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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Sept 9, 2014 1:28:21 GMT
Te stepped to the side of doorway. He knew that his size usually scared children and he did not want to be the reason she wouldn't come out. Heightening his hearing once again he was able to hear the child inside the old temple.
"She is there" he whispered, which for him meant that everyone should have been able to hear him for at least a full block. "I can hear her talking to herself."
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Post by The Storyteller on Sept 9, 2014 1:54:01 GMT
Akko showed herself cautiously, and stood in front of the trio studying them carefully. After a while, she took two steps back, keeping a suspicious look towards the monk. A Woman in Green, a Tattooed Monk and a Duelist… Exactly as in my dream. After saying that, the young heimin girl bowed to them respectfully. The… after a pause, she choose carefully the word, she already knew the importance of making the right claims, wind talks to me, and sometimes show me things in my dreams, -samas. They think I'm crazy, but I'm not. I foresaw the awakening of a great evil. I don't know much, in my dreams I always see the woman in green, the monk and the man with the sword… We are in front of a Chime of Purity, about to read something that will change everything, will show us how to prevent this black wind of death to take over Rokugan… And that's all, I can't see anything else. She watched their reactions expectantly, then added: If you three think I'm crazy, then I truly am. I was waiting for you and if you bring my death, then I finally join my family in Meido, no regrets as I did my part.
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Kakita Sojiro
Crane Clan
Posts: 26| Likes: 13
Rings: Fire 5
Air 4
Void 3
Earth 3
Water 1
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Post by Kakita Sojiro on Sept 9, 2014 6:28:56 GMT
Sojiro walked over to her and crouched down like he was before, so he was eye level with her again. "I'm not going to let anyone hurt you Akko-chan, and I don't think you're crazy. Touched by the Winds perhaps, but not crazy." He didn't mention that in his experience, those touched by the Winds or Fortunes usually ended up crazy. By the Fortunes, she was just a kid... "That is a promise. But in return for that promise, I need something from you. You know the Daimyo has forbidden you to go near the chimes, and defying him is very dangerous. So, I'll make a bargain with you. If you promise not to go near the chimes and defy the Daimyo, I promise that I will go to them for you, and I'll keep you safe from the people who think you're crazy. Do we have a deal, little one?"Being that he usually thought with his stomach, another thought crossed Sojiro's mind. His brows knitted together inquisitively."When was the last time you ate?"(OOC Note: I'm not entirely sure if chan is the right suffix here. I was trying to learn what suffix is used for a girl child that an adult is fond of, like how an uncle would address his favorite niece, but chan is the only thing that came close to that. If it's not, assume that I used the right one. Also, Sojiro's going to end up adopting this kid )
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Sept 9, 2014 9:47:10 GMT
Kasumi was thinking over the child's words. A great evil could be a lot of things, but in combination with what happened at the Dawn Tower, she had to be careful. Maybe it was Wall-honed paranoia talking, but she wanted the have the child checked out for taint. Unfortunately none of the people present where shugenja, although maybe Te could check. "Can you see if she's tainted, Te-san," she whispered to him while Sojiro and Akko were distracted, "just to be sure."
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Post by The Storyteller on Sept 9, 2014 11:44:39 GMT
Akko reflected about Sojiro words (or so she acted like doing it), then whispered so only Sojiro could hear: You and the woman have someone to help you just this time. Jizo's Mercy is upon your lady Phoenix and Mariko's sister… They will guide you for Emma-O permitted so. The monk… Akko seemed to choose words carefully. His hands are stained in blood... I don't think he has someone to guide him. She didn't really give a direct reply to his proposal, but when the Crane asked about when was the last time she had a meal, Akko's reply was quite frank: About five minutes ago actually, sama. She then reached out for her pack and produced a bento from there, and offeried it to them with two hands. It's not much left, but if you three don't mind to share, please be welcome.
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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Sept 10, 2014 0:35:12 GMT
Looking to Kasumi Te responds "I've only ever felt the touch of Taint on one person so I do not know if I could be trusted to make a proper diagnosis. I will try though."
Stretching out his senses one more time he felt for the same sort of darkness he felt with Nozomi. After many minutes he ceased his attempt and dropped to one knee. While the void tattoo did not drain him like some of his others he had used it extensively today. "I sense nothing with her, other than what I would expect from a young lady that is."
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Sept 10, 2014 5:45:13 GMT
Kasumi had heard the last remark from Akko. "No, little one," she said, "he meant that we would provide you with some food."
She nodded to Te when he was done, but then she saw the fatigue. "You okay," she asked, "maybe some food is not a bad idea after all."
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Kakita Sojiro
Crane Clan
Posts: 26| Likes: 13
Rings: Fire 5
Air 4
Void 3
Earth 3
Water 1
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Post by Kakita Sojiro on Sept 10, 2014 18:10:18 GMT
Akko's words hit Sojiro like a brick. The color drained from his face at the mention of his "Lady Phoenix". Memories of his time with Eiko ran through his mind. He hadn't talked about Agasha Eiko in a long time. Even years later, many of those memories were still raw. If there was any doubt in his mind about Akko, it was gone now. There was no way the child could have known about... that.
He came back to reality a few moments later to the sight of Akko holding out a half eaten bento to him, and started chuckling. The blood returned to his face as he did so.
"Thank you little one, but I am alright. I just wanted to make sure you had eaten." He sighed, clearing his mind and shaking of the memories off his lost love and the life they almost had. Dwelling on the past wouldn't change it.
"I know that three of the chimes have been moved to the Crane, Dragon, and Unicorn embassies. Is the last one still here?"
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Sept 10, 2014 19:24:47 GMT
"The chimes will be moved, Kakita-san," Kasumi corrected, "I don't think they have been moved already. There will be a ceremony and then they will move them."
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Kakita Sojiro
Crane Clan
Posts: 26| Likes: 13
Rings: Fire 5
Air 4
Void 3
Earth 3
Water 1
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Post by Kakita Sojiro on Sept 11, 2014 1:26:06 GMT
"Well then, I suppose that means we still have time to get this taken care of relatively simply, as long as we know where the other three temples are." He scowls for a second. "I really should have bought a map when I arrived here."
The scowl vanishes and he turns to enter the temple ruins. "Akko-chan, you mentioned something called the garden of blood. What is this place?"
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Kakita Sojiro
Crane Clan
Posts: 26| Likes: 13
Rings: Fire 5
Air 4
Void 3
Earth 3
Water 1
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Post by Kakita Sojiro on Sept 11, 2014 6:21:13 GMT
(We're not going to have the rest of the group for a few days, so this seems like a good time for character interaction)
Adjusting the strap of the biwa slung over his back, Sojiro again noticed Kasumi's katana. Perhaps it genuinely seemed more important to him this time, or perhaps his mind was just desperate for something else to focus on besides old memories. He wasn't sure, and didn't really care. He turned to address her, the jade bead at the end of the braided white lock of hair bouncing off the tip of his nose as he did so.
"That is a rather distinctive katana. Kakita blades generally aren't found outside of my clan, and even among other Crane families they are given only to those we greatly admire and respect, not just as warriors but as people. I would love to hear the story of how it found it's owner."
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Sept 11, 2014 8:06:59 GMT
"Oh, that's easy," Kasumi said, "my mother was Kakita before she married my father and when she died, her katana passed to me."
OOC: sounds good.
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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Sept 13, 2014 13:39:19 GMT
"I will be fine" Te responded to Kasumi, "it's been a long day."
"Thank you for the offer little one, I think I need more than you have there though. Why don't we go to my inn? It's quiet and you can tell us more about these visions while we all eat, such as when you first started to get them." While he was addressing the child he overheard slightly the conversation between Kasumi and the new boy.
With what he learned earlier in the day why should it surprise him that the only one here he trusted right now was the child?
"I also do not know my way around the city. Kasumi, can you guide us to the Old Hare?
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Sept 14, 2014 8:20:55 GMT
Again Kasumi was surprised at the ability of people to get lost. She never got lost, no matter where she was. The Dawn Tower had been close, but there had been supernatural influence, so that didn't count. She was sure she could find her way to the city without any problem. "No problem," she said, "I always know where I am."
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Post by The Storyteller on Sept 15, 2014 19:43:54 GMT
Tucking her bento back in her backpack, the young girl looked a bit confused at the exchange of words about the location of the chimes. Accepting the monk's suggestion as wise, Akko followed with them to the Old Hare inn, where she proceeded to answer the questions, in a very clear and adultlike manner. My mother was Hariko, concubine to Isawa Moriyasu-sama. We travelled from Phoenix to Otosan Uchi as part of his retinue, in a Phoenix delegation for some important matter in the Seppun estates… Whatever was meant to happen was interrupted by the attack to Otosan Uchi, the fire and all the rest. My mother and I managed to survive, though she was badly injured… the girl took a deep breath before continuing, I looked for help, and heard that my… master, Moriyasu-sama, was alive. They gave me directions, I hurried to find him in the hope he could help my dying mother, but the man I finally met wasn't Moriyasu-sama, but an imposter. That's the first time I heard a voice in my head: Moriyasu-sama's "true voice". He told me the man was a blood sorcerer, and that I should run; I did it. The man ran after me, knowing I would tell away his farce. He was powerful and I knew I'd die.
But I fell into a pit. A narrow pit in the ruins of the city. I felt the true Moriyasu-sama's presence protecting me, but the sorcerer took his time to torture me the way he could, through the hole I was in. He returned from time to time, sometimes throwing putrid parts of corpses on me, or disposed water, saying he would keep me there and use me to feed monsters… I was starving, maybe dying, and had no hope of escaping from the false Moriyasu's sadistic game. But all the time I could hear Moriyasu-sama's voice providing me solace, telling me to resist for my destiny was greater than dying like that. One day, the false Moriyasu-sama didn't come to mock and torture me. My relief was replaced by the notion I was left to die by myself; he probably was either tired of the game, or something else happened to him.
I don't know how long I was there. I was too weak to be awake all the time. One day I woke up, a soft hum crossing the air, like sweet song s of hope. That day, a soldier of the Wolf Legion found me. When I felt the first whiff of fresh air in all that time, the experience came along voices, whispers… Men's, women's… And that's how the things are since then. I listen to them, the dead. To be true, most of them died in horrible ways, by Bloodspeakers' hands… but not always. That's how I discovered my mother was dead, when I heard her voice talking to me. I don't know why it happen, nor why I was the chosen. It simply is as it is, I must Now I live near the castle: sometimes I help in the kitchen of the Fat Frog Ramen Shop, and sometimes I help the florist in his shop or house for some zeni, but "there's an overabundance of excellent lordless servants looking for job in Kyuden Seppun", that's what they say, -samas. Looking to them while taking some time to recover from the story that, certainly, was fresh in her mind, Akko continued:
I started having those dreams some months ago, and hearing to voices in the wind; northern winds carry the voices speaking of a Garden of Blood, and they speak of a Wind of Pestilence that will blow from the Garden of Blood. I can't ask them things. They speak what they wish, that's all. I know they say the truth.
Well, that's the same story I told to Seppun Kiharu-tono, but he said I am a little girl wishing for some attention, after making sure I wasn't contamined by the taint. The monks studied "my case", and said it' not possible I'm saying the truth, it goes against the "laws of Seven Realms" but I don't know that much to argument with them. He said Moriyasu-sama is alive and in the Phoenix lands, and my farce could be easily revealed. Although I said him to let me see the Chimes of Purity so the voices would speak to me again, he was advised against it. They said once someone tried to contaminate the bells… Or that, in the lesser of the evils, the daimyo would look as a fool in the case I was only faking to be a "prophetess". When I tried to break in I was detained, then sent away with the promise I'd die if I come closer to one of the Chimes of Purity again.
After this long soliloquy, Akko sighed, and asked for water, before simply stating.
Even if they listen to me, I do not wish to be a "prophetess".
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