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Post by Kakita Kanehitsu on May 8, 2014 16:18:53 GMT
Spring at the Kakita Academy meant that everyone was busy. It was a time for gempukku ceremonies and for new students. The main establishment of the Academy, and its many branches were nearly overwhelmed with incoming requests for last minute admittances as people from all over the empire lobbied to have their children come to the place where they would receive the absolute best art training in the entire empire. The halls were full of servants and samurai walking past each other on some errand or another. Nobody could just sit around.
It was in this mode of transport that Kanehitsu found himself when he happened upon one of the Academy's many gardens. Even though the winter snows had melted the whole place seemed under it own special layer of white. Sakura trees were in bloom and their delicate pink-white petals were swirling all about. Here and there other plants were coated with the falling flurries and Kanehitsu took a moment to be fascinated by the ever changing patterns born from the seeming chaos of tiny little flower petals flying in the air. For a moment he rolled a poem or two around in his head without properly composing anything. Perchance he would bring some of his students here tonight for a proper hanami party.
In anticipation of this new plan he took a moment from his myriad duties and stepped out of the open hallway into the garden and took time enough to simply admire the beauty of nature.
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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 May 8, 2014 16:28:42 GMT
Hatosenshi leaned heavily on his walking stick, his eyes lingering over the gardens.
The winter had been especially hard this year, cutting through the stone and bones of old samurai. The sweet scent of cherry blossoms filled the air, a gentle fragrance that one too easily grew accustomed to. The pebbled walk ways were inlaid with swirling patterns and stones, the subtle designs guiding one deeper into the gardens.
The familiar clack of stick on stone, echoed far too loudly, disturbing the tranquility of the gardens. Hatosenshi walked until he found a stone bench inset into a dais, surrounded by bushes. Seating himself, he called out gently, "Greetings, Kanehitsu-san. Have you partaken of Inari's blessing this morning?"
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Post by Kakita Kanehitsu on May 8, 2014 16:39:25 GMT
Kanehitsu absentmindedly snapped his fan open. He usually liked to have his fan fully displayed when talking to other members of the Academy. It helped him have some sort of prop he could fool with while talking to staff and he felt it made him more authoritative when speaking with students.
He turned and noted the...not frail, but rather gentle form of the Broken Wing Sensei. He bowed politely.
"Hatosenshi-senpai! I had not heard you were back at the academy yet. Welcome back. I have partaken of rice this morning, thank you for your concern. Has your winter been bearable? It was quite cold."
Kanehitsu waved his fan a little lazily, fanning himself despite the lack of heat.
"Say, I have a project I'm working on and I'd think you could be most helpful. Have you heard about the trial at Yasuki Yashiki? It was an amazing display of Crab personality. I think my students are still drafting short plays on the subject. However, the most exciting part was the result for one Kaiu- er, Bayushi Satomi."
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Doji Hatosenshi
Kougataribe
Global Moderator
Posts: 145| Likes: 42
“We tell the tale of heroes to remind ourselves that we also can be great.”
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Post by Doji Hatosenshi on May 8, 2014 16:46:00 GMT
Hatosenshi gestured to the spare seat on the bench. "I am tired and old, much as I was a year ago when we last met. Every winter, the Frost Dragon growls a little harder, and my bones shake a little more."
The Crane pondered for a moment before shaking his head. "I'm afraid, I have no recollection of this trial. However, Satomi-san is known to me, and I would venture to call us friends, once upon a time." With a bow, Hatosenshi continuted. "Perhaps you could fill me in?"
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Post by Kakita Kanehitsu on May 8, 2014 17:01:56 GMT
Kanehiotsu took a seat by the revered teacher and began his story.
"Well, it seems there was a goodly amount of confusion at the wedding of Yasuki Kaneka. Heroics took place and the Empress' brother was saved, but there was doubt cast on the role of one Hida Reiha. Based on the testimonies, there could have been kolat, or maho involved fairly heavily, perhaps both. In the end it seems to have not mattered though.
"Hida Reiha was in fact a kolat puppet and she tried to fulfill her hidden agenda right in front of the whole courtroom. Seemingly under some strange mental influence she outright attacked Yasuki Kaneka! But what's more, Kaneka, warrior that he is, managed to defend himself and end her life, may she rest with the fortunes. This left the Crab with no champion and the Shogun, Hida Kuon declared that Kaiu Satomi should be the new champion. This would have gone over quite well if the Asako daimyo had not been present and revealed that Kaiu Satomi was born into the Scorpion!
"Needless to say, there was more than enough confusion to be had. That is, until Bayushi Sunetra made her entrance! The Scorpion Champion backed the Asako daimyo's claims and Satomi has decided to embrace her Bayushi heritage. So now, the Crab are outed of a great general and a champion, while the Scorpion have someone who knows the Wall up and down. It's worth an entire play to tell the tale properly."
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Doji Hatosenshi
Kougataribe
Global Moderator
Posts: 145| Likes: 42
“We tell the tale of heroes to remind ourselves that we also can be great.”
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Post by Doji Hatosenshi on May 13, 2014 21:45:12 GMT
Hatosenshi raised a single eyebrow as Kanehiotsu finished his summery.
"How...unexpected." Hatosenshi smiled slightly as he considered the potential. "And most unexpectedly, which I'm sure you simply did not recall, the Scorpion now have removed more support from the Shogun, and placed it in their hands. How convenient that it simply did not come out before that."
The white-haired Crane stretched out his lame leg, feeling the muscles tense and crack. "It seems you would need more research if you were to write the play, yes?"
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Post by Kakita Kanehitsu on May 15, 2014 18:14:13 GMT
A chuckle from Kanehitsu.
"Hatosenshi-senpai I can always use more research. However I usually have my students do the grunt work. I suppose if there were someone who I trusted I could be persuaded to treat their information with some attention. In general though you seem to be correct. I am not as skilled as some at interpreting information as I am at gathering it. I would love to hear any insights you might have."
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Doji Hatosenshi
Kougataribe
Global Moderator
Posts: 145| Likes: 42
“We tell the tale of heroes to remind ourselves that we also can be great.”
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Post by Doji Hatosenshi on May 22, 2014 21:14:47 GMT
Hatosenshi smiled.
"Researching a story is always excellent. I've been looking for an excuse to visit the Kaiu Wall, and Satomi-san is known to me. It would do my heart good to visit with her. Of course, I could always do your research for you at the same time. Who better to research a story, then a sensei of storytellers?"
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Post by Kakita Kanehitsu on May 27, 2014 0:19:58 GMT
"Hatosenshi-senpai, I think you should go and visit Satomi, although she won't be at the Wall. She has taken upon her the visage of a mask now. She is, in fact, Bayushi Satomi now."
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