Amariaki stepped up the ladder into the cockpit of his families Katana and smiled as he gripped the controls for the first time in weeks. His love of flight came rushing back as one of the flight deck crew fitted his helmet and gave him the thumbs up.
Powering up the engines, he bagan to move the vessel towards the launch bay.
As the launch bay doors opened and the Katana drifted out into the murky light of Chugoku, Amaraki was very aware that he would not see his home for a long time. A nessessary sacrefice to reclaim his honour.
A tear rolled down his cheek as he glanced at the hand written scroll, now affixed above his flight controls in the canopy of his cockpit.
Silenty, he punched in coordinates for the Tohoku jump hole and activated his cruise engines, taking one last look back as the massive form of Kyoto disappeared into the haze...
// Don't suppose you could add the char to the list here so I don't get Bastilled for having the Katana and Daitos on a merc ID?
Quote:Dublin Miner: I am Gallic admiral earning money in Bretonia.
"They wish for a new Kusari you say? Hah! Don't we all. But tell me Akuji, how do you know that?" - Miyamoto pauses for a moment there, almost as he was ignoring Teraku-san's words until now. He called Teraku's name and suggested him to stay behind, "But you say they are dangerous and powerful?" - Then he turned to the glass opening again and whispered to himself, "A dangerous puppet of the Rising Sons, mastered to wreck havoc against Kusari for us...." - Miyamoto stroked his chin and wandered away in his thoughts.
After a minute of silence in Miyamoto's chambers, finally he spoke again, "Now is the time Akuji, when you decide if your heart is that of a Dragon!" - With a quick move Miyamoto rushed towards the weapons cabinet standing nearby and took one wooden sword with each hand, and tossed one to Akuji, "Think fast old friend." - Akuji swiftly reacted and grabbed the sword, and positioned himself into an attacking stance, "Ah, the Azure Dragon technique. You haven't forgotten what we have taught you. I was told a long time ago, to look into a man's soul more clearly, one must fight him!" - Miyamoto said and prepared for a duel.
Akuji felt the instrument in his hand, weighing it up,
"Yes... they are misunderstood by many..."
Miyamoto made his strike, lashing out and slicing the air next to Akuji's right shoulder as he strafed to avoid the swing,
"..Many call them alien... monsters... but they're focused..."
Akuji made his own swift cut, and would have hit Miyamoto somewhere in his left arm had he not brought his sword up to block,
"They may be killers... but aren't we? They are useful, they are my friends..."
Miyamoto twisted is sword and thrust, aiming for Akuji's stomach area, but Akuji's shifting movement left the instrument falling short of his target,
"..It might have been a dangerous gamble a few months ago... but assistance from such a group would mean the tides of many battles turned in our favour"
Miyamoto parried Akuji's well-planned swipe, slashing out when Akuji's guard was down, but his sword cut through air as Akuji rolled to the side, clearing the impact.
The two Samurai circled around each other, waiting for the other to strike. Akuji with a smile on his face enjoying a quality and even duel, while Miyamoto's expression was that of a cautious man, carefully observing Akuji's each move and word.
"Misunderstood? Or misjudged? What if we do the same mistake?" - Miyamoto asked and made his move at the same time, leaving Akuji with a small time frame to answer. Akuji anticipated the strike and moved to the side trying to hit Miyamoto in his chest from below. Miyamoto managed to jump and roll over, clearing the slash.
"Both perhaps, but they didn't have me." - Akuji replied to negate all of Miyamoto's suspicion. He then rose his sword for a sky high attack, jumping off the ground. Miyamoto managed to block it but was pushed back by the raw power of the strike, "A valuable ally no doubt, one that could teach us in the arts of dealing with our enemy most efficiently."
Miyamoto, a little shaken from the last strike answered like a true and proud Dragon, "What could those Shadow Stalkers teach the Dragons! Efficient and elite is what we are known for! The Dragons need none!" - Miyamoto shouted and made a mistake of making his attack run in anger, thus giving Akuji the chance to knock him down. Akuji took the offer and with a low kick removed the ground from Miyamoto's feet.
"We don't? How come you cannot strike me then?" - Akuji said while cleared the sweat from his forehead with his palm, again positioning himself in the Azure Dragon attack stance.
Miyamoto swiftly rose from the ground, and calmed himself by closing his eyes, and feeling the surrounding with his other senses, "Hai, let it be so. But tell me Akuji-sama, when the time comes to choose, which side will you pick? Kusari is covered by a veil of darkness, and it is falling deeper into the void each day. Its people talking about embracing treason and neglecting honor! But the Hideyoshi dynasty, once restored will bring Kusari back to the shiny skies. With the new order in Kusari, what will your new friends do then? Where will they turn?" - Again Miyamoto paused for a moment, opened his eyes and took a deep breath, then made his strike. Like a dragon rushing from the sky Miyamoto turned right, while slashing with his sword to the left and finally managed to strike Akuji at his chest, under his arm. But Akuji knew where Miyamoto will strike, and allowed him to hit. While his sword was still under Akuji's arm, Akuji thrust his own sword directly towards Miyamoto's chest armor and aimed for the heart. The two were pushed away from each other by the force of the two strikes, and Akuji said with a trustworthy voice, "Sometimes you have to risk to gain the upper hand, brother."
"A powerful ally, hai. And you have clearly been trained well old friend. More of our brothers die for the same cause each day and we need to gain the upper hand." - Miyamoto lowered his sword and reached into his mind to seek the answer. Akuji observed Miyamoto's actions carefully, not letting his guard down.
Akuji finally spoke while lowering his sword, expecting that the duel has ended, "They could surely help our warriors, make them stronger." - In a second Miyamoto strafed to the left raising his sword and with a swift move he reflected off the surface to strike Akuji. His strike fell near Akuji's neck, where he stayed his sword, "You see brother, the Dragons are fine on their own." - He said assuming the duel is over, and thinking that he won. But Akuji simply smiled, and Miyamoto felt his sword tapping him between his legs, "A powerful ally brother."
The two stood like that for a moment, with each one dealing a simulated final blow to the other, until finally they withdrew their swords and let their guards down, "Akuji-san, I think we finally understand one another. I have fought you, and have seen your soul more clear than ever. You do not lie, and wish the Dragons only the best. For that, you have my support. We need to present this to the Taishogun and let him make a wise decision. But with one Shogun betraying us and the other disappearing, the future is not bright. This could very likely be what we need. What the Taishogun says, so it shall be."
He then turned to Teraku who was standing near the door, observing the duel the whole time, "You see Akuji, this Rising Son here, along with our brothers is the future of the Dragons. The Phantoms cannot stop us from claiming Kusari's throne, so we may as well use them for the task. Kusari Stars will shine like they used to, free of betrayal and innocent blood, but to make it happen the Naval Forces and Samura have to be obliterated. No respect for the traitors, no mercy for the dishonorable. The Hideyoshi Dynasty shall rule once more. Will the Phantoms help?"
"Miyamoto-sama, after listening to the whole conversation... I still think we're playing with fire".
He looked at Akuji for a moment. Then he looked back to Miyamoto.
"We've heard enough about the Phantoms. Akuji-sama suggests dropping a 'pack of raging dogs' around Kusari... Raging dogs... What would happen if those Phantoms endanger our diplomacies with the Gas Miners Guild? Oh! What about the alliance with the Order? We're going too fast, Miyamoto-sama. We've alliances to keep."
As the two warriors recovered their breath, Miyamoto was alerted to the approach of Sum-Gok-Li. He granted permission for him to enter.
"Testing the waters Miyamoto-san?" Asked Sum.
Miyamoto grunted in agreement. Sum gave Akuji a slight nod.
Sum sat down at the tea table and poured himself a cup.
"These Bakamono, these Phantoms are indeed savage dogs. But a working dog is a useful tool. One might not let it near the children, nor allow it to sit at its Master's table - but for hunting pigs one requires a dog that is pure instinct."
Sum turned to face Akuji.
"The Phantoms can act in places we cannot. I for one would happily pit them against our Kusari cousins - those we have noted for their dishonour in combat. There are plenty of scum out there who are not fit for an honourable death!"
"We are always near the fire Teraku-san, even in it, never to far from it. But if we can control its spreading, and guide the flame, we would have the power to put it out even. The Gas Mining Guild, hai, they are a valuable asset to us, giving us the needed support and supplies here and there. The Order you speak of, hai, even with this new alliance between us, I trust them little, never have and never will trust them completely. Akuji on the other hand is my brother, and in his word I have faith. The Order are blind, they are too focused in their studies to see what's around them. They have their uses which Gok-Li-sama will exploit the best, but they are limited for now. But think of this Teraku, we are a most worthy ally for them. But as you all three may know, shadows are our greatest ally. We live in them until we strike, and we escape in them with nothing but sorrow left behind. If the need arises, we shall keep this hidden. A powerful ally, working where they dwell the best, in the shadows." - In a long speech he addressed Teraku and tried to enlighten his mind, that even dangerous, this could be what the Dragons need to prevail.
Miyamoto then turned to his old friend, Sum-Gok-Li, Shogun and spoke to him with a grieving yet determined voice, "A dog or a wolf, I care little brother. What I care is that we stop losing our brothers day after day! We cannot stop the storm, but we can take what is given to us to fight the lightning. The Phantoms, if what Akuji has said is true, will be a valuable asset to us. If for nothing but simply enforce our will to the traitors."
Teraku sighed, making a gesture of disapproval. "Well, I think I'm done here." Then, he walked towards Miyamoto, whispering:
"He is your brother, he showed his skills with the sword... But... Well... This offer is just being... 'too easy'. Whatever, make a wise decision, Miyamoto-sama. If we want use the Phantoms, please, don't let them approach our bases."
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