to his wife, but bent over in pain again. It was a deep cut, he started pulling at the straps, he needed to know how bad of a condition he was in.
He noticed blood pooling beneath him, and he fell to his side. Still trying to get his chest piece off. Must stop the bleeding, still in danger. He looked up to his wife astride Riku, "The captive's bindings..." He coughed, and tasted iron.
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Bayushi Haruka
Scorpion Clan
OOC Cleanup Crew
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Posts: 1,054
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Post by Bayushi Haruka on Feb 29, 2012 18:58:33 GMT -5
Haruka's line of thinking quickly aligned with Senshi's as the blow had fallen and he started to quickly unburden his armor from himself. But her senses were heightened in this agitated state, the sound of footsteps was on the way though they were in no haste, at least not yet.
Moving with haste she had every intention of freeing the poor soul she was going to be forced to kill just minutes before, Rin took a few strides before allowing Haruka to bound off and take Churetsu in hand, using the blade to quickly sever the cloth bindings. In another motion she removed the blindfold and the gag as well, collecting as much cloth off him as she could, and in the process freeing him.
Turning away she couldn't spare a thought for the man just yet as Haruka helped to lift away his chest plate and examined the wound. The blood was flooding his clothes quite badly.
"By the fortunes, Senshi, just hold on I'm going to apply pressure and do what I can."
Her hands worked faster than ever before, her cheeks were still wet and her eyes still hazy from the stress of the moments now passed. But her mind was still about her as she spoke above herself, addressing the man she had freed.
"You there! I've spared your life so you owe me this much. Hold my horse and help my husband return to safety and I swear you'll be rewarded." Her eyes remained focused as she dare not look away, her hands becoming covered in Senshi's blood once again. The bindings were just enough for a tight hold over the wound, but they were far from ideal. His body needed to be cleansed and allowed to heal as soon as possible, more importantly he needed to be taken away from this land that might corrupt his exposed flesh. There was no room for hesitation in this matter.
A plan was developing in Haruka's mind. In her renewed state she would run along with Rin, and the horse would bear both Senshi and the man's weight, that way should something dangerous cross their path she would be able to answer it with battle and not have to worry about the safety of her husband.
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