Legend of the Ronin (Legend of the Five Rings)

[gman391]

--Smile Sadly
--- "Hida-sama, why? Why are you here hurting me when you could be with him? You can. I cannot. At least one of us should be happy."


Think like a Crane - a Crane would set the field so even if the Crab still attacked, they lost anyways despite an initial victory...so try and turn the tables.

You look up at Takamona and the Togashi and give a sad smile.
"Hida-sama, why? Why are you here hurting me when you could be with him? You can---"

A lot of things happen at once. The Togashi finds himself thrown into you, and you see Takamona seething with pure hatred at you.

"You dare, you worthless piece of trash, to insult me, and my brother? You dare?" She doesn't shout.

Why does that make it more scary?

The Togashi stands up and looks between the two of you.

"A wise man once said that when two women fight, the safest place is elsewhere," he says, as he backs away.

'Have you lost all sense entirely, Sakura? Telling a Hida to abandon her duty…were you trying to die today?' your grandmother snipes acidly.

Well… when you put it like that… You admit that you didn't really think that through all the way. What was it you you expected to happen again? Afterall, if Takamona was out here...it was because of her brother...otherwise she'd be on the Wall.

"Hida-sama---" You begin.

She doesn't seem to hear it as you find yourself rolling to the side, a heavy axe kick slamming down where your head used to be.

Well shit, you had just wanted to listen to poetry, run or fight. It seems though, that that last is no longer just an option: without a doubt, fighting will lead to your death.

On the other hand….running will too. Leaving aside the fact that you think she's probably actually better at long distance running than you, you're a ronin. Running will confirm to everyone around that she's right about you being a dishonourable piece of trash

But you just know that throwing away your pride to survive isn't what a Crane does.

"Hida-sama, you want to fight me, fine, but not here in this place. Challenge me to a duel and win that way instead of---"

You find your words cut off, as she back hands you across the face. The blow stings but it's not too serious all told.

Your hand drops to your sword. She's clearly not letting you talk: whenever you build up to something she attacks and cuts you off.

But she hasn't drawn steel yet, why?

Leaving aside the fact that you're the better duellist and probably swordswoman...if she drew steel, you can reply but if she doesn't….

Oh shit. Mistaking a punch for the real blow, you have absolutely no defence, as her leg comes up and slams into your midsection in a perfect side kick. The feeling of air and blood erupting from your body slows the world down for a moment before you slam into a wall.

Ow…..that...damn….you were able to turn just a bit... just a bit to slightly cushion the impact...but you felt that.

Staggering back to your feet, you realize why she isn't drawing steel: because if she does, then you can without being reported to the authorities.
Authorities…

"I'm supposed to report to Akodo Tsukiko-sama tomorrow...Hida-san, I'm not going to let you stop me," you say finally, taking up a half forgotten Mizu-do stance.

You'll fight to the bitter end if you have to.

"Wait, you're the new recruit?" The Togashi says, eyes widening. "Well that changes things."

Tearing off his shirt and revealing a well muscled body, a tattoo of the wind glows, as he's in front of you, blocking Takamona's fist with crossed arms.

"My apologies Hida-sama, but Akodo-sama would be most put out if I didn't stick up for my new comrade." He says in a tone that makes you want to both punch and kiss him.

"Get out of my way Togashi-san," Takamona snarls.

"Ma, ma, don't be like that. A wise woman once said, punching a ronin is like punching a duck - fun the first few times, but after that it's not worth the effort."

"...What?" You both have to say at that.

Takamona shakes off the confusion first, and tries once more to get around the Togashi to hit you.

She doesn't succeed as he again puts his strong fist against hers and comes out the victor.

"I see...Please excuse us, Hida-sama." Even now, his calm is unflappable.

The Togashi turns to your swaying form.
"Trust me?" he asks you.

Do you really have a choice?

"Sure, Togashi-sama," you mutter.

The feeling of big strong arms around you, lifting you, carrying you, would be nice if not for the fact that your stomach still feels like an angry Hida kicked it in.

You don't quite follow what happens next only that you're on a roof somewhere in Eiyuu and the Togashi is putting you down.

"Sorry about that, I didn't know you were one of Akodo-sama's cubs like I am." He bows.
"Togashi Izu, pleased to meet you."

You bow back. "Megumi the Ronin…"

A sort of awkward silence falls on you.

[] Ask for a Healer
[] Ask what just happened
[] Ask about him
[] Write-in

(Megumi is in the hurt bracket +10 tn at 26 wounds, she is also down to one void)

 

[gman391]

---Ask for a healer
"Akodo-sama won't be mad will she?"

Gingerly you check over your body. Yep, that's, that's a rib crack there. Ow, why do Hida punch so hard?

"Ah...Togashi-sama….I don't suppose you know a healer...I think that kick cracked my ribs..." you wince as you ask.

Izu blinks as if the thought of being kicked hurting never occurred to him. Knowing the Togashi, it might not have.
"Ah yes, I know a healer, she probably won't be happy this late at night, but she'll manage."

Once again you find yourself in the arms of a shirtless, muscular Togashi with very nice, if glowing tattoos as he jumps from rooftop to rooftop.

It's strange, you never thought much of the Togashi before. The strange ise zumi aren't common, even during your trip out west you think you remember maybe one or two in total. So what brings this man out here? A part of you wants to ask but most of you decides to let him have his own reasons.

"Will Akodo-sama be mad about…everything?" you ask instead.

No, you are not distracting yourself from the thought of being dropped four stories, shut up brain.

"Akodo-sama will be more annoyed you didn't fight back. Hida-sama recently took a position as Matsu-sama's number two in our sister unit. Matsu-sama and Akodo-sama have a complicated relationship," Izu answers.

"Complicated?"

"You ever watch two pack leaders in the same area? They don't move, but they watch each other waiting for the moment to put the other in the ground."

Two pack leaders? Well, that would mean that Akodo-sama and Matsu-sama are both used to leading and thus can't stand each other at all. In turn their rivalry transfers to their units. Of course, you know nothing about Matsu-sama, but still it seems reasonable. The Akodo and Matsu haven't gotten along since the Clan Wars.
But, a more pertinent question comes to mind:

"Wait, did you just call two of our superiors dogs?" you ask.

"No," Izu responds too quickly.

"But I..."

The Togashi interrupts you.
"Megumi-san, I was talking about something completely different."

While you want to call him out for his rudeness, you acknowledge that antagonizing the man carrying you to a healer at high speeds and heights is not a smart plan.

So you change the subject.
"...Okay, how much longer?"

"To our fellow comrade? Not too long," he answers.

A silence falls only marked by the sound of his heavy breathing, and the beat of his heart into your ears. He really is quite nice to hold you like---get your mind out of the gutter, Megumi

Time to break this silence.
"Er um...Thank you for helping me out there. Even if you let it go at first."

"Past is past, but you're welcome. We all have to walk our own paths to enlightenment," Izu says.

You frown as you work through the implications of that statement. Did he just...imply that your path to enlightenment required you to be beaten by an angry Hida?

"....Wait, what?"

"Oh we're here" Izu says leaping down four stories and letting you touch the ground.

"...No explain what you meant," you demand.

Izu claps loudly, and you can hear the sound of a woman cursing as she gets up, walking through the hallway.

The door slams open and you see a woman of medium height a bit on the younger side with a rounded face and figure, but what draws you most is that her gray eyes look pissed.

A contralto voice almost shouts.
"Izu, I swear to the Lords, if you brought me another drunk floozy you want to sober up before sleeping with her, I will set your ass on fire"

Izu holds up his hands defensively.
"Ma ma, I swear that's not why I'm here."

The woman looks at you.
"Then why is she here?"

The Togashi continues to hold up his hands to protect himself.
You get the feeling she's actually slugged him before.

"Er, Iuchi Yukiko-san, meet Megumi-san, our new recruit," Izu says quickly.

A level, unamused glare.
"....What?"

"Er, hello," you bow barely managing to suppress the wince of pain of trying to do so.

Yukiko looks at you for a long moment.
"...aw dammit. Come in."

The two of you walk into Yukiko's home, your first thought is 'What did she mean by 'Floozies' the second is 'How do you even get this many paintings?' the entire house seems to be devoted to different paintings. On first glance you suspect that there is a system to it, but you don't know enough to say what it is.

Yukiko leads you into a somewhat comfortable dining room and gestures for you to sit.
Doing so, she looks at Izu.
"Git!" she hisses.

"Er right," Izu says, leaving quickly.

It's odd to see someone who stood up to a superior samurai cowed so quickly, but you find that you don't mind. Still, you're quick to obey Yukiko's order to strip as she beings to chant.

You take off your shirt and feel a little self conscious that just outside the building (you assume)...well, Izu is right there.

The icy cold hand of Yukiko makes you wish that the woman warmed her hands...on the other hand...oh…

It's always such a strange sensation to feel the kami work through your body. As wounds heal and water seems to flow inside your soul, the moment of release surges through your body.
Okay, you can forgive the ice hands...for now.

"Seems the kami were nice today - only a little bandaging for you," she says.
The sound of fabric tearing echoes in the small apartment. The ice hands return as Yukiko competently works at putting you all way back to well not healthy, but you think if you sleep it off you'll be ready for tomorrow. Still, why are her hands freezing so?

"Arigato Iuchi-sama," you say turning and bowing.

"Ah well, you're one of us now. If there's nothing else?"

[] Ask about her
[] Ask about Akodo-sama and Matsu-sama
[] Ask about Izu
[] (Write in)

(Yukiko has healed 22 wounds, Megumi is still at one void and 5 wounds now. She is in the healthy bracket)

 

[gman391]

---Ask about Akodo-sama and Matsu-sama.

You look at Yukiko as you get your shirt back on, suppressing a shiver.

"Ah Togashi-san mentioned something about my um ---" you search for a moment for a polite way of putting it, "---assailant was under a Matsu-sama's command and that command and ours didn't get along?"

Yukiko sighs.
"Well he's not wrong, but teaching new blood about it does no good. Do you know much about Akodo-sama or the city?"

"Not really I only came in a month and a bit ago," you answer.

"This country really isn't suited for mass army movements or anything like that. The Legion as a whole only does mass training in the summer to keep the rust off. Because of this, most of the day to day work of an Imperial Legion is handled by small teams handpicked for their ability to adapt to certain situations and solve problems. Akodo-sama was one of the first samurai picked to head those teams and she was the one that proved beyond all doubt that they worked - that innovation worked - which naturally drew the ire of more traditional minded people."

Yukiko continues to putter and make tea without asking if you want any.

Innovation...it's either high praise or a curse depending on who you ask. Your mind thinks back to the old lessons of the Lion political situation, Lion don't change fast so it's probably the same.

The Akodo and Matsu are fighting again, as they've done semi regularly since the Clan Wars almost three centuries ago.

"So Akodo-sama and Matsu-sama are part of the Quarrelling Lions?" You ask.

Yukiko stops and gives you an appraising look.
"Got it in one. You know a little politics don't you?"

You shrug.
"It's good to know who might be fighting in case you get a job."

The Iuchi goes back to her task with a shrug.

"Fair enough, but hai, Akodo Tsukiko-sama is one of the Black Lions. Rumours say she was there when the First Victorious Battle took place, but I don't know if it's true. Age seems to fit though, if she was young."

Black Lions: AKA the Akodo with a few Ikoma and Kitsu, the modernizers of the Lion. Once again you thank mother for drilling politics into you from a young age. They are opposed by the traditionalist Gold Lions...so if Akodo-sama is a Black Lion, it stands to reason...

"Which would make Matsu-sama one of the Gold Lions?" you ask.

Yukiko nods.
"Matsu Shinobu-sama is indeed one of the Gold Lions. Being just as capable as Akodo-sama, well, it's led to a rivalry."

"I guess that makes sense, even if the whole Lion thing doesn't to me,"you say.

Truthfully you didn't really get the whole divisions of other clans. The Crane were tight knit; it was impossible to think of of them as ever seriously disagreeing. While other clans seem to have internal rivalries everywhere. To think of the Kakita fighting the Doji, or the Daidoji fighting the Kakita….it didn't make sense.

And no one seriously fought the Asahina, it was like punching an adorable puppy made of fluff. They could be annoyingly sanctimonious, but no one could really hate them.

"Well, they lost, and they've never really done that before," Yukiko says handing you tea.

"You mean the War of Eagles. But they've lost other wars..." you say.

Off hand you recall the war of Silk and Steel as a major one they lost, along with how the Lion Mantis War turned out, although you guess both count as more of a draw….

"Hai, because of politics or some other factor, they've never had a knock down drag out fight with someone and decisively lost….it's no wonder that doing so would provoke a crisis of faith now is it?"

Sipping your tea, you look down into the amber liquid, the taste of subtle fruits dancing on your tongue, tea for making friends or enjoying the weather, not tea for talking politics, it's not strong enough for that. You wonder if that was her intent to contrast the heavy topic with a more airy tea.

"I suppose the reforms haven't helped either." you say.

Yukiko nods drinking her own tea.
"Not really, and unlike my Clan they don't really have anything backing them up either. The Lion are, in their own minds at least, the gods of war."

Thinking about that for a moment, you aren't sure you agree. Yes the Lion loved war, but they had one other great love.

"The Lion are also among the strongest practitioners of Bushido," you say.

Yukiko sips her tea.
"They are that, but the Senpet have a saying, 'Morality is the conceit of the Strong'. Time will tell if the Quarrel will end or not...but that's enough politics for tonight. I'm going to get some sleep and you should too. "

That's….a very disquieting thought, morality gave you strength not the other way around...maybe it's a Unicorn thing. A silence falls between you for a while.

Finishing the tea, you decide it's time to leave.

"Hai. Thank you again, Iuchi-sama, for helping me out."
You rise and bow before departing.

Walking out of the residence you see that Togashi Izu left you a note.
'Met a friend- have a good night, okay? -Togashi Izu'

Not sure how to feel about that, you begin walking. While Iuchi-sama had a point, Lady Moon is still up and it is still your last free night in the city.

[] Go back to the Shrine and sleep.
[] Go find someone to enjoy the moonlight with.
[] Go exploring.
[] Go find a bar and get some shochu in you.

 

[gman391]

--Go back to the Shrine and Sleep
{Sister Aya Interlude}

Megumi-san came home with barely a sound, but it was still enough for me to wake up. I've always been a light sleeper since that...event.

I let my head rest against the hard pillow I use and try to sleep.
Megumi-san carefully creeps into her bed and passes right out. I wonder what she got up to this evening?

No use thinking like that, Aya…

My eyes close, and my will reaches for Yume-do, but nothing happens...I can't sleep, I can't dream. I just lay there for a few hours.

Finally, I give it up as a loss. Most nights aren't so bad, but every once in awhile...well...
Slowly, my body moves away from the bed careful not to disturb the adorable little snoring ronin. Master Jubei seems to know who she is, I don't, but then Master Jubei seems to know everything.

Gliding through the shrine like a ghost, I find myself kneeling before Goemon-no-kami once again. His happy visage looks down on me as I pray.

I pray for a lot of things,

I pray that Megumi-san turns into the hero that Master Jubei thinks she could be.

I pray that I too will be a hero when the time arises

I pray that he will talk to the other Fortunes and find out...about me.

I pray, my hands moving through the ritual gestures, and carefully making the rosary beads flow through them.

I pray, my lips dry from the cool night air, and words soft almost inaudible.

The moon slowly lights up the room, as my prayers cease and I look up.

"Goemon-no-kami, guide my steps, so I might find courage against fear, honour against desire, and peace against regret." I say finishing my prayers in the traditional way.

With that, I rise, and go back outside and sit to look at the moon.

I wonder sometimes, what it would be like to be the Moon, to be different from what I was. There was much I enjoyed about the life I led, the simple joys of service, and of contentment, of meeting new people and helping them better themselves.

Yet, a part of me still yearned for something else. Like I was supposed to be more somehow...but the Order of Heroes makes heroes of Samurai and others, not of themselves, and I am a loyal member of the Order.

Well, it's just a foolish dream, and desire is a sin. That doesn't change how I feel though, or why I can't sleep. This nagging feeling of something pulling at my mind and heart like some sort of...I don't know, web? Holds me down, and keeps my journey to Yume-do unstarted.

I wish...I wish I knew why this happened.
The Fortunes, are enigmatic and guide only seldom, but they do guide, I just have to have faith this all has a plan, a reason, and that my kharma will see me reach Enlightenment eventually.

Master Jubei sits beside me, he doesn't say anything, he doesn't have to. He knows why I'm here, of why I have sleepless nights where the barest sensation of something slips through my fingers.

He hands me a cup of warm tea and watches the sky with me. I find peace in the knowledge that I am not alone...and that my father is with me looking up at the sky.

{End Interlude}

You wake up, and Sister Aya seems happy, cheerful even as you both go through the daily tasks to sweep and clean the shrine. Wouldn't do to make a Fortune unhappy after all. Also Brother Jubei refuses to feed you until that's done and you have a feeling you're going to need all the energy you can get today.

Giving polite farewells, you head down to the Citadel at the heart of the city.

The massive towers and walls overlooking you do a great job of making you feel very small. Once again you find yourself sighing, the age old debate of stone and wood has been decided in stone's favour once and for all since the War, but you still find yourself preferring the old wooden castles of the Crane they had more artistic flare to them then these brutal expressions of dominance that these castles give off.

"Ah Megumi-san, I see we arrived at the same time" You look behind you to see Kakita Toshiro standing there in his fancy armor.

Wish you had fancy armor, alas armor costs money; money that you usually spent on food and a hot bath.
What? you needed to be clean dammit.

You give a nod before asking.
"Hai, Kakita-sama, I admit I'm not sure what we're doing does this usually happen?"

Toshiro shrugs somewhat accenting his flowing hair. If you were into bishonen and didn't find Reika adorable, you'd be on that like white on rice.
"Akodo-sama recruiting people? Hai more often than most would like, but they usually do alright for themselves if they don't die."

That's...cheery, you decide best to put a good face on it.
"Well dying in battle is honourable right?"

"Hai, let's go in." Toshiro says not wanting to talk about it more.

On the balance you can't blame him for that. Death in battle or for honour is the stated goal of the Samurai, but living was a lot of fun.

You move along inside, noting that even after twenty years this place hasn't seen much improvement artistically at all. It's...functional, but it's not very pretty, which makes the Kakita in you kind of sad.

Somehow Toshiro knows how to guide you through the maze of gray stone walls and leads you into a fairly large part of the tower. There standing before you is Akodo Tsukiko-sama. Along the far wall you can see a group of about thirty samurai from many different clans, standing in single file along the wall, waiting for marching orders. In that group you spot Togashi Izu who is sadly not shirtless anymore, and Iuchi Yukiko, the both give slight nods to acknowledge that you're here.

"Good you're finally here, fall in line" Akodo-sama says.

The line parts slightly to give you and Toshiro room to join in.

Toshiro whispers to you as you march towards it and pick your spot.

"Akodo-sama likes to group people into teams of five for an operation, she'll probably place us with whoever we're beside…"

You nod and realize this is actually an important decision

[] Try to make a group with Toshiro, Izu, Yukiko, and someone else
[] Try to make a group with Toshiro, and the small clique of Minor Clanners you spot
[] Try to make a group with Toshiro, and the Mantis with a Crab and Phoenix beside her
[] Just pick a spot at random.

 

[Ria]

"Onii-chan is having an affair right under your nose, Ayame-sama."

I can't stop hearing my sister-in-law's voice in my head, her words echoing louder than all the rest of my thoughts. A corner of my mind hears the patter of raindrops beginning to fall. The gloomy night only adds to the darkness that hangs over me.

Had I suspected? If I'm honest with myself, I must admit that as of late, my husband has seemed happier, more...alive.

I pick up my teacup and take a sip. Blegh, it's stone cold, like that knot inside my gut that I can't seem to rid myself of since Takamona-san had walked into my office with that look in her eyes.

Of course, it's been years since there's been anything except duty between Katsuie and I. We never had that spark of desire between us. Not that he's not a handsome man, because he is - it just never worked out. I remember our wedding night, how awkward it was for me to lay there waiting for it to end.

Never once did he try to blame me or make me feel bad. I wanted four children and he did all he could to make that happen for me.

The Fortunes know that we tried to make our marriage work. We wanted to be more than just a seal on a treaty and so we did everything we could think of to bring each other closer, to try to ignite some sort of...something...between us.

In the end, our marriage has cost us the friendship that we had as children. It's my biggest regret, that we weren't able to at least preserve the little that we had. Time and proximity took everything from us. Even the love we have for our children isn't enough to bridge the gap.

Eight years is a long time to be married to someone you don't love and have no desire to be around. But Katsuie is a good man - he has always done his duty by me, treated me with kindness and respect. If he's taken lovers, there's never been even the whisper of a rumour about it at court.

I respect him for the strength he's shown over these last years, when it became clear to us that there never was and never would be anything between us. I am grateful to him for the care he has taken to help me preserve the illusion that we are the happiest of couples.

And it is that, more than anything, that disturbs me now. In reality, I hadn't heard a whisper about this affair either, not until my sister-in-law came to see me. Katsuie is no fool, he knows what the penalty would be for a woman caught as his lover. If he really cares about Kakita Sakura-san, if he really loves her - which I can only assume is the case, given how worked up Takamona-san was - why would he throw all caution to the wind?

"They're planning on being together tonight."

I shake my head, trying to clear it of the memory of my sister-in-law's words. There's always the chance that she's making this up for some unknown reason.

Takamona-san has always been unusually attached to her brother, but I can't see why she would want to ruin something that makes him happy. Sure, she spoke a lot about dishonor in family, but I'm not sure I believe her when she says that she thought I deserved better than that. She only cares about her brother. She would happily consign me to Jigoku if she thought it was in his best interest.

Regardless, I'm going to have to find out if it's true or not.

I sigh heavily as I summon my most trusted guard to give him the order to find out discreetly what is going on.


***********************

It was true. They are having an affair.

I sit behind my desk, keeping my on carefully controlled, as I consider the young woman in front of me. Poor thing, they didn't even give her a minute to dress properly. Even now she is respectful, telling her story in a quiet but clear voice.

To my left stands my sister-in-law, who isn't even trying to hide her disdain. To my right stands my husband whose expression is more stricken than I have ever seen.

He does love her, and she loves him. I can see it in their eyes, in the way they hold themselves.

There's something about this whole thing that doesn't sit right with me. It just doesn't make sense.

Katsuie has spent eight long years dutifully playing the role of the loving, loyal husband. I can't believe that he would be so careless all of a sudden. And I really don't think he would do anything that would publicly embarrass the both of us. It simply isn't like him.

I never took Kakita Sakura-san for a stupid girl - she's young and perhaps a little foolish at times, but she understands what it means to be a Crane, what it means to have honour. After all, she's the granddaughter of Kakita Misaki-Shiryo. Even now, shamed before her daimyo, her demeanor and her behaviour are undeniably Crane. Ahh, what a shame. Time and experience would have turned her into something special.

And Takamona-san…she has a strange gleam of malicious joy in her eyes. I'm beginning to get the uncomfortable feeling that she went out her way to root out the details of an extremely discreet affair out of spite.

A wave of anger rises in me at that thought.

What a completely despicable thing to do.

For all that things have been strained for a long time between my husband and I, he deserves to find his happiness.

What kind of person goes out of their way to ruin the happiness of someone they claim to love? That bitch thinks she can just walk in here and turn everyone's lives upside down just because she's jealous?

But even with all of this...well, none of this changes the facts. My husband is having an affair with a woman in my court.

It galls me almost beyond bearing that I have to do this after they did everything right, but my hand has been forced. I know what I must do. I also know that Takamona is not getting out of this unscathed, not if I have anything to say about it.

I fix my blue eyes upon the young woman at the center of this tempest in a teacup, my mind going through the facts quickly as a Kakita blade through air.

I'm sorry Katsuie, I can't keep her here. Now that your sister has come forward with her information, everyone at court is going to find out. And even if you finally found the happiness that you deserve, your sister has made it impossible for you to keep it. But at least I can give you the glimmer of hope that you can see your Sakura again some day.

I steel myself to deliver sentence.

"Kakita Sakura...."

 

[gman391]

--Try to make a group with Toshiro, Izu, Yukiko and someone else.

You whisper back to Toshiro.
"I know the Togashi and Iuchi, they're good people."

"This better not be because you think one of them is cute" Toshiro whispers back.

You give him an annoyed look before making your way beside the two anyways. Toshiro bereft of a better idea, falls in with you.
Izu and Yukiko give polite nods. You see that beside Toshiro is a Scorpion wearing a full face mask, combined with the concealing armor, you aren't entirely sure what gender the Bayushi is, just that they're more inclined to the slim runners build than anything else.

Once in line you watch Akodo-sama walk up and down inspecting the troops, before finally she moves to the start of the line, and begins rattling off assignments to five man groups. Well guess Toshiro got that much right. You feel a sense of nervousness, you had always been what was termed 'court bushi' with derision by other bushi. You had worn that label with some pride, at least you knew how to do a haiku dammit!

But now you were in the army, and at a guess the least martially inclined person in your group. Maybe spending all that time with Sister Chou getting in touch with the divine essence had been a bad idea? Toshiro had offered to help you get better at other things.

Well too late for that, as Akodo Tsukiko stands in front of you.


"Tch, didn't I order the ronin to be whipped into shape?" She asks looking at you.

Toshiro blanches under his on that had been ordered, but he hadn't really had a way to make me train beyond threatening my sword. Which would be dishonourable in of itself.

"I was going to give you lot a nice simple escort mission, but because ronin-san here apparently took '3 weeks to get ready to work for the Legion' as a suggestion. I can't trust you with that, honestly I should just have her flogged and send you four out on your own, but protocol is protocol. Your eyes should be good at least, I'm posting you to the Eastern Watchtower on Mt. Palikai a day's march west of here, relieve the squad there and watch for any unexpected movement. If in that time you want to work ronin-san to the bone, please feel free to. Bayushi-san you're in charge, dismissed."

Well that was.
"Tch the Eastern Watchtower, first day and the newbies are already fucking up, come on, we move now." The Bayushi says not bothering to introduce him...her? self.

The voice is too masculine to be a woman and too feminine to be a man, leaving you confused.

With a disappointed look, Yukiko nods and follows after your new squad leader.

"Ma, ma, the Tao says balance in all things Megumi-san, but then if we all followed the Tao there would be no need to search for enlightment." Izu says moving in front of you.

Toshiro stands there.
"My first day, and I've already screwed up" He mutters.

You feel a little bad for that, because it was kind of your fault for deciding to spend all your time with Sister Chou, not that you really regret that, becoming more in touch with the world was always a beneficial thing.

But, it wasn't his fault you did that.

"Gomen Kakita-sama the fault is mine."

"A ronin can't know any better given how you became one." He says a touch acidly.

Okay he's angry don't hold it against him, but still rude.

Shaking your head, you find yourself behind the rest of the group marching east. Making your way through Toriyama ward, you find that a silence has fallen on the group. The lead Bayushi being apparently pissed that you saddled them with a very boring duty or bad one it sounds like.

There isn't much to say as you leave the city and begin following a long winding half made path up around Tanata's Step, and into what seems like another world, as the mountains cut you off from the city proper, it feels like you've stepped back in time to when the city didn't exist. Mountain scrub and plants being for the most part all you see, no villages or farms in the distance, no other travellers making their way. It's disturbingly isolated.

Well it's only been 15 years and even if Shiro Enishi is the largest of the Shield Cities, it's still young, so you can't expect cultivated land everywhere but still...you ignore the thought to focus on the task at hand marching.

You don't know how hard it is to march and sweet fuck you are out of shape, seriously, you've been marching a half day and your legs feel like wimp noodles.

"Still slowing us down, how the hell did she get recruited anyways?" The Bayushi asks.

"Rumor has it she beat Asako Masakoto's champion in a duel to the death" Izu says serenely.

Fucking Togashi making it look easy...only you're the only one who seems fatigued.

"That is true, she is an alright duellist" Toshiro says.

Tch you're good and you know it.

"So she's a court bushi, wonderful. No offense Megumi-san, but guard work is boring, the Eastern Watchtower is the most boring duty the legion has, it's mostly meant as a punishment." Yukiko says rolling her arms.

"None taken" You mutter between wheezing breaths.

"We'll break here for Lunch, and Megumi-san is it?" The Bayushi asks.

And you still can't figure out the Scorpion's gender, this is just cheating at this point.

"Hai" You answer.

"We are going to work you like a dog" The Bayushi says.

You feel like you could try and say something in your own defence.
Or maybe you should just grin and bear it?

[] Explain yourself {Write in how Megumi explains herself}
[] Grin and bear it

AN: There are consequences of focusing on the spiritual compared to the physical. Also this is unbeta'd so any mistakes are mine.

 

[Ria]

I stare at the open letter sitting before me, still frozen in disbelief.

My daughter...a ronin…

This can't be happening. I have to be dreaming - this is a twisted vision from Yume-do, sent to torment me.

I pinch myself hard, hoping to wake from this unthinkable nightmare. A small bruise forms, but nothing else happens. I don't wake up feeling foolish and relieved... and the letter doesn't go away.

No...how can this have happened? I can't believe it...I don't believe it…

But despite my best efforts, I can't deceive myself for very much longer. I always did have a knack for finding the truth.

I pick up the letter again and begin to reread it, just to be sure.


To the honourable Kakita Takehiko-san,

It is my sad duty to inform you that your daughter has been caught having an affair with my husband, Kakita no Hida Katsuie.

The circumstances of the affair are complicated. You should know that at every step, she behaved with decorum, with poise and with respect and that it was not through her error or carelessness that the affair was discovered. It was Hida Takamona, diligently pursuing the Crab's particular...dedication to making sure there are no threats in the castle. that discovered it. That she began with her brother can only be chalked up to sibling loyalty.

Your daughter is a fine young woman, and one who has obviously been raised to honour the values the Crane hold dear. It saddens me that I must punish so promising a young samurai, particularly when her only crime was to fall in love with the wrong man.

It is because of this as well as my respect for your honoured mother, Kakita Misaki-shiryo, that I have spared her life. By my right as Daimyo and she whom your daughter served, I have stripped Kakita Sakura of her Clan, her family and her name. A further token of my respect for your family and indeed for her, rather than publicly ruining her reputation as the woman who was caught sleeping with the daimyo's husband, I have instead announced that your daughter will be leaving on Musha Shugyo. Of course, she will not be completing such a pilgrimage nor will she return to the Crane unless she manages to find a way back of her own merits. If anyone could do it, I think it would be her.

Please accept my sympathies for your loss.

Kakita Ayame
Daimyo of the Kakita, Shireikan of the 1st Crane Army, Lord of the Northern Provinces, Master of Shiro sano Kakita
CHOP


I knew that had to be some sort of dire news when my daughter came home in the dead of the night with such a look in her eyes. But this...this, I never expected. The sorrow and shame she strove to hide but couldn't when she handed me the letter...that will stay with me forever.

Emotions well up inside me unbidden, uncontrolled. It's hard to sort through them all, but I can recognize the pain and grief of losing my daughter as well as my frustration that she would be so foolish as to put herself into such a situation...the gratitude to Kakita Ayame-dono for sparing her life and even her reputation...but more than anything, with an intensity that frightens me, I feel a burning hatred for Hida Takamona, the self important bitch who ruined all, and for what? Really, I just want to punch her in the face… it not being available, I slam my fist into my desk, my knuckles making a satisfying crunch against the wood.

Oh Kami...what would Mother have said?

I wince a little as I remember the lecture she gave me many years ago when Sakura first began her training.

"You're too soft on her, Takehiko. If you don't enforce good discipline in every aspect of her life, she will grow to be stupid and lazy. She will be a disgrace to this family!"

I can't help the inward cringe. Even now, nearly 10 years after she passed into the next life, the memory of my mother's voice, of her words, is enough to make me feel rather like a dog who's been caught piddling in the house. Sakura has always been strong, like my mother was. And Mother had such high hopes for her…

How can you have been so stupid as to get caught in bed with Kakita-dono's husband? Mother was right, I was too soft on you.

I pound my fist against my desk once more. The physical pain of my bruised and bleeding knuckles helps me control the urge to scream out loud. I remind myself that Sakura may have been foolish enough to fall in love with the wrong man, but at least she had the good sense to be smart about it. My daughter is a good girl and knows how to behave. Kakita-dono's letter was very clear about that.

Why, Sakura-chan, why could you not have fallen in love with some lowly courtier of no particular importance?

I know the answer before the thought even finishes. My Sakura has always aspired to reach the highest ideals...of course she could never fall in love with a nobody. I should have looked harder for another betrothal when the last one fell through. This is my fault, I failed in my duty as a father. If she had been married, she wouldn't have been tempted to have an affair.

I bury my hands into my face with a sigh. My wife, I must wake her and tell her. This news will crush her. We have other children, but Sakura is our eldest child, and she has always been precious to both of us.

************************

It's a beautiful spring evening, the breeze is calm just enough to cool, the smells of warm tea and perfume soothe a troubled mind, as the first sounds of life come forth. It's a pleasant scene, one I have grown used to, but tonight it all turns to ash in my heart. It's meaningless - I can't enjoy any of it at all and after my loss today, I doubt I ever will again.

My name is Kakita Takehiko, and I have lost my daughter.

 

[gman391]

--Grin and bear it.

No, complaining just gets you in more trouble, more pain. The man that rises too quickly is the first to be knocked down when adversity comes.

So you nod and put on a pleasant face.

"Good. You know your place," the Bayushi says curtly.

Part of you bristles at that, but you know better than to start a fight over it You are a ronin and whatever other reforms made, ronin are still disliked and even hated by many.

"Eat up, and then we'll continue marching."

The others settle down and take their food out of their packs. As you might expect, Toshiro has a lovingly prepared bento from Reika. Those two make your teeth ache from how sweet they are.
Izu, for his part, seems to be eating some sort of Dragon dish with noodles and not much else.
Yukiko has a...you don't actually know what that is, two pieces of bread with, ugh, meat and vegetable between it. You don't mind gaijin things but that food is just weird.

Bayushi-san seems to have already finished eating...somehow...dang it, that's not fair.

You take out the small pack of food that Sister Chou had thoughtfully made for you.

You look down at the largely foreign lunch - well she's an Ivinda...what are you going to do? As you nibble at the flat bread, you admit it's not bad...no bento though. At least it doesn't have meat like Yukiko's food. You've eaten meat when you've had to but it's never been something you'd willingly eat.

The lunch passes quietly with everyone in their own heads. It's a far cry from when you last marched with a bunch of samurai on official business. Then it was all laughter and easy camaraderie. You miss that feeling of being included, of being accepted.

This is just sullen resentment from the Bayushi, and everyone else not caring enough to break the ice.

Bah, you'll just grin and bear it….

----------

It's been three days since you reached the Eastern Watchtower, three days since you found the stone tower on top of mountain reaching up to the sky like a very small, stubby finger.

Three days since you've had to run up and down the mountain three times a day to get water. Three days since Bayushi-san (whom you've helpfully found out is named Sora - no this does not help you figure out if Bayushi-san is a boy or a girl) made you do everything.

Make breakfast? You do it.
Make dinner? You do it.
Clean the tower? You do it.
Heat the water for the bath? You do it.

Your limbs feel all noodly as you rest on the against the half wall that makes up the top most floor of the tower. From here you can see everything, and it's a fantastic view really, or would be if it wasn't the middle of the night, and you weren't bone tired.

Bayushi-san said that you'd be worked like a dog, and you have been.

So tired…

No, you have to stay awake!

You don't actually want to think about what sort of grim fate the Bayushi would come up with for you if you fell asleep at your post.

Hidden Stealth check 22
Megumi Investigation Notice Check 16

Failure

[] Use Luck
[] Use Luck with Void
[] Let it ride

 

[gman391]

Reroll with void
32 versus 22
Success

You aren't sure what exactly it is that causes your hand to go to your katana. The stillness of the night? The sound of the owl hooting...nope... it's definitely the sound of someone climbing.

You carefully look over the edge of the watch tower. Hmm...two people climbing up and four at the bottom. They're wearing face concealing clothes almost like those Sanjaku-tenugui that some monks...and ninja in bad plays….use that cover their entire heads and provide a face mask.

Well, that just screams assassin now doesn't it? Or at least...not good people.

Your hand hovers over the tsuba of your blade. If you call out that they're coming, it will warn your squad but they'll inevitably go outside and get into a fight leaving you to deal with the two climbing bastards….who will drop down on them probably.

Which means you have to run down into a dark melee...on the other hand, if you wait for them to reach the top and then call out...well, that will leave you facing two of them on your own.

You suppose that that will have to suffice.
Sakiyarumei 1d10=4: Trait ??? active

You drop into the stance of void. and prepare yourself to take down the first one as soon as he comes over. That will make things easier for you.

One climbs over the edge and with a mighty cry of "FOR THE EMPIRE!" you charge out of the stance of void, drawing in one smooth motion and cleave the first assassin coming over nearly in two. At least...that's what should have happened, but he manages to slightly dodge so that your mortal wound is only a very painful one.

You curse his luck, but...you'll take it.

Drawing a long thin blade, the first assassin comes at you, but you dodge nimbly. With that wound, his strikes are too slow to touch you.

The second blade, that just barely avoids cutting your neck, reminds you that there were two of them. Now is not a good time to lose concentration.

You whirl around to destroy your second attacker but he clasps the blade in his hands and chants something. A blue glow surrounds it...and then nothing happens...they both seem surprised by this.

Their confusion gives you a moment's advantage, which you use to your benefit, easily dodging the wounded one's stumbling strike.

Prolonging your advantage, you abandon all defence to stab your sword forward into the assassin's chest. He dodges to take it into his shoulder, and despite the fact that blood from the wound is even dripping down to the ground, it isn't enough to stop him,

You stalk forward, circling your opponent warily for a moment. But you realize that there's no time for hesitation now, not when you can hear the battle starting below.

Spinning around, you sweep your blade down to slash at the first opponent, opening up new wounds...but it's still not enough...not nearly enough. A part of your mind dimly thanks your grandmother for drilling you so hard when you were young. The hours of sweat, blood and tears are paying off now, when the slightest movements of your body are more than enough to dodge both of their clumsy assaults.

With a flourish, you cut open the first man's chest and finally see him collapse into a miserable pile of groaning, bleeding flesh.

The second assassin screams in wordless rage - oh...apparently it's a woman - seeing her companion go down and she lunges forward to drive a sword through your gut…

Ow.
Nothing vital but ow.

You know that you have to give everything you are on this one last strike. The wound you've taken will slow you down too much to keep fighting for long. With a shuddering breath, you bring up your katana in a reverse grip and stab it behind you, going through the second assassin's throat. She gurgles wetly and crumples to the floor, dead.

Looking at the first assassin you're left with the decision whether or not to kill him. Hmm...you don't know how to tie him up….but he's a person and with the wounds he's taken, he's no longer a threat.

While you ponder the problem, you realize that the sounds of the battle below have ceased. So you leave him there, he isn't going anywhere after all, and with the sword still in you, you hurry down to make sure your companions are alright.

Burning fires still smolder as you look around. At the bottom of the tower you see...carnage.

Izu seems to be lying against the ground, holding one arm, that's clearly not meant to bend that way, against his chest .

Toshiro is lying down with knife buried in his stomach. He breathes still...barely.

Of Yukiko and Sora there's no sign.

Izu tilts his head.

"...Hey Megumi-san...oh that looks painful…" He wheezes with pain.

"What happened here?" you ask.

"Well...we lost...you?"

"I, um, won. Left one of them down up at the top of the tower. Where's Bayushi-sama and Iuchi-sama?"

"Bastards took 'em, probably to torture Bayushi-sama, and sacrifice Yukiko-san."

"Eh?"

"The Cult of Sagon, a splinter from the old Rhulamist cult in the Ivory Kingdoms….they believe ironically that we're inhuman monsters. They think our magic works on trapping the souls of spirits and that by sacrificing our shugenja, they can release these spirits into the world to meet their proper function."

"But Bayushi-sama isn't a shugenja"

"You're right, but Bayushi-sama is the heir to the Scorpion delegation head."

"Oh…" Well that changes things.

"Listen, you've done more than I can ask….but….well, I have a Tamori healing potion, but it's not going to work on me, not after Yukiko-san already healed me. Mika-chan was very clear that these kami were jealous about that sort of thing. If we get that sword out of you, you can go after them. You know how to track right?"

You nod.

"So will you do it? Will you go after them and try to rescue them?"


[] No, you're in no state to do that, and you probably can't help anyways.
[] Yes, samurai do what they have to no matter the odds.

(Megumi is currently out of void and has 26 wounds, the potion will heal 30 wounds.

 

[gman391]

- Yes, samurai do what they have to, no matter the odds.

In the end you have no choice. Whatever you feel about Bayushi-san, you owe Yukiko one so you would go for that alone, even if honour didn't tell you to do it.

"Hai, I'll go. Is Kakita-sama going to be okay?" You ask.

Izu nods. "He'll be okay in a while. The poison on their blades is a paralytic...so he's just not quite able to fight it off yet."

You hold out your hand and Izu places in your palm a glowing blue bottle.
"May the Tao Light your Path and the Fortunes Grant you Strength," he says .

The feeling of the cool ceramic on your lips lets you get out of answering his blessing, as the kami flow through you. You feel your body knitting itself back together, healing that would take weeks in seconds.

The Tamori make some gooood stuff alright.

"Arigato Togashi-sama, please take care of Kakita-sama for me," you say before heading off.

It's dark and it's hard to see, even with the light of Lady Moon. You actually aren't that good of a hunter but, you know enough to get by.

Kneeling down, you see the thin trail of blood. Well touch really...still, it's something.
You've got a lot of problems but finding bad guys ain't one.

It's slow going through the dark night. You honestly have no idea where you are anymore, or where you're going, but you're following that trail, that's all you have...and you don't think you're catching up at all. As you go up and around various mountains, you reflect that you probably should have made preparations...but eh, you'll figure something out.

Finally, you find yourself kneeling behind a rock and looking over a small ridge in the gray twilight before dawn. You're pretty tired, but you can keep going for a while.

Thing is, you aren't sure you want to.
Coming out of the mountain a large temple made of stone sits. It's arch ways remind you vaguely of the gaijin architecture in the city. The arch ways each hold a twisting, almost viscerally unnatural figure standing up in it, grasping what looks like the sun and moon in its palms. Sagon maybe? You don't know why Sagon's head was made to be the bastard offspring of a dog, bird and dragonfly, you do know you don't like it though. Seriously, why can't they have nice looking gods like the Fortunes? Come to think of it, why can't they just worship the Fortunes?

In the valley, you can just spot the small group carrying two people. Yukiko and Sora…
Looking back at the temple you can see that it has to have at least a dozen people in there probably closer to three dozen if the flickering lights are any indication.

You don't think you can take on that many people. You're alright with a blade, but even sensei or mother would have trouble with that many foes….

The feel of cold steel against your neck is your first clue that you aren't alone.

A male voice speaks, its thick accent reminding you vaguely of...of Sister Chou, of all people..

"Who are you? Why are you here? If you scream, I will kill you."

[] What say?