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Post by Shoju on May 2, 2011 12:34:46 GMT -5
"You have already learned the most valuable and most difficult lesson Daisuke-sama." Shoju seemed content in an odd way. "Perspective is the lens with which all actions should be viewed."
Shoju turned and beckoned a Tsukai over. "Begin the preparations for travel. Prepare the ground to be razed. No traces of us are to be left. And if you fail to control the blaze this time, I will use you to extinguish it." Shoju turned back to Daisuke.
"Your position as a pure blooded Kitsu, combined with your connection to the spirit world will surely dictate your studies. I believe that you could in the end be teaching me about ways to weave the magics together while I teach you my ways. Tell me Daisuke-sama, Do you require anythign else? Or are you ready to depart?"
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Kitsu Hiraku
Lion Clan
Sodan-senzo * Loyal to the Emperor
Posts: 197
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Post by Kitsu Hiraku on May 2, 2011 12:43:42 GMT -5
- You may be right. I do not know much about your kind of magic but I might understand it in a way that most of you do not. As for what I require... there is one thing He said and bended to touch the ground with his hand. - You were my most loyal ally... and that's why it's so hard for me. Seems it's time to say goodbye my friend... if you went with me your nature would be twisted and I do not wish to make that decision for you. As we might never meet each other I wish that you will find a companion better than me. I would also ask you for a last gift, do not tell those that would pursue us where we went. Daisuke said and raised. The earth trembled a little. - Now I'm ready Shoju-san. This particular kami was the only thing that kept me tied to my past. Let us move out.
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Bayushi Haruka
Scorpion Clan
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Post by Bayushi Haruka on May 2, 2011 13:10:45 GMT -5
It was more troublesome than they had realized on the earth kami, but in his goodbye he could feel it speaking back to him.
'Riders come for you Kitsu Daisuke...'
Whether he came to realize it or not as he spoke, the earth kami had such a soft voice after all, alarms began raising around the encampment as the bushi readied their weapons. The two might catch the glimpse of a shadow of a bird passing over them.
A few stray arrows seemed to try and disperse the forces as they seemed to come from no where. But just over the hill the riders did indeed come, bearing purple. One woman rode with several men, each of the men bearing a bow and quiver as they had launched the initial assault.
"Slay the fiends and find the boy. I will not let our shugenja brother be taken by the shadows this day!" The woman spoke with such absolute authority as the men readied another shot, only stopping to realize that they'd come upon Shoju and Daisuke rather easily.
A few of the bushi and other unsavory fighters would come to their master's defense. So they stood for a brief moment with arrows poised as the Shinjo scouts stood in line along with their Iuchi leader. She sat astride her white horse with some elegance, being dressed in light fine furs as was customary to her clan. The bird they had seen the shadow of only moments before swooped down as a beautiful hawk came to her gloved hand.
"Release him and we'll give you a clean death, which is more than you deserve, but here I am offering it to you. How gracious of me." The men laughed slightly, as the one to her left glanced lightly over at her.
"Lady Misaki, we will be able to take them with a single shot at your order."
"I will give the foolish man a moment to be civil, Shinjo Baramo. I'm in a good mood today after having searched for days for this little lost lion."
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Post by Shoju on May 2, 2011 13:29:49 GMT -5
Shoju Laughed heartily. "Foolish." He spat the word at the leader on horseback. "I would assume that one of your scouts is to blame for the dissapearance of my Jingasa. Return my Jingasa to me now, and I will assure you a death that wont be followed by eternal servitude. Threaten me again, or fail to produce my Jingasa, and I will torture your soul for a millenia before I resign you to the pits of Jigoku"
"And.... I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the boy isn't a hostage. He is hear of his own accord."
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Kitsu Hiraku
Lion Clan
Sodan-senzo * Loyal to the Emperor
Posts: 197
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Post by Kitsu Hiraku on May 2, 2011 13:42:41 GMT -5
- How quick you are to judge others women. This people saved me from death. And yet without even a single question you tell them you will kill them... why must it be so? It seems they are right, you hunt them out of pure hate for what you don't understand. The man is right Misaki-san. I'm not a hostage. We were just talking about whether should I return home immediately or stay with them a little for safety. Your brash action seem to prove that there is no reason for me to return.
With that I ask you to comply to what my friend said. As the results could be nasty. Daisuke said slowly calmly while looking straight at them. He was speaking a little slower than normally because in his mind he was already calling for a gust of wind that would knock away the arrows if any were to hit them.
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Bayushi Haruka
Scorpion Clan
OOC Cleanup Crew
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Posts: 1,054
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Post by Bayushi Haruka on May 2, 2011 14:01:05 GMT -5
The riders seemed tense as the two spoke back. Understanding that the boy had begun to fall into the grips of the darkness.
"I was afraid our delay might result in this. Will you forsake everything you ever knew. To what end Kitsu?" The archers held their poise, their marks trained on each of them as the ends glowed lightly. "Those that you stand with cannot be saved, but you still can. We understand well what people like them did to our clan. What they still do to our clan!"
There was a hint of true rage in her voice as her face even flinched, a Moto lover perhaps?
"It's best for you to return home and save yourself. If these men have saved you, I'll consider sparing them if you'll return with us."
One of the Shinjo came to her side carrying the Jingasa as she handed it to the Hawk, as the bird gripped it well. "And you can have this cursed thing back for all the good it will do you bloodspeaker."
The bird took flight but seemed to understand not to give the helm back until Daisuke would come to their side.
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Post by Shoju on May 2, 2011 14:17:30 GMT -5
"FUJIMO!" Shoju yelled. The bloodspeaker appeared at his side.
"Yes My lord" Fujimo responded. Looking at the stand off.
Shoju never wavered. Never looked at Fujimo, or anywhere other than the woman on horseback. "Stand in front of Daisuke." Shoju's tone was even. No emotion could be heard from it. "Shield this young one, and rest assured your life will not be in forfeit. Your rebirth shall be different than mine, but I promise you. It will be GLORIOUS."
Fujimo nodded, and took a position in front of Daisuke. Shoju closed his eyes, and there was a sound like breaking glass. When he opened his eyes, they looked different. They were as black as Obsidian. His now bloodied hand reached for his Katana and drew it.
"You say those who he stands with cannot be saved. I say those he stands with need no savior. We want no savior. Come then Misaki. Let me show you true power"
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Kitsu Hiraku
Lion Clan
Sodan-senzo * Loyal to the Emperor
Posts: 197
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Post by Kitsu Hiraku on May 2, 2011 14:27:37 GMT -5
Daisuke looked as if he was thinking about something. As if the emotion behind the women speech changed something. His childish smile came back to his serious face as if he just woke up from a dream. Finally after a moment he spoke. - I heard about what they did to your clan. You... you may be right. They may just use me against my clan without thinking about me. And-and you didn't forget about me. You were looking for me! He said and stepped in front of the group. He turned to Shoju so that the riders were behind him. - I thank you for saving me... but my place is with my clan. I do hope you find a way to redeem yourself one day. Although that might be hard... you look like a monster now. He said and blinked. After that he turned to the raiders. He looked frightened, as if what he saw in that moment showed him what this group really was. He ran towards the raiders. - DO NOT shoot at these men yet, Misaki-san. And do give him back his helmet. They deserve that for helping me. Daisuke said while going towards the group. After he arrived he positioned himself in the middle of the group. - Now -wheez- you can pass your judgement... although, didn't he tell you to be more civilized? Because I think what you said WASN'T NICE! With those words a powerful gust of wind hit the horses and their riders. Most of the animals, except Misaki steed, fell on their side, crushing their riders legs. *Now is your chance to show me who you are Shoju-san*
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Bayushi Haruka
Scorpion Clan
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Post by Bayushi Haruka on May 2, 2011 14:40:49 GMT -5
The Iuchi's steed reared as the arrows impailed on the ground from the hit of the impact. The riders scrambling away from their mounts to retake their stand with bows in hand. One of the arrows manage to impail in Daisuke's arm by accident, lodging quite firmly in one end and out the other.
The hawk seemed to struggle with the helm as the wind shifted and startled it, dropping the helm next to Shoju as it landed trying to retrieve it in a futile attempt. Anyone there could hear a bell rang when it landed, attached to its leg. It also had an Utaku mon on its leg strangely.
The Iuchi opened with a wave of flames as wildfire would circle around the spider and cut them off from the Unicorn as they recovered and prepared to fire. "You condemn yourself to the darkness this day young lion. I pray you see the error of your ways, even if it is in your dying breath."
She looked skyward for a moment as something came to her on the wind. "If I die to kill you then I spare you the agony of your own foolishness young one. I wish it were not so. Your curiosity is your mistake, you should have never turned away from the kami!"
She had drawn her own blade as the horse charged to finish Daisuke off, a blood fury in her eyes as her horse rode with an aided speed.
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Kitsu Hiraku
Lion Clan
Sodan-senzo * Loyal to the Emperor
Posts: 197
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Post by Kitsu Hiraku on May 2, 2011 14:49:55 GMT -5
- Ow! OW! OW! That hurt. Daisuke screamed into the air. He noticed the circle of flame and the raiders preparing. - Seems like a good time to get away. The boy said and turned to Misaki just in time to see her charging. He was scared. Really scared.
And just as her blade was about to hit him he turned into stone. She crushed the statue but the sudden hardness made her fight for her balance in the saddle. Daisuke appeared near the bloodspeaker group and the flames were doused by mud. He had a long wound running through his cheek. - I'm sorry... I probably destroyed your plan. He said as he looked at the enemy. Few of the group remained unwounded and ready to fight but those few almost finished their preparations.
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Post by Shoju on May 2, 2011 15:05:01 GMT -5
"That was quite a display young Kitsu." Shoju was impressed by the boy. he had briefly thought he had lost his most promising student.
"Show them no mercy." Was all that Shoju spoke. He thrust his arm ahead of him, and his troops began marching. The Tsukai stayed behind them and chanted, and as they began moving through the fire, The flames licked off what seemed to be a shield of blood. Their march was slow and methodical. For just 20 bushi, they were fearsome.
Shoju leaned down, retrieved his Jingasa and siezed the bird. "You don't have much blood in you, but it should be enough." Shoju impaled the hawk, and as the blood ran to the ground, clouds began rolling in. The storm wouldn't be strong enough to corrupt them, but it would be strong enough to sow fear in their hearts. As the bird spilled its lifeblood on the ground, Shoju noticed the bell, and took it from the bird.
"Leave Misaki to me!" Shoju roared Over the fires and new storm. "For her crimes, she will bend a knee and serve. " Shoju began advancing as well.
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Bayushi Haruka
Scorpion Clan
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Post by Bayushi Haruka on May 2, 2011 15:16:35 GMT -5
The Shinjo were indeed spooked, but the Iuchi seemed to keep her eyes on Shoju, she would do her best to shield them, but it was too far from her element to do anything really.
"By all the strength of the kami, you will never bend me to your will. I was unbroken by my family, you shall not do what they could not!"
She would fail in preventing the fear that overtook the men. Misaki called on the beasts from afar as a pack of Unicorn war dogs came to her aid, but they seemed nearly as afraid as the Shinjo around her. She was irritated, angry and bitter. Her soul would never be willing to serve should she lose, that much would be clear.
It wouldn't take long though as the fear actually drove the Shinjo riders to either flee or stand in fear. Their horses fled on instinct, unwilling to be slain. The bushi would almost have no trouble capturing the five Shinjo that were too afraid to leave, seizing their weapons as they shivered on their knees.
Iuchi Misaki stood defiantly as she blasted a slicing wind into the oncoming foes, a few would lose an arm, or come out with mysterious unseen cuts on their body, but quickly they would surround her. She still sat defiantly on her horse with her katana drawn as she dared with her eyes for any of them to step forward.
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Post by Shoju on May 2, 2011 15:30:51 GMT -5
Those who were unable to flee were disarmed, and taken prisoner. The few living bushi that Misaki injured were taken back to be treated for their wounds, and the remaining "not living" bushi held her and her steed in place. as Shoju moved forward.
"You seem very adamant about not serving me Iuchi." Shoju walked towards her, flicking the last of the life blood of the now dead hawk from his blade. "What should I do with you then eh? "
Shoju paced in front of her, agitated. "The great clans look at death as the ultimate price of a crime. I tell you, in the shadowlands, that is getting off easily. You stole from me. You attacked my men. You accused us of crimes we didn't commit. Tell me, Why shouldn't I give you the most horrific punishment? Why shouldn't I rip your heart from your body while you sit on your steed and then resurrect you with mind intact but unwilling to break free of my bonds?"
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Bayushi Haruka
Scorpion Clan
OOC Cleanup Crew
Samurai? Battle Maiden? Cavalry? Paragon of Courage? Friend of the Lion
Posts: 1,054
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Post by Bayushi Haruka on May 2, 2011 15:47:18 GMT -5
She growled deeply as she looked at him, her future, her demise, her fate.
"No reasoning will ever suit you. No promise you give will ever be valid." Her eyes went to the blood on the blade and the dead bird on the ground. "Sensei of the the Utaku forgive me... her eyes lead me to see this... treachery against our clan. Against.. us." She closed her eyes for the moment as the wind whipped with her message, but it would never make it. The air kami was no messenger to her and simply addled now with the force of the storm still throwing around them.
"I will never be your servant, kill me.. bring me back, I will never obey!" She brought her wakazashi to her throat to slit it, as was proper seppukku for women, she felt she had no other choice as she was prepared to go ahead and take her own life, if Shoju or someone else did not take that from her first.
Still holding the bell in his hand a small note could be felt in his fingers as the mon seemed to hide a small message. But he wouldn't be able to read it until this intolerable woman was dealt with, or well, dealt with herself frankly as she was about to spill her own blood.
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Kitsu Hiraku
Lion Clan
Sodan-senzo * Loyal to the Emperor
Posts: 197
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Post by Kitsu Hiraku on May 2, 2011 16:00:44 GMT -5
Daisuke saw what Shoju was doing but decided to leave the two to themselves. In that time he would deal with his, and the other living samurai, wounds. He was still listening to what they were saying.
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