Toku Hirotomo
Monkey Clan
Bushi Paragon of Compassion Clan Champion Toturi's Army
Posts: 793
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Post by Toku Hirotomo on May 9, 2011 18:31:56 GMT -5
Kenpachi nodded briskly. He turned to Hirotomo. "Guard her. Scream if you see it." Hirotomo looked up and almost seemed to object. He wanted to look for his champion. Kenpachi gave his son a hard look and shifted his head to Mitsouko's direction. Hirotomo nodded. Taking a deep breath, Kenpachi turned to Daidoji Ryo. "We should search the shore. My Lord would have likely not been injured without a fight. Tell your men to stay within sight of each other. Check with those around you every few moments. This thing, whatever it is, attacks by sneaking up on the unaware. Please, lead the way."
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Agasha Shodai
Phoenix Clan Mod
Phoenix Clan * The Void Master * Tensai * Taisa * Enlightened * Paragon of Compassion * Unique
Posts: 783
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Post by Agasha Shodai on May 9, 2011 19:24:04 GMT -5
Despite his intense focus on stabilizing Daidoji Jun, Agasha Shodai heard the boy gasp that he thought Toku Sanjuro had been killed. He glanced up at Mitsouko. Her normally fair skin now whiter than super-heated steel in a forge. Knowing the barely concealed affection she felt for the Monkey samurai, the shugenja expected the Kenshinzen would...
"Other Crane will soon come to help. Hirotomo - we need to find your Champion."
'Do something crazy.' Shodai finished the thought to himself as Hirotomo-kun rashly raced off into the forest without a second thought. Stunned by how utterly idiotic the boy was being, the glow from his hands fading as he lost his focus.
The Void Master checked the Jade finger in his hand, glad that that most scouts typically carried a small supply at all times - they never knew when they might run into a Bloodspeaker or a stray Oni. The stone was now more than half corrupted, but it showed no signs of getting worse. He'd fixed the worst of the damage, but the Daidoji was still a long way from fully recovering.
Shodai looked at Mitsouko. "Mitsouko-san, please wait for just a few seconds..!" He said imploringly as he chucked the half-Tainted Jade into another Void hole where it could do no damage to Ningen-do. "You can't go running off half-cocked when you have no clue Where the oni that did this is or if he's alone. I know you and the Monkey Champion are close, but what good will it do him if you go running off like Hirotomo-kun just did and the oni blind-sides you?"
Shodai pointed at his patient, who was still a mess even after the treatment. "Look at how bad Daidoji Jun's injuries were and he was at least wearing scout armor and carrying..."
Before he could finish the thought, the forest around him came to life as the original Crane scout returned with his horse and reinforcements while Hirotomo reappeared from the forest with his father in tow. The instructor in Shodai wanted to call Toku Hirotomo out on the carpet for his rash behavior, but held off; it would be wrong to do so in front of his father and so many people.
Introductions were passed in haste as he began to use the medical supplies that the scout had brought back with him to bind the Daidoji's broken bones so that they could begin to heal properly while two men unrolled a litter. "I've done everything I can for this young samurai right now." Shodai said in response to Daidoji Ryo's question, stepping over to Kakita Mitsouko as the other scouts set Jun on the stretcher.
As he stepped in close, he whispered so only the Kenshinzen could hear him. "When we get to the barracks, I will attempt to use my magic to find Toku Sanjuro for you, my friend."
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Toku Hirotomo
Monkey Clan
Bushi Paragon of Compassion Clan Champion Toturi's Army
Posts: 793
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Post by Toku Hirotomo on May 9, 2011 20:43:14 GMT -5
Hirotomo Hirotomo paced around the area, occasionally listening for sounds in the direction his father began to search. He cast his gaze at the brush around the small clearing. He held Fubuki in one hand, resting on his right shoulder, with the small bag his father had given him in the other hand. Hirotomo did not like the waiting. He stayed near enough to Mitsouko to be at her side in less than a moment, but anxiety was clearly showing on his face. Father, hurry please. Find him.
Kenpachi Kenpachi felt marginaly better with the scouts around him. If this thing was still here, many of them would die. Fortuneatly, paranoia of taint and the shadowlands had long taken him to carry jade powder. Kenpachi walked quietly, trusting in the stomping of the Crane to distract the thing from what likely was its true threat. Kenpachi took a look around and thought of the young samurai. I should have been with you. Kenpachi listened to the woods around them. He heard nothing. Yet. Kenpachi's thoughts traveled unbidden to the last time he saw Sanjuro's father, his uncle. He swore to assist Sanjuro-sama, and bring glory to the Monkey and its Champion. His uncle had trusted him with this task. At first, his young Lord seemed like all young Samurai, impulsive, rash, and thinking of what they thought was best before seeing what bushido required. Then the young samurai grew. He studied with the best magisrate sensei in the Empire. He became the ideal Monkey. A magistrate without equal. Honor without question. A Lord to inspire the best in his servants. A man more than equal to the Legacy of the Fortune of Virtue. Kenpachi silently prayed to Tengoku. Please. Do not call him home just yet. There is too great a need for him. There is too much left unfinished.
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Yoritomo Raiden
Mantis Clan Mod
Mantis Clan - Shugenja - Water - Thunder - Damiyo - Not Kolat
Posts: 437
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Post by Yoritomo Raiden on May 9, 2011 21:25:33 GMT -5
There was a sudden rustle of noise about 50 yards towards the river. It startled Kenpachi and Hirotomo at first then the noise grew more sudden and loud. They could faintly hear Toku Kawada's voice yelling in the distance.
"SANJURO!, SANJURO! SAY SOMETHING TO ME!" he yelled desperately and a hint of fear in his voice.
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Agasha Shodai
Phoenix Clan Mod
Phoenix Clan * The Void Master * Tensai * Taisa * Enlightened * Paragon of Compassion * Unique
Posts: 783
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Post by Agasha Shodai on May 9, 2011 22:21:04 GMT -5
OOC: Just a reminder, Kenpachi. Human souls do not go to Tengoku except in extremely rare circumstances. They either go to Meido to await judgement before either reincarnating or finally being permitted to enter Yomi as an honored ancestor.
Agasha Shodai sat cross-legged on the floor of the room they had permitted himself and Kakita Mitsouko to wait in while arrangements were made for a proper sleeping space for them. Mitsouko was pacing back and forth. She was a woman of action, not one to be coddled and pushed into the background when a friend's life was in danger. Though Toku Sanjuro was a rival suitor for the worried white-haired woman before him, Shodai was not the kind of person to accept a victory by forfeit: his honor would not permit it.
If the Monkey Clan Champion was still alive, the Void Master would find him; for Mitsouko's peace of mind as well his own pride.
The shugenja pulled out his Scroll of Shinsei and opened it to the same spot as he had the night he'd learned the female Kenshinzen before him had been poisoned. He looked up at the beautiful but trouble-laden woman before him. "I know you don't particularly care for magic, Mitsouko-san, but if you'd like to do more for your friend, you are more than welcome to come with me as I use my gift for divination to try and find Sanjuro."
He gestured to an open spot on the floor beside him. "For you spell will work if you simply place your hand on my shoulder and close your eyes. If you remove your hand or open your eyes you will freely be able to exit the vision."
OOC #2 - Don't worry, Sanjuro; I'm not actually going to be able find you. ;D
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Toku Hirotomo
Monkey Clan
Bushi Paragon of Compassion Clan Champion Toturi's Army
Posts: 793
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Post by Toku Hirotomo on May 9, 2011 23:09:31 GMT -5
OOC:Tengoku is where the Fortune of Vitrure resides. I was praying to the original Monkey, who resides there not the demiplane itself. I have no ideology that a human could reside there who was not ment to be there already. Toku could still call him to Medio or perhaps even Yomi itself though. Even if this is not particularly true rule wise, faith is still faith.
Kenpachi rushed to Kawada, looking around. "Search the river!" he said loudly. "Kawada, what happened?" Kenpachi searched the surrounding area. The only one who knew what might have happened was standing next to him, with a deep fear in his eyes. Kenpachi began to steel himself. This was begining to look bleak.
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Yoritomo Raiden
Mantis Clan Mod
Mantis Clan - Shugenja - Water - Thunder - Damiyo - Not Kolat
Posts: 437
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Post by Yoritomo Raiden on May 10, 2011 0:18:07 GMT -5
In Kenpachi's haste to rush by his fellow clansman, and a drive to know the fate of his Champion he failed to notice at first one important fact. As Kenpachi came through the brush he saw Kawada from the right side of his body, on his knees yelling at the river as though he would hear an answer from the depths. Kawada's face was red with exhaustion and the circles under his eye made his face look somehow sunken, skeletal almost. Kenpachi moved closer to his clansman he was suddenly taken aback. The left side of Kawada's chest had a gash running across where the oni smacked him to the ground. It ran the length of his chest to his neck, 8 inches in length. The wound festered and throbbed, a oily blood slowly oozed from the bottom of the wound. Where the man was cut a spiderlike web of black veins shown under his skin, and a feint sickly salty sweet smell lingered in the air. It made the mornings breakfast churn in Kenpachi's stomach. Kawada's left eye was obsidian black also oozing the oil. Under closer inspection Kenpachi also noticed the wound itself had four small barbs coming out from Kawada's body almost a quarter of an inch long, they seemed to pulse with a unholy fervor.
Hirotomo began to come through the brush as well as the crane scouts in tow. Kenpachi shocked stunned and concerned all in one solid forged emotion held his hand out to stop his son.
"An oni, came out of the river. Full moon. Took Sanjuro-sama horse. killed it....." Kawada suddenly started to violently cough, hacking up what looked to be a mix of blood, tar, and oil. "It first went after Jun. Sanjuro drew its attention to him, so we might be able to flank it. It saw us coming. It batted me to the ground knocking the wind from me, and giving me this curse. It broke Jun and was in the middle of crushing his skull. Sanjuro charged it, broke its arms, cut its tongue from its mouth, and ran it into the water. I was just able to roll to my side when I saw thrashing in the water. Sanjuro stabbing at the thing with his jade knife. The night took me then, and I woke with a fever and I looked like this."
Kawada's breathing turned into a heavy rasp. He licked his cracked lips and continued. "I know he is not dead Kenpachi-san. I feel it, I have been trying to find some sign. I found something by the water though. Kawada dropped the hilt of a knife, once made of jade now it was blackened and flawed. Also what is left of his armor is by the water. Down the river I saw what looks to be a ship wreak. I was yelling hoping he would hear me." Kawada grimaced in pain bracing himself with both hands on the ground.
Kenpachi could see the barbs in the wound growing to half an inch before his eyes. Also he could hear whispers of the men around him. As he looked he saw no smiles or shock, all he saw was the grim faces of a funeral.
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Toku Hirotomo
Monkey Clan
Bushi Paragon of Compassion Clan Champion Toturi's Army
Posts: 793
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Post by Toku Hirotomo on May 10, 2011 2:09:38 GMT -5
Kenpachi had seen wounds like this. He bit back the wave of anger he felt. Not for his Lord's yojimbo, but for the abomination that caused this. Kenpachi tried to speak. He could not find the words. "Pheonix-san! We have one more!" He yelled, but he knew the likely outcome. He took a deep breath. "Kawada. This," he guestured to the wounds. "It's not likely to heal well. You did your duty. We'll find Sanjuro-sama. We have a sugenja nearby. He can try, but the taint may be growing. I will record your name in the halls personally." Kenpachi tried to give the man some final comfort. He would die knowing he performed his duty. A samurai could ask for little more.
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Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
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Post by Kakita Mitsouko on May 10, 2011 12:20:14 GMT -5
Mitsouko's weary face turned to Sho-san, when the Tensai made her the offer. Reddened eyes, pursed lips in concern and horror, from the scenario that was running in her mind; a scenario of death and loss.
She barely can breath, because the tightness around her heart, a physical pressure aching due the sorrow and anguish. It had twisted her most profound feelings, related to an everlasting sensation of loss that she carried within since her birth. Bringing all the pain back to the surface.
With a rasping voice Mitsouko said "Yes, please" and sat down by the Phoenix shugenja side. Her hand soon touched the leather of his clothe, on Sho-san shoulder, as commanded.
She was desperated enough to trust in magic.
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Agasha Shodai
Phoenix Clan Mod
Phoenix Clan * The Void Master * Tensai * Taisa * Enlightened * Paragon of Compassion * Unique
Posts: 783
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Post by Agasha Shodai on May 10, 2011 18:15:51 GMT -5
Sutra of the Mandala of Heaven: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWVST7P37IMThe shugenja whispered a quick Water element spell that would allow anyone who touched him to share in his vision and then an Air spell to assist with the meditation. Agasha Shodai smiled kindly at Kakita Mitsouko as the spectral voices of the Air kami began to sing the Sutra of the Mandala of Heaven within the confines of the tent, forming a faint rondo of both male- and female-sounding voices. "Just as a word of advice, Mitsouko-san... What you are about to see is typically reserved only to those who have achieved Enlightenment and have trained for years before attempting this meditation. Stay close and do not attempt to look at everything all at once... The Tapestry of Fate is too much for any one human to ever hope to comprehend it all and - speaking from personal experience - you will get sick to your stomach if you try."His warnings finished, the Void Master took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he mentally shed his mortal shell. As he freed himself so, the astral version of Kakita Mitsouko, connected to him by a glowing blue string, appeared beside him. It was probably as close to Enlightenment as the young Kenshinzen had ever experienced. In the vision, the Agasha took the Kakita's hand, helping her stabilize her shaky flight as they rose above the world. It took almost no time at all before the blue sky was replaced with the sight of the Mandala of Heaven. Shodai thought he heard a gasp of awe escape Mitsouko as she looked upon the Skein of Destiny for the first time, causing him to smile slightly: its beauty WAS beyond the ability for words to express. 'Fukurokujin, Fortune of Wisdom, and Megumi, Fortune of Heroic Guidance.' Shodai spoke aloud within the vision. 'We, two loyal servants of the Empire, humbly implore you to show us to the thread of Toku Sanjuro, Champion of the Monkey Clan and friend to Kakita Mitsouko here.'There was a resounding *BONG* sound of a gong, indicating that their request was accepted. The Divine Wheel turned on its hidden axis to reveal a brightly glowing line. Once the sky ceased moving, the astral projections of the Phoenix and Crane samurai flew towards the thread of Fate with the grace of the birds whose names their clans had taken. 'By the Kami and the Thousand Fortunes!' Agasha Shodai gasped in shock when he was close enough to be able to make out the details. Toku Sanjuro's thread remained in close proximity with Shodai's and Mitsouko's threads and the fog obscuring the three of them was as thick as ever. But where before Sanjuro's glowing thread had been as thick as Mitsouko's, it was now unravelling, breaking into three or four smaller tendrils that were all snarled and knotted upon itself. He'd seen loose threads before - usually in children who had not yet developed personalities yet - but NEVER in all the years Agasha Shodai had looked upon the Mandala he ever seen anything like this before in his life. He had no CLUE what it meant actually meant, but he could take a guess... One, the soul who in this life was known as Toku Sanjuro remained in Ningen-do... And, two, the unravelling thread suggested that he might no longer be Toku Sanjuro. The fog covering the three threads made it hard to divine anything more specific than that... Was the loss of self temporary or permanent? Was it madness caused by the foul magics within the oni or mere amnesia caused by a severe blow to the head? And that wasn't the worst of it... The spells for locating a missing person required that person to be in full command of their mental faculties. If the kami of the Three Sides River couldn't tell him where Sanjuro had gone, he would be lost until he "found" himself again. Shodai turned to Mitsouko, trying to find the words to explain just how bad it was, but his eyes told it all: hopeful sorrow.
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Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
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Post by Kakita Mitsouko on May 11, 2011 7:39:18 GMT -5
If Mitsouko was in her normal, would be very afflicted with her own safety. But she resisted the instinct of take the hand from his shoulders after Agasha's words, focusing instead in keep herself as calm as possible, and not to do anything stupid. The remark about Enlightenment just made Mitsouko more confused; for her, Enlightened ones used to live apart of the other people and far from mundane affairs; what need of it they could have? But of course, she was not experienced about religious or spiritual deeds.
The supernatural chorus of voices do not contributed for it; although melodious and soothing, Mitsouko was Mitsouko and it caused a chill in her belly. An anticipation for something beyond her craziest dreams. She one day suffered enough with magic to have bad memories about the experience. Her fear of somehow get lost in this experience thrilled her heart; she wasn't a woman that are used to fear much an ample row of things, but that was an entirely different thing.
Then, suddenly she was in an amazing and neverending jungle of shining threads, linked to the Master Shugenja just by a blue glowing line. They reach closer to a particular place, guided by affinity, she felt.
Mitsouko felt connected with that twisted and knotted glowing and multicoloured liana, then realized that it was not only one, but a mess of two or three thicker threads entangled beyond repair. One of them seemed, though, corrupted. Corrupted and sprouting like a vicious parasite plant with many leech branches, trying to survive like living things. That was what Mitsouko saw.
Her lips opened in horror, when Sho-san eyes, full of sadness, told her much more than words could do.
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Agasha Shodai
Phoenix Clan Mod
Phoenix Clan * The Void Master * Tensai * Taisa * Enlightened * Paragon of Compassion * Unique
Posts: 783
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Post by Agasha Shodai on May 11, 2011 9:51:13 GMT -5
"Mitsouko-san... I... I'm not sure how to say this..." Agasha Shodai hesitatingly began. "I suppose that the best news I can say is that Toku Sanjuro is NOT dead..." He pointed to the glowing thread that was tangled up within itself. "His soul thread hasn't turned black, which means he's still alive. But..."
'Fukurokujin, Megumi.'[/b] Shodai mentally called. 'Illuminate Kakita Mitsouko's thread.'
The thread to the immediate left of Sanjuro's lit up. Mitsouko's thread touched the snarled mess that was the Monkey Clan champion's, but was not caught up in it. The Kenshinzen's thread - by comparison - was perfectly smooth.
The Void Master gestured the second thread. "Consider your own thread, Mitsouko-san. Do you see how Sanjuro's thread looks different from your own? It means something strange happened to Toku Sanjuro; something I've never seen before..."
He licked his lips... This news was going to hit her really hard; he knew it.
"Mitsouko-san... There is a good chance that the man you knew is no more. His body and soul remains in Ningen-do - healthy and untainted, but the mind and personality of the man you knew, whether temporarily or permanently..." He shook his head sorrowfully. "It's gone, Mitsouko-san..."
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Toku Hirotomo
Monkey Clan
Bushi Paragon of Compassion Clan Champion Toturi's Army
Posts: 793
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Post by Toku Hirotomo on May 11, 2011 11:13:53 GMT -5
Hirotomo looked over. His father had not returned ,and Mitsouko and the Pheonix were staring at each other with a blank look on thier faces. He had little idea what was going on. Personaly, he cared little that they were looking at each other, seeming devoid of all thought. The kami were strange sometimes.
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Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
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Post by Kakita Mitsouko on May 11, 2011 12:35:42 GMT -5
She wasn't able to restrain the emotion of such revelation, the corner of her mouth twitching involutarily, eyes somber: Isn't it like death? Agasha Sho-san eyes were eloquent saying that for the first time he wasn’t sure of anything, and could promise a solution. Some questions died in her throat, even before she said them: “Is there… a way to get him back? Are we able to find him? Can someone in the Empire cure him?†Wasn’t it the destiny? She saw that the main intertwined thread was intact, and the line that Sho-san identified as Sanjuro’s followed laterally, apart, thicker and dark. She cannot see further, darkness surrounded the future, as it was veiled for them. But she had a certainty. She saw more than enough.
In the external world, her hand slipped from Agasha’s shoulder, Mitsouko was abruptly taken away from the vision of the immeasurable mandala of all human destinies threads. The sudden contact with the reality made the tragedy much more tangible. What now? Was Sanjuro taken by madness, was his personality grotesquely ripped from him, like guts, and he was a mindless carcass? What? Isn’t it death? Why to have a heart beating without a mind to command the body’s will? Isn’t it a tainted and abnormal form of living? A deep sigh of dejection spurted from her lips. She was lost and alone.
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Agasha Shodai
Phoenix Clan Mod
Phoenix Clan * The Void Master * Tensai * Taisa * Enlightened * Paragon of Compassion * Unique
Posts: 783
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Post by Agasha Shodai on May 11, 2011 16:35:35 GMT -5
As Kakita Mitsouko's astral projection vanished, Shodai knew the Kenshinzen still had so many questions.
'Fortunes, please light for me the threads of anyone that Toku Sanjuro's thread is currently crossing.'
The air was still; no gong resounding... His request was denied - there was a purpose in Sanjuro's condition and it had yet to have served its purpose.
Agasha sighed, diving deeper into the Mandala, into the mists obscuring Sanjuro's thread. There was danger in doing so if the fortunes took exception to him trying to see what they wanted hidden. Tendrils of celestial lightning began to crackle around him in a warning to turn back or face the consequences.
But Mitsouko needed something to give her hope.
'Please Fortunes; all I seek is to know which of you are looking out for Toku Sanjuro at this time. I will not interfere in any way; this I swear to you all. Forgive me if you feel I overstep my bounds in the name of showing compassion.'
This time, a gong resounded.
Shodai halted in his reckless plunge as the fog began to clear slightly before him. The Monkey Clan Champion's hidden thread now bore 3 colors: those of Jurojin - Fortune of Longevity, Muzaka - Fortune of Enigmas, and Natsu-Togumara - Fortune of Travel and Experience. This was good... It meant that there was some part of Sanjuro that was aware that he had lost himself and, seeing it as puzzle to be solved, would be seeking answers to recover his true self.
The Void Master smiled to himself as he began to descend back to Ningen-do...
~*~
Agasha Shodai's eyes opened as his mind returned to his body only a few heartbeats behind Kakita Mitsouko's, the spectral chorus fading as he did so. He turned to her, seeing the barely contained tears in her eyes.
"Mitsouko-san... I know you are hurting, but take heart: wherever the man Toku Sanjuro is now, he is aware he has lost his memories and will soon be embarking on a quest to restore them. I will monitor his thread on a daily basis: the closer he gets to the man you knew, the easier it will be for me to find him.
Once I do - and I know not how long it will take, Mitsouko-san - I swear to you, on my honor, that I will pull every string at my disposal, call in every favor I have with all the clans, and tap into the entire repository magical knowledge of the Phoenix clan if I need to in order to find a way to restore Toku Sanjuro to his true self, dear lady."
Shodai gave Mitsouko a confident grin and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, praying that this would be enough to give her hope - the most powerful magic of them all.
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