Legend of the Ronin (Legend of the Five Rings)
- Status
- Location
- Moon-Station
[x] Try to make a group with Toshiro, Izu, Yukiko, and someone else
- Location
- Leeds
Yeah, lets go elsewhere.
[X] Try to make a group with Toshiro, Izu, Yukiko, and someone else
- Location
- Leeds
Oh we're very Pro Crab, just Hida CrazySister really scares me. And I don't want to be in the company of someone that she might be able to order around.
Canon Omake by Ria: Secrets Unveiled
- Location
- North Carolina
"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...."
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...."
- Location
- Telmar
[X] Try to make a group with Toshiro, and the small clique of Minor Clanners you spot
Aye, Aye captain!
I can't heeeaaar yooouuu!
AYE, AYE CAPTAIN!
Oooooooooooo...
Who lives on an island over the sea?
YORITOMO!
Ambitious and green and sailing is he.
YORITOMO!
If nautical nonsense be somethin' ya wish.
YORITOMO!
Then drop on the deck and flop like a fish.
YORITOMO!
Ready?
YORITOMO,
YORITOMO,
YORITOMO,
YOORIII-TOOMOOO! Ah Ha Ha, Ha Ha Ha, Ha, hArgh wh..arire..Ha arrrigh.
...Unfortunately that group does have baggage attached so I'm hoping for a Sparrow, Ox, Monkey, Hare or Oriole. Decent odds I reckon.
Are ya ready kids?
Aye, Aye captain!
I can't heeeaaar yooouuu!
AYE, AYE CAPTAIN!
Oooooooooooo...
Who lives on an island over the sea?
YORITOMO!
Ambitious and green and sailing is he.
YORITOMO!
If nautical nonsense be somethin' ya wish.
YORITOMO!
Then drop on the deck and flop like a fish.
YORITOMO!
Ready?
YORITOMO,
YORITOMO,
YORITOMO,
YOORIII-TOOMOOO! Ah Ha Ha, Ha Ha Ha, Ha, hArgh wh..arire..Ha arrrigh.
...Unfortunately that group does have baggage attached so I'm hoping for a Sparrow, Ox, Monkey, Hare or Oriole. Decent odds I reckon.
That does explain how we got away with 'merely' being made ronin.
It was the lightest punishment possible.
- Location
- North Carolina
Poor everyone in that story except for Takamona...because I seriously want to punch her in the face, haha.
Vote tally:
##### 3.18
[x] Try to make a group with Toshiro, Izu, Yukiko, and someone else
No. of votes: 8
Sirrocco, EtchedSteel, veekie, Lalzparty, whydoyoubother, Dark as Silver, Scia, Vendeta
[X] Try to make a group with Toshiro, and the small clique of Minor Clanners you spot
No. of votes: 2
Simonbob, Optimist Prone
Well then, we're staying with people we know mostly. Update laterish.
##### 3.18
[x] Try to make a group with Toshiro, Izu, Yukiko, and someone else
No. of votes: 8
Sirrocco, EtchedSteel, veekie, Lalzparty, whydoyoubother, Dark as Silver, Scia, Vendeta
[X] Try to make a group with Toshiro, and the small clique of Minor Clanners you spot
No. of votes: 2
Simonbob, Optimist Prone
Well then, we're staying with people we know mostly. Update laterish.
- Location
- Telmar
Frankly I'm perfectly happy to have lost that one. Yukiko is definitely my favourate character so far and mechanically Togashi are pretty fun as well.
Arc II: Oh hello Bayushi-san
--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.
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.
Last edited:
- Location
- Leeds
Either she can see our stats or activated QM assistance to punish us for taking the munchkin option.
I'm curious exactly what she was expecting to see. Could she tell from our stance how good we are at swordsmanship? Or would anything other than getting swole have gotten the same reaction.
What's more baffling is how Togashi knows it. He didn't meet us before.
Things that Akodo Tsukiko wanted to see (She would have accepted any one of these indicators and sent you on the caravan job)
-Visibly larger muscles, or firmer looking muscles. (Strength/Stamina)
-calluses on the hands showing increased focus on sword play or weapon play in general (Weapon skills)
-better stance showing increased balance/stability (Agility)
-quicker reaction time to her looking at you (reflex)
-you somehow working to get armor or something other than your basic clothing. (Intelligence well directed would also give you points if not as much. Akodo like smart bushi.)
Izu saw Takamona beating the shit out of Megumi. It's not to hard to figure out that Megumi isn't so great at fighting hand to hand from that, and from Tsukiko's comments, he can assume that the commander doesn't think much of Megumi's other abilities. Which in turn means whatever she was training or doing it involved mental work, he's not willing to assume Megumi is lazy yet.
I hope that clears things up.
- Location
- Moon-Station
[X] Grin and bear it
- Location
- Leeds
Quicker? She timed that the last time?
Fair enough. Thanks for the benefit of the doubt Izu.
People do that for iaijutsu duels after all. Its a skillhe last time?
- Location
- Leeds
It was the fact that she seems to be able to measure the difference that impresses me.
- Status