weakerlink (weakerlink) wrote in marvel_nextgen,
@ 2011-09-22 23:11:00

Entry tags:

Moonlight duels? What could be more exciting!
Kayura should have been more careful. She should have watched from further off. Or done more research on her computer at home. Things would have gone better. She realized that she was very lucky to be limping into the area reserved for training the next morning.

She didn't feel it. Normally she would dress in demure calf-length skirts with big shapeless tops not wanting to look too pretty or too eye catching. Besides, it was comfortable to dress that way. Today was a pants day though.

And the first time she was going to ask someone for assistance dealing with the supernatural since she had taken over her father's duty. She feels a touch of shame she has to ask for help.

"Hajime-sempai?" He has been here longer than her, he deserves that respect. "May I speak with you?"

She was glad it appeared that they were the only ones here this early in the day. She hadn't slept much after her defeat last night.

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weakerlink
2011-09-23 01:14 pm UTC (link)

She would point out her intelligence comes from so much studying. But she knows her father also studied and if the stories of grandfather are true he had been forced to be much more disciplined than he expected her to be.

He was a much nicer teacher apparently.

"Thank you Sempai." She felt something tug at her senses so she silently peered looking for something different.

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	get_medieval 2011-09-23 01:35 pm UTC (link)
	Either he senses it as well, or he hears her shifting. In no hurry, he stands up near the center of the bridge, and moves his hand to his belt, not on his sword, but near. "This is my bridge now, you cannot use it." he tells the darkness. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

nextgen_misc
2011-09-23 04:33 pm UTC (link)

It shouldn't be happening this way. But down the path there is a faint white image that becomes more clear. It is a man.

He is rather handsome despite the fact he is dead. His uniform is neatly presented. He would look the picture of the perfect guard except or an important fact, he is dead and there is blood spots from where he had been stabbed.

He approaches the bridge then stops not setting foot on it.

"I ask you to leave please. I do not wish to involve you in what must happen tonight." He sees Kayura too but does not choose to acknowledge her for now.

"And take your charge with you. They do not belong out here alone, it is dangerous I would not see them harmed," he says again in a firm tone but choosing to not speak directly to Kayura and deciding she is not a warrior either.

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	get_medieval 2011-09-23 04:37 pm UTC (link)
	Hajime shakes his head. "People have died. I am already involved. This is my bridge, you may not cross it. The girl is my student, she is here to learn. She is otherwise no more involved than you make her. But I will hear your tale, and your name, if you will tell it. It is good to know who one faces." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

weakerlink
2011-09-23 04:40 pm UTC (link)

Kayura really isn't surprised by this. She has witnessed that spirits don't always remember what has happened since they died.

She gets the impression she should be offended though. She was called Hajime-sempai's charge; not his student which is a huge difference in her mind. But in a case like this she'll stay silent.

Plus Hajime-sempai had made it clear she was his student. This made her wonder if she should be calling him Hajime-sensai. She really does think too much.

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nextgen_misc
2011-09-23 04:54 pm UTC (link)

"Then you have heard about the recruits dying," the captain says looking none too surprised.

"I... my story?" He looks cnfused nut then kneels across from them not setting foot on the bridge.

"Gomen. It last been a long night, I am Ishii. Captain Ishii. For the last three weeks I have been loosing recruits. Four a week. We find them stripped of their clothes by a bridge." He looks at the one Hajime is sitting on.

"I's like this one I think. I must have gotten turned around." He thinks he is still alive.

"My little sister is--- was supposed to get married next month. Her intended transferred to the Imperial City so she would not have to leave the place she grew up so close to. He was brave but foolish and went to see why men were dying alone. He survived until dawn and my sister is heart broken now, I do not think she will recover from this. I will not let this stand. No other family will suffer this pain, tonight I will put a stop to it. No more."

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get_medieval
2011-09-23 05:01 pm UTC (link)

Hajime nods, then kneels on the bridge, in keeping with polite conversation between military men. He gestures for Kayura to do likewise. Just because they must kill the man a second time is no cause to be rude.

"A noble purpose. I am very sorry that our duties conflict, but I understand.

I am kensai. I have travelled far to get here... to learn that in the process of your rightful seeking of justice, you have killed an innocent... by accident, surely... and injured a girl of an important family of protectors.

As such, I am sorry, but the honor of that family, and my duty to protect the innocent stands, and we must conflict.

However, if you will give me the name of your sister, and her father, that I might learn of them - and the name of her intended, I will swear to you that if you rest quietly when I have killed you, I will do my best to make sure that nothing more remains of the cowardly killers. As I understand it - thieves and assassins."

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	weakerlink 2011-09-23 05:16 pm UTC (link)
	She had understood. This man is still a warrior and deserves respect. Besides he is rational acting right now. So she kneels as well and listens. There is nothing else she can do right now. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

nextgen_misc
2011-09-23 05:24 pm UTC (link)

"I thank you," he says bowing his head.

He is ashamed that others may have died because of this. "It am sorry that I failed to recognize an innocent. I did not mean to hurt the girl either. I have no memory of this. I only remember the blades of the thieves and assassins."

He considers what Hajime is saying though. "But if you make sure my sister Emi, my father Haru, and her intended Aoki Hayato... just learn of them. And please, justice must be served from the dead or I dare not rest. I can not rest knowing they may not have paid, kensai. If you defeat me I know you are capable of seeing the rest of this through and you will hear of me no more.

I swear this to you. My word is my honor and I will bind myself to it."

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get_medieval
2011-09-23 05:30 pm UTC (link)

Hajime nods, glancing back to make sure Kayura has the names.

"This is your project, my student. While you heal from your wounds, research those names. If there is any trace left of these killers... we are honor bound to end it. A crime against honor has taken place... and while I regret to kill a good man, it is my duty.

Captain Ishii, I wish we could have had time for tea, but the hour is late. If you wish a minute to recite a final poem, or a note to your family, my student will transcribe it for you.

And then, I must ask you to show me your stance."

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weakerlink
2011-09-23 05:44 pm UTC (link)

Kayura had actually written the names down. She wasn't trying to look rude but she wanted to be sure to get the phonetics for how the ghost had said it just in case that effected who the people were.

"Hai Sensai. I will do this," Kayura agrees referring to him as her teacher for the first time. It was easy to think of him as that. Especially since it had become pretty clear she was his student in his mind.

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nextgen_misc
2011-09-23 05:51 pm UTC (link)

Captain Ishii recognized now that Kayura was Hajime's student. It started to come together that he had hurt her last night.

That he had been dead. It did not shock him as he was not that strongly connected to anything past his sense of duty and justice.

"Tell them.... Tell them simply this. I did my duty to my guards. I hoped to do my duty for them. I am sorry I stumbled and fell and hope they do not hold too much sorrow. I will be at peace soon and hope that they share the same peace with me when the time is right," he said seriously.

Then he stood up knowing his uniform was not a mess and put himself into a tachi-ai posture that spoke of formal training and a sense of honor. The guard would not dishonor Hajime in any way during this fight and just nodded to the kensai to let him know he was ready and waiting.

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get_medieval
2011-09-23 05:58 pm UTC (link)

Hajime nods, settling into stance.

His hand rests comfortably on his blade. One way or another, iaijutsu duels tend to be quick. Most often, one or the other acknowledged the superiority of the other, and it ended with no blood. That cannot be the case here - so it is to who is fastest.

He waits serenely, totally still for as long as his opponent does, waiting for his opponent to lose nerve and start to draw.

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	nextgen_misc 2011-09-23 06:11 pm UTC (link)
	The trees rattle in the breeze. It isn't quite fall yet so they don't have that bone like quality that would make the night creepier. But the moment drags on. The wind shifted again and it was unnatural that the uniform of Captain Ishii wouldn't shift. He looks like he might move at some point. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2011-09-23 06:13 pm UTC (link)
	Hajime locks eyes with his opponent, waiting for that flicker of movement. Hajime doesn't need to look to his sword, or his target. 700 years of training with the kenku sadists made sure his form was perfect. But almost any other has some sign, that first flinch. He does not move until he sees it, barely seeming to breathe. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_misc 2011-09-23 06:21 pm UTC (link)
	This is different for the ghost. He wants to look at his target but does not want to be seen as weak either. That makes this complicated for him. He knows that one of them has to move. Then it stops mattering because if he looses, this is okay. He is already dead. The choice is made so he is prepared to draw his sword now. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

get_medieval
2011-09-23 06:26 pm UTC (link)

Hajime does not like this. Dead or not, the ghost was trying to be a good man, and a soldier.

But he was trained to do this. Drawing the blade is as easy as breathing, and just as natural. Killing is just as easy.

There is a hiss of metal as he draws in time with a release of breath, motion so fast its barely visible as he strikes, trying to be just that split second faster.

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	nextgen_misc 2011-09-23 06:28 pm UTC (link)
	Hajime is faster. He had trained for longer after all. And the Captain is not surprised. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

get_medieval
2011-09-23 06:32 pm UTC (link)

The strike is a perfect bushido strike, upwards at a slight angle, to cut through the guts just under the ribs, then an angled cut down to make sure the opponent does not suffer, a draw bac, a flick of the blade to clean it, and a moment more of staying on guard, in case the opponent strikes by reflex.

"Tell your sister and ancestors you have missed them." he says quietly.

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	nextgen_misc 2011-09-23 06:34 pm UTC (link)
	The Captain did not strike back. He felt himself sinking and pain. But it was the good sort of pain because he knew that he would see his family soon. He had missed them so much. "I thank... you." And he is at rest once again. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

weakerlink
2011-09-23 06:42 pm UTC (link)

Kayura had been tense the entire time. She couldn't help it even though she knew Hajime-sensi would win.

She relaxed then watched as the ghost dissolved into nothingness. There was not even a sign of ectoplasim which made it even more sure in her mind this was finished.

It made her glad because no more deaths would occur here and she could feel a sense of silence fall over the park. It would get better.

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	get_medieval 2011-09-23 06:45 pm UTC (link)
	There may be no blood, but Hajime cleans the sword anyway, and returns it to its sheath. Then he lowers to his knees again and prays, silent until he has finished a prayer to the local kami that they may find peace now, to his own ancestors, and to the Captain's ancestors. Finally, "The stream is much happier now. We should go." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

weakerlink
2011-09-23 11:02 pm UTC (link)

She was silent that whole time. She had never prayed much to anyone or anything but she understood. She respected the Captain because he had been acting for his men and the man who should have become his brother in law.

She gulped in a bit of air and nodded. "In a few days this place will feel normal. The birds will come back here soon too."

She climbs to her feet pocketing the small note book and picking up her backpack.

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	get_medieval 2011-09-23 11:06 pm UTC (link)
	"Yes." he agrees quietly. "And you have a busy few days ahead of you. This is a lot to research, to make sure the promise is kept." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

weakerlink
2011-09-23 11:15 pm UTC (link)

"Mmm. It shouldn't be that hard to find the information. I'm a history major. That means I can contact some people in Kyoto who should be able to grant me access to any of the old records." Which means she may need to make a trip there since the records are old and fragile.

And it makes sense, next year she will be working on a thesis. Lots of students get started early and she thinks she can accomplish most of this over the course of a two day trip there.

It will still require so much shuffling but she can get started at home tonight. "And my father's library likely has things I can use to get started. What I found today was mostly accurate."

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