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Post by Soshi Kiso on Apr 26, 2011 17:42:26 GMT -5
He had barely managed to take two steps in his quarters of Shiro no Soshi, the smell of the room almost alien to him. How long had it been since he'd been home? Of course, the third step would never happen. The nightingale floors of the hall screamed with the sounds of hurry steps coming closer and closer to his door. In a flash his father's katana appeared in his sword-arm, the jewel encrusted carp about the hilt gleamed, almost singing for blood to swim through like water.
As he was about to strike, he managed to stay his hand, recognizing Senshi-sama's messenger, red in the face. Giri no Toriwake returned to it's sheath, Kiso returned the bow given him, and took the scroll from the hands of the messenger catching their breath. The note was short and to the point. "Come at once, your family is growing." Taking one glance backwards, he began his way to Kyuden Bayushi, informing the servants to give Senshi's courier the meal and bath that had been prepared for him, as he would no longer need it.
Knowing Senshi was not the most patient of people, he had, on a previous trip to Kyuden Bayushi consecrated a room within it's walls. Casting Sacred Ground, he found himself within the walls of the castle and made his way to the Champions offices. He could tell the guard outside the room was not prepared to see the Soshi Daimyo step foot from the previously empty room. This was the first time he had used it, after all.
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Kitsune Keshi
Mantis Clan
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Posts: 126
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Post by Kitsune Keshi on Apr 27, 2011 2:42:18 GMT -5
"If I wasn't aware that you were a Shugenja, your recognizing me would strike me as odd." Jinu sighs,
"You'll have to forgive me if my speaking seems rude to you, But I've been following you for distances now. I was just unable to catch you somewhere where you stayed long enough to do so."
He pulls a scroll seemingly from nowhere, it just appeared in his hand in the eyes of others. His illusion was crude and he didn't put in the work to make the motions that he was making with his hands, or indeed to make him seem more real.
"Keshi -dono sent me with a message. I believe she would have come herself had she been able to keep up with me. A foolish thing for her to do."
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Post by tadakasan on Apr 27, 2011 2:55:10 GMT -5
Reaching out to take the scroll, Tadaka took it with a bow, "My thanks; had I known I was being followed I would have stopped more, I was in no hurry. I certainly take no offense at your tone or manners; a spirit creature such as yourself behaving differently should be a surprise to no one."
He opened the scroll, glancing it over as he talked some more, "I am curious why you agreed to follow me half way across Rokugan, even for Keshi-sama. It's not that I couldn't understand such a thing. I was just under the impression you were more independent, being a spirit of the forest, and did not do things that Keshi asked of you without having an agreement with her in what she asks. In other words, it seems to me you were following me beyond just being ordered to, was there something on your mind Kitsune-sama?"
Looking up from his brief glace, more looking at the form and not having read any of it yet, Tadaka looked into Jinu's eyes. His look seemed troubled, something Tadaka rarely let show, "Also, speaking of her, is Keshi-sama all right? I take it then she did not follow you, though you say she did a foolish thing. That too makes me curious..."
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Kitsune Keshi
Mantis Clan
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Posts: 126
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Post by Kitsune Keshi on Apr 27, 2011 11:31:27 GMT -5
It was hard to pick up Keshi's voice from the formality that had obviously been drilled into the Kitsune shugenja's style of writing.
Honored Tadaka-san, I send this message in hopes of finding you in good health. My courtier says he can find you to deliver this but will not escort me to go and find you myself. I was going to attempt a letter by air Kami but I do not think my skill would permit a letter to reach you. So I am headed to Crab Lands to learn more of Magic and the taint. I need to know more about the world, the taint seems a logical place to start. Jinu thinks that I am foolish to continue correspondence with you, I think he can sense your taint, even if he never says anything about it. OOC *I fail at making formal letters.
IC
Jinu snorts, "I humor her. She has a part in this world before she leaves it for ours. I would like no premature ending to come to her story because of her curiosity. "
Even his illusion shows as he lowers his eyebrows in a frown, "I can sense what has happened to you, and I pity you for it. But I would rather walk the length of the Rokugan and more before letting Keshi-dono meet you without protection. She is very much still a child in naivety, I'm afraid we forest spirits did her no favors protecting her as we did. As I still do."
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Post by tadakasan on Apr 27, 2011 12:10:00 GMT -5
"I see..." Tadaka finishes reading the letter, giving it another once over before sighing and rolling it back up. Looking at Jinu he nods a little, "I can understand your views on those points; I suppose no longer being pure is a pitiable state and I also understand you not... well trusting Keshi to meet me on her own. Believe me, if I felt otherwise I..."
Tadaka trails off and sits down on a rock that is behind him. He leans on his staff more, looking at the ground lost in thought for some time, the air hanging silent apart from the sounds of Spring birds and the low din from the city. Finally, he looks up again, though he still leans on his staff, "You need not worry though Jinu-sama; If I felt I was at all worthy of being with Keshi-sama, then perhaps I would disagree. But as is, I have the same desire to protect her as you do, whether that is foolish or not in making her naive. For even if her naivety is a burden in itself, it is also something that creates a sense of innocence and peace that very few others in the world have. And she deserves that."
"Therefore, you will simply have to trust my word on this; I do not wish to corrupt Keshi-sama or lead her down my path. I... will admit that I love her Jinu-san; She is very special and does not know her own beauty in multiple ways. But perhaps it is because of that I will vow to leave her to your care and any you deem worthy." He sighs softly and stands up, coughing a little and closing his eyes briefly, drawing in a deep breath. Opening his eyes, he stares into Jinu's, "I will be disappearing shortly anyways, so you should have one less thing to worry about in that regard. I am sure you would be able to see through such moves, but I trust Keshi-sama will not. Perhaps then you won't have her corresponding with me and you can go on protecting her without worry. And by the Kami you had better protect her. I trust you implicitly Jinu-sama; You may be rough around the edges adapting to human society but you are loyal and caring, so I do not say that in the spirit of mistrust. Just know that if I ~ever~ hear of her coming into danger that I will go to her, whether you want me to or not, no matter what my condition. I hope you understand."
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Kitsune Keshi
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan * Shugenja * Daimyo * Experienced * Unique * Loyal
Posts: 126
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Post by Kitsune Keshi on Apr 28, 2011 12:34:10 GMT -5
Jinu seemed taken aback, he hadn't been expecting agreement from Tadaka. Neverminding the confession that came with it. He meets the Ishiken's stare for a long moment.
"I will admit I wasn't expecting this. A great many things I was expecting, but not this." Jinu's gaijin illusion fades away like a ripple over water revealing the normal illusion he'd worn at the Phoenix champion's ceremony. "A Great many other things. Maybe that is because I only saw the two of you speaking for a short while."
"I can understand your thinking. Love is a great motivation to have behind your actions. I wish I could tell you Keshi's heart for that. But I cannot." His eyes skitter to the side for a moment before he meets Tadaka's gaze again. "She has my protection." He reaches into his robe, pulling out a Iris Flower. The flower showed little damage from travel, obviously the forest spirit had taken good care of it.
"She told me to present you this as well. I will admit to you I read the letter I presented you with, that is my nature to be curious. I have not been able to make this flower give up it's message to me, not for lack of trying." He twirls the stem in his fingers, "I was initially going to keep it, leaving you with the short message she had written. But... it seems my mind has changed."
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Post by tadakasan on Apr 28, 2011 17:02:32 GMT -5
"Well then, there is little else I can ask for then; your protection, a change to your mind even if only a small one, and a flower." Tadaka smiles softly, taking the flower gently, contemplating it. Putting it on his hat securely as it hangs on his back, he bows low to Jinu, "You have my thanks the delivery, coming all this way, and at least leaving some hope in my heart. I would ask if you were going back but I suppose it makes little difference at this point; I am keeping the Scorpion Champion waiting and the Soshi Daimyo, and I'm not sure there is anything left for either of us to say."
Tadaka turned to go back toward the gate, looking over his shoulder, "Again Jinu-sama, you have my gratitude and trust. I will do my best not to betray yours and I will keep you at least up to date as you may or may not need it on my status. Though I am sure you will know enough; I have surprised you in a way here, but you are very perceptive, so I don't think I need to worry about any of that much."
Turning back he trudged up the hill towards the gate he had been left out of, his mind more thoughtful than he could remember it in a long, long time...
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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 Apr 29, 2011 19:22:34 GMT -5
((OOC: Unless you're going to stand outside admiring the flowers, you're coming all the way back inside right?
Senshi seems to think you're going to do something between your place at the gate and on your way inside...
And Kiso you as well.. make sure you clearly state your entry otherwise it's just me and Senshi staring at each other :3))
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Post by tadakasan on Apr 29, 2011 19:26:44 GMT -5
(( No no; I merely did not enter at the end of my post so as to not cut Jinu from being able to have his say; likely right after that he'll basically be right at the palace. ))
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Bayushi Senshi
Scorpion Clan
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Post by Bayushi Senshi on Apr 29, 2011 19:45:16 GMT -5
((Thats what I was thinking actually.))
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Post by Soshi Kiso on Apr 29, 2011 20:05:55 GMT -5
(lol, I was waiting for Tadaka to come back in! That or let Senshi have me enter to tell me whats going on)
(thank you Keshi for the message beneath, lol)
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Kitsune Keshi
Mantis Clan
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Posts: 126
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Post by Kitsune Keshi on Apr 29, 2011 20:08:00 GMT -5
Jinu is silent as he watches the former Phoenix shugenja trudge back to the fortress. After a moment he grins an almost feral grin at the guards, turning on his heel and disappearing to their sight.
Away from Jinu the air kami on the flower are easy to discern, passing on their message to the tainted individual.
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Post by tadakasan on Apr 29, 2011 21:05:00 GMT -5
Tadaka walked Jinu leaving before passing through the gate. On his way back to the palace, he listened to the message the air kami withing the Iris had and found his walk slowing. Finishing the message, he stopped and leaned his back against the wall, twirling the flower in his hand; It was so pointless to make life less complicated he'd slowly come to realize. Nothing more to do than to do the best he could. It was just a matter of not betraying anyone's trust, the best he could... Whether that be the Scorpion, Senshi, the Empire, Jinu, or Keshi. Though even though he felt as close to Enlightenment as ever, it somehow felt fuzzier now, as though his goal was diluted, the purity of his purpose. It should hardly have surprised him after the day's events so far.
He would have time to figure things out; he was sure he could, one way or another.
Deciding to keep the flower as safe as possible he uncorked a bamboo bottle of tea leaves, dumping them into a small piece of rice paper and folding it up. Taking the lily, he put it in the vial gently, casting an earth spell that would bind the flower in stasis of a sort; it would be his reminder of things he needed to do.
Having put the message flower away, he started back towards the palace again, trying to think of some way to honor both Jinu and Keshi while showing respect to both...
------------ It was not a few more minutes until Tadaka found himself outside Senshi's room. There was another man in the door talking to the guards, a man with a Soshi mon on; thinking, Tadaka wondered if this was the Soshi Daimyo, that Senshi had sent for him and things were to begin now.
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Post by Soshi Kiso on Apr 29, 2011 21:31:46 GMT -5
While trying to explain his sudden appearance to the guards of Senshi's Quarters, a man Kiso had seen once before at Yasuki Yashiki meditating in the field came down the hall. He recognized him, the ronin once known as Isawa Tadaka, though he was sure the man did not recognize him as his eyes had been closed at the time.
It was then the guards decided their ignorance to the swift arrival of the Soshi Daimyo did not excuse Senshi-sama's desire to see him right away. Their curiosity denied, they moved aside admitting him.
Bowing deeply before his Champion once inside, he rose holding forth the short letter he received. What is it you would have me do, my lord? If the rumors I have heard are true, I worry the man out there could be as dangerous as his historical namesake. You wish this at our doorstep?
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Bayushi Senshi
Scorpion Clan
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Post by Bayushi Senshi on Apr 29, 2011 23:45:24 GMT -5
"Thank you for your timely arrival, Kiso san. We have an opportunity to bring the former Isawa Tadaka into the fold. As it is he is, on his own effort as informed, if not more so, as I am. As things lay, it serves the purposes of the clan and it serves the purposes of the man, if we were to accept Tadaka into the Soshi family. I would have him swear fealty to you and the clan, then have him take a new identity and name."
Senshi sighed, then continued after glancing to his wife, "You are my most honorable servant, Kiso san. I will not divulge in the importance of his mission, and to what depths he must go to complete it. So he will answer to me, and only me. I will not tarnish your honor with his mission."
He looked to the door and called, "Tadaka! Enter."
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