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Post by Shiba Kaigen on Jun 6, 2014 18:13:49 GMT
Kaigen sat up relatively late, as was his custom... but with no particular duties or soldiers requiring clarification, he found the time passing slowly.
Almost makes me wish I had a taste for pillow books. Almost.
He was a long time falling asleep.
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Jun 6, 2014 20:27:07 GMT
The following morning a servant came to wake Kaigen a bit before sunrise, bringing breakfast. Kasumi was ready just after sunrise. "Ready to go," she asked Kaigen, "we'll take one of the smaller passes. It's faster than taking the detour to the big pass and big enough for just two people."
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on Jun 7, 2014 0:51:00 GMT
And who knows, some cretinous bandits may think two people on a side road are easy pickings, allowing us the supreme catharsis of chopping them into little pieces. I can hardly wait!
The Phoenix samurai popped his knuckles, then shot his horse a warning glare.
Back astride that spine-torturing monstrosity. What joy!
"Ready as I'll ever be."
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Jun 7, 2014 7:43:49 GMT
Kasumi lead on as she knew the way through these mountains like the back of her hand. It had been one of the few things that had diffentiated Kasumi from her twin sister, who didn't have the ability to find her way back no matter where she was. For Kasumi it was so natural that she was always surprised when other people didn't have it.
This time she would take another of the small passes then last time she had been in the capital, as she didn't have to pass the temple of Benten this time. Somehow she didn't think that would be something for Kaigen.
"I hope you brought something warm, Shiba-san," she said as they climbed, "we'll be going quite high on this pass and it can get chilly up there. But it has a magnificent view."
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on Jun 7, 2014 10:08:59 GMT
"Shiro Shiba can be quite frigid... and some tricks never leave you."
Granted, I haven't been there in years, but one of the many delights of military service is that you get plenty of practice at being cold, wet, and miserable.
Wait, did she say something about a view?
He steeled himself for yet another sweeping panoramic vista. On some level, he knew he should still have the capacity to be awed by it, but years of tramping over mountains and across valleys had rendered Kaigen's ability to appreciate scenery highly suspect.
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Jun 7, 2014 21:39:47 GMT
They rode on for most of the day, arriving late at the top of the pass, where there was a small plateau. It was clear that they weren't the first to make camp here, although at the moment there was nobody else. The sun was just setting as they had set up their tents. "here we will stay," Kasumi said, "it's the only spot where it's safe to make camp on this pass. And this is the view I was talking about." With the setting sun there appeared to be a corona around two mountains a bit further, as if they were surrounded by light. Kasumi would come here as often as her duties permitted as she always found the view inspiring to write some poetry.
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on Jun 8, 2014 4:08:52 GMT
Those would be a bastard to cross. Especially with that light in your eyes. Steep slopes, but no water- a death trap on the defensive, and an easy siege on offense. Hardly worth all the marching, but when has that ever stopped anyone?
...
My spine is killing me.
Perhaps I'll simply drive my horse over a cliff tomorrow and say it was an accident.
But then I would have to slow down Tsuruchi-san, and that would be rude.
Oh, right.
"That looks... nice."
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Jun 8, 2014 14:07:19 GMT
Kasumi looked at Kaigen. She had expected a bit more of a reaction, but then again, not everybody likes nature, she thought. The following morning she warned Kaigen that now they had to go downhill, so to be careful, as one misstep could mean a deep dive into a ravine.
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on Jun 8, 2014 16:21:49 GMT
Hear that, you four-legged atrocity? I may not even have to arrange anything for us to be rid of one another!
Kaigen maintained his usual sparkling level of conversation during their descent.
Yes, without doubt, after this collaboration, the Mantis and Phoenix will be at war again within a week! Truly, your diplomatic gifts know no bounds!
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Jun 8, 2014 17:14:13 GMT
Kasumi moved out slowly. Luckily she had taken this pass before and she knew its dangers. She made sure to give Kaigen warnings at those spots where things were dangerous. They arrived at the bottom of the pass near the evening. "Just about two hours longer there is a magistrate post," Kasumi said to Kaigen, "there we will also have a better road to get to Kyuden Seppun. Two more days and we're there."
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on Jun 9, 2014 4:15:21 GMT
Two more days this poor woman has to put up with my charming demeanor and scintillating wit.
Emerald Magistrates certainly earn the respect they're accorded.
"One can only hope they are as uneventful as our journey thus far."
Or that this accursed equestrian beast finds a tiger to be eaten by. Tiger or a bear, I'm not picky.
"Of course, the last time I saw Kyuden Seppun, it was under... less than ideal circumstances."
An army of Lost, Oni, Goblins and that sort of thing hardly give a place any kind of pleasant atmosphere.
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Jun 9, 2014 13:54:17 GMT
"Indeed, as some of those letters are quite important," Kasumi said, pointing at her message bag. She looked at him. "I think you should adjust your stirrups a bit," she said, "like this it has to be uncomfortable. See, like me, you have to be able to stretch your legs more." It had to have been uncomfortable if he had been riding like this from the yasuki castle.
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on Jun 10, 2014 7:31:48 GMT
"Perhaps. More likely, I am just ill-suited to horsemanship."
It doesn't help that I find the creatures smelly, repulsive, and occasionally dangerous. Might as well ride a bakemono.
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Jun 10, 2014 9:35:06 GMT
"It's not my favourite either," Kasumi admitted, "but it still beats walking." They moved on and soon they were out of the mountains and finding themselves on a better road as well. Now the trip went more smoothly. A patrol of Ikoma Roadwardens they encountered let them pass without a word when they saw kasumi's emerald magistrate chop.
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on Jun 10, 2014 17:27:07 GMT
Kaigen kept his peace.
Now with those stirrup modifications, my lower back no longer suffers quite as much anguish.
Allowing me to focus on the chafing along my inner thighs and the bruising on my tailbone.
Truly, the Unicorn cannot be human.
It didn't help that the presence of the Ikoma indicated that the province as almost certainly nauseatingly safe.
Say what you like about the Lion, they tend to be thorough.
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