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 23, 2011 13:22:42 GMT -5
Thank the kami. Mitsouko had avoided inviting Hirotomo to the Tea Ceremony. Others might think it a slight, but Hirotomo knew his cousin was performing a favor for him. Since it was still a celebration, and everyone he knew from the Daidoji School were busy patroling Three Side River or sent to the battle, Hirotomo thought he'd invite the young ronin to see the area and the night festival with him. An old Monkey courtier almost had a fit when he said what he was going to do. Hirotomo brushed him off, declaring that if it so happened that they entered battle together, they needed to know one another. Besides, Hirotomo almost fell asleep during a court session earlier and wanted to get far away from the wagging tounges of a few courtiers. Down in the common area with a ronin more then served that purpose. Hirotomo went off to invite the young woman.
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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 24, 2011 15:17:52 GMT -5
"I'll get word to him right away, Mitsouko-san."[/b] Agasha Shodai nodded as Kakita Mitsouko made her departure from the group to attend to matters that they were not permitted to participate in.
He then turned back to the two teen samurai gestured towards the food stalls. "Why don't the two of you enjoy the celebrations without me? I fear my mind is on more serious matters at the moment and I would hate to ruin your ability to enjoy the festivities by being a stick in the mud. I'll go talk with the others the Void Master sent and see what kind of strategy we can come up with."[/b]
Moshi Kimiko's eyes widened slightly at the thought of being alone with Hirotomo. "But Oniisama..."[/b]
Shodai raised a finger cutting off her - as yet - unspoken objections. "You don't need to be worried about proprieties, Kimi-chan. The two of you will be out in the open with others around you and despite his youth, Hirotomo-kun here was chosen by a Kenku master - an honor I myself did not achieve until I was 25 - and is, perhaps, one of the most honorable men of your generation. Okay?"[/b]
Kimiko licked her lips hesitantly as she mentally weighed her faith in Shodai against her fear of teenage boys. After a few moments, though, she nodded as she realized that it was extremely unlikely that her Oniisama's faith in Toku Hirotomo be misplaced. "Okay, Jiujutsu-niisama."[/b] The Mantis girl smiled at the Monkey boy. "Shall we see what the Crane have to offer, Hirotomo-kun?"[/b]
"You two have fun and I'll see you at the strategy meeting in the morning."[/b] Shodai said with a smile as he walked off.
~*~
It took Shodai only a few moments to find the hotel that Kimiko had mentioned. To the side of the building was a wheeled cart with a number of sealed boxes carrying the sigil of the Phoenix Clan. Two samurai stood guard over the cart: the first a female bushi with flame red hair in heavy armor and bearing the insignia of the Shiba family. Her companion was male shugenja in a gray travel robe made from a massive wolf pelt with a birthmark on his cheek that looked like a howling wolf's head.
The two nodded to each other at the approach of "Asako Jinjutsu." The woman smiled at him grimly. "So, where's the threat and why are we here in celebration central instead of killing the thing?"[/b]
The Void Master smiled at the Inquisitor. "Kind of hard to kill what you can't find, Ame. This is not your run of the mill monster we face... I could have dealt with it by myself if it had been."[/b]
Asako Inugami chuckled in dry agreement. "That's for certain, Boss!"[/b]
"Where's Tetsuro?"[/b] Agasha Shodai asked as he removed his mempo.
"Right here, Master!"[/b] The Isawa shugenja said as he made his way through the crowd. He carried a stick of dango that had two of the confections still on it.
"Excellent."[/b] Shodai said as he began ticking off fingers. "The Crane scouts assigned to the Three Sides River are currently searching out the lair of the oni. In the mean time, we will be working closely with Kakita Mitsouko, the new Kakita Family daimyo, helping work on devising a plan of attack as well as offering to help train the bushi troops she is able to gather on anti-Oni tactics."[/b]
He glanced at the two Inquisitors. "Just remember, aside from the occasional volunteer to serve on the Wall, these troops will have next to no experience where creatures of the Shadowlands are concerned. Work with them and be patience with their inexperience."[/b] Shiba Ame and Asako Inugami grimaced slightly, but nodded acceptance of the order.
Agasha Shodai turned back to his primary student. "In the meantime, Tetsuro, we have been invited to a planning meeting tomorrow in the outpost's War Room. Make sure all six of you are there and looking your best - we want to impress our allies, after all."[/b] Isawa Tetsuro nodded. "Kakita Mitsouko has also invited the new Phoenix Clan Void Master to a tea ceremony this evening. Asako Jinjutsu promised to get the word to him, I want you to write a message saying that I am accepting her invitation while I see to my personal preparations for the evening."[/b]
"It will be done, Master. Is there anything else?"[/b]
Shodai nodded. "It's time to let you flex some mental muscles, Tetsuro."[/b] Isawa's brow scrunched in confusion. "While I attend the tea ceremony, I'd like you to devise a strategy that uses everyone's skills effectively in dealing with the monster. A strategy you will present at tomorrow's meeting."[/b]
Tetsuro's eyes widened slightly. "M-M-Me? But, Master, you've always been in charge of such things in the past. I don't have any skill at it..."[/b] He attempted to demure.
"You're not giving yourself enough credit, Tetsuro. You have been my student for the last eight years and I KNOW you've been paying attention to my own methods; simply try and replicate them in yourself. You're 19 now; it's time for you to come out of my shadow and begin casting your own. Past time, in fact."[/b] The Void Master smiled, clapping his student on the shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll be there as Asako to bring up any points of importance you have failed to catch. This is your moment in the sun; make me proud."[/b]
Isawa Tetsuro licked his lips, but finally nodded. "Your will be done, Shodai-sensei."[/b]
Agasha nodded, leaving his three companions as he entered the hotel. First a trip to the onsen, then a quick teleport back to Kyuden Isawa to formally dress himself as the Void Master and look for a suitable gift for the new Kakita Daimyo, and then...
Then he would see if Mitsouko-san had had enough time to get to know the real him: the man behind the positions, the prestige, and the power. The man that only a few genuinely knew...
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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 24, 2011 16:44:23 GMT -5
Hirotomo supressed a flush when the Pheonix spoke of him. He was quite pleased with the praise. Granted, he would never do anything untoward the young woman, but she did not know him. It was good to know he was well thought of. She seemed to hesitate, but chose to go with him. "Sounds wonderful, Kimiko-san, and if some one disturbs you, I swear to use all my bushi training to point and grunt menecingly." Hirotomo looked around and then quickly tore off the courtier's cap he was told to wear. "These damn things look silly, I felt like an idiot wearing it."
Hirotomo was feeling better already. He was back to telling jokes and did not feel like a sore thumb. If they had not taken his old kimono, he'd have worn that and just been simple Hirotomo again. He still was not used to girls outside of the Crane he trained with, but Kimiko seemed amicable enough. She was definately more reserved without the Pheonix around. He would steer away from sake though, he rarely drank and he did not want to cause a misunderstanding.
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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 25, 2011 14:50:57 GMT -5
The morning came and with them, the meeting in the Kosaten Shiro War Room. The facility was constituted of a large building with a single but impressive room, where dozens of large tables were disposed in a way people could walk between them. Over these tables, miniaturized maps of amazing detail and art depicted various areas. Toku Hiromoto and The Phoenix group are being expected to attend, having permission to enter as soon they arrive. Kakita Mitsouko was already there with a bunch of Daidoji warriors, some of them veterans, as it seems. They were around one of the table. The observer can recognize that it represented the area around Three Sides River. The Crane group was talking about strategies, obviously. The night before, was able to consolidate the trustness among the group and its leaders. When the Phoenix group found the Crane party reunited there, they began to discuss the better strategies for battle this ominous threat. Hirotomo was there as well. Mitsouko was proud of him. She found he was to her like a little brother, she cared about him. And trust in his abilities.
Then, hours later, the group had defined a wise plan. Phoenix and Crane knew how to work together, it was a fact.
End of this RP Sequence: "The Defeat of Ishii-no-Oni"
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