It is spring of the year 1499 of the Imperial Calendar, the sixteenth year of the reign of Toturi XII, the Joyous Prince, also known as the Sapphire Emperor. A fresh spring breeze carries the scent of cherry blossoms to you from a nearby orchard. To the south, just visible on the horizon, is the splendid tower of Shiro sano Kakita, the ancient seat of the Kakita family. Ahead of you is the village of Tsuma, a modest-sized city located next to a minor river, and home to one of the major dojos of the Kakita Dueling Academy. Here you will compete in the Topaz Championship, the most famous gempukku ceremony in the land. Here you will show yourselves worthy of the title of "samurai."
The vast majority of samurai in the Empire consider the Topaz Championship the most prestigious gempukku ceremony in the Empire. The ceremony is open to any Great Clan member who wishes to attend, but the Clans tend to be very selective in determining who represents them at the Championship. To permit just anyone to enter the contest would risk embarrassment, and no Great Clan would risk such a thing in front of their Crane hosts. Minor Clan samurai and ronin require a Great Clan sponsor to be admitted into the competition.
The Topaz Championship has been held in Tsuma for centuries. Tsuma is a really more of a large village, holding roughly 1,500 people under ordinary circumstances. These, however, are not ordinary, and the village is swollen to nearly double its usual size. Located in the peaceful Crane lands, it has neither walls nor garrison, and the only military structure of any kind is the Kakita Dueling Academy dojo itself, protected by a high stone wall.
You enter Tsuma by land, and share the road with literally hundreds of other travelers: samurai, both mounted and on foot; noblewomen in discreetly sheltered palanquins carried by anywhere from 8 to a dozen strong servants; merchants and entertainers, hoping to earn coin and favor at such a gathering of important personages. Crane magistrates patrol the roads frequently, and each of you is stopped at least once to display your travel papers, verifying your right to be outside the lands of your home province.
Once you file into Tsuma itself, you are steered toward an inn called the House of the Laughing Carp, which has been designated as the quarters for the Tournament's competitors, and who is providing room and board free of charge to all of you. (In truth, the Crane Clan, which bears the expense of this Tournament every year, is picking up the bill.) On your way there, though, you pass a couple of interesting structures: an odd, unusually designed building that features tall, narrow towers topped with onion-like domes at each corner (Yukari recognizes this as typical of gaijin design from the peoples of the Burning Sands, north of Rokugan), called Foreign Curiosities; and just down the street from the House of the Laughing Carp, the atrociously-named Poisoned Water Sake House, around which crowd a number of Crab and Mantis samurai.
As you enter the inn, you see the spacious common room bustles with activity, with over thirty people seated on the cushions around low, polished wooden tables. Most are Clan samurai, but here and there you notice a few younger faces, very near to your ages: these, most likely, are your fellow competitors.
Matsu Ume entered the inn with her insides still in turmoil. The travel here had been thankfully uneventful, allowing the swords she carried to rest easy. They were burning up her sides as they were. They were worth twice the respect of an unproven child, and the honor of wearing them was almost a bit too much for comfort.
She was as ready as she would ever get, but was it enough? She half wished for the inevitable duels and harsh examinations to just take her mind off things. Or any excuse to change out of her traveling garments, really. While her traveling provisions contained her better clothes, she had decided not to risk soiling them on the road. So for now, it was light armor, simple fabrics.
While a courtier would have picked up on these signs without a trace of doubt, she tried to remain calm, remain focussed, and channel the emotion to better ends. So her thin lips showed a smile, her hair was cut short but not scandalously so.
As Ume enters and looks around, she realizes that she can see no one else young enough to be a competitor in the colors of the Lion; at first glance, it appears that she may be the only one from her Clan attempting this ceremony this year. Indeed, the only Lion in the room looks to be a thin, hollow-cheeked man, nearly twenty by the looks of him, in the gold and brown of the Lion Clan.
Nagatsuna's hulking form darkens the entranceway as he scans the interior for a free table. He seems hardly to notice or take note of the potential competition. His sun darkened skin glowing with the health and vigor that only youth and a constant regimen of hard physical activity can provide. He takes a seat at the empty table and signals the serving girl for some tea. He seems lost in some quiet contemplation as he drinks his tea. Approving of the local natural woods used in the construction of both the building and the table. This place is at peace with it's surroundings but not so it's occupants. Only after taking note of the energies in the place does he start to consider the people within and even then only cursory observations are made as none of these stand out as worthy of notice. Well, except for the Lion woman. So few women picked up the sword but Nagatsuna knew from his experience with Crab women to have a healthy respect for the ones who succeed. For their souls and bodies are generally tempered into a steel rivaling that found in the Kaiu blades. With a smile to himself, I bet she would be a worthy challenge in more ways than one. During his studies a piece of paper appears in his giant hands. The paper is frail, delicate, and tiny compared to the man who, it seems almost without any conscious thought, bends and folds it into the shape of a carp which he places on the table after finishing it.
A knot of Crab samurai have commandeered a table in one corner, and are loud enough to disturb Nagatsuna's contemplation. The focus of their exuberance seems to be a large, broad-shouldered youth in the steel gray and dark blue of the Crab. They shout over one another, telling what sound like stories of battles against the Shadowlands on the great Kaiu Wall. The youth in the middle tells his tales as enthusiastically and loudly as the rest, his booming voice carrying across the inn even as his specific words are lost in the din made by his companions.
Ume was a slightly relieved only one of her kinsmen had arrived before her. They'd probably be her harshest judges, after all. She slowly moved over to the fellow Lion Clan member, and tried hard to at least get a rough impression who he might be. Some courtier to observe? Anyone she really should know?
Each step in well measured time. Moving slowly, after all, had the added benefit of giving you enough time to rake your brain.
Some courtier to observe? Anyone she really should know?
The man is thin and wiry, with a sunken look to his eyes, though he otherwise looks to be in good health. He is wearing the Matsu mon on his kimono, and he looks up with surprise as Ume approches him. Somewhat awkwardly, he rises and offers her a slight bow. "Matsu-san," he says. "Won't you join me?"
Arashi's hooves clatter off the road as Yukari brings the tall horse to a stop outside the House of the Laughing Carp. The young battle maiden pauses for a moment to look around herself and take in her surroundings before dismounting. She leads the horse to the stables first, staying there long enough to satisfy herself that the servants will take good enough care of her companion. Giving the steel grey steed a farewell pat, she gathers her belongings and leaves the stables, Arashi whickering in return as she walks out.
Standing outside the inn, Yukari takes a deep breath to settle herself. She then walks in, attempting to look more relaxed than she feels. It was now or never, and she couldn't afford to let the Unicorn or the Utaku down.
The stablehands are noticeably impressed when they see Arashi, moreso perhaps even than at Yukari herself. Well-trained, they seem more than capable of treating the animal with all the care it deserves.
As Yukari enters, she spots a young man in the purple and white of the Unicorn, with sun-dark skin and long, thin, trailing mustaches in the Moto style. He seems to be eying the group of Crab in the corner with some interest.
The young Crane pauses a moment just outside the House of the Laughing Carp and quickly looks over herself. Since her travel was light she decided to carefully don her more fanciful kimono and seeing no wrinkles Megumi softly enters the inn. She glances around quickly taking notice of the personalities within attempting in vain to attach names to the faces.
Most of the people within the inn are completely unfamiliar to Megumi, but she is surprised to see two people she does know: Kakita Amiko and Kakita Toru, also students of Saburashi. Amiko is an icily calm young woman, with smoldering good looks that are completely ruined by her air of chill reserve. Unlike most Crane, icluding Megumi herself, Amiko chooses not to dye her hair the traditional white. Toru is a much more ordinary looking young man, but he attempts to offset his plain appearance with the most fashionable hair and clothes his family can afford. The two of them are sitting with a third young Crane you don't recognize offhand, a handsome and self-possessed young man who seems to be casually out-doing Toru's appearance, both clothes and hair, without trying. The two young men are engaged in conversation, while Amiko listens with a distracted air.
After watching the last few samurai enter, Heihachi strides to the door of the building. He slowly slides the paper door open, and steps in, head down, looking through the openings in the straw of his hat at the gathered crowd, his Kabuki mask firmly in place
In addition to the Crab group in the corner and the lone, tea-drinking and origami-folding young bushi by himself, Heihachi notices that none of the samurai (or soon-to-be samurai) in the inn are carrying the scroll satchel of a shugenja or are wearing a shugenja's robes. This is hardly surprising; shugenja are rare to begin with - perhaps one in a hundred has the talent to speak to the kami - and the Topaz Championship, with its emphasis on martial capability, tends to discourage non-bushi from attending.
Even as he has this thought, however, a young woman in the green and gold of the Dragon pushes into the inn behind him, the daisho on her left hip balanced by a scroll satchel on the right.
glances at the daisho, and thinks, odd bit, a shugenja carrying the katana of a bushi, stares down at the little dragon
glances at the daisho, and thinks, odd bit, a shugenja carrying the katana of a bushi, stares down at the little dragon
The Dragon samurai-ko gives Heihachi a flat look in return, then steps past him and into the inn, claiming a table for herself and calling for tea.
Quietly sipping her tea Megumi eyes the Crane from her seat watching the scene progress. Finally not knowing who the third member of their party is and with the curiosity striking deep Megumi rises gently and heads over to greet them.
"Konnichi wa Amiko-san and Toru-san." She says her voice smooth but somewhat muted while bowing to each in turn. "I am glad to see some familiar faces here." A light smile of sincerity passes her face. "It is odd seeing such a rainbow of colours representing the Clans here, is it not?"
Quietly sipping her tea Megumi eyes the Crane from her seat watching the scene progress. Finally not knowing who the third member of their party is and with the curiosity striking deep Megumi rises gently and heads over to greet them.
"Konnichi wa Amiko-san and Toru-san." She says her voice smooth but somewhat muted while bowing to each in turn. "I am glad to see some familiar faces here." A light smile of sincerity passes her face. "It is odd seeing such a rainbow of colours representing the Clans here, is it not?"
They bow in kind, and Toru offers you a polite smile. "Yes, yes, very much so," he says, gesturing you toward a cushion. "Please join us, Megumi-san. May I present Doji Keitomaru, son of Doji Sokoji? Keitomaru-san, this is Kakita Megumi, another student honored to be taught by the great Kakita Saburashi." Keitomaru exchanges bows with you, and his easy smile seems unforced.
Amiko murmurs, "May the Fortunes smile on your meeting," as you seat yourself, and her smile is as chill as the rest of her. In all the time you've known her, you've never seen her warm to anyone save Saburashi himself.
"Keitomaru-san and I were just discussing the potential field for the iaijutsu tournament that ends the Championship," Toru continues. "With so many of Saburashi-sensei's students here, and - thus far, anyway - no Mirumoto to spoil the event, I can only assume the Crane will be honored by the victory. Don't you agree?"
A knot of Crab samurai have commandeered a table in one corner, and are loud enough to disturb Nagatsuna's contemplation. The focus of their exuberance seems to be a large, broad-shouldered youth in the steel gray and dark blue of the Crab. They shout over one another, telling what sound like stories of battles against the Shadowlands on the great Kaiu Wall. The youth in the middle tells his tales as enthusiastically and loudly as the rest, his booming voice carrying across the inn even as his specific words are lost in the din made by his companions.
Nagatsuna rises from the table pleased to see a bit of familiarity and the homelands reflected in the faces of the Crab samurai. He approaches and waits for an opportune moment to greet them and ask about the latest news. Until he gets that opportunity he will wait patiently and listen to the youths stories with appreciation.
Upon entering the inn, Yukari steps to the side to allow the stream of people behind her past. She pauses to briefly scan the room, her eyes lingering on the boisterous Crab group in the corner before she sees the other Unicorn. Realising that he is perhaps the only other member of her clan here, she decides to approach him.
"Konnichiwa," she greets him, giving him a bow. "It is good to see another of the Unicorn here."
Nagatsuna rises from the table pleased to see a bit of familiarity and the homelands reflected in the faces of the Crab samurai. He approaches and waits for an opportune moment to greet them and ask about the latest news. Until he gets that opportunity he will wait patiently and listen to the youths stories with appreciation.
As Nagatsuna approaches, several of the Crab turn toward him. Seeing his colors and mon, they roar in greeting. "Come, Hida-san! Join us!" Another thrusts a teacup toward him, but as he glances into it, he sees that it contains sake instead; the samurai who gave it to him grins and winks.
As Nagatsuna introduces himself, the Crab shout his name around. "Another Crab for the tournament! We'll show these Crane what it means to be a samurai yet!" After much pounding of fists and swift drinks of "tea," the samurai turn to the youth who, until now, was the center of their attention, but who now seems as thrilled as the rest that you have joined them. "This is Hida Chorotoi, samurai of the Crab, and future winner of the Topaz Tournament - that is, unless you can manage to beat him! Tell him how you got your oni head, Chorotai!"
Chorotai waves them off. "Not on your life," he says, "not till Nagatsuna-san has his chance to talk. Tell us what you got in the Shadowlands for your gempukku, and how you did it!"
The young Matsu finally decided to waste no more time... she could wait until she was an old and gray crone, she wouldn't magically be granted to proper name and rank of the other Lion in the room.
So she approached him, and bowed very deeply. "Greetings, Lion-sama. I very glad to meet another of our kin." Not the best words of introduction, but not the worst either.
Upon entering the inn, Yukari steps to the side to allow the stream of people behind her past. She pauses to briefly scan the room, her eyes lingering on the boisterous Crab group in the corner before she sees the other Unicorn. Realising that he is perhaps the only other member of her clan here, she decides to approach him.
"Konnichiwa," she greets him, giving him a bow. "It is good to see another of the Unicorn here."
The other Moto rises as she approaches, and Yukari is surprised to realize she is taller than he is by a few inches. His squat build and bow-legged stance clearly marked him as a born horseman, but he looked short and ill-favored on his own two feet.
"Good indeed," he replies, sizing her up with a remarkably frank gaze. At her bow, he snorts and does not return it, instead gripping her forearm in the traditional Unicorn manner . He gestures to a cushion next to him, offering her a seat with a casual wave. "It's been a pain watching those girls prance around like real bushi," he continues, gesturing toward the Crane competitors gathered at a nearby table, his voice just barely low enough to avoid giving direct insult. "I'd consider saddling one up for a ride, but I think my horse has more stamina. Ha!" He slaps the table.
Megumi takes the warm response to heart and smiles widely. Her voice still contains no rough edges but it is a bit more pronounced now.
"The Mirumoto are skilled samurai but why should we worry if one does show up? It is not as though they have the teachings of Saburashi-sensei to guide them," It is easy to see how proud Megumi is at the mere mention of Saburashi's name. "The Crane will be given the honour in this Championship regardless."
Noting the boisterous Crab in the corner Megumi frowns a bit. "Especially given rabble for competition." She murmurs more to herself than anyone else.
The young Matsu finally decided to waste no more time... she could wait until she was an old and gray crone, she wouldn't magically be granted to proper name and rank of the other Lion in the room.
So she approached him, and bowed very deeply. "Greetings, Lion-sama. I very glad to meet another of our kin." Not the best words of introduction, but not the worst either.
He bows less deep, the bow of a fully adult samurai to one about to become an adult. "Please, the honor is mine, Matsu-san," he replies, the courtesy at odds with the bow. On the one hand, he treats Ume as an equal, on the other, as a lesser. "Will you join me? I am pleased to meet another competitor in the tournament. I am Matsu Chigitsu," and his voice has an odd note of pride as he says his family name.
Heihachi makes his way to the crab table. Trying to not let his inexperience with large crowds show.
Megumi takes the warm response to heart and smiles widely. Her voice still contains no rough edges but it is a bit more pronounced now.
"The Mirumoto are skilled samurai but why should we worry if one does show up? It is not as though they have the teachings of Saburashi-sensei to guide them," It is easy to see how proud Megumi is at the mere mention of Saburashi's name. "The Crane will be given the honour in this Championship regardless."
Noting the boisterous Crab in the corner Megumi frowns a bit. "Especially given rabble for competition." She murmurs more to herself than anyone else.
"The Mirumoto cheat," says Toru with a grin. "Isn't that right, Amiko-san?" Amiko gives him a level look.
"It would not matter if they emptied the dojo of the Mirumoto Swordmasters to send against us," she replies levelly. "Saburashi-sensei's finest student will be the Topaz Champion, I am sure of it."
With no small bit of relief (and secretly, a bit of pride as well), the younger Matsu nodded, and stepped besides the full Samurai. "I'll gladly join you for the moment. May i assume your words indicate you have met the other competitors already?"
Small talk, certainly. But relevant nevertheless. Just by knowing who send whom, she might gauge her chances somewhat. Besides, it was just a good thing to have someone to talk to, who was even from the same family, not just the same clan.
.
With no small bit of relief (and secretly, a bit of pride as well), the younger Matsu nodded, and stepped besides the full Samurai. "I'll gladly join you for the moment. May i assume your words indicate you have met the other competitors already?"
Small talk, certainly. But relevant nevertheless. Just by knowing who send whom, she might gauge her chances somewhat. Besides, it was just a good thing to have someone to talk to, who was even from the same family, not just the same clan.
He blinks. "Ah, no, Matsu-san, I have not yet had that honor. The only other competitor I have met so far is you. Forgive me, I wasn't clear. I am participating in the Tournament myself. I... have only recently been given the Matsu name, and this is my opportunity to demonstrate my worthiness to carry it."
Heihachi makes his way to the crab table. Trying to not let his inexperience with large crowds show.
The Crab offer Heihachi a welcome much like that Nagatsuna received - it is perhaps slightly more reserved, but only another Crab would notice the difference. Nagatsuna still has the storytelling floor, but one of the surrounding Crab shouts out, "We want to hear your tale next, Kuni-san!"
Yukari returns the Unicorn greeting, gripping the Moto's forearm. At his gesture, she takes a seat on one of the cushions next to the table. Following his gaze to the Crane table, Yukari smiles at his comment before replying, "I dare say so." She then glances curiously over to the Crab table, which seems to have perhaps gotten even noisier in the last few moments. "It seems not all of the competitors will be so, though." She then turns her gaze back to the Moto. "I am Utaku Yukari," she introduces herself to him.
Ume could not bite her lips in time to stop the grin now rapidly spreading across them. He would probably take this the wrong way, she knew, but he just seemed so much a fish out of water. Some might easily question why he was there. But in truth, he was a very dangerous potential rival, one who had years of training and experience above her. Not someone to antagonize needlessly.
"I am sorry for my presumption. You seem so experienced and well-versed, I naturally assumed you to be an observer." Maybe not the smoothest of escapes, but good enough, she decided. "So, I am sure a competition as venerable as this will produce the best champion regardless of numbers - yet still it is good to know the Matsu name is represented by two of us." She added, and cast a long gaze back into the room. "It is getting fuller. I think a few, if not all of these new arrivals are also competitors."
Heihachi relates his tale...
Shocked at Toru's words and for the moment ignoring Amiko's boast, Megumi looks away and begins to smooth out her kimono to hide her expression. "Do you agree Keitomaru-san, do the Mirumoto cheat?" Her eyes move from one male Crane to the other slowly. "I am not sure I agree, it does not seem appropriate." Then she briefly scans the other samurai-ko at the table.
"Although I can easily agree with you Amiko-san." She smiles warmly toward the female Crane. "I could never forgive myself if I were to dishonour Saburashi-sensei with anything less than victory."
"I am sorry for my presumption. You seem so experienced and well-versed, I naturally assumed you to be an observer." Maybe not the smoothest of escapes, but good enough, she decided. "So, I am sure a competition as venerable as this will produce the best champion regardless of numbers - yet still it is good to know the Matsu name is represented by two of us." She added, and cast a long gaze back into the room. "It is getting fuller. I think a few, if not all of these new arrivals are also competitors."
Chigitsu nods. "Yes, I believe so. The Crabs over there for sure, and..." he trails off suddenly, staring at the doorway. When Ume turns to look, she sees a thin, almost skeletal looking young man in the doorway, wearing the red and gold robes of the Phoenix Clan. He wears a daisho as well as a shugenja's scroll satchel, and his eyes are deep-set and shadowed, making his entire face look rather skull-like.
When Ume turns back to Chigitsu, he shakes himself, as if from a stupor, and finishes his sentence. "...ah, and, and the Cranes there as well. There was also a Scorpion earlier... yes, there he is. Tenmaku, he said his name was."
Shocked at Toru's words and for the moment ignoring Amiko's boast, Megumi looks away and begins to smooth out her kimono to hide her expression. "Do you agree Keitomaru-san, do the Mirumoto cheat?" Her eyes move from one male Crane to the other slowly. "I am not sure I agree, it does not seem appropriate." Then she briefly scans the other samurai-ko at the table.
Keitomaru shrugs easily. He replies, "No, naturally not, and I think it's fair to say that Toru-san was exaggerating. But their School and yours... well, the rivalry goes back so long, it's not hard to see where Toru-san is coming from.
"Although I can easily agree with you Amiko-san." She smiles warmly toward the female Crane. "I could never forgive myself if I were to dishonour Saburashi-sensei with anything less than victory."
Surprisingly (or perhaps not, really), this seems to be exactly the wrong thing to say. Amiko's expression goes flat, and she stares and Megumi with ill-disguised anger. Toru looks anxiously between the two women, apparently unsure what to say, until Keitomaru moves into the breach. "No doubt one of his students will indeed earn the honor. For myself, I hope to perform well, and would be greatly honored by victory of course, but I have no aspirations to defeat such skilled samurai in the iaijutsu competition. If I am to excel, I'm sure it will be in the earlier parts of the tournament."
Yukari returns the Unicorn greeting, gripping the Moto's forearm. At his gesture, she takes a seat on one of the cushions next to the table. Following his gaze to the Crane table, Yukari smiles at his comment before replying, "I dare say so." She then glances curiously over to the Crab table, which seems to have perhaps gotten even noisier in the last few moments. "It seems not all of the competitors will be so, though." She then turns her gaze back to the Moto. "I am Utaku Yukari," she introduces herself to him.
"Moto Tsuto," he says, sitting down. "Yeah, the Crab are made of sterner stuff, I expect. Still, we'll see how well they fight with my scimitar up their asses, eh? Or your lovely katana." He leers. "Bet a woman with a blade like that could show a man... all sorts of impressive moves."
Megumi smugly enjoys her brief victory over Amiko while Keitomaru attempts to diffuse the situation. Her lips move but the two grey eyes remain locked on Amiko.
"Don't allow doubt to confuse you Keitomaru-san, you are skilled enough to have come this far at least. You will surpass some if not most of the challengers assembled here. Speaking of," Her eyes wander the room watching the other samurai but pausing on the Phoenix. "Does anyone, uh, know the other, uh." Megumi's voice trails off and she clutches at something hidden in her kimono. The young Crane seems unable to continue somehow caught up by the newly arrived Phoenix.
Perception Roll for practice as well.2k2=14
"Moto Tsuto," he says, sitting down. "Yeah, the Crab are made of sterner stuff, I expect. Still, we'll see how well they fight with my scimitar up their asses, eh? Or your lovely katana." He leers. "Bet a woman with a blade like that could show a man... all sorts of impressive moves."
Yukari raises an eyebrow at Tsuto's rather lecherous comment. "Pleased to meet you Moto-san. And perhaps so, if you are referring to skill with a blade." She pointedly does not respond to his lustful insinuation, hoping that the hint will be taken. "I'm sure that you yourself will be a force to be reckoned with in the tournament. This will be a fine opportunity to show the other clans what the Unicorn are capable of." She says this sincerely, with no undertones - the Moto are more than well known for their ferocity afterall.
Perception/Investigation: 5k3 = 31
The shiotome pauses to glance around the room as another new arrival enters the room. Regarding the Phoenix curiously, as well as the reactions, she looks back to Tsuto.
"Do you know who that Phoenix is?" she asks, nodding over towards the door.
Ume eyed the Phoenix warily. The man seemed unhealthy, and she had heard stories that some particular sicknesses of the body heralded the Taint. If he was here, that wasn't too likely, admitted, but still he wasn't going to win much sympathy.
"Quite the field to compete against. On the trip here, I was preoccupied with the Crane above all, but it would be quite foolish to neglect the others" She added. In truth, she had been preoccupied with the tournament altogether, yet the crane seemed as good a foil as any.
Nagatsuna takes the sake without hesitation and knocks it back. Nagatsuna's deep voice rumbles over the crowd as he relates his tale. His story is one of facing the raw elements that had been warped and turned against him by the thing living in the darkness. About the chase through the freezing winds into bramble, briar, and thorn until the creature thought him half dead from exposure only to find it's quarry more than ready and waiting. About him crushing the things skull and snapping it's spine with his bare hands. After he finishes he grabs another sake, raises it for a toast, and once again downs it. "The shadow will always find the mountain waiting for it and will always break against it's cliffs when it does. For our fallen brothers and sisters who's memory gives us strength and who's spirits guide us." After the toast, "Now, let us hear the tales of Chorotoi-san and Heihachi-san for I wish to celebrate their victories."
Megumi smugly enjoys her brief victory over Amiko while Keitomaru attempts to diffuse the situation. Her lips move but the two grey eyes remain locked on Amiko.
"Don't allow doubt to confuse you Keitomaru-san, you are skilled enough to have come this far at least. You will surpass some if not most of the challengers assembled here. Speaking of," Her eyes wander the room watching the other samurai but pausing on the Phoenix. "Does anyone, uh, know the other, uh." Megumi's voice trails off and she clutches at something hidden in her kimono. The young Crane seems unable to continue somehow caught up by the newly arrived Phoenix.
Keitomaru frowns at Megumi. Leaning toward her, he asks, "Are you well, Megumi-san?" Toru seems more concerned with Amiko, however, still studying her anxiously.
|
Yukari raises an eyebrow at Tsuto's rather lecherous comment. "Pleased to meet you Moto-san. And perhaps so, if you are referring to skill with a blade." She pointedly does not respond to his lustful insinuation, hoping that the hint will be taken. "I'm sure that you yourself will be a force to be reckoned with in the tournament. This will be a fine opportunity to show the other clans what the Unicorn are capable of." She says this sincerely, with no undertones - the Moto are more than well known for their ferocity afterall.
"Ha! Right you are. They'll learn to regret the day they heard the name Moto Tsuto!"
The shiotome pauses to glance around the room as another new arrival enters the room. Regarding the Phoenix curiously, as well as the reactions, she looks back to Tsuto.
"Do you know who that Phoenix is?" she asks, nodding over towards the door.
Tsuto squints at the boy, then shakes his head. "Fluttering flamebird, out of his depth in a tournament like this," he shrugs. "Not really a place for priests, except maybe for that big Crab over there."