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~Shadows of Yoshitsune~
---
The stars shown in the night sky over the Earth, seen from millions upon millions of people with different eyes, from different places, different times, different religions, different pasts. In America the stars were gods, in ancient Greece they were heroes from past days. In some cultures they were tears of god, in others navigational beacons. In every culture around the world the stars meant something different, for every culture there was a different story, for every person different beliefs.
Yet, the stars always remained the same.
---
A snowflake fell from the sky over Japan one day, buffeted by the winter air as it flew from town to town. They say every snowflake is unique, each a perfect form of crystallized water, but from this distance the snowflake was not even a speck of white, a small tear from the night sky, twirling around helplessly in the air. It flew past Bittchu, where a young ninja was beginning his training. It flew past Kai, where a great warrior was having one of the worst dilemmas of his life. It flew past Fuji, where a man searched for enlightenment. It reached the Dewa mountain range, circling in low and falling for the town of Furisaka. It flew through the window of a teahouse, landing quietly next to a candle by a group of monks, by a rather large man with a gunshot wound to his leg. The perfect snowflake was instantly dissolved, transforming into what would normally be called just a droplet of water, reflecting the light of the candle. But to the Zouka Sangha, which now numbered seven it appeared, it was still a perfect image of the stars.
The sky is crying for you, Yoshitsune. thought Gunpei, as he told his comrade about the recipe for the Bodhi tea.
---
In the same place, in the same way, but in a different time, the snow touched another man seeking to free the people of Furisaka. It would be called ironic if anyone knew, perhaps this man still did. But that remains to be seen.
This man, a great samurai for the Tokugawa clan, by the name of Masashiro Yoshitsune, walked out of the very teahouse where the Sangha sat, having sat by the very table by which they conversed. He was being followed, he knew. There were many of them. Battle in the city would inevitably involve the peasants, and though by the class system of Japan they were meaningless to a Samurai, Yoshitsune's personal honor would not see them die.
---
What happened to you in those woods?
---
The young man was in the woods, leading the Koga ninja away from the town. They had been walking for quite a while. Suddenly a Shaken hit the ground by Yoshitsune's feet, and he drew his Katana, an incredibly well made sword that had been hand-crafted just for him. It had been made by the last of the Ancient smiths, who could instill souls into weapons, allowing them to take the form of what was suited for their master. Another shaken sped for Yoshitsunes path, but it was deflected by the warriors Saya. Suddenly 3 Koga jumped from the trees above, and Yoshitsune went into a dash. Running towards a pine, up the pine, leaping off the pine, Yoshitsune appeared behind the ninja and beheaded all three with a single stroke of his sword.
---
Why would the townsfolk betray you?
---
A snowflake fell into a bag of gold coins from the Americas, as one man exchanged it with another.
---
How could god let such a curse happen?
---
Yoshitsune, bloodied by several sword strokes, gutted another ninja. Red blood seeped onto the white snow, a contrast that if viewed properly did nothing but make the crystals even more beautiful. One ninja attacked with a pair of Tonfa, blocking Yoshitsune's blows and countering. Yoshitsune leapt back and swung his sword along the ground, the force of the blow creating a shockwave that cut not only that ninja in two, but the tree behind him. Another ninja jumped out of the falling tree, throwing several shuriken at Yoshitsune. The samurai, now using the extent of his skill, jumped a full dozen feet into the air, but as he did the ninja let out a sharp cry, and the shuriken changed directions in mid-flight, going into Yoshitsune's side with poisoned tips.
---
I saw you in the cave... You must have been a fantastic warrior. Who in this world could kill you?
---
Yoshitsune jumped off a tree branch, fighting a mid-air duel with yet another ninja. Both battled for mastery, but Yoshitsune won the day, sending his as of yet unused Wakizashi into his opponents neck. The ninja, even with a sword going through his skull, would not be defeated however, and grabbed the Samurai, pulling him into a bad landing that would break Yoshitsune's left arm. Nearly unable to fight, Yoshitsune took a deep breath, unleashing all of his reserves for the next wave of attackers. He could feel their Ken-ki's approaching him. There were still a dozen, or perhaps more.
---
Why is it us who are supposed to make things right?
---
A heavily wounded Yoshitsune crawled with one hand into the cave where Gunpei found him. A great gash was across his chest and he was leaving a trail of blood, and due to the poison he could now hardly see. There were still eight of them following him, but they had stopped the battle. All the warrior could hope to do was to make it into the cave. If he could get his back to a wall and stand facing the cave entrance, he could perhaps defeat one more of them.
---
Why can god be so cruel, not only to you, but to these townspeople?
---
A handful of peasants were debating over something. The answer was eventually decided, and all of them had a sad look on their faces. They wished there was another way, but believed that this was the only answer they had.
---
Why does the world have to suffer so?
---
Yoshitsune jumped into the air, leaping from one tree to another, then back to the first, followed by a ninja. Both were expert warriors, and Yoshitsune knew his time was up. He would end the fight with one final attack. Leaping from the top of one tree, the pine tossing from the force of the jump and showering the sky with snow as white as the moon overhead, Yoshitsune raised his sword to deal the final blow. The ninja leapt off of the other tree, turning the sky, from far away, into a cloud of white on black, the small luminescent moon slightly above, with the near-black silhouettes of the trees below and the two combatants the only contrast. The ninja threw a shaken at Yoshitsune's neck, and Yoshitsune parried with his sword, but as he did the ninja took out his ninja-to, and with a sharp cry slashed into the air, a bright blue band of force extending some 5 feet ahead of the blade, cutting up Yoshitsune's chest.
The ninja landed atop one pine, its thin upper branches bending to take his weight. The moon shown on his back, making out slight creases in his dark outfit. Yoshitsune, however fell into the black of the forst below.
---
The sky is crying for you, Yoshitsune. One day, I hope you will be at peace.
~Outcome~
Quest continues.
~The jails of Nihon~
"Takeda will see you now, Kitsunesho-sama." said the Samurai attendant, as he went into Awaros room. Awaro, Danielle, Goshige and Kameyo had been kept waiting for days, though the ninja who actually killed Ayaki Gizan had already recieved his reward. The 1st division of the Kitsunesho Clan was hiding about a half hours march away from Kai, hiding in the snowy trees. Awaro was angry, he was being kept for last over petty merchants and tradesmen, but he would not lose his cool. Losing your cool in a meeting with a daimyo meant death.
Though all three of the Kitsunesho clan lieutenants were allowed to accompany Awaro to this meeting, only Awaro himself was allowed to bring weapons. This was just the way things were in Japan, the more status you had the more people trusted you. Shiguretei brought his Shakujo-Yari, of course, though many of the Takeda samurai knew it was a weapon, nobody would dishonor themselves by forcing a priest to put down his lantern. This was, of course, not the reason nobody did it. If Awaro was an actual threat to Takeda the daimyo would have had one of his men force Shiguretei to leave his staff behind and then commit seppuku. The obvious reason was that Takeda wanted to insult Awaro. The ronin was starting to doubt that he would even recieve his reward.
The group walked through the streets of Kai, although not as magnificent as Tokyo or Kyoto, much, much more grand than many Awaro had seen since his visits in China. Though, the jade palace courtyard would have contained this entire city, and still had room left for the Isshinkigenken. This thought made Awaro smirk, as their escort led them across a bridge and into the castle donjon.
The group made their way straight into a meeting hall on the second floor, taking no time at all for subtleteys. They entered the room where Takeda sat, 4 Takeda clan samurai around him bearing full arms.
Only four? What do they think I am? A joke?
The group sat, and a gorgeous Geisha poured Takeda a cup of tea, then another cup to Awaro. With that, the negotiations began.
"Lord Takeda-sama, it is a great honor to meet you. I did not think that I would speak to you in person, you must be very busy and I did not think that I was worth your time. I thank you." started Awaro, bowing deeply.
"No, I must thank you Awaro-sama. You saved me quite a bit of trouble with Gizan. Rest assured that I have already seen that your reward be sent to the Isshinkigenken, along with my thanks." responded Takeda, getting right to the point.
Ahh, good... But wait. If that's the case, why is he seeing me? And hold up a second, he knows about the Isshinkigenken?!
"That Gizan, he was a good warrior. He wasn't too much for you, I trust, Kitsunesho-sama? We have had quite a bit of peace recently, a ronin like you wouldn't have much opportunity to improve his skills, no?" added Takeda, smiling... Politely.
At this, Goshige tightened up, wanting very much to punch Takeda in the face, and very nearly doing it. Awaro and Danielle were sharing the exact same thoughts, and Shiguretei was not very happy either. This was a direct insult to the entire clan.
"Oh no, I am allright. I thank you for your concern, esteemed lord." Kisama... "And for the reward as well. It will be very well appreciated by my men."
That might be too much information, considering I don't know how much he knows. But it'll at least ease up Goshige.
"Oh? You mean that little group of yours? I thought they were closer to Kai than their home right now. Am I mistaken?" said Takeda, grinning a little more. The situation just went from bad to worse.
THAT MOTHER FUCKER. I'm gonna make him wish he was a prostitute from Hong Kong! Ehh... Settle down Awaro, you're smarter than this.
"Ahh, yes, how could I forget. You are most certainly correct, Takeda-sama. As always." replied Awaro, hinting at a smile of his own.
Allright, what do you know about Takeda. He's a loud, unruly barbarian with a short temper.
"I wonder though esteemed Takeda-sama, why would such a powerful man as you ask for such a miniscule leader of a gang of ronin, such as myself, to take care of such a minor problem as Gizan? You could have most certainly taken care of it yourself, and then not had to gone through the trouble of a reward. Though I'm sure that a few hundred koku are nothing to you as well." said Awaro, glancing at Danielle. She caught on, and continued his comment.
"I agree. Our group isn't nearly as proficient to deserve such a bounty. There must be some reason why you did not take care of the problem yourself. Forgive me for saying so but, this reward almost seems like an overcompensation for something, our clan being as weak as it is."
"Ahh, I agree as well. Perhaps you have an ancestor who is related to Awaro that you are trying to please? That would certainly make sense." said Shiguretei. Goshige held in a laugh.
"Is that so, lord Takeda? Perhaps I should come to your next flower-viewing ceremony. I would like that very mu-"
"Quiet your tongue, Awaro. I can see you are as tired of this as I am." interrupted Takeda.
"You are a threat to my clan. I will not allow you to continue to be one."
At that Awaro jumped up, a hand on his Ou-dachi. Danielle, Goshige and Shiguretei stood instantly as well, readying themselves for combat. Takedas four Samurai also stood, taking their wakizashi's slightly out of their saya's. Danielle formed the hand motion of her Kaze Aruku, and then suddenly stopped.
Wakizashi? These are Shugenja! I recognize them now, they were all present during my duel with Goshige... We can't fight them... They know my spells and our fighting styles, there's no way I'd be able to protect Awaro, even with my new abilities.
Takeda remained sitting, intent on ending the conversation before anybody died. Awaro had not made himself useless yet.
"I have a proposition for you, Awaro. You may join me. You are a great warrior, and a smart one at that. I would like very much to have you as part of my clan. In fact, I am asking you personally. I would consider it an insult to myself, my clan, and my family were you to refuse."
Oh geez, not giving me much of a choice there are you? And I'm sure once you secure all my holdings, you'll just assassinate me like you would a troublesome whore...
"I will give you as long as you wish to think about it, Awaro. Oh! And, for your safety I must insist that you not leave your guest-house, I have heard there is a band of Ronin in the woods outside the town with your name on their lips. This is a very unfortunate thing as well, because I have been informed of a fire in the area of your Isshinkigenken. Of course it wouldn't be too hard for a few people to save the dojo, but it seems you will not be able to make it back in time. I am deeply sorry." Takeda said now, more politely, and with a slight chuckle.
Before Goshige popped and wiped the smile off of Takedas face, however, the meeting was abruptly ended by a servant talking about "important business", and Awaro and his party were forced to leave.
~Outcome~
Kitsunesho Clan guys stuck in Kai till they make their decision.
~Trials of Fire and Ice~
The top of Mt. Fuji was a completely inhospitable place.
A huge snowstorm buffetted the faces of the Koan seekers as they resumed their training, having spent the past few days on the lifeless top of the mountain. There were no monsters, as everybody had believed, or, at least they had found none, but the storm was as powerful as any dragon.
Huge blocks of rock were picked up by the wind, thrown with great power at the assembled group below. A large rock cracked into one of the Koan seekers heads, knocking him out. Sleet showered down upon Goro as he tried to meditate, working very hard to center his mind. His students had for the most part given up.
This place... It does not exist. It is the same as a battlefield, there are outside forces wishing to cause me harm, and concentration is necessary to stop them. But what am I fighting? Am I not fighting the natural flow of the world? This is no enemy, no force of man, this is nature. This is plainly the natural course of everything. Perhaps if I can understand this place, I can find true enlightenment...
~Outcome~
Training begins. RP it up, Vik.
~He forgot to knock~
With a loud cry, Genjuro Fuuma was thrown out of the house that he had chosen to begin his training in.
"AND STAY OUT!"
~Outcome~
Quest continues
-Wednsday-
-Thursday-
-Friday-