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Post by Gin, Rai, and Hime on Feb 27, 2012 4:56:42 GMT
On day, approximately one week before the present day, just outside the room of Sakurai Shiba sat a small gift basket, containing traditional konpeito, a small bottle of sake, some sakura cookies, and a handful of pure black sakura petals. A clear message, to those who understand it, but just pretty to those who didn't. It was a calling card, a message that Yaso's current head would be paying a visit in a week's time. He hoped the young lord of Shiba would recognize the message, or at least have someone who did. In the branches of a great oak, hidden in the shadow cast, stood a young man, wearing a fairly modern outfit of a shirt, pants, tie, and waistcoat, watching the Shiba home for activity. For a chance to enter the compound undetected, and to make good on his message.
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Post by Sakurai Shiba on Feb 27, 2012 4:58:38 GMT
Still relatively wounded from the fight with Akumaro, Sakurai found the basket and looked it through. He closed his eyes in thought, opening them a few moments later when he realized what this was. He took the basket into his room, wearing his traditional garb. Whenever this person would show up was fine by him.
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Post by Gin, Rai, and Hime on Feb 27, 2012 5:02:32 GMT
Seeing an opportunity to enter, Kakusa hopped from his branch perch, the shadows wrapping around him to hide him, his breath silenced, until he was just outside Sakurai's room. Three knocks, in perfect sequence, and a fourth following a short pause. Nothing special, just habit, actually, but he knew nobody in the Shiba knocked in such a way.
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Post by Sakurai Shiba on Feb 27, 2012 5:05:09 GMT
"Come in," he said, his back to the door as he set the basket down.
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Post by Gin, Rai, and Hime on Feb 27, 2012 5:10:08 GMT
The door slid open slowly, as the young man entered without a sound, sliding the door closed again before he spoke. "I see the Shiba are still alive and well, after all these years. And they have two lords this generation, it seems. Quite interesting. Though, I'd guess you're not quite in the mood for battle, from what I've heard."
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Post by Sakurai Shiba on Feb 27, 2012 5:14:00 GMT
"You've heard correctly," Sakurai said, turning to face him, "It would be a battle I would lose. And we have but one Lord; you are mistaken," he commented, walking over.
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Post by Gin, Rai, and Hime on Feb 27, 2012 5:21:47 GMT
Kakusa gave Sakurai a look of challenge, not to battle, but simply challenging his words. "Oh? Then what, pray tell, might you mean by that, friend? As I see it, there is the Lady Kaoru, and yourself, the Lord Sakurai. But please do correct me if I'm wrong. I am nothing but a ronin at this point, after all." He said, his tone becoming a bit harsh at sounding the word ronin.
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Post by Sakurai Shiba on Feb 27, 2012 5:22:56 GMT
"Kaoru is the Lady and the head of the Shiba clan. I am only a Lord in her absence, so I have chosen," he told his guest simply, "To make up for my sins, that is what I have chosen."
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Post by Gin, Rai, and Hime on Feb 27, 2012 5:56:17 GMT
Kakusa gave Sakurai a grin, an honest bit of respect. "Well well, one willing to atone for his sins. Amicable. Maybe if my great grandfather wasn't such a stubborn fool, we could've remained allies, and my clan wouldn't have fallen as it had. But no matter, I didn't come to drudge up the past. I came to meet a fellow swordsman, a meeting of peace and respect. And to see if you enjoyed my gift."
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Post by Sakurai Shiba on Feb 27, 2012 5:59:17 GMT
"I did," he said, "And I am glad that you are here for a civil matter. That gives me reason to give you respect, man of the Yaso clan."
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Post by Gin, Rai, and Hime on Feb 27, 2012 6:05:51 GMT
Kakusa chuckled as Sakurai called him by the village name. "Ah, good. Cooking's a hobby of mine, so making sweets is something I picked up on the side. Oh, but I guess I should share my name, seeing as I learned yours. I am Kakusa, reigning lord of the Shijima clan, and heir to the fallen land of Yaso. A pleasure to meet you in person." He bowed, arms to the side so that his hands were clearly visible. Another Yaso tradition, to make sure no weapons were drawn in secret during formal occasions.
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Post by Sakurai Shiba on Feb 27, 2012 14:33:31 GMT
He bowed normally, "Kakusa, then," he said, coming back up.
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Post by Gin, Rai, and Hime on Feb 28, 2012 0:05:32 GMT
"Well, Sakurai-san, would you care to play a game of Shogi? It's not a tradition, I just feel like playing Shogi." Kakusa said, a playful yet challenging tone in his voice. He was only telling a half-truth, he did in fact want to play for fun, but he also wanted to test Sakurai's tactical ability. He felt that Shogi would be the best way to do so, short of battle.
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Post by Sakurai Shiba on Feb 28, 2012 0:07:41 GMT
He nodded, "A game would be interesting. Let us play."
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Post by Gin, Rai, and Hime on Feb 28, 2012 2:25:44 GMT
"Great. Err, do you have a Shogi set, Sakurai-san? I couldn't quite fit one in my pocket." Kakusa chuckled.
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