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Post by Akodo Tsanuri on May 1, 2012 0:41:15 GMT -5
Tsanuri felt awkward. This talk… it shouldn’t have happened. The ronin she was talking with was way too drunk, but even his state wasn’t an excuse for such words. What he said could be find treachery. But it was just a private question of a sad old man.
We do it for the sake of the Empire. We chose what we believed is better – strong emperor interested in his people. This is what guide all the people here. She looked back at the camp. A few steps further she continued. But it’s not my answer. Just those better than me. She stopped and looked the ronin in the eyes. I joined the war for work. And this side for my clan, though they weren’t my clan then. She smirked but there was no laugh nor joy in her voice. And fighting, that’s all I can do.
She looked again at the ronin. If I were you I would be more careful with words. You offended Toturi-dono in his camp, among his people. If it weren’t for your state we would be fighting now.
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Hitsuzu
Dragon Clan
Ronin, Ise Zumi, Bloodspeaker's bane, Friendly Traveller (with Sak
Posts: 52
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Post by Hitsuzu on May 1, 2012 7:24:28 GMT -5
A few minutes later...
Hitsuzu is walking through the camp, looking for general Akodo keisuke, who was not at the command tent. He has found new clothes, heimin ones, cleaner ones, fit for travel and for a monk, with no mon or clan affiliation. When he'll have time, he'll find someone to sew the wolf's head on this one. He feels refreshed, like everytime after being cleansed of his troubles and tireness by the power of the Ocean's wave. Now something has to be done to please the storm in him.
After a while, he finally find the general having a talk with some soldiers, with only a small retinue to accompany him.
He randomly picks one of this retinue, and ask him :
I beg your pardon, Samurai-san, could you please ask Akodo Keisuke-sama if he has any time for messenger's duties for me? I think I may be of some help in the communication's matter.
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Post by Shoju2 on May 1, 2012 9:06:25 GMT -5
The Ronin chuckled, his voice calm. "My state? You think its the sake talking." The ronin looked at her, the exhaustion in his eyes apparent, as he looked around, as if searching for someone. "Why Lioness, I believe that you are the only person here. I couldn't have offended a man who isn't presently in my company. Now, if I offended you, that is another matter."
As they neared the water, the Ronin began to unbuckle his his armor. "You joined the war for work. You were ronin like I. You must have done well for yourself to take a place among the Lions." The ronin smiled as he pulled the chest piece off.
"We speak of duplicity though. The Lion? Their job is to protect the Emperor. Right, Wrong, doesn't matter. The man who occupies the throne, The Shogun's brother. That was where their duty lied." The ronin began to remove the armor from his arms. "I once believed like you do. I once believed that this man could be a better emperor than his brother. I believed this man embodied the spirit of his father. Now? Now I realize that neither of these boys are interested in the legacy of their father. They see us as playthings, with which to hurt each other. One brother jealous of the other for something. One brother angry about something else."
The Ronin reached down to the edge of the stream with a rag, wetting it, and then stood and started wiping at the chest piece. "There is nothing in these two brothers that is any good for Rokugan. And what of the other brother? Is he prisoner? Is he enemy? Is he Ally? Oooh I tell you Lioness, These brothers will destroy Rokugan to best each other. The wisdom of their father has fallen on deaf ears."
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Akodo Keisuke
Lion Clan Mod
Lion Clan Regent ?Samurai ?Daimyo ?First Among Generals ?Tactician ?Commander ?Loyal
Posts: 704
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Post by Akodo Keisuke on May 3, 2012 16:47:48 GMT -5
Keisuke ignoring ought else walked slightly up to the edge of the small stream knelt more than a few good paces away from the ronin. He plunged his hand into the stream and made the motion of washing them.
Tell me wave man is you courage, your honor truly that limited. He looked the question at the ronin.
If we had won the day and sent the Dragon back to their Mountain, would you still have uncovered this new found wisdom you drank in from that bottle. Or would you be singing the virtues Emperor Toturi and celebrating with that same bottle.
He stood and rested his left hand on his saya and looked down at the ronin. If you wish to continue to serve in the emperor's arimes you would be wise to apologize to Akodo Tsanuri-san and recant words about the emperor and retire for the evening.
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Post by Shoju2 on May 3, 2012 18:58:39 GMT -5
The ronin looked at the new lion who had joined them. Akodo Keisuke was known by anyone immediately. He bowed deeply to him, looked at the lioness, and back to Keisuke. "Tell me Akodo-sama. Did you have the privilege of knowing Toturi-dono? Did you know the Father of your Emperor? I did. My mind has faltered much in my life, from the effects of sake, and the curse of an enemy, but I remember him. I remember why my parents followed him in the Clan War. I came here searching for the same thing in the Shogun." the ronin eyed keisuke's hand on his saya, and began removing the rest of his armor, placing it delicately on the bank. " If I offended Tsanuri by speaking the truth, I apologize to her, my desire was to speak with clarity about my feelings. But I will not apologize for what I say about a boy who thinks he can carry the name Toturi and drag it through the mud of a battlefield, because he thinks his brother a lesser leader."
The ronin placed the last of his armor on the bank and rested his hand on his own blade. " Akodo-sama, in all my years, I have learned that Rokugan desires sincerity over truth, and I'm too old, and too tired for sincerity. "
The ronin moved away from the water onto dry land with better footing. "I know how this works. I insulted you, your clan, and your lord. You offered me a chance to repent, and I only repented for offending the samurai-ko. Come Keisuke-sama.
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Akodo Keisuke
Lion Clan Mod
Lion Clan Regent ?Samurai ?Daimyo ?First Among Generals ?Tactician ?Commander ?Loyal
Posts: 704
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Post by Akodo Keisuke on May 4, 2012 15:10:46 GMT -5
Keisuke listened to what the ronin had to say, though at the time he chose to ignore those words. In the the years to come however Keisuke would recall the conversation and realize it was one more occasion when he should have set aside the notion of self with blind duty and risen above such base reactions. And it was one instance that he would regret.
Truth you say, the truth you cling to is mired in your narrow respective. Keisuke lowered his shoulders and let go his tension.
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death. Life's but a walking shadow, a poor warrior, That struts and frets his hour upon the field.
With the flutter of a sparrows wing, Keisuke's right hand moved to the hilt of Shinrai. With one motion he closed the distance to the ronin and swung his blade to cut him.
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Post by Shoju2 on May 4, 2012 15:42:11 GMT -5
The ronin was prepared for Keisuke's strike. He knew it was coming. It was what he had been preparing himself for. As the birds took flight, The ronin remembered his childhood, and the proud look his father had every time he saw his son. As the blade cleared its saya, he remembered the worried look on his mother's face when he left for the Crane lands. He remembered the Emperor, Toturi I, asking his parents to allow it just the night before.
As the blade sliced the air, The Ronin remembered the disappearance of Toturi I. He remembered his father's maddening search for him. He remembered finding his father's dead body. He remembered the promise he made, never sure if he truly found the shadow responsible for his death.
The Ronin's sword hand never moved from its resting place on the edge of his father's Katana. As the Lion's blade found purchase in him, he remembered the Unicorn woman. Iuchi Xi Seng. He had finally remembered her name. He had finally, fully, remembered the love, though brief, they had shared for one another. His only regret in life that he never knew if she had truly escaped. Sweet release had finally come. His mind, fouled by the curse of the bloodspeaker that night, had found the peace he had searched for. The Nezumi had stabalized his mind, and given him clarity, but only the blade of the Lion had given him peace.
As his body began to fall to the ground, his left hand released the belt that held his daisho at his side, allowing them to fall to the ground, his body trailing off to the side. He made no sound. He uttered no words. As his eyes closed, he could see that his armor and Daisho were free of his body. As death stole his mind, he hoped that someone capable of honoring his father would take them.
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