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Post by Kelathi on Feb 23, 2019 22:26:35 GMT
She had thanked him, of course, for helping her. Then he had taken her back to where the guards had found her, where she had insisted she could find her own way home from there. Their meeting had given her much to think on, and a little to fret on, considering she was concerned she had revealed too much about herself and Karyuudo. But the deed was done. The devastation that had befallen her family was pretty easy to discover if you have time on your hands, but Kasumi had stated that she knew /Karyuudo’s/ family before ‘it’ happened… Perhaps if he asked, she could turn it round, and say that she had meant she knew Karyuudo before the event with her own family, and claim that she had not meant the warrior’s family… For the Karyuudo line was known by none but the emperor, or at least, he had thought he had known it until Karyuudo had still continued to appear, years later. Despite being the sole survivor, suspicion had never fallen on Kasumi, guarded as she was by her sex, as well as the benefit of years passing before Karyuudo arose again. By this point, Kasumi was sure she had been all but forgotten by the Emperor, which was the way she wanted it to stay.
Either way, Kasumi reasoned, calmer now- Ryo was sure to just think in the same way as the Emperor had- that there was no way the ‘unassuming’ Kasumi could be the great Karyuudo. For one thing, they thought they were looking for a man.
So she had gone about her business in a much calmer state of mind, giving herself the chance to heal up before planning her next step against the Emperor. She was in luck; a festival was coming up, one, which the posters claimed he was sure to attend. Out in the open, he could not call his great, scaled beast, lest the people discover that he is not what he seemed- therefore Karyuudo would have a better chance of dispatching him. So she forced herself to be patient… well, at least in that respect.
She wanted to find out more about Ryo… Kitsune, she corrected herself. She wasn’t sure she believed that he was Yokai, it would be easier to believe if she hadn’t met Ryo himself. This was probably why she found herself to be near the Akiyama home- she couldn’t help herself; ever since Kitsune had mentioned it, she had felt drawn here- but she had no plan now she actually stood in front of the house. Her wound was healed by now, no longer a need for a bandage, and all that was left was a small sliver of silver scar, matching the same one on her opposite wrist, although of course that one was much faded by now. She wore a maroon kimono today, with printed golden flowers around the hem of the dress and the trimming of the sleeves, the whole piece brought together flatteringly at her waist by a cream sash. Her black hair was gathered into a thick plait, which now trailed down over her left shoulder, a few rebellious locks escaping and framing her face.
She had come to this place as if she thought that just being here would give her answers. Looking upon the building with a thoughtful expression, she was beginning to wish she'd come with more of a plan than, 'well let's just see what happens'. Eventually, she decided to leave, she could hardly knock the door. But as she was turning away, she saw that a familiar figure was walking towards her. She looked mildly embarrassed for a moment, having been caught snooping round, but then she took it in her stride. Naoki hadn't seen her yet, so she schooled her expression quickly, deciding to embrace the moment. "Naoki!" She called, waving to him, with a smile.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Feb 23, 2019 23:10:52 GMT
Ever since he was nearly taken out by imperial guards, Naoki’s headphones had suspiciously remained at home, always preferring to keep an ear open. It irked him, of course, when Ryo teased him that he and Masahiro had long tried to talk the teenager out of constantly being connected to his tech, and all it took to finally convince him was a near-death experience. But his older brother had a point, he had to admit… to himself, anyway.
Scrolling on his phone as he walked, keeping his ears open for any sounds of a disturbance on the quiet street, he only noticed he wasn’t alone on the street when he heard his name being called out. Not recognizing the voice with the name, he spun around a moment, looking momentarily panicked before recognizing the woman who waved at him, letting out a relieved laugh and waved back with his phone hand. “Kasumi, right?” he asked as he walked up to her, his tone suggesting that of course he knew what it was, his brother had mentioned it enough times… “What are you doing down here? Wait, Ryo said you attended Grandfather’s school, right?” Naoki went on, not needing much of a response from Kasumi to keep talking. Clearly, when he had given Ryo room to speak with her before, it was very intentional.
“Since you’re here anyway, come have lunch with us,” he offered with that wide grin, clearly suggesting that she hadn’t come necessarily to see him. Sliding the phone into his pocket, he opened the door that was flush with the wall of the street, the Akiyama family crest situated on the wall beside in fading paint. “Come on in,” Naoki added with a smile, keeping the door open for Kasumi to follow him in.
The inside of the house was much larger than it looked on the outside, with screens helping to break up the open spaces. Slipping off his shoes by the front, Naoki walked easily into the space, headed towards the kitchen at the back. To the left were personal rooms, but the right wasn’t left as a living room, but had been instead turned into a techie’s dream; large monitors churning through data and silently watching half a dozen different news stations, recording and checking. The desk was strewn with papers, tools and bits of electronics, along with a chair that somehow seemed tiny in comparison.
“Ryo!” Naoki called out as he settled the bags of groceries on the center island, looking out the window into a large backyard as he heard a reply ring out. “Out back,” Ryo called, his voice faint through the closed doors. “You back already? Thought you might have found more gu-Kasumi?!”
Ryo had opened the door and was stepping through, speaking before looking at who exactly was standing in the kitchen. His joke regarding Naoki’s interaction with imperial guards died as soon as he recognized the second figure behind him, jade eyes opening wide as he froze. Naoki took the near slip in stride, raising an eyebrow at him. “Seriously? Weeding again? I thought we had managed to slay that enemy a dozen times this summer already,” he joked, putting some of the food away while clearly setting some aside to make for lunch.
Ryo wasn’t paying him much attention, however, suddenly very self conscious with Kasumi standing in their kitchen… with him shirtless. The tattoo on his arm proved to extend across half of his chest, and as he turned to try and find his shirt it was a match across his shoulder blade. But what he was concerned about hiding was the unusual red mark stretching across his left side, almost resembling a burn. Embarrassed to see his shirt must have been left upstairs, rather than being conveniently down where he was, he rubbed absently at the back of his neck, unsure what to say or do with Kasumi there.
What his spinning about had also shown, however, was a strange device on the back of his neck. To Ryo and Naoki, this was becoming a common enough sight, but the inhibitor was very different from the usual kind. It was dark metal instead of white, slim and fit close to Ryo’s neck, with six thin “legs” holding it in place. What made it so visible was the faint blue glow that emanated from the middle disc, half hidden by Ryo’s loose hair falling to his shoulders.
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Post by Kelathi on Feb 23, 2019 23:58:32 GMT
Kasumi had become aware of four things almost at once. In no particular order, she noticed the tattoo in more detail-how it stretched across half of his chest, she noticed the strange marking on his side, like that of a burn, she most certainly noticed the strange device at the back of his neck…
And she also noticed that seeing him shirtless shot a sharp feeling of desire through her.
It had been a long time since she’d even thought about anything remotely along those lines, so it took her aback. She managed to keep herself composed, however, especially as Ryo appeared so panicked, his reaction giving her something else to focus on.
“Hello Ryo, how are you?” She asked innocently and sweetly, clearly amused at the reaction her presence had garnered. She hadn’t needed to explain her appearance to Naoki, who seemed more interested in getting her to join them for food than to question how she had found out where they lived, but she felt Ryo would feel more at ease with an explanation, even if it was a stretch of the truth. “I was in the neighbourhood… I came across Naoki, and he invited me in for lunch with you both, I hope that’s okay?” she asked, leaving the question hanging in the air. It was still his choice, after all. It was of course perfectly plausible that Naoki had misfired in his confidence that she would be welcomed…
They hadn’t met, well, as Ryo and Kasumi, since their date, the latter leaving rather unceremoniously. She hadn’t given him her number because… well, she didn’t have a phone. The only person she might need one for would be Yuudai, and he hated the things. She was suddenly aware that Ryo might have seen her lack of an attempt to contact again a sign of rejection, rather than circumstance, and was overcome with an uncharacteristic sense of embarrassment, her cheeks taking on a slightly pink tinge. Had she been right to walk in so boldly?
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Feb 24, 2019 3:13:12 GMT
As Kasumi spoke, Ryo finally settled for awkwardly folding his arms in front of him, noticeably in front of the odd burn mark. Not that he would have minded a shirt to cover the rest… especially his neck. His high-collared shirts were all for hiding the inhibitor, but at least she didn’t seem to have noticed it. In spite of his discomfort, he was acutely following Kasumi’s every word, although he took a few moments to come up with an answer to her question.
“Uh… sure, of-of course… yeah.”
Naoki’s expression was fortunately aimed at the refrigerator, but his eyebrows shot up as his eyes rolled at Ryo’s surprise that Kasumi was there, that she was still so friendly. She went to find their house, probably finding the Akiyama address in the phone book. Clearly, she had wanted to see Ryo again, in spite of her odd departure before. Certainly hadn’t gone there to talk to Naoki… But as he pulled out of the fridge, he noticed Kasumi’s slight blush, inwardly amused that he’d have to be the adult in the situation, but also pleased that Ryo wasn’t the only one who needed a nudge.
“Y’know, it’ll be probably… half an hour or so until the food’s ready,” Naoki started, Ryo’s eyes darting to him with a look that showed he recognized the tone, and did not appreciate it showing up right then. His own expression wasn’t that dissimilar to the one back at the market, when Naoki had forced Ryo’s hand. Literally.
“It’s nice in the garden, right? I can let you know when it’s ready.”
Naoki was many things; smart, brilliant with electronics, empathetic and supportive. What he was not was subtle. He also didn’t care that he wasn’t subtle, given the lopsided, somehow cocky grin he was offering Ryo. Ryo stared at him, wanting to make a few choice gestures but unable to with Kasumi standing beside him. Outside? Alone? And not somewhere inside where he could grab a shirt in passing? Not that it would help all that much now, given how long they had been standing there already.
“Um… yeah, it… it is. Kasumi, would… you like to…?” he managed to say, grateful at least that Kasumi was already well aware of how Ryo “needed” help from his younger brother in this sort of thing, so his stutters, while unavoidable for now, were at least partly explained.
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Post by Kelathi on Mar 2, 2019 21:04:27 GMT
“That sounds lovely.” Kasumi had replied calmly, her apparent confidence only betrayed by the colour of her cheeks. As Ryo moved aside, Kasumi took his lead and stepped out into the garden… And was visibly taken aback, eyes wide as her gaze ran over the beauty that was their backyard.
The place was botanist’s dream, lush and green and overwhelming- but in a good way. Kasumi found herself moving forwards unbidden, as if her legs had a mind of her own, as if she were walking in a dream. She could hear trickling water from somewhere, perhaps a small pond? The sound, along with the twittering of as of yet unseen birds, seemed to perfectly complete this scene of tranquillity. He stopped then, as if suddenly coming back to the realisation that it was probably not polite to just wonder around someone else’s home, and corrected this by turning to Ryo.
“You tend to all of this, on your own?” she asked. “I mean, it doesn’t look like a one-man-job. It must be a lot of work.”
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Mar 2, 2019 21:57:02 GMT
Ryo was, again, a little surprised at Kasumi’s acceptance of the invitation, but each time it had been less so. He was beginning to see that maybe Naoki had been right all along, that she did like him, at least somewhat. But he took advantage of moving aside and letting Kasumi walk past, finally able to scowl at his brother while gesturing he would be watching the other in a very obvious threat. Naoki merely grinned as he watched Ryo follow after Kasumi, finally working on getting the cutting board out and some knives.
As Kasumi asked about the garden, Ryo came up alongside, looking about briefly. “Oh… no, we both do. Naoki and I, I mean… this was Masahiro’s garden. Working in it is… calming,” he admitted, although he realized a moment later that she might wonder what he was trying to calm himself about.
Off to the side of the path that led around some of the flowers was a bucket, only a quarter filled with the straggly starts of weeds. Two pebble stone paths circled the garden, allowing for a loop that led down past the rest of the house that encircled the space. It allowed for sunshine and weather, with the privacy of not being exposed to nearby buildings. The flowers in the center of the space were in bloom, from jasmine to chrysanthemums and cosmos, with a bench facing the small pond in the far back. It was shaded by a few sakura trees, as old as the plum and apricot trees that lined the walls. Other types of plants were visible along the walls as well, medicinal and cooking herbs, with a few not as well tended attempts at vegetables in one corner. A new project, evidently, given how established the rest of the garden was. For the front space, the house was spacious and large, and primarily given over to this interior paradise. There was enough room for grass between the flowers, evidently used for training grounds as the overhang of the house sheltered wooden practice weapons, including sticks and training swords. At the far end, with the bench, was a koi pond, small but also well tended, with a few of the fish large enough to show their age. As expansive as the area was, the rooms that lined the garden were narrow to give over as much as possible to the garden, kept open for training when the rain or snow did not permit using the grounds. A family home, to be sure. Most of the living space was at the front, leaving the rest to act as a miniature dojo.
As Ryo readily explained the garden to Kasumi as they walked, the sense of pride he had was less in how he had maintained it and more one of honor that he was able to, clearly recalling Masahiro with a mix of love and pain. HIs death was still fresh to him, quite obviously, even though it had been several years. Even so, he visibly hesitated about explaining the dojo parts of the house, grateful at least that Kasumi was more than aware of Masahiro being a dojo master and so making it a little easier to explain the weapons and practice targets visible through a few of the windows. He was clearly unsettled to explain too much, for obvious reasons; little wonder Kitsune was good at what he did. Masahiro and Yuudai were both well respected dojo masters; living with one was undoubtedly a key factor to his skill and training. The only thing it didn’t explain was the teleporting. To use it so fluidly with his fighting style… Masahiro had to know about it, helped him to train it.
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Post by Kelathi on May 15, 2019 21:10:59 GMT
Kasumi nodded along as Ryo talked her through the garden, her eyes flitting from the wonderful array of plants and flowers back to his face as he spoke. It was because of this that she did not miss any emotion that moved across his face, and it was evident to her the mixture of pain and pride that the garden gave to him. “You’ve done Masahiro proud.” She stated, with a sincere smile, tinged with shared sadness at the man’s passing. In regards to the dojo, due to Ryo and Naoki’s upkeep it had changed very little from the time that she had been there, and the strong sense of nostalgia filling her at the sight of it was startling. As they stopped near the training area, a look came over her that, in time, Ryo would come to recognise as meaning that she was plotting something.
In a natural pause of the conversation, Kasumi walked over to the weapons. She appeared to study them for a moment, before picking up a pair of wooden swords, weighing them in her hands. Then, with a vixen-like smile, she looked up, meeting Ryo’s gaze playfully as she offered him the hilt of one of them. “Spar with me?” She asked.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Jun 30, 2019 2:56:42 GMT
Ryo paused at Kasumi’s compliment, but the smile that spread across his face and flustered his words again was endearing, so open in how touching the statement was. It eased away the glances of pain, as if the confirmation of Masahiro’s response was soothing.
About to speak, Ryo’s train of thought trailed off as he watched Kasumi walking over to some of the training swords that had been left out, picking up a pair before offering him one. His eyebrows shot up at her playful smile, startled at the offer to spar.
For a moment, he hesitated, unsure if he should take her up on the playful challenge, given how delicate she seemed. But then he recalled that she had been one of Masahiro’s students, and so gently reached out to take the offered ‘blade,’ not quite shrugging. “Let’s see what you remember,” he replied in a teasing tone, clearly ready to take it easy on her.
He did… at first.
It became clear pretty quickly that Ryo was beginning to push a little, as little parries grew stronger, faster, an even back and forth building between them. The grin on Ryo’s face shifted from a gentle look while going easy on her, slowly growing more and more wild, obviously enjoying being able to spar more openly than he usually was able to. At least, in a friendly match.
The moment ended abruptly by the most unusual interruption. A heavy sigh that somehow managed to puncture the energy, causing Ryo to pause and look to the side at the source. Naoki stood there with his arms crossed, eyebrows raised in a manner that looked funny, except he didn’t seem amused at all. “Seriously? I leave you alone for an hour - an HOUR - and you’re at each other’s throats?” he asked, still teetering on the verge of amusement and annoyance. With another dramatic teenage sigh, he rolled his eyes and turned around. “Lunch is ready as soon as you warm it up again,” he threw over his shoulder, leaving the two to either follow or stand there awkwardly, unsure how to respond to the sudden change.
Ryo was of the latter, wide eyes and blank expression moving back to Kasumi. “I guess we didn’t hear him…” he mumbled, finally moving and setting the sword back in place.
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Post by Kelathi on Jul 14, 2019 19:31:55 GMT
Delicate, she had seemed, but delicate, it soon became clear, she was not.
She too had intended to take it easy; her intent had been to play at being inexperienced, with a few good parries dotted in for fun. But as they began to spar, she found it was not so easy for her to act as such, her weapon coming up to meet his too easily, almost automatically. Something in the way she evenly met his strikes seemed to steadily spur him on, and she could feel the moment he stopped playing and really started to spar. She felt it in herself too, as they both rose to the challenge, strikes becoming harder, more forceful, each trying to bat the sword out of the other’s hand, or else land a stealthy thrust at the other’s body. All attempts had been thwarted swiftly by the other, and it was clear they were equally matched. There were no flashy acrobatics involved this time, no flipping this way or that, or twirling and ducking… but each strike was expertly parried, until…
Until Naoki decided to put an end to it.
Kasumi had blinked in surprise as the game abruptly halted, and it took her a moment to come back to the present, softening her stance as she realised another strike was not soon forthcoming. At the young man’s admonishment, her gaze flitted to his and Ryo’s. But as Naoki left and Ryo guiltily replaced his sword…
Kasumi began to laugh, the noise surprising in the stillness and quiet of the garden. Once she started, she found she could not easily stop, and a glance at her companion’s wide-eyed expression only seemed to encourage her into further fits as she folded over and clutched at her stomach, trying to stifle the sound. She couldn’t explain why it had been so funny, - was it because of the humorous way in which the roles of adult and teenager had been reversed? Or Ryo’s embarrassed response to being ‘caught out’? She wasn’t sure, but it tickled her, anyhow. Laughter finally dying down, she slotted her own wooden sword next to where Ryo had replaced his, giving him a playful punch on the shoulder, with a grin. “Come on, it looks like playtime is over,” She teased, eyes twinkling with amusement and... something else, something which looked a lot like affection.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Nov 16, 2019 18:45:39 GMT
Ryo had jumped a little at Kasumi’s sudden laugh, the surprise lighting his jade eyes as he watched her fold over with laughter. As usual, Ryo seemed uncertain of how to respond, a corner of his mouth threatening to quirk into a smile but hesitantly kept neutral. This expression remained true even as Kasumi playfully punched him, finally walking back towards the house.
What she didn’t seem to notice was how that look of affection seemed to still him, needing several moments before he was able to follow. In truth, the look had gotten his heart to somersault. If Kasumi had noticed, she never brought it up, not even as they finally went inside to find Naoki had been dramatic about the temperature of the food, having clearly kept it warm the entire time. It was remarked upon how obviously Kasumi had once been Masahiro’s student, with a note of how pleased the old man would have been to have a former student visiting his family.
The way Ryo’s gaze momentarily dropped was not remarked upon, but was not missed.
---
It was past twilight, the rich blue sky fading into darkening violet over the river even as the stars tried to come out. But with the bright glow of the lanterns it might as well have been the middle of the day. Festivities and merriment filled the air, music drifting from every corner and intermingling with the aroma of food stalls, thickening the air with sugar, salt and spices. It was the autumn harvest festival, and around the stalls that lined the park’s pathways there were banners, toys and games, vendors hawking jewelry and garments for the festival goers, and people. Lines to the vendors, to the dragon boats that sailed along the sides of the river, leaving the middle safely secure for the Emperor’s own vessel later on. Fireworks were planned once the sky was dark enough, when the many lanterns would be hidden within stalls rather than proudly displayed about. It was a celebration of life and the change from the warm summer into the cold winter, and of the bounty of the harvest.
Naoki wandered the streets, happily munching on his dango while avoiding children running haphazardly between legs, carts, and anything else that got in the way of their fun. He wore a festive kimono on top of his usual tee shirt and jeans, white from the shoulders before fading to dark grey at the bottom, lined with dancing red foxes. It was an obvious pick given the kitsune connection, and Ryo might roll his eyes a little when he came close enough to see it, but the bright white on his shoulders had been the main point. Almost no one else was wearing something so bright across their shoulders, making him easy to pick out in a crowd.
From above, that was.
“I’m going to get extra dango from Aika’s stall,” Naoki said, apparently to himself. “You’d love the red bean ones.”
”Stop looking like a crazy person talking to yourself,” came the almost clipped reply. Naoki glanced up in time to see a shadow disappear, sighing a little to himself. “How exactly am I supposed to report then?” he replied, and did roll his eyes at the reply. ”Just save the chatter for when you’re reporting.”
Noaki knew why Ryo was so mad at him. Instead of letting Kitsune work alone, he’d simply shown up to the festival to help as eyes on the ground. But the teenager was still slightly concerned that Ryo had overheard him as he had said goodbye to Kasumi after her impromptu visit. Having gone in for a hug, he had whispered to her. “He really likes you, so please take care of him.” Naoki had a feeling Kasumi wouldn’t be the type to toy with someone, but he also knew his brother. Family he was, and yet Ryo remained painfully aware of his adopted status, even if no one else did. Why else go so quiet after Naoki’s remark about how pleased Masahiro would be about his students reuniting in the family home? Kasumi couldn’t possibly have understood the sudden if slight withdrawal.
“I’ll look as crazy as I want to,” Naoki replied with forced smugness, knowing his microphone would pick up even his soft words as he walked around. The silence on the other end showed he’d won that argument. Now for a more important one. “Any sign of the cat?”
This time the mic picked up the sigh. ”No,” came the sullen reply, Naoki again swallowing hard. He’d been fighting hard to convince Ryo that the Kitsune needed a partner, and that if that partner wasn’t going to be his little brother, it should be the Karyuudo. Naoki could recall all too well how Masahiro had loved stories about the sly trickster Kitsune and the brave Karyuudo, and how the old dojo master had insisted on Ryo training with Naoki. Less to partner them together than to try and break the reckless streak, which so often placed Kitsune in danger. Ryo wouldn’t even take jests about his beloved family going on any real missions with him, only ever giving Naoki rides on nights with nothing going on. As soon as a threat appeared, Ryo faced it alone. Not only to protect his family, but because, in some painful deep ways, he couldn’t bring himself to fully trust someone else to watch his back. Too many times had he been cast out for being different, been abandoned by those he was supposed to trust. Not that he would ever say… but Masahiro had picked up on that fact early on. Naoki could understand it, even if it hurt a little. Ryo would more than willingly give up his life to protect them, Naoki knew, but in a fight Ryo wanted no one by his side.
Not that finding a partner who could keep up with a teleporting bounty hunter was such an easy task… but Karyuudo, a figure of legend, a strong warrior for good, he could keep up even with the reckless and wild Kitsune. Surely, if even attacking first hadn’t turned the Karyuudo away from wanting to work with him…?
”Arashi just arrived.”
The sudden report jolted Naoki out of his daydream, having been staring at a picture of a lion and a fox chasing after a crow. It was an old picture, or at least a copy of one, being sold by an older trader. His eyes jumped up, looking towards the river, knowing that Arashi’s presence would mean the Emperor was soon to make an appearance. Over the crowds, a larger ship had silently made its way into the middle of the river, and Naoki thought he could see the glint of the blonde hair of Arashi the Bear near the prow of the ship.
“Do you think he’s anywhere near as strong as he’s rumored to be?” he asked softly, glancing around before making his way towards the river. Not that it was so hard, the ship hadn’t gone by entirely unnoticed, and people were beginning to move towards the river banks to watch the fireworks. ”I think he’s stronger than that,” Kitsune replied, sounding distracted. Naoki picked up on it quickly, a note of concern lacing his voice. “Strong enough to-?”
”No.”
Naoki felt his stomach tighten. Arashi was dangerous… but danger was the flame to the Kitsune’s moth.
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Post by Kelathi on Jun 10, 2020 16:43:55 GMT
It was a warm night, only made sweeter by the delicious smell of cooked food wafting in the air. Karyuudo was growing impatient, the festivities were doing little to distract Kasumi from her focus. The Emperor should have been there at the opening, but as always he liked to think he had a flair for theatrics. He was clearly prepared for the Karyuudo’s presence, as the area was littered with patrols, guards situated at separate stations. Many were in full uniform, and a few were a little less obvious, perhaps thinking themselves pretty inconspicuous, but picked up easily by sharp eyes. The presence of Kitsune, however, was… concerning. Kasumi had spotted Naoki first, and had instinctively lifted her gaze to the rooftops, searching for his shadow, knowing full whom she was seeking. Eventually, she found him, and the sight was not one she welcomed tonight. She had not seen hide nor hair of him since she had saved Naoki, which did not bode well for his presence tonight. Karyuudo’s parting words had been clear, Kitsune should join with the lion against the crow. And yet, he had shown no signs of attempting to seek Karyuudo out. She had heard no whisper on the wind of his presence; in fact she hadn’t caught sight of him for weeks. He had disappeared as suddenly as he had turned up.
Now he was here, and she could only assume that his lack of contact before now, meant that he intended to stop what they all knew was about to happen.
She knew she would not have the element of surprise here, but surrounded by people, the Emperor couldn’t very well summon his dragon to protect himself, and therefore it was the perfect opportunity, one that Kasumi intended to take. She could feel the essence of Karyuudo growing impatient, her limbs tingling with anticipation. To sit and wait was not in it’s nature. When Kasumi donned the mask she felt the pressure of a hundred souls that had worn it before her, every ancestral lion urging her to do the same thing. To do what was right, to restore balance, and to rid the city and its people of the evil that governed them.
And yet…
Her gaze flitted back to where she had seen Kitsune last, catching sight of him a bit further along, hardly visible against the backdrop of the darkened rooftops. And yet, Kitsune’s presence complicated things. She didn’t want to have to fight him, not now she knew who was behind the façade. She could only hope he stayed out of the way.
She would wait until the Emperor had taken his place, on the heavily guilded throne set on the high platform in the centre of the square, quite literally the centre-piece, a riot of colour, swathed in flowers and framed by streamers.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Jul 25, 2020 4:05:57 GMT
Arashi the Bear was a formidable figure, and had quite clearly earned the moniker. He was tall and powerfully built, with a natural, menacing presence. Stepping into the festival space like a ship sailing through the water, the people moved out of his way, happy to simply not be noticed by those deep blue eyes. Arashi’s foreign heritage was marked by his eyes and hair, a pale gold mane more reminiscent of a lion, but the power in every move showed why he was known as the Bear.
Dressed in black and gold ceremonial robes rather than the usual uniform, Arashi kept his hands clasped behind his back, coming to circle about the stage with its empty throne, studying it for any signs of tampering. Given the guards that had stayed around it, it was unlikely, but the Bear was a watchful guardian. At long last, he deemed it safe, and nodded to a guard who was expectantly waiting. He immediately spoke softly into an ear piece, stepping back into line with his fellow guards as the attention turned to the arrival of the emperor.
While the silk and finery of the emperor was far greater than Arashi, he cut a far less formidable figure in his red and golden silk robes. However, this played perfectly into his role, smiling warmly at his people as he walked past the guards that lined his path. Not a hair was out of place, every line on his lean form smooth and perfect. Those who supported him cheered loudly, celebrating their leader as if a great war hero. The rest of the crowd remained quiet, some slipping farther back as the eager members of the crowd pushed forward. In this wealthier area of the city, the emperor was better loved.
Naoki was closer to the edge of the crowds, using a lamp post to lift himself over the heads of the crowd to watch. He hadn’t really seen the emperor in person, always more interested in the activities than watching the more formal events. But it was hard not to look for Kitsune, for Karyuudo… the brothers knew this would be a good opportunity to attack. Surely the emperor knew too? The number of guards was higher than usual, not even including those that stood near him as visible walls of protection. Even Arashi was hovering near the throne, managing to look calm and unconcerned.
Finally, Naoki’s eyes strayed to the rooftops, fighting the look of unease he knew was creeping onto his face. Without a confirmation about the Karyuudo working with Kitsune, who knew what trouble the fox would be getting into.
The procession with the emperor was watched by eyes above the crowds as well, and not simply from the windows. Kitsune had found a place to clearly see the square, intending to watch for signs of the hunter, but found his gaze catching on the emperor instead. As the festival leaders began calling out the prose for the evening, heaping gratitude upon the emperor and praising the gods, Kitsune’s heart felt tight.
He’d bargained with Arashi to be able to ask for help with a cure for his Noroi. Capture Karyuudo, an impossible feat, all just to ask if he could be helped. Karyuudo had offered the cure. But was that a lie? Was there even a cure? Unlike the Karyuudo, Arashi didn’t know about Kitsune’s teleporting. He knew this because he’d startled the man more than once coming up from behind, once nearly paying the price for it with a blade an inch from his throat. Was the Karyuudo simply that desperate to have a yōkai on his side?
Jaw tight, Kitsune found himself wanting to leave, eyes closing tight. Just disappear, and let the two fight it out amongst themselves. Hadn’t it always been that way? Ryo had learned to be alone… even Naoki and Masahiro couldn’t fully tear him away from the mindset. Better to leave before it got bad, before he’d have to make a choice… make a stand.
A deep breath in to steady himself, an attempt to remind himself that if for nothing else Naoki was down in the crowd, he had to stay. Centered, patient, and fighting every nerve in him that had been burnt by being abandoned so many times. This internal ritual was interrupted at seeing another shadow on the rooftops, eyes widening as he quickly identified it. Who else would be up there?
Again, he felt the need to run, to grab Naoki and get them out of harms way. For a moment, he considered Kasumi, eyes dropping to the crowd as if he could quickly spot her, make sure if she was there or not… but he couldn’t let his eyes stray too long from the Karyuudo. So he waited, watching, barely able to focus for the uncertainty about his next move.
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Post by Kelathi on Jan 16, 2021 23:31:28 GMT
Karyuudo moved slowly, leisurely almost, amongst the rooftops. It was clear he was biding his time, for now, just watching, the orange glow of the streetlights glinting on the metal mask. What Kitsune could not know, was that Kasumi was also keeping an eye on him, albeit discreetly, without turning her head in his direction. Would he try to stop her? They both knew why they were there.
She felt the spirit of Karyuudo urging her on, willing her to wait no longer, to push aside those that stood in her way… even to strike them down, if needs be. But she was conflicted, if Kitsune, or Ryo, stood between the emperor and her blade, would she be able to dispatch him? Her heart and her spirit tugged her in different directions, and for the moment, it stilled her, immobilized by her circling thoughts. Why did Ryo not accept her offer, instead choosing to tilt the favour in the direction of the emperor? What had the Crow, in his devious way, offered him that was worth more than his honour?
She shook her head slightly. These were not her thoughts, but the influence of Karyuudo. Things were clear-cut to him- those who worked against him had no honour. but Kasumi knew things were more complicated than that. She was sure that Ryo was honourable, it was just that something was keeping him from fighting alongside her. Maybe if she could find out what that was, she could change his mind?
Enough!
It was time, she needed to concentrate on what must be done. She had scanned the area, she knew the presence of every guard she could sight, and she could see a clear way to the emperor. She would not shoot an arrow and be done with it, she would not truly believe the man dead until she had whet her blade with his blood. She had to make sure.
She began to run, suddenly and without warning, merely a shadow flitting from one rooftop to another. More shadows could be glimpsed, and it soon became clear that they were not just reflections of her own, but beings themselves. She had re-awoken the Seven, they would keep the guards distracted whilst she went for her goal.
Karyuudo leapt.
The drop would have killed a man, but she had no intention of crashing into the asphalt. Instead, she grabbed onto one of the strings of roped light hanging high above the festivities, swinging above countless heads, heading straight to the podium in which seated the emperor. She could already hear the clash of swords as the Seven attacked, their skilful movements avoiding civilians even in such close quarters. Because of the presence of such people, the guards drew their swords rather than their guns, which gave her some extra time. She saw the emperor’s eyes lock with the dark shadows of where hers were, and she saw them widen in surprise, fear taking a moment to catch up. Then she had barreled into him, sending the wooden throne toppling back, the curtains behind her snapping shut, the ropes holding them cut by her own sword, that sword which was now held against the emperor’s neck. A moment’s privacy before the chaos.
And as she stared into those eyes…
She knew that she had made a mistake.
The fearful man staring up at her was not the emperor.
She heard the sound from above, and rolled quickly out of sight, the net falling from some unseen place onto the emperor, onto the place where she had been just a moment ago. Heavy weights held down the corners, so that the man thrashed about helplessly but could not escape. Karyuudo wasted no time, these observations merely taking a second, and cut a line through the curtain at the back, springing out. Unbeknownst to her, Arashi’s bear-like hand just missed the cloth of her kimono, grabbing air as he lurched for her.
She landed neatly on the ground. People were scattering quickly, and she brought her sword up swiftly to meet a guard’s.
Karyuudo roared with displeasure in her mind, cheated of his kill. Where was his quarry?
Get out.
Her own voice rang with warning in her head. The emperor was not here, he was probably tucked away safely out of sight, watching the proceedings with glee. She needed to get out, escape and lick her wounds, waiting for the next chance to strike. So, she dispatched the guard, and batted away the sword of the next. A few leaps later and she was on the rooftops, with no intention to stay and waste time.
More guards were waiting. This time, they used their guns, the noise deafening amongst the backdrop of the screams of terrified civilians. She ducked and weaved, using the geography of the rooftops to her advantage. And then, amongst all the noise, she heard something else… a thunder of hooves on tarmac. She glanced down.
Arashi followed from the ground, his white stallion like a spectre against the blanket of night. She felt the pain in her arm moments from seeing him raise his bow, the motion shocking her and causing her to lose her footing. As such, she timed the next jump poorly, and realizing she was going to hit the ground, braced herself. She landed in a forward roll, which softened the landing somewhat, her arm jarring painfully from the arrow. Standing and snapping off the end of the arrow quickly, she whipped her sword back out, this time with her none-dominant hand, turning to face Arashi. The man did not dismount, but charged instead, sword also drawn. Clattering hooves and fury. As he came in close, she swung her sword, as did he, and the sound echoed through the empty street. The blow was great, causing her to stumble back. He turned, and came in again. This time she managed to nick him on the arm, whilst dodging a strike that would have taken her head off. With a growl of anger rather than pain, Arashi dismounted impateintly, and charged again.
The bear indeed. Whilst Karyuudo had skill with a blade, movement and agility, it was clear that her opposition held all the cards when it came to strength. He came at her with a series of quick parries, and she met every one, feeling her arm jar painfully each time. Rolling under another blow, she ran forwards, scaling a nearby wall and flipping, sword sweeping towards his head. He batted it away, barely, and when she landed she could see he was breathing heavily. So was she, although the mask muffled much of it. She could no longer feel the pain in her arm, her blood singing with adrenalin, and she was ready as Arashi charged in again…
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Jan 17, 2021 5:08:02 GMT
Kitsune’s heart was beginning to hurt, it was racing so wildly. Or was that heartache stemmed from being so uncertain? Memories filled his mind, of the words sung in praise of a merciful guardian. A legend that could help him in turn, as Naoki kept arguing. And Masahiro, defending Karyuudo as a hero rather than the villain painted by the media.
Hearing the old man’s voice in his mind was hard, a hand going to his chest as if it would burst. What was he supposed to do? He didn’t want to pick a side… that meant he’d have an enemy. This way, he could keep everyone at a distance, courted for his loyalty, a wild card that couldn’t be counted on… or against. There was no going back once you made a choice. Masahiro had taught him how to start making those impossible choices… Ryo missed his guidance now more than ever. It wasn’t just his life that was in danger, but Naoki’s.
The shadow suddenly moved, Kitsune’s attention yanked back to the heat of the moment. He stiffened at seeing other shadows moving alongside the Karyuudo, confused; who else was up there? Surely those weren’t guards, darting across the rooftops so effortlessly. Then the Karyuudo was in the air, and Kitsune moved forward, disappearing from his roof to appear over the festivities, only to once more vanish and land on a roof, looking out over the scene, from where Karyuudo had appeared, ready to attack. The Karyuudo swung literally into the Emperor on the podium, disappearing from view as guards fought off the strangers that had appeared alongside the great hunter, the crowd dissolving into chaos as civilians screamed and scattered…
Kitsune didn’t move.
His sword had already been drawn, but his hand was shaking, his breath ragged as if he had been racing as much as his mind was. He was at a crossroads, a dangerous one when Naoki was in that crowd below. But… who was he supposed to attack? The strangers? Karyuudo? Gods help him, if it hadn’t been for Naoki, deep down Kitsune knew he’d have attacked the guards.
Why? Why did he feel this connection with the hunter? It had started out the same as any bounty, but that first meeting… it changed something. Awoke something in him. He’d been fighting it, unable to listen to it. One mistake, and Naoki was in danger. Not only Masahiro’s grandson, but his own brother. How could he risk that?
And yet there he was, hesitating again. Inclined to believe the praise for Karyuudo over the protests against. How could that be right?! How could he make this mistake when Naoki was at risk?!
You’re a good man, Ryo. You can’t be perfect, and you will make mistakes. But that only means you’re real, not a character in a story. Things are not always so black and white, and that is when you must trust your instincts, your feelings. Trust yourself, my son.
Finally, a familiar figure caught his attention. Kitsune moved without thinking, and seconds later a panicked Naoki began to calm in his brother’s arms. He’d been taken to a rooftop, safe from the fray below, but Kitsune’s breath and shudder kept his attention. Naoki didn’t question, returning the tight hug moments later. “I’m ok,” Naoki confirmed, recognizing this Ryo all too easily. “I… I need you to go home,” Kitsune managed, swallowing hard to control his voice as he pulled back a pace. Naoki, for once, didn’t argue. Home meant safe for Ryo. That meant something had happened, and Naoki knew better than to think it was just the Karyuudo attacking the Emperor that was new.“Ok… just… be careful,” he pleaded, a lump in his throat as the helmet merely nodded in response. Then, Naoki was alone in an alleyway, able to slip back into the stream of escaping civilians as if he had never left them.
Kitsune was already gone, dashing across the rooftops, pausing only to scan the ground, watching guards fending off the silent swordsmen who effortlessly pushed through. Gunshots rang out to one side, and Kitsune rushed to follow them. A horse was loose in the street, pale as a ghost, while the lion and bear fought. Arashi had the strength, Kitsune knew from watching him training with soldiers, but Karyuudo’s skill kept them evenly matched. Blows were parried or barely missed, but the bear wasn’t enjoying the fight. He was too angry, too ready to kill the Karyuudo now that he was within his grasp to delight in the challenge. He was trying to outpace his opponent, every blow harder, faster as concern for his own safety fell away, like a demon.
It was one swing, accompanied by a roar at seeing an opening, that was intercepted. This wasn’t a parry, but a dark figure suddenly barreling into the side of the bear and knocking him flat. At first he looked shocked, anger swelling as he stood again from the unexpected attack… only to pause at the figure standing between him and his quarry.
“Kitsune!” he growled with disbelief, certain that he had to be wrong. The fox was his soldier… his weapon! And yet there he was, sword arm raised behind him, ready to fight, with the Karyuudo at his back. “What is this?” Arashi demanded, unable to believe his own eyes.
Only Karyuudo would see the shake that was still in Kitsune's hand, hear the soft tremble in his voice, the telltale signs of his fear. Not of the hunter, not even of Arashi… but that he was making a mistake. “I’m…” Kitsune began, softly, as if needing a moment to acknowledge his own actions. But then his voice strengthened.
“I’m choosing a side.”
The look in Arashi’s eyes was of growing fury, momentarily stilled by the audacity of the man betraying him. His hands clenched into fists, the crackles of light dancing along the blade making it glow savagely. But that, surprisingly, wasn’t where they ended. With a curse, Arashi’s hands suddenly reached out, and bolts of lightning split the air, striking at the lion and fox. It missed, somehow, and the two masked figures were suddenly on the other side of the street.
Kitsune jumped away from the Karyuudo, shocked to have brought him along. He’d seen the bear’s lightning only once, and hardly aimed as it had been. He’d been in the middle of jumping away as he teleported instinctively, and apparently had run straight into the hunter as he did so. The sudden disappearance gave the two moments of grace, quickly running out as Arashi relocated them, with guards coming around the corner.
“Well… this is fun,” Kitsune noted sarcastically, still not entirely convinced that he had made the right decision. But he was committed, evidenced in how he prepared for the fight… alongside the Karyuudo.
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Post by Kelathi on Jan 17, 2021 17:39:42 GMT
Of all things… the Karyuudo’s laugh was unmistakeable, a strange noise to hear at such a time, when narrowly escaping death. But Kasumi couldn’t help it. Kitsune had finally chosen a side,- her side. The Lion and the Fox were no longer at odds with one another. This shift renewed her strength for the fight, her wound thoroughly ignored now to make way for the heightened anticipation of what was to come. She rolled her shoulders then, stretching her neck too, the most human motion the Karyuudo had shown so far. It showed that ‘he’ was not infallible, despite what legend might suggest. It also seemed an incredibly casual act, considering what they were about to be faced with.
“You took your time.” The smile was evident in the voice, even as it was filtered out through the mask, giving it that deep, other-worldly, lion-like rumble. Arashi was racing towards them, with reinforcements, but Karyuudo could also see that they were being followed by shadows. The Seven were re-focusing their attention to where they were needed.
Amongst the now-distant chaos of shouts ever present in the background from the festival, Kasumi’s ears picked up another sound, steadily drawing closer. “Concentrate on the guards.” She ordered Kitsune, her voice, ever authoritative, as she began to race forwards. Surprisingly, maddeningly, sheathing her sword as she did so. But instead of crashing into Arashi, a white bolt streaked between them before they met, causing all except Karyuudo to stumble back. Kasumi grabbed onto the mane, hoisting herself up smartly onto the back of the horse, the rider disappearing like a ghost as she took it's place.
The Seven had delivered to Karyuudo, Arashi’s horse.
Using her legs to guide the beast, the stallion raced away before turning and moving in a smooth arc, and as he did so Karyuudo whipped the bow from her back, guiding an arrow to the nocking point and sending it singing through the air. It just streaked past Arashi’s cheek, nicking a perfectly straight red line from cheek to ear, before impaling itself into the head of the guard behind him. Arashi howled in anger, sounding more inhuman by the second as his rage consumed him. Whipping out a gun, he shot towards Karyuudo, long past any consideration for civilians that might get caught in the crossfire. The horse galloped behind a post, the bullet imbedding itself into the wood instead of flesh, splinters exploding over horse and rider. Meanwhile, Karyuudo had stood up, the horse once again racing head-long towards Arashi, firing arrows in quick succession, trying to thin the guards about him, as well as shooting at him, but they glanced off his armour with well-placed swipes of his arms.
The horse suddenly buckled beneath her as a guard slashed out at it’s legs, and as it tumbled Kasumi braced herself, falling effortlessly into another forward roll, rising quickly to meet a sword with her own steel, the bow returned to her back in one smooth motion. She had just dispatched him when a sudden pain wracked her body, her arm jarring, her hand tightening around the sword. It felt as if she’d been struck by lightning, and in fact, she had been, Arashi having hit her square in the back. She fell to one knee, using the sword to hoist herself back up, meeting the sword of another guard’s… another jolt, this time stronger than the last, causing her to stumble. The guard took the moment to disarm her, hitting the sword out of her grip, and then hitting her square in the face with the butt of his own.
The world spun and the floor came crashing up towards her. She threw her hands out, breaking her fall. A drop of blood fell from the Shi’s metal lips.
A hand grasped her hair, dragging her up but holding her on her knees. Karyuudo uttered a growl, grasping the hand, but before Kasumi could do anything another jolt ran through her body. At such close quarters, it was like a pain she had never felt, and it left her momentarily dumb to the world. Arashi grasped her throat, lifting her easily about a foot off the ground. Her hands rushed to meet his, trying to give herself room to breathe. “The famous Karyuudo!” The beast of a man growled, his eyes glinting madly at his victory, even as the guards still fought behind him, keeping Kitsune at bay and the Seven with their hands full. She kicked out, sharply, the suddenness of the blow to his stomach loosening his grip, and she fell on her back. Before she could act out again, another jolt of lightning ran through her body, this time leaving the world spinning and her body immobile. A foot pressed to her chest, pinning her in place. “Lets see who’s behind that mask, shall we?” A knife was suddenly in his hand, and he grasped her throat with his other.
“I want to look into your eyes as you die.” Arashi snarled triumphantly. Using the hand around her throat to turn her head roughly to the side, he lined the blade up besides her face, just above her ear where the black ribbon that held her mask in place, lay on her hair-line. Unable to do anything else, she tried weakly to push against the immovable bulk of his body as he pressed the blade flat against, slipping it under the material. He then turned it slowly, clearly taking his time and letting the sharp edge of the blade cut into her as it simultaneously cut into the ribbon. Karyuudo growled between gritted teeth, wincing unseen beneath the mask as droplets of blood squeezed out from under metal. Suddenly, he whipped the knife away, the ribbon cutting free and the metal mask of Shi finally falling away…
As the mask dropped, Arashi forcefully yanked her bloodied face back upwards, letting the light of the street lamp fall onto it, and stared into the eyes of the woman that had single-handedly brought the city to its knees. She met his gaze with such smoldering defiance that he almost physically felt the burn of it, and as she did so she silently watched the play of emotions on his face, surprise, disbelief, and then… a slow, mocking smile quirking onto his lips. When he at last spoke, he sounded amused. “A woman…?” Before he could finish his sentence, she spat at him, blood mixing with saliva as it spattered his face. Oh, how his pride stung to find out that not only was she a woman, but she was still defiant, even in the face of death! Instantly, his grip tightened, but she remained silent, even as the dagger came back up, and she was sure that this was the point where she would certainly die as it pricked the skin on her neck.
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