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Post by Shiba Kaigen on Jan 22, 2014 16:14:34 GMT
Kaigen made directly for the temple, where he quietly mentioned to a monk that violence might very soon sully the Temple District, and to get any loyal servants of the Throne clear of the Shrine.
Katsuro's progress was easy enough- but the darkness of the alleyway their target had chosen was unnaturally hard for nearby sources of light to penetrate.
As Hatosenshi drew closer, he noticed much the same- the alleyway was as dark as a mineshaft. The woman's voice that echoed out as the Crane drew near was playfully seductive.
"My, my, such ardent Samurai... it has been some time since I... entertained... three men at once, but I am sure you will not be disappointed."
Something rustled in the darkness.
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Post by Bayushi Katsuro on Jan 22, 2014 18:00:43 GMT
Approaching from the rear of the alley, Katsuro's eyes had adjusted to the darkness well enough to see the woman, having cut a shallow gash in her left arm. As the maho-tsukai flicked blood from her knife at Shiba Kaigen, the Scorpion threw his own knife in her direction. In the darkness, the thrown knife struck a drop of black blood in mid-flight with a nearly inaudible splish--deflecting the curse from its target, before coming to rest embedded in a wooden post near the other two samurai.
The Phoenix is too useful to die just yet, thought Katsuro.
Unfortunately, the Scorpion had not accounted for the woman's accomplices....
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on Jan 22, 2014 18:54:10 GMT
A forgivable oversight, as they weren't even remotely human.
Several large rats, many of them showing exposed bone which had worn through their hides, swarmed out of the alleyway toward the being which had dared interfere with their mistress' work. Their squeals held an element of laughter.
Kaigen drew the tanto from his obi and hurled it into the darkness, aiming for the sound of the tsuaki's laughter.
"Not good enough, Shiba!"
Her tone grew both more shrill and somehow... more familiar.
"Have you forgotten your family's oath?"
She made another incision on her arm, this time letting the blood simply well out as she pointed at the Phoenix.
"Kneel before Isawa Haruko, fool!"
Kaigen gritted his teeth as he felt the foul magic assaulting his will... he did not kneel, but he could not advance against her. His grip on his naginata, held in his left hand, grew white-knuckled.
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Doji Hatosenshi
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“We tell the tale of heroes to remind ourselves that we also can be great.”
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Post by Doji Hatosenshi on Jan 23, 2014 0:07:35 GMT
The telltale thud of a knife in wood, triggered the kakita fast reactions of Hatosenshi. His katana came out, held in steady hands, and his foot came forward into a Kakita bushi stance.
However, Hatosenshi was not a bushi. He was experienced in dueling, and had seen some combat. However, he had never experienced a combat on a croweded street, especially one with new stone roading. Stones that were loose. That if you stepped your lame leg on, could give a proper Crane samurai, quite the ignoble tumble.
White hair over blue armor, Hatosenshi went sprawling out across the road as the stones gave way under his bad leg.
Luckily, the very clumsy fall and roll removed Hatosenshi from the whistling path of the tanto that had been coming at his head from behind. He might not be a bushi, but he was very lucky.
Hatosenshi staggered to his feet, katana at the ready. The two attackers looked on, reservation written in their eyes. Either this wounded Crane was one of the most uncanny swordsmen over, or he was blessed by the fortunes and very very lucky...
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Post by Bayushi Katsuro on Jan 23, 2014 16:22:35 GMT
Katsuro cursed as he kicked at the foul rats swarming around him, trying to avoid their filthy bites. When a particularly bold rat snapped at his hand, the Scorpion flung it bodily at the maho-tsukai. The writhing, squeaking projectile struck her in the back, distracting her attention from Shiba Kaigen for a fraction of a second.
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on Jan 23, 2014 20:35:30 GMT
Isawa Haruko's eyes went wide in horror as she felt the spell slip- and then Kaigen was in motion, his naginata leveled at her midsection. She frantically tried to parry the strike, but a tanto in the hands of a slender woman proved insufficient to deflect a naginata with the weight of an armored, charging bushi behind it. The shock of the impact drove her back against the wall of the alleyway, her expression one of agonized shock.
The rats swarming around Katsuro seemed to almost deflate, like paper lanterns in a heavy rain, as the kansen bound into them departed, leaving shriveled corpses and little else.
Which left the two thugs facing Hatosenshi... and the dying maho-tsukai, who glared hatefully at Kaigen... whose own face betrayed hints of a dawning recognition as he warily eyed the dying woman.
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Doji Hatosenshi
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“We tell the tale of heroes to remind ourselves that we also can be great.”
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Post by Doji Hatosenshi on Jan 23, 2014 20:48:14 GMT
Hatosenshi moved his katana to an attack stance, took one step towards the thugs only to realize that he had no idea how to fight two men at once.
The thugs read the hesitation, and with a single united movement lunged towards Hatosenshi, intent on seeing the Crane bleed out in the street.
Hatosenshi parried the first tanto with ease, and with a smooth circular step to the left, promptly stepped on the same loose stone, yet again.
Another ignoble tumble. This time, Hatosenshi realized he would not get up in time to avoid the second man...
The gleaming blade of the tanto whistled down...
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on Jan 23, 2014 21:00:03 GMT
... only to go wide, as its wielder sprouted a thrown wakizashi from his chest. The thug blinked stupidly at the sword as he stumbled away from the Crane.
Kaigen, still pivoting from the throw, stepped on Haruko's sternum to yank his naginata free with his left hand.
He gave a slight wince at her pained moan, but only a slight one. He had enemies to kill.
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Doji Hatosenshi
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“We tell the tale of heroes to remind ourselves that we also can be great.”
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Post by Doji Hatosenshi on Jan 23, 2014 21:14:40 GMT
Hatosenshi leaped to his feet, grasping the hilt of his katana in both hands. With a quick step and a slash, Hatosenshi disembowled the remaining thug, sending blood and entrails over the stone road.
Wiping the blade off before sheathing his blade, Hatosenshi turned and moved towards the alley.
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Post by Bayushi Katsuro on Jan 23, 2014 22:25:27 GMT
The fight having ended, Bayushi Katsuro stepped gingerly over the shriveled remains of the rat creatures, to meet the other two samurai over the body of Isawa Haruko. The Scorpion eyed Kaigen speculatively, having noticed the look of recognition exchanged between the two Phoenix, but he said only, "Well fought. The Empire is better off for a maho-tsukai being removed from it."
"The woman had this on her," Katsuro added, holding up a small pouch. "It has...unclean things in it. With your permission, I would deliver the contents to...certain persons I know of that specialize in safely disposing of such things."
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on Jan 23, 2014 23:52:07 GMT
Kaigen strode over to the dying thug who had his wakizashi and ripped the blade out of the man's chest, then rejoined his fellows peered down at Haruko's body for a moment, then nodded.
"I will have the monks get some eta to clean this atrocity up. Perhaps the Crab could be prevailed upon to send a Kuni to attend to... those..."
He nodded at the rat carcasses.
Your name wasn't Haruko when I knew you, Mariko. Clearly, a lot has changed since your gempukku.
"I will need to inform my Clan of the identity of this Tsukai."
And I will pray that you find more wisdom in your next incarnation, Mariko.
"By the way, Bayushi-sama... you have an excellent throwing arm for a courtier. I am grateful."
And watching you.
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Post by Bayushi Katsuro on Jan 24, 2014 1:25:11 GMT
The Scorpion bowed. "You are kind to say so, Shiba-gunso, but I must admit that my knife never came close to striking her." Ruefully, Katsuro removed his throwing knife from the wooden post it had become embedded in. "We were fortunate that you were so quick with your naginata, or who knows what might have happened."
"Where do you suppose this woman came from? I do not recall seeing her among the Phoenix delegation at court. But perhaps she is here unofficially, neh?"
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on Jan 24, 2014 2:24:14 GMT
"Her relationship with her family has always been... troubled. I would not be surprised to discover that she had either been cast out or presumed dead prior to tonight."
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Doji Hatosenshi
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“We tell the tale of heroes to remind ourselves that we also can be great.”
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Post by Doji Hatosenshi on Jan 24, 2014 18:04:14 GMT
Hatosenshi limped over towards the two men and the corpse. He looked sadly at the dead woman.
"I suppose this isn't a story I'll be telling. Especially the part about falling twice."
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on Jan 24, 2014 18:12:02 GMT
"You can tell what you please, Doji-san."
After all, everybody else will.
Judging by the sound, members of the Legion, members of the Lion City Guard, and a few others were inbound.
"But we had probably best see to cleansing... combat is a filthy business."
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