Tenryuu

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... Tenkyuu doesn't look very good.

Flying Swords Tenryuu was wearing an expression she rarely donned; a soft one, of concern and worry and just a slight tinge of sadness. She probably would not have shown that face if there were anyone present besides her mother, looking as if she had not slept in a week, and her brother, whose eyes, also filled with worry, kept flitting between the archer and the swordswoman.

Tenkyuu doesn't feel very good, her mother concurred, rubbing her eyes with a slight chuckle. She isn't sure what sort of use she can be to the Empress in this state. Tenkyuu can hardly find her sleeping potions or her reading spectacles nowadays, never mind lost Dragon Knights...

... Tenkyuu's brief attempt at lightening the mood failed as soon as she brought up the disappearance of Setsushi. Tenryuu scowled; neurotic weakling though he could sometimes be, Tenryuu believed in his skill and strength. There was no way he could have been assassinated; Setsushi could take on a thousand assassins blindfolded, Tenryuu believed. And to just... get sucked down into a whirlpool and disappear...

Tenkyuu was thinking the same thing at the same time: that would be too ignoble an end for little Setsushi.

"I doubt the Empress intends for us to look for him."

Ryoua jumped; Unsou had spoken from almost right behind him.

A look of surprise briefly flashed over Tenryuu's face, but then she frowned, her brow betraying her annoyance. "Don't you care about what happened to your comrade?"

Unsou gazed back at Tenryuu, expressionless. "My sentiments play no role in my evaluation. It is simply more likely that the Empress has summoned us to discuss his replacement."

Replacing Setsushi...? "Interesting," Tenkyuu chuckled, quickly hiding her emotions behind a wry smile. Replacing Setsushi will be quite a feat...

"It will," chimed in Chourou, appearing from behind one of the garden's decorative pillars. "There are not many able, honest men among the Knights nowadays."

And he was 10 stories tall! added a little girl clinging to the brown-haired Knight's skirts.

Though Unsou seemed to slightly recoil, the faces of Tenkyuu and her children lit up with smiles. Tenkyuu moved forward, starting to kneel down -- then wincing and rubbing her back with an awkward smile. "Who is this little one?" she asked, enunciating the words and projecting the question clearly to the child as well as Chourou.

"My daughter, Ako," answered Chourou, not quite managing to hide all her pride. "Ako, This is Dame Tenkyuu, the Heavenly Bow."

Ako boggled at Tenkyuu, then clumsily bowed.

While Tenryuu and Ryoua emitted feelings approximate of quiet squeals, Unsou merely twitched. "Why might Dame have brought a child here?" She asked tensely, using a polite construction though her tone gave away her disapproval. It is, after all, an important matter...

"The Empress is not scheduled to see us until tomorrow," Chourou reminded Unsou, maintaining a gracious and jovial tone. "And Ako is always by my side."

Then she will have an advantage if she wishes to become a great general, Tenryuu thought, If she gets to see her mother at work for so many years.

Though perhaps she will not choose that path, Tenkyuu reminded her daughter.

"Indeed, not every daughter of a Dragon Knight is able to become one herself," Chourou noted, with a complimentary feeling towards Tenryuu.



"Indeed, no more will be able to," came a voice.

Ryoua, who had been gradually backing away from the group, feeling out of place in this assortment of great ladies, once again jumped and turned around.

Before him was a man -- a man? -- small, slender, and exquisitely beautiful, dressed in an extravagant array of drapes and robes, delicately embroidered with fine detail, preceded by a mysterious fragrance reminiscent of flowers and incenses, strange and intoxicating. He smiled gently at Ryoua, touching his fingertips lightly to the boy's shoulder before drifting past him, so softly and gracefully it seemed as if he was floating. Indeed, he might have indeed been floating, as his clothes were almost as elaborate and restrictive as an Empress's.

Ignoring Unsou's demand he identify himself, he addressed the group:

"The Empress has reviewed this case, and she has decided that she no longer needs any Dragon Knights in this world. You are all dismissed -- no, you are freed. She has cut your strings. You are now... free to die."

Tenryuu's hands reached for Cherry Viper and Cherry Fire, but she stopped in the middle of the motion -- it was as if she could no longer will her arms to move. Not as if her arms had been frozen by some telekinesis, but rather... as if she had lost the will to move them...

Even Unsou could not resist, and found her mind and body relaxing, lulled by something in the man's strange voice, his strange projections, that odd perfume filling the air. She looked out of her eyes -- they seemed now almost like a stranger's -- at the others, even Ryoua and Ako, going limp around her. What kind of wicked person would target the defenseless-- but she was unable to finish her projection as her thoughts grew muddled, and she could no longer remember what had upset her so.

The man leaned back to survey his work, smiled, and began to raise his arm to summon up another spell. He was interrupted, however, by a man's scream of rage and a child's shriek of terror. He turned to see a well-dressed man charging at him, a small dagger in his fist. An incoherence of anger descended upon him: Reiga will not allow anyone to harm Chourou! Befuddled, the silver-eyed stranger tilted his head curiously at his assailant, doing nothing to protect himself as the dagger was plunged through the layers of priceless silk, into his chest.

Uki screamed again, for her mother, her father, her sister, and the stranger, and covered her eyes.

As Reiga staggered back from him, panting, the stranger slowly tilted his chin to look down at the weapon sticking out of him. Peculiar, he thought to himself, then slowly raised his gaze to Reiga.

... And then, to the merchant's building horror, an odd little smile formed on the beautiful man's lips. "Yes... You must always be with Chourou." The man nodded, as if to himself, then raised his sleeve to gesture at Reiga and his daughter; "Then you shall go with them."

Too sick and terrified to defend himself, Reiga succumbed; too shocked to run, Uki was overwhelmed. And so, slowly, a comforting, irresistable darkness overcame them all...





Tenryuu would be the first to awaken; she felt no pain, but rather as if she was easing out of a blissful, happy dream. A recollection of her childhood, perhaps, lying on her bed, the summer night so hot the window was flung wide open and the full moon so bright Ryouga could read to her without lighting a lantern...

... But that face wasn't Ryouga's; it was too long, and Ryouga never had such an unattractively furrowed brow, nor eyes so full of worry and so bright a blue...

Is Tenryuu awake? Is she all right? Can Setsushi get anything for her -- while she explains what all these people are doing lying comatose on the floor of his house!?
 

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Given Name: Tenryuu (腆竜?)
Elemental Name: Wood
Lucidity: High Lucid

Birthdate: 8-12 T702
Birthplace: Green Shore, Toukoku

Age: 18
Height: 4'10"
Character: Brash
Talent: Valor
Occupation: Dragon Knight (though temporarily an outdoor groundskeeper while residing in Gaia)

Sun Sign: the Judge
Outgoing, magnanimous, concerned with justice and community.
Moon Sign: the Spearman
Bold, excitable, aggressive, stubborn, dedicated to self-improvement.

Mother: Tenkyuu, Lucid Heaven (retired Dragon Knight)
Father: Ryouga, Dreaming Earth (deceased)
Spouse: --

Likes: Exercise, friendly competition, spicy food
Dislikes: Gloomy people, politics, people who cannot keep secrets
Interests: Martial arts, the lives of famous tacticians, smithing
Health issues: Still tends to get acne now and then, most usually if she does not remain active.
Romantic inclinations: Admires young men, but hasn't found the right one yet

Personality: Tenryuu, daughter of a Dragon Knight herself, may have inherited her martial skill from her mother, but the "Flying Swords" does not seem to have inherited Tenkyuu's calm and coolheaded demeanor. Indeed, Tenryuu seems almost the opposite of Tenkyuu; an aggressive but warm woman, Tenryuu appears to be like a tiger, a passionate, physical, unintellectual person, who noisily carouses with her subordinates during peace and, in war, flies into battle, her swords flashing wildly alongside a mental battle scream.

....but perhaps that is only part of the picture....

Attire: While her Dragon Knight armor is still well-maintained, Tenryuu finds little opportunity or reason to wear it in Gaia. For this reason, she is most usually seen in the green garments worn beneath her armor as her casual attire of choice. While working, she has a selection of button-up shirts (most of them flannel) and a few pairs of baggy, durable pants which allow for mobility, protection from the elements, and comfort (also, she would much rather put wear and tear on gaian-made clothes that are in ready supply than ruin the only outfit she has from home)

 

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Tenkyuu - heart She wasn't home much when I was younger, and when she was home, it felt like all she did was pick on me. Father's passing made me realize just how important she is to me and the years have brought us much closer. I trust and respect Mother over anyone else....even on the days she decides to make a game out of seeing how red she can make my face turn.

Ryouga - heart cry I think Father understood me in a way no one ever will again. His death, even now, has cast a shadow on us all. I hope that one day, I am fortunate enough to marry a man so caring and supportive as he was...

Ryoua - 3nodding We had our differences when we were small. Mother and Father seemed to favor him and he got whatever he wanted, but looking back on it, I understand it was only because he was younger than me. He's growing into a fine young man.  

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Reiren - 3nodding There are many things I could say we've locked horns on, but I know she means well. Despite her misgivings, I believe I've shouldered the duties asked of me as well as can be expected. ...though I will agree, it may have been too soon.

Souken - stare I know that I owe her much. But perhaps not that much....

Chourou - 3nodding A fine commander and someone I hope to one day be like. For now, however, the front lines beckon.

Setsushi - whee Silly, gangly Ice Maiden. Not even being trapped an entire world away from home has changed him, but I would have him no other way. I wish the Imperial Princess luck in melting this one...

Unsuo - confused A skilled knight, to be sure, but...there are times I wonder if she hasn't forgotten that justice and protection are, too, our duties....

Rika - sweatdrop I do not know Imperial Princess Rika all that well, and she is a hard person to read. I'm not sure what sort of ground she and I stand on after our last meeting, but Mother and I were only looking out for the family...








Xue - blaugh He was one of the first new people I met in Gaia. A very energetic and friendly little boy who was a joy to be around. I hope he hasn't forgotten my invitation to come and visit sometime.

Kaya - confused I found this young one shortly after she'd arrived in Gaia. Her cat had been injured and she was seeking help, so I did what I could for her. I've not seen her since...










.......

 

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Tenryuu resides with her mother and younger brother in a two-level house next door to Setsushi's udon-ya. As she is the only one of her family currently employed, and her income is foremostly invested in supporting the three of them, furnishings are comfortable, but sparse in this dwelling (most of them being thrift store orphans).

Tenkyuu claims the master bedroom on the ground floor. It is easily the largest offshoot room, having even its own tiny bathroom to ensure that Heavenly Bow is allowed periods of seclusion and privacy when needed.

Tenryuu's room is contained in the area beneath the stairwell. While a cramped room with barely enough space for a bed and dresser, Tenryuu does not require much more than this.

With the exception of a bathroom, the rest of the ground floor is devoted to a kitchen/living area with a sliding back door that opens into a decently-sized yard.



The yard doubles as a "training ground", wherein an archery target has been set up near the fence line, and a cottonwood tree with many notches in its trunk tells the tale of serving as a makeshift sparring partner for Flying Swords.

Upstairs is a smaller loft area. Ryoua makes his quarters here, along with an attic area which is currently unoccupied by anything of note.

 

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Warcry - a coffee/tea house is often a place of daydreaming and inspiration. If Pithy Twigs had warned Tenryuu that her thoughts may literally take substance as she drank that particular cup of Juniper Tea, she might have tried to make her chain of thinking a little less surreal that day...

In spite of its name, Warcry is quite placid. This tea spirit tends to keep to itself, often materializing late in the evening when Flying Swords is settling into bed for the night to wrap itself around a bedpost and watch her write in her journal. It often goes unnoticed, though announces its presence with the tangy herbal scent of juniper berries (and given Tenryuu's sense of smell, it is safe to say Warcry is, indeed, unnoticed most times). Her feelings on the odd creature are neither here nor there. She can't recoil from Warcry too much, after all, if it was, indeed, a product of her own mind...

 

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Heh. It's good to see Mother's sense of humor shine through. This was given to me during the process of moving in, "in case I found it hard to face the nights alone in a new house". ....at least she did us both the decency of not presenting this gift with a straight face. It sits on top of the dresser.

Various odds and ends discovered in the Market District...





Mother has come to prefer this world's coffee, and Ryoua does not brew it nearly strong enough. Its become easier to just make my own tea. Thankfully, its much the same here as it was back home.




Gaia has some interesting ideas about food preparation. These are some of my favorites.




I was not sure we would be staying in this place long enough that I would even have need for one of these. If nothing else, this entire strange experience will be something to look back on and laugh. I should make sure to preserve as much of it as I can while its fresh in my mind.

 

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Tenryuu Uncert By Setsushi -- In full armor, accompanied by her two most trusted friends, Cherry Viper and Cherry Fire

Eyes of Flame By Friction Fire -- I don't know what has caused her to make that face, but rest assured, I want no part of it gonk

Just Tenryuu By Belo4ka - Its okay to stare. She knows she's awesome.

Flying Swords In Action By purdoy25 - "I didn't quite hear that, would you like to repeat what you just said about my mother?"

You are SUCH a brat By Naughty Kitten 13 - based on an IM RP that never got finished. Shuu did not make the best of impressions on Flying Swords :XP:

NOT IN THE MOOD FOR YOUR CRAP TODAY, MOM By ixyra - ....but rest assured, there's no love lost between them. Not even over snakes in a can heart

All in good fun By ixyra - Whether she wants to admit it or not, Tenryuu really takes after her mom sometimes. Which would be fine, except Setsushi has a hard time distinguishing between affectionate teasing and meanness regarding his awkward height...

 

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• T706 - Her younger brother Ryoua is born.
  
• T715 - Her father, Ryouga dies
  
• T715 - Is declared Lucid and receives the name of Wood.
  
• T715 - Becomes a Squire of the Dragon Knight Reiren.
  
• T719 - Becomes Knighted -- and soon afterward, made a Dragon Knight
  
• T720 - Tenryuu is summoned to the Capital City; according to the messenger, the Empress wishes to address the three remaining Dragon Knights on the subject of Setsushi's recent disappearance.

 

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Hide & Seek -- by Namie Amuro

 

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