Daigotsu Thrakhath
Spider Clan
Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken
Posts: 600
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Post by Daigotsu Thrakhath on Jun 4, 2012 9:16:37 GMT -5
Thrakhath bowed once more in farewell. "Until next time then, Kakita-san," he said. He passed through the doorway that led back into the main court, and without addressing anyone else, he made his way to the exit. He did not look for Yamuso, trusting that the resourceful man would find his own way out.
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Post by Shoju on Jun 4, 2012 9:25:04 GMT -5
Yamuso watched as Thrakhath left. Silently, with no visible bundle signaling he had the Nemuranai. Yamuso cursed, and stuck to the shadows until they were clear of the Crane. As he emerged from the Shadows, his face held a noticable frown. "And that's it? We leave empty handed?"
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Daigotsu Thrakhath
Spider Clan
Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken
Posts: 600
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Post by Daigotsu Thrakhath on Jun 4, 2012 9:55:45 GMT -5
"For now, yes," Thrakhath said. "I'm not willing to start a fight in the middle of an estate full of hostile samurai." The two men made their way to the stables. "We will be going to Seawatch Castle in a week's time, where Mitsouko has promised to return the kabuto to me." He smirked. "She will almost certainly try to kill us."
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Post by Shoju on Jun 4, 2012 10:01:53 GMT -5
Yamuso's frown deepened. I should have killed her husband when I had the chance." He said as he mounted.
" I feel that our control of the situation is slipping." Yamuso closed his eyes as he sat in the saddle. "I believe that we will need a show of strength to regain Control." He opened his eyes, and fell in stride with his Champion.
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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 Jun 5, 2012 6:19:08 GMT -5
Battou watched the other man leave, from his spot along the wall of the dojo. After waiting for a few minutes, he moved to the entrance, stood, and walked in.
"So, I'm told that the shadowlands has come to reclaim the mask we found?"
He just dropped the elephant, not caring for concealing anything.
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Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
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Post by Kakita Mitsouko on Jun 5, 2012 6:54:13 GMT -5
Indeed. She came to him, reached his hand, taking it between hers. Somehow, it was enough to make her feel calm again.
That tall man said he is Thrakh…Hath, the champion of what is called Spider clan. The "Scorpion" introduced himself by many names, I don’t know for sure…once Yamuso, then Imogawa…
I considered many things, Battou, but I’m still undecided. I said him I’d give it back in one week. The samurai-ko raised her eyes to her husband.
What can I do, Battou? Am I also I thief? A liar? And also… What is the most important thing in the moment we live? Victory at any costs?
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Daigotsu Thrakhath
Spider Clan
Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken
Posts: 600
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Post by Daigotsu Thrakhath on Jun 5, 2012 8:14:53 GMT -5
Thrakhath hauled himself up on top of his horse, and his hand gripped the reins tightly. Were he alive, his fingernails digging into his palms would have drawn blood. "You read my mind, Yamuso-san," he growled.
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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 Jun 6, 2012 3:43:42 GMT -5
He cupped a hand around her cheek, drawing her face up.
"You are none of those things, and victory is important, but the crane, our family, can not forget about it's honor, ever."
He looked to the side.
"It doesn't matter if one of us falls, but we must never as a whole lose our pride, or our honor."
The recent shadowlands excursion and everything that came with it was, in Battou's mind, completely Alesha's fault. He was most likely talking about that.
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Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
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Post by Kakita Mitsouko on Jun 6, 2012 5:23:48 GMT -5
Mitsouko gave him a weak smile.
Only a Crane can understand another Crane, neh? We have a few days to decide what is best for our clan. Now, I think we have 2 other situations to deal with.
Her concerns turned to the shireikan Hitoshi and Yasuki Chad, but also to Shodai and Kimiko.
A kinda non-ortodox celebration, right? The whole thing has its funny side, and she knew it. But the most tradicionalist guests most likely would remember that wedding party as scandalous, to say the least.
We have other strange guests here, Battou... seems like the mysterious man with the Kitsune shugenja is an entity that was expecting to meet... the Void Master as the groom. Takeyabu was his guest... She didn't reveal, though, Shodai's identity. Battou, as a skilled duelist and artisan, possessed the keen eye to make it by himself, or so she believed. So, she tried to swept away the helm's subject, for now. Producing a sudden grin, out of necessity, she spoke:
I'll deal with the 'Spider Champion's issue' tomorrow. Husband, let's make sure our guests don't feel unwelcome... and the rest need to wait, for now.
OOC: If Hitoshi and Shodai are around, we can run their scenes, though. New thread for the Spider-Crane new meeting?
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Kakita Hitoshi
Crane Clan
Be more concerned with good actions than great ones
Posts: 306
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Post by Kakita Hitoshi on Jun 9, 2012 19:11:58 GMT -5
The rest of the wedding celebrations passed more traditionally, and a great deal more uineventfully. Daidoji Ryo slipped quietly up to Mitsouko and made his report, and a little later she found the time to visit her shireikan.
Hitoshi was sitting cross legged in a small anteroom, with a large bruise developing around one eye and blood congealing on his arm. A small empty bowl was resting to one side, and a flask with a tiny amount of water left, indicating that the servants had been ensuring that he was well kept.
Mitsouko entered the room and waited quietly whilst he finished his meditations, upon which he looked up and registered her presence.
"Lady Kakita," he said formally. "I trust that you are now aware of all that has transpired today, and the reasons for it. I await your judgement."
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Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
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Post by Kakita Mitsouko on Jun 9, 2012 20:05:59 GMT -5
She sat before him, putting his family ancestral daisho besides hers. For a moment she just stood there, observing carefully his face, his saddened expression. When Mitsouko was sure to have his total attention, she said. I’ve heard a strange tale about an ancestor who wasn’t happy back there about our Crab guests. Nor does he like your acquaintance of the Yasuki daimyo… Hitoshi-san… I know what it means. I know how it can unfold into… believe me. She tapped her own leg, as if to dismiss painful memories. Someone very close to me suffered with those things… This person even tried to kill me. After a deep breath Mitsouko even smiled: I assure you, maybe if I wasn’t a bit experienced in such mysterious subjects myself, probably I wasn’t able to understand your pain and shame. That’s why I will judge you by what you showed to be before this night. And… It means you still have my trust… But, still… you shall proof that you are not commanded by the dubious desires of anyone else, ancestor, spirit or else. Perhaps it may be the moment you will expose your 'candle' to a windy night out there... She waved dismissively before he protested offering his seppuku (something that was traditionally expected, even if was to be refused). Also, the Empire needs YOUR wit, your courage and your talent, Hitoshi-san. I will not accept any request about allowing you to clean our clan's honor that is not useful for the empire. I'll tell you what I expect you to do to repair the damage you made...
But, first... I wish to ask you... and her green-gold eyes became a bit darker. Does my shireikan trust me?
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Kakita Hitoshi
Crane Clan
Be more concerned with good actions than great ones
Posts: 306
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Post by Kakita Hitoshi on Jun 11, 2012 12:02:17 GMT -5
He looked at her. "That depends on who is asking; my daimyo who I obey without question, or Mitsouko-sama with whom I may speak freely." She held his gaze evenly, giving nothing away, and it was Hitoshi who broke eye contact first.
"I must admit that I have been worried about you since the incident with the Traitor. You led us into the Shadowlands themselves to hunt him, but returned instantly after recovering that cursed artefact. And some of the things you said to those monks on the road... You have changed from the woman I met at Toshi Ranbo.
"But I find myself looking at you here and now, and I still see a woman who I would follow anywhere. A samurai. A Crane. I see grace and determination. I see compassion. I see somebody who I do not always understand, but whom I admire."
He grinned, the first time he had done so in a long time. "Which is, I guess, a long way of saying 'Yes, I trust you Mitsouko-sama.'"
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Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
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Post by Kakita Mitsouko on Jun 13, 2012 5:41:06 GMT -5
She blushed a bit, and presented him with a demure half smile. She wasn’t this modest kind of woman, but true and sincere remarks like that were rarer and rarer nowadays.
I appreciate your concern, Hitoshi-san. When we first met, I was younger, and had seen little of life. I was naïve and my experience of politics and war were minimum. It changed a lot. I tasted the crude reality a lot. But I can’t permit it to break me apart… Nor should any of us, neh? Lady Doji-Kami never broke down, she lasted as much as Hida-Kami. Instead, she bent… and resisted. And sometimes we should bend too. There’s no loss of honor in knowing when is time to bend and regain force to stand up again. It’s our making in this word, Hitoshi-san. Like artisans, Crane bend the crude reality others offer to us into something useful, beautiful… we refine and reuse whatever life throw at us. But should we just live in a life of dreams? No… we must face reality and get what they have of better to offer… To reuse it in our own benefit. Even if the Crane steps the mud, we’ll remain with clean feathers, right? Or so we wish… But I am a daimyo. I must have the luxury of ignoring the reality. Hitoshi-san… The time of innocence is long over…
With a sight she raised her eyes for the long enameled nails they had produced to her wedding. It was so inappropriate right now!
Ahhh Hitoshi-san… Our heroes were long dead, as well. It’s time to make new ones. And you, a brave, determined, and pure hearted Kakita, shall inspire our clan…. I ask you… If Chad-sama accepts, I wish you to take the whole 1rst legion to battle along the Yasuki…. Once, they battled along Crane in Seawatch Shores. They battled along us in Toshi Ranbo… Chad-sama… He’s an honorable man. Mitsouko in fact doubted that the Yasuki daimyo would refuse Hitoshi’s services, either as penance for the shame he inflicted to him or as an useful ally; but she thought it was, too, a good way to both recover Hitoshi’s self respect as to recover Kakita army's glory…
Now, when Shadowlands is knocking hard in their door… there’s no time to fool grudging about Throne Suitors. We must help Crab to defend the Empire. I wish you to take our men and follow Chad-sama’s commands… But you had a taste of Shadowlands... We shall not retreat this time. That's my proposal. She finally looked at his eyes again, expectantly.
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Kakita Hitoshi
Crane Clan
Be more concerned with good actions than great ones
Posts: 306
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Post by Kakita Hitoshi on Jun 13, 2012 17:34:32 GMT -5
My Lady, I was going to offer to ride alone in penance; to ride at the head of the First Legion again would be my greatest honour.
Hitoshi paused, wondering whether to continue, but then forged ahead. "Mitsouko-sama, I hope you will not think me impudent or ungrateful, but may I make two requests? Firstly that my grandfather's blades are turned over to the Asahina, in the hope that they can find some way to lay his spirit to rest, and secondly that if anything happens to me you keep an eye on my wife and any family we may be blessed with? She is a woman whom I greatly admire, and if the Fortunes grant us enough time one whom I think I may grow to love."
After Mitsouko had made her response, Hitoshi bowed deeply. "Then if there is nothing further, Mitsouko-sama, I shall leave to make my preparations. Tomorrow, the Crane ride to war!"
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Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
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Post by Kakita Mitsouko on Jun 13, 2012 17:56:09 GMT -5
It will be a honor, Hitoshi-san, to take care of the ancestral blades of your house til you return, or til they can be returned to your family... pacified. Mitsouko stood up, and bowed, holding back the aching pressure of pride and sadness filling her heart. It's a honor, Hitoshi-san, to know you trust me the way I trust you. Go... and make your ride leading our army memorable and glorious!
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