[Rokugan] Blood and Cherry Blossoms

[Festy_Dog]

Kaji smiled and bowed. This was more than he had hoped for.

"Thank you, Kaiten-sama," he replied.

Kaji hadn't considered entering any competitions. The best he had hoped for was a little time for him and his wife to spend enjoying the festivites, but now he had plenty of time for that, and perhaps for entering a competition as well. The thought was inviting. A competition would be a means for proving his skill as a samurai and yojimbo, despite his leg. If he performed well, it could make his job easier. A good reputation could often disuade a would-be attacker before long before swords were drawn.

"My lord, who would I speak to about the competitions?" he enquired.

 

[Scotley]

Itarabi Human Rogue/Courtier

Itarabi works to control his mounting panic, three samuri? He will defer to Mitsumi with a glance, leaving the decision to include the others to her. He fears his voice will crack if he speaks.

 

[Dark Nemesis]

Zhiko

As she began to make her way back toward the door, Shosuro-sama returned to his studies in the darkness. Just outside the door, Goro waited to escort her to the designated meeting place. He regarded her from behind his mask, sizing her up. Then, without a word, he turned and made his way down the hallway. They navigated the maze-like hallways until they arrived at a deserted corridor. Here, Goro slid aside a hidden panel in the wall, and paused long enough for Zhiko to enter the hidden passage, before closing the panel behind them both. After a few more twists and turns, Zhiko and Goro finally emerged in the meeting room. It was a large room, decorated with beautifully detailed paintings.

Bayushi Yojiro sat upon a dais at the far end of the room. For this meeting, he had removed his mask, which sat upon the tatami mat in front of him. His eyes were closed, apparently in meditation, and his did not look up as they entered. Despite this, Goro bowed low to the Scorpion daimyo. Then, he indicated a low table in the center of the room, and the mat beside it. “That is your place.”

There was one other person present, a woman who knelt on the side of the table opposite to the place where Zhiko was to sit. She wore a fashionable black silk kimono, and a mask that covered not just her eyes, but formed a hood that covered her long dark hair. She regarded Zhiko with green eyes that almost seemed to glow, as a sharp smile spread across her painted lips.



Kaji

“I am certain we can find out, Kaji-san.” Kaiten-sama replied with a smile. With his dinner apparently finished, he stood up and stretched. “In due time. First, we have business to attend to.” With that said, he crossed the room to retrieve his daisho. Treating his swords with reverence, and tucked the wakizashi and the katana in his belt. He then looked to Kaji. “I received a note from a friend of mine, wishing to meet at a certain teahouse. I want you to come with me.” The tone of his voice made it clear that there was something suspicious about this meeting.



Itarabi

Mitsumi was practically beaming at the idea of having more samurai to compete with. “Of course! The more the merrier, right? Come then, let us go to the practice grounds.” With that said, she turned to lead the three others, and whomever else was interested, out through the main doors toward the practice grounds. The Unicorn and the Crane moved to follow.

Out of the corner of his eye, Itarabi saw that the group who were planning to play a game of Sadane had broken up, and Seiyo was approaching him. As he drew nearer, he gave Itarabi a sympathetic look. “I hear my sister is dragging you into sparring practice.”

 

[Festy_Dog]

Kaji's hand strayed to his own weapons, ensuring they were secure. He felt the silk covered scabard under his grip, it was a gift from a friend of Doji Kaiten.

"Kaiten-san, I will inform my wife and return in a moment," he said with a bow.

Once given leave, he would go inform his wife that he would be back later in the evening. Kaji assumed that what he was wearing would be sufficient. Great Armour in a teahouse wasn't very subtle anyway.

 

[Scotley]

Itarabi
Out of the corner of his eye, Itarabi saw that the group who were planning to play a game of Sadane had broken up, and Seiyo was approaching him. As he drew nearer, he gave Itarabi a sympathetic look. “I hear my sister is dragging you into sparring practice.”

Itarabi composes himself and forces a smile before responding to Seiyo, "Yes, but if I survive I hope you'll save me a place for Sadane. After all the food and drink the exercise will do me good and perhaps sharpen my mind for the game to come."

 

[Guest 11456]

Hyota : Male Human Shugenja 8

Hyota decided to continue walking and seeing the sites. While the others make there stops, the young Kitsune Shugenja kept walking taking in all that he could of the city.

 

[Pyske]

Like Goro, Zhiko bowed low to Bayushi-sama. She was careful to make no sound that might disturb his meditation. She dropped to her knees once more, repeating the bow before easing herself across the room to the position Goro had indicated for her. I had hoped to spend more time on my feet, facing our guests, but perhaps that will come later. She inclined her head to Goro by way of thanks, before turning to return the smile of her couterpart across the table. The smile did not entirely reach her eyes, but this was little reflection on her counterpart.

In honesty, Zhiko was nervous. She had heard little of the Dragons, but what she did know was cause for concern. It was said that they were enigmatic, that they kept their secrets even from the ears of the Scorpion. Some also said that their jiujutsu was without par, that many among them could kill an armed samurai with only their hands. The perfect tool of an assasin. I must watch them carefully.

In spite of her usual confidence, Zhiko allowed herself to feel, for a moment, the absence of her katana's reassuring weight. This man is the epitome of my loyalty. I must be sure that no harm comes to him.

With this, Zhiko began her centering.

 

[Dark Nemesis]

Kaji

Kaiten-sama nodded absently in response to Kaji’s words, and dismissed him with a wave of his hand. A servant, who had remained unobserved throughout the conversation, bowed as the Yojimbo p[assed, and slid open the door for him.

Having already traversed the route from his room to Kaiten-sama’s room, it was easy to find his way back. Upon reaching his room, he would see that Ayame had already changed her clothes, into a pale blue kimono. She paused in applying her makeup, and offered her husband a bright smile. “Kaiten-sama was not angry, right? What did I tell you?”



Itarabi

Seiyo nodded and grinned. “Certainly! Do not worry, my sister would never deprive me of competition for a game of Sadane. She will return you in one piece.” He smirked and nodded his head slightly in farewell. “See you this evening.”

The four companions began making their way toward the practice grounds, with Mitsumi leading the way. Once there, she turned to look at the others. “Looks like a perfect evening for sparring! Itarabi, you and I are up first. We’ll fight until first blood.”



Hyota

Slowly, Hyota made his way past the tea houses, the geisha houses and the gambling dens. As he walked, he noticed a number of stores selling a variety of items, everything from jade statues to rare fruits. Gradually, the buildings became smaller and more tightly packed together as he made his way into an area populated by peasants. The people here averted their eyes as Hyota passed; to look a samurai in the eyes meant death. To the south, he could see where the city ended, and the darkness of a large forest.



Zhiko

Goro nodded slightly in response, before crossing the room and vanishing behind another screen. Apparently, he was to watch from afar. A nearly perfect silence fell over the room, broken only by an occasional tap-tapping sound, as the green eyed woman tapped her carefully manicured nails upon the table. She regarded Zhiko with a thoughtful expression, but said nothing.

At last, the sound of clapping hands could be heard at the doorway. The screen opened, revealing two men. The first was a short, wiry man, with strands of silver shining in his long lack hair. He was dressed in long, green robes. Behind him walked a tall young man, with deeply tanned skin. He had no hair upon his head, and wore simple clothing. In his hands, he carried a wooden box.

The two men stepped into the room, and bowed to Bayushi-sama. He, inturn, bowed slightly in acknowledgement. “Tamori-san, it is a pleasure as always,” the daimyo began. “Please, come in.”

The older man, who was apparently Tamori, approached the table with a smile upon his face. “Bayushi-sama! You honor this old man by agreeing to meet with me. May I present my companion, Togashi Cho?”

Behind him, Togashi Cho had also approached. He looked a little out of place, but tried not to show it as he set the wooden box upon the tatami.

 

[Festy_Dog]

Kaji smiled affectionately at his wife.

"Indeed, you were right my dear," he replied, "You look nice."

Kaji walked over to Ayame and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I must protect Kaiten-sama tonight and tomorrow evening, but apart from then we have the rest of the festival to ourselves. I'm also considering entering a competition," he told her, and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze, "Kaiten-san is waiting for me, so I had be best be off."

Assuming Ayame doesn't have any urgent questions or concerns, Kaji goes to kiss her but hesitates when he realises he might ruin her makeup. He takes his leave, and heads back to Kaiten-sama.

 

[Scotley]

Itarabi Human Rogue/Courtier

He smiles broadly, "Excellent, I can't wait." Inside Itarabi is gripped by fear. He silently prays to his ancestors, Your noble blood runs in my veins, please help me keep it there. He will go to a dressing area to remove his Courtier's finery, but he will maintain his chain shirt under practice clothes. He returns to the practice area with a brave face.