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Dark Prophecy (an "Of Sound Mind" Storyhour) - FINALE! 3/29/05
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<blockquote data-quote="SolidSnake" data-source="post: 1979111" data-attributes="member: 102"><p><strong>Chapter 2</strong></p><p></p><p>“I guess it didn’t go as well as you would have hoped,” Akiko said with a sigh of resignation. She glanced over to the study, where Nobutaka had locked himself away ever since he got home.</p><p></p><p>“Don’t worry mother, things have a way of working themselves out,” Saburo said prophetically.</p><p></p><p>Akiko eyed her son and smiled.</p><p>________________________________________</p><p></p><p>It was starting to get very cold. Saburo had forgotten how long he had been in the main plaza, near the Wyrm Call, but even the alcohol wasn’t helping him. He had brought many variations of sake, and sampled them all many times over. Which might have explained the humor in everything he saw. <em>What a sight I must be! Sitting in the middle of the plaza with a tray of sake. Let them say what they like about me, for it is the spirits who speak through me now and none can say this is of my doing. I will prove to that jackal Boroya that no harm can come to those who drink of our sake!</em></p><p></p><p>Many people were giving Saburo odd looks for good reason. It wasn’t everyday that one saw a drunkard in plain sight singing badly at the top of his lungs. However; it would be dishonorable to accuse such a man of debauchery as he was clearly possessed by spirits and what he did was not of his choosing. This social loophole made for a very interesting interaction between the village and Saburo. Many wanted to accuse of him depravity but none could do so and so they looked harder away from the scene than they intending; forcing Saburo to sing all that much louder. Giyoshi, a local militia man getting on in his years had been watching Saburo for nearly the entire day. He said nothing, but kept an eye out on him while he patrolled the area. Eventually, the older man approached with his naginata slung over his shoulder. The man gently interrupted Saburo during one of his drinking ballads.</p><p></p><p>“Saburo-san”</p><p></p><p>“Oh why it is my good friend Giyoshi, how may I be of service,” Saburo slurred and nearly falling over as he turned to face the man.</p><p></p><p>“How are you feeling Saburo,” Giyoshi asked.</p><p></p><p>“Why fantastic. The spirits course through my veins and no harm can come to me. My father’s sake is wondrous indeed!”</p><p></p><p>The older man leaned closer, so that none but Saburo could hear.</p><p></p><p>“I understand what you are doing and your point has been proven,” the older man whispered. “If you stay at this any longer, you will dishonor yourself and your father. Come, and let me help you home.”</p><p></p><p>Saburo’s dulled senses sharpened instantly at the thought. He could bear many things, but dishonoring his father would be a fate worse than death. All he had desired was to help him. Help his father unmask the treacherous Boroya. <em>Giyoshi is wise. Perhaps I should head his advice.</em></p><p></p><p>Saburo nodded and began to pack up his things. He wrapped everything but a single sake bottle and presented it to Giyoshi with a deep bow.</p><p></p><p>“You honor me Saburo, but I could not accept such a generous gift. How do I know it is truly from you and not from the spirits,” he asked as he bowed slightly and gently pushed the bottle back at Saburo. “When you have returned from your journey I would be honored if you would grace me with such a gift.”</p><p></p><p>Saburo bowed deeper still in a vain attempt to hide his flushed face. He hoped no one overheard the exchange and felt foolish for the gesture he had just made.</p><p></p><p>During the walk back, Saburo could feel the eyes of Tasonsuzu upon him. <em>Judge all you want.</em> It only served to improve his posture and correct his wobbling stance. By the end, he refused help from Giyoshi altogether. He bowed slightly as his mother greeted the men at the door and tried in vain to invite Giyoshi in for tea. She began to apologize profusely for any disorder her son had caused, when Saburo stumbled into his room. He heard the pleasant exchange between the two for only a few moments before sleep overtook him…</p><p></p><p><em>Everyone was watching him. He could not fail at his task. Quickly now, he must find a way to open the door…then he realized that they were not watching him, but after him! They were not instructing him, they wanted to tear him limb from limb…and here they came.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Quickly! He must get the door open! He must…but there was no time, none, and now he was running, slower than he should and they were right behind him and he could hear them, smell the, the thunder of feet on stairs and sour tang of unwashed bodies, and now he heard the howls of unnatural joy as they pulled down one of his friends whom he outraced and they are now after him, and oh thank the Kami, there was a window. He was out it and up the side of the wall before they could reach him. Safe.</em></p><p><em>Now a cold wind whips in his face as he realized he was hundreds of feet up the side of a tower. His fingers were starting to burn from gripping the narrow ledge, but they were down below, leaning out the window so that he could only climb up. And then, at long last, he could see the lip of the roof above. The sun was setting, copper in the night sky, and his father was standing silhouetted against the sky.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>“Do you need help, child? I could help you. But you have to choose. There are always choices. Yours will be in being a good child, someone who will make me proud.” Saburo felt Nobutaka’s hand close over his, warm and strong, as he began to pull him up the side. “Respect my wishes and do what you are told, and the world will be yours. If not, well…”</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>And then he just let go. Just like that.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Saburo’s arms cartwheel out as he began to fall back down, down to those who awaited him. He felt himself tumbling through the air.</em></p><p></p><p>Saburo awoke with a scream. His bedding drenched in sweat, he sat rocking back and forth in a ball, trying to will the images away.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="SolidSnake, post: 1979111, member: 102"] [b]Chapter 2[/b] “I guess it didn’t go as well as you would have hoped,” Akiko said with a sigh of resignation. She glanced over to the study, where Nobutaka had locked himself away ever since he got home. “Don’t worry mother, things have a way of working themselves out,” Saburo said prophetically. Akiko eyed her son and smiled. ________________________________________ It was starting to get very cold. Saburo had forgotten how long he had been in the main plaza, near the Wyrm Call, but even the alcohol wasn’t helping him. He had brought many variations of sake, and sampled them all many times over. Which might have explained the humor in everything he saw. [I]What a sight I must be! Sitting in the middle of the plaza with a tray of sake. Let them say what they like about me, for it is the spirits who speak through me now and none can say this is of my doing. I will prove to that jackal Boroya that no harm can come to those who drink of our sake![/I] Many people were giving Saburo odd looks for good reason. It wasn’t everyday that one saw a drunkard in plain sight singing badly at the top of his lungs. However; it would be dishonorable to accuse such a man of debauchery as he was clearly possessed by spirits and what he did was not of his choosing. This social loophole made for a very interesting interaction between the village and Saburo. Many wanted to accuse of him depravity but none could do so and so they looked harder away from the scene than they intending; forcing Saburo to sing all that much louder. Giyoshi, a local militia man getting on in his years had been watching Saburo for nearly the entire day. He said nothing, but kept an eye out on him while he patrolled the area. Eventually, the older man approached with his naginata slung over his shoulder. The man gently interrupted Saburo during one of his drinking ballads. “Saburo-san” “Oh why it is my good friend Giyoshi, how may I be of service,” Saburo slurred and nearly falling over as he turned to face the man. “How are you feeling Saburo,” Giyoshi asked. “Why fantastic. The spirits course through my veins and no harm can come to me. My father’s sake is wondrous indeed!” The older man leaned closer, so that none but Saburo could hear. “I understand what you are doing and your point has been proven,” the older man whispered. “If you stay at this any longer, you will dishonor yourself and your father. Come, and let me help you home.” Saburo’s dulled senses sharpened instantly at the thought. He could bear many things, but dishonoring his father would be a fate worse than death. All he had desired was to help him. Help his father unmask the treacherous Boroya. [I]Giyoshi is wise. Perhaps I should head his advice.[/I] Saburo nodded and began to pack up his things. He wrapped everything but a single sake bottle and presented it to Giyoshi with a deep bow. “You honor me Saburo, but I could not accept such a generous gift. How do I know it is truly from you and not from the spirits,” he asked as he bowed slightly and gently pushed the bottle back at Saburo. “When you have returned from your journey I would be honored if you would grace me with such a gift.” Saburo bowed deeper still in a vain attempt to hide his flushed face. He hoped no one overheard the exchange and felt foolish for the gesture he had just made. During the walk back, Saburo could feel the eyes of Tasonsuzu upon him. [I]Judge all you want.[/I] It only served to improve his posture and correct his wobbling stance. By the end, he refused help from Giyoshi altogether. He bowed slightly as his mother greeted the men at the door and tried in vain to invite Giyoshi in for tea. She began to apologize profusely for any disorder her son had caused, when Saburo stumbled into his room. He heard the pleasant exchange between the two for only a few moments before sleep overtook him… [I]Everyone was watching him. He could not fail at his task. Quickly now, he must find a way to open the door…then he realized that they were not watching him, but after him! They were not instructing him, they wanted to tear him limb from limb…and here they came. Quickly! He must get the door open! He must…but there was no time, none, and now he was running, slower than he should and they were right behind him and he could hear them, smell the, the thunder of feet on stairs and sour tang of unwashed bodies, and now he heard the howls of unnatural joy as they pulled down one of his friends whom he outraced and they are now after him, and oh thank the Kami, there was a window. He was out it and up the side of the wall before they could reach him. Safe. Now a cold wind whips in his face as he realized he was hundreds of feet up the side of a tower. His fingers were starting to burn from gripping the narrow ledge, but they were down below, leaning out the window so that he could only climb up. And then, at long last, he could see the lip of the roof above. The sun was setting, copper in the night sky, and his father was standing silhouetted against the sky. “Do you need help, child? I could help you. But you have to choose. There are always choices. Yours will be in being a good child, someone who will make me proud.” Saburo felt Nobutaka’s hand close over his, warm and strong, as he began to pull him up the side. “Respect my wishes and do what you are told, and the world will be yours. If not, well…” And then he just let go. Just like that. Saburo’s arms cartwheel out as he began to fall back down, down to those who awaited him. He felt himself tumbling through the air.[/I] Saburo awoke with a scream. His bedding drenched in sweat, he sat rocking back and forth in a ball, trying to will the images away. [/QUOTE]
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