A "party" at the edge of abyss

[Asahina Yukihime]

(( This a "private gathering" that takes place short after the fall of CoSs, it is somewhat an 'after hours' for these threads (click for link): Loyalty and Sacrifice, Poetry Competition and The Court of the Hantei.
But as the music and chatting may be heard by someone wandering around the less crowded corridors of Kyuden Otomo, feel free to contact Hiromitsu-san or myself if you wish to join ))

Yukihime slowly takes a deep breath while the wind whistles around her.

"Is anything else needed, Asahina-sama?"

"No, Asahina Shen-sama, I appreciate your devotion. Please, take your time to rest. We are only at the eye of the storm right now."

"Better use the time wisely." - The old shugenja bows in farewell for the night.

"Indeed. Have a good night, Asahina-sama." - Yukihime returns the bow, allowing the magistrate to leave.

Her wide office now have a "new" decoration. Many musical instruments were brought in. The door to the deck is totally opened, allowing a nice view of the night outside. Under the sky lies a garden, taken by the tipical spring night, filled with sounds and moves that only attentive observers could percieve. Just like it should be.

Tea is ready to be served, resting beside a bowl of colorful okashi. Yukihime waits, her "guests" should be arriving soon.

[Bayushi Hiromitsu]

A misterious monk walked with Bayushi Hiromitsu for some time now...

-This time we will prevail. We are simply your allies, not your betrayers. What we want from Bayushi-san is open and plain, with no hidden paths.

The misterious monk smiled:

-If Bayushi-san succeed, so do we all.

-Is the monk asking me to trust you?

-We must trust one another. Together we can defeat Shoju. Once he is dead, his order will collapse, mindless fools that they are. But there are dangers other than the Spider which must be overcome.

-I care not for any dangers! They will fear me, do you hear? Tell me where to find this Shoju. I'll have him buried within the hour!

-Such arrogance. If it were so easy we would have done it ourselves, Bayushi-san.

Hiromitsu entered the room, leaving the monk behind, and bowed to his old friend. The mask, somewhat different: a kitsune's face, white and smilling, did nothing to hide his face. As before, the mask was just there, without any real use. His voice was full of anger and rage.

-Asahina-sama, I have seen many things in 'this war'. Through the twisted plots and tangled schemes, truth emerged. I had thought myself manipulated by 'this war', yet it seemed the strings were held by another, more powerful puppeteer.

As he seated, in seiza, his voice was again, nice an clear, his rightful anger left behind

-And this is my though on our duty:

-It gives life utility, it is not a matter of desire.
-To be useful is our responsibility, so let's light the fire.

-Let it burn.
-Is our power, our hour, our turn.

-A proof of our nobility, even if the enemy is dire.
-With all of our skill and agility, let's start the fire.

[Asahina Yukihime]

Yukihime look at Hiromitsu sideways, with the expected discretion. She noticed the new mask and the somewhat "stormy" behaviour.

The shugenja bowed deeply to her old friend, his few words were enough to take the whole night away from what she had planned to it.

"Greetings, Bayushi-san. And welcome, I hope your fiance, Daidoji-san, had a safe travel to Kitsune lands. May Benten bless your marriage to come."

Once Hiromitsu took his place the shugenja gave some attention to the monk who was left by the door, with a brief nod to the monk she addressed to Hiromitsu again.

"Is your follower joining us, Bayushi-san?"

[Bayushi Hiromitsu]

-Thank you, Asahina-sama.

He bowed again, in a clear signal of respect.

-By the way, what is the fastest way to become a master blaster "meditator"? I mean, if one who is not so good in "meditative matters" can become really good, really fast, at it?


The monk smiled and said with a smoth soft voice:

-Bayushi-san remembers when he was yong and...



-Oh no, Asahina-sama, he is definitely not comming with us...

[Asahina Yukihime]

The Asahina excused the monk before sliding the door to close it.

"I think the only ones who can achieve great results really ast are the ones trully talented to it. And... meditation may not be Bayushi-san greatest talent. But, it can be achieved through effort and pratice anyway. Do Bayushi-san need help calming your mind and soul?"


She took her place sitting in seiza, realizing that it is just impossible to picture a meditative Hiromitsu.

"What was Bayushi-san saying about the war?"

She have had enough of the war talking at the court, but hearing it rom Hiromitsu was unexpected enough to make her concerned again. He was starting to sound a little like what she saw in the stars during the winter.

[Bayushi Hiromitsu]

-Oh, well...

...and was then Hiromitsu took a deep, long breath. And containing his evergrowing smile said:


-The crab is on our side now. They just needed a little-gentle "bonk" in the head with the heaviest hammer we could find to wake up. The bad news is that the spider is attacking.

But Hiromitsu was worried, after all.

-Oh yeah, I was really inspired by our band, the Ikazuchi. So I will do the most logical and rational thing to do... and that is... Will try to destroy our enemies of the spider. After all, scorpions are the natural pretators of the spiders.

-So, this random ronin that I don't know, who not even presented himself tell me "you need to metitate to unlock your true potential". And I'm like "3", and he's like "no... 77" and I was like "damn"... >.<

he crossed his arms in a vain attempt to hide his frustration

-I have to say that... I'm not really the most wise bushi on the empire... I want to help defend Rokugan in the most awesome way possible. And now this zen spiritual thing is in the way... feels so unfair.