Tomatsu's Room (rp)

[Kitsuki Yuushahime]

(ooc: Edit: yay posts)

The lightweight door fell apart far easier than Mika expected, causing her to lose her balance. She controlled herself and rolled forward with the momentum, quickly adjusting herself to her surroundings and scanning for threats. The area to her right she knew as the restaurant but all she could hear now was a mighty fire. It must swamp the entire restaurant by now, easily. Why had it not spread here? She looked behind her once more into the garden. It was starting to fill with a bit of smoke and the moonlight was no longer easily falling on the pond there. More importantly for her though, there was nobody pursuing her.

She darted into a side room as she sensed someone approaching. Looking around she noticed the smoke was also strangely absent inside. What exactly was going on here? With her left side against the wall she peered out into the hallway. A figure ran past to where the doors had been earlier. He carried a weapon in one hand, a ninja-to, and in the other a shuriken. His stance was low. Mika was surprised when he clucked his tongue and then disappeared out towards the garden. Perhaps he had thought someone had run that way? That suited her fine. The servant stairs were nearby as well as the exit. She was still unsure if her master would prefer immediate aid from herself or aid later in the form of reinforcement. She stepped out of the room, beginning to finalise her decision. It was only on her approach to the servant exit that she heard the exchange of conversation. The flames were still mysteriously absent from the walls. She crept up, a hand on her weapon handle. Mika moved closer, as silently as she possibly could without rushing.

"... without magical support. Excellent. Upstairs too? Thank you Iroku. If we just hold them here they will be destroyed with the building. I trust you could manage that?" A melodic voice asked
"Of course sama but... what then about ourselves?" a much more deferential female voice countered
"Fine, then my apprentice shall aid you and you can just kill the target quickly. I suppose you want to survive so you can be paid. Fine, fine, fine. Iroku?"
"It will be done" A new male voice. Lacking any tell tale signs of emotion.
"Thank you sama..."
Mika was now in the next room over. They were talking in the servant area. She then heard the sound of heavy items falling to the ground.
"I am ready"
"Good. They will probably cut through the second wave. You must finish this"
"I understand. It will take a moment sama"
"I should have sent you in earlier. I put too much faith in these... individuals" Mika could make out slight anger in the last words. The man was obviously in charge. If only she could manoeuvre herself to see. It would be too risky though.
"We will still do our part!" one of the men yelled back with confidence. It startled Mika a little but she made sure to stay silent. Her breathing was much quieter than the sounds of timber cracking in other parts of the building. There was still even the odd clash of weapons from the upper floors. It was not too difficult to be still enough to not be noticed with all of the background noise.
"As you wish. See it is done well. Glorious. Now, I have to attend to a more pressing matter" The pleasant voice finished. Mika heard footsteps leaving. The conversation resumed after.
"You four, follow me, call whatever men and women you have left. You are only getting fully paid with the completion of our objective"
"Yes Iroku-sama. Please"
Mika ducked back into the room a step. A man ran past where she was and towards the group. His footsteps were very quiet but his urgency betrayed his movements.
"And?"
"I couldn't find anyone commander. Nothing at all. They are likely nearby?" The new voice was male and uncertain. A little young perhaps.
"Forget them. We must eliminate the target"
"Yes"
"Come" Mika sensed the group moving away. They were making their way up the stairs. She strained to hear anything else. Then she noticed the wall behind her starting to go up in flame. Why now?! She quickly made sure the area outside was clear and then stepped out. Now she was even more unsure of what to do next. She crept up on where the conversation had taken place. Smoke was starting to flood the area now. Nonetheless she couldn't help but notice the odd items on the ground. Green samurai armour? A helmet too? She picked up the back piece of armour and turned it around. Yes, a Dragon mon. She thought back to earlier. That made sense. She looked up the hallway towards the stairs and the room over containing the exit. Both were now starting to catch on fire. What to do? Where should her duty take her?

[Kitsuki Yuushahime]

Haru had heard the sound of the would be attacker being killed. She hadn't noticed any of them. Not the three that greeted her or the one they killed. She didn't recognise them either and it unnerved her. She was clutching her wakizashi tightly in her right hand. Much more tightly than she needed to. Her left hand clutched the large bag of items even more tightly though. It was unwieldy and heavy but it had so many items of value in it. She took a step back, scanning the three for any killing intent or sign of mistruth. She tried to remember her training but it was all a little hazy. Still, her instincts said she could probably trust them. She'd be dead by now if they hadn't helped, unless that was a ploy, and they could just have killed her themselves if they weren't indeed here to assist. She took a moment to calm her breathing and steady herself. She still didn't like having to rely on others, let alone these Scorpion agents who did not appear to be samurai. She sighed wearily and then nodded.

Please help carry this. The servant stairs are closestEthank you She sounded weary. Even she could tell that much. In truth she had been close to sleeping only a little while before. Now though she was doing her best to be alert and capable.

One of the two women nodded reluctantly and the man, who had joined them last, picked up the bag and then distributed some of the items to the others to make it less cumbersome. Haru objected when he went to take the katana. Instead she strapped it into her obi. The man then put the bag down gently and Haru understood the other items were unimportant. She frowned and then fell into line behind the three who were already making their way out of the room.

She looked right and could see the assassin's body still lying in the hallway, along with his bow. It was limp. Dark fluids were pooling around it. The corridor was darker than usual but still light enough to make out the details. It was the first corpse of a recently killed person she'd ever seen but it wouldn't be the last of the night. She'd seen bodies before and been taught about them and their anatomy by her sensei but... it was still gruesome to see someone who had actually been killed. Could she inflict that state on another if it became necessary?

The group moved left and had to step over some of the bodies of other guests. Each had an arrow or two sticking out of their backs. Her right hand trembled a little as she continued to tightly grip her weapon. One she had not even been fully deemed to be ready for. That also weighed heavily on her mind. At least she was no longer shaking. Her knuckles were white now. She watched the three Scorpion agents as one moved ahead and the other two formed a vanguard and rearguard for herself. They were very precise and coordinated. Haru felt a little safer with their company, though still unsure about them. The blood stains along the floor, leading to guest rooms, also put her on edge. The guests who had fled first had likely been dragged back in their rooms. Why?

The group suddenly stopped and the man rejoined them, shaking his head. The woman explained that more enemies were using the servant stairs. A reasonably large group no less. They would have to wait and then try later, when it was clear. The alternative would be to try the guest stairs on the other side of the building, though the problem could apply there too. The woman at the rear turned around and began to do something that pushed back the flames that were starting to spread along the corridor. Haru realised she was a shugenja or at least had the gift. She stayed silent and waited for the three to decide what to do next.

[Kitsuki Yuushahime]

Yuushahime finished with Tomatsu while watching Kazuma as he moved ahead, with Ichiro behind him. Hikori stayed back to defend the rear. Kiba was sticking by her Lord. Yuushahime observed the two different approaches of the two men. One was obviously alert and seriously scanning for threats, perhaps even on edge, his footsteps heavy and betraying his lack of qualms about inflicting death on anyone that got in their way. The other was silent and at at first glance at ease, however Yuushahime could sense the contained energy waiting to be unleashed.

She stepped ahead, offering some of the balm to Hikori who accepted and then the Ikoma. They then began to trail behind the others, with Tomatsu stopping by her. His comment surprised her. She carefully thought about an appropriate response, though her first idea was to simply accept. "I cannot sama. You are their primary target. We cannot increase the danger to you any further. If you were injured protecting me then I would be responsible and would not be able to live with that. Please... we will make it through this". She said it as positively and confidently as she could, putting her things away to draw her fan again. I must look somewhat competent I hope she thought, her wakizashi and war fan in hand.

The corridor leading to the guest stairs had disturbing trails of blood leading to some of the rooms but no bodies. The inn was becoming mostly silent now. The fire was increasing in volume though. Some of the rooms were becoming well lit from the flames, which seemed to chase after the samurai. The Eternal Lantern would soon be no more. It would only be beams soon and those would collapse in time. The strong smell of smoke was in the air and it was beginning to gather in dark clouds along the ceiling. It would creep down in no time at all.

Further ahead, Kazuma spotted the enemies that had been lying in wait first; they had been watching the group as he suspected. Unfortunately they immediately realised they had been noticed and moved instantly to try and seize upon some advantage.

The figures poured out of the guest stairway doors and a few emerged from the side rooms. There must have been nine or ten in total. Yuushahime noted that two were female and staying at the rear. Were the women the commanders? That was odd. The enemies were silent this time, more wary. They didn't immediately close the distance, instead throwing shuriken and throwing knives while the others took a defensive stance. It was likely they were here to buy time. One knotched an arrow on her short bow before setting their sights on Tomatsu, aiming for his heart. Two of the others began to spin long chains with a ball on the end, tied to a blade they kept in their hand. Yuushahime had seen that weapon before but she had no time to dwell on it. She was too busy swiping a shuriken out of the air before throwing herself into another guest room to avoid a throwing knife. She was relieved as Hikori dodged in behind her. She quickly scanned for the others.

[Shiba Kazuma]

Kazuma saw the bow being drawn. He had no time to think and barley enough time to act. He quickly shifted his grip on his Naginata so that he was holding it like a spear and then sent it flying through the air. He felt a throwing knife lodge itself in his shoulder as he threw the weapon. It knocked his aim off a little so that it grazed the archer rather then impale her. Kazuma ducked into a guest room. He removed the knife from his arm and quickly drew his Katana. He looked around the room trying to think of a way to get closer to the enemy without getting killed by their thrown weapons.

[Akodo Tomatsu]

However the naginata was too slow. The bowman releasing his arrow a split second before he with "speared" to death. The arrow flew straight and true, slamming Tomatsu in the chest; the man falling backwards hitting the floor with a massive thud.

Tomatsu took a knee in the hall, his head looking down at the arrow now protruding from his chest. Thankfully for his choice in dark kimonos, there was no indication as to how much blood he was loosing from the wound. Seeming to forget all that was happening around him, Tomatsu positioned himself sitting on his knees now, as if calmly accepting his wound and seeking the serenity of introspection and meditation.

After a few moments, he placed his katana on the floor, with slow deliberate motions. He then closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths before, with deft quickness, he placed both hands on the arrow shaft and with one quick motion and a grunt, he pulled the arrow out of himself.

He let the arrow fall to the floor, placing one hand on his wound, the other folding into a tight fist, Tomatsu's face betraying his obvious pain. After a few moments of deep breathing he picked up his katana again and slowly dragged himself towards a room off the hall, trying to get out of the way of the combatants so he could regain his composure.

(OOC: Feel free to have someone else decide whose room I end up, not even I am sure where he would end up, he'd just want to get out of the danger.)

[Kitsuki Yuushahime]

The attack stopped almost as soon as it had started. One of the ninja helped up the grazed archer. Her bow had been destroyed. The other watched as Tomatsu collapsed for a moment, anticipating his end. They were shocked when he merely yanked out the arrow. Too stunned to even respond in time before he moved into cover. Two of them went to move forward but their commander hissed them down. This was indeed a holding action.

Yuushahime glanced over to Ichiro, urging him with her eyes to pull something out of his sleeve. No doubt he had something useful. She was annoyed at ending up in the room opposite to Tomatsu's room. She dearly wanted to inspect the wound she'd seen him take. She was sure it wouldn't be immediately fatal or he wouldn't have had the strength to still move but... it looked damaging onetheless.

Covering herself with her fan she peered around the doorway and into the corridor. A throwing knife deflected itself off of the metal fan causing her to dart back.

"They're staying where they are..." She tried to whisper for as little use as the information probably was. Hikori seemed uneasy too. Yuushahime began to inspect the guest room they were now stuck in for the moment, seeing if there were any useful items. She took care to avoid the corpse near the window. At least the room wasn't on fire. At least not yet.

[Shiba Kazuma]

Kazuma suddenly got an idea. He looked around the room and found a table. He hefted it and made sure that it covered most of his body. He then slid out of the room with the table protecting him. He could no see the others in the hall behind him so he slowly made his way back until he was by Yuushahime. He knew the table had taken a few hits, but he was glad that its sturdy design was holding, for now.

We can use this as protection until we get close enough to engage them. Where is Tomatsu-dono?

[Ikoma Kibo]

(OOC: Goodness! A quick reply before dinner and work! )

Kibo took the salve and continued with her Lord, but was painfully too late when the arrow was loosed. Time to act and get him away from the enemy and back towards the rest of the group!

Once Tomatsu somewhat recovered from taking the arrow, she grabbed him rather roughly and tried to get him back towards the others trying to deflect any ranged attacks as best she could with her fan. She could apologize later for her untoward roughness, he he lived through this. Nearly anything was acceptable when trying to survive in a battle such as this one!....

[Shosuro Ichiro]

With Haru downstairs

Torazo heard the movement going up stairs and counted the numbers going up. He flashed his fingers on his left hand indicating his count to Reicko. She nodded and flashed a couple signs to her armored companion and took a step back towards Haru. Her voice a whisper as she spoke.

"Haru-ko, we may have to switch plans. A number of attackers have gone upstairs to your cousin, our Master, and their companions location. They will need help, but to do such we would have to break our promise to you and go to them. This would place you in great danger. No matter what it is your choice upon this grave matter. Tell us what you wish us to do and we shall do it."

Reicko's eyes had a almost a pleading look to them as it was clear she was torn between two duties. Aiko cast another spell dousing even more flames. Torazo never looked back. He watched the door, yet his presence reminded Haru of what his job was... to kill. They waited for her words.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Across town at the Scorpion camp

The watch saw the smoke from the fire in the Capital and thought nothing of it, until the colors of red and black were seen. It was then the alarm was sounded and a dozen samurai flew through the streets, on horseback, heading towards the inn. Behind them were two squads of infantry, both light and heavy, running all ready for a fight. The orders were clear: a Scorpion Daimyo was in peril.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the hallway at the stairs

Ichiro watched all that transpired in front of him. He heard the arrow met its mark, and the slumping of Tomatsu. He also knew that he wasn't seen yet. All he needed now was the right moment.

He took stock of his enemies and noticed the women in back. With his training, he knew they were the bad news. They must be the first to die, yet they were too protected.

The so certain killing machine was now not so certain. He quickly retrieved a blade on the floor and scribed, in his own blood, one word upon its flat. He then slide it quietly towards Yuushahime's door way. When it got there it said one thing: Shugenjas

Ichiro then moved away from the table Kazuma pushed out of the room, staying just in front of it. He still never broke into visibility nor did he make a sound. He just moved close enough to try and make a dash for the back of the attackers once his moment arrived. It was always about the timing, he remembered his sensai teaching him when he was young.

[Kitsuki Yuushahime]

Yuushahime considered the possibility Ichiro suggested after gesturing to the room behind them to indicate where Tomatsu and Kibo were. If the enemy were shugengas then it was odd they weren't casting anything. They were definately in command though and priority targets. She considered the plan Kazuma proposed and reluctantly agreed. Hikori also gave a nod.

Stating loudly "smoke please" towards where the scabbard had come from she waited for Ichiro's next move. She also took her position behind Kazuma while Hikori grabbed a table from the same room. Two tables, one fan, perhaps more smoke... it would have to do as a shield to close the distance. Kibo was too busy assisting Tomatsu for the time being. They desperately needed numbers though. They were outnumbered, losing time and outgunned. It would be difficult. They needed some other advantage.

---

The growing fire had alerted another group too - the nearby residents. They had started to make quite a commotion and some of the nearby buildings had been voluntarily evacuated as people fled in panic. This had alerted some of the ji-samurai tasked with patrolling the capital and they began to assemble outside and to plan a way to stop the spread of the fire. They had already given up on saving the Inn. They quickly relayed a message that a skilled water shugenja would be desperately needed as they did their best to quell the flames with buckets of water. It wasn't very effective...

---

Haru took a deep breath and nodded. She was concerned for her cousin but the look the Scorpion had given her had sealed the decision. It was clear what the more important duty was. "I think they'll be aiming for the guest stairs as they'd be closer. Let's do what we can." she instructed, leaving the choice, of following the enemy group or cutting them off by taking the guest stairs up to the top floor, in the hands of the Scorpion. She took a few more deep breaths and finally managed to bring her shaking hand under control

[Shosuro Ichiro]

Haru

With the statement made Reicko nodded in approval. She reached out to Haru and touched her hands in thanks. She kept her next statement to a whisper, trying to keep the element of surprise.

"Arigato, Haru-sama. We will change from claw and tail to snake up a mountain. It will be Torazo, myself, you and then Aiko. You just need to relax your grip upon your blade, or else you will not have the fine control you'll need to strike these enemies.

"So relax and take a deep breath. Calm your nerves and fears. We now go on the hunt instead of being the hunted."

With that she nodded to Torazo. He just opened the door to the stairs slowly and stepped into the stairwell. Reicko fell in line and Aiko cast one last water spell. Instead of putting out a wall she cast it along the floor so that it covered the hallway and the wall bases. Thus putting out the roots of the flames and protecting the floor. She then turned and fell in behind Haru.

With that they headed up stairs ready for a fight. Aiko cast another spell and whispered a short message.

"Master, we come as a snake up a mountain. Torazo, Reicko, Haru and myself. Be ready."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ichiro

Ichiro heard Yuushahime's request and reached into his shōzoku. His hand found the right item needed. He then froze as he heard something come to him in a whisper. Ichiro then switched his choice and pulled out another item. He took the small orb and set forth to light it's fuse, as he watched the stairway, and the Samurai who stealthily walked up it. He stood behind the women ready to strike.

Ichiro knew this was the timing he waited for and he lite the fuse and threw the orb at the ranks of attackers. Just as the fuse ran out Ichiro charged like a tiger down the stairs, his eyes closed.

It was then the orb exploded, with a loud bang and bright light. Screams of pain from those next too the orb as their flesh burned from the white hot phosphorous. Torazo took the confusion as he time to strike and he swung his katana in a horizontal sweep of the stairwell. Catching both women in his attack. Ichiro fell into the front rank with both his blades flying in deadly arcs. He just growls out a battle cry. With the mask it sounded totally inhuman and unearthly.

"NOW!"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outside

The Samurai riders where the first on the scene fro the Scorpion camp, and they saw conflagration. It was known what was needed and two dismounted and retrieved their packs. The others started to circle the inn on horseback making sure to cut off all ground exits.

The two riders whom dismounted finally had their items ready and they start chanting rituals to the water kami. Calling forth water from the nearby wells as large serpents of primal force. Coalescing them into a large wave of water ready to strike the fire from rooftop to floorboards.

As they bring forth the wave the two infantry units finally arrive and start to surround the inn. The mounted Samurai fall behind the Shugenjas and prepare to charge in after the wave. Their naginatas and katanas drawn for the charge.

[Shiba Kazuma]

Kazuma hefted the table up and began to move forward. The table was heavy and he could only manage a jog, but soon enough he had covered almost all of the distance that he wanted. He looked back to Yuushahime.

On three. One. Two. Three

With that he shoved the table forward into the front ranks of attackers. He quickly drew his katana and followed the table in. He made it into combat with the first ranks of the attackers.

[Akodo Tomatsu]

Tomastu finally crawled out of the line of fire. He sat against a wall, the finally opened his kimono, slowly at first, then quickly in disbelief. While the arrow had pierced his body, only half the arrow head itself had punctured his skin. Merely wounding him, rather than crippling him. He said a quick thank you to his ancestors and the kami that for some unknown reason the arrow had not flown as true as it seemed.

He wrapped his kimono tight around him, and gathered his strength. He picked up his katana and got up off the floor. He saw Kazuma move past his room with the table now and moved in on his side, shouldering some of the burden for him.

Smart thinking Shiba-san. We need to get out of this hallway, so we can maneuver. This hallway is a death trap as long as those archers are there. We need to make haste before Kitsuki-san's cousin is hurt.

[Ikoma Kibo]

Kibo nodded and looked at everyone nervously as her lord got back to the rest of the group. The fortunes watched out for this man, indeed! The idea that entered her head was insane, but perhaps possible if the walls were thin enough.

She spoke quietly and tried to make sure everyone could read her lips, figuring that several of the individuals in the room could easily do that so the enemy outside wouldn't hear.

"Can we cut a way through the building to outflank the archers? How thick are the walls? The right individual with the right blade and skill at tameshi might be able to pull off a nasty suprise. I'd rather that when this is spoken off in the future, they say we defeated them with intelligent tactics rather than have them say that we died gloriously in a foolish frontal assault."

The enemy had ceded the tempo of the fight and the decisions to them, but WHY? Were they hoping for the group to take rash action, or waiting for something else? If anyone would have a feel for that, it would be the Scorpion Lord, and right now, she felt she'd have to trust his judgement on such things for now. Akodo sama was hurt, how badly, she was unsure, and it could affect his decisions....

[Kitsuki Yuushahime]

ooc: Another dead rp, no problem. Just thought I'd offer a conclusion:

Even with Tomatsu's wounds and the building burning down around them as well as the enemy's numbers - the heroes manage to cut down their foes and rally around the stairs. The assault from behind by the Scorpion group greatly assists with this.

The enemy shugenja apprentice makes himself known with the surviving mooks and a few individual baddie lieutenants. He is very annoyed they have lived this long and he has had to step in. He dumbly reveals this makes him look bad to his superior but is confident the heroes won't survive to use this information. The good guys aren't in strong shape at this point. He wants to see them all killed, particuarly the Lion Champion, so begins a long spell chant. The group manage to cut through his thugs and stop him in time - ending his life.

They all then escape the burning building, seeking help for their injuries. It is collapsing around them and they all likely end up a bit worse for wear from the flames. Luckily the local forces have arrived as have some shugenja capable of using water spells reasonably well. They are able to put out the fire, help evacuate the heroes and a couple other survivors and treat their wounds. One lone figure looks on, a little peturbed. He vanishes into the croud. He is at least pleased that another of his agents reported the successful execution of his primary target. The inn burning down was merely a distraction afterall... and he always had his doubts about his apprentice.