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Post by Bayushi Katsuro on Jan 16, 2014 22:39:26 GMT
No one gave a second look to the elderly man in peasant clothing carrying a bundle of firewood that night; least of all, the man he was following.
Earlier that day, Katsuro had caught a glimpse of a man on the rooftops, the man who had thrown the stone that struck a hapless samurai down in the streets. It was particularly interesting that someone in the crowd had accused a completely different man of doing the deed, allowing the killer on the rooftops to escape the mass arrests on the street level.
Katsuro had spent the afternoon and evening surreptitiously watching the marketplace. His patience was rewarded after nightfall when he spotted the stone thrower hurrying along the darkened street. Lifting the bundle of firewood that completed his disguise, Katsuro had slipped out of cover to follow. He took care to appear inconspicuous each time the killer nervously glanced over his shoulder.
Finally his mark stopped at a mud hut, taking one last look around before stepping inside. The false woodcutter continued on past, then doubled back to slip behind the peasant hut, where he crouched, straining his ears to listen. The sound of hushed conversation from within the hut was barely audible.
"Fool," he heard one voice hiss. "That was an idiot thing to do, Jiro."
"It couldn't be helped," said another voice. "He was going to report us."
Interesting....
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Doji Hatosenshi
Kougataribe
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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 Jan 17, 2014 18:50:47 GMT
Of course, the biggest flaw of following a man in the dark, is the risk that you yourself are being followed in the dark.
"So let him report us. He didn't know our names, did he Kusugi."
"I might have let slip..."
"Oh, by Fu Leng's shriveled..."
"Quiet." A new voice. A woman's voice. A voice clearly used to issuing commands. Silence fell upon the hut, and there was a brief pause.
"Kill him." A brief scraping sound, a gurgling cry, and then silence.
I'm posting as the bad guys for kicks.
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Post by Bayushi Katsuro on Jan 17, 2014 21:45:39 GMT
Relying on the events transpiring within to serve as a distraction, Katsuro silently set down the bundle of wood and swiftly ascended the rough walls of the peasant hut to gain a better vantage point. Staying low to the roof to avoid being silhouetted against the night sky, the Scorpion carefully cut a tiny hole through the straw roofing. Relying on the natural inclination of people to rarely look above them, he put an eye to the makeshift peephole to peer within.
It took a few moments for Katsuro's vision to adjust to the dim lighting within the hut, but then he could make out the conspirators within: three men, a woman, and the body of the man he had followed here.
"You, and you," the woman hissed. "Take the body and throw it in the river. Make sure you aren't seen. Then all of us are going to lay low until it's time to make our move. We're too close now to take any more foolish risks." The men nodded assent and began to wrap up the body of the luckless Jiro within a straw mat for concealment.
Katsuro studied their faces and clothing as best as he could, though it was difficult to get a clear view from above, especially in the dim light. It seemed to him that the men were most likely laborers or townsfolk...but the woman, despite her humble dress, was clearly of higher station. Considering the decisiveness of her actions, he was certain she must be samurai.
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Doji Hatosenshi
Kougataribe
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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 Jan 17, 2014 22:05:25 GMT
The conspirators in the hut ceased movement, their hands darting to their weapons, as a voice, singing loudly and off-key approached the hut.
"Well she was a maiden of the Wall, and a Crab at heart" the voice drunkenly came closer. "And...something about an oni and her magnificent womanhood! Hah!"
The door to the hut burst open, sending light spilling out into the darkness. The form of the mountainous man cut a devastating silhouette in the doorway, staring at the individuals in the hut.
"Er. Evening. This is not my hut." The large figure looked around with what would only be described as confusion.
"No. Fool." the woman signed dramatically. "Kill him, dump his body too."
As the thugs rushed him, the man dropped his arms and leapt forward and bear hugged the nearest thug. A brief snapping sound filled the air, and like a sack of rice, the dead thug fell to the ground. The second thug was dispatched with a brief palm strike to the face, and the third thug backed off quickly, looking at his mistress and the large man with concern. Clearly for his own life.
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Post by Bayushi Katsuro on Jan 18, 2014 16:56:11 GMT
The Scorpion on the rooftop watched silently as the unexpected newcomer effortlessly tore apart the thugs. There seemed little to gain by intervening, but much to learn by continuing to observe.
Within the hut, the woman sighed as the third thug bolted for the door, only to be caught in the drunken wrestler's deadly grasp. "Must I do everything myself?" she asked rhetorically, as she drew a short sword from concealment and advanced to slash at the grapplers.
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Doji Hatosenshi
Kougataribe
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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 Jan 19, 2014 18:42:14 GMT
The drunken wrestler released the hapless thug and slowly backed away from the advancing samurai-ko.
"You might want to hear what I have to say, Shiba Oicha"
The woman stopped advancing. Clearly the drunk was not as intoxicated as he seemed.
"How do you know me?"
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Post by Bayushi Katsuro on Jan 20, 2014 2:50:22 GMT
Another member of the Shiba family? Katsuro did not have much belief in coincidences. Too, it appeared the "drunk" had not stumbled into this particular hut purely by accident. And if that were no accident....
The Scorpion looked up from the peephole for a moment, to carefully sneak a glance over the peak of the thatched roof to see the road below. Another man was loitering in the shadows across the street, watching. Satisfied that he now knew the lookout's position, Katsuro lowered his head slowly to avoid detection, then returned to his makeshift peephole to observe the drama unfolding inside.
"The Black Lotus Cartel knows everything about your activities, Shiba-san," the wrestler boasted. "The secret caches of weapons. The little 'prayer meetings' being hosted by so-called 'monks.' Surely you did not think this had all gone unnoticed?"
The woman's face was like a stone, revealing nothing. "What is it that you want?" she demanded.
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Doji Hatosenshi
Kougataribe
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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 Jan 20, 2014 16:02:41 GMT
The big not-so-drunk man shrugged. "Nothing harmful or complicated. We simply require you to gain myself and three friends access to Winter Court. As porters, monks, what have you. No one will question such an honorable samurai."
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Post by Bayushi Katsuro on Jan 20, 2014 21:54:08 GMT
Shiba Oicha nodded sharply. "It shall be done." She was not one for postponing a difficult decision that must be made. "I trust this will be sufficient to satisfy your organization, thus preventing any further...difficulties?"
The big man smiled. "For now, yes. A pleasure doing business with you, Shiba-san." He bowed mockingly.
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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 Jan 21, 2014 22:04:34 GMT
The drunkard left, singing loudly as he went.
The samurai-ko in the hut, sighed, looking at the dead bodies on the floor. As she moved to exit, she paused to grab a torch. The flickering flames and smell of smoke, signified the rising fire that was starting to engulf the hut.
And Katsuro remained on top.
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Post by Bayushi Katsuro on Jan 21, 2014 23:13:27 GMT
I suppose I really deserve this for carrying firewood here, Katsuro reflected ironically as the flames rapidly began to consume the thatched roof. Keeping a low profile and avoiding line-of-sight of the lookout's position, the Scorpion skipped lightly from roof to roof to stay ahead of the blaze, eventually dropping from the rooftops into a back alley with an acrobatic tumble.
Although the residential district burning down would be a great embarrassment to the Lion, too many delicate plans would be ruined if all of Kyuden Meiyo burned down and the Imperial Court was forced relocate. The Lion had been methodical about posting fire-fighting stations about the city, and approaching one of them, Katsuro shouted, "Fire! Fire!!" In his peasant disguise, he pointed anxiously toward the source of the blaze. But once the fireman gang began to stir, the Scorpion faded back into the night.
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