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 Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 4:45 pm
arrow The Palace of the East in Laburnum
Alcyone was in for a rather rude awakening. She had gotten probably a total of 5 hours of sleep when a loud banging on her door awoke her.
"GODDAMMIT, what the ********? KOUJI!"
Kouji threw the door open.
"Alcyone-dono! The High Priestess of Light wants to see you immediately!"
"The ******** for?"
"There was an attack on the Light Temple!"
Kouji had said the magic word- attack. The Kunoichi bolted upright even though she was in her sleeping clothes. Kouji shut the door to her run and moved out of the way.
"Where is Seyumi-dono?"
"I-I don't know-"
"Talk to me, Kouji."
Alcyone ducked behind a screen and started changing.
"Black pants, black turtleneck, black haori coat with the elbow-length sleeves, black kimono, white underkimono and both white obis, now."
Kouji ran about the room, gathering the clothing she had asked for and handed it her. He walked and talked.
"Something attacked the Light Temple. Details are sketchy but I do know that the High Priestess of Light, Noriamatsu Yukiko, came out and fought the intruder herself. Brought him down in one hit."
"Must have been rather fearsome to bring the High Priestess herself out. We need to find Seyumi-dono, post haste. If she has left the palace, I will have some heads. I thought I was explicit about me being informed whenever Seyumi leaves the palace."
Alcyone rushed out from behind the screen as fast as her black kimono would allow. Her black tabi socks stood out against the white straps of her geta sandals. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail at the base of her neck. She started to arm herself at her weapons rack.
"Kami... does anyone ever listen to what I say?"
2 minutes later, she and Kouji were rushing out of the palace, joined a moment later by 2 of the members of the Teshigahara ninja team, Teshigahara Tasogare and Teshigahara Iesada. Tasogare's strange coloring attracted much attention from people as the four raced through the streets making four black blurs in a rough diamond shape.
"Kouji, please go locate Seyumi-hime. Take the entire ninja team if you have to. Find her and keep her safe until I return."
Kouji nodded and one of the blurs doubled back and headed towards the palace. Alcyone proceeded with Tasogare and Iesada.
"Welcome to Laburnum, my brothers."
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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 4:47 pm
arrow Hefter's Haven
Mick nodded to Rigel and dragged both men into his room. He then set them against the wall, placing the unconcious soldier in such a way that it seemed the two men had fought, the unconcious one winning, but rendered to a blackout state. The mage then stepped back and focused. Moments later, Mick was still staring at one unconcious and one dead soldier, but to the hitman it would have seemed that the two mercanaries had vanished. Lastly, Mick reclaimed his wire from the unconcious man.
Mick then went about retrurning his wire cage to his hands, the remaining wires, which he had left up incase the hitman were to try anything, swiftly retracted to his hands.
Mick quickly went about grabbing his own clothes and changing into them. Certainly not the conventional mage, Mick wore boot-cut black pants with black steel-toed boots, a flowing white dress shirt with several buttons undone, exposing a small portions of his moon birthmarks. Above it all he wore what appeared to be a modified mage robe. It had been fabricated into a duster-style coat, ivory buttons glittering amongst the darkness that was the coat.
"We'll be meeting up with a friend of mine," Mick said as he picked up and attatched his whip at his side. "And if you thought I was a threat, then don't get on her bad side. Trust me..." Mick slung his bag over his shoulders and grabbed his traditional mage staff, which his parents and Espa demanded he always take with him.
"Okay, my friend and I won't have any troubles getting out of this place, but you, on the other hand..." Mick twisted his right hand in a "you know what I mean" gesture. "So stand still, and we'll fix that problem!"
Mick stared at the hitman for a few moments, then shut his eyes. Mick had done this to others countless times, and had done it to himself more times than he could count. The best part of the process was the tingly feeling that crept over your body, sending a wave of euphoria to the brain.
"There," Mick said, dropping his hands and smiling. "You're now just like those two guys over there: out of sight, out of mind. There are a few rules to follow. The moment you make physical contact with another person, the illusion wears off, so be wary of that. Plus there's a time limit, depending on how long or short the caster focuses. In your case, you'll be good for about twenty minutes; plenty of time to get far away from here. Oh, and don't talk, it makes people think they're going crazy."
Mick went to open the door, turned, and said, "By the way, my name's Mick. Mick Brightman." The mage slid the door open and grinned widely. "If it isn't my sexy lil' psychic!"
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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 4:57 pm
arrow Hefter's Haven
Espa put on her tan cowboy hat with the strings that went under the chin. The door slid open and Espa stepped out, unconsciously dodging a wire Mick had left in case the assassin tried anything. The psychic wasn't sure where the assassin was but was trusted Mick to know.
"Make sure he knows to keep in step with us to mask the sounds of his steps," Espa said," We don't need an echo."
That being said, she and Mick started to lead the way out.
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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 5:17 pm
arrow That Guy's Bath House
Rigel wished that he had retrieved his knife before the solders vanished. His throwing daggers weren't exactly standard equipment.
He then felt a sudden euphoric sensation, a new feeling of satisfactions. The drug that coursed through his veins amplified it; attaining transparency set Rigel�s hairs on end. At the very least, this mage was good for this.
He listened carefully to the mage's instructions, Magic was incredibly useful but it was based on rules. A place for everything and everything in it's place. To Rigel obeying these rules wasn't worth virtually not existing for twenty minutes. There had to be a better way to be a ghost, but for now it would save his bacon.
Sometime between Mick's introduction and Opening the door Rigel let out a brief, "Rigel Alpheratz."
That would be enough for now, he needed to examine the new member of this bizarre trio. Upon first glance Rigel approved of Mick's choice in traveling companions, then he saw the way she carried herself. She was dangerous alright, and wasn't afraid to show it. He noticed a bizarre movement, a slight duck during her entrance.
Wire. He thought, and then made a mental note of where it was incase Mick pulled something.
Then he heard Mick's words. Psychic. They'd be in contact even without words and she may even try to touch what was left of Rigel's mind. This made her undoubtedly even more dangerous.
As for now, he would follow wherever Mick led. He had twenty minutes to.
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Joseph Brown Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 5:49 pm
arrow Laburnum's Eastern Palace
"Uwah~" A pile of blankets mumbled, the plush sheets wriggling slightly. The spells cast by the High Priestess were strong enough to disturb any mage in the city - and Sey was no exception.
The blanket pile squirmed and got closer and closer to the edge of the bed until falling off with a startled squeek; a small head covered with frazzled ebony hair peeking out from the pile. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes with fisted hands, Sey reached her hands skyward and yawned.
"Mnnrnnnnnn~ Wah~"
Someone had dressed her into her sleeping robes and Sey played with the soft silk for a moment before standing up and looking around. She was in Laburnum City, at the heart of her family's palace, a short distance from the Temple of Light. Yawning loudly and padding over to the robes set out for her, Sey reached out for her tabi and froze. A charred, black branch was laying on top of her cloak.
Curious, Sey picked it up and studied it intently. It's leaves were still attached, yet they were extremely fragile; the mere touch of her finger causing it to crumple into ash.
'Na? How did this get here...?' A single sphere was attached to the branch, and after a moment Sey recognized it as an olive. The symbol of peace in the West.
Frowning, the young Kaikou plucked the fruit off the branch and stared at it closely, rubbing some of the ash off it's skin and holding it closer to her face. It looked almost ripe- wait... was that a patch of green? Rubbing it a little more, Sey accidently broke the fruit's skin and a bit of juice squirted her on the face. Reaching up to wipe it off with her hands, Sey looked down at her fingers expecting to see a clear liquid.
Her hands were crimson with blood.
Opal grey orbs glazed over and Sey stood stark still as images raced through her mind; noises filling her ears with maddening screams.
A massive tree was afire and people were screaming all around her - a dark room where an alter was covered with 1000 cranes and an olive branch filled her sight, then a burst of heat and blood, pain and screaming.
The screams were agonizing - cries for help from unseen figures filled her ears and Sey cried, begging them to show themselves, telling them that she would try and help them if she could only see them. As the vision loosened it's grip on her mind, Sey realized that she herself was screaming - and that her hands and face were splattered with blood.
"TASUKETE!!"
((Edit: Translation? Help. ))
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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 6:39 pm
arrow The Palace of the East in Laburnum
Kouji raced back through the streets and took a shortcut into the palace. As he vaulted over the wall, he spotted Sasori and nodded to her to follow. She abandoned her post in the trees and they spelunked across the garden. They entered the palace and picked up Hisui as they ran. Up the staircase they went and soon they were joined by Asahi, Irihi, and Keito."The princess!" Hisui said.
Kouji immediately hooked to the right and headed towards the princess' room. Kouji, Asahi, and Keito threw their combined weight against the door, in perfect sync. That was how they operated when they were in a group. They operated as one and worked together. Kouji was in the center with Keito on his right and Asahi on his left. The door yielded with a loud WHAM! as the men tucked and rolled. Kouji sprung up first while Asahi and Keito stayed by the door, for fear that the imprisoned Dark Elemental would scare the girl. Hisui, Sasori, and Irihi rushed into the room and took up positions around the bed in case of hostile presences in the room. 6 ninja secured the room, the shadows that protected the light.
"Seyumi-hime!"
Kouji clutched the girl's shoulders and shook her awake. After a moment, he clutched the small girl to his chest in a warm, reassuring hug.
"Kouji's here, Kouji's here, Seyumi-dono..." Kouji said, hoping that his presence was reassuring to the frightened princess," Nothing can hurt you... it's alright."
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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 7:23 pm
Kouji Tsukioka "Seyumi-hime!"
Kouji clutched the girl's shoulders and shook her awake. After a moment, he clutched the small girl to his chest in a warm, reassuring hug.
"Kouji's here, Kouji's here, Seyumi-dono..." Kouji said, hoping that his presence was reassuring to the frightened princess," Nothing can hurt you... it's alright." Sey sniffled several times before clutching Kouji's shirt and bawling, the blood on her hands and face smearing against his clothes. In the middle of her sobs, fragmented words reached the shinobi's ears. "Blood... Fire... Branch - screaming! Okaasama... Otousama..." She burried her face into his chest and continued to bawl. They would find no cuts on Sey's body, but patches of ash could be seen on her white robes despite the absence of the branch.
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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 7:42 pm
Sey Kouji Tsukioka "Seyumi-hime!"
Kouji clutched the girl's shoulders and shook her awake. After a moment, he clutched the small girl to his chest in a warm, reassuring hug.
"Kouji's here, Kouji's here, Seyumi-dono..." Kouji said, hoping that his presence was reassuring to the frightened princess," Nothing can hurt you... it's alright." Sey sniffled several times before clutching Kouji's shirt and bawling, the blood on her hands and face smearing against his clothes. In the middle of her sobs, fragmented words reached the shinobi's ears. "Blood... Fire... Branch - screaming! Okaasama... Otousama..." She burried her face into his chest and continued to bawl. They would find no cuts on Sey's body, but patches of ash could be seen on her white robes despite the absence of the branch.
His rough hands, calloused from years of practice with the bow, held the small girl, trying to offer any comfort that he could. One hand combed her hair as he whispered soothing words of comfort to her.
He turned his head.
"Sasori, is everyone fully armed?"
"Hai."
"Good, do me a favor and send someone to go fetch my bow."
"Hai."
Sasori stood up and started making her way to the door. Hisui snorted.
"Why is that baby crying?" she said in an annoyed voice.
5 pairs of angry eyes turned towards the Chuunin girl. Before Kouji could say anything, Sasori had closed the distance between her and Hisui. A sharp slap was heard as Sasori brought her hand across the girl's face so hard it sent her to the floor.
"Do not forget your place, Chuunin," Sasori spat.
Then the Jounin left to get Kouji's bow. Kouji continued to try and comfort the girl when the Shadow Priestess, Irihi, approached Seyumi. Kouji looked at her and whispered to Sey.
"Seyumi, do you want to see your mother? She is at the Light Temple right now."
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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 7:52 pm
She nodded furiously, though she refused to let go of Kouji's shirt. Okaasama was here... She hadn't seen her in months.
A chill swept through her body and Sey could hear the whispers of Light spirits as they disbanded from the Light temple, mumbling words of anger towards those who dwell in shadow. Such a heavy concentration of magic - her mother had to be there with the ring.
"Y... Yes please." Sey hiccuped, wiping her tears on Kouji's robes. She prayed to the spirits that what she saw would never, ever come true.
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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 7:56 pm
Slifer_Ozura The fall hadn't broken anything, he had landed upon a bed of leaves. His wings however would need healing. He would have to cast a spell for that later. Leaves swirled up from beneath the fallen scion of darkness and formed into a vague figure of a man. The leaves acquired a dark tinge on account of the shadowy magic that made them move, and a voice, rather hoarse, began to emanate from them. "Dark one, do you seek aid?" The voice asked, not unkindly. There was a small, inexplicable quality to the voice that was impossible to track.
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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 8:14 pm
"Very well then," Kouji said," Princess, this is Hirano Irihi, a Shadow Priestess of our clan."
Irihi's face and demeanor was gentle. Despite the fact that the girl could easily feel that Irihi's aura was tinged with Darkness, it was a non-threatening Darkness. It was like somehow Light and Dark had been mixed.
"Seyumi-hime, let's get you ready to see your mother," Irihi said.
Irihi clapped her hands thrice and servants appeared in the room.
"Let's get Seyumi-sama cleaned up," Kouji said.
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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 8:15 pm
Pacing the length of the Temple Dias, Yukiko Kaikou, the 198th High Priestess of Light waited for the Kunoichi. She had arrived hours earlier from her trip to Phoecian Temple of Water and had not had much sleep - and the Temple's 'disturbance' hadn't helped her recover from her trip either.
Shaking off the fog of exhaustion with several glasses of green tea and pacing, Yukiko went through the week's agenda in her mind.
The Festival of High Priestess Seyumi Kaikou was to begin in 2 days. The Royal Family of Avalana was to arrive during the evening and was going to take residence in their palace on the other end of the city. With her husband and the King of Avalana in the same city, security HAD to be tight - lest a war break out during the festival despite the 3 day truce. And before she could sleep easy, Yukiko wanted to know if her family and spouse would be safe. Yuuki was off in the Ooken province, overseeing the establishment of a new governor and touring the lands which would soon become his. Hikaru - Hikaru was always off doing things with Kenji and she trusted him. He was a good boy and a good son; a pride to his father and her. And Sey...
"Oma, I see so much of myself in her." She said, shaking her head and continuing to pace. That was a bad thing; her childhood was wild and filled with adventures in the mountains of her home. But Sey was the daughter of the Shogun - she had no mountains to roam and was the only daughter to one of the most powerful men on Gaia: and could be used against him.
"Where is the kunoichi?" Yukiko said quietly, though her insecurity was evident in her voice.
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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 8:25 pm
Sey hesitantly loosened her death grip on Kouji's shirt and numbly stood up on her own, walking to Irihi and bowing politely.
"It is a pleasure to meet you," She said softly, ettiqute drilled into her young mind. Taking one last sad look at Kouji before walking to stand next to Irihi, Sey felt herself slip into a mechanic state; her body moving on it's own. Her mind was miles away from her body, searching for the foreign yet unfamiliar room with the alter...
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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 8:31 pm
arrow The Light Temple
Alcyone and the two Jounin that flanked her made it to the Light Temple, the aura making it hard for the Kunoichi to see with her sensitive eyes. The three raced up the mountain path to the temple. Acting as one, they avoided the halls altogether and simply scaled the walls.
As the High Priestess paced, three figures clad in black leapt down from the ledge above the dias and landed in kneeling positions before the Yukiko. Alcyone was in the middle and the three of them took a knee just like samurai.
"High Priestess Noriamatsu-dono," Alcyone said," Your shadows yield to the light's command."
With that, the three bowed low to the woman who was also the Empress of the East. Alcyone had to squeeze her eyes shut since it hurt to look at the powerful woman with her sensitive eyes.
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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 8:36 pm
Slifer_Ozura Back at the temple a voice echoed through the stone. It seemed to leave a sense of terror in the ground. The voice was pure evil, enough to make even the unholiest fear sin. The voice echoed, but was directed at Yukiko. "Do not fear mistress of light. Your death shall come soon, where all may watch, your death, will be my vengence" with that the voice faded. "Make no more threats against the innocent, demon!" the Adept shouted in reply to the words, though the body that spoke them was long gone and out of reach of his responce. It was an almost involuntary responce to the creature's harsh words against the High Priestess, controlled, but just barely, by the journeyman. The three of them, however, had known since the High Priestess had arrived that the situation had gone beyond their control. They were far from incompetant in their own rights, but in the presence of the High Priestess Yukito Kaikou, they had but the power of children in comparisson to her own. Each of the three quickly dropping to a knee and clasping one hand over their heart, they bowed their heads to the High Priestess and begged forgiveness for being so weak that they would require her protection... Yukiko_Noriamatsu "The wounded? Where are the wounded? And where is Sey? Is she alright?!" Her voice progressively grew louder as the words came from her mouth, bordering on hysteria as she asked about her youngest child.
Sol stepped beside her, looking up at the sky almost absently as he went over the words inside of his own mind again and again, not wanting to put them forth in a way that might cause the High Priestess undue worry... she was already troubled enough about the absence of her daughter, and, in truth, none at the temple could say where she had gotten off to, either. The young Sage did not make any moves to attempt to console the woman, though he kept his tone as calm and reassuring as he could to attempt to ease her worries just a bit.
"...many of those who were injured might not make it..." Sol added, letting his gaze drop just a bit so that his head hung slightly and a wisp of hair fell across his face; prompting him to reach up absently and wipe it away with the edge of a finger.
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