Legend of the Ronin (Legend of the Five Rings)

[gman391]

So for reasons definitely not related Civilization V, I did not work on the update today.
So....have this instead.

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"You have to accept they're dead Togashi-san."

I glance over at Toshiro. The far too pretty Crane, (I'm straight not blind) didn't show the depression that hung in his soul, but I could feel it, it was one I understood too well. That feeling that you failed, that you weren't there when you should have been.

"Kakita-san, if you accepted it, you would be back with your wife as well." I say.

"We have to reinforce given the relief hasn't fully come yet."

Liar, he and I were both staying yes, but neither of us out of concern for the small relief squad that was sent four days ago. They were a tough bunch, and forewarned of the Sagonites, they'd be fine.

I take the small bottle at my waist putting it to my lips, feeling the liquor burn down my throat.
Ah that's the stuff, Lady Sake the only woman who never let me down, the only woman I hadn't let down.


Shinsei that's depressing.

"Even so, you have a pretty wife waiting for you at home don't you?" I ask.

Toshiro retorts.
"And you have meditations and whatever it is Togashi do."

I can never resist the urge to be flippant.
"Handstands mostly"

"Huh?" Toshiro asks, confused.

A confusing answer to a confused question brings me such joy.
"Meditate while doing handstands."

Toshiro looks me up and down.
"...Riiight. Still you're staying for the same reason I am."

I take another sip, there's not really an answer to that now is there.
We both stay for our comrades, me because Yukiko and Sora are the only people in this damned world I care about at this point.
Him because he owes Megumi-san some debt, or he thinks he does. Regardless, we stay because neither of us ready to admit they're dead, no matter how we tell each other they are dead.

With a shrug, I respond.
"I suppose I am...you know death is a journey, maybe I'm just watching to see if they're passing by."

Toshiro leans against the support post beside me.
"...I'll watch with you, pass the sake."

"...I don't--"
I try to deny it. (Only partly because I didn't want to give it up, mostly because well appearances and all that)

Toshiro gives me the same look, you give a student caught stealing rice cakes.
"I was a good magistrate. You are the worst monk I've ever met Togashi-san, but I don't think that's any of my business, now pass the sake."

I hand over the bottle. He drinks and coughs.

"Yeah I forgot to get shochu on the way out of the city my bad." I say in fake apology.

Teach you to steal my liquor.
Toshiro rolls his eyes and hands it back to me.

So we wait on the watch tower, knowing that they're dead, but somehow, still not ready to give up hope.

I really should know better, I really should.

 

[gman391]

Hmm I was hoping for more conversation from that, but very well.

-Plan Sirrocco

You look over the Yodotai once again, letting yourself become open to study him better. The smell of sweat and wind lingers as you begin to see….

See that for all of his terror, he's still focused, still trying to live, he's not broken. Not broken like you'd expect someone chased by a Rakasha to be.

See that the scars on his legs and back aren't that old, a few weeks at most. The familiar set of the calluses on his hands give the evidence that he's fighter, not a peasant.

See that although Sora shot him in the hip, he has the presence of mind to keep the freshly bandaged wound away from the ground to try to keep it clean, and even seems to be leaning against the somewhat cleaner monument stone, applying some small pressure to help with the bleeding. Given the weakness in his limbs, you suspect that Sora must have...well, she is a Scorpion after all.
What has him so terrified, but not terrified enough to return only to instinct, much like a wild animal?

"Yodotai, do you understand me?" you ask quietly, but with a hard edge to your voice nonetheless..

He nods. "I understand you, Rokugani"

His voice is accented, like someone who studied the language purely in academics rather than with a teacher.

Good, that makes this easier than trying to pantomime things.

"What's your name?" you ask.

The Yodotai seems to consider for a moment.
"Caius."

Well, fair is fair and so you give your own.
"Megumi."

You stare at each other for a little longer before finally, you both relent. His terror is still there, but pushed aside.
Adopting a posture the Crane like to call 'Being Your Friend', you begin to ask questions.

First concern. "You're a long way from home Caius...what makes you run so far away from the lands out west?"

He shifts just slightly, and you spot the lie even before he opens his mouth. "I was on a journey."

He was on a journey, but it wasn't by his own will.

You press for more. "A journey from where to where?"


He answers. "From the lands of the Yodotai to Medinat al-Salaam."

You keep your on in place as you scratch out the second part of that Medinat al-Salaam...it's a great trading hub, but it's not one the Yodotai use typically. Their traders normally only go as far as the Senpet. He must be lying about where he's going, especially given he didn't name himself setting out from Calandium, the great trade city of the Yodotai and the only one that does send out great caravans to Medinat al-Salaam. No, he went with a generic 'from the lands of the Yodotai', not wrong necessarily, but not right either...and there's no way for you to disprove it easily.

"Merchant?" you ask, letting himself go deeper.

"Yes," Caius replies quickly, too quickly.

"And they whipped you for that?" you ask.

The terror fights its way back onto his face as he answers. "...They whipped me because I would not submit my pride as a Yodotai."

"Who is they?" You prod gently.

A deep breath as he masters himself against.
"The people I run from...I do not know their name. I do not speak Ivindi."

"Did they have any identifying marks?" you ask. This can't be...

"Only a Tiger's head…" he answers quietly in the moonlight.

...but it is. It's the Cult of Sagon.

That said, you have to continue. "So how did you escape?"

"I waited until night time and took advantage of an opportunity," he answers.

Finally the truth.

"Did you get lost in the mountains?"

He seems faintly offended at the thought. "No I didn't get lost in the mountains," he snaps.

Time to close this trap. "Then why were you running towards Rokugan?"

"..."

He says something in the Yodotai language. From his tone, he can only be swearing.

"So either you did get lost in the mountains, which could happen, or much more likely, you lied to me. I'm guessing it's about being a merchant. You don't get a body like that by being a profit driven parasite, and your whip scars aren't old enough to have you been captured long enough to work your body into that." Your tone is calm and in control as you give voice to your suspicions.

"....You are perceptive for a Rokugani," Caius says, clearly still angry over his mistake.

You look him over again. "One tries, Caius. Now, are you going to tell me the truth?"

"I cannot, I swore an oath. But I will tell you that I did escape, and that their hunters are even now searching for me. I will not go back to being a slave." He says proudly with a firmness that you can't deny. You can tell that that's all you'll get from him on the subject, at least for now.

The sound of an owl calling...wait, it's not time for the owl to hunt, they hunt earlier.
Your hand drifts to your sword as your head twitches to the side listening, it's faint but someone's coming...surrounding you... four people, and they are trying to ambush you.

"Megumi-san, they're here aren't they? Free me and let me die in battle." Caius all but begs, or as close as he can come to begging at least.

[] Free him.
[] Don't free him.

Having made your choice, you know you also have to prepare for an ambush. You stretch your senses out. Four of them - north, south, west and east of you, respectively. The northern one is climbing up still. The southern one is standing still, but laying something down. West and East are circling around waiting for some signal to start...they're the rushers, you'd guess.

[] Plan?

 

[gman391]

-Don't Free Him
-Plan Sirrocco

You look down at Caius and while a part of you is a little sympathetic to the desire to die in battle, the rest of you remembers Sora's orders.

"Sorry Caius, I can't do that," you say.

He slumps seemingly morose by your answer.

You draw Sakiyarumei and make your way down towards the one you sensed south.
Sakiyarumei rolls 1d10=6 gains ??? trait

Your blade feels oddly, right in your hand like it's easier to swing, maybe you're getting familiarity with it? Whatever, focus on the fight, all that matters now is the one perfect strike.

In the moonlight you see the Sagonite fiddling with a long tube. Taking a deep breath, you strike down, swinging Sakiyarumei in a perfect arc.
"FOR THE EMPEROR!" you scream, your voice carrying through the night.

When and if they tell stories about you, you rather hope that they omit the part where the Sagonite didn't even have to move in order for your blade to hit the dirt.

He looks up, and draws his knife, but you're still faster than him. Your fingers move to solidify their grip on the hilt and you swing Sakiyarumei back upwards in a perfect arc, catching him on the chin and splitting most of his face in two. He collapses to the ground, probably dead, but definitely out of the fight.

You run back towards the tent, where you see Sora just barely get nicked by a knife from a woman who came from the West side. Legs burn in protest as you charge into the woman, blade flashing. The woman tries to block, but your blade is too fast for that and bites deep into her side, but not as deep as you thought it would. She is definitely still in the fight.

Sora lets out a pained chuckle, as she finishes stringing her bow. "Megumi-san, how nice of you to join us."

With a foreign cry, another man jumps down, buying his blade deep into Caiu's shoulder and neck. The Yodotai's head drops, as he collapses into the ground bleeding profusely, even as you wonder if you could have prevented that.

"Megumi-san, take of the girl, I'll take care of the other one."

"Bayushi-sama there's a---"

From the tent behind you erupts the sound of bone breaking as a voice, distinctly male, lets out a groan of pain. Yukiko...can apparently fight too.

Sora finishes your sentence. "---Fourth one? We know. Yukiko-san is able to take care of it."

There's a note of pride there, pride in having your beloved be able to kick ass. Which is perfectly normal, honestly.

You and the woman circle around each other, as Sora launches two arrows into the one who attacked Caius. Going by the loud, pained scream, you guess it's somewhere that matters very much to him, like his face or something.

The woman strikes out at you with her knife, but long training with Sora and others, let's you side step it completely, and bring down your blade in a spinning arc into her spine. She goes down with a faint whimper.

A high pitched, strangled screech erupts from the tent. You look behind you and Sora seems...worried. She frowns.
"Megumi-san, go help Yukiko-san!" she orders, as she calmly puts two more arrows into Caius' attacker.

You charge into the tent to see a man on the ground clutching himself in a way that would be frankly obscene, even by your standards, if not for the tears of pain flowing onto the floor.

Then that scream was…

You are not a man, but even you feel a degree of sympathy for someone who goes through that.

Yukiko winds up her leg and kicks him in the face, his head goes slack, as his body decides that it is out.

Turning around Yukiko looks at you, her arm is slightly red from a nick but otherwise is fine."Megumi-san, are you alright?"

You nod. "Hai Iuchi-sama, we heard a scream and thought…"

"Ah. No, just this waste of flesh," Yukiko replies with a sneer at her crumpled opponent.

Note to self, do not wake Yukiko up from sleeping.

"I am glad to see you need no assistance Iuchi-sama, but Bayushi-sama captured a prisoner, and well I think he's dying," you say.

Yukiko frowns and hurries out of the tent over to the downed Caius and kneels down.

"Praise the Lords that I memorized this prayer at least," she mutters.

Her hands reach out and touch Caius as she begins to chant.

The water kami flow out from Yukiko and treat Caius somewhat. While it's clear that he is no longer dying, you're pretty sure that he will not be waking up for a while.

Sora pulls her arrows out of the very dead man she had been shooting at.

"So this is what the Yodotai was running from. Four on one isn't good odds, but I wonder why they were so desperate for him," she remarks as she turns to you.

"Caius," you interject.

"Hmm?"

"That's the name he gave me, I wasn't able to get much else, before the attack," you clarify.

"Still something. Well finish off the rest of them and find a stick or something to get them out of the campsite. I'm going back to bed," Sora orders.

After cleaning Sakiyarumei, you put her away. You won't dirty your soul with this, besides there are knives right here. Picking one up, you go through the grim business of killing the Sagonites. You aren't cruel about it, lift their heads and cut their throats, no pain...nothing but quick death. Still, it takes far too long for your comfort, and you really need to get yourself purified by the end of it...but orders are orders.

As the sun rises at last, you look up at it, and feel glad the night is over. When Sora and Yukiko relieve you, they say they'll have to rest another day because well, Yukiko didn't get the rest she needs. As she quietly tends to Caius, you mostly putter around.

[] Talk to Sora (Write in what?)
[] Talk to Yukiko (Write in what?)
[] Time Skip to Caius Waking Up

Megumi currently has 3 void.

 

[gman391]

So I didn't write an Update, but I did write an omake of sorts. Update tomorrow.

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I look at the faded paper, the green ink nearly blending into the page as words flow out in a river.
There was no doubt in my mind who this was for, who was intended to get this.

My bones creak as I stand up and begin to move the body away from my little Temple. It's not often that I have to remember the old days, to remember skills used nearly twenty years ago now. Ah, I'm an old man and old tired man even, but that doesn't change what I was. It doesn't change the facts at all.

The sound of dirt and metal merging as one creates a rhythm in my mind that I'd like to forget. It's one that is too familiar to me. Bury deep about six feet, make sure to burn quickly so the dead don't come back as a tainted monstrosity, I still have some jade on me, but I'd rather save that for something important.

Still, Master Roc is playing games again, more's the pity. This simple humdrum existence of mine is coming to an end because some upstart whelp from the Yasuki thinks that the Shield Cities can be subverted due to the impending civil war, and that the chaos of that war can be used to forge a kingdom on the Empire's borders, one with all of its strengths but none of its weaknesses.

The smell of cooked flesh is distinctive, even though I burn incense to hide the stench, as I make the ritual prayers to purify myself and the body.

I wonder what her name was? She fought like a Scorpion, yes, but that's not entirely indicative. There are only so many ways one can train to be a Shadow, and the Scorpion have amalgamated all of them into their style. Ah, I suppose it doesn't matter.

It's clear as day that the Qolat are far more effective and less prone to well, being pants on head stupid, than their former compatriots in Rokugan. Which means, of course, that someone has to act against them, even with this business in the south.

Fortune favours the Mortal Man, those are the watchwords of the Order I joined when I became a monk.

I have, in my lifetime, forged many samurai into heroes, weapons to be turned against the enemies of the Empire. Sometimes it doesn't work, whether from a failure within, or the fact that Fortune doesn't favour them, or even some other unknown reason. Regardless, I always press forward, choosing to gamble time and again. This new samurai I have in mind, only the Fortunes know if she is of the right ilk, but I will roll the dice on her anyways.

As the fire dies out and the evidence of the brutal murder I just committed is hidden, I look up at the sky and sigh. It had been chance that saw me walking by the old Shrine to Chagatai, to see the hidden symbols revealed revealing an old foe.

Chance or Fortune? An interesting question...
Ah, Rokushu, it never ends does it, old friend?
Still, I must prepare other weapons in case that one doesn't work out...

 

[gman391]

--Talk to Sora
---About the tube what is that thing?

You end up, deciding to leave Yukiko alone with Caius. You're no priest and don't want to get in the way.

That said the only other person to talk to is Bayushi-sama, and well, you're still not all that comfortable with her. But it's getting boring in your head, since Grandmother has been quiet for some reason.

Probably want to have something to talk about though. Bayushi-sama doesn't seem like the type for small talk. You wonder if she has any Hiruma blood in her. Those guys hate small talk too. Not that you can blame them.

Hmm, what about that tube? The one that the first man you killed last night was trying to do something with. Actually, what was up with that? If they hadn't waited and instead had charged the camp, it would have changed things. It definitely would have been a very messy fight.

You walk down the hill a bit to pick up the piece of bamboo. In the sunlight, you can make out more details than you could last night. First, there's a strange wick coming out of it that reminds you vaguely of a candle. Also, there's something in it, a powder maybe?

As Sora has her bow strung, and is looking for game when you approach her.
She gives a polite bow, stiff, but you can only find offense if you want to. You respond by giving a perfect bow, unlike her, you can't afford to act even the slightest bit out of decorum.

"Megumi-san, what brings you to me?" she asks.

You hand over the tube. "I don't know what this is, but my first opponent was messing with it when I cut him down."

Sora puts her bow away to look at it for several moments. "Hmm…"

Taking out knife, Sora carefully cuts off the top and looks down the thing. "A powder….you know this is some sort of hanabi."

"Hanabi?" you ask dumbly.

The Bayushi nods, putting the top back on. "You've never seen them?"

A shrug from you, you had seen fireworks of course everyone has, but never up close. You just know when they are going off and being pretty.

"Only in the sky," you answer.

Sora seems to accept this and explains further. "Well, before they're set off they're usually transported in these things. I had to check to be sure, but this is definitely a firework."

It's the obvious question that you blurt out. "How do a bunch of cultists get recipes for fireworks?"

Though you can't see Sora frown, you can sense her disquiet. "Well, I would like to say that this one is stolen, but I don't think that's the case. The Tamori and Agasha keep their hanabi in the north. The cultists would have had to go far out of their way to steal just one, all the while chasing a prisoner."

"Well, what if they kidnapped one of the hanabi makers?" you ask.

"That is what worries me, Megumi-san. They either kidnapped one of them or figured it out. Either way, they're confident enough in their ability to make more, that they send out retrieval teams with one." Sora says, handing back the hanabi.

"That sounds bad...but maybe they weren't here for Caius, but rather for us? With our escape, they might have thought it worth the risk?"

Sora shakes her masked head. "Doubtful. If they were after us, why go after the prisoner first? He was not a threat, trussed up as he was, yet they made sure to try and take him out quickly."

You think about it for a moment, and decide that the reasoning is sound. Caius wasn't a threat, but had still been nearly killed. Only Yukiko's prayers had kept him alive. They had to be coming for him, although that raises the question of why, and that question seems to be one Bayushi-san is trying to figure out herself.

"Which leaves us with a bunch of evil cultists with the ability to make hanabi," you say finally to break the silence.

Sora seems pensive as she asks, "The man you killed was fiddling with it right before you attacked?"

"Yes, Bayushi-sama," you answer.

"Hmm...most likely a prearranged signal then. They were going to use it to try and blind us before attacking"

Which means...

"...but I attacked first."

Sora nods. "Seizing initiative is a good policy. Still, if we can, we should find out if the prisoner knows about these hanabi."

"I think Iuchi-sama is still patching him up," you offer.
She'd been doing that all day muttering about idiots who push past their limits.

With the barest hint of affection, Sora replies, "Hai, she probably is."

There's a long silence before you both turn to begin walking towards camp, as you do, you feel her study you out of the side of her eye. At least, that's what it seems like. With the mask you can't tell where she's looking, just that her head is slightly inclined towards your direction.

Sora seems to be mulling something over. You glance at her, and that seems to make her decide something.

"Megumi-san, I find myself curious about something," she begins.

"What is it, Bayushi-sama?" You ask.

"What brought you to Shiro Enishi exactly? And what do you hope to gain out of being in the Legion?"

"There's more to this question than you realize Sakura, answer carefully," your grandmother pipes in, turning this into another test.

[]

 

[gman391]

-Doruma1920
Courtier roll=30 *Success*

You consider this question with all the due care that Grandmother suggests. She is your ancestor after all, caustic as she is, and she's still the only family you have left.

So why come out to Shiro Enishi? The truth is, you don't know for sure. While you had always intended to go to the Shield Cities, you ending up in Shiro Enishi and staying had been the result of someone beating the living crap out of you and then wrecking your sword.

In retrospect, you really should figure out why that happened at some point. You give a mental shake of your head. Focus on that later...focus on the Scorpion now.

"When I first began in Shiro Enishi, I was looking to repair my soul. Now that it has been mended...Bayushi-sama, I am a wander of the waves. I seek a home for I have none. Whether that home is with the Legion or I somehow prove myself worthy of a Name, I do not know. Regardless, the Legion is honourable service, and a step closer to finding a place in the Empire."

You know that your words are flawless, that the countless subtle movements of body language, the inflection of your voice, all of it is convincing. Now it comes down to whether your words find soil to take root in. Idly, you wonder if you should have paid attention more in the dojo whenever Masako-Sensei talked about this.

Sora looks you over, thinking, studying you.

Far too slowly for comfort, you hear her speak. "I see. Well, I suppose most ronin want a Name to call their own. Still, even in Shiro Enishi, you have an uphill battle on this Megumi-san. We are relatively kind to ronin, but that does not make us more accepting of them."

You shrug slightly. "Bayushi-sama, many of us don't accept ourselves. Many of us are looking for a way home, to have a name, to have a lord, to have a duty. There are some who love the freedom of the Waves, but I am not one of them."

"I suppose that settles it. For what it's worth, I hope that Mikoto-no-kami smiles on your task," Sora says.

You reach the camp at last, pondering what she meant by that. You aren't entirely sure and the question occupies you for the rest of the night.

In the morning, Caius wakes up from his wounds, looking very surprised to not be dead. To be fair, you can't really blame him for that, given the condition he had been in.

Sora orders you to tie him up so that he can be led by a rope.

Caius is less than enthused.

"I'm not going to talk, Rokugani," he says as you bind him up.

"I honestly don't care Yodotai. You have information that my lord is interested in, you're coming with us," is Sora's blunt reply.

Caius retorts hotly. "Don't be arrogant. I escaped the Sagonites, what makes you think---"

Sora cuts him off. "You didn't escape the Sagonites. The wound on your shoulder would have killed you without us. Given how fast they were, they would have caught you anyways."

"I will escape," he insists stubbornly.

Sora's voice changes becoming deeper, sombre and determined but with an undercurrent of cruelty that is all too rarely indulged.

"You know…I really think you are lacking gratitude here. It is true, you might escape, might. But I will tell you this: when you try and fail, I will cut out your eyes and feed them to the vultures. I don't actually need you to see to give information," she says.

Caius responds."Then take them, you don't have the---"

He's cut off abruptly as Sora takes out a long, thin knife and slowly brings it towards Caius's eyes. The blade glistens brilliantly in the morning light. Your eyes trace over its shining steel - it's a knife for stabbing, but the edge is still razor sharp, even if the point looks like it could punch through armor.

"In the Yodotai culture, the heir must be perfect physically, right? You leave babies out to die if they have so much as a strange eye…blindness counts for that if I remember accurately."

Caius doesn't say anything, but struggles against the bonds you've wrapped tightly around him, even attempting to fall to his knees and roll away. You pull on the leash to stop him, his body jerking at the sudden stop. You drag him over to the tree where you found the branch the other night, and tie him up against it, Caius can't escape now.

The Scorpion woman walks slowly towards him, purposefully. Her presence looms as she changes from a simple Samurai into a demon, her mask enhancing the effect as she seems to tower over Caius and you, in spite of being shorter than you. The knife comes up, it's shining form forcing him and you to focus on it, as it slides across his cheek. A thin trail of blood drips down it as she carves towards his eye, stopping only at the last second. Sora pulls the knife back flicking the blood off and drawing the Yodotai's sight to the very thing that nearly took it.
A practice blinding really, so that she doesn't get this wrong.

Sora brings the knife back up it slowly rising towards Caius eyes so that he can see it coming for his sight. No words are spoken as she lets the blade talk for her, promising pain and loss, if the eyes aren't enough, she'll keep taking until he submits, you and he both know that instinctively. Even if you aren't the target, Sora's intimidation is enough to make even you anxious. The effect that it's having on Caius...well, you don't want to imagine.

You almost feel sorry for the poor bastard.

Right as Sora's knife reaches the half inch above his temple, Caius finally breaks, sagging against you as the looming presence of the Scorpion and her promise overwhelms his psyche.

"...I'll talk, let me go and I'll talk."

Sora doesn't move the knife. "Talk and then, on my honour, you'll be let go."

His words come out quickly in what you think is Yodotai, but Sora seems to understand it all the same, stopping him and asking questions in the same language.

Finally the words stop, and Sora gives you a nod as she steps back and lowers her arm. You move around behind the tree, pulling out the knife you used to end the Sagonites.

A part of you thinks you should just slit his throat. That's probably what Sora wants. Scorpion have no honour after all...but she is a superior, and while she's not always been nice to you, you've never actually caught her in a lie.

No, assuming your direct superior is an honourless dog is definitely a bad plan. Your knife parts through the rope easily, and you give him a kick to send him away.

Sora watches him for a moment as he flees. Then she gives a shrug, and turns to you.
"Help me break camp, we need to move quickly. We're running short on time to get back," she orders.

In due course, you're again walking under the spell of the Iuchi, and making your way to Shiro Enishi. Unlike before, there isn't a lot of banter but you could try talking to one of your companions.

[] Talk to Sora (About?)
[] Talk to Yukiko (About?)
[] Just get back to Shiro Enishi

 

[gman391]

---Talk to Sora (About what Caius is up to)

The kami surge through your legs as you climb yet another forsaken mountain. Not for the first or last time, you wonder why the earth kami love them so much. Shaking your head away from the potential blasphemy of questioning the will of the Heavens, you look at Sora. While the day had been mostly quiet, your mind goes back to that strange conversation that Sora and Caius had.

In spite of the fact that getting information out of a Scorpion is like pulling teeth underwater while on fire, and in spite of the fact that asking impertinent questions of your superiors typically ends with a cuff across the face, you find that your curiosity is too much to ignore. Well, maybe you'll have a little leeway after travelling together.

Sora calls for a short breather at the top of the mountain. You and Yukiko stop and look out into the valley below. It's almost picturesque in how the green slowly fades into slate gray even as a line of blue winds through the green.

Vaguely, you wonder what your brother would have done with this, he was...kami, he is ten now, probably preparing for his great work that would see him graduate from the dojo.

Deciding to act now instead of letting melancholy take you, you turn to Sora.

"Bayushi-sama," you say, bowing to her.

She bows back but doesn't respond right away. Moments trickle away before Sora answers.

"Megumi-san."

"If Bayushi-sama would permit me the privilege of asking her a question?"

Sora seems to think on it for a moment before giving you a nod.

"I find myself thinking to what you spoke about with Caius. If you would please Bayushi-sama, tell me what it was you two spoke of? I don't speak the tongue you two conversed in."

Sora's response is quick. "No."

You blink. Just no? Still a dismissal is a dismissal. And pushing your luck with a cranky Scorpion seems a spectacularly bad idea.

"Thank you for your time Bayushi-sama," you respond graciously.

Another bow as you set yourself in the front again. You were gifted at detecting ambushes thus you made sense on point. Still didn't help your aching feet though.

From behind you, the low conversation of Yukiko and Sora filters through the air. As is polite, you ignore it.

The fact that after all this time that Bayushi Sora still didn't trust you hurts a little, but then again you are a ronin. As the saying went. 'Ronin oh Ronin, which sin did you indulge in? Why all three my noble lord'. No one was a ronin without cause and the sins of the mother passed to the child. So then, no ronin was trusted not to indulge in those sins.
You sigh. While you might have convinced Sora that you were on the level, that wasn't at all the same as her trusting you with sensitive information. A sharp crack in the back of your mind reminds you that Grandmother would have words if you gave into melancholy. So with a little effort, you put your head up and walk forward. You are still a Samurai no matter what happens and that is what you take comfort in.

The journey continues apace, with Yukiko making polite small chat with you in the evenings, but you still feel fairly excluded from the group. Granted you are essentially the only reason they can't go at it like the Matsu do, but still, it's not a pleasant feeling to be an outsider. A familiar one, but not pleasant

Finally, you crest the last hill and see the city splayed out against the country in all it's glory. You never thought you'd be so happy to see Shiro Enishi, but you really are. Glancing to the side you see Yukiko smiling a little at the sight. As always Sora's mask conceals her face, but you wonder if the Scorpion woman is smiling under it...probably?

"It'll be good to see my horse again," Yukiko says with a wistful tone.

"Hai," Sora says a little indulgently. "It's still early, so let's push on."

For once, you don't mind pushing your body so hard since it's to get back into the city. Still, as you enter through the huge gate, you see the last person in the world you'd want to see.

Hida Takamona is sitting at the gate doing inspection duty. There's a long line to get in, most of the gate is blocked off and people file in single file to be judged by Takamona and her two compatriots. A Shiba man and Ikoma woman by the mons. A Customs check essentially, but to close down the southern gate...

"Wonder what happened?" Yukiko murmurs.

"Not sure, but we'll get through soon enough," Sora says.

It takes far too long for your tastes, but finally you are in front of the three samurai.

Takamona's grin is so wide that it threatens to split her face. That...that doesn't bode well. She's supposed to be pissed at you, not happy to see you.

"Megumi the ronin, I never thought you'd dare to show your face after kidnapping Bayushi Kenjiro-dono's daughter," Takamona says gleefully.

The perverse delight of finding you colours her tone, even as shock stiffens your body.

"I/she did what?" Your voice mixes with your companions.

Takamona gestures to her own companions. "Shiba-san, take her two compatriots in for questioning. I'll take care of Megumi-san myself."

You back away. "I didn't kidnap anyone!" you insist, defensively.

Takamona hulks over you, even as she lifts her heavy fists.

"Well, Megumi-san, that's not what my orders say. You are to be arrested on sight."

"I am Bayushi Sora, daughter of Bayushi Kenjiro-dono. Explain yourself Hida-san" Sora demands.

"Bayushi Sora-sama," the Shiba bows politely. "Apologies for Hida-san, but you were declared dead, and it was determined to be because of betrayal by the ronin known as Megumi. Thus your father has ordered her arrested and brought in for questioning," he says.

"That's absurd. Megumi-san couldn't kidnap a fly, let alone a Scorpion," Sora snaps.

Even though she's speaking in your defence, you feel a little insulted, or would if you weren't still in shock.

"Regardless, we do have orders to take her in," the Shiba says.

"Who ordered this?" Yukiko asks.

"Akodo Tsukiko-sama," the Ikoma woman answers.

That seems to take the wind out of your sails. If your commander ordered it, if this wasn't just political maneuvering between Akodo-sama and Matsu-sama...then…Akodo-sama wouldn't save you. A pit in your stomach grows as it becomes clear that you are guilty, even if you did nothing.

"But I didn't do it. Why would I return with Bayushi-sama if I did?" you protest again.

The Shiba shrugs. "I can't say, I'm not a criminal."

You want to duel him for that, to cut him open...but he's right. By the laws of the Empire, you are a criminal.

It was absurd, but in terms of political calculus it made perfect sense to do, if you wanted to keep someone in high position from starting a war.

"Indeed. Now Megumi-san, are you going to come quietly?" Takamona asks.

Her leer tells you two things: she desperately wants you to say no, and that if you do, you have better than even odds of not waking up tomorrow.

[] What do?

AN: I am still taking requests for the Omake tomorrow.

 

[gman391]

Born as Mika, daughter of Itsuki, I was raised in the small fortress city of Tōno keikoku-tō Shiro as a Ji samurai, as my father had been, and his father and his father's father. We had been a noble house once, but were stripped of our lands during the Age of War before the Iweko had taken the throne. I was raised on stories of Mika the founder of our noble house who had fought with Kakita Masaru at the Battle of the White Stag and saved his life.

Stories were all we had. My mother gave birth two twin boys, Noburo and Rokuburo, but plague took them and my father in my twelfth summer. I swore on their graves that I would make our family great again for them, for my mother, for myself.

My mother had been a talented duellist before losing her hand to a Scorpion, and after begging her three times, I was able to convince her to teach me, while admittedly not the true style of the Kakita, how to fight and more importantly, how to duel.

I took to it with the passion of a fanatic. Even when I was forced to rest from overtraining, I didn't stop. Instead, I spent my time going out to listen to other samurai and learning the arts of court as best I could. There was no doubt in my mind that in order to rise as I promised, I would need a quick blade and even quicker tongue.

When I reached sixteen summers, my mother Junko declared she had no more to teach me and that she was proud of me for how hard I had worked. I remember how warm I felt at her praise.

Determined as ever to bring our house back, I listened to the rumors flying around the city, hoping that I might find a kernel of something that could lead into an opportunity to make my name. Soon. it became abundantly clear that there was trouble brewing and that the the Matsu would be coming to avenge the insult that Kakita Dairou had levied against them

To this day I don't know what possessed that man to break off his betrothal with Matsu Akane and his sister's betrothal to Shosuro Hiro at the same time. But whatever the reason, I saw the opportunity in it. I decided to join the garrison and gamble on the coming battle. Either there would be success or death, and I always did best under pressure.

As it happens, revenge from both families was swift and brutal. Matsu Akane, having gained permission to avenge the insult levelled against her (really who ends a betrothal with, 'I like a woman who looks like a woman'?), took her small force of a thousand Matsu and began sieging the town.

Simultaneously, for some unexplained reason Kakita Dairou and most of his senior staff were found mysteriously dead from various causes. (Definitely not because a certain Scorpion was avenging the insult Dairou gave by calling that Scorpion's mother a peasant. That would be wrong)
With everyone in charge dead, the garrison of Tōno keikoku-tō Shiro was in a state of panic and disarray. We had no leaders, and while the gunso tried to step up, it was clear they had no consensus who should be in charge.

Thus, I took a chance and did what had to be done. I convinced my unit to throw in with me and launch a surprise counterattack on Matsu Akane's forces. It was the last thing they would expect, and if we killed Matsu Akane, the Lion would be in an even worse state than we were.

Matsu Akane was my first real duel, and she nearly killed me. I always respected her for that.
In the end, on hearing that the man she was coming to kill was well...dead, she withdrew her forces, but only after beating me within an inch of my life. It was only thanks to the shugenja that I lived.

Returning back to the city, I was declared a hero for having the audacity to risk it all on a battle that I could not win. There was an entirely inappropriate celebration for us not being sacked. I say inappropriate because by rights, we should have been mourning the loss of our lord. In the ensuing celebration, I got both my first hangover and for some reason, a tattoo of the Crane on my back.

Naturally, when word came that the Kakita army had sent a detachment to help with the fighting, none of the remaining gunso wanted to admit to Dairou's cousin that they had let him die. Instead, they opted to order the hero of the hour to go talk to Kakita Daikachi-sama, chui of the Kakita Army.

Though hungover, I somehow made a good impression and Kakita Daikachi-sama sent word back to Shiro sano Kakita of my accomplishments.The Steel Crane Kakita Takayo, upon hearing the report, decided to grant me the honour of forming a noble house and taking on the Kakita name.

I accepted the honour without hesitation, changing my name from Mika to Kakita Misaki. I have cried but three times in my life, and only one of those times was from the joy I felt. When I first wrote my name out to show to the seal maker to get my personal chop, tears fell on the paper. I was confused at first, because I wasn't sad...it was only when your grandmother came in and commented on the smile on my face that I realized that they weren't tears of sorrow. I had fulfilled the first part of my promise to my father; I had gotten our name back.

And that, my son, is how I began the rise of our house, as well as a reminder of how quickly we can fall. We rose in a generation, fell in a generation and rose again. Keep this in mind when raising your own children.

----Kakita Misaki, when asked by her son about her past.

 

[gman391]

Okay guys, first sorry for the delays, still having to work out some stuff. But, to do slightly more world building have this interlude.

Pale moonlight dances across my skin as I look up at the stars. Why was I still up? It had been a long day, and I wasn't as young as I used to be. Oh for the days where I would fight a day, plan a night and then fight the next day with no problems.

It's strange to be nostalgic for the days when my Empire was nearly destroyed, when all that I could do was pick up my swords and lead my army into battle and pray the gods granted me victory. Yet, I find myself feeling that more and more. For the certainty of youth, to be able to take vengeance for those who harmed me and mine.

Now, I have none of that. Behind me my beloved Masako is praying for our daughter no doubt, and for me to pull back the reforms I have unleashed on this land. I cannot, as much as I wish the jewel that is this land could stay as it was...it cannot.

To many enemies would take advantage of us, too many times have we fought a desperate war of survival against enemies that we could have seen coming, if not for our arrogance. No, I will not leave my successor the same Empire I received, a slowly dying body that laboured to keep a heart alive. That my surgery was invasive and painful I have no doubt, but surgery is sometimes necessary, no matter what the physicians of the Asahina say.

Iweko-no-kami, I feel old, tired. I have given my life to this Empire.
And my heir will have their life taken as well.

Perhaps that is why I do not choose a new heir even now.
My daughter was strong, I knew she would be a splendid Empress. Yet she was taken from us, from me, by an enemy that all my spies, and all my will have not been able to find.

Hmm, I need to get a new railing, this one seems to have taken far too much abuse at my hands.

"Dear?" I turn to see Masako.

My Empress is still as beautiful as the day we first met. The bards sing of her voice, and of her bearing, but never her looks, she is after all too tall, too angular to be called beautiful by most. The bards it may surprise you are fools.

Masako walks towards me, and takes my hand.
Anger flows out of me, as I turn back to look across Toshi Ranbo.

"Dear, why don't you come to bed?" She asks.

"Reflecting on the days events." I say.

"Did that boor Gomoe-san, demand you pick an heir again?" Masako asks.

"I thought Hida-san was friend of yours my dear?" I ask wryly.

Masako chuckles. "That does not mean I will not admit her faults to my husband"

"As it happens yes. Yet I still know not the choice to make." I say.

"Nobutasu-kun has the right by age." Masako reminds me.

"Hai, but Keika-chan is better suited." I respond in turn.

"For now." She says.

"For now, go back to bed dear, I'll be with you shortly." I say.

She squeezes my hand, and let's go returning back.

I let out a breath, I was not blind to the politics around me.

Nobukatsu-kun was my second born, by a concubine yes, but still my second born. Yet he was, pliable in a way that I had never been that Ayako-chan had never been. I had been content to let him study with the Phoenix and mollify them when the Jade Champion had been selected by me from the ranks of the Dragon.
I suppose that was on me to not expect him to come back as bookish lad more at home with scrolls than people. Yet he knew more than even I did, even if he lacked the fire to be a strong emperor.
But he was next in line.

Keika-chan my third born, also by a concubine. (Yet again, I find myself, both angry and grateful that Yukimaru convinced me to take two of them) She was a warrior in every sense of the word, some wondered how an Iweko had produced such a Matsu offspring, which admittedly wasn't helped by me allowing her to be trained in that school...but regardless, she was strong, she saw my vision of the future and had it as her own....but...
But she was also too headstrong, I had faced near revolt with my reforms, and if she pushed to hard too fast it would break this dynasty.

I had always made snap decisions before, but with the future of my Empire...I found I couldn't.
So turning away from the balcony to lay in the arms of my wife. My dilemma remains unanswered.

Choose my son and let all I had accomplished be slowly rolled back?
Or choose my daughter and gamble that she won't cause a civil war?


I shake my head, forcing the question from my mind. I sit down beside my wife, and she gives me a small smile.
She leans over and kisses me. Her eyes tell me everything. She knows whats on my mind, and is offering to give me peace for a while...
My arms wrap around her as I thank Benten for my wife yet again.

I have no answers for the future, but here and now, I know what to do.

 

[gman391]

-Plan Sirrocco 2.0
Etiquette Roll 7k5 (6k3+1k1[Void]+0k1[Benten's Blessing]) =51 (19, 9, 8, 8, 7) *Success*

You take a deep breath, the world slowing down slightly as you taken in your options.
Running? No, that's an admission of guilt.
Fighting? No, you can't fight an entire city.
Talking then, you have to talk your way out.

But you're a ronin, talking is just as risky as fighting. You have no status, but that of hohei in the legion. Your mind turns over endless words spoken by your sensei, by your mother, as the forms and phrasings to get yourself out of this come to mind.

First, stop backing away, it makes you look cowardly. You take a breath and plant yourself firmly, like some sort of mighty tree. Takamona stops, clearly not expecting that. You aren't being aggressive, but rather very rooted in the Earth.

Then you call on all your training, all your energy to make one last attempt to persuade them.
You bow respectfully.

"Samurai-sama, I am a simple ronin under the command of Bayushi Sora-sama. I would not ask anyone to forgo their duty for me. If I am to be taken into custody, then of course I will go quietly. However, taking you away from your duties here is not something I want to cause either. Thus, I ask if it is possible that Bayushi-sama take me in herself, so as to not be the cause of more conflict."

Your voice is clear, it's, crisp and it's understanding. It also makes you seem like the honourable sort who will endure any insult because that is right and proper. That you will trust in your own honour and the will of heaven to see you through. Perhaps most importantly you pointed out a conflict of duty that they could take advantage of if they wanted.

The gamble was, of course, if the Ikoma and Shiba could restrain Takamona.

"No," Takamona retorts instantly.

"Just a moment," an earthy female voice calls out, the Ikoma speaking up for the first time.

You and Takamona both focus on the wiry, thin, unassuming woman, who none the less is the most dangerous person you've met in some time.

"Ikoma-sama, this Ronin speaks honeyed words to cover up her lies, you cannot trust her," Takamona says quickly.

If you weren't already in trouble….
Ikoma-sama proceeds to scrutinze you for a long time. You get the feeling that she is weighing your worth, judging you, before turning towards Sora and doing the same. It's a little uncomfortable.

"I see no reason not to trust a fellow member of the Imperial Legion to do her duty," she says at last.

You notice she's glancing at Takamona.

Takamona reacts with, well, what you expect.

"NO!" She shouts.

The Hida composes herself, and you'd be impressed if it wasn't to your detriment.

More calmly, Takamona continues to speak.
"Ikoma-sama, this ronin is a filthy traitor to all that is good we must---"

"Enough," the Ikoma snaps.

The words fly through the air and Takamona goes rigid, as if she's a puppet and just had her strings pulled too quickly. More interesting to you is that while the tone Ikoma-sama used was angry, there's still the faint sign of a smile there.

Not a happy smile, to be sure but a smile all the same. Your mind works quickly, figuring out what happened. Ikoma-sama doesn't like Takamona, but she's obligated to pay attention to her subordinates. Particularly, when Takamona is still the daughter of a Provincial Daimyo, yet with this, Ikoma-sama has an excuse to say no. Something that Ikoma-sama has wanted to do for quite a while it seems.

"Hida-san stand down. Shiba-san, get the paperwork from Bayushi-sama and then send her on her way with the prisoner," Ikoma-sama says.

"Sir," Shiba-sama quickly moves to the table for a moment.

He returns and talks to Sora briefly, getting some documents stamped. You ignore that to focus on Takamona. The large Hida woman takes a deep breath, raising her fist, oh no. You prepare to dodge, right when Takamona turns and punches a wall hard.
"So...close...dammit," she mutters to herself.

You may have escaped her for now, but somehow, you don't think Takamona is going to give up on killing you. It's a little sad how comforting that constant is.


"Megumi-san, you will have to be bound for this," Shiba-sama says coming up behind you.

To your credit, you don't give any sign that you nearly jumped a foot in fright, a near thing though. You take in Shiba-sama's words.

Well damn, you had really hoped to not be tied up. Being tied up wasn't something you enjoyed, and you could speak from experience on that.

"I'll handle it," Sora puts in.

The feel of hemp around your wrists and chest isn't what you would call pleasant, even as Sora gives one final pull of the knot.The ropes are tight enough to dig into your skin a little with each breath, but you can still breathe and that's the important part. You make sure to bow to the Ikoma and Shiba in gratitude, for saving your life. Sora and Yukiko bow as well, but a more restrained polite bow.

Sora moves forward, pulling you along. Behind you, you can feel the barely restrained rage of Takamona as she watches you go. A part of you wants to turn and do something childish, you ignore it easily. The fact that you can feel her hate boring into the back of your head provides all the incentive to do so.

It's an odd experience being led through the city like some sort of dog. You feel like you'll be remembered somewhat for this and not well. That said, Sora lets you move at your own pace so at least it doesn't look all that bad.

"So why was that Hida so intent on uh, making you into a small cube?" Yukiko asks.

You look over at her and try to rub the back of your head. Or you would if you weren't bound anyways.
Eh...it's uh, a little personal, sorry Iuchi-sama." you say finally.

"Ah." she replies.

"This whole situation is a mess. All I wanted was just to go home and have a nice bath, but now I have to clean this up," Sora growls.

"I'm sorry Bayushi-sama," you apologize gracefully..

"It's not your fault really, it's whoever decided to put the fallout on you," Yukiko says.

Sora mumbles something under her breath but you don't catch it, although it's easy enough to guess that it's some variation on, 'stupid people making my life difficult'.

Finally, you're through the frankly far too large Mori Ward and into the citadel proper. The looming tower that oversees the city seems to have been painted black recently. That's...uh...foreboding, that's the word for it. All around you, Imperial Legionaries go about their duties along with civil officials. If Sora can't help you, getting out of this might well be impossible.

"I do hope you aren't planning to be a criminal?" your grandmother asks.

'No grandmother, but I can't gain a name if I'm dead either,' you answer.

A hmph from her.

Deep breaths, Megumi.

Yukiko gives a small smile. "Don't worry Megumi-san, at most you'll spend the night in a cell and probably not even that."

"Huh?" The word is startled out of you before your control reasserts itself.

"Forgive me Iuchi-sama, but I thought we were going to Bayushi-dono directly," you add by way of explanation.

"No," Sora says bluntly.

Yukiko rolls her eyes slightly. "We don't have those orders, so we have to go by what we do have."

Or Takamona will raise a fit and cause more problems. Your mind fills in the rest easily enough.
Well, fuck, you really didn't want to go to jail.

"What about my swords?" you ask softly.

"I'll take care of them," Yukiko says.

"Megumi-san, whatever your faults, I'm not going to discard you, that would be a waste." Sora says.

You do your best to bow to her, while being dragged along.
"Thank you."

Sora just nods, as you stop in front of a fairly formidable looking iron door. A somewhat bored looking Kitsuki stands in front of it. He's not the most beautiful man you've met, like Toshiro or anything, but he's handsome enough, well muscled too. The old feeling of attraction is pushed away. You're going to jail, you ain't got time to think about that sort of thing.

Dull eyes sweep over you as the Dragon asks, "Yes?"

Sora bows, making you and Yukiko do so as well. You note Kitsuki-sama bowing as well.

"Dragon-sama, I am Bayushi Sora, Dai Hohei of the Tenth Legion. I have a prisoner for you. Megumi the ronin. My companion will take her swords, but I leave her in your care. "


His eyes widen."Well then, thank you Bayushi-san, I am Kitsuki Kisu, Nikutai of the Tenth and Warden. Megumi-san, come with me."

Sora takes your swords and gives them to Yukiko, even as the Kitsuki takes the rope.

With one hand he opens the iron door, the hinges creaking from the weight. Inside you can just make the dim light of torches.

You gives a tentative farewell to your companions as you're dragged inside. The door slamming shut.

"Well I have to say this is unexpected, but I suppose it's been that kind of year," the Kitsuki says.

"Er right…" You mumble.

You wince internally as that comes out. Dammit you just went over this, be firm, be honourable, be polite...and you ruined it by letting your fear get to you.

Mother would never forgive you for that.

"What am I, vegetable parings?"

'No Grandmother, my apologies grandmother,' you think.

Kisu gives you a pitying look before continuing to talk.
"We don't usually have too many prisoners, Chief Judge Moshi makes sure of that, goes through them quick. But, I'm sure you'll be okay. Executing you for kidnapping Bayushi-sama doesn't make a lot of sense now."

"Yes Sir," you reply, although that's not actually reassuring you given the circumstances.

He continues leading you down the hallway talking about something or other the entire time. You give polite agreements and sort of let it flow over you. None of it is terribly relevant to anything, but it just seems like Kisu likes to talk. It's weird, but then...Dragon, you aren't sure they know how not to be weird.


Still, you listen to him talk, even as you note the general layout of the prison. As he said it's not large, not compared to what you'd expect anyways, maybe three floors in total, with only one entrance. Most of the cells are empty, although you note one massive woman with what looks like white skin and blond hair? Thrane? Weren't they all dead?

Still, she seems to have not been here terribly long going by the wretches in other cells. That's, uh, not comforting to be honest.

Finally, Kisu puts you into a small cell that has barely anything in it beyond some straw, iron bars, stone floor, and a small drain pipe...eew. Deciding to put that out of your mind, you notice the Thrane woman is close enough to talk to if you wanted. It might not work given the language barrier which you always keep running into, but you could try.

Look like you'll be here for a bit, now how to pass the time?

[] Meditate
[] Sleep
[] Try to talk to the Thrane woman (About?)
[] Look for an escape route