[Story] Life outside the pub

[Kuraku Hideaki]

Story: Happenings outsside the pub so as not to go off topic

Current Atmosphere: Sunrise, no more shadows, quite light

[Kuraku Hideaki]

As Takashi, and his men pick up Kurakushin, and help him out the door. They disappear into the night. A few moments later, Tomitsuro gets up from his seat, and as he walks past the barkeeper, he tosses a few coins at him. Then, Tomitsuro leaves the bar.

Outside, he stands and stares into the dark paths ahead of him, and he sees a few shadows carrying another shadow, then, Tomitsuro slowly walks and follows them. Stalking from the shadows.

Redb@ck san enters the pub, carefully surveying the scene, before strolling over to the barkeep, he asks, "Have you recently seen Kurakushin, the leader of the Karaku family?" The barkeep replies, "Oh yes Redb@ck san, Kurakushin san left only a few minutes ago drunk". With that Redb@ck turns, sprints out, hot in pursuit.

After waking up from a blackout, Kurakushin realises he is being carried off to somewhere he has never seen before. Too weak to struggle, he falls back to sleep.

[Redb@ck]

Redb@ck continues his pursuit of Kurakushin, who is currently been carried by Takashi and his men, who are also being pursued by Tomitsuro. He follows from a distance of 100 feet, fleeting in and out of the safety of the shadows. He notices Takashi, hurrying his men along, carefully scanning the shadow for stalkers.

[ToshiMaru]

Suddently, before the glimspe of the moonshine reaches beyond the clouds, Tomitsuro walks under one of the clouds shadows, and disappears as the moon shines on his spot.

[Kuraku Hideaki]

please take note to the following atmosphere change: Current Atmosphere: Sunrise, no more shadows, quite light

[ToshiMaru]

On the next morning, Tomitsuro stands upon a crevise near the high mountains and thinks: "Am i stupid enough to try and jump over this crack in the ground? The crack that is about 15 ft wide, and a dark and unfriendly passage towards the underground?"

Then, yes, i am stupid enought to try. So Tomitsuro moves back, and leaps over the giant crevise, and as he was about to land on the other side, gravity decides to interfere with his moment of life or death. And ultimately, Tomitsuro falls, he falls into the shadows and he is never seen again......joking. TO BE CONTINUED :D

[Kuraku Hideaki]

Kurakushin senses something wrong and wakes up from his trance, and leaps out from Takashi's men's grasps. He runs back to the crack on which Tomotsuro falls and looks for the nearest vine. Kurakushin grabs the vine and leaps down, trying to grab Tomitsuro, but fails. He then climbs up the vine and scatters away into the forest, where the darkness has lifted and only the trees provide the shade.

[ToshiMaru]

Tomitsuro wakes up from a deep sleep and finds that he has been sleeping in that cavern for a while, because there is some vines and footprints on his face.(Possible from someone who tried to come down here :ponder: )

Tomitsuro slowly climbs his way up the crevise and finds that he has somewhat awaken in the wrong area, and the wrong time. As soon as Tomitsuro sticks his head out, a group of 500 soldiers aim at him with their spears. :suspect:

[ShiniGami]

as the spears and weapons aim at him, tomitsuro surrenders at his will.

[Kuraku Hideaki]

lilanimeboy, you cannot do that. Please only post the actions of your own character and do not contridict the actions of others. I advise you delete your post so we can continue this role play without confusion.

[Redb@ck]

From the distance and cover of the trees Redb@ck stand casually, look at the occurances in the distance and thinks to himself,"Lucky im not in that guys position, maybe i should help" but for the moment he continues to stand and observe.

[ToshiMaru]

The soldiers arrest Tomitsuro, and takes him to there base camp, and there Tomituro meets a man calling himself Ieyasu Takugawa. And there, the General interrigates Tomitsuro.

Nobody interfere, its going to get interesting. NEW THREAD WILL BE CREATED FOR TOMITSU's story, BTW - This is before the creation of Heiji Masikun

[Kuraku Hideaki]

Trying not to interfere here...

Kurakushin creeps up behind Redb@ck... "Boo" shouts Kurakushin. "Its been a long time, cousin"

[Redb@ck]

Jumping suddenly Redb@ck (Shimodo) turns, "Oh dear lord Kurakushin, you could never just approach me normally could you" after a short discussion about life and the past couple of years of seperation, Redb@ck asks, "Do you think we should help that guy?"

[Kuraku Hideaki]

Kurakushin ponders for a moment. Then after a minute or so replies "No. We will see what he does. If he is good we shall invite him to join our family. Im sure i have a nice yound niece..."

come on tomi, we want to see the interesting bit! ;)

[Redb@ck]

"Ok sounds like a fine idea, so what have you been up to you mischivious scoundrel in the past two years? It seems like an eternity since we last spoke" Redb@ck asks Kurakushin, while the trees sway in the wind and life passes on.

[Kuraku Hideaki]

"Not much i can say here, Shimodo" ill use this from now on
"But i will tell you in privacy. There are too many spies around these parts, and i do not wish any of them to hear the information i have. But, in the meantime, lets watch and see what this young lad does. Like i said, i have a nice young niece..."

[Redb@ck]

"You mean Heiko?" Shimodo asks, "Yes she is a very fine person." Shimodo serveys the scene, before stating with an air of uncertainty, "I can't be quite sure, but from the looks of the guards and their general demeanor, i think there will be very little action for the while."

[KazeKuroi]

*sneezes* "Excuse me, I um, didn't mean to interupt." *Appears behind Kurakushin-san* "Hi"

[Tekashi]

*taps mayz on the shoulder* "BOO!" *slides under her legs and knocks her down* "so sorry" ^^

[KazeKuroi]

*Grabs onto Takashi-san to pull her self up, until fully back on her feet again. Returns to see what is going to happen with this poor soul encountering a fleet of soulders. Ignoring the fact that Takashi-san has just tripped her...even his arival*

[Sparticka]

Shinosku stops his horse for a minute and listens.

'Was that a voice' he thinks to himself.

Then he hears another voice certain he hears it this time. Shinosku rides his horse between a few trees and peers in the direction of the voices. He keeps walking until he sees the source of the noise. Ahead of him he sees three people and as he comes upon the scene a fourth person says something then slides under the legs of the female and trips her. Shinosku dismounts and leaves his horse with its reigns tied to a tree branch. He begins to move forward slowly careful not to make a sound not sure if these people are friendly.

[Talos]

Taros stands near a tree and watches as Shinosku slowly moves forward to the group ahead.

"Well seems you've grown interest in whats happening up ahead."

[Tekashi]

Tekashi looks awed as he sees the man on horseback ride...He walks in the forest to watch from a high ground.

[Sparticka]

"Indeed I have grown interested. As have you I see. Do you know these people?" Shinosku responds to Taros.

Shinosku looks down at Takashi seeing that he has been spotted. Shinosku walks up to the group at introduces himself.

"what is going on here?" asks Shinosku. "What are you all staring at?"

[Talos]

Taros watches Shinosku walk over to the group. He decides to stay for awhile and watch them closely.

[KazeKuroi]

*Getting rather annoyed now with little to no progress with the military men, Mayz approaches the horse and offers it a bit of oats.* "What a beautiful creature you are."

[Kuraku Hideaki]

Noticing what is happening around him, Kurakushin quickly scampers into the light, then jumps onto a high branch of a tall tree and runs.

"I hope nobody notices that i have just taken everyones gold..."

[Talos]

With no warning Taros throws a rock towards Kurashin hoping to hit him with it.
"No stealing gold from me!" Slowly Taros walks away from the group leaving them to whatever they were doing before he came.

[Kuraku Hideaki]

*rock hits Kurakushin in the head! (s_s)*

"OUCH!" Kurakushin falls from the trees and lands with a -thud- onto the ground. "Bugger" he exclaims, then he gets up and starts running again. o_O

[Tekashi]

Watching from the forest tekashi sees all this and laughs so hard one of the milatary men start walking over...Tekashi climbs the tree and draws his throwing tanto. *throws the tanto and misses* He quickly jumps down taking out his Tonfas and kills the military soldier. For the crack of his skull the general hears. Now the rest is up to his companians. *Tekashi charges the general*

[Sparticka]

Shinosku watches as the foolish takashi charges an army. He laughs and says "well good luck with that". Seeing that this could either be amazing or comical Shinosku goes back to his horse mounts it and moves quickly to where he can see Takashi charge the soldiers but where they are less likely to spot him. Hopefully.

[Kuraku Hideaki]

Kurakushin turns back, for he feels one of his family members in great peril. He drops all coins, and pulls out his Mochi-Or Tae Yari, and runs as fast as the wind in the direction of tekashi.

He quickly lunges at several guards and lands as each and every one of them fall to the ground.

[Redb@ck]

Shimodo watch Kurakushin, sprint past him and decides he might as well help his cousin, he jumps up from he seated position drawing his two katanas 軽いのおよび暗闇 (The light and dark) and takes his place beside Kurakushin, ready to fight.

[Sparticka]

'Well I don't wanna be the only one not in there' Shinosku thinks to himself. So he draws his sword from over his shoulder and charges his mount into battle.

[Tekashi]

*jumps a soldier and throws him into a group of spearmen* then dashes to the generals horse and lands a blow on its ankle making is collapse on 3 soldiers. He then tumbles to the side of karaku.

[Kuraku Hideaki]

Kurakushin quickly bashes the legs of oncoming guards and help Tekashi up. He then signals Tekashi to help him take down the General-Cheif riding towards them on a mighty black stallion.

[Tekashi]

Tekashi lunges for the general and knocks him off the horse and then throws 3 tantos at bodyguards wounding there right arms.

[Kuraku Hideaki]

Whilst trying to sever the General-Chiefs legs off, a guard quickly comes and stabs Kurakushin in the chest. Staggering to the edge of battle, Kurakushin is wounded further from an arrow in the leg.

[Tekashi]

Tekashi dashes to Karakus aid and drags him into the forest to heal his wounds leaving the rest up to karakus companians.

[Redb@ck]

"Damn" Shimodo thinks to himself, "Kurakushin, always hurts himself at the most inappropriate times", Swords slicing through the air, Shimodo, sprints foward, decapitating the heads of three soldiers, before slicing off the arms of a forth. Walking past the pile of bodies, Shimodo wipes the blood of his victims off his face, before facing the injured general and ready to fight him.

[ToshiMaru]

As the battle wages on, 3 to 4 brave warriors taking on an army of 50 soldiers, then as the battle seemed to hold luck onto the soldiers, and the warriors seemed to start getting beaten............A Soldier Looks out into the hill upon which the sun was falling.

As everyone started looking towards the hills direction, they noticed a shadowy character walking up to the hill from the other side.

As the shadowy man stops and looks upon the faces of these warriors fighting each other, he grinns in a horrifying and evil look. :firedevil Then, some more shadowy characters rise upon the hill, and stand by the mans side.

A soldier finally shouts out, "Its the Blood Wolves!!!!!!!" And the masses of soldiers begin to leave their battle and run for the forests. Those who were still too scared to move and even blink stood there gazing at the might of these death bringers.

Tomitsu - the man who was the shadow, walks forward, and whispers, " Koichi, Azumi, find Tokugawa's Carrage, Toshi, Naruto, retrieve those soldiers who escaped, no one is to escape." Then the four splits up and sprints away from the battle, then, "The rest of you, Leave no-one alive."

Then all the shadows including Tomitsu sprints down the hill, towards the remaining 37 soldiers, and the warriors, and unsheathes their weapons. As these shinobis sprint down the hill, last images rise upon the soldiers minds, showing 7 spectres flying down from the hill, bringing with them; Death.

As the sun sets, soldiers begin being slaughtered like animals, and all the warriors begin to slay each and every soldier, in this massive, deadly genocide.


BTW, this caravan belonged to Takugawa, hes here somewhere

[Kuraku Hideaki]

As the General-Cheif scampers away from the blood wolves, Tomitsu eyes him with anger.

Realising what Tomitsu is about to do, Kurakushin calls out to him and throws him his sword. "Use this as if it were the soul of our family, and kill as if the enemy were a plague upon our lands."
Kurakushin signals to Tekashi to hold him up.

"Remember, Tomistu, peace can rarely be achieved through peace."

Thanks Zyke!

[Tekashi]

*holds Karakushin up* then he lays him down by a tree and runs fearlesly with the blood wolf unit and charges the army.

[ToshiMaru]

The General, and Tomitsu sprints away from the field of death, and reaches a dark and shadowy plain, where the general finally stops and turns around to face Tomitsu.

"So.....it has come to this, Tomitsu, of the Heiji Masikun."
"Yes it has, but i will consider sparing your life if you tell me where Tokugawa is."

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA" as the general laughs histerically, almost as if a monkey mocking his opponent. " You thought that Tokugawa was stupid enough to come into the open like this?" " I and those soldiers were nothing but puppets of Tokugawa, and we are willing to die for his cause."

"Then so be it, you have accomplished your mission, Die for your lord,"

Then, the General pulls out his sword, and charges at Tomitsu, Tomitsu only walks toward the angry man, without even looking.{As this scene continues, a sad choir song comes into the scene}

Tomitsu grabs hold on his the Masikun Katana, and slowly pulls it out, and as the two opponents reach each other in combat, Tomitsu ducks and slides beside the General, as the General swings his sword horizontally, then......
Tomitsu pulls out the sword all the way, and slashes the enemy from behind his back.

{As the scene ends and fades away, Tomitsu stands over the body of the General with his bloody sword, and the General lying on the ground, and the Song of Death continues.}

[Kuraku Hideaki]

-End of this part of story-

Start a new, anyhing you want.

[ToshiMaru]

The Party
Mood = Clam/Cheerful/Laughing/Drunk
~~Everyone is out for a night at a bar in the city.~~

After a long week of missions and travelling, the gang,(Kuraku, Tekashi, Redback, all others) decided to stick around town to have a night out.

As everyone drinks and talks, ToshiMaru sits upstairs in the quiet room, meditating, and slowly drinks his sake with his right hand man/apprentice - Toshi. These two sit quietly up stairs to concentrate on their Chaji(Tea Ceremony).

[Kuraku Hideaki]

*Drunk as you can get*

Mabe... nah, -hiccup- we should, nah... get home -hiccup-

Oh look, a zebra! o_O

[Redb@ck]

Redb@ck rocks back on chair stairing at all the drunks, including Kurakushin, and laughs to himself. Then realised he will probably have to carry them all home. "Oh well" he says to himself "Such is life."

[Sanctus]

A hooded man approaches the scene to see what all the commotion and laughter was. "Ahhh, so this is where evryone was." He thinks to himself. He then walks up to Redb@ck, and then points to all the drunken men, "So this is the great Heiji Masikun Family?" He whispers with a bit of a laugh.

[Kuraku Hideaki]

Kuraku realises what has just been said...

"THERE IS NO FAMILY OF THIS NAME!"

Kuraku then faints, as if someone had just taken his sould from his very being.

[ToshiMaru]

Toshimaru comes down from the second floor, and takes a look at all the drunks partying at the bar. Then he continues towards the door, and walks out. Toshimaru decides to take a walk through the city.

[MitsueNeko]

A girl in her late teens walks by. The moon is shining above in the heavens, hidden upon the veil of the clouds. Keeping her face hidden with the dark of night. She stops as she hears footsteps in front of her. As if trying to hide from someone, she climbs a tree and sits in on a branch. Hoping the person wouldn't notice her.

"I feel his presence. Is it him? The one I've been searching for? If he is, will he remember me?" She looks to a pendant hanging from her neck and closed her eyes to pray. "Don't let him find me yet, please. I want to make sure it's him."

[ToshiMaru]

As Toshimaru continues towards the edge of the street, he notices a shadowy figure in the trees. Toshimaru stops and tries to listen to the surroundings, seeing if anything was out of place. There was nothing but silence for a few seconds, then..

"Toshimaru!!" Toshimaru turned around to see his apprentice, Toshi, calling for him. Toshi ran up to Toshimaru, and they continued walking. "So, where are you going sir?"

"I was on my way to the Herbalists shop, do you want to come with me?" "This late sir?" "Yes, i have some business with him, it wont take long."
They continued walking towards the upper part of town.

[MitsueNeko]

"Toshimaru? Did that person just called him Toshimaru?" she stayed there catching her breath. "So it is him. It's been so long. How many years have passed buy since you disappeared?" She could feel a tear coming, but she blinked then back because she just realized something.

"Did he say the Herbalist shop? The only one in the avenue he's heading too?" She watched as they walked, squinting her eyes, trying to use the moon's light as possible to see where they're heading.

She gasped, "Oh no! I work there as an apprentice! If master knows I'm gone again, he'll disown me!" With this new threat of hers, she rushed using the stealth of night and the quicks movements of her feet to go from roof to roof.

She sooned caught up to the two people she followed. "Good. The master is still asleep." She jumped to an open window on the roof, but as soon she landed, a rope was wrapped around her her left ankle, pulling her to the ground. She tried as best as she could to cling on the egde, but the pull was strong. She fell right at the front entrance of the herbal shop as Toshimaru and his accomplice reached there. A horde of shadows surronded her. She felt a slight sharp piercing on her neck and fell asleep.

[Kuraku Hideaki]

As a few friends help kuraku up, he comes back to his senses. Barely awake, he opens his eyes enough to see a group of people dresses in black carry a young woman up the stairs. Trying to struggle free of his friends grip, Kuraku falls yet again to the floor. "Why?" he thought, "Why has my sake been poisoned?".

[MitsueNeko]

She slowly wakes up from her atificial sleep. She found herself bound by rope. She struggles and catches the attention of a person dressed in black.

"So I finally found you little girl. Thought you could hide from me, Mitsue-hime. Don't even bother calling for help. No one is even concious to rescue you."

She said nothing as she rolled her eyes at her villian.

She thinks to herself. *Man. What an idiot. He thinks this weak rope can hold me. Idiot. Maybe I should stick around and find out who hired this moron. What does he want from me? I'll just play the poor and helpless girl, then he's going to pay for using such a cheap trick to capture me. I'm starting to become careless.*

[ToshiMaru]

As Toshimaru and Toshi reached the entrance of the Herbalists shop. They peaked around to see if anyone was there. "Hello? Is anyone awake?" Asked Toshi. He looked back at Toshimaru, only to see him staring into the darkness of the street.

Toshimaru was staring at a group of people in black clothing, they could not be seen well because most of them were covered within shadows. "Sir?" "Take care of them, i'm going inside to meet the Herbalist."

"Okay sir" then Toshimaru opens the door, and enters the shop. Toshi draws his wooden boken, and taunts the shadows. " So, which of you is going first?"

[MitsueNeko]

Mitsue stayed there wondering how she would escape. There were at least five men in the little room she was in. The door was shut tight and heavily guarded.

She puts her head down on the floor and felt a sharp prick on the back of her head.

*Oww! What was that?* She thinks to herself. *Oh yeah, I forgot I'm still wearing that stupid comb master ordered me to wear to try and attract customers.*

She looks to her captors. "What do you want from me? And how did you find me? Who hired you? What is going to happen to me?"

The man from earlier gave her a little grin. "So you finally talk? Was starting to think you were mute." He just laughed at her. "I've been searching for you for a really long time now, considering I only saw glimpses of you at the palace. You changed your appearance. Very tricky to find. That haircomb in your hair revealed to me who you were. Never saw you without a haircomb before."

He examined her face to see what she was thinking. He knew he had successfully angered her. Given that she only gave him a dirty look.

"Just so that you know, I 'm going to kill you," fingering her pendent in his hand, "but don't worry, I won't kill you right now. My client specifically requested me to kill you in front of someone named Toshimaru. An odd request, but the money's good. I had my partner poison the drinks of Toshimaru's fellows so they wouldn't interfere. So I'll be borrowing this pendent of yours."

"Give that back! Why do you need my pendent anyways? It has nothing to do with you killing me!" He just laughed at her. "Stupid girl. The pendent is to be a souvinour for Toshimaru witnessing your death."

She just glared at him with such cold piercing eyes that will scare away any wild creature who happens to meet her eyes. He dropped the pendent and it clattered to the floor with a loud thud. Telling her that she was probably in an upstairs room.

"Don't you dare touch my pendent again! Keep your filthy hands off it! I don't want you staining my pendent with the blood on your hands any longer!" she demanded with such a commanding voice that sent all heads turning to her.

He bent down to pick up the pendent he had dropped. Mitsue had been secretly undoing her knots during his briefing of his plans. She was probably ticked off at him for touching/taking her pendent because as soon she was free, she pulled her comb from her hair and stabbed his hand. He withdrew his hand to himself in pain.

"Seize her!" he yelled, trying to tend his injury, trying to pry off the comb stuck in his left hand.

The gaurds, started by the commotion quickly seized her. She gave such a struggle, but they ended up drugging her to prevent her from killing one of their own.

"Let's find this Toshimaru and kill this wench!"

[Kuraku Hideaki]

Sleeping restlessly, although asleep Kuraku knew something was wrong. Dreaming of his family, his wife, his child, and his brothers Toshi, Tekashi and Arian-san. He had to wake up. Something was not right. Trying time upon time, Kuraku tried to seize control of his dream, but the poison was too powerfull. Could the training he and his fellow family members they fell upon themselves not be enough? Had learning the secrets of dreams and the power of ones own emotion been a waste of time? He thought not.

Now was the time to use them. It was time to take Bushido to the test. He was a samurai, and he had duties. 'The way of the warrior' Kuraku thought, second after second. He will overpower this poison, he had been taught too, after all.

Hours passed untill finally, suddenly, he felt a tap on his back. but soon, it turned into a thump, and then a large hit. "Wake up" a voice yelled in the distance, "WAKE UP, NOW!"

Kuraku, starled, opened his eyes. Thank God. "Now, i hear you know the location of Toshi Maru? Do you not?"... A shadowy figure crept out of the darkness. "I know you are of his family, tell me where he is or face the same circumstance as Toshi!"

"I..." Kuraku tried to get up, but could not. It seemed as if he was chained to the chair. "I... I do not know" he whispered in a dry, low voice. "LIES!" screamed the figure! "Guard, put him back to sleep".

A guard behind the figure nodded, and in turn pricked the young warrior with a poisin-tipped needle. "he will now, face the same fate as Toshi Maru. He will now see a loved one die before his eyes!"...

[MitsueNeko]

Mitsue only was out for about five minutes. Her body was used to drugs because her father used to always had to drug her food to prevent her from leaving the palace at night.

*What a weak drug. My father can come up with ones that knock me out for hours, a day, or even weeks.* She struggled to sit up for she was lying down on the floor. They now used a stronger rope and tied it tighter around her hands with complicated knots. She felt the rope in her hands to figure a way to undo this.

*He thinks this knot is complicated. What an idiot. Everybody that knows about me should know that my favorite hobby is rope bondage. That is so common knowledge among the peasants and nobles. I undo knots all the time when I used to let Kuraku tie me up all the time. Now he's a master with knots. The last time he tied me up, it took me almost a whole day to get out of it. I remember that day. Father thought I was kidnapped so he sent his army to search all villages and towns nearby. I remember that I had to make a public apology to the people. They were ticked off by my father threatening to burn their homes if they were lying to him. I wonder where Kuraku and the others are now.* A smile slowly formed on her face.

The man who got stabbed was startled by her coming back to conciousness so soon. "That was supposed to keep you out for a couple of hours. What are you so happy about?"

"Like my present?" remembering what she did to his left had, he went up to her and slapped her across her face. "Like that hurts. You hit like a sissy. A little child can do better than that!"

He just responded to her with another slap across her face with his right hand. "Silence wench! You just ruined my career. I won't be able to use this hand again you little princock!" He slapped her again. She just laughed at him. "What is so funny?"

She just laughed at him again. "You're left handed. I got the right hand then. I knew you were a lefty when you tried to pick up my pendent. You must be a bad archer then, considering your left eye is dominant and most people always shoot with their right."

"Shut you mouth before I cut out that tongue," holding a dagger to her face.

"So you could give me a quick death? Go ahead. I'd thought since you hated me so much, you would've thought of something more agonizing. For example, you can break my sternum, which will pierce my lungs. Suffocating me and giving me a painful death at the same time or you could cut my acheales tendon, crippling me and bleeding me to death. You're the sorriest villain I ever met. I've seen better. Loser!"

He was about to strike her again, but he didn't. He just gave her a smirk.
"I'll consider one of those as your death. I was going to be nice and give you a quick one. You'll love what I have planned for you. Take her downstairs!"

One of his men picked her up over his shoulder and took her downstairs. As she was being taken downstairs, they had passed many rooms. In them, she saw death. Blood soaked the entire room like spilled oil in the sea. As they were descending down the stairs, what she saw made her gasped.

"Kuraku!" He was passed out on a chair. "What did you do to him? What did you give him? He would never succumb to such weak poison." They sat her in a chair facing Kuraku and chained her.

"Just this." He pulled out a needle and pointed to a plant. A green, almost wilted plant was lying on the table next to a plie of needles.

"How many times did you give it him!? Tell me!"

"So you are familiar with poison. Impressive, I thought you princess' only trained to be wives and the customs of courting. I gave him only two."

"Please don't give him anymore! I'll do anything you want!" she pleaded while looking with worry at Kuraku's condition.

"Tell me what you know about this certain type of venom. And I'll stop if he cooperates with us."

"You are an idiot you know! Venom is only from an animal biting you and poison is if you got it from plants, touching a poisonous animal, and others things."

"Keep your comments to yourself and answer my question!"

"Fine! All I can tell you is that it's a really bad poison. Many healers fear it. The emperor banished those plants after his wife was killed by the poison of that plant from a hired assaisin. It's a nuerotoxin and a hemotoxin. It destroys blood cells and it freezes the functions of the nervous system for a while. Little dosages can't do any harm, but a little more than that can lead to mental retardation. Giving a person a large amount could kill them. The victums see visions of their families and loved ones while they are knocked out or some re live tradegies. They either go mad and act violently or they just become paranoid. There is only one known cure, but it's recipie was stolen from my family's treasury when theives broke in to steal it."

*I still know the recipie though. Need to get out and make the anti-toxin. Just glad it wasn't an animal because I can't deal with Venom.* She was undoing her knots silently and trying to keep the villian busy. *Come on Kuraku! I know you can pull through! Just need at to keep the moron busy. Need a good distraction.*

[Kuraku Hideaki]

Kuraku's body was shaking now. Several men rushed around him to see what the matter was, but they all stood back in horror as Kuraku's mouth started to foam.

"What is happening here?" shouted the leader of the group, "Tell me now or you will suffer the same fate as Mitsue!" One of the men stood forward, and began to speak. "Sir, i fear you gave him the wrong poison! The symptoms he is showing only occur when two or more deadly toxins are mixed together. He needs an antidot - now!"

The leader paused for a moment, then spoke. "Ok, go down to the herbalists shop and ask for Dakuma. Tell him of this consiquence and he will give you an antidote. The man then stood up dtraight, and saluted. "Sir, yes sir" he said as he ran down the stairs and out of the bar.

Just then Kuraku screamed in agony... "NARIKO!" he yelled, "NARIKO!".

If you do not know, Nariko is the name of Kuraku's wife. See the thread "The Battle for Katoni Castle" to read more! (he has a child, too ;))

[MitsueNeko]

"Fool! What else did you give him!? I thought you at least have knowledge about mixing the toxins! Tell me what kind of poison it was right now!"

"I don't know," he replied. "I didn't give him the poison."

"How can you be so careless!? This is not professional like!"

*I don't care if I'll get disowned now! That old man was the one behind it all! When I get out of here, I'm going to kill that fool for messing with nobles! He is starting to see illusions. If he keeps this up, he'll die for sure.* She looks at her long lost friend and watches him as he calls out his wifes name.

"Kuraku! Calm down and listen to my voice! Listen to my voice! You're seeing an illusion! Remember your training! Remember and keep with my voice! Help is coming! I need you to hold on and stay with my voice!"

[ToshiMaru]

Toshimaru had just finished some business with the Herbalist when a man was through and crashed throught the house. Toshi gazed in from hole in the wall. " Oops, Sorry master, ill be careful next time!" "Its okay young man, where done here anyways. I'll clean up after the mess." Said the herbalist.

Then Toshimaru got up, " I'll be on my way now, dont forget the plan." He said to the Herbalist as he walked out of the house through the crash site.
"So, where we going now?" Toshi asked in innocence, still jumpy from the fight. "Back to the bar, i forgot something in our room."

The two walked back together, Toshi glancing at the small pouch that Toshimaru was carrying, wondering what kind of stuff was in it. Toshimaru couldnt have needed anything from a normal Herbalist, Toshimaru had studied herbaling and plants for years.

As they got close to the bar, a skinny man with scars all over his face ran past them. Toshimaru and the man made a quick eye contact, and the man as he sprinted off giving Toshimaru a suspicous glare.