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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Mar 19, 2014 23:59:05 GMT
Te follows the newlyweds still chanting verses of the Tao in the language of the dragons (the current one being about courage feeding a mans soul). He hoped he could keep this up, this is the third time he had repeated this verse. The group finally made their way up the stairs to floor where the bridal bed chamber was. Stopping in front of the chamber door Te interposes himself before the couple. "If you would allow me Yasuki-Sama, I would like to purify the chamber so that your first night should pass peacefully" Te says as he bows. "I should be no more than five minutes". Straightening, Te stands and quickly enters the room.
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Bayushi Satomi
Unwanted Betrothed
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 1,080| Likes: 322
Rings: Earth 4 * Fire: 5 *Air 3 * Water 1 * Void 3
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Post by Bayushi Satomi on Mar 20, 2014 11:13:48 GMT
When she looked around and saw no guards in the door, Satomi knew it was a bit too late to act discreetly. Soon the alarm would be given. The party was noisy elsewhere but everything was calm in the corridor. The Kaiu general heard muffled sounds coming from behind a byobu, cautiously she checked the source: a knocked out guard slowly recovering conscience.
A door slid next to her, Satomi instinctively drew her blade, but it was a young Crane face with frightened look.
Konbanwa, young Crane-san.
Konbanwa General Kaiu. Is everything safe around? The girl sounded afraid and clearly thinking she came to help. What was absolutely true, but probably not in the way the girl thought.
I just arrived. What happened? Satomi asked, trying to sound trustable and calm. Two things she wouldn't think about herself today.
I... I don't know I just thought I ... she blushed when about to suppress part of the information ...heard a man attacking the guard.
Uhum... Satomi gave her a scan, deciding if she was defending a Crane in general or Kousei in particular. The girl then, tried to show her willingness to help in an emphatic way, diverting attention of her intention to preserve the powder blue honor in any case.
Moments after everything went silent in this corridor, I thought to come out and alert the Crab clan, but suddenly someone, a woman I guess, passed by... running as if chasing someone. I'm not sure, It was too fast. The Crane pointed out the direction the woman supposedly went.
Checking her mental notes, Satomi understood that, Reiha or not, the woman was taking the opposite direction of the main access for the highest floor of the castle. Would she try to access the upper floor by the balcony of her own room?
When Satomi was deciding what action to take next, she heard the weak sound of a well known sneeze. What the f...! What is he doing here? He's going to get himself killed! I don't believe I'll have two things to be concerned about now!
How long ago, Crane-san?
Two or three minutes ago, Kaiu-sama.
Thank you Crane-san. Keep this door closed. It's safer to be in the room for now. I'll take care of the rest.
Thank you Kaiu-sama.
Satomi didn't really listened to the last words. She decided to intercept Reiha. If she was late, she was trusting Kousei was ahead, and considering he would get his way to the floor Kaneka and Nozomi were, Reiha would need to pass him.
Her main concern was to prevent a murder, but she was concerned with the Hida woman's safety as well. Then, Satomi went after the "running woman".
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Post by Shosuro Himitsu on Mar 20, 2014 12:51:24 GMT
The slow creeping motions of the woman were near silent, feeling the struts and support before ever devoting her weight. The space was cramp and narrow in spots, but she knew how to guide her motions along with the potential perspective of onlookers below, a serpent in the rafters hunting along and keeping her dark vigil. She had slipped into the chamber sometime before the Dragon clanner had entered.
She looked down curiously, confused as her eyes briefly narrowed. This was neither the bride nor the husband, would this be the one she was warned about. A shift and a sharp knife was a claw in her hand, laced with a poison to make the wounded bleed almost endlessly, a good strike untreated could ensure a slow and weary death, just the thing for someone who threatened a man on his wedding night. This was a favor for Chisato. She would recall in her mind, as her senses flexed and her aim fell onto his exposed throat, her arm pulling back.
A sneeze, a tell of the Phoenix, he was close, likely in the next room and not agitated. This man entered without a scuffle, there was muffled discussion though she couldn't tell who. This one was not the one. She let out a restrained breath, and waited.
Granted if there is no assassin, I won't be able to leave as easily as I came... I will stay as long as I must. But that Asako owes me for this. She mused idly as the arm relaxed slowly with the Dragon's breathing pattern.
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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Mar 20, 2014 22:16:27 GMT
Standing inside the silent room Te stretched his senses to their limits. This far from the ground though he was not able to get any assistance from the earth. Unable to hear anything but his own breathing he would have to rely on his eyes. Walking slowly around the room Te checked behind curtains, dressing walls, and even under the bed. Finding nothing he looks upward to the rafters. No good, it is way too dark for him to see anything that far up unless he were to light it up. Since the only way he had to do that was with his own breath, and he certainly didn't want to start a fire that would destroy the building, there was nothing he could do there. He decided to trust what his other senses told him. Casually scattering some water throughout the room he makes his way back to the door.
Opening the door, Te steps through and bows to the couple as they enter the room. Closing the door behind them he turns, drops into a lotus position directly in front of the door, and places his staff across his legs. The guards give dismayed looks to one another, not sure how they should react since they are to guard the door, not the monk. Finally one guard moves into position beside Te, which causes the others to move in a semi-circle around both him and the door.
Te nods slightly to himself, nothing will harm the little sister.
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Moto Arandaru
Unicorn Clan
Posts: 199| Likes: 103
In Kyuden Seppun, eager to find a way to save the Empire!
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Post by Moto Arandaru on Mar 23, 2014 8:01:54 GMT
POSTING AS THE COUPLE AND THE SILHOUETTE
Yasuki Kaneka glances at Kurimuzon Te, as he masterfully "imposes" himself between the couples moment. Kaneka and Nozomi threw a look at the monk, they nodded in respect and turned their gaze at each other. ...And for the first time in this "wedding" they laughed... Nozomi let her first giggle and Kaneka followed suit, so that for the first time would his booming laughter echo amidst the halls.
On the other side of the Kyuden the room of Hida Reiha, the Shogun's wife, was carefully guarded. The personal bodyguards that the Hida family had employed were in a middle of a mix-up. It seemed that somehow, the noon shift was masterfully "misplaced" and got mixed up with the night one.
All this commotion led to a Hida official participate in the moment. A man of low rank that would settle the dispute, given his authority and his duty to do so. The commotion was such however that they produced quite a lot of noise as they bartered for so long.
The rooms that rested nearby the Shogun's room were always filled up with Yasuki bureaucrats and bodyguards, so as to prevent any assassination possible regarding these individuals of note. However, during this time of the commotion, the shoji screen slit open and quickly a silhouette would merely come out and casually stroll its path round the corner of the corridor.
The guards wouldn't be able to notice anything as the quarreled long enough, and the figure wouldn't perform any rapid maneuver just not to give "attention".
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Post by Asako Chisato on Mar 23, 2014 23:06:17 GMT
Chisato wiped his nose, and turns about, "Blasted health, I swear I will never get used to-"
He looks up and is face to face with the silhouette as it rounds the corner. "Oh, hello Hida sama." He bows, and tries to collect his shock at seeing her. He stands back up, "H-how are you doing? How funny it is that I run into you here."
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Bayushi Satomi
Unwanted Betrothed
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 1,080| Likes: 322
Rings: Earth 4 * Fire: 5 *Air 3 * Water 1 * Void 3
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Post by Bayushi Satomi on Mar 24, 2014 1:24:41 GMT
Satomi spotted what she thought to be Reiha, acting suspiciously and tried to predict her next step to get access to the upper floor. Maybe she could intercept the Hida woman in a good moment, and hopefully, she could stop Reiha in time.
Suddenly Chisato was in the corridor with the silhouette she thought to be Reiha, and Satomi knew it wasn't a good thing. The low lit halls weren't exactly helping her to assure the silhouette she was chasing as Reiha's, though.
All she could do was to cover the space between her and the two persons as fast as possible, as she drew her sword again.
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Post by Daidoji Kousei on Mar 24, 2014 19:59:05 GMT
Kousei was about to call out in a whisper to Chisato, but as he heard the words following he held his tongue. Instead he crept forward and round the corner. As he moved out into the corridor in pursuit of the sound, a the figure of Satomi rushed past him at high speed. Moving more slowly, Kousei followed, eyes widening as he saw the people in front of him.
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Moto Arandaru
Unicorn Clan
Posts: 199| Likes: 103
In Kyuden Seppun, eager to find a way to save the Empire!
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Post by Moto Arandaru on Mar 25, 2014 10:57:51 GMT
POSTING AS THE SILHOUETTE, AKA HIDA REIHA
She moved quite swiftly, all the while calculating the chances of bumping into someone by accident. Initially she felt that the command was a "demanding" one, however her body had to cooperate. She didn't feel that anything was wrong for she had been trained for this moment since the early days. The diversion was all that she needed, but now she needed to go up a level. And as she'd turned round the corner, she'd met Chisato...once more.
Her eyes were locked on him, on his visage, but they were dead already. The command in her mind burned with a violent intensity. No one was to block her path. No one. She produced a tanto from underneath her kimono and with velocity she thrust it at Chisato's way.
Her "humane" senses seem to have forced the action to trigger differently as instead of the blade, Chisato's head met with the handle of the weapon. It was more than a flash of light. And the effect didn't seem to have been to intentionally knock the man out of his senses, but merely stall him out of her way.
And her reflexes proved once more inhuman. As if the command had unlocked a greater potential of her brain.
(Action of "disabling" Asako Chisato. Initiation (1) + Hida Bushi School (1) + Sleeper Agent (1) + Rikugunshokan (1) + Ruthless (1) + Fire (3) = 8)
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Bayushi Satomi
Unwanted Betrothed
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 1,080| Likes: 322
Rings: Earth 4 * Fire: 5 *Air 3 * Water 1 * Void 3
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Post by Bayushi Satomi on Mar 25, 2014 16:18:50 GMT
The Crab daimyo killing or knocking out a Phoenix daimyo: not good.
A Crane warrior killing or knocking out the Crab daimyo: not good.
The Crab daimyo trying to kill the brother of the Empress: even worse.
The brother of the Empress killing the Crab daimyo, wife of the Shogun: a nightmare.
Those were the main thoughts in Satomi's mind, and she interposed herself between Reiha and Chisato, her blade on guard, trying to parry the sleeper agent's strike. She wasn't a yojimbo, but she couldn't let Reiha get more problems than she already have, right?
Thing is: how to help someone who doesn't know she needs help?
TAKING CONTROL OF REIHA'S ACTION:
An enemy interposed herself between her and the diversion, their blades slid against each other, causing a sharp screech that pained into her head. Satomi's blade diverted from the short lenght and weaker blade, and barely touched Reiha's body, before her reflexes could push the daimyo back and out of reach. A fine trail of blood followed Reiha's movement in a red arc; it was almost entrancing in its beauty. Reiha felt herself smiling, the pain brought her near the surface, and it almost freed the Hida woman from her horrible task. The cut wasn't as superficial as it seemed at a first glance, though ineffective to its purpose, it it was to "wake up" the kolat agent from her trance. Reiha's tanto, however, never touched the man in "flaming robes". Violence against anyone seemed so tempting... But in the depths of the numbness in her head, she seemed to hear a siren call, strong enough to be a command: she had a target to reach. Her body seemed to move by itself, her training a second nature, and she used her body to push her enemy against her charge. She ignored the pain and rammed forward, to make sure Satomi lose her balance and let her go.
Satomi entangled her feet in the long trail of Chisato's robes, and loose her balance for a moment, stumbling over the Phoenix daimyo and falling over him.
That was enough to Reiha to use the opportunity to escape through the stairs to the upper floor, running and drawing her sword.
---
Satomi looked at disbelief Reiha escaping to the stairs, while the Kaiu woman was trying to get rid of the golden and red silks and tassels and whatnot.
Let me go! She yelled at Chisato, as if he was blamed by the incident with the trail of his robes. putting herself on her feet again, but after some seconds, she was in the track of Reiha once again.
I need to get to her before she reaches Kaneka...!
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Post by Asako Chisato on Mar 26, 2014 19:30:05 GMT
Chisato closed his eyes, waiting for the moment of impact. Instead he heard the shriek of metal against metal, an opened his eyes in time to see the back end of Kaiu Satomi getting barreled over and into Chisato by a now bleeding Crab Champion. The twisting collision was so unexpected he let out a cry, "Oh my!" and then his forehead met the floor with a thwack.
His vision filled with stars and flashes, and he numbly recalled hearing a muted voice cry out as he was getting kicked... the voice was familiar... as if he had experienced that voice before.
He tried to blink, and clear his vision fighting the impulse to take a nap.
-
He opened his eyes with a gasp. He was still on the floor. He struggled to find his footing. He was alone... or so he thought. There was blood on the floor... in a trail, leading upwards. He steeled himself for what must be done, and put one foot forward, determined to follow...
(ooc: now this would be the moment when anyone else that happened to be around, be it a crab guard or kousei, would stop chisato, perhaps. if not, he'll advance upstairs.)
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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Mar 26, 2014 23:54:24 GMT
Upon hearing the yelling and the distinctive sound of metal on metal Te ends his meditation, opens his eyes, and stands. Turning in the direction of the stairs he sees a bloody woman with a drawn sword entering the floor. "Watch the door and each other" he tells the guards "If she means harm and gets past me, you will need to protect Little Sister and her new husband".
Stepping between the stunned guards, Te separates his staff in two, easily settling into the Hiten style. Moving forwards he brings his left hand up to deflect her sword as his right swings toward her head.
OOC: Attempting to disarm and knock out Reiha. Initiator +1, large +1, Mirumoto Bushi +1, Togashi Monk +1, Fire +4 = 8
First time at combat, let me know if I did it wrong. Edit: small change to combat, thanks for the assist Satomi.
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Post by Daidoji Kousei on Mar 27, 2014 0:15:05 GMT
Kousei pounded along the corridor and up the stairs after Satomi, leaping over the prone figure of Chisato as he did so. He felt briefly guilty about leaving his friend on the floor, but stopping the Hida daimyo was more important.
It wasn't far to the wedding chamber, but there was a conspicuous absence of guards. Kousei wondered what had happened to them all, but before he had time to consider it he had caught up with the Kaiu general. In front of them was the bloody figure of Reiha facing off against an enormous Dragon monk that he recognised from earlier as Kurimuzon Te.
Kousei drew his katana, pointed it at the Hida daimyo and yelled. "Stand down Reiha-dono! Think of your child!" He hoped that her maternal instincts might help her fight against the brainwashing.
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Moto Arandaru
Unicorn Clan
Posts: 199| Likes: 103
In Kyuden Seppun, eager to find a way to save the Empire!
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Post by Moto Arandaru on Mar 27, 2014 9:06:30 GMT
POSTING AS HIDA REIHA, THE KOLAT SLEEPER AGENTHer pacing was good as her stamina proved to be quite astounding. Her Hida training assisting her in this dire moment, as Hida Reiha stood between Te the monk and Daidoji Kousei. In this time her mind focused a bit more as her face twitched into a softer serene visage. It was quite apparent that the thought of her child in her belly brought into the surface the trapped emotions, dangling still under the kolat chains. She would allow herself to say something, but didn't do so out of pride. Wasn't she the Shogun's wife? A champion of her own? And in this instant, her mind snapped again as the sleeper's word once again took control of her body and emotions. A red curtain fell in front of lady Crab's eyes. With her tanto drawn, she saw the Dragon closing in. With an abrupt motion he used his technique to disarm her of her weapon. It fell over the wooden floor as it sweeped in arcs. She felt the pain of her deep cut, and she thought of a way out. An information in her head popped-up as she scanned the corners of the corridor. "South-eastern side" she thought. Looking at the top paneling she saw a trio of carps adorning a rice paper wall. If she was "on the surface" she would've hated it altogether. However, her kolat messaging gave her a different kind of information. Yasuki Yashiki was a palace that switched hands quite often. Many a Crane and Crab lord had a chance to walk the palaces fine corridors. They made this place their home, branding it such. The influence of both Clans made an amalgam of a Crane palace and a Crab fort. And such, Reiha wasn't sure as of whom to thank for giving her a chance to escape her opponents, the Crab ingenuity or the cowardice of the Crane... In her mind's plan, she knew that if she darted to the opposite wall, avoiding the Daidoji warrior, she could reach the panel with the protruding Crab lantern. And if she twisted the small crab figurine, she would quickly be out of sight. And thus she began... She darted of to the opposite wall as the monk gave her a strong hit throwing her off-balance. She swerved as she put her hands around the carved lantern. She looked at the Daidoji as he was quite close of her. And she was about to twist the figurine... ((OOC: Te, you got a chance to finely disarm Reiha ( ) thus forcing her to retreat (the plot isn't through however!) Kousei, it is your chance to stop Reiha. One action before she vanishes. The plot is going really fine guys! Keep it up!))
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Post by Daidoji Kousei on Mar 27, 2014 22:24:02 GMT
Cherry blossoms fall As wind rushes through the night. They nourish the soil.
The poem came into Kousei's mind as he breathed in and out. Once... twice... his decision was made. Almost of it's own volition his blade leapt through the air, arcing towards the Hida daimyo's hands clasped around the carved lantern.
(OOC: Fire 4 + Daidoji bushi + Shireikan + Kensai + initiator = 8)
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