Bountiful bounty.

[ShininShado]

This is a continuation of the story from The Kiri Shini thread. Shado has just offered a bounty on the head of a provincial governor in a neighboring province. Location, teahouse, atmosphere, working up to frenzy.

Customarily, Shado wouldn't dream of giving the full up-front price to all of the bountyhunters. However, this situation was unique in that it would show him who the best killers were, and the extra koku were worth it. Shado takes from his coinpurse a roll of 1000 koku bound with a metal wire... and throws in the direction of Moses, he does the same to all the bountyhunters until they all have their up-front fee agreed to.

"The first terms of the agreement have been satisfied by myself. The only other stipulation I have concerning this job is I need proof of his death. I will accept his family sword, his head, or any other obvious proof of his demise. Once I see the proof for myself, you'll recieve 4000 koku." Shin eyes the anxious mercenaries, and says "One last thing... the Governor is said to have embezzeled thousand of koku, all of which are yours for the taking (if you can find them) once he is slain. Upon completion of the task, find me, I'll be either at the library or at the pub, for payment. I trust you have the knowledge you need to accomplish this task, and whatever supplies you'll need can be bought with the koku you've already been given."

Shin bows and exits the teahouse, glad to be out of that environment. The face of the mercenaries sticks with him as he walks down the street. He looks foward to seeing his wife and son. The job was three pronged... the first was to kill the governor, the second was to determine whom of the group were worth bothering with in the future, and whom of the group were trustworthy.

Just for roleplay's sake, I think I might divide each section into "chapters". I'll delete the posts afterwards, but I think it should help provide the framework for the storyline as well as keep the action somewhat uniform. Also those that can't post as much won't be left at sqaure 1 hopefully. Chapter 1 will involve leaving the teahouse, and the journey to the manor, wheeeee! Feel free to take liberties with others posts, but keep it somewhat realistic, and in the spirit of roleplaying.

[moses]

Kurokami catches his front fee and darts after Mitsue, but bumps into Shira along teh way. Reaching into his pocket he retreives the hair pin the waitress dropped and leaves a note that reads 'Our only chance is to team up. Kazuo and Hiromi will beat us if we dont. You take care of delievering the message and ill assassinate the gov. Split 50/50." . And he is about to take his leave...

I hope this works for you shira :)

[Talos]

Taros catches his fee and watches as Shin leaves the tea house. He then decides to follow Mitsue but is beat when Kurokami darts off after her. He walks slowly towards her without hesitation. Taros stops and focuses his eyes onto Kurokami and Mitsue waiting for them to finish their conversation.

[MitsueNeko]

She was walking, but stopped when someone called out to her. She turns to see Kurokami running up to her with an object in his hand. She immediatly knew that it was her hairpin.

"Umm... Hello... Did you need something sir because if you do... I'm sorry, but I can't help you now. I am a lady who sticks to her words. I probably wasn't using my words correctly, but what I really meant was that if you needed something... which includes returning my hairpin back to me if you were intending to do that in the first place... you must come visit me in my masters home first and right now I am not there. I must be on my way sir because the journey to my masters home takes quite a while for me alone. My master is waiting for my return and it does not please him to make him have to wait so long for one of servants to return to him. A messenger bird have been sent already to announce my return, so I must make haste. Again... I wish for you to have a good day sir." She gives him a little bow and then turns to leave...

Soo... will Kurokami stop her or leave her alone? Will someone else stop her because her answer will be the same... to meet her at her 'masters' home... unless you people want to be creative and make her listen to you... or unless you people want to do it your very own way... like sneaking into the place yourself... instead of wanting an audience...

[moses]

Kurokami, seeing as he is getting no where trying to talk to Mitsue, falls back into the crowd. He decides he will be more stealthy in following her.

[Kiros]

Outside the teahouse, a shopkeeper starts to close his shop. A young man exits the shop just in time to see an odd group leaving the teahouse. With a blank expressing he exaimes the scene, an odd group indeed.

Considering he has nothing better to do, now that his day is done, he thinks it might prove interesting to follow them. Heh, this might be fun.. The interloper heads down an ally with nothing but curious intentions, heading in the direction of the group.

I hope no one minds, but Im going to follow you!

[Talos]

Taros begins to follow Mitsue but decides he better go on his own and beat her to her master. He rushes pass Mitsue and continues down the path she was going down.

Just to put alittle twist on things. Taros knows exactly where the Lord lives because he has had a few run in with the governor which the bounty has been placed. Now would be an excellent chance for him to settle an old score with him. :D

[Hiromi]

Hiromi sits close to Kazuo, focusing most of her attentions at staying unnoticed. It wasn't that she didn't have a mind for politics, but that the man sitting next to her was little more than a stranger and his plan was all his own. Not like he'd tell me anyway, Hiromi thought with a huff.

She could see Kazuo's proflile in the edge of her vision. He turns to her with a nod, and she immediately puts her hand on her Yari. He had been schooling her as they travelled, a series of motions and nods that Kazuo had all but beaten into her. They needed to be able to communicate without words. To keep her alive, he said.

She had watched the waitress stumble before, and had instinctively tried to rush and help her. An iron fist clamped around her wrist and Kazuo wrenched her back into her seat. He was busy with his negotiations. With Hiromi next to him, he doesn't have to worry about keeping her safe. It doens't matter whether she likes it or not.

"I'm here to keep you alive, not babysit." Kazuo grumbles to her in a low tone. He turns his face and locks on the hairpin that had gone clattering to the floor.

Hiromi spits in his drink.

[Abc]

Shira follows Kurokami at a leasurely pace. He's obviously following Mitsue, who suddenly turns look behind her. Kurokami engages his "stealth mode" by ducking behing a barrel. He peeks an eye around the corner of it, making sure she has turned and resumes has stalking walk which obviously sets him out in the crowd.

Shira walks up and taps him on the shoulder making him jump in surprise. "Theres no need to follow the girl. She's going exactly where we're going. If we're going to work together then lets go there now, it just so happens that I have two horses ready. We must leave now if we want to beat everyone else." With that Shira walks in the opposite direction back to where his horses are stabled.

Sorry if I rp'd your character a little weird moses but hey you have plenty of time to make up for it

[MitsueNeko]

She walks and gets the feeling that someone was watching her. She turns around to the 'normal people' just minding their own business. Seeing that no one was going to bother her... she turns from her path in the opposite direction and sprints to the nearby stables at the edge of town along the alleyways to avoid the crowd that will slow her down. *I wonder if my little cutie pie is still here... He better be okay because I paid them to take care of my little pookie wookie...* She walks into the stables and sees three horses in there and the stable boy who takes care of the stables and the horses of course. *I guess the other horses belongs to someone because those are pretty emblems on them. They're soo cute... but not as cute as compared to my little pookie wookie... hehehehe....*

"CUTIE PIE! There you are sweetie!" She runs to a black stallion with open arms and the horse seems freaked out. It raises its front legs to her and thrashes around as if to frighten her away. The stable boy who was attending to the horses was frightened by the horse and exited the stables. The other two horses were a little startled from the way the black stallion was behaving, but they remained calm. *What's up with him? My little baby always does that to me when he sees me. He won't hurt a fly. I'm just glad to see my sweetie pie!* She roll her eyes at the stable boy and calmly spoke to the horse."Kazetsuki. Down now. What have I told you of scaring people like that? No running when we get home then if you don't calm down sweetie before mommy has to use her angry voice."

The horse immediately settled down like nothing has even happened. She takes Kezetsuki from the stables and paid and said good-bye to the stable boy and the other horses. She mounts the horse and begins her journey towards the Mino Province.

She rides into the forest and finds a road. *Maybe I should not follow the road and take a little shortcut.* When she thinks she and Kazetsuki is alone. She talks to the horse. "Kazetsuki... that boy said you bit him... did you?" The horsed whined to answer her. "No...? Then why did he show me his arms with marks and scars on it? Maybe it was another horsie... because my little cutie pie would never harm anyone... Am I right?" The black stallion whines at her as to answer and agree with her. "Aww... you're soo cute!" She hugs the horse's neck. "Ok... let's go 'home' now. To that idiot Ukia's house... he's a loser and have soo many people that hate him... I'll be surprised if there were people out there right now who are going to assassinate him... But if there are... they are going to have a little problem... they just don't know... don't know what lies before them... because I won't let them hurt Ukia until I get what he stole from me back... and if I'm in danger... they will be there to make sure I won't get hurt... but I don't want them to do that because they'll put themselves in danger and be hurt... all because of me... Wait! Why am I thinking like this?... Nothing happened yet!... I think too much..." sighs "I soo need to take a break as master says..." She contines onward, but hears a rustle in the trees and bushes nearby. But then a gust of wind blew and a little cute rabbit hopped out of the bushes, so she just dismissed it as the wind and the rabbit.

"Aww... what a cute little rabbit! I want one! Okay... I'm going to ask master if I can have one!"

Okay... was there somone following her and heard her conversation with her horsie or was it just the wind and only the rabbit as she thought? The choice is yours people and btw... she is taking a shortcut as she claims, but is it a shortcut?...

[Kiros]

The young man darting in and out of allyways, found himself at the edge of town and at the road to the Mino Province. What are these people after, Its not like me to follow a bunch of stangers for no reason, but I cant help but think i should. I think I should turn back now..
The man stood a while thinking, he looked like any other person, was there something greater in store for him. He gaze wandered toward the stables, where a women seemed to be having a conversation with her horse. Thats one of the people from the teahouse.. shes beautiful, I wounder where a girl like that could be going...? A better question is if i follow her, could i keep up with her horse. Dont fail me now shoes.
With that the man advanced towards the woods which the girl entered at a dangously fast speed, maybe this man wasnt as ordinary as he looked. As he neared the edge of the forest he heard talking. Who could she be talking to.. maybe shes crazy.. The man stopped a few feet away in a bush, but had trouble keeping his balance and fell over. He tried everything he could not to make a sound. It seemed the girl hadnt givin the sound a second thought.
He waited as she started to move forward, and he backed away into the cover of the forest.

[moses]

Kurokami follows Shira to were he has his horses tethered. "This is indeed a much better idea." he says smiling. "And as i dont like plum wine, if you want my share you can have it once we complete the job." With that he mounts one of the horses.


ya its ok. I thought it was quite funny. moses hits button and exits stealth mode.

[Talos]

Taros was already on his way to the Mino province ahead of the girl and the rest of the hunters. But he was on foot making his journey a long one. With his cloak drapped over his head he didn't notice there were men standing in the bushes waiting to ambush him. One man jumped in front of him with a yari pulled out pointing in his direction.

"I serve Lord Mashi and I've come to collect a bounty on your head." The man yelled at Taros. "You Daaku Akuma will die by our Blade." With out warning 3 other men drew out weapons jumping out from thier respective hiding places. Slowly Taros draws his blade but one man from behind doesn't hesitate to attack him. He moves swiftly away from his attacker and strikes at him in the back as he draw his katana. The other two from behind slowly closed on him as the man infront runs to the aid of his friend.

"A warning to you men I'm not easy to kill." He says to intimidate the men.
One of the two men from behind lunge at him then begins to swing thier weapon at him. He blocks all the lunges and swings and slowly recovers. Taros watches them as they all now surround him and he smiles to himself. They all charge at him, he moves to the closet guy grabbing his arm and weapon and lunges it to the next guy stabbing him in the stomach. The thrid guy comes around behind him and starts to come down with a strike and ends up striking his friend across the chest as Taros used him as a shield. Taros pushes the body off of him and looks at the last guy. He rushes him and stabs him straight through his stomach. He slowly cleans his blade off using one of the dead mans shirt and thinks to himself "They slowed me down alot. How the hell am I going to stay ahead of the rest of them." He hears something from behind a tree and walks over slowly to it and see 4 horses. He smiles while sheathing his katana and takes one of them and rides away down his path.

There are a few side stories i could go into with him and why he's not liked or friends pop out of no where. But that can be explained once someone asks me to. Until Then i'll leave his past a mystery and continue on with this.

[Abc]

One thing Shinin, before we continue I think you should mentions how far exactly the Mino Province is...Two days hard ride...or a full day of walking down a path? I just think it would be easier for everyone to stay on the same page if you told us.

[Kiros]

I hope no one minds that I am following Mitsue, Im her stalker O.o

[Abc]

No Problem Kiros....Just try to write yourself into the story somehow...it'd make it a little more believable that your actually following "perfect strangers". But your doing a good job so far. :D

[ShininShado]

Ok, well next province over to the North, let's just say 45 miles as the crow flies, but there is probably rocky terrain, mountains, etc. Trip should take about a day and a half give or take, depending on conditions. Once Trin posts, I'll end this part of the story, and go to part 2, the journey to the manor.

Thinking of incorporating like a very simple combat system for different adventures. Since there are so many hired swords on this mission, it'd be fun I think. The idea I have is if your character attacks another character there is a 25% chance that the foe will be knocked unconcience, a 25% chance you will become unconcience, and a 50% chance that it ends in a draw. I know this is very simple and basic, but it'd be fun to have Shira attack Moses, and knock Moses unconcience, this would last for one "chapter". Your character would be out of the action for one chapter more or less. I'll determine the outcome by /random 100 on Dark Age of Camelot. If anyone totally objects to this or has refinements, feel free to PM me with suggestions. I'll post more at the start of the second chapter, but that is what I am thinking now. Since chapter 1 is winding down, and chapter 2 is about to start would be a good start I think.

[Kiros]

As the man continued to follow the beauty on her horse, his mind faded to an event he could never shake from his soul... That night, a distant memory.
The night was like this one, a cold chill in the air, as he exited the shop at which he worked for what seemed all his life, nothing out of the ordinary ever happened.
...
"Closing time, Makoto. Ill see you in the morning. TRY not to be late..." preached the shopkeep.

Slowly Makoto replied, "Ya ya, I'll see ya in the morning." Sighing with relief Makoto left the shop just as a girl came running out of the teahouse. She said nothing but ran as Makoto stared at her. Seconds after three samurai exited the teahouse, looking as if they had lost something. They split up in search of whatever they had lost.

Makoto thought for a second, and bolted in the direction he'd seen the girl flee. I'm not taking any chances, that girl maybe in danger!! As he ran he soon reached a part of the town he wasnt familier with, mist lain over the small streets, everything was silent and undisturbed.

Where is this, am I still in town!? Suddenly something sounded from behind him, he turned to find just a stay cat. For a stray this cat didn't look unfed. The cat jumped on a rooftop and disappeared, but something remained on the floor. Getting closer he found some shoes, they were in a better condition and better fasion the ones he was wearing. Makoto picked up the shoes and fainted. When he awoke he was outside his house with the newly aquired shoes fasioned to his feet...
...
Makoto suddenly relized the reality of where he was, as if asleep a moment before. He stoped, he remebered he was chasing a girl on a horse.. Could she be..

Wow, that was more then i anticipated writing, but it makes a little more sence now as far to who my character is and what the HELL hes doing :) Also this is the first time for me, and as im reading what i wrote im getting goosebumps, this is soo fun!

[Trin]

Kazuo strolled slowly out of the teahouse, his face bristling with satisfaction as the last drop of sake dripped down from his lip.

"Those fools are probably out of breath," he whispered to Hiromi. "It's a shame too. I was so looking forward to cutting all of them up."

Kazuo scrounged into his pocket and pulled out the upfront fee that Shin had given him before leaving the teahouse.

"Let this be a lesson, Hiromi," Kazuo said, looking over to Hiromi. "Never be the first to take the fee. If you're never seen taking the fee, they have no way to gauging how close you are to the target."

Putting the fee back into his pocket, he looked around the streets and rooftops to make sure he wasn't being tracked. When he was sure they were alone, he grabbed his shoes from the doorway of the teahouse, put his katana back onto his belt.

"Hey Hiromi," Kazuo called back.
"Yeah?" she answered, wondering what he was about to say.
"I know you spat in my last bowl," he playfully accused. "I switched drinks with that Yamamoto pawn."

Hiromi wasn't sure whether to laugh, or scream.

"You can thank me later," Kazuo whispered.

The two then set on the path out of town, towards the Mino Province, in search of their bounty.

[ShininShado]

Try to keep the OOC posts to a minimum in the future please. Well, since everyone has left the teahouse, and on the way to the Mino Province, we'll end chapter 1, and start chapter 2. Chapter 2 revolves around approaching the manor, and making entry. Chapter 3 will start after entry of the manor, which doesn't mean someone has to totally stop after entering, just that they shouldn't make the journey, entry to the manor and kill the Lord in the second chapter, also there can be staggering times, totally cool.

[Kiros]

Makoto continued to follow the girl. She began to speed up, as did the man. Soon both were flying through the forest at such a pace the could not follow but for more then a second. Makoto stoped abrubtly as he noticed he had lost sight of the girl. Choosing a direction he ran onward in hopes to find the girl.

Again Makoto stoped, this time because he had stumbled upon a camp. Looking around he took notice to five well armed men and much wealth spread across the floor. "Get him!!" one of the men yelled, and with that one of the men threw a small blade towards Makoto. He went on impulse and began to evade the attack, unfortunatly the blade struck Makoto in the heart just as he made his move. Makoto fell to the floor as blood pumped from his dying body. A few moments later he was dead...

[Hiromi]

"How much farther?" Hiromi puffs out her cheeks and whines to Kazuo - holding up a blister-ridden foot for effect. Wrinkling up his face in a miniscule show of impatience, Kazuo pushes her foot back to the ground and glares at her.

"Shut up, keep walking. We'll get there when we get there." While Kazuo could have travelled much quicker - and quieter - in the brush, he knew Hiromi's complaining would only be amplified if he added leaves, twigs, and bugs to the mix. A few blisters was bad enough.

"AAGH! Oh-th-AAGH!" Hiromi had clamped her hands to her face and was hunched over a fresh pile of horse dung, her shrieks startling a flock of birds into flight. "It's on my FOOT!" A groan from Kazuo and he spins on her with a growl.

"Do you WANT the rest of the province to know we're coming?" He stalks over to her, rips off her poo-trodden sandal, and launches it into the forest. "Stop acting like such a baby!" Taking off his own sandal and slipping the other one in his pack, he shoves it in her face and walks barefoot alongside her.

Hiromi's face darkens into a scowl, and she totters along behind him in mute-fury, the one oversized sandal adding a funny lope to her gait. I'm not a baby, she mutters, her gaze burning holes in the path before her.

Raising her head, she pushes on ahead of Kazuo and tosses an angry glance over her shoulder. "Coming?"

[Trin]

Kazuo snickered as Hiromi walked past him. He waited for her to limp awkwardly past, so he could have time to let out a smile and a quick giggle. He didn't want her to know how much he was smiling.

'You're something, kid,' Kazuo thought, half expecting Hiromi to hear him. 'Half the time you act like a total child. Sometimes, though, you even surprise me. There's no mystery behind why you're still with me.'

As Hiromi snapped around, Kazuo cleared his expression and looked innocently at her.

"You coming?" she asked, a look of half scowl and half laughter covering her face. Kazuo nodded. He took off his other sandal and trotted faster to catch up with her.

Kazuo could tell that Hiromi wasn't angry at him, but more angry at herself for succumbing to her more lady-like traits. He knew fully well how strong and determined she really was, but her training as a magistrate's daughter was so ingrained, it sometimes got the better of her.

"You know," Kazuo piped up, keeping his head forward, but slowly shifting his eyes to Hiromi. "You make my sandals look pretty good."

"Oh shut up!" she scowled. She was hunched over to limit the amount of lift she was exerting on the oversized sandal, and her toes were curled inward to keep the sandal from flying off into a random direction.

"No, no. Really!," Kazuo said, raising his arms to ward off accusation. "You shouldn't be so pissed. You know, I'm only..." Kazuo thought about what he was going to say. He hated opening up, but it was about time he broke down the wall he had built between the two of them.

"What...what is it?" Hiromi said, stopping and looking at Kazuo. He had stopped, and was looking thoughtfully at the ground. "Kazuo, spit it out, would you?"

"Well," Kazuo finally said, looking over to her. "I'm only hard on you, because I don't know any other way. If you really were that much of a burden, I would've gotten rid of you long ago. Truth is, Hiromi..."

"Yea?"

"...I trust you with my life. I wouldn't have anyone else at my side. That's the honest truth."

"KAZUO!" Hiromi's eyes lit up and her mouth formed into a huge toothy grin. She jumped up and hugged Kazuo. She squeezed tight and hung from his neck.

"GAH! GET OFF ME DAMMIT!"

[MitsueNeko]

She rode hard and fast without any rest. She knew her steed very well and he sure loves to run. So letting her horse be happy, she just let him do whatever. But after she reached a point to where she would usually reach within the end of the day going her slower pace within 3 hours, she became concerned.

"Kazetsuki! Slow down!" The horse ignored her and kept running. Seeing that her horse won't slow down, she yelled, "You're going to tire yourself out! What!? Is it because I said you can't run at home and you're going all out here? Come on! I'm just kidding. If you hurt yourself... you're going to make mommy cry!" As soon as she said that... the horse stopped in it's track, knocking her off the horse.

"OWW! That hurt! Next time... can you slow down first!" Then she felt a sharp prick in her finger. "Owie!" :cry: "I got a splinter! WAHHHHH!" She hears Kazetsuki snorting at her trying to get her attention. She looked up to see her horse trying to get her to look at something. "Kazetsuki what is it?" She gets up and goes to her horse. She looks at what was ahead of her and found that she was on a cliff, and in the distance was the Mino Province. Her eyes lit up and she smiled. "Aww... you didn't want to fall off the cliff, so you stopped. That's soo... CUTE! Why'd you have to be soo ADORABLE!" She mounts the horse and forgot about her splinter. "OWW!" Getting angry, she pulled the little piece of wood that was in her flesh.

"Okay... you lead the way since you know this place better than I." Then Kazetsuki moved forward in the direction of the cliff. "STOP! STOP! What are you doing!? Are you trying to kill us!?" The horse ignored her screams and her pulling on the reigns to try and go another direction away from the cliff. As she was at the edge of the cliff, she closed her eyes tightly waiting to fall. But then... there was no fall. "Huh?" She opened her eyes to see that the cliff, was actually a hill. It wasn't too steep for her horse to walk down without tumbling down. Sighing with relief, she looked to her horse with loving eyes. "Aww..." *Master was right to give me this horse because he says he'll take care of me. He is right. Kazetsuki is a good boy.* Once she's at the bottom of the hill... there was a rode ahead that leads to the Mino Province. It was now dark outside and she will either have to stop and rest or keep going.

When she was on the rode she asked, "So Kazetsuki... want to rest? Or do you want to keep going?" So on impulse, the horse went forward and went into a little trot. "Okay... but if you get tired... we have to stop. The Mino Province is about five hours away. Since we took the shortcut... our journey is lessened by half of a day since it would usually takes us one and a half day to get to masters house. Now it will take one full day and a couple of hours.

As she rides... she hears the sound of horse hoves behind them. She turns around to see someone approaching at an alarming speed. "Kazetsuki? Care for a race? If you get to Mino province in a couple hours... I'll let you do anything you want when we get home." As soon as she said that, Kazetsuki starts to pick up the pace and soon came to a run.

[Talos]

Taros finally is able to see the edge of the Mino Province. At his current speed he'll reach the castle in 3 and half hours. But he notices the horse is getting quite tired. He pushes it even harder and can see another person just up ahead of him rushing even faster. As he gets closer to the castle his mind thinks back to the last time he was here.

"Taros you've done well taking out that pesky peasent for me. And we'll have a feast to your job well done." Ukia Tohimi praises Taros. Looking around Taros is inside the governor's throne room. Ukia is surrounded by bodyguards and women most likely geisha. But the most noticable person that was around Ukia was Tomiko Hashi his head bodyguard. "Now let us goto the dining area and celebrate." Ukia and following posse move into the dining area where the table is being prepared for the feast. After awhile of eating and joking around Taros stands and begins to speak.

"Now that we've had our celebration. I would like to continue on taking my reward with me." He said towards Ukia.

"Of course. Tomiko go fetch his reward." Ukia smiles at Taros and stares deep into his eyes. Tomiko returns with a large bag and throws it into the direction of Taros. Catching it he throws it up and down feeling the weight of the bag. " I Hope your happy with your reward." Ukia smile grows bigger but more evilish. Taros opens the bag and finds rocks inside. "I had no intention in paying you. I feel that having you do the job and then killing you myself would be alot cheaper. Tomiko please finish this." Ukia gets up from his seat and slowly leaves the dining area with his posse in tow.

Tomiko slowly walks over to Taros slowly drawing his tanto. Taros rises from his seat and slowly pulls out his katana ready to fight with his foe. "You know this will end with you being hurt badly right. I won't kill you because your not my new target. But you stand in my way I'll cripple you until the point where you would want to die."
"Big mouth mercenary." Tomiko says as he rushes towards Taros attacking. Taros falls back trying to block his attack but is to slow and is pushed away. Taros recovers and begins his own offensive. He stances looking into Tomiko's weird like form. He attacks swiftly but his attacks seem ineffective as Tomiko block each with ease. With a swift kick to the legs Taros is tripped to the ground. He tries to recover but is pushed towards the window. He looks up as Tomiko readies a strike to the chest. He lunges in his direction to fast for Taros to block effectively and is pushed out of the window falling to the ground. He was able to recover from the fall and escape but injured badly.

He returns to reality. Up ahead he sees someone racing down the road towards the castle. He continues on down the road but pushing his horse more trying to catch the person ahead of him. Thinking in his mind both Tokimo and Ukia will die this day.

[Slots]

A man sits under a tree close to the road to Ogaki. He is carefully and patiently sharpening his katana while he watches the road. He saw the peasants and merchants go by as most of them do near towns. He saw children playing with each other while they followed their parents. He sat under the tree the whole day watching the crowds of people go by. The man watched the stragglers at the end of the day heading home. *Well … it does take about a day and a half to get here… and that meeting was late in the day… so I should expect the first ones to show up … in the morning if they have horses…* he thought to himself. He got up, sheathed his sword, and started to walk towards to road when he heard the sound of hooves on the road. He watched as a girl on horseback galloped past with another rider following.

*She looks familiar… well… cant let things distract me… gotta prepare for tomorrow… I wonder who will live up to these standards… they always give me such troublesome tasks… I just hope Shin’s meeting went well*

The man waits for awhile after the riders pass and then walks down the road to the inn to get a good night’s sleep since tomorrow will certainly prove to be a hectic one.


Well there you have it i have inserted my character into the storyline... heh his background is in the RP forum if you guys havent already read it... and im making up for the lack of Yamamoto's RPing heh...

[Abc]

Shira and Kurokami took a more leisurely trot down the road. Shira attempted some bit of conversation to pass the time but Kurokami's mind was elsewhere, his mood a little edgy. Shira couldn't blame him, this was going to be an interesting couple of days. Might as well have your guard up the whole time.

Deep down, Shira didn't quite know what to make of this alliance between him and Kurokami. It was more a matter of convenience than of want. Shira was almost definitely sure that the 50/50 wouldn't work out between them. But he couldn't complain about that, that battle would be even more interesting if it occured...



Shira

[ShininShado]

I'm going to award best RPer award for this thread <1000 points>, 1000 points for whomever collects bounty <as long as done in accordance with storyline>. Also from here on out, will award 250 point incentive for best RPer in each chapter, starting with the third - which will center around entry to the manor, fighting the guards, and any other details pertaining to storyline. Chapter 2 is about mid-way through, but there's no hurry for chapther 3 to start, which will start as soon as the last person at least arrives on the outter boundaries of the estate. Keep up the good posts, very entertaining.

[Abc]

As the night crept across the sky Shira and Kurokami neared a inn at a checkpoint in the road. Thinking they had plenty of time they decided to stay the night there, and rest up for the coming battle. The room was large enough for the two of them and after securing their horses and belongings Kurokami remarked, "My stomack feels like it has a hole in it. Let's get some food."

Shira quickly agreed to his proposal and they both made their way downstairs and ordered. "How 'bout a little saki?", asked the waitress encouragingly. Shira looked at Kurokami but he had already started to shake his head vigorously, "Yes, please. Your finest." She smiled and bowed politely, walking away to retrieve them.

Shira looked at Kurokami as he ate, until finally he asked, "What is it? Something on my face?" He made a poor attempt to wipe his mouth with his hand, while still shoveling food in the process.

"Don't you think that this isn't the best time to drink? I mean, we have a job to do. If you have a hang-over and can't cover my back, what good are you?" Shira did his best to look serious but, his smile was just below the surface. This man was something else. His look and mood was almost comical. Yet Shira knew behind those eyes burned the passion of a hardened warrior.

Kurokami shrugged off Shira's question. I can have a few, can't I? Are you my master now?"

"Well, no but-"

"Then don't worry about it. You could use a drink yourself, mister serious warrior, can't find the time to be let down your guard. Lay back and enjoy the night."

"I'm sure it will be interesting...", taking Kurokami's words to heart Shira downed his first bowl of saki in less than a minute. Kurokami gave him an interested eye but said nothing and went back to eating.



*******

(1.5 hours later)



I can't believe the type of guests that travel this road, thought the innkeeper. Bandits, wanted men, strange peddlers and entertainers. But this most recent two seemed to be more dangerous than any of those combined. They had been having dinner at a table near the bar and the innkeeper, knowing trouble when he saw it, kept his eye on them. Their conversation had gotten increasingly loud and threatening. Now they seemed to be arguing over something of great importance.

Finally one of them drew his sword. The innkeeper vaguely remembered their names. The one standing with his sword drawn was...Shiro....and the other was....Korulami....or something like that. They were both obviously drunk but seemed equally capable to tear the place apart. The innkeeper made a small attempt to keep the peace but was quickly stared down by the both of them.

They returned their gaze to each other, Shiro raised his voice higher, "Well?! Are you going to fight or sit there like a lump of garbage?!"

Suddenly the table seemed to explode upward and shatter in half. Korulami's sword had burst through it in a truly magnificent display of force and he swung wide at Shiro who was quickly recovering from the surprise. Their swords seemed to clash numerous times in just a few seconds, their arms a blur of motion.

Shiro pushed forward with all his strength and threw back his attacker who jump backwards and landed lightly on top of a stool. Barely missing a beat Shiro attacked again with a high downward swing. Korulami jump sideways to the left quickly as Shiro's sword smashed through the piece of wood without much effort. Continuing and redirecting his momentum Shiro slashed to his left this time smashing through another table. He launched a series of other attacks after that, his sword swinging widely. At each strike Korulami would dodge and another piece of expensive furniture or decoration would be damaged or totally destroyed.

A near swing brought the warrior's sword crashing into the bar. Wisely the innkeeper fled for his life, never looking back.


******

(The next morning)


Shira aching head woke him up from his deep sleep. What had happened last night? All he remember was drinking that saki. It must have been really good stuff. Shira's mind was so cluttered with thoughts that he thought his head might explode. Or maybe that was just the hang-over talking. Suddenly, he realised how cold it seemed in the room. Opening his eyes, he realized that the sun was beaming down on him from the middle of the sky. It must be noon already. Damn! We're running late now!

As Shira smacked his lips and sat up completely, he remebered that his room had a roof over it....so what was he doing looking at the sky? Looking around he realized with a deep shudder what had transpired last night. Kurokami slumbered nearby, his snores loudly growling. Shira quickly woke him with several kicks to the side.

"What the hell do you want?"

"We need to get moving now!"

"Why?" Kurokami opened his eyes slightly, "Oh, we are late? That all? We have plenty of time...."

"No I think we have bigger problems than that!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Look around you, you idiot!"

Kurokami's eyes opened again and scanned the area. They grew ever wider as he looked farther. "Holy crap!"

They were outside the inn itself, not ten feet from the front door. Or what was left of it anyway. It was shattered, barely hanging from its original position. Walking back inside they looked around in wonder. The place was nothing but rubble, almost every object in it was smashed. The bar, the tables, chairs....it was all destroyed.

To Shira's left was his sword almost halfway through the wall itself, "What makes me think that we did this?"

"We have company. Coming from down the road." Kurokami slipped his head out of a hole in the wall to check it out. "It's the innkeeper...and he's bringing a lot of guards from town!"

"Let's go, I ain't paying for this!"

They both gathered their scattered belongings and jumped out of a near window. Without a moments hesitation they grabbed their horses and took off as quick as possible. Behind them, Shira could hear the yells and screams coming from the innkeeper. What a bad night....





Shira

[MitsueNeko]

While passing by an inn. She caught a glimpse of someone that looked familiar to her and almost fell off her horse. For that, the man behind her caught up to her a little. But still wanting to win, she pushed Kazetsuki harder and regained her place still farther ahead of him. My horsie is bred for speed and war you know! So a race like this is sure to be won unless you're going to push that horsie to its breaking point.

"I'm sorry for pushing you this hard, but I feel things are going to start hapening if we don't get to the manor first. Plus I want to go take a bath a wash out all this dirt that has been collecting for a whole day now! That's like gross. Then I want to change into fresh clean clothes. Once we get back, you are going to rest mister! Then in the morning, you could do anything you want. Okay? I promise. And don't worry about Ukia, I'll deal with him."

With the promise of his owner, Kazetsuki began to run like crazy. Having traveled the roads many countless times, Kazetsuki knew where every turn and obstacles ahead of them were and avoided them. She looks up to the sky to see a bird pass above them. So I guess master will be seeing me at the gates then. After hours of riding/racing. She finally gets to the castle, but with the man not far behind her. Who is this guy? What does he want? He looks strange. Why would he go to the castle/manor this early? Maybe he needs to governors help or something? Well I got there first anyways. Yay. In front of her, the doors of the gates were open to welcome her. She gallops right through them and the gates are immediately closed behind her. Ukia was standing before her with a big grin on his face. She stops in front of him and hops off the her exhausted steed.

"Hello 'master.' I came back."

"No bowing? Why not onna?"

"Bacause I don't bow down to a jerk like you!"

"Still upset about me taking your mother's keepsake right?"

"Well duh! When will you give it back!?"

"Not until you tell me first."

"Tell you what!?"

"My patience is wearing down onna! So you better tell me what I want to know or I'll have to kill your 'Pookie Wookie' and melt your precious necklace!'"

"You wouldn't dare!"

"I will if you don't stop trying to delay the message!"

"Fine! All I got from that place was that they were meeting!"

"Meeting? About what?"

"How am I supposed to know exactly when I'm busy serving drinks to everybody else!?"

"One of my men were watching you. Now tell me who was at the meeting! Don't you lie to me or I'll have to cut off that tongue of yours."

"Why not ask your 'spy' about who was there at that meeting since he was there to keep an eye on me? I bet he knows everything! Wait! Hold up! You sent a spy to spy on your own spy!? How could you!? What you don't trust me!? Now you're not just a big jerk anymore! You're a big MEANIE!"

But before he was going to answer, there was a distrubance at the gates...

[Talos]

I meant it was a good entrance. I liked it...

Taros chases behind the person who he finds out is the girl from the teahouse. His horse finally tires out right before he could see the gates of the castle. He quickly hops off the horse and rushes towards the castle gates. As he gets closer he can see the girl walk inside and the gates slowly closing behind her. He picks up the speed rushing as two guards stand outside trying to close the gates. He jumps up at them and starts to attack them. One of the guards yets out a yelp as Taros cuts into his flesh. The other guard tries to help his associate but runs through the gates to alert everyone else. Taros slowly walks through the half opened gates with his katana dripping of blood over his shoulder.

"Ukia!! I've come for your head and that of Tomiko." With that yell bodyguards and several other samurai came out from inside the castle readily to engage Taros. "Is that all you got Ukia. Thought you would have more than that. And for what's coming your way you better have more than this."

"Taros you've come back I see. Hope that little fall of yours didn't injure you too much." A voice sounds out from within the crowd. He looks around for the person and lands his eyes on Tomiko whose standing infront of him. "All of you stand back, I alone will kill this man." He takes out his tanto and rushes towards Taros. They begin to fight as someone else begins to annouce themselves at the front gates.........

[MitsueNeko]

Sorry. I'm such a big meanie to say that mean stuff. Wahhhhh... Okay lets hug, forget, and be best friends! YAY!

Seeing what was happening at the gates, she took off into the house. He's going to kill Ukia? Oh well, I guess I'll just take back whats mine. After he's dead, I'll wait here for this Kurokami guy to show up to give me back my hairpin and I guess go through the Q and A session afterwards. If he figures out anything about that hairpin though. But before she went in, she shouted to the man who she raced against. "Can you do me a favor and decapitate his head for me!? And one more thing! Keep your fight away from the baths okay because I'm taking a dip! Thanks!"

She goes into the manor and goes into Ukia's quarters. She met no resistance because they were too busy wondering what was going on. I hope Kazetsuki is alright out there with all those people. Once she was in his room, she went to where he kept her necklace and took it back. Then she head to her room and got ready for a bath. She headed down to the baths and heard a crash at the entrance of the manor. They better stay away from my bath or I'm going to burn this place down!

She continues onward like nothing happened and enters the bath. Once in the bath, she relaxes and began to wash all the dirt off her. After she was cleaned up, she went back to her room and put on a red silk yukata. She sat down and served herself tea to wait for Kurokami, Shira, or whomever has her hairpin. If I don't get that hairpin back, I'm going to be in loads of trouble and if they don't show up I'm also going to hunt them down till I get it back!

[ToshiMaru]

Beyond the horizons, at the edge of the dark forests that the lights of the sun could not penetrate; stood two shadowy figures. Both of them were hooded within cloaks and were monitoring the on coming fights of the lone warrior and the soldiers at the gates. Having no interest in the fights, the two spectral figures stood there only, awaiting the arrivals of the mercenaries.

While the uproar at the gates continued on, their interests were with the castle. One of the two shadows kept staring at the masses of soldiers inside the castle waiting for their chances to tear up the intruders; while the other giving his attention to the girl that showed up at the castle moments before the sunrise. she was the one that was at the teahouse, the waitress that served the drinks.

They stood there quietly as if waiting for something, it was bright in the day and the sun could not seem more scorching. But, it was only hours before the night came. After moments of silence, one of the figures began to speak. "Its about time, should we continue with the plans?" Another second of stillness followed, then the other person replied back, "No, wait until the others arrive, we'll resume the operation at dusk."

"But what if they interfere with us?" "It doesnt matter, we arent here for their fight; the bounty isnt our objective. If someone obtrudes with us, kill them." With that, the two ghostly figures retreated into the forest behind them.

[moses]

Having escaped the mob that had chased them from the inn, Kurokami and Shira continued onwards toward the castle. As they approached it they heard the sounds of battle at the gate.
“What do ya think is going on up there?” asked Shira.
“Sounds like someone got here ahead of us. I think we should split up and tried to find this guy. If someone has already arrived, I’m sure he is hiding.” Said Kurokami, as he began to run off in the direction of the bathes to enter uninterrupted…

[Hige Katsumori]

He layed atop the walls of the castle, simply enjoying observing the fight about him. Of course, no one noticed a dark cloaked figure above their heads, why would any one be up there? He continued to lay there, wondering if he should intervene and kill the gaurds. He stood up and watched the two men fight, his cloaked wrapped tightly about him and his hood overshadowing the features of his face.

I wonder....

[Slots]

Hiramaki got out of his bed in the inn and rubbed his eye while looking out the window. His eyes shot wide open when he saw how bright it was outside. OH CRAP! I overslept! I guess I will have to skip what I wanted to do and just go to the castle because im sure somone has already started. He got up grabbed his sword and darted out the inn with some food shoved down his throat.

I cant believe I overslept! he thought as he ran down the street twoards the gates. When Hiramaki got to the gates he saw that someone had indeed already started. He looked at the bodies at the gates to see how this person worked. Hah he could stand to use a better blade, it would cut the effort by at least 10% if he at least sharpened it every now and then. After examining the bodies he followed through to the inner walls.

[Hige Katsumori]

I was welcome to jump in right?

[ShininShado]

I was welcome to jump in right?


Sure, just make it a believable sequence of events. No problemo. Since basically everyone that is still participating in this thread is at a stand-still, going to start chapter 3. I guess some folks got lost in the woods. With prizes for best RP and whomever collects the bounty - remember two things, whomever kills the Governor doesn't necessary mean they'll collect the bounty, there will be a chapter dedicated to the journey back as well. It's not a race, it's a story, which everyone doing good with, pretty good writing here.

Chapter 3 revolves around the manor, fighting of the guards, other defenses of the estate. It ends when the last person makes their way back from the estate, or somewhere around then.

[ToshiMaru]

Dusk came upon the day, and the night was beginning to seize control of the visions and senses of everyone. Upon the cold breezes of air, ignited the fires around the castle. More soldiers had surfaced onto the battle field and began patrolling the manor walls.

All was quiet, with only a few sounds coming from the soldiers preparing their weapons and equipments for the next attempts of raids from these unknown attackers. Stress and fear came upon most of the guards for the possibilities of the attackers being abled to sneak into the castle was endless.

It was late at the night, the full moon had risen high above the land, while the dark menacing clouds flourished the sky, surrounding the star-lit heavans.
During this time, while everyone was resting; was the perfect chance that they needed to infiltrate the Ukia Castle.

Near the end of the forests, seven shadows leaped out into the field full of tall grasses; and sprinted towards the castle. Everyone of them hiding within the darkness of the clouds, avoiding contact with the moonlight. On top of walls a soldier spotted these shadows, not knowing what they were, he leaned closer to take a look. Before he could shout anything after realising what they were, a shuriken pierced his neck and the soldier fell onto his knees then his back, grasping his bleeding neck, weakly trying to hold in the blood that was pouring out.

The seven shadows threw hooks onto the wall, and began climbing to the top. After they all reached the top, everyone splitted up in pairs began searching for something.

[moses]

Kurokami had entered the bathes that evening. He heard noises of someone in one and wisely avoided it. As he crept closer into the castle he became more and more cautious. He wondered how Shira had fared....

[Abc]

Shira opted to follow Kurokami as he entered the bath, it was one of the best shortcuts into the compound. Once Shira was inside he quickly realised that he had lost Kurokami. No matter, he could take care of himself. And so will I. Moving silently Shira, weaved his way through the maze of screens and passages. I sound caused him to stop dead in his tracks as he neared the exit.

It was a giggle, one from a very soft and feminine voice. I must be in the womens section Shira realised! And look there, a hole in the screen! What luck! Shira would not admit to such things but deep down he new he loved women more then he did money. And this job promised alot of money, but that hole promised a pretty good view of unsuspecting female bodies. It didn't take long for that slab of meat in Shira's skull to come to the decision that he was going to see what lay behind that screen.

Creeping ever quietly, Shira moved close and edged his way up the wall until he was eye level with the tear in the screen. It looked suspiciously well crafted...as if someone had made this long ago for his/her viewing pleasure. But now, its all mine, Shira thought.

Peering through the gap Shira quickly realised that the steam in the room was far too thick to see that much. What he did see was enough for him, however. He saw two women laughing and giggling to each other. They were talking in hushed voices and Shira didn't catch anything that made any sense. The one closest to the door had suffiently covered her front but the other one was just sitting in the water relaxing. The covered one got up and walked to the door, during which Shira got a nice view of her behind, and as she turned to say goodbye Shira remembered her face. That was the girl from the teahouse!

She left quickly after that, but Shira was still appraising the other girl's body. He adjusted his stance and switched eyes to get a better look....

[moses]

When Kurokami tapped him on the shoulder. "What the hell do you think your doing?" he asked softly. When Shira didn't answer but continued to look though the hole, Kurokami realized what was on the other side. Roughly pushing Shira out of the way, Kurokami gazed in gap in the wall. "What a sight!" he said in a hushed voice. With a shove he was sprawled on the floor. "Hey!" he said in too loud of a voice. "You already have had enough. Anyway we are suppose to kill the man." Kurokami said trying to regain the peephole. He and Shira continued to scuffle until they burst through the paper wall.

They were still fighting when they heard a splash. Both looked over and stared at the beauty before them. Then they saw her about to scream. Kurokami leapt and clasped a hand over her mouth. "Hey now we can't have you alerting the guards." he whispered. Shira ran and grabbed her clothes. They tore her kimino into peices to tie her with. When they tore her clothes she bit Kurokami, who removed his hand. She said loudly, "Hey those are my teahouse clothes! And unhand me! Do you know who I am. Im Yumi one of the sisters of the fan. And me and my sister will kill you!" With that Kurokami reclasped her mouth and refused to stop no matter how many times she bit. After they had finished tying her up and gagging her, probly a bit to friendly ;), they found a towel storage room and stowed her away there. With that they continued on toward the governors room...

[ToshiMaru]

im a bit confused right now, everyone is trying to infiltrate the castle right? so, whatsup with the bath area? is it inside the castle or something? But hey, its pretty funny.

[Abc]

Well, lets just say that its the easiest way to get from the courtyard to the castle without being seen. And yes humor was our goal. Hopefully there will be a piece of our definitive selves when Yumi and Mitsue hear about this.

[Talos]

LOL thats pretty funny. Just wish someone else would come through the front gates.

[ToshiMaru]

well, mainly because that this IS a castle filled with armed and trained soldiers. Plus your dueling against a General who has about...what 15 - 20+ guys backing him up? But hey, feel free to get uber on his butt, its still your part.

[Trin]

LOL thats pretty funny. Just wish someone else would come through the front gates.

Your wish is my command.

As Kazuo strolled up to the castle entrance, he noticed that guards or any sort of placement were strangely absent.

"Baka!" he growled to himself. "We're not the first ones here."

Hiromi looked up from her chapped and bruised feet, and scowled at Kazuo.
"Of course, we're not the first one's here," she shouted. "We were the last to leave!"

"We took a shortcut damn it!" Kazuo shouted, drawing attention to himself. "If you didn't keep stopping to rest your feet, we'd be at the closest teahouse drowning in sake by now."

Hiromi gave him Kazuo an evil eye as rage grew within her. She had helped Kazuo so much throughout the time they had been together, and she felt totally unappreciated. The kind words he had given her earlier in the journey must have been a mere sham.

Hiromi looked to the rooftops in time to see skulking shadows growing on the cusp of the roofing tiles.

"Kazuo, look!" she gasped, pointing at the expeditionary force. They had returned to the castle in time to catch Kazuo and Hiromi breaking in.

Kazuo looked just in time to see hordes of trained samurai jumping from the short walls to the ground.

"Excellent," he said with a grin on his face. "At least we're not going to miss out on any fun." Kazuo pulled his katana from his sheath, and pulled the sheath out to use as a second weapon.

Hiromi pulled the two parts of her yari out, connecting them stylishly with a quick twirl. As the spinning yari began to slow, she stopped it with her hands, and moved into an offensive position.

"Tonight," Kazuo shouted, "my blade is crying for your blood!"

[moses]

nice trin, ahahaha. what u think of me and abc rping?

[Furious Ming-]

lol i hope you enjoyed cause now your their slaves

[MitsueNeko]

Before you read this I just want to say sorry if you don't like the way stuff happens to Shira-sama, Kurokami, and Oneechan. If you have any complaints, tell me okay?

Still sitting in her room enjoying her tea, she sat there enjoying her alone time. Then suddenly not moments later she picked up a sound of her sisters voice from the baths with her sharp hearing.

"Huh? Oneechan?" Then she remembered that she took the last towel and was supposed to bring Yumi one. "She's probably mad now. That’s why I think she’s yelling. Heheh... She’s probably going kill me."

Getting up, she grabbed a towel from her room and headed towards the bath, but before she left she managed to get her Fan-O-Doom Jr. #11(steel) and #9(wood) just in case she met resistance along the way. The hallways were dark because it was in the middle of the night and that there were no candles lit. The only source of light was from the moonlight that spilled though the stone windows.

On her way there with a towel over her shoulder and fan in hand, she heard a noise as she passed Ukia’s room. Noises like someone struggling and she heard a muffled voice. She goes to the corner using light footsteps and peeks. She couldn’t make out what was in front of her, but her eyes adjusted to the environment enough to let her make out two men putting a woman into the supply closet. Naked woman? Yumi-chan? Oneechan? That better not be her! I’m so going to give them a boo boo!

As she was going to charge the two men with her fan, she stopped as a hand was placed on her shoulder. The touch was familiar so she wasn’t provoked. She just turned around calmly to see them. She gave them a smile and stared at the shadowy figures. She understood what they wanted. All she did was point and nod. Then the shadows disappeared. She continues on what she was going to do earlier. She just walked casually down the corridor making her footsteps heard. She wanted to make her presence known to them.

With a yell, she runs out, with the wooden fan ready to attack them. On her first strike she managed to bash one of them in the head, but the second one she missed. She swung again, but this time one of the men took out a blade and cut the fan into pieces. He was going to strike her, but she quickly brought out her other fan and deflected it. Confused on why this fan didn’t get cut to pieces and the noise of steel ringing through the corridor as the weapons met, he backed off.

Not letting her opponent get away, she lurched forward and tried to strike him. But being a skilled fighter as he is, he moved out of the way. But instead of hitting her opponent, she hit the guy she hit the first time with her wooden fan not much earlier. Getting angry for getting the wrong person, she lurched forward at her target again. He was too quick for her so she missed all her strikes. Not once in the what she called a fight, she landed a direct hit on her opponent nor the man made an attempt to hurt her. She got angrier as each moment passed because of her failed attempts to injure him. Now frustrated, she pulled her obi and took off her yukata. Remember it was dark in the corridor! Now ‘freed’ from her bindings, she moved easier. She caught to him better and finally able to strike him. Not successfully, but at least this time she could meet his blade.

The man seeing that the girl was a threat on his life began to actually fight her. Now both of them are at the end of each corridor. Planning to charge at each other. As the ran to meet up each other, moments before they met, Mitsue trips over the other guy on the ground who was dazed from impact to his head. While on the ground, the man she fought saw this as a chance to ‘subdue’ her. Holding her fan to defend her, she finally opened them. The two metal clashed making a loud ring. But at the contact of the weapons, moonlight hit the metals and sent light to the faces of their opponents, revealing glimpses of who they were. Who she saw shocked her. It was Shira, one of those people from the tea house. Once the man saw her, he stopped in his tracks staring at her without blinking. She was in the part of the room where there was enough moonlight to see things.

Staring strangely at him, she looked to her body. She was lying on this guy called Kurokami NAKED! She screamed and threw her fan at Shira. He dodged it enough that it didn’t injure him, but it managed to cut his clothes. The fan stuck in the wall behind Shira. She got up and ran over to her clothes that she tossed aside earlier. She began to clothed herself and went over to Shira and bowed in front of him.

“I’m so sorry Shira-sama! I didn’t know it was you! I’m so sorry! Please forgive me! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen!”

Then she stopped apologizing as she heard a muffled voice. She turned to a closet and sees Yumi still tied up, naked, and gagged. She snatches Kurokami’s sword and went to cut the pieces of kimono that were used to tie Yumi’s leg. She didn’t cut the binds on Yumi’s hands and the gag on her mouth because she was going to expect probably a stream of death threats and probably curses. She tossed her sister a towel and began to help Kurokami up.

“I’m so sorry Mister! I didn’t mean to hurt you! I just thought you and Shira-sama were trying something funny with Oneechan. Now that I know who you are, I understand what is going on! You were saving Oneechan from all those other bad men that were peeking at us earlier right? Because when I was leaving the baths, I caught a glimpse of someones eye looking through a peeking hole. I was going to throw a dart at the hole, but then I forgot my darts in my room so I couldn’t blind that dirty jerk! Then seeing that Oneechan was alone, they probably attacked Oneechan! Then you two come and save the day right? You beat up those big perverts, but since you saw Oneechan naked, she freaked out right? Then she tried to hurt you, but not wanting a boo boo, you gagged and tied her up and put her in this closet so she can be safe right?”

She stared at them and waited for them to answer ignoring the muffled yells of her sister…..

[moses]

Before anyone can answer a man stormed into the room. He was looking pissed and Kurokami began slowly moving his hand back towards his weapon. Then MitsueNeko identified him as Ming, one of their gurads. Kurokami began to relax his stance. They all looked on to the two men waiting for them to respond.

"Well as MitsueNeko said, we did see the perverts looking in throught the hole in the paper screen." stated Kurokami, glancing over to Shira.

"We saw them and we tried to apprehend them. But it was dark and we accidently tackled each other. This is what sent us sailing through the wall." Shira continued.

"While we were still struggling with each other the culprits got away. That was when we turned and saw Yumi standing there. We were both immediatly paralyzed by her beauty. Then I noticed her about to scream. I had to stop her, before she revealed that we were in the castle." Kurokami said, letting out a sigh. "But it seems that people were still alerted."

"Well, why are you in the castle!" demanded Ming.

"That I can not reveal, but we must be heading. Your pardon sisters of the fan." responded Shira quickly. And with that he and Kurokami disappeared into the darkness.

[MitsueNeko]

If you don't like what happens here tell me and I'll edit it okay?

After Kurokami and Shira finally disappeared into the shadows, she finally cut all the bindings from her sister's hand. Yumi quickly removed her gag and wrapped the towel around her body. Her sister was furious yes, but Mitsue ignored all the complaints, screams, and yells from Yumi. She just stared at the shadows absentmindedly with a serene smile upon her face. Turning to her sister, she put a finger to her lips to silence her. Then she said in a whisper.

"Oneechan shhh... Not now. We must be silent. Remember our purpose here. Please don't stray from our goal by your anger. Be at peace for now and rage later okay? I probably know what happened. I did sense it was them peeking at us in the baths for they cannot keep quiet when they peek it seems. I heard Shira-sama whispering not moments before I left you alone to get you a towel. I only made up that story just to get rid of them and to avoid complications that will delay us. I know they saw you naked, but at a later time you can punish them later okay? They did say they were stunned by your beauty." With these words an awkward silence followed.

She broke the silence by turning to Ming. “Ming can you please look after Oneechan and make sure she’s not in any danger. She should return back to her quarters to clothe and arm herself properly. Do not let anyone see you okay? Also please take Kazetsuki to safety. You two must hurry up and flee this place for you have done your parts because you do not want to stick around for the grand finale unless you want to eat some barbeque.”

Ming just stared at her for a moment and smiled. “What do you have planned? I have a feeling in my gut that you’re going to do something.”

Mitsue was silent as she continues to look at the darkness. She just replied in a monotonous tone. “The stage is being set and the show will go on soon. But the show cannot start for we never learned our scripts. If you want to know the name of our skit, it’s called, ‘D.A.B.I.H.U.’ or in translation, ‘Die and Burn in Hell Ukia.’ So do you like the title? Never mind, I have to get going now anyways. I need to help set up the scene.” She pauses for a while and is about to leave, but a hand was placed on her.

“What are our lines so far?” asked Ming.

Mitsue just continues to smiled and replied. “Just be in the stables with Kazetsuki and a torch burning okay Ming? Oneechan, when you’re finished, come help me look for it? I lost it so I never had a chance to read my lines. We’re the co-stars, but we need our lines before we're to go on the stage. Don’t worry about Ukia forgetting his lines because he IS the STAR of the show so he should already know his lines right?” With that being said she giggled and just ran down the corridor. Leaving only her soft footsteps echoing in the hall just barely in that narrow room. Kami-sama I pray to you to keep all of the other stars safe and to help ensure our skit will be a success.

Finally a serious side of her! She is devoted to her 'goals.'

[Hiromi]

I'm no good at battle scenes!!

..I don't want to die.

Sucking in a breath, Hiromi's gaze shot up to where the samurai had gathered. They had been spotted. Instinctively, Hiromi turned to run - but the sound of Kazuo unsheathing his sword stopped her in her tracks. She had barely managed to wield her yari before the frantic blurs of cloth and steel were upon them. Kazuo's blood-strangled scream ripped from his lips as he charged wildly into battle.

Their weapons rang as Kazuo danced expertly through the chaos. She caught glimpses of him now and then, powerful and deadly as he cut down one after the other, but her attentions to him were fleeting - Hiromi was locked in a battle of her own. A samurai had set upon her, was toying with her, as the rest of the men had busied themselves with Kazuo. She was just a girl, she'd be disposed of with no problem. He fought her with terrifying ferocity, his blade a blur, singing out each time she stopped it with her yari. Her arms began to hurt, her legs shaking as she parried each blow; he was a trained fighter against which Hiromi wouldn't last long. Terror laced her movements, and she staggered involuntarily, her slight frame rocked by the force of the man's sword. The samurai's hard-edged gaze bore into her, the veins around his eyes buldging with exertion. She could smell his sweat, he could smell her fear - but still she successfully kept him at bay. Screams echoed off the walls of the castle, dirt and blood soaked the air, covered the fighters. The smell of death, of meat, assaulted her senses and Hiromi thought for an instant that she'd come face-to-face with her end.

The urge to close her eyes screamed at Hiromi. To wish it all away, to retreat into herself and give up. At that moment, a familiar scent rushed by her - a voice screaming out her name. Looking past the samurai's shoulder, Hiromi caught a glimpse of Kazuo. Three men had surrounded him, and he fought with the fury that drove his career. His gaze locked to hers and she thought for an instant she saw fear. but no quicker had it surfaced it was gone, and Kazuo - like a beast swatting off flies - downed his attackers and leaped to the next. He's not going to help me!

The samurai laughed at her, a stinking growl that turned Hiromi's stomach and forced her attention back to his sweat-soaked face. "You're going to die little girl." he snarled at her, swinging his sword faster. Hiromi blocked, but the force of his blow knocked her yari from her hand and she stumbled to the ground. Not wasting any time, the Samurai flipped his katana and brought it whizzing down to where Hiromi lay. A scream tore from her throat and she rolled, the cool blade embedding itself in the earth where she had been a moment before. Closing her eyes and clenching her fists against the roaring protest of her muscles, she lashed out with every last bit of strength she had.

The samurai tumbled to his knees, choking out gasps as his hands cradled his groin. Hiromi was on her feet in an instant. Adrenaline whipped through her as she gripped the man's katana, and drove it into his chest, screaming as it cracked off his ribcage and sliced the rest of the way through her opponent. Dropping the hilt of the katana, she had a moments pause to realize the fighting had stopped before sinking to her knees and vomiting into the blood-soaked ground.

"K-kazuo.." Hiromi collapsed into darkness, finally giving up the fight.

********

Hiromi's cheek stung. Hurts like hell, was her surfacing thought as she opened her eyes and stared into the angry face of Kazuo. He gave her another stinging smack to the side of the face that brought her back to full consciousness, and bringing her anger back with a vengeance.

"Godamm-Kauzo!!" Covering her face with one arm she swung blindly at him as he climbed quickly off her and floated away.

"Get up. Let's go." She watched him walk towards the gate of the castle, all signs of the battle were gone and for a brief moment she wondered if she had been dreaming it; until she looked down and saw her blood-spattered clothing, and a renegade arm peeking from the brush. Another wave of vomit rocked her and she just managed to make it to the trees in time.

She felt his hand weave into the hair at the nape of her neck, and without warning he clenched his fist and was dragging her back onto the road. Howling, she kicked at his legs until he released her.

"I said let's go. I don't have time for you to be weak." Kazuo stated calmly, staring towards the pile of bodies with cool disintrest. Hiromi had a fleeting vision of him dragging the corpses across the road, and she swallowed back the urge to gag and glared at him. She could still feel the katana in her hands, and wondered if she'd ever forget the samurai's face. Tears sprang to her eyes and were soon cutting rivulets through the dirt on her face. Seeing her cry, Kazuo's shoulders sagged and he reached out to roughly brush off her cheek.

"Stop that crying," his voice audibly softer, he tipped his fingers to the bottom of her chin. "You knew this would happen. I'm a hired killer, Hiromi. There will be death, much more of it, if you continue down my path. You need to learn to forget them before you even see their face." The samurai flashed through Hiromi's mind and her stomach turned. Sinking back to the ground, she cradled her face in her hands and wept.

Dropping Hiromi's yari on the ground next to her, Kazuo pressed his hand to the top of her head and set off towards the castle, never looking back.

[Trin]

Hiromi, as always that was awesome. I hope if you don't mind me taking it from here. :)

As Kazuo walked through the wide open front gates of the palace, disgust rose in his throat. Dead and incapacitated guards lay strewn about the stairs and path leading up to the main building.

"Damn it all! We're never going to get this kill if we're lagging behind like this," Kazuo snarled, totally dissatisfied with their pace.

Hiromi tried her best to hold back her tears and steer her own mind away from the last hour's events. The screaming sound of the swinging katana; the warm spray of gouged blood; tears that fell from eyes full of horror; flashes filled Hiromi's mind, and her thoughts became murky. Her lower lip trembled as she remembered the sound of the dying samurai's last breath and gurgle.

"Oy, Hiromi," Kazuo shouted. As he looked back, he could see the weight that had descended upon her shoulders. The realization of the events that had transpired started to unfurl in his mind.

"Hiromi," Kazuo whispered. "Was that...your first time?"

"Um..." Hiromi whispered, her voice wavering and dodging through her pain and choked throat. "My first time doing what?"

"Your first time killing someone, Hiromi," Kazuo answered plainly. He had forgotten the feeling of that first time. Shortly after his master had died, Kazuo had found himself yet again alone. He had become skilled in the style taught to him, but had never thought to use it to kill. Jobs began to become tight. No longer could he get by with protection missions and escort jobs. He would have to take the plunge and finally start accepting assassinations.

The first time he did, he could feel something growing inside of him. a monster had been laying dormant in his gut from birth, and for the first time it began to open its eyes. Dark and invisible, the monster began to take hold of Kazuo's mind. Fighting away the fear, the hatred and the pain took all of his strength. No one had ever told him it would affect him this way. He became sick and his thoughts became consumed with hatred for himself and what he had learned.

Becoming disconnected and numb was all he could do to keep himself together. There was no real justice in what he was doing, but instead Kazuo held onto the strange satisfaction he got from battle. He never wished such things on Hiromi, but he knew that the tingle he felt in his skin after a battle was all that was keeping him together. He concentrated on it, and became his entire being. Soon, he began to fiend and lust for it. Battle and blood became his love.

It held him together, but the monster had long consumed Kazuo's soul. He wanted to make sure such things never happened to Hiromi.

"Hey, look," Kazuo said. "I know the feeling."

"No you don't!" Hiromi yelled. "You're a killer!"

"Excuse me?!" Kazuo growled. "Do you think I was born this way? Get this straight, sister. I used to be a good little boy. Look at what I've become, now. I'm trying to save you, damn it! How about showing a little respect!"

"Save...me?" Hiromi stuttered. Her tears dried up, and her expression had changed. She became enamored with Kazuo's words. He could have chosen the easy route. He could have turned her into a killing machine.

"Look at me, Hiromi," Kazuo said, barely visible tears welling up in his eyes. "I'm a shell of a man. I drink sake each night hoping one day I wouldn't wake up. I wouldn't wish my life on anyone. Not you, not ever."

A deep regret gripped at Hiromi's heart. She had accused him of being soulless and uncaring, but she never understood how much pain he was really in. She knew now what Kazuo had meant. In his moment of weakness, he had given in to the lust of battle, and hated what he had become. He wanted Hiromi to take a different route. She had the strength to carry that weight.

Wiping her tears away, she took a deep breath, and looked at Kazuo with reinvigoration.

"So what's the plan?" Hiromi said, her voice brighter and stronger.

"That was fast..." Kazuo answered, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

"We need a plan if we don't want to alert any more guards."

"Oh man, not a stealth plan. Please tell me this isn't a stealth plan."

"What's wrong with a stealth plan?"

"Do you have any idea how hard it is to get out of a building if a stealth plan fails?"

"Who said it was going to fail?"

"Uh..." Kazuo looked elsewhere, and began whistling innocently.

"Look here, Kazuo!" Hiromi shouted. "We're following my plan, and that's that. We need to catch up to everyone else, and if we take the long way killing everyone like you undoubtedly want to, we'll never get there in time."

"Fine, fine. What's the plan?"

"Uh well, first we'll need to find plans to the building..."

"WHAT?!" Kazuo slapped his forehead. "Oh, you have go to be kidding me..."

[Hiromi]

My turn! :D Kazuo is such a softie. Awwwww Kazuo *huggles*

*****

"Okay! Let's go!" Hiromi's voice nearly broke with excitement. Hunkered next to her, a sour expression seared across his face, Kazuo grumbled his consent. Tightening the sash around her waist and exchanging her yari out for a discarded katana, Hiromi gave herself an appraising look. "Do I look like a real samurai Kazuo?"

Kazuo, staring at her as he fussed with his own uniform, he growled. "You look like a little girl in a potato sack. This will never work."

"Halt! Intruder!! How's that?"

"...not funny." Kazuo grumbled, "This is moronic. If I'm going to die, I want to do it in my own clothing - not this stinking corpse-germ-ridden samurai uniform." Already bitter about having to strip naked - at Hiromi's orders, no less - two of the newly deceased guards, and then pretend to be one of them.. "It won't work!"

Crossing her arms, Hiromi pursed her lips and glared at him. "We're not sitting down for sake with them, Kazuo. We just have to look inconspicuous at a glance."

"We're covered in blood!"

"Exactly." Hiromi grinned wickedly at Kazuo, who was staring at her slack-mouthed and confused. "Trust me on this one." Spinning on her heel, she marched off through the castle gates, Kazuo sullenly in tow.

"...smartass." Kazuo muttered under his breath.

*****

The halls were deserted. They wandered past a bath, Hiromi peeked in her eyes watering from the steam, someone had been there recently. She turned back to Kazuo and stifled a giggle, he looked absolutely miserable. Footsteps were heard in the distance, and Kazuo's face nearly shone with excitement as two samurai rounded the corner.

A grin spreading across his face, Kazuo unsheathed his sword and slid into an offensive stance. The two guards looked on him in puzzlement, the steam blurring the figures of Hiromi and Kazuo. They had a brief second to wonder why one of their own was pulling a sword on them, when Kazuo was upon them in a stream of water and steel, howling out his delighted battle cry.

"KAZUO!!!!" Hiromi threw back her head and yowled. Soon enough the entire place would be upon them. Startled, the second samurai spun on her, breaking his attentions from Kazuo long enough to chase Hiromi into the open bath. The floor was slick from the steam and Hiromi went sprawling onto the ground as she fled around the corner, the samurai hot on her heels. Rough hands grabbed her around the collar and dragged her into the waters, shoving her head under the surface. Choking back a scream on the scalding water, Hiromi found her footing, braced herself, and flung the samurai into the waters behind her.

"I'm sick-" Hiromi flipped her hair behind her in a spray of water, and spun on the samurai, "-to death-" The samurai unsheathed his sword, flinging water across her face as he swung it into an intimidating battle stance. Hiromi already had her katana in hand, and stared a challenge to the samurai, her face darkened with rage, "-of people thinking they can pick on me, just because I'm a GIRL!!" With the last word, she slipped under the water, pushed herself from the bath wall, and rocketed into the knees of the startled samurai - knocking him backwards and pulling him under the surface with her.

*****

"How do you guys MOVE in these things?" Kazuo darted around the guard, pulling at his collar as he went. The samurai, grunting out his rage, swung at Kazuo and missed. "Really, they're quite uncomfortable." The samurai cursed again, pushing himself off the wall of the hallway towards Kazuo. Kazuo flipped backwards and landed in a graceful crouch.

"Come on. Call your friends, this'll be fun." Kazuo tossed the guard a terrifying smile and twirled the sheath of his katana into a defensive stance. Screams from the bath caught his attention, and Kazuo cursed under his breath before stepping forward and swiftly killing the opposing samurai.

"What's she gotten us into, now?" Kazuo sheathed his sword and wandered into the open bath.

*****

Hiromi's lungs were going to burst, she was sure of it. Locked in a struggling embrace, she was determined to keep the samurai underwater, provided that she didn't run out of air first. He had dropped his katana, and it now lay discarded on the bottom of the pool. The samurai kicked at her, but Hiromi continuously fought at his legs. If he gains his footing, I'm in trouble. An extra hard knee to the abdomen pushed the last of Hiromi's air out of her, and she bit hard into his shoulder, seeing stars. The guard screamed, shooting his legs out from under him and catching enough of the bottom of the bath to rocket upright. Hiromi had no choice but to follow, gasping for breath as she surfaced - the air burning through her lungs. Katana! Where's my katana!? She spun around just in time to see the guard slump forward, his neck slit, blood filling the pool in a torrent.

Kazuo, looking extremely bored, wiped off his blade and left the bath. In the hallway he turned and watched, bemusedly, as Hiromi pulled herself from the water and sloshed after him. Grabbing the arm of the guard in the hallway, she shot Kazuo an angry glare.

"Help me get him into the water. Hurry up." With a raised eyebrow, Kazuo obeyed.

"What's the point? They're going to be found soon enough." He grumbled to her as they dropped the body into the reddened water.

"We don't need forever Kazuo, just long enough to get ourselves out of here alive." She gave the guard a disgusted shove and it floated towards the center of the bath, bumping idly into the corpse of the first.

They exited the bath in a hurry, Hiromi braiding her sopping hair as the hallway filled with steam. From a distance the water seemed murky, and through the cloud of water, two dark forms were barely visible. Hiromi prayed it'd work. Kazuo watched her as she led him determinedly through the hallways; such a change from the sobbing mess he left outside.

"You're gonna be okay kid.." He whispered as they rounded the next hallway. There was a row doors to their left, one had been left open revealing a small, and quite feminine, bedroom. The right side of the hallway opened onto a large balcony, where two more guards were positioned. Placing a hand on Kazuo's wrist, Hiromi stopped him before he could unsheathe his sword. Putting a hand to her lips she shook her head at him, forcing him at bay.

Watch this... she mouthed. Stuffing her braid into the back of her uniform, Hiromi took a deep breath and yelled in the deepest voice she could muster.

"INTRUDERS!! INTRUDERS AT THE FRONT GATE!!" There was a scuffle outside as the startled guards hopped to their feet and tumbled into the hallway. Hiromi hung her head, darkening the play of her feminine features with shadow, and pointed down the hallway where they had come. They took one look at their blood-covered uniforms and unsheathed their swords. Hiromi just stared.

"Go warn Lord Takeda!" One shouted as they sprinted by. Kazuo stared after them slack-jawed, until the sound of their hurried footsteps retreated from earshot.

"I can't believe that..worked.." Kazuo muttered, his voice laced with awe. With a chuckle Hiromi slipped her hand in his and pulled him off down the hallway.

"We've only got a few minutes before they figure it out," she told him, "so let's get moving. And besides, there's a governor who's just dying to meet us."

[ShininShado]

Wow, some really good story-telling there, that was really good guys. This ends Chapter 3.

Chapter 4 starts here, and should continue until the exit of the manor/start of the journey back home.

Hiromi wins the Chapter 3 prize for roleplay, really entertaining. Keep up the good writing everyone!

[ToshiMaru]

Its late in the night, and everyones been running inside and around the castle for hours......its a biiiig place....... :grumble:

It had been hours since the arrival of the hired assassins; everyone was going their own ways trying to find this Takeda guy. Toshimaru, one of the seven shadows that had infiltrated the castle earlier that night is slowly creeping his way through the castle halls. Although, his path was not interrupted by many soldiers, those that did cross him; none were left alive.

Toshimaru neared the top of one of the towers in the castle, when he sights a room that was lit by candle fire, and the presence of someone inside brought curiosity to Toshimaru. As he slides the door opened, he notices a single man armored in a samurai outfit, sitting in the middle of the room with his body facing the opposite direction of Toshimaru.

Toshimaru walked closer to the man, when he noticed the slight sound of metal clicks from the sitting man. It was the sound of the man pulling out his sword. The man turned around to look at Toshimaru, and then he pulls out his sword completely and passes a menacing grin at Toshimaru.

"So.....How are you involved with this assassination?"

"Where is it?"

"What? OHH! you mean the scroll.....well, I’ll only tell you if you defeat me. Which I highly doubt! I am Kigiyo Ukia! The Highest ranking captain of the Takeda State Army. I look forward to fighting someone as skilled as you, Toshimaru."

"Why would a captain of a state army be standing in the middle of a fight which he doesn’t belong to?

"Come now, did you really think that a man like Takeda would be able to get his hands on such a valuable object such as the scroll all by himself?"

The man suddenly tore off the armor of his left arm, and pulls down the sleeves of his clothe. On his left arm was a tattoo of an oni mask; "THIS Toshimaru, is why I am here. NOW, enough chatting, lets get down to business. You want the scroll, then come and get it!"

The man sprints forward with his sword raised by his head, and strikes at Toshimaru. Toshimaru dodges his attacks one by one without any problems, thinking that the man was just playing with Toshimaru. HE wouldn’t be this weak. As Toshimaru evades these attacks, he notices that with every strike, Ukia becomes faster and his reach is closer than before. Something is wrong, but Toshimaru cannot see it.

The next strike, Ukia strikes from the left side, but before Toshimaru could dodge that attack; Ukia fakes, and drew his attack towards Toshimaru's right side. The only reaction Toshimaru could call upon was reached for his katana and tried to block it. The last attack from Ukia was so fast that Toshimaru's sword wasn’t even fully out when they locked their swords together.

"hahahaha, I wouldn’t have expected you to see that."

"Are you really intent on finishing this fight Ukia?"

"hehehehe, you know how killers like us are, only death Satisfies US!"

Toshimaru then pushes Ukia off with his sword, and draws it. Ukia returns with another strike at Toshimaru, this time Ukia's speed is extremely fast, as if he has become serious now that Toshimaru has his weapon ready. Toshimaru and Ukia now engaged in a real duel with each other, with their blades smashing into each other at full speed, and their movements so swift and agile as if they knew where every corner of the room was.

Hours had past, and both men were tired. Ukia was frustrated by the constant evasions and was beginning to lose his concentration; Toshimaru took the chance and strikes Ukia with a powerful blow. The exhausted man turned around trying furiously to hit Toshimaru; but his moves where in vein. Toshimaru dodged his final attack and quickly sped behind Ukia, and stabbed him from behind.

Ukia fell to his knees, still shocked that he was defeated. Toshimaru pulls out the sword and swung it to relieve it from the blood stains.

“Where is the scroll?”

“This has been a very interesting fight. I’ve underestimated you, you’re different from the others. But, I pity you; you still don’t realize what you’ve gotten yourself into.”

“I have no need for your pity, show me the scroll, and I will take away your pain.”

“The scroll is inside one of the chests that came in this morning, Takeda keeps his treasures in the chamber beneath the castles.

Toshimaru turns around to face the back of Ukia and slays his head. A long term of silence came upon Toshimaru, and the corpse of Kigiyo Ukia. Feeling that someone had been spying in their battle, Toshimaru gives no attention to the eavesdroppers and takes his leave towards the underground chambers.

BTW/OOC - Takeda is the bounty, not Ukia.

[Talos]

Hell yea that was some good story telling. It'll be hard to follow up from where you both left off. Everyone is just about inside the castle and I'm still surrounded by guards and Tomiko.

Guards scream throughout the castle. "Intruders, Intruders at the front gate." Sounded like a young woman but Taros couldn't tell. So more have arrived to the castle he thought to himself. Tomiko just continued to stare at Taros not moving a foot after hearing the screams and warnings from the men around him. One by one the guards started to move away from the two men and search the castle for the other intruders.

"So what's really going on Taros?" Tomiko asked in a soft voice. "Is this just a job you'd thought you would take to get a perfect shot at killing me and Ukia off?"

Taros just smiles at Tomiko and slowly moves towards his foe. He suddenly stops as two figures approach from behind Tomiko. There is a big guy holding carrying a spear and another guy carrying a bow and arrow. Both seemed to be new but have seen a few battles. He didn't like the look of the two men.

"Tomiko whats going on out here?" The Big one asks.
"Nothing go help Ukia. I'll be there soon to clean up what you leave."
"This one seems to be alittle bit more fun rather than finding the intruders." The small one adds. "How about you leave and I take care of your friend?" They seem to fight over Taros like cattle to be slaughtered. He really started not to like what was going on.
"No thank you Raiko. This one is mine." Tomiko said with a more demanding voice. "Now go before its too late for Ukia."
The Two men slowly walk off. Tomiko looks quickly over to the left to where the men are walking as if to move the fight out of the courtyard and inside the castle. Both men smiled and moved to the steps of the castle quickly.

Entering the dimly lit hallways the two warriors begin to fight. Bright flashes of light and banging of steel can be heard throughout the whole castle. The already panicked guards and samurai began to walk the stairway into where the two warriors were fighting. Soon the last sound of their blades rang throughout the night wind. First to emerge from the dimly lit hallway was Taros holding onto his side bleeding badly. Next Tomiko came out crawling on his knees and finally falling over on the steps. The surrounding guards and samurai began to charge Taros. He was barely able to lift his weapon but found little strength he had left to fight off the remaining foes.

He kills the first person he can reach with his sword and begins to battle the men. He's stabbed in the back and side many times but nevers falls. He's able to kill them all with such insanity that he ignores all his new wounds. Blood smears the courtyard and castle front and there he is left standing over the dead bodies of his enemies. He finally walks over to Tomiko and kneels before him. He then looks up at the window which Ukia would be in. Taros continues up the stairs and makes his way to Ukia slowly but determined.

[Slots]

haha well this is going to be an intersting turn of events...

Hiramaki stood up and dusted off his clothes. He was glad that he wasn't wearing his good clothes, this blood was everywhere. Hiramaki was surprised that none of the people Shinin had met with noticed him lying near the wall next to the gate playing dead. Man those guys should look deeper, or i just make a mean dead guy. At least that girl didnt decide to pick me to strip. He proceeded to follow the path of destruction that was created by the assissins. When he arrived at the main building and stood there for a moment. While he was deciding on which path to follow, (The Fools into the baths, The Brigands through the main hall, a lone swords man, or the hooded figure) a pair of guards came barreling out of the building.

"Oh man! I thought most of you guys would have been dead by now!" Hiramaki said as the guards appraoched.

"Your one of the intruders!" one of the guards said while drawing his blade.

"No no. Don't pin any of this on me! All I wanted was to do some business with the people in this castle." This had better work.

"You are covered in blood! If you are not one of the intruders then you would not have blood on you!" The guard the procceded to charge at Hiramaki followed closely by his partner. CRAP!! my farse at the gate made this difficult.

Hiramaki got into a stance and waited for the arival of the guard. I hope I don't have to use lethal force on these guys; they just seem like they are doing their job like me. The guard had reached Hiramaki and was already swing at his left flank. He moved his left wrist to block the sword. The guard laughed in amusement as he watched the man try and block the sword with his own hand. The laughing face was soon replaced with one of shock. The arm was still there and his sword had bounced off.

"What the hell?" the guard took a vertical swing at Hiramaki's head but Hiramaki had taken a step towards the guard and struck him hard in the abdomin causing the guard to fall to one knee. I love these bracers. Good thing I made sure that they could wistand a decent hit from MY blades

"I told you guys that I am not here to fight. I'm just here to see someone. So please leave me be." As He said this Hiramaki was already disarming the guard infront of him and using the guard's katana to block the blows coming from the other guard. Hiramaki kicked the guard on the ground to make sure he wouldn't be getting up anytime soon.

The guard attacking was not giving Hiramaki any time to press an attack that would incapacitate the guy. Crap crap crap crap, I guess there is no other choice Hiramaki blocked one of the attacks ment to cut him in half and slid his weapon down the blade and before he hit the hilt he pushed the guard's blade out to expose his wrists and sliced through them with ease.

"I am sorry that you did not listen to me. All I wanted to do was go inside without opposition."

Hiramaki then returned the katana in his hand into its own sheath and placed it next to the unconcious guard. Hiramaki then walked calmly to where the guards had come. I really wish that I didn't have to do that. That poor guy has no purpose in life anymore, but at least I spared his comrade. Hiramaki was lost in his thoughts as he wandered down the wartorn halls of the estate.

[ShininShado]

We're middle of the way through Chapter 4 here, this story has turned into an epic story if I've ever seen one - keep up the good writing.

Meanwhile... Shin is reading old sanskrit text in Sykoi's pub awaiting the return of the mercenaries. All of this waiting has given Shin plenty of time to question his role in life, and where his life is taking him...

[Slots]

weee this is gonna be fun...

Hiramaki had just entered the main hall of the building when he heard the noise of a horse. A horse? but the horses were outside the gates... He turned around and ran out the door to see a well dressed man hurridly putting large sacks onto a horse. The bags jinggled of coins which led Hiramaki to believe this man was the man that the family wanted to get rid of.

"Ukia Tohimi! I have come on behalf of the Yamamoto family to confirm your death! As the mercenaries sent have not done their job yet, I must now execute you!" Hiramaki called out to the man by the horse. I really REALLY hope this is the right guy. Now I have to stop him before he gets away

Hiramaki looked around for something to throw at the man, but all he saw was one of the hands he had cut off earlier. Oh man this is sick. The man quickly scampered onto the horse and started to urge it forward. Hiramaki had run down the steps a little to pick up the hand and threw it as hard as he could at the mounted man.

The severed hand flew threw the air and hit the man square in the back of the head causing him to fall off the moving horse. Wow, I didnt know I was such a good shot! Hiramaki then quickly ran down the steps towards the rising man.

"You can't get me! I have done nothing!" Ukia screamed as he tried to mount the horse once more.

Hiramaki was already close enough to the horse to grab Ukia's foot. He pulled ukia off the horse and held him on the ground. "I am just doing my job, don't take this personally." Hiramaki said as he pulled Ukia's family sword from the man's waist. He then knocked Ukia out with the sword and left him for the mercenaries roaming around the compound. I guess I couldnt do it, bu I have no doubt the mercenaries will finish the job. Atleast I got a prize out of this. Hiramaki mounted the horse and rode out the gates heading back to the tea house Shin had held the meeting.

[Hige Katsumori]

He watched as the gaurds gathered about the front gate to oppose this man that supposedly meant them no harm. He was suprised to see the man not wishing to spill any blood, what fun is that? He waited for the intruder to make his way into the castle before he hopped off the outer castle walls and walk up to the gaurd to oppose them.

" Excuse me. I believe I am the intruder, well, one of them atleast. Please allow me to assist you in your journy to Hell. "

With that, he slowly removed an incredibly large katana, also known as a nodachi, that was very visibly protruding from the back of his cloak. He leapt into the air, whirling the large blade above his head in a circular motion, hoping to cut down a few of them with a single blow. He managed to slice one gaurds stomach right open, while one of them managed to parry the blade and fall flat on his back, the last, got his head cut clean off. He stood up from the crouching position he had landed in and flicked his sword to one side of him, attempting to remove the blood. He chuckled as one gaurd trembled in front of him, he brought his head up to stare into the man's eyes coldy.. He then simply pressed the nodachi up to his neck and continued to push forward as it slid quietly through his neck, and bursting through the back as his spine cracked. A few gaurds yelled something at him and ran at him with their blades held high above their heads.

" You fools. Leave now while you have the chance! "

He smirked as none of them made an attempt to leave. He brought the nodachi out of the man's neck and brought it back, stabbing the man in the torso as he ran at him. He let go of the nodachi in his stomach and grabbed his falling katana and striked to the right to parry the other gaurd's attack and went to cut his head in half. Suprisingly, the gaurd managed to parry the attack and stumbled backward by the force of the blow. He dashed backward avoiding the attack by the other man and ducked low while moving forward, he brought the blade up and cut the man almost in half, he would have if this worthless blade was better. He moved back to his nodachi and removed it from the corpse of the gaurd and swung around knocking the katana out of the last gaurd and continued to spin around once more, cutting the man from his right shoulder to his thigh.

" You are welcome... "

He turned around and whipped his nodachi to one side again, removing most of the blood. He continued to walk into the castle, wanting a more worthy opponent.

[ToshiMaru]

Toshimaru is halfway down the castle, by now the whole compound is in an uproar because those moronic hired killers didnt know the meaning of assasination. Soldiers and concubines were running amuck within the castle and outside of it. Fights and rebelion were rampant all over the place and blood was painted everywhere. The sloppiness of these mercenaries jobs was pitiful.

Still, none of this had to do with Toshimaru's business here. He has to hurry to accomplish his mission as soon as possible; before anyone else notices his presence. If Ukia was here, then that must mean that they know the scroll is here too, and it wouldnt be long before the rest of Takeda's army storms this castle.

Toshimaru reaches the main hall of the castle, he doesnt understand why this room is untouched. With this kind of commotion, this room is too quiet. Toshimaru walks cautiously towards the other side of the room where the door that leads under the castle lies. The silence of the room was so blaring that even the echoes of his footsteps on the wooden surface seems to be the only sounds that could escape the muteness.

Toshimaru pauses in the middle of the room, his guts tell him that something is wrong, but he cannot decipher the problem. Then, as he slowly raises his head and takes a look around the room; he sees a light. It was casted by the moonlight being reflected by a blade. This, brought a grin to Toshimaru's face.

It was trap, a group of ninjas swirled down from the ceilings and surrounded Toshimaru. seven of them, Toshimaru didnt engaged them but simply gave them a menacing grin. The ninjas ran torwards Toshimaru about ready to attack him; when a shuriken flew down and stabbed one of the ninjas in the chest. The others stopped immediately, and backed off. From out of nowhere, six cloaked figures descended from the ceilings, but they surrounded Toshimaru facing the ninjas.

It was them, the rest of the team, Mitsue walks up behind Toshimaru, and puts her hand on his shoulder. "Its okay, we can handle these guys." "Finish this, we'll meat outside the gate." Toshimaru speeds off crashing into the door, and running into the tunnels.

Only moments later Toshimaru found himself in the chamber where the treasures were. All around him was chests stacked upon each other and statues and antiques surrounding them. Toshimaru went straight for the chest with a dragon design on it, but before he opened it, Toshimaru heard voices coming in from the entrance.

Toshimaru quickly hid in a dark corner trying to stay quiet. He peeked outside the corner to see two men running in and seeing the chests. They both were amazed by all the rares inside the chamber, before any more breathes were taken. They rushed to take all that they could, but when one of the men went for the dragon chest, Toshimaru jumped out and drew his sword to the man's neck.

The other man quickly drew his weapon and the three of them were in a standoff. From the look of it, they werent just anybody, its either him or them; someone was going to draw blood first. "That chest doesnt belong to you."

[Talos]

His steps are slow and are dragging as he continues to walk up the stairs hoping to find Ukia. His vision is very blurry and he clasps the wall as he rises the stairway. Finally after reaching the next floor he decides to head to one of the rooms and take care of his wounds. He sees a room and just to hear a conversation going on.

“Where is the scroll?”

“This has been a very interesting fight. I’ve underestimated you, you’re different from the others. But, I pity you; you still don’t realize what you’ve gotten yourself into.”

“I have no need for your pity, show me the scroll, and I will take away your pain.”

“The scroll is inside one of the chests that came in this morning, Takeda keeps his treasures in the chamber beneath the castles."

Obviously this had nothing to do with him, but he rather not alert the two men of his presence. Just after the man gives the second man the information his life is ended with a swift cut to the neck. There is some silence then a dark figure rushes out of the room and to another area. Taros walks into the room to see it torn up with a past battle the two men must've had. He looks around the room for anything he could use to tend to his wounds. After finding nothing he leaves and continues down the hallway. Dragging slowly holding onto his open wound blood now dripping. He turned corner after corner and finally found himself at a large room. Inside he saw 14 figures most of them seem to be ninjas. One of them darted off towards a door on the other side. He noticed one of the remaining figures was the girl from the tea house the rest were unfamilar to him. He walked slowly behind one of the ninjas without a sound. He then slowly leans to the ear of the ninja.

"Hey whats going on in here?" He yells in his ear watching the ninja and others react to his presence.

[MitsueNeko]

Mitsue runs back to her room. She gets an oni mask and puts in on her face, grabs a rope and sling it over her shoulders, gets a grappling hook, and some flint. The time for the play is almost starting. Heheh... This is going to be fun! Then having gotten her desired object she headed towards the towers where she was told to go and find her cue to start the skit. Along the way, she sees some soldiers lying dead with wounds that told her that an assassin had gotten to them. Seeing a pattern to these deaths, she calculated the direction the assassin headed, so she took a shortcut that she knew of and tried to catch up with him.

Finally after a while, she feels a presence and running soft footsteps. She listened closely to the patterns of the footsteps and immediately identified who this assassin was. Heh... Toshimaru-sama always sounds like this... She finally sees him and hid in the shadows. She knew that he sensed her presence there, but ignored her. So she followed him silenty, staying ten paces behind him. She sees him stop and enters a room that is lit with someone inside.

She then hears someone else approaching and jumps out the window. She landed on the rooftops and silently went to the other side of the top of the roof to another widow that connected to the room to eavesdrop. She hears Toshimaru confronting someone and hear the sounds of a fight.

“Where is the scroll?”

“This has been a very interesting fight. I’ve underestimated you, you’re different from the others. But, I pity you; you still don’t realize what you’ve gotten yourself into.”

“I have no need for your pity, show me the scroll, and I will take away your pain.”

“The scroll is inside one of the chests that came in this morning, Takeda keeps his treasures in the chamber beneath the castles."

After hearing that, she left the rooftop and jumped on another roof of the towers. Time to have some fun! She starts to climb down the castle from the outside to where some of the hired people from the tea house were. Then as she got to the last piece of the roof, she sees an unconscious Ukia Tohimi lying not too far away from the gates. Awww! No fair! Fine then! I guess I will have to start it anyways. *ties rope to roof*

She walks to the edge of the roof and shouts, "Welcome to my little skit sirs and madams!" With this, the noise just stopped and everyone stared at the girl on the roof. "The show I will perform for you tonight will be a pretty exciting one I hope. A show so exciting that will blow you away! Yes, blow you away unless you run for your lives. So please run for cover if the excitement is too much for you. The star of our show is no other that Mr. Ukia Tohimi!" *pointing to the unconscious Ukia* "As you can see, Mr. Ukia is apparently asleep now. So I have to apologize that he'll not be performing tonight." *silence* "Just joking! Just joking. I do not like to disappoint my audience so he'll be in it. Don't worry I'll take care of it and don't feel left out because you all will be in it too! Your lines are just to do as I say." *more silence* "Okay. Now to start. My skit is called D.A.B.I.H.U. If there is anyone out there not knowing what that stands for. It means... Die And Burn In Hell Ukia. Now to start the skit..."

She jumps off the roof with a rope attached to her ankle. She stops midair before the ground. "Huh? No fair this rope it too short! Umm... hold up, just let me get down from here." She takes out a dagger from one of her sleeves and cut herself loose. Then forgetting how far she was off the ground, she fell and hurt herself. *talking to the rope* "OWW!!! THAT HURT!!! I HATE YOU ROPE!!! YOU BIG MEANIE!!! WAS IT YOUR PLAN ALL ALONG TO TRY AND KILL ME HUH?!" She turns around and looks at the people staring at her. She then notices that her mask fell off.

"Umm... hello peoples? The skit is still on so don't worry!" She takes out the flint from her other sleeve and everyone still stares at her. "Wait one sec." was all she said before turning around and bending down at the edge of the tower. She began hitting the rocks together to try and get a spark. "Stupid rock thingymajig! Come on I need to get that thing that goes boom started!" She hits the flints together and finally made a spark on the gray/blackish 'powder' that was there. Grinning, she turns to the people still staring at her. "Okay... Remember what I said about you doing what I tell you to do? Now is the time for you to play your roles. So RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!! By the way people, don't bother saving Ukia because he's supposed to die and burn. Tee hee! Bai. Bai." She dashes into the shadows and disappears.

She runs into the main building of the castle to find the main hall. Behind her she heard a loud BOOM, felt a little rumble, and people yelling 'FIRE'! She smiles and ignore the noise. She must get to her mission at hand. Once she got there, she sees Toshimaru entering a room that lead to the basement. She decided to wait outside the room. Then she senses a presence above her on the ceiling and looks up at the shadows with a smile on her face. They showed themselves to her and handed her a pair of steel fans, a set of three daggers, and shurikens.

Her head snaps to the direction of the room that Toshimaru had entered earlier and she looks back to the shadows with a worried expression on her face. The 5 shadows rushed into the room and she followed after them slowly, keeping a short little space behind them. She hears noises that apparently belonged to people further ahead of her and she brought out a shuriken.

The shadows were up on the ceilings and she felt she should do the same. She sees Toshimaru stop in the middle of the room and sees a group of seven ninjas surround Toshimaru about to attack him. At their sudden movements, she threw a shuriken on impulse at one of the ninjas and hit him in the chest.

She descends down the ceiling with the 5 shadows surrounding Toshimaru facing the ninjas. She walks up to him from behind and placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, we can handle these guys."

"Finish this, we'll meet outside the gates." After he told them his orders, he crashed through a door and goes through the tunnels.

With Toshimaru gone, she took out her fans and opened them. Holding the fans in a dancing pose. She gets ready to attck them, but not too far from her someone yelled, "Hey whats going on in here?" Startled by this noise she threw a shuriken at the direction of the noise and hit the startled enemy ninja that got yelled in the ear. He fell to the floor, dead. She got him in the heart. With this distraction, the shadows immediately wasted no time with this sudden luck to make their jobs easier and slew two of the remaining 5 ninjas, leaving only 3 ninjas.

"Thanks for distracting him Mr. Either leave now, get what you came for, and forget what you saw or I'll just have to make you forget by erasing you Mr. Taros." Then two other men came rushing in the room and headed towards the tunnels. Darn! More people! This will slow us down. I heard the winds will come soon and it will spread the fire to this part of the castle. Need to hurry up so I can get my hairpin from Shira and Kurokami before I meet at the gates with the others.

[ShininShado]

Chapter 4 is over with on that note. Slots gets the RP award for last chapter, really good. MitsueNeko tied for the 250 point award for RP. Really good.

This starts chapter 5, which will basically end the story. Keep up the good writing, and let's see who gets the bounty!

[moses]

Kurokami and Shira silently crept down the dark hall, towards where they had heard voices. He comes upon an unconscious man. Seeing his family crest, they realizes its the man they is after. Kurokami quickly draws his wakizashi and lops the head off in a quick motion. He also cuts off the family mon from his bloody jacket for good measure. As he was adding these to the pack, he thought he smelled something burning. He turned to Shira and asked, "Do you smell that?" Shira nodded, and said "Somethings on fire." With this in mind they quickly continued down the hall to find the one last thing they had come for....

[ShininShado]

Shin awaits the return of the bounty in Sykoi's Tavern... he begins to worry of the fate of the mercenaries. As he drinks his tea, he begins to question whether killing Ukia was necessary. Hmmm, he starts to question everything his life is about, the bloodshed, and the fighting. The constant air of struggle and conflict begins to phase him as thoughts of his son are moved from his mind's eye with a vision of Ukia being massacred.

[Slots]

After a day of paced travel, Hiramaki arrives at the teahouse Shinin had used as a meeting place for the mercinaries left in the castle. He got off the horse and went inside. He spotted Shinin sitting at a table sipping some tea. Waving his hand he walks over to the table and sits down.

"Well, I watched the guys you sent to Ukia's estate. Some of them were more intrested with other... sightings they had there. While another set of them just wanted to go through as many men as they could. You should also take into consideration the fact that i spoted some ninja in there, though I dont know what they were after. You should know that i saw Ukia. That coward just wanted to run away with his squandered money!"

Hiramaki took out the sword that belonged to Ukia.

"This artsmanship of this sword is good, but I well built it actually is! OH! I also left Ukia unconcious in his courtyard. Needless to say, I believe one of hte mercinaries must have found him, I saw smoke coming from the castle as well. I feel sorry for the people stuck in that place."

Hiramaki sat at the table and ordered a sake from the waitress.

[ToshiMaru]

Back in Time - Before Hirimaki got to the Tea House = Night Time

The silence of the three left the room blankless, it was a standoff, only one side would survive the next move. pressure raised through all of their bodies like a slithering snake climbing up its victim. Suddently an arrow lit with fire pierced one of the treasure boxes. It came from the top of the well that was placed on the ceiling of the chamber, fire quickly spread throughout the chamber like a a serpant.

The flames created smoke that blinded the the three of them, this was Toshimaru's chance. Toshimaru ducked and targeted the scroll inside the dragon chest. He grabbed it and ran back up into the castle, on his way he noticed that the other two men already left.....along with 3 giant chests of gold and treasure. (How can anyone take that much....??)

Toshimaru reached the room where he left Mitsue and the others, nothing was left but blood on the walls and corpses filling the floor. Toshimaru left the room in a hurry and went for the main gates. He got to the front courtyard when he noticed soldiers massing around the gates.

Without needing anymore interferances, Toshimaru avoided them, and instead of continuing to the gates, he left for the forest in which his team and he came from. Toshimaru was glad that the mission was complete, although things didnt go as planned. His grin quickly turned into a frown when he heard a familiar scream from the gates......

Toshimaru returned to the castle, hiding in the dark plains and observed the site in worriness. More soldiers marched up the front gates; just as he thought. Takeda's Army finally reached the castle, but instead of saving who was alive, they began scorching the castle, no doubt they were the ones who shot that arrow into the well.

Thinking that it was just his imagination, Toshimaru got up to return to the forest, but the scream came again. Toshimaru spun around and chased the sound until he came upon the sight of Mitsue. Mitsue and two other members of his team was fighting off the groups of soldiers from Takeda's army.

The soldiers killed one of the team members and captured Mitsue and the other one. Mitsue struggled as the soldiers were dragging her away into the night.

Before Toshimaru could react, four shadows appeared behind him. "Leave them" a voice came from one of them. "You heard what Ryu said, the mission is too important." Toshimaru turned to give a challenging glare at him. "I know what Ryu said, do not remind me of it." One of the shadows stepped out from the group, and he took off his mask. It was an older man than Toshimaru, he had multiple scars on his face, and the eyes of an experienced soldier.

"Then you know why I cannot allow you to go save her."
"Im going, whether you try to stop me or not, take the scroll back to Ryu."
"No, this was your mission, and you were chosen to carry it out. Ryu will only except it from you."
"Then, tell him i will return in three days."

Toshimaru turned around to go after them, but the scarred man drew his sword at Toshimaru. They both drew they weapons, and locked it mercilessly, "DON'T BE FOOLISH!" YOU CANNOT SAVE THEM ALONE!"
"I WILL TRY!" Toshimaru pushed back the scarred man, and pointed the his blade at him. "I dont care what Ryu says, I'm going after them. Anyone who gets in my way, i will kill them."

Toshimaru sheathes his sword and disappears into the shadows, persueing the soldiers.

----------
Shadow One: "So, what do we tell Ryu?"
Scarred Man: "Tell him, that Sora has gone rogue."
Shadow Two: "Why, He is returning in three days"
Shadow Three: "Isn't Ryu going to send them to capture Sora?"
Scarred Man: "Yes, but we'll give him two days, then inform them."
----------

[Talos]

The time for Taros to leave had come once Mitsue gave him the warning. He bowed to everyone including the remaining ninja left in the room and left the room. While walking down the hallway he smells smoke from the bottom floors. He starts to think to himself that boom he thought he heard earlier must've been real and not something he imagined. He continues his walk down the hallway and comes to the staircase. Before he can even reach the first step he hears heavy footsteps rushing towards him from his right side. Looking in the direction he can only see a huge shadowy figure knock him into the wall. Suffering from his already inflicted wounds his movements are even more sluggish from the hit he recieved. He looks up to see a sharp point of spear readily bearing down on him. He has enough room to move and dodge the attack. Then grabbing onto the spear and pulling it into the wall having it getting stuck deep inside.

"Sorry I don't know your name but your death will have to be quick because I don't have the strength to fight you for a long time." Taros says with confidence. He unsheathes his sword and quickly attacks the large shadow moving him close to the stairway. Then with a swift kick knocks the shadow down the steps into a thick fog of smoke.'The Fire is rising fast I gotta hurry before I die.' That thought rushes through his head as he quickly rushes down the stairway and out of the castle.

Slowly moving towards the gate he sees a body on the ground. He notices it to be Ukia. His head and weapon is already missing but he decides to take something else more precious to him. His family crest which he wears around his neck. He stuffs it inside his pocket and walks away just about to pass the gate entrance. Before he can step out of the gates a sharp pain hits his right shoulder. He turns and sees an arrow already traveling towards him aiming for the right side of his chest. He looks at the archer to see it was the short guy who was with the big guy earlier. The archer turns and walks back into the fire probably looking for other victims.

Barely able to breathe and standup straight he walks out the gate. His vison blurs up and begins to slowly cough up blood. His movements grow slower and he begins to fade in and out of conscienceness. The ground suddenly gets closer and smacks him against the face. He tries to get up but finds it hard to lift himself up off the ground. He gives up and closes his eyes and falls asleep.

This is before the soldiers reach the front gate and he falls out in the grass infront of them. So anyone should find him if they so happen to stumble over him or is actually looking for him.

[ShininShado]

"Hmmmm..." says Shinin. "There is no way that Ukia would have parted with this sword if he were still alive." Shinin looks at the sheath of the sword and notices a story written in old lettering. He unsheathes the sword and reads the family member's names engraved on the blade. "Yes, this is Ukia's blade." As Shinin puts the sword back in the sheath, the door to the teahouse bursts open...

Here's the spot where everyone wraps up their stories, tries to collect bounties, etc. Keep up the good writing.

[moses]

Kurokami and Shira burst through the doorway, sending splinters everywhere. Both were covered in the crimson blood of the enemies they had slain. Kurokami see Shinin and another man sitting at a bamboo table. I wonder who that is he thought to himself. "We have come to claim our reward." stated Kurokami, startiling the other occupants with his appearance and volume. Shira,
looking at the man who was to pay them, noticed the sword they were examining. Recongonizing it he shouted, "They have Ukia's sword!" "Aye, but we have his head." replied Kurokami, as he reached into his leather pack. When his hand reappeared he was holding the bloody head of Ukia and his ukata mon. "I cut this from his still breathing body." Turning to Shira he bellowed, "This man has tried to cheat us from our bounty!" He cooly drew he blades. Shira followed his example....

[ShininShado]

"Now gentelmen..." Shinin stands up and gets between the men. Noticing the head he recoils and thinks to himself, That might one day be my head... and for what, 5000 koku?? My son and wife are more precious to me than my status in this family, and whatever wealth or prestige it might bring.

"I have your bounty as promised, enough in fact for each of you to recieve a decent reward - the plum wine and sake are in the back room." Shinin sits back down and states; "I had originally planned for the most capable assassin to eliminate the lesser mercenaries, but I have little use for such a plan now."

He takes a sip of tea, and continues, "You have done the job as requested, and you deserve your pay as promised." He goes on to say, "I hope at least one of you found the horde of embezzeled koku, it is yours for the trouble."

I have moved through the ranks of Yamamoto easily, and am in a position of power, but all this is not worth the life of my son...

Still waiting for a few more to enter the teahouse if they want or to wrap up the stories back at the castle.

[ToshiMaru]

well, my part ended there, i want to start a new rp, so if anyone wants to join, plz go ahead.

[Talos]

Taros walked in the teahouse looking like hell from the battles that occured at the castle. He walks over to Shin and sits right next. The smell of dried blood and death reaked horribly off him. His clothes were clean and he was washed up well. But you could see he still had a few open wounds left over.
"Shin here is the family crest of Lord Ukia. He treasured this more than anything. I want my reward, but if you want give it to me I'll gladly take the deaths of the people I killed and this crest as it." he says to Shin calmly but with frustration in his face. "I warn you though I'm in no mood to play games Shin." He reaches in his pocket and pulls out the family crest that Ukia had and slams it on the table letting Shin see it.

[Trin]

Sorry Hiromi's and my RPs kind of died early. What with her trip to South Dakota and mine to Japan, we got a little busy. Not to mention all the stuff I needed to get done once I returned. ;)

[ShininShado]

No problemo Trin! Thanks for continuing at much as you both did.

"Well, it seems I have a bit of a delima now, doesn't it." Shinin strokes his beard some and thinks of a good solution for the problem at hand... not really wanting to dishonor any of the mercenaries by denying them payment, and not wanting to go broke in the process he thinks of a solution. Thoughts of his son and his wife and the danger they are in consume his thoughts, he just wants to leave the life of conflict and tension he's grown used to.

"There are four of you here, and each of you has met the stipulations for the bounty. There is only one honorable thing to do, and that is to pay each of you. However, I only have alotted 4k koku for the final bounty..." Shinin takes four stringed collections of koku from his sack and throws them at each of the bounty hunters.

"This is the most equitable of solutions I can come up with. As far as the sake and plum wine promised, talk with the barkeep about it." After having said that, Shinin stands and bows.

[ShininShado]

On the way home from the teahouse, Shinin rethinks his role in life. He values the life his son more than his own, and decides that the life of a samurai is no longer for him. He gets home and hugs his wife and looks at his son. It is then he decides to take up a life in the priesthood.

It was somewhat common for samurai to take up life of a monk. This was done for several reasons but the most common was to avoid the life of turmoil and violence. Thanks to all that participated in this thread, was a lot of fun!!

[moses]

Who Won The Last Best Rper!!??!?!?!

[ShininShado]

Well, this being the last post for Bountiful Bounty, it's time to award the prizes for both best roleplayer during the whole thread, and the first to attain the bounty.

The roleplay award goes to Shira (1000 points) with a runner up win going to Trin (500 points).

Bounty points (1000) are awarded to: Moses, Slots, and Taros.
Great story here guys, keep up the good roleplaying!!