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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Oct 25, 2014 2:50:11 GMT
Te left Kyuden Tonbo and continued heading north. After a few days of navigating the winding mountain paths he saw the walls of Togashi castle for the first time in too many years. With a gladdened heart he sank to his knees and thanked the fortunes that he was able to find his way back, He wasn't too far gone for the castle to hide itself from him.
"Welcome home Brother" was the greeting he received when he approached the gates. He did notice however that the other monks eyes glanced to his hands before returning up to his face. The monk then did something that surprised Te. He took the larger mans hands in his own and smiled. "Let me show you to a room where you can rest from your journey. Once you are rested I'm sure Master Togashi would like a word with one of our Worldly Brothers."
"Thank you" Te responded as he was led to the bare room he would be staying in during his time here at the castle.
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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Oct 27, 2014 1:37:01 GMT
Te and Master Togashi talked for many hours the following day. More accurately, Te talked and Togashi listened as he was wont to do. He would interject here and there until Te reached the end of his tale.
At the end of their long talk Master Togashi told Te something that made him sit quietly for a few minutes. His little sisters gempukku was coming up, at the end of the month. He figured he would have missed it a few years ago. It turned out that she had taken a harder course than many. She chose the path of the shugenja, but like a typical Mirumoto she still learned some of the ways of the blade. She would never be a master of the Niten style but she could hold her own if she ever needed too.
If he left tomorrow he would still be able to make it for the ceremony. There was just one thing to get done before he leaves. He has time for a tattoo before he leaves.
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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Oct 30, 2014 2:07:26 GMT
Te made it to Iron Mountain just two days before his sister's gempukku. He hadn't seen his parents in many years, and his sister for even longer. The last time he had seen her she only came up to his knee. He wondered if she were still so small.
Te spent the day with his parents learning about everything he had missed over the many years, and apparently it was a lot that he missed. His little brother was rikugunshokan and on his way to achieving the rank of kensai. He would be joining the rest of the family tomorrow at the dojo.
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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Nov 3, 2014 1:55:10 GMT
"I'm glad all of you could make it" Mizuki greeted her family at the doors to the dojo. Noticing Te standing behind their parents she let out a little laugh of delight and jumped into his large arms. "Gakushu you made it... but, no, you don't go by that name anymore do you?" She took a step back and held her brothers one hand in her own. She inspected it, turning it over and back multiple times. Mumbling to herself all the while. She spoke softly enough that her parents would not be able to over hear her "You're right Mujina, it is blood."
Hugging her brother again she steps back and takes her parents hands leading them into the building "Keiji is already here and guess what, he brought Togashi Satsu with him. I've never dreamed that our champion would take an interest in my gempukku."
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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Nov 5, 2014 3:14:59 GMT
The ceremony went off perfectly, or as perfectly as the Dragon could be, which is to say that it should only take a month or so to repair the damage to the dojo. After the ceremony Te was approached introduced to Satsu by his brother.
It turned out that the Dragon Champion wanted to have a word with him. "I have heard of some of your exploits Brother Gakushu. You have made us proud, and concerned. Be that as it may however it seems that you made an impression recently." He reaches into his kimono and hands Te a scroll. "This is your invitation to the Amethyst Tournament. We expect you will attend and do the Brotherhood proud. The tournament is in a few months time so I suggest you prepare yourself". Turning to look at Mizuki the champion continues "Take your sister with you. If she is to represent us in court then she needs to see the world outside the mountains. The two of you should come back to the castle as soon possible for training".
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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Nov 8, 2014 3:52:59 GMT
By the stones! He had apparently let himself get a lot softer than he had thought. For the last two months his brothers had worked him from sun up to sun down, and sometimes beyond. The most grueling day was just yesterday. He had "planted" his feet upside down on an overhanging cliff. He had been forced to hang there for hours while defending himself from his brothers. It was even more dangerous once Brother Satsu arrived to help with the training, he brought an archer with him. While Te doubted the man was anywhere near as good as his companion Kasumi, he was grateful for his vine tattoos that day. Out of 30 shots Te only had to pull a dozen of them out of his body. On the upside of that training he learned a new trick. By planting only one foot at a time he could climb up the overhang himself. It had to be done on solid ground however, when he tried it inside last night he not only tore down part of the wall when his weight proved to be too much for it but he also managed to break the wooden floor when he landed.
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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Nov 12, 2014 2:14:08 GMT
There was only a single week left before Te and his sister would need to leave for the tournament. Normally in the mornings he would wake to find one of the apprentices waiting for him to take him to his training for the day. Not today. Today he was greeted by Satsu himself. Te did a quick check to make sure that damnable archer was nowhere around. The two broke their fast in silence and only at the end of the meal did Satsu speak. "You have trained hard these past few months Brother. Today you shall show me how hard. Meet me in the training hall in one hour and we shall see if you are worthy to take up the title of Champion."
The two combatants met in the dojo wearing only the pants of their gi. Satsu in his well made ones and Te in his tattered and worn ones. The fact that Te was half again the size of his opponent did not instill him with any hope. They stood for an hour gauging each other before Satsu made the first move, he stepped sideways. Te responded by taking a single step closer and bringing his foot down hard on the stone floor. With that the two started to move. Slowly at first Te started to work his way through the different stances and traditional strikes, all of which were easily stopped by Satsu. Then Te went on the defensive as Satsu made his way through the same routine.
Three hours into the match and neither combatant had made any significant headway over the other. Nor had Satsu even broken a sweat even though Te was drenched. The last fifteen minutes of so he was doing nothing but block. Much more of this and he wasn't sure he would be able to keep his opponent at bay. Then to his surprise Satsu stepped back and positioned himself in an opening stance. "Not too bad" the champion remarked before moving again. Te was not even able to see the man move let alone be able to block anything. Within a few moments he was on his back with the room going dark.
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