Bayushi Senshi
Scorpion Clan
Scorpion Clan * Clan Champion * Samurai * Kensai * Experienced * Loyal * Unique
Posts: 1,891
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Post by Bayushi Senshi on May 28, 2011 18:34:22 GMT -5
Senshi stopped in his tracks, cutting out at the long grass as he watched the altercation between Shoju and Haruka. Senshi's curiosity started to get the better of him. But when he saw the challenge, he shook his head, "Haruka, no. Its too great a risk, let me face the traitor."
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Bayushi Haruka
Scorpion Clan
OOC Cleanup Crew
Samurai? Battle Maiden? Cavalry? Paragon of Courage? Friend of the Lion
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Post by Bayushi Haruka on May 28, 2011 19:31:28 GMT -5
She did not fully take her eyes off of Shoju as she half glanced over her shoulder back at him.
"Senshi-sama, I have already issued the challenge. I have accepted the risks and I know what I do this day. It is I who needs to deal with Shoju-san. It is I who needs to end this fighting."
She stood firm and cold as she held her ground, looking past her blade at the bloodspeaker, waiting for him to make a move.
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Post by Shoju on May 28, 2011 19:55:43 GMT -5
Shoju was mildly surprised. "Haruka-san, You are looking at things from a perspective that is contrary to you, and you know it. " Shoju held out his left hand and closed his eyes. His Katana freed itself from the mud, and deftly came to his hand. He turned and picked up his Jingasa from the mud, and gave it a hard flick. Most of the mud freed itself from the Metal Jingasa. "Allow me a moment, and I will honor your challenge."
Shoju placed his Jingasa on his head, and the pendant around his neck burned bright red again. Tenshi would hear Shoju in her head telling her to flee to Saisei. She would know when she found it.
Shoju drew his katana cross ways in front of his chest in a defensive posture. "I hope you will forgive me Senshi, if I'm responsible for taking another loved one from you. I never intended for things to turn out this way."
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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 28, 2011 20:25:14 GMT -5
Tenshi seemed to make no gesture but simply took her steed and severed limb and ran. The Utaku steed was still fit to ride all the way back as she'd disappear into the thick rainy night without another word. But it'd be a bit ironic considering what she just said about Shoju. Either way she was gone now.
Haruka tensed slightly as he readied himself, "This is between me and you Shoju-san, I suggest you stay focused." Her words were cold as she'd been analyzing over him for the time that he moved, ever calculating as she couldn't wait for him in a defensive stance to make a first strike.
She came at him with a sudden unannounced shift in footing, no battle cry, no sound more than the muscles in her body moving in harmony. Her form appeared perfect as she came against him in a flash of motion. It was the kind of precision she'd need for what she intended.
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Post by Shoju on May 29, 2011 5:33:53 GMT -5
Shoju Parried and bowed out of the way, drawing a sweeping arc behind him as he moved out of the way of her, ending in a more offensive position this time. "You have my undivided attention Haruka. I promise you that."
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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 29, 2011 10:20:29 GMT -5
"It's a shame that I only get your attention now, Shoju-san." She would move continually in a fluid motion, testing Shoju. But on the off swing she was starting to let her guard down in favor of trying to overpower or cause him to make a mistake.
But she showed form and strength, true to her upbringing. But battle maidens weren't exactly known for their dueling prowess.. But she was controlling the flow, the motion, and forcing Shoju's motions. Whether her skill was in question or not, she knew how to control the situation.
She would only hesitate once to narrow her eyes a bit, looking over his burns silently before resuming the motions. The rain seemed to ease by one means or another as Haruka drew in a gentle breath. This was nothing like Crane dueling at all, and yet it was not some reckless sword thrashing. Some might actually see the beauty of it if lives weren't on the line.
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Post by Shoju on May 29, 2011 10:27:26 GMT -5
"Haruka-san, You have had my attention since you came into my home as part of a raiding party." Shoju parried her strikes when needed, moved to dodge when possible, and only made glancing advances. "You've noticed my scars? A gift for wanting to know the secrets of the scroll." Shoju danced about working the ground into a mess. When he was sure that the footing was sufficiently slick from the mud under foot. He began to press. Strong offensive strokes, minding his surroundings, but pushing his advance. He would use the Unicorns armored bulk and less sure footing against her now.
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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 29, 2011 10:34:58 GMT -5
She forced herself into a defensive stature, never letting a blow through, but allowing the strokes dangerously close. She seemed far less apt at taking a reserved position with a blade in her hand.
"You and I consider gifts differently then. No scar is a gift, only the strength and knowledge that came from surviving and bearing it..."
It was only a matter of time before the momentum would win through. Haruka performed valiantly even in the slickest mud, but her armor caused her footing to slip as she swung her blade wide in an attempt to regain balance, but to no avail.
She was exposed, vulnerable, but she had no fear in her eyes, still looking to Shoju, always looking to Shoju. She knew her fate had been placed, but she had fought anyway and given it her all.
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Bayushi Senshi
Scorpion Clan
Scorpion Clan * Clan Champion * Samurai * Kensai * Experienced * Loyal * Unique
Posts: 1,891
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Post by Bayushi Senshi on May 29, 2011 13:29:10 GMT -5
Senshi watchedin abject horror, he knew what come of this duel, and he tried to prepare himself, but just in case, he took what few men he had left and surrounded the duelists. Senshi readied himself to intervene, and picked up a rock. Senshi's eyes grew wide as Haruka's guard slipped, and he hurled the rock at Shoju, hoping to buy her some time. Screw honor.
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Post by Shoju on May 29, 2011 20:24:48 GMT -5
Shoju reponsded to Haruka's statement as they moved. "Haruka-san, Scars are the gifts of memory. Without them, we could forget or block out tragic lessons. I will never forget the knowledge, but the scars ensure I will never forget the lesson."
Then, his advance worked, and she fell. As Shoju readied himself to deliver a lesson of his own, the rock hit him. Squarely in the back of the head.
Shoju turned, and saw Senshi's men surrounding him, and Senshi standing there. "I might have known that you would intervene." Shoju smoothed his hair so that it fell down his back. "Fair and Honorable. Things you cannot be with matters of love when the outcome is tragic." Shoju grinned. "That is why most Scorpions don't marry out of love." Shoju's grin quickly turned into a frown and he walked to within paces of the Master of Secrets. "No matter, I suppose. My blade can quench its thirst on your blood just as well." Shoju closed his eyes, and brought his right hand hard against his side. The crushing of glass was heard, and then fire burst from the ground and cut Senshi and Shoju off from everyone else.
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Bayushi Senshi
Scorpion Clan
Scorpion Clan * Clan Champion * Samurai * Kensai * Experienced * Loyal * Unique
Posts: 1,891
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Post by Bayushi Senshi on May 30, 2011 0:47:06 GMT -5
Senshi barked out a harsh laugh, "I'll be fair and honorable when I face an enemy deserving of it."
Senshi removed his war mask, and let it clatter to the ground next to his no-dachi. Then made a good show of flicking blood off of his katana. "Come, Churetsu thirsts for your blood, traitor."
Senshi adopted a low stance, placing his free hand on the ground and held his blade over his head, then dashed toward Shoju with lightning fast reflexes. Speed that the spider had likely never seen before in a warrior.
Shoju had likely just caged himself in with the deadliest swordsman in the empire, and Senshi relished in the challenge. He started his attack low, then altered his attack pattern in mid form, adopting a new stance, one that favored a back hand slash. This was a ruse however as Senshi swept out with a foot. Never before had Senshi even moved with such speed and ferocity, but he wouldn't lose focus for an instant, his eyes glued to his enemy's. Attacks raining in from every direction. A slash, a hilt, an elbow, a kick, Senshi's onslaught was relentless. It was clear he meant to end it, Shoju would not have to worry about the grove after all it seemed. Senshi was acting on raw combat instinct.
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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 30, 2011 6:59:13 GMT -5
Haruka had no choice but to watch now. She regained her standing as she stowed her blade, her eyes were solemn as they followed the battle.
She knew of Senshi's absolute prowess, but until now she'd never seen it in full form. And now she felt powerless as she merely kept vigil along with Reiko who looked flustered as ever. But Haruka would not allow her to intervene now. This battle needed to end.
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Post by Shoju on May 31, 2011 6:18:03 GMT -5
Shoju was caught off guard by Senshi's prowess, and his savagery. Good Shoju thought. Senshi was bound and determined to end his life. Shoju worked to stay as defensive as he possibly could, and working through parry blade attacks.
"Senshi-san. One day, you will look back on this day as your undoing." Shoju grinned madly at Senshi, and drew himself dangerously close to senshi, and dropped his blade to the ground. "End me Senshi. You think it will right so many wrongs, then end me." Shoju was almost too calm and serene about it.
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Bayushi Senshi
Scorpion Clan
Scorpion Clan * Clan Champion * Samurai * Kensai * Experienced * Loyal * Unique
Posts: 1,891
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Post by Bayushi Senshi on May 31, 2011 10:53:10 GMT -5
Senshi was never one to hesitate, if this was a gambit it was a bad one. Senshi swung with all his might horizontally aiming ear to ear, through his head. Justice he thought, he knew this wouldn't cure the plague, nor right the wrongs committed but he did know that he may have ended the single biggest threat since Iuchiban. All this went through his mind as his blade traveled to the target, as if in slow motion.
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Post by Shoju on May 31, 2011 11:17:27 GMT -5
The next few seconds felt like an eternity. The blade in Senshi's hand, it seemed like it was going to connect cleanly with shoju's head. And as it should have made contact with Shoju's temple, the form of Shoju became smoke, and whirled around his blade. The force of the blade spinning Senshi to facing the other way.
And there was a laugh. A Dry, taunting Laugh. It had a hauntingly painful ring to it. As if it were coming from deep in Senshi's past. As Senshi would focus, behind him stood Shoju. With a grin on his face. "You didn't think I would let you behead me now do you Senshi?"
"You have spent all this time and energy attempting to destroy me. You view me as the secret no one must know. You think that is the only way to honor the Scorpion, but you are missing the point Senshi! Everyone must know who I am!" Shoju stood his ground, still unarmed. "You can't destroy what you don't understand Senshi"
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