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 Aug 17, 2011 12:02:31 GMT -5
Mitsouko looked firmly at the Isawa shugenja. “Tetsuro-sama, you don’t have to bear this burden alone. Of course your brother was as guilty as us, I am sure. How could a pupil of one of the most wise men in the Empire choose that for himself? Of course Isshin was blameless in it, and was dragged down by the forces of…” she looked at Tetsuro’s feet for inspiration, even having a Tensai as mother, she wasn’t able to remember exactly the realm. She still wondered if it was unconscious effort to deny her mother’s trying of use the daughter’s inherent shugenja abilities or just a real lack of interest “...Evil realms.” She sighed. “But we Crane admire your desire of doing it. So, if you need permission, you have it.” Then, in a general cumpliment to the volunteers that sided Agasha Shodai in this battle against such devious creature within the Empire, Mitosuko said, as loud as possible, so everyone gathered there was able to hear:
You, my dear friends of Phoenix clan, Moshi family, the Toku young warrior here and, of course, the brave Daidoji that came in free will to deal with this difficult task, deserves our most respectful bow. We Crane clan deeply appreciate your efforts and the way we defeated this beast, with less losses than usual in such a task, as I’ve heard from the Shadowlands veterans here. She bowed deep, first to the Phoenix men, then to the rest. Ryo-sama should take care of everything else from now on, they had already talked about it. Keeping the search after Sanjuro-sama and taking the brave fallen warriors and shugenja to their homelands. Mitsouko was tired and many days of travel was waiting for her in the next days. She was expecting to talk with both her cousin and Sho-san, but it of course should wait a little more. Maybe during the travel…
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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 Aug 17, 2011 16:14:09 GMT -5
Isawa Tetsuro smiled sadly at the Kakita Family Daimyo. "I appreciate your kind words, Daimyo-sama. And yes, I realize that the man my brother was before his... illness... would never have played any role in this debacle. But I also know that if there had been some way for him to return to the way I remember him, he'd be the first to take accountability for the actions of his madness."[/b] He went quiet for a few heartbeats. "It's the only way I can think of to honor who he was rather than what he became."[/b]
An odd gleam rippled across the curved guard of Toku Hirotomo's Sewing Needle in reaction to the Phoenix's words, but those that noticed it assumed it was a trick of the setting sun.
Tetsuro looked at Mitsouko as the others moved out of earshot. He hesitated for a moment but decided that he needed to talk to the woman. "Daimyo-sama, I know that the journey that you and my Master are on has barely begun, but you've undoubtedly noticed that Sensei has a tendency to shoulder burdens that would surely crush lesser men. He's always been like that, but I've noticed that its gotten worse in the weeks since he took Isawa Tadaka's place as Void Master...
"Tadaka and Sensei have been friends since the days of their gempukku and Shodai-dono has taken Tadaka's departure extremely hard... Were it any other man, I would think that Agasha-sensei believes himself somehow unworthy of his new position and feels like he has to prove to others that he can do the job. And, though I know I am overstepping my authority as his student, as his FRIEND I would be remiss if I didn't say that after what happened today, I'm starting to worry about his safety..."[/b]
Isawa paced slightly. "I'm not sure what is going on that brings Sensei to travel with you; in fact, I undoubtedly have no NEED to know, which is why Sensei hasn't told me so I can explain it to the other Masters. Sensei has a tendency to bottle his feeling up until he verges on exploding and after his close call today he might even begin to doubt himself - he has this mental picture of whom he's supposed to be and, quite frankly, I doubt either Isawa or the Kami Shiba could live up to the standard Agasha-sensei's holding himself to..."[/b]
The Phoenix shugenja looked to the Crane bushi. "When Tadaka left, Sensei lost one of his oldest friends and I think he's trying to avoid the pain of that loss by taking these chances. Daimyo-sama, can I ask that you keep an eye on my Master during your journey; maybe even encourage him to open up in the days and weeks ahead? Please?"[/b]
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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 Aug 17, 2011 17:00:21 GMT -5
Mitsouko listened intently the words of the Shodai’s most esteemed student. When the Isawa shugenja was exposing his concerns, her mind wandered to the day she threw a rubber ball at Shodai, when he was focused training; she was a child and he, a adult shugenja. Of course the image she had of him was the same Tetsuro had. She had enough proofs of it in the last days; the Phoenix new Void Master was a man trying to proof himself and to others what material he was made and what he was worth. Well, how she would blame him? The power he was able to manage was of great responsibility. It made her wonder about her duties as new daimyo as well. She never had reason or necessity to proof nothing to anyone, but now, Doji Yoshi and many influent samurai of her own family had pointed her as new daimyo. It has nothing to do with worthiness, but with the change of winds. She truly understand that sometimes we feel we are not prepared to do it. Tetsuro-sama, I just don’t know where these path of ours will lead us. I am mostly surprised that the Phoenix Void Master is so kind in share his way with me as traveling companion. I wasn’t formally introduced to Tadaka-sama but I know who he is and the fact he stepped back of this position and it caused such sadness in Sho… Shodai-sama, only can mean one thing to me: a great disturbance is surrounding us, and it impacted first in the Phoenix Council. I don’t know how many of this can be a matter for a Crane, I wouldn’t dare to meddle myself in the affairs either of Tadaka-sama or the council, unless I am required to do so. But, me and Shodai-sama, we have a mistery to solve, but we arepretty aware that our clans businesses come first. She smiled gently to him, before saying: About what you ask me… I don’t know how Shodai-sama would carry of my bushi talk. I am about ten years younger than him, and it can provide him enough senseless talking to make him treat me like a child or pupil… or both. But I promise I will try to make him understand that there something more in life than war, politics and meditation… She winked to the shugenja, trying to keep things light. There is sake!
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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 Aug 17, 2011 20:01:50 GMT -5
A brief snort of barely contained laughter forced itself from Isawa Tetsuro at the Kakita's joke. The first genuine smile he'd felt since learning of his brother's grim fate crossed the man's lips. "Oh, you needn't worry about the topic... I'm not sure if you knew this, but Agasha-sensei has perfect recall; he can close his eyes and, with a thought, re-experience the sights, smells, sounds, and sensations from any moment in his life as if they've just happened. Sensei has a thirst for knowledge that is almost holy, but he he tends to forget that not everyone has such a drive... Pretty ironic for a man who literally CAN NOT forget anything.
One thing I can tell you is that Agasha-sensei sees everyone in the world as both a student AND as a teacher... If you can show him a hint of what he can learn from you and his unconscious tendency to talk over your head will become increasingly scarce. But as for 'bushi talk,' in his youth Sensei studied with the Tamori Yamabushi - shugenja that train with both scroll and blade - so he'd likely find it very interesting. What you discuss really doesn't matter: the point is that he only opens up to people that he can respect and admire..."[/b]
Tetsuro paused for a beat, licking his lips slightly. "And at the risk of giving away too many of Sensei's secrets, I've been under Agasha-sensei's tutelage for 10 years now and not once has he ever organized an Incursion counter-response to the extent that he has for this one. I think you might have already earned his respect, Daimyo-sama..."[/b]
A raucous roar of celebration arose from the main camp.
The Phoenix shugenja turned to the camp. "It looks like the victory party has begun... I think I'll stop in to see how sensei is before joining in."[/b] He bowed to Kakita Mitsouko. "If I don't see you again, I wish you a safe journey, Daimyo-sama."[/b]
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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 Aug 17, 2011 20:39:42 GMT -5
Hirotomo was quiet for most of the revelry. Fourteen names kept going through his head, and it was difficult to concentrate on the celebration. A few of his senpai from the Daidoji school were congratulating him, bringing him sake, and reminiscing about the dojo. Hirotomo was polite, and smiled along with his old classmates, but he was not truly feeling in a celebratory mood.
Hirotomo sat by the fire and began to whittle a small piece of wood. It was a flute, living with the Crane usually imparted some love of art or performance. One of the Crane was playing a biwa, and Hirotomo joined in the song, with a few of the other bushi. The Trials of Kakita was a popular song, even he knew the words. Hirotomo thought of Rinko as he threw scraps of wood into the fire. He'd be back home soon enough, then off to the City of Lies.
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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 Aug 17, 2011 20:54:33 GMT -5
I wish you a good journey as well, Tetsuro-sama.
The Kakita daimyo bowed back to the shugenja, watching him leave and walk to the tent Shodai was resting. Mitsouko turned her eyes to the celebration, saw Hirotomo there, part of the group but face showing his heart was somewhere else. Then she went to her own tent, thinking that, in a couple of years, probably she would be used to think in 14 lives under her command just as small tokens in a big go game made of clans. But right now, it was a too heavy burden.
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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 Aug 17, 2011 23:02:14 GMT -5
Agasha Shodai opened his eyes. And yet he did not open them.
He lay on a futon - watched by three of the shugenja that knew him best - but he sat up on the side of a grassy hill, completely alone.
Well, that wasn't quite accurate, either...
Standing watch over him was a bizarre amalgamated creature with the horn of a rhino, a lion's head attached to the body of a horse that had the feet of a tiger and the tail of a cow fused to it. Seeing the shugenja awaken, the beast loped off like the great cat whose head and legs it possessed.
"A... baku?"[/b] Shodai asked himself, naming the only creature in any of his research that resembled what he saw. "Am I in Yume-do?"[/b]
"Right in one, Shodai."[/b] An eerily familiar voice said, breaking the silence.
Turning about, Agasha Shodai felt his jaw drop slightly as he found himself staring into the oddly bi-colored gaze of Asako Jinjutsu, dressed in his white and emerald kimono with his white mempo in place.
The medic chuckled as he rubbed his shaved head. "Man, if you could see the look on your face at the moment... I'd show you, but my mempo is a part of my face here; I can't take it off."[/b]
Shodai pushed back his snow white hair, rubbing his eyes in confusion. "Okay... I know this is the realm of dreams and that it isn't required to make any sense at all, but it's rather disconcerting to be seeing yourself in the third person."[/b]
"Ah! But I'm NOT you. I am a figment of your imagination, a fantasy that you created to hide from yourself in the waking world. I can only exist without you here."[/b]
Agasha Shodai made a palms up gesture. "Okay, I'll conceed that point... But why..?"[/b]
"Am I here?"[/b] Jinjutsu finished the Void Master's question. "Simple; some part of your mind is sick and tired of playing turtle and wants you to stop feeling sorry for yourself!"[/b] The medic said, slaping Shodai on the cheek with bone-jarring force. "How DARE you?! You've been truding along like a man heading to his own execution ever since Tadaka-san revealed his fall to the Taint."[/b]
The dream scene around them turned bleak and grim as Shodai felt the sting of Isawa Tadaka's betrayal of everything the Elemental Council stood for rip through him anew. The Void Master found himself standing on the precipice of a pit that seethed with rage, loss, pity, wrath, and the thousand other emotions that had been eating at him for weeks now.
Asako Jinjutsu slapped him across the face again.
Agasha Shodai blinked, the world returning to the idyllic grass-covered hills outside Kyuden Agasha, the place where Gunso Agasha-ojiisama used to take him when he snuck him out of the Palace. "Stop hitting me."[/b]
A feral smile appeared on the medic's lips as he slapped the Void Master a third time. "Make me."[/b]
With a growl, Agasha Shodai punched Asako Jinjutsu... And passed right through him. The Void Master stumbled as he turned around.
Jinjutsu arched an eyebrow. "Did you really just take a swing at a figment of your own imagination?"[/b] The Asako made a tsk-ing sound. "Come on, Shodai, you know better than that! You've been acting like a petulant child for weeks now and it's time to grow up."[/b]
The medic clapped his hands and four windows appeared. In one, Kakita Mitsouko sat alone in her tent, looking grief-stricken. In another, Toku Hirotomo sat by a fire, blowing into a wooden flute, but there was a sadness to his features, suggesting his heart wasn't really in it. The third had Isawa Tetsuro, looking like a man who'd had his heart ripped out of his chest, cut in half and then forced back into place. The fourth was Asahina Ino, slumped over and crying with a grief that came from the very depths of her soul.
"Take a good long look, Shodai. Your friends here have suffered losses far greater than you losing a friend who couldn't live up to your standards or trying to erase the stain from the title you never wanted but is now yours none-the-less. But they keep pressing forward rather than try to hide from their feelings."[/b]
A pang of shame rippled through Agasha Shodai: Mitsouko had been poisoned, lost her father, lost the man that she held deep affection for, AND was stuggling under the weight of a rather hefty title. Hirotomo's mother and brother had been murdered by Bloodspeakers, his father was emotionally distant as he tried to cope with that loss, but kept trudging along. Tetsuro was completely alone for the first time in his life; never again to be able to reach out through the mystical bond to his twin brother Isshin. And Ino...
"Summoned a water kami that accidentally killed the man she loved; though she'd never allowed herself to admit her feelings to him... And now she'll never will get the chance to do so."[/b]
Shodai grimaced. He'd THOUGHT he'd seen Asako Inugami for those few minutes he'd been trapped within Meido... "Damn it. My fault..."[/b]
Jinjutsu slapped him again. "Get over yourself, Shodai! You can't be responsible for EVERYBODY. You know as well as I do that the second Inugami's destiny was set in the Mandala only a Kami, a Fortune, or a Dragon could have altered his fate. Last I checked, you are none of the above. Hell, you aren't even Isawa reincarnated!"[/b]
Shodai felt the blush of his cheeks. "Guess I have been carrying a chip on my shoulder, haven't I?"[/b]
"Only about as big as the Spine of the World."[/b] Asako said, clapping a hand on Agasha's shoulder as he began to fade out of existance. "Look, stop worrying about how you'll go down in history; history will decide for itself what it will think of you. Just worry about your friends: ease their burdens, accept their help if they offer to help you shoulder yours, and most of all, just be yourself... Once you figure out just who Agasha Shodai really is. Believe in yourself for a change rather than your skills or your abilities and you'll be just fine. Farewell..."[/b]
~*~
Agasha Shodai opened his eyes.
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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 Aug 17, 2011 23:08:57 GMT -5
This concludes the "Defeat of the Isshin-no-Oni" story. We hope you have enjoyed the story.
The journey of Agasha Shodai and Kakita Mitsouko will continue, taking them to Kyuden Miya, Kyuden Otomo, and Otosan Uchi in the story arc "Aftermath and Restoration," coming soon to the Imperial Court board. We look forward to seeing you there!
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