Post by The Storyteller on Oct 8, 2014 11:48:51 GMT
Akko was now completely overwhelmed; disoriented with the questionings, with the disbelief. She looked at she was defeated. Yet she was fiery; this trait alone made her destined to die early in a place as Rokugan.
I am a simple heimin with a divine mission, and you all are samurai… even the Dragon monk is from samurai-born elite. Yet, the stories I was told about your right of ruling, your Kami ancestors, the stories of glory and absence of fear and great feats, … they don't seem true in reality, only legends of old days gone. Every one of you… and this she said to the ones next to her: the Woman in Green, the Monk and the Duelist, knew someone who sacrificed themselves fearlessly in front of your eyes, to do what was right… Either they lost their lives, or lost their sanity.
But some of you… Are paralyzed by little fears.
To the ones next to her, a freezing breeze seemed to surround her young body. Akko shrunk in fear and even pain; and covered her ears, falling to her knees.
Now she wasn’t talking to them anymore; but to something or someone only she could see or hear.
I've…failed… I didn't deserve your infinite mercy. All my life I asked… asked you … the opportunity of doing something… IMPORTANT! she mumbled and cried. A strange transformation was taking her body: the beautiful girl-woman became paler and emaciated at every second. The Seppun guards formed a circle around her and her "friends", unsheathed swords. Shugenja were hastily called, tension filled the air while they observed unsure about the threat on Akko's unnatural transformation; then she coiled on herself, sobbing weakly. I'm glad you believed I could, my Holy Lady Jizo. You pleaded for my life, but I return to Emma-O's dominions for I've failed to make them hear…
With a gasp, she opened her eyes for the last time, and whispered her last "prophecy" to Kurimuzon Te, the one who promised to join her without hesitation:
... The Chuda family is reborn... The man who killed me… is its daimyo. A woman in despair… Will repeat the acts of Tamihei… Dragon will suffer…
---
Akko was dead, her body reduced to bones and flesh and bruises, as if she suffered a long period of starving and agony. The Asahina and Seppun shugenja came, but it was too late. They examined the bell, the pavilion, the three Akko's defenders, and then and lastly, Akko's body. Their tsangusuri and other methods didn't detect any taint, but the pavilion was closed and had their guard reinforced, and orders to have it made to the other three bells were dispatched.
Jade Magistrates were called to take over the case.
The three living "friends" of the girl Akko were taken to be checked for taint and give their testimonies on the case. In the likely case they said exactly what happened, their involvement with Akko and her astonishing story was considered no issue at all.
Later, the news confirmed that the Ceremony of Chimes was scheduled to take place in the next day, in spite of rumors saying otherwise.
I am a simple heimin with a divine mission, and you all are samurai… even the Dragon monk is from samurai-born elite. Yet, the stories I was told about your right of ruling, your Kami ancestors, the stories of glory and absence of fear and great feats, … they don't seem true in reality, only legends of old days gone. Every one of you… and this she said to the ones next to her: the Woman in Green, the Monk and the Duelist, knew someone who sacrificed themselves fearlessly in front of your eyes, to do what was right… Either they lost their lives, or lost their sanity.
But some of you… Are paralyzed by little fears.
To the ones next to her, a freezing breeze seemed to surround her young body. Akko shrunk in fear and even pain; and covered her ears, falling to her knees.
Now she wasn’t talking to them anymore; but to something or someone only she could see or hear.
I've…failed… I didn't deserve your infinite mercy. All my life I asked… asked you … the opportunity of doing something… IMPORTANT! she mumbled and cried. A strange transformation was taking her body: the beautiful girl-woman became paler and emaciated at every second. The Seppun guards formed a circle around her and her "friends", unsheathed swords. Shugenja were hastily called, tension filled the air while they observed unsure about the threat on Akko's unnatural transformation; then she coiled on herself, sobbing weakly. I'm glad you believed I could, my Holy Lady Jizo. You pleaded for my life, but I return to Emma-O's dominions for I've failed to make them hear…
With a gasp, she opened her eyes for the last time, and whispered her last "prophecy" to Kurimuzon Te, the one who promised to join her without hesitation:
... The Chuda family is reborn... The man who killed me… is its daimyo. A woman in despair… Will repeat the acts of Tamihei… Dragon will suffer…
---
Akko was dead, her body reduced to bones and flesh and bruises, as if she suffered a long period of starving and agony. The Asahina and Seppun shugenja came, but it was too late. They examined the bell, the pavilion, the three Akko's defenders, and then and lastly, Akko's body. Their tsangusuri and other methods didn't detect any taint, but the pavilion was closed and had their guard reinforced, and orders to have it made to the other three bells were dispatched.
Jade Magistrates were called to take over the case.
The three living "friends" of the girl Akko were taken to be checked for taint and give their testimonies on the case. In the likely case they said exactly what happened, their involvement with Akko and her astonishing story was considered no issue at all.
Later, the news confirmed that the Ceremony of Chimes was scheduled to take place in the next day, in spite of rumors saying otherwise.