Imperial Court of the Blood Dragon Shogunate

[Ryummel]

Teraku came across a Roju in one of the hallways near the private chambers. He asked the Roju about Akuji's event. Few minutes later, the Roju finished explaining Teraku the situation, leaving him in the middle of the crowded hallway.

"Pathetic... This place is becoming a circus..."

---

[Death.RunningVerminator]

Shogun Hirosho Horatami sat alone in his chambers, starring out at the open space of Chugoku until his best student, Lu Bu enters his chambers unannounced. Lu Bu quickly closed the door, approached his sensai, and bowed.

"Shogun Hirosho Horatami! I heard.. I heard what happened! Hai, things seem bad.. but.. it will be alright! The ships are being prepared right now sensai!"

The shogun continued looking out at one spot in the space of Chugoku. He pointed to it, then put his head down in shame.

"That... is where we fought, where.. Where i lost. Where i retreated.. where the kusari dogs outnumbered us, and outgunned us. And it was my fault... I failed the Taishogun, i failed my brothers, i failed Kyoto... They could have destroyed us... they could have mortared this place to Oblivion! And all because of my failure!"

At this point Hirosho Horatami was facing the young student.

"Things.. do not look well for me, my student. If I... If I die... You shall guard my treasures, this room, and whatever else i have given you."

The shogun sighed, then sat and poured himself tea.

"Go now, you will be late for your training sessions."

The Oban looked confused, but bowed and left.

[Ryummel]

Teraku left his private room, heading to the Court Room. He was carrying a datapad, displaying the battle reports of the previous day. He stepped into the Room, moving towards the center and kneeling before the Taishogun.

"Honorable Taishogun... I'd like to express my disapproval towards Horatami... sama. Yesterday we were totally humiliated by those Emperor's dogs... Our warriors expected to win this battle because our Shogun was leading us... But seems we all were wrong. He also put in danger our flagship, our... our sign of power..."

Teraku took his datapad. "Here is the battle report."

"I'm disgruntled... I believed Shoguns were chosen because of their wisdom, but Horatami-sama never showed such wisdom. Even Akuji-sama would have led this battle much better..."

---

[Alley]

Lena was still disoriented in Kyoto, everything seemed to be different here, a place full of life, far from the shadows of the Order. But she was still wondering if she did the good choice : Would they accept her ? What would be her future like ? Was leaving the only place she ever knew a wise decision ? So many conflicting thoughts... But her faith in Teraku reminds her that nothing is ever lost.

On her visit of Kyoto, she noticed a huge building and decided to enter. Her first sight of the Imperial Court filled her with a feeling of wonderment. She decided to sit where she could find a free spot, and listened for more than an hour to the various debates.

When Teraku stepped in the center of the room and made his speech, she thought :
[font=Book Antiqua]"You're right Teraku... We could have destroyed atleast two cruisers, but no single directive has been given. With our firepower split and unorganized... this fight was over since the beginning."

Lena was waiting to see what the Taishogun would say to Teraku.

---

Alley was right.

[Elven]

Shadowed man in the corner loudly says: 'Someone had to take over then. If Shogun doesn't fit your needs, you have to rely on yourself...'

[Friday]

There was considerable disquiet in the Court at Teraku-san's words. Shogun Sum-Gok-Li was visibly scowling - and opponents and supporters of Horotami argued with each other - as well as appealing to the Taishogun.

The Taishogun spoke "Horotami-san shall come before me to explain himself. Let his Honour stand until then."

---

[Slartibartfast]

Ryuu nodded at Teraku's words. He then addressed Horotami's supporters:

"It is true what Oshiro-san said: I must doubt at the wisdom of someone that puts the True Throne in such danger... Think about what those Naval pilots think of us. Withdrawing what supposed to be a sign of our power... And then telling us to withdraw when just moments after their withdrawal, we received substantial reinforcements."

Ryuu then displayed a pad with a picture on it.

"Say what you will, but such confusion motivates our enemies and leaves our allies in doubt."

[Death.RunningVerminator]

In his chambers Hirosho Horatami was prepping himself for the things to come. He had been meditating, and now dressing himself with his finest shogun robes, knowing that they may not be so fine afterward.

While opening his door to the main halls, he encountered his most loyal of supporters and friends, including Lu Bu. The small group strode down the halls together, and the shogun knew he would not forget these halls, this place, and his brothers even in death. Upon reaching the doors to the chamber where many of the dragons were gathering, the guards bowed to the shogun, and escorted them to their usual place of seating.

[Elven]

Everything telling their speech, and finally Emily was able to speak her own.

"Your Highness, zhis is Emily Blitzer speaking, I'd like to make you aware Yuuma Saburo was captured by zhe Naval Forces - he'z unable to commit suicide due to some reasons. While I realize it's not hard to find and poison Yuuma, I'd like you not to do zhat - at least because I need him. Consider your actions before taking decision."

The Court was still full of discussinos about Horatami's further life, so mostly this message was ignored. Those who noted ignored it as well, because majority of them hated Emily - she was related to artifact business and she was outsider...Taishogun was able to tell her an answer, though...

[Nathan]

Kintaki leaves the court in distress. He turns around and looks at the enterence for what is to be his last time. In his chambers he removed his Shogun robes and put on the old gear he has worn when he had first met the Dragons. What a journey he has been through. Never would have thought he get Shogunship here. But now he must go find his father once more.

Kintaki nodded to the chamber guards and told them to say this to the court.

"I Kintaki formally denounce my Shogunship. I am leaving Kyoto for good."

The guard sighed and walked away. Kintaki moved to the launch pad and left Kyoto once and for all.