Kasuga Shinobu
Tortoise Clan
Tortoise Clan ? Courtier ? Smuggler ? (S)he ? Taihan Boss
Posts: 250
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Post by Kasuga Shinobu on Mar 14, 2011 10:06:16 GMT -5
"... is unfortunate to hear Shizuyo-san. I had thought the request polite enough. Is there any reason you would refuse the command of Ryohei-sama?"
Shizuyo shook her head. "You misunderstand sama, I have had every intention of marrying. But it is my mother's affair, and we already have a nakodo picked out, approved by Ryohei-sama himself before. That is why I would continue on to Ox lands as I had planned, so that I could speak to Ryohei-sama about this personally. I mean no disrespect."
While it was possible to hear them both, seeing the face of the other samurai was more difficult as he turned a moment. Suddenly there was a flash of steel (the glint visible even without the spell, but recognizable as a dagger up close if looking), and the man slashed at Shizuyo. He gave no cry or sound, and he covered the maneuver by using its slash to move Shizuyo into an empty alleyway. Shizuyo only had time to dodge back into the alley, hitting a wall, one hand on her side that hit the wall as her other hand went for her wakizashi, eyes wide.
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Isawa Kinen
Phoenix Clan
All is equal before the Void.
Posts: 117
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Post by Isawa Kinen on Mar 14, 2011 11:10:49 GMT -5
In a snap, Kinen broke out of his trance, ending the spell early. "Ko! Save her!" He blurted out, standing up and stumbling a little due to the suddenness of the action. Did having a body always feel so weird? He took only a brief moment to stand up, remember where he placed his wakasashi, and had another hand on his scroll case.
Kohaku nodded, and quickly ran to the two Oxen. She ran to the alley, and saw Shizuyo clearly not wanting the presence of this man anymore, though all she could see was her face from this angle. The man's back was to her, and honor dictated she could not strike quite yet. "Turn and face me." And then Kohaku drew her sword, as her voice grew colder, and darker. "Leave her alone."
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Post by utakumoli on Mar 14, 2011 11:25:18 GMT -5
Mo-Li would not step in so long as the Shiba had everything under control. She wouldn't gang up on a samurai in a dark alley, even if he was attacking Shizuyo. It wouldn't be honorable.
She did, however, make her way toward the alley with her hand on her wakizashi, watching the fight intently.
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Kitsu Natsuki
Lion Clan
Lion Clan * Daimyo * Shugenja * Sodan-senzo * Loyal * Ambassador to the Dragon
Posts: 162
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Post by Kitsu Natsuki on Mar 15, 2011 6:31:40 GMT -5
Just as Natsuki lifted her tea cup, the cry of the Phoenix ishiken startled her enough that she almost dropped it. As it was, she managed to spill half the tea within it. Her head snapped around, eyes widening as she saw the Shiba running towards the alley where the two Ox last were, then heard the sound of a blade leaving its saya and the Phoenix's declaration to the man.
She rose quickly, hand feeling toward her scroll satchel to be prepared for any eventuality, and headed towards the alley together with the Utaku. Something had happened, and her gut, as well as the myriad of ancestors always slightly at the edge of her senses, told her it was likely to be bad.
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Kasuga Shinobu
Tortoise Clan
Tortoise Clan ? Courtier ? Smuggler ? (S)he ? Taihan Boss
Posts: 250
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Post by Kasuga Shinobu on Mar 15, 2011 10:30:55 GMT -5
The presence of Kohaku, as well as the sound of the other samurai making their way over, pulled Shizuyo together. She drew her wakizashi, holding it a little uneasily, but seeming to know enough that she would likely use it with some skill. The man, for his part, seemed to react strongly to the presence of others as well. He stabbed forward wildly in a move that was easily dodged, but as he turned around he was on the other side of Shizuyo, who was now between him and the other samurai, the alleyway thin enough that two would barely fit side by side.
Shizuyo thought about the Ono she had left back at the stand, as well as her katana, cursing herself for leaving her weapons at any point, even in such a peaceful city. The Ox man sneered as she hesitated rather than attack, getting a word in, loud enough for Kohaku to hear, and likely the others, though he kept his voice low. "I should have waited... I could have got you into the alley before I did anything, but I was impatient. I also should have made plans in case one of the kami's servants spied, as they are wont to do." He spat at this, his eyes meeting Kinen's a moment.
Shizuyo didn't have time to fully process the words, nor the blasphemy of them. She knew she wouldn't be able to take this man with her wakizashi, so she moved back to let Kohaku past, speaking softly. "By the heavens... I must grab my axe. Please Shiba-sama... do whatever you must."
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Isawa Kinen
Phoenix Clan
All is equal before the Void.
Posts: 117
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Post by Isawa Kinen on Mar 15, 2011 11:43:07 GMT -5
"Worry not. I can take him." Kohaku smiled a hidden smile as Shizuyo walked passed her, and let her know she didn't need to hold back. Only the Ox before her would have seen the smile, and the viciousness behind it. She stepped to take the middle of the alleyway, preventing both his escape, and the assistance of anyone else. Not to mention giving her just a bit more room to maneuver. "There will be no escape for you." And then she stepped forth and slashed at the man's torso.
Kinen placed a hand to his head as it shook side to side. "She lied to me." He walked up to the alleyway, although he didn't have any scrolls out. This situation required only two spells, two that he knew quite well. Of course, that only mattered if Kohaku didn't kill the Ox first.
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Kasuga Shinobu
Tortoise Clan
Tortoise Clan ? Courtier ? Smuggler ? (S)he ? Taihan Boss
Posts: 250
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Post by Kasuga Shinobu on Mar 15, 2011 18:14:08 GMT -5
As Kohaku gave her vicious smile to the thick built man, he showed no sign of fear or doubt, but instead grinned back. The ally was barely wide enough to dodge the thrust, and in the end, the man didn't even try. In fact, as Kohaku sliced forward, the man threw himself forward, pushing himself onto the sword. The katana pierced a hole in his riding armor right at his belly as he staggered forward onto the sword.
The man got right up to Kohaku and he leered, spitting in her face. "Just like... the minion... of the pretentious... "Heavens". With that the man slumped onto the sword.
Just as he died, Shizuyo came back around the corner, holding her large Ono. She looked at the man slumped on the katana, then up at Kohaku, glancing around at the others around, silent.
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Post by utakumoli on Mar 15, 2011 20:13:48 GMT -5
When Mo-Li saw the other Ox clan samurai slump over, she relaxed a bit. She hurried over to Shizuyo.
"Are you going to be alright?" She asked, her voice full of genuine concern.
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Isawa Kinen
Phoenix Clan
All is equal before the Void.
Posts: 117
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Post by Isawa Kinen on Mar 15, 2011 22:26:45 GMT -5
"The heavens?" And then Kohaku just chuckled to herself. The fool had no idea.
Kinen gasped in horror as the man killed himself upon his wife's blade. He quickly chanted, half shouted, a quick spell1, and pressed a hand against his wife's back. The world seemed to shift, as a void kami entered Kohaku.
Almost instantly, Kohaku began to shake, and tremble, staring at the bloodstained sword in her hand, her gaze flickering every once in a while to the now dead Ox. Tears formed in her eyes, though she kept her back to the others. "Wh--what--" "Suicide. He used your sword." Kinen said simply, turning to Shizuyo and the other samurai. "Pardon us for a moment. I need to take my wife aside." He took his wife's sword from her, as she was about to drop it herself, and put it in her sheath. They would need to clean it, but that could wait.
Kinen took his wife's hand, and walked further down the alley, his gaze wandering for any friends the Ox had. After he was away, he turned to his wife and whispered quietly. "It's alright, I sealed her away, for a little bit." "I'm sorry...I'm not sure why it took over me." "Did you drink your tea this morning?" "...I didn't want you to worry. You were supposed to relax. For the trip, I've been reducing the dosage to make it last longer." "How can I relax with...that ready to come out any second?" He looked down the alley, at the other samurai. He ignored them, and carefully embraced his wife; at the moment, he didn't care if others saw this brief moment of affection. "When we get back, first things first. We can't take risks. It's only going to get worse, until I can finish the spell that will get rid of it." Then he stepped away, and looked her in the eyes. "The spell will wear off soon. Will you be fine." "Yes." He could tell that killing the Ox was still weighing heavily upon her, but at least it would keep her in this state. "Let's go then." He took her hand and held it tightly in his own, as they walked back to the group. They stayed quiet, but anticipated an explanation from Shizuyo.
((OCC: 1: The Void's Caress. Void 1. Range: Touch. Area of Effect: One target individual. Duration: 1 minute. Raises: +1 Minute. Although beginning students of ishiken-do cannot affect the pattern of the Void, they can make very short-term alterations to it. You may negate any one Mental or Spiritual Disadvantage the target of this spell possesses, up to a maximum of 5 points in value. The Shadowlands Taint may not be removed via this spell, although the mental disorders that can be caused by it can be temporarily alleviated.))
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Kasuga Shinobu
Tortoise Clan
Tortoise Clan ? Courtier ? Smuggler ? (S)he ? Taihan Boss
Posts: 250
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Post by Kasuga Shinobu on Mar 16, 2011 9:45:35 GMT -5
Shizuyo stayed back at the mouth of the alley as Kinen made his way up to his wife, and the Mo-Li approached her. The Utaku's words seemed to jolt her out of her momentary revery, and she shook her head a little and gave a light smile. "Hai... arigato Utaku-sama, I am unharmed other than a very minor scratch on my side." She gave a low bow toward Mo-Li, then turned and gave one to the other 3 as well.
Tsuma was a busy city, and even in this back way it took very little time before the scuffle was noticed. A passing peasant taking goods somewhere had left them on the street and hurried off toward the local magistrates office, and Shizuyo knew one would be coming soon enough. She straightened and spoke slowly but firmly.
"It seems that my journey north has not been without merit. I am sure you all realize how rare it is for rumors of the minor clans to be heard, let alone to last. Especially in times like these, there are far more weighty affairs that others would pay attention to.
That said, there has been a rumor of the Ox lately, one of strange tidings, even the drunken ramblings of rumormongers about assassins and ghosts in the night. My business north is... not of my homeland, but it is a natural detour, so I had thought the chance to see my home again and dispel these rumors for myself would be appropriate..."
Shizuyo gave a soft sigh and nodded toward the man. "I am not much of one for names, but I believe his name was Morito Gimon, or something of that sort. We'd never met, in most part because he is said to be one of Morito Ryohei's personal messengers and heralds, while I am merely a vassal family head and scout from the plains.
He said he was here to announce my marriage to a Kuni lord I had never heard of, immediately, and that I should go south and meet my things there. I told him that Ryohei-sama had already approved that my mother would find a match for me, but he told me that Ryohei-sama had changed his mind. I... told him that I would finish my journey north to speak to Ryohei-sama myself, as well as my mother, and then he did... well, as you see."
As she finished her story trailing off, the sound of hustling could be heard from behind. A man with a Daidoji mon on his kimono was making his way over with haste, along with some servants, and another mon, along with his jitte, showed him to be the local magistrate on his way.
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Kitsu Natsuki
Lion Clan
Lion Clan * Daimyo * Shugenja * Sodan-senzo * Loyal * Ambassador to the Dragon
Posts: 162
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Post by Kitsu Natsuki on Mar 17, 2011 2:21:22 GMT -5
Just as Natsuki reached the alley, the strange Morito threw himself on the Shiba's sword. The man managed to spout some blasphemous drivel before his soul left Ningen-do, no doubt to Gaki-do or some equally unpleasant spirit realm.
The Phoenix shugenja appeared to be invoking the powers of the Void on his wife, although Natsuki had no idea why. Whatever it was, it was not her concern and she would not pry. Instead, she turned her attention to Shizuyo and what she was saying.
What she heard made her brow furrow in thought. Rumours of assassins and strange spirits? Could something from the Spirit Realms be causing these? But no, the man had seemingly acted on his own and she had felt no echoes of the Spirit Realms on him. His blasphemy was another point as well, but nothing seemed to add up.
"I am glad to see you are alright, Morito-sama. That man was a retainer of Ryohei-sama? Could he have been subverted in any way by enemies of the Ox, ones who had reason to both wish you harm and smear Ryohei-sama's good name? It seems rather puzzling that he would draw steel on you for simply requesting an audience with the Clan Champion.
The sound of footsteps drew Natsuki's attention, and she turned to see what looked like the local magistrate approaching. She sighed inwardly, as what had started as a simple visit to a geisha house seemed to have resulted with what promised to be a very long night of questions.
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Isawa Kinen
Phoenix Clan
All is equal before the Void.
Posts: 117
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Post by Isawa Kinen on Mar 18, 2011 15:58:26 GMT -5
Kinen quietly listened to Shizuyo's story, wondering why something as simple as a marriage would suddenly get an assassin involved. And the now deceased Ox's words made no sense. He mentioned something about the heavens...this caused him to believe there was something greater at stake here. "Perhaps this was the smarter choice, going south may have very well cost you your life, by leading you deep into a trap."
When the magistrate arrived, Kinen could feel his wife tense up, or was that the spell going away? "I'll handle the talking dear." He said softly to her, whom barely nodded. At the very least, she was still herself, which allowed Kinen to focus on the magistrate. He himself seemed to be a bit uncomfortable with the magistrate, but he would likely be a lesser magistrate, only concerned with the cause of this spilling of blood. The careful truth would suffice.
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Kasuga Shinobu
Tortoise Clan
Tortoise Clan ? Courtier ? Smuggler ? (S)he ? Taihan Boss
Posts: 250
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Post by Kasuga Shinobu on Mar 18, 2011 20:17:21 GMT -5
Shizuyo shakes her head to Natsuki's question. "I don't know... I really don't know. Even as the head of the Kijuro I have never been part or parcel to the politics of Ryohei-sama, or those around him..."
She trailed off as the Crane magistrate made his way closer. The man was wall, thin, with the white hair that marked most Daidoji. A mon on his sleeve did the same if any would recognize the family mon, but the Crane one on his breast spoke loud enough. His face was long, weary looking if not a little aggravated. He made his way over to the group, his eyes following the pointing hand of the peasant to the dead body in the alleyway. As he spoke, his eyes flitted over all 4 samurai present, his voice low but nasally, not trying to draw a crowd.
"Samurai-sama's, surely at least one of you can testify as to what has happened here. You are all strangers to these lands, and seeing no Crane present to testify, I will have to rely on yourselves in this serious matter."
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Kitsu Natsuki
Lion Clan
Lion Clan * Daimyo * Shugenja * Sodan-senzo * Loyal * Ambassador to the Dragon
Posts: 162
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Post by Kitsu Natsuki on Mar 21, 2011 8:21:38 GMT -5
Natsuki turned to the magistrate, dropping into a slightly lower bow than was required. It would do no harm to be polite to a Crane magistrate, especially with Lion-Crane relations as they were.
"Magistrate-sama, I am Kitsu Natsuki, sodan-senzo of the Lion. Here are my travelling papers."
The magistrate took the proffered papers with a grunt, and flipped through them before returning them to Natsuki.
"They all seem to be in order. However, that does not explain the dead man lying in the alley!"
"Magistrate-sama, the story is a simple one. We met at this stall, and were enjoying the fine sushi and tea here, when a man came claiming to have a message for Morito Shizuyo-sama here. He went a short distance off with her, and then suddenly drew steel unprovoked. As honourable samurai, we went to the aid of our unarmed companion, but when we challenged him, he threw himself on the blade of Shiba-sama here. No doubt he realised the affront to the Celestial Order that he was and decided to end his wretched existence."
She avoided mentioning the blasphemies the man had been shouting before he died, sensing Shizuyo would not want the reputation of the Ox dragged any further through the mud, what with all the rumours and fanciful stories floating around already.
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Isawa Kinen
Phoenix Clan
All is equal before the Void.
Posts: 117
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Post by Isawa Kinen on Mar 21, 2011 21:45:03 GMT -5
"The Lion speaks the truth, Magistrate." Kinen bowed deeply, signaling for Kohaku to bow as well. Her bow was not as deep, but she seemed a little shaken. "I am Isawa Kinen, ishiken for the Phoenix Clan. This is my Yojimbo and wife, Shiba Kohaku. I was watching Morito Shizuyo-san here when she conversed with the man you now see before us all. The man attacked first, and pushed Shizuyo-san into the alleyway. Because Shizuyo-san had been generous to us before, and the attack on her seemed very unprovoked. I called my wife to act in Shizuyo-san defense. The man then rushed toward my wife and slew himself on my wife's sword."
Kinen left out a few details, such as using his magic to spy on Shizuyo's conversation, and the way he worded his statement, it sounded as though the Ox had attacked Kohaku first, when the opposite was true. But he didn't want to bring attention to his wife's condition at all. This was close enough to the truth.
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