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Post by Flak on May 5, 2005 5:15:48 GMT -5
Minazuki
You arrived in front of the Tora Fortress at midday after a few days' trek from your old training barracks. With you were a few odd warriors who had not much to do with you aside from escort you, and went off to stuff their faces as soon as they made sure you were at your destination.
Guards litter the steps, most in blue gi and hameka, bearing longbows, katana, and wakazashi. They don't look very well trained in your eyes, judging by their postures, their positions, and the looks in their eyes.
A small town surrounds the foot of the fortress steps, a few odd shops, a peddler's tent here and there, some shacks and an inn. Nothing too interesting was there, nor was there anything much different from back home.
You stand virtually alone at the based of the long flight of stairs leading through the castle's main gate and up to its doors. The guards haven't yet taken notice of you- after all, you just look like a peasant staring in awe at the capitol for the first time.
Inside this place, somewhere, there is a man you are supposed to meet named Ishikawa, to confirm your position. That's all you know.
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Post by Sumiyoshi on May 5, 2005 7:49:03 GMT -5
Minazuki
...
I suppose I look awfully silly standing here, gawking at Tora Fortress like a peasant girl.
Well, it really can't be helped. I mean, besides the fact that I am just a fisherman's daughter (something that even military training won't change), this fortress is essentially my country's nerve center, the Tiger's brain, the place where all the decision-making goes on. It's awe-inspiring, really.
...
I was actually hoping there'd be more tigers. I mean, it'd be awfully nice if there were a few of those giant orange cats prowling around- that's why we're called Tora, right? It'd stand to reason to have some of our patron creatures out and about. At the very least, I'd expect a few statues of tigers, or a tiger motif throughout the entire fortress. Or maybe if the guards all painted tiger stripes on their cheeks, and attached fluffy black ears to their heads-
Oh dear, the mental image- I quickly cover my mouth and try to get my shoulders to stop quivering. Don't want the guards to think that I'm giggling at them. They look tired enough- probably didn't get a good enough breakfast in the morning, like Father always told us to do. Maybe in the morning, when these guards put on their Tora ears and stripes and tried to hunt down something to eat- oh no, the mental image won't go away, and I just... can't stop... giggling...! Alright, alright, think of something else. Look at the sky, or something...
...
... what was I thinking about again? "Oh, right- tigers," I remind myself quietly. Why's Tora got to be represented by a white tiger, anyway? Orange tigers are more colorful, and prettier. And more common. That's probably why there aren't any Tora tigers running around the yard, because white tigers are too hard to find. I nod to myself- that makes sense.
And why is it only the Tora tiger that's white, anyway? I frown as I mull this over a bit out loud. "You don't see Kame, Tori, and Ryu being represented by white creatures. No one's heard of a white Tortoise, or a white Dragon or Phoenix... though if you light the Phoenix on a hot enough fire, maybe it'd turn white..."
I wonder what color Kuma is. Probably black... it'd make a good contrast against the white Tora. Though, come to think of it, what color would the creatures be if the countries were Crow, Bear, Snake, and Salamander? I blink, tilting my head slightly. "Maybe that country actually exists somewhere... those would make some weird mascots, though. Crow, Bear, Snake, Salamander..."
Something tugs at the back of my mind, though- it comes to me as I continue to stare at Tora Fortress. Right- I'm supposed to be meeting with someone about becoming an undercover guard... I'm still wondering about that. I mean, I'm not bad at what I do or anything, but it sounds like an important position...
"If I'm undercover, will I get to hide in the tall grass, wearing tiger stripes and ears?" I wonder to myself briefly.
... and then I realize that I've been standing in front of these gates for who knows how long! I gotta get inside and meet up with Ichi... Ishi... someone. For the position. Ishikawa! That's it. I shouldn't keep him waiting.
With that, I start up the stairs, at a normal, relaxed pace. Don't want to seem rushed or flustered when I get there. 'Appearance is important', Mother always says (even though I get the feeling she was being sarcastic- because she always said this while staring at my choice of clothing- the lesson still stands).
It only occurs to me that I should've said something to the guards first after I start walking up the stairs.
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Post by Flak on May 5, 2005 8:51:36 GMT -5
OOGM: I don't know if there's any way in which I can answer those questions about the animals at the moment, Im sorry. Hopefully things will make more sense as they unfold.
Minazuki
Indeed it might have been wiser to announce yourself in some manner. As it is, the guards believe you're an intruder and surround you. One of them tells you to 'drop your weapons, assassin' whie another asks who you are.
They don't seem pleased.
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Post by Sumiyoshi on May 5, 2005 9:14:43 GMT -5
OOGM: I don't know if there's any way in which I can answer those questions about the animals at the moment, Im sorry. Hopefully things will make more sense as they unfold. OOC: I wasn't looking for answers, really- just letting Subaru's mind wander onto weird, random subjects. MinazukiFor a moment, I can only blink, and I look around a bit. "Heh? Assassin? Where?" And then it sinks in. "... oh. Oh dear," I squeak in embarrassment, feeling my eyes widen (and my mind sharpen). There goes my chance to make a good impression- now, I have to worry about not getting thrown in prison or something like that. That wouldn't be a good first day on the job. Well, it'd certainly make for an interesting story to tell my grandchildren fifty years from now. Somehow, that thought helps me keep my calm. Keeping my hands in full view at all times, I meekly comply with the first guard, roll back my sleeves, and place my Senbon on the steps in front of me. I straighten back up slowly, answering the second guard's question while I do so. "My name is Subaru Minazuki, of the Tora military. I'm supposed to meet with someone called..." My mind blanks on his name for a second. I let my eyes unfocus for a split-second as I search my memory- "- Ishikawa, to confirm my new position."
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Post by Flak on May 5, 2005 9:18:52 GMT -5
OOGM: Gotcha. ^^
Minazuki
"Ishikawa?" one guard asks in surprise. He turns to another. "Does she mean Ishikawa-dono?"
"Maybe..."
"Ishikawa-dono sent for this peasant?"
Murmurs run through the assembled guards.
"Hold it," says one, "I hear that Ishikawa-dono was expecting a skilled warrior to be coming here today..." he turns to you "Is that you, girl?"
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Post by Sumiyoshi on May 5, 2005 9:34:15 GMT -5
Minazuki
"Ishikawa-dono sent for this peasant?"
... I'm suddenly glad that Mom isn't here to hear the peasant comment, otherwise I'd have to sit through about fifty billion of her I-told-you-so's. Guess this is the price that comes with taking comfort as my first priority when it comes to clothing.
"Hold it," says one, "I hear that Ishikawa-dono was expecting a skilled warrior to be coming here today..." he turns to you. "Is that you, girl?"
I blink innocently at the guard, and what comes to of my mouth is the first thing that comes to mind- "Skilled warrior?"- a surprised question. That's right embarrassing, and a little worrisome. Sure, I'm a good aim, but even with training, I'm having trouble thinking of myself as a warrior...
It probably doesn't help that I certainly am not looking like one at the moment. "I... suppose that's me," I reply uncertainly, brushing aside my bangs. Do I look a little tense? Well, I'm not sure if I'm out of the fire yet, so...
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Post by Flak on May 5, 2005 17:29:18 GMT -5
Minazuki
"That's... you?" The guard bursts out laughing, quickly followed by the rest of the men that were in the vicinity. After he recovered, the particular guard went on. "Well then, I suppose it would be my job to take you to Ishikawa-dono."
"I dunno about that," another guard says. "Ishikawa's dangerous. You don't want to go near him."
"Agreed," a third jutted in. "If I were you I'd turn around and leave Kyoto. Now." The second nods vehemently.
"You two raise a valid point. Let's leave her choice for her to make, after all... she's the legendary warrior destined to protect Tora from all evil in this world!"
It's hard to tell when they're being serious or sarcastic or just outright dumb. But it's clear that they're waiting on you for your answer.
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Post by Sumiyoshi on May 5, 2005 21:15:52 GMT -5
Minazuki
Honestly, I can't help but chuckle along with their laughter, even if it is directed at me. I can see where they're comin' from, after all...
I blink a bit, and frown slightly in thought as the guards start warning me about Ishikawa. "Dangerous...?" I wonder briefly. "Maybe he's the one who got rid of all the tigers around the area..." I whisper to myself.
And then the first guard speaks up again. "You two raise a valid point. Let's leave her choice for her to make, after all... she's the legendary warrior destined to protect Tora from all evil in this world!"
... well, he's right about the choice-making part, though at his last remark, I can't help the smile that creeps onto my face. These guards aren't too bad- they remind me of my brothers. Sorta. Well, in that they occasionally poked fun at me, too... but hey, if you can't laugh at yourself, you can't enjoy life.
In any case, my answer's already set.
"Well, Fate's gone through enough trouble to weave this path for me... it wouldn't be fair to her if I didn't follow it to the end and see what she's got in store for me, right?" I nod once, building up my determination. "At least, I want to see why Fate's chosen somethin' like 'go to Tora Fortress and try being an undercover guard.'"
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Post by Flak on May 5, 2005 21:35:01 GMT -5
Minazuki
"Said like a true Tora peasant," one guard says, attempting a dramatic tone, and failing miserably, falling to the ground in throes of laughter.
"Please excuse him," the first guard who had been serious said. "I will take you to Ishikawa."
The other guards part from the small assembly and resume their dotted positions on various steps. Your guide motions towards your weapons on the ground, and then heads up the staircase, assuming you will follow.
Now, all should be well- you should be picking up your senbon and heading towards the entrance to the fortress.
But something... you sense something. Like a soft whisper. Maybe it's on the wind. Maybe the wind itself. Suddenly you feel as if the air has thickened slightly. You've pondered things like the air changing in this manner before. All that free time you spent letting your mind wander.
The strange wind passes, and you feel as if some voice were guiding you to follow it. Down to the base of the steps, and straight away from the fortress.
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Post by Sumiyoshi on May 5, 2005 22:20:18 GMT -5
Minazuki
I pick up my Senbon and start following the guard (what a serious guy) up the steps. Finally, I'm starting down (or up, as the case may be) the path Fate weaved for me.
And then the air changes.
I've felt this kinda strange wind before- quite a few times, in fact- so I'm not really shocked or surprised when it happens. I come to a stop, and my eyes glaze over as I start listening to the breeze.
As usual, it's over as quickly as it came, but I can't help but feel that there was something there. Telling me to turn around and go away...
I turn in that direction, looking up into the sky. Nope, still can't see that special air. Or wind. "You too, huh?" I say out loud, to no one in particular. Maybe goin' into the Fortress really isn't what Fate has in mind for me. Or maybe she changed her mind. I don't know anymore.
I do know one thing, though; guards may be wrong. That's why I didn't listen to them when they told me to go far, far away from here. Human perception ain't always the truth, and there was always a chance that maybe Ishikawa wasn't as bad as they said he was.
The wind, on the other hand... when the wind says the same thing, then maybe there's some truth in the matter.
I turn back to where the guard's waiting for me, my eyes still slightly glazed and unfocused. "Sorry... I changed my mind," I tell him, with a slight bow. My voice sounds slightly funny- I'm really out of it, for whatever reason. "I'll have to listen to the wind on this one."
With that, I meander back down the steps, following the breeze.
I'm so gonna get in trouble for this. Well, Fate, you haven't lead me wrong before, so let's see what you've got in mind...
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Post by Flak on May 5, 2005 22:36:40 GMT -5
Minazuki
Derisive laughter follows you down the steps. It seems your retreat is rather amusing to the guards.
You follow the wind's whisper away from the fortress, then suddenly turning to your right, running along the base of the hill the fortress is built on. Plunging into the woods. It's crazy, you think, that you would follow something so intangible to such a degree.
Eventually you come to a halt when the wind's... presence... is no longer there.
Right in front of you is a tunnel leading into the hillside. It is dark within and you can't see very far in. There's nothing noteworthy that you DO see. All around you are trees, bushes, and other wild flora.
For a fleeting moment, the wind returns to you, whispers in your ear, fills your mind with its words:
"You might find something of interest."
And then it's gone again.
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Post by Sumiyoshi on May 6, 2005 1:40:58 GMT -5
Minazuki
As I'm sent wandering away from the fortress, around in a bizarre direction, and through a large bunch of trees, it does occur to me that this's sorta crazy (even though I enjoy the walk. It's always relaxing to walk through nature). Even though Grandfather always says that a fisherman's most important tool is his (or her) own instinct, I'm pretty sure that this ain't what he had in mind (at least not to this degree).
On the other hand, I can't deny that it's the wind guiding me, especially when the path ends with a tunnel. There's not a lot that can be seen from here, but there's not much else outside of the tunnel, either.
"You might find something of interest."
...
Even though I don't think the wind's ever spoken to me like that before (or at all, really), I'm not shocked or surprised- as with most things, I take it in stride. "In there...?" I whisper, half to myself and half to whoever may be listening. Looks awfully dark in there, and I have no way of telling how far the tunnel goes.
Well, I've come this far. It'd be a pity not to see what comes next, especially since my only other choice is to go back to the Fortress and get laughed even more (sure it's healthy to be able to laugh at yourself, but there's only so much a person can take, you know?).
After a moment's thought (well, maybe more than a few moments), I rummage through my belongings, coming up with some flint and tinder, as well as a crude torch of some sort. I take my time to get the torch lit- no rush, not with something like fire- and once that's done, I slowly, carefully start my way into the tunnel.
I'm pretty focused now. No room to be spaced out until I know what Fate's got in store for me.
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Post by Flak on May 6, 2005 8:12:39 GMT -5
Minazuki
The entire length of the tunnel is fairly nondescript, and with your torch you make your way through just fine. It is where the tunnel leads that excites you, because you emerge into the back of Tora Fortress's throne room. Tapestries and paintings line the walls, coloring the room brilliant shades of blue, red, green, and some other colors in minor amounts.
To say the least, it's beautiful. Unlike anything you'd find in a fishing village.
Your site seeing is short lived, however, because you notice the fact that there's a richly clad man lying on the ground clutching his head. You feel something mystical, like with the wind, only this time, you see the blurry images; a giant white tiger lying on the ground, his fur slowly being stained red, and a bear standing over the tiger, fangs in its neck. Both 'animals' seemed to emerge from the man on the ground.
As you're watching the struggle of the two ...kami?... the bear's jaws finally snap shut completely and the tiger's image shatters as an intricate stained glass window might. The man on the floor raises his head to the ceiling and cries out in pain. The image of the bear seems to be absorbed into the man, who lies back down and begins panting, as if he'd exerted himself greatly.
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Post by Sumiyoshi on May 6, 2005 8:47:38 GMT -5
OOC: ... and the plot thickens.
Minazuki
As I walked through the tunnel... well, there wasn't much to do except walk, so I started thinking about what might've awaited me.
I expected that the tunnel'd end in the mouth of a cave, or maybe at the bank of one of those pretty underground rivers, with light-emitting moss and fungi carpeting the walls above.
Sounds silly, doesn't it? Well, I wasn't sure what to expect. Trust in the wind, and all that.
So when I finally did reach the end, my jaw dropped open, because the last thing I'd been expecting was the throne room of Tora Fortress.
...
Again, I note that I'm standing here, in a place I really shouldn't be at, gawking like a peasant's daughter. And again, it really can't be helped- by the tiger, this's the most beautiful room... that I've ever seen. Ever. I wasn't aware that so many colors could exist side-by-side like this...
Wow.
- ah. I come back to my senses- as beautiful as the room itself is, I don't think the wind went to all this trouble just to show me a bunch of pretty colors.
Not sure what else to expect, I look around the room... and then I see the man on the ground. My first reaction is to walk over to him and see what's wrong, but I'm only able to take one step before the wind comes back.
No. This time, it's not the wind...
A small gasp escapes my lips as the animals materialize above the man's form. It's the familiar forms of Tora and Kuma, except...
My breath catches in my throat, and my eyes widen. Except...
The bear's jaws close around the tiger's throat, and my panicked, high-pitched "NO!" is drowned out by the man's cry of pain.
And then, it's over. I'm frozen in place as the richly-clad man starts recovering, not sure what to do, too shocked to care if he sees me.
Wind... is this what you wanted me to see...? Tora...
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Post by Flak on May 6, 2005 9:17:06 GMT -5
OOGM: I changed my mind rather abruptly. Sorry about that. Oh and by the way, your character wouldn't have already known about the bear. But it's ok.
Minazuki
The man- a noble, by his looks- slowly gets up and limps over to the door of the throne room. The door being opposite you. It seems the struggle of the spirits within him kept him from noticing you in the slightest. The big doors open as he pushes on them, and you hear voices, though the physical happenings are kept from sight by his body.
You can't even tell who's talking.
"Are the raiders set to go?"
"Yeah. Our last boatload came back and now we're sending a practical fleet."
"Excellent. Keep up the good work, Ishikawa."
"Unfortunately, there's something amiss, my lord. It seems the country bitch I asked the military to lend me hasn't come. This will weaken the fleet considerably."
"No big deal. If you find her, dispose of her. Set out wanted posters. Our fleet is still stronger than the merchant vessels of peace loving Kame."
"Yes, my lord."
The doors close, the noble on the other side. The throne room is now empty.
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