Komorebi: The Ronin

[Littlemankitten]

Kiyo silently listened to the group become more and more tense, affectionately patting her shark as she waited for everyone to say their thing. She had to agree with the tradeswoman, all Kiyo heard was a fountain of shark shit being spouted from a overconfident woman who may or may not be a rightful heir to a fragile existence. And then as Izumi says there was this extremely vague possible threat. It was all almost comedic. If this girl really was fit to be the emperor she really needed to learn how to convince people cause right now Kiyo, and everyone else mostly seemed to be very easily picking up on the shark shit. What little reason Kiyo might of had to listen to Miko was further dampened as she brought upon a monster of a being which is apparently the reason they were all given the mark of the Oni in the first place, which immediately made Kiyo tense up. She could see everyone else in the room tense up further as well, making the same observation she did which was that this guy was the actual powerhouse of the room. Whatever Miko was talking about wouldn't be possible without him. Kiyo takes a deep breath, trying to formulate a course of action for this situation. She feels like being a bystander would be the wisest course of action, it was clear trying to fight would end in just getting beaten to a pulp. "The hunter attempts to tame a pack of wolves with simply the promise of meat should they go attack a full grown dire bear for them." She mummers, taking a few steps back as well. Kiyo regards Izumi's words about if killing the man would either free them or enslave them forever. It was too much of a risk for a fight they were unlikely to win, if they were to fight back it would be indirectly.

[mrblah]

Lord Agares' smile only widened with a wicked look at the sign of aggression. Apart from him, Miko tensed up ever so slightly... but shook it off, disappointment clear in her movement.

She hummed as she raised a hand to her cheek, offering a dispassionate frown to Akako and the rest at their replies. "I have been taught a great deal, dear Akako. I've also been taught not to give more than I take. Do you not realize what exactly I've given you? Do none of you? Instead of it, you meet me with criticism and suspicion of my ways and my intent. Honestly..." Her gaze swam through the gathered group, a sigh lightly coming from her mouth as the suited man behind her chuckled. "And now you even wish to hurt my dear friend. So ungrateful. So violent..." Before she could continue with her lamentations, the smooth voice of Lord Agares was heard, drawing her attention to him.

"I have no qualms against a skirmish, Miko. You forget you've conscripted warriors, mostly. They respond better to power than they do to words, and who could deny them their chance to practice their new powers?" The man's gaze traveled over to Miho and Mizuki, his eyes tracing over and evaluating them silently... though his findings are unknown, the smile of the man remained. Still. Despite his confidence, Miko looked to him with a bit of uncertainty. "... I will not accept a great deal of harm to come to them, do you understand?" Her words were orders, but her playful companion merely nodded, not even looking to her. "Of course."

"Now, ladies... if you so wish for battle, I will grant it. Will those not involved stand to the side? I'd hate for anyone to get caught in the crossfire." He made his way over to them, his walk kept at a sedate pace as his heels clicked against the stone, standing until he was only a few feet away from the others. Still from her perch, Miko watched the proceedings with a calm look.

"For the sake of this, I'll add a few rules; we will throw no lethal blows, and fight until either a surrender is made or the opponent is exhausted... though in my sake, let us say it is until you manage to hurt me. And as for motivations to add spicing to the battle... if you win, I will give you two something useful, or you may exchange that for a favor of equivalent value. If I win, I will rape you both."

... Miko cleared her throat. "Lord Agares, I will not allow such a sight within our home." A light shading of pink was on the woman's cheeks. Agares hadn't hesitated for one moment in his reply. "Then I will assure you, my lady, that it will not be done in our home." ... She had no reply to offer.

"If those are the terms all parties agree to, so be it. Regardless, I will explain everything else after this bout. That, Izumi, includes your request. I apologize for this interruption that bars me from continuing."

[Mark3000]

Mizuki smirked as the mysterious Lord Agares lay out his terms. He was either incredibly strong or unbelievably cocky. But that's what this little 'sparring match' was all about. To see just how strong he was. Looking to her side, Mizuki saw her fellow former clan member square up for battle as well. The others seemed more content to watch the battle from the side lines, with Miko being especially displeased. The rose-haired ronin didn't care either way. Her focus was on the enemy before her.

No lethal blows, get raped if you lose. No problem Mizuki thought to herself as she took her battle stance. It was a classic battle stance that could be seen and any Taira Dojo, though modified to account for her missing arm and refined with experience. "You best stay out of my way little pup least my blade find a second target" Mizuki said to Miho in a mocking tone. Though she was slightly concerned for the young ronin. Mizuki had survived thirty days of torture which included rape. She could handle some pretty boy yokai that wanted to get frisky. Miho might be a bit to prideful to handle it.

"I'm ready to start when you are ~Lord Agares~"

[MiscChaos]

If Akako was to look back later in time, it would probably be this moment that completely divorced her from aligning with Miko. Because the woman didn't say "You're not allowed to rape people". She said "You're not allowed to rape people in my house." And this is the woman who is supposedly is to lead a new regime? Someone with no qualms about someone being violated, just someone being violated in front of her? And beyond that, she answered none of Akako's concerns or the queries of anyone else. She just continued on with that damnable haughty attitude as if what they said didn't matter to her. Even with her fear of Agares, she finds herself becoming uncontrollably pissed with Miko.

"Maybe with friends the whole mysterious vibe you are attempting would work, but all it is doing is pissing me off. You addressed none of our points and just did a whole 'oh woe is me for dealing with the ignorant' routine. I'm tired of it. The answers you give had better be worthwhile or I refuse to work with you. That's it. I may refuse to work with you regardless given the intensity of my loathing for you. Your Sigil of the Oni can fuck off to the deepest corner of Hell for all I care." Akako's voice gets louder and louder as her temper flares higher. "For another thing, how the fuck are we supposed to trust you enough to work with you when you're willing to let your pet demon violate us, huh!? If I wanted a man pawing at me against my will, the situation at home would have ended very differently indeed!" Akako lets the full force of her disgust appear on her face. It doesn't matter what this supposed threat is, this woman can do nothing but run the nation into the ground given how she treats people she wants to be the foundation of her regime. Reining herself in slightly, she makes one more comment. "Whatever you were taught, apparently handling people wasn't a part of it given how spectacularly you've fucked this up." Then she glares at Agares. "And I am not a warrior. I am a merchant. Words are exactly what would have convinced me. Power means little to me unless it enables or impedes my ability to practice my craft."

[Lazy Kitsune]

Previously content to remain observing the fight, Katsu found her blood boiling as Miko and Lord Agares continued to speak. She grit her teeth and had to fight back against her rage, a quiet hiss escaping her lips as her knuckles clenched. The merchant put all her thoughts out their clearly and Katsu doubted there were many among them that disagreed. But words didn't feel like enough right now. "You bastard!" she found herself screaming, her temper getting the better of herself before she could try to regain her inner focus. Stepping forward, she planted her feet firmly beside Mizuki and Miho. "You want us to work with you after marking us with this... this curse! And neither of you even have the courtesy to treat any of us with respect!"

She took a deep breath. She could feel it happening again, spiralling out of control as her masters' teachings slipped away. But there was one thing she had always been good at remembering. How to fight. She focused her gaze on Lord Agares specifically. "Arrogance like yours is a weakness where I come from. And it'll be your weakness here. Maybe you can beat one or two of us, but you need to learn the dangers in aggravating the rest of us." Slowly she raised her fists and shifted her feet, controlling her breathing carefully, although the fire of her rage still burned behind her eyes. "I will not stand by and watch your sickening depravity. You will not have your way today."

[exalted]

Miho balked for a fleeting second as the demon lade down the terms, gulping at the thought of having to lay with such a beast even if against her will, but it was just a second. Her confidence redoubled as another of them finally found her spine and honour and stepped up.

"When we win," she barked at him firmly, "You will remove our marks or we will remove your head!"

Her grip on the blade shifted slightly, eager to begin.

[mrblah]

tutorial battle with miho, mizuki, and katsu

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

They stood apart from one another. One lone demon, suited and confident, and three women armed and ready for battle. He watched them much like a hawk, his gaze absolute and searching, as they theirs. Neither party would make a move as they watched the other… then a leaf, so innocent and bereft of the tension, would fall to the ground from a nearby tree. Lord Agares raised a hand to gesture to them. “Now then... ladies first, as a gentleman would say. Not that I'm a gentleman.” His smile was as polite as ever. “How kind of you,” retorted Mizuki in a dry tone. That simple interaction would end just as that innocent leaf dropped to the earth. It unknowingly signified the start of a violent battle.

Mizuki dashed forward into Lord Agares’ comfort zone, her stance solid and sword already swinging at the cocky demon. She aimed for his torso, going for the most obvious target—of course, a demon could survive a sword to the chest, right? She hadn’t nary an illusion that her foe would be defeated so easily, but she wouldn’t even receive her answer as the suited man simply took a step back to let the blade whistle just an inch away from him. “Ooh. Close.” His cockiness incited a huff from a watching Miho in the back. She’d nearly shouted at Mizuki to wait for them to attack as one and use their numbers to advantage but the rebel was already away, so instead, she’d follow up by rushing for the stairs to try and cover the demon’s back for a pincer attack.

That left Katsu to press the charge. The monk just finished prepping herself for combat, just exiting her brief meditation after the demon evaded the first attack. She raced in to follow up and press the offensive, swinging her leg up to strike him on the head with a kick once she’d closed in. “Hm.” But her attack was met by his forearm. He’d taken the blow without even a glance to the offending appendage.
“Not a lot of power, yes? If you truly mean to beat me, you'll have to get serious,” warned the demon. He’d take a step backward with a chuckle, his gaze shifting from Miho to the side to the two ahead of him. "Allow me to test you all in another way." And with those words, the demon made to somersault backward, landing on the high roof of the building before them like he owned it, his eyes crinkling with mischief. "What can you do with this?" His impressive display of agility aside, it proved the possibility to follow his lead if they’d put effort into it. But before any of them could make another move, the demon followed his action with another. "Bōdō." A dark bullet of energy fired from his pointed finger to the space to his left with the nonchalance and ease one would have with dropping bait into a lake. He wouldn’t even take his attention off of Mizuki as he did, his eyes most noticeably staring at her stump of an arm. “A shame for a warrior to be cursed to hold one blade. Do you not feel... potential there for another tool?"

Another tool? The words resonated with her somehow, touching some idea or sense… and filling her with the very potential he imagined. A dark energy radiated from her missing arm. She could feel...something there. Not the lingering feeling of her missing limb, but something... new, granted by the Sigil? Raising her right sleeve, she focused on Lord Agares. "Extend, Kabari!" Yelled Mizuki as from the stump of her arm the dark energy focused and became a shadowy palm aimed directly at the nimble demon. Surprised and curious as he was, the appendage would land as desired and grab hold of him. He was yanked from his perch on the roof, the arm pulling him to Katsu with such force that it left him discombobulated. Left behind in his wake was a small explosion of black flame on the rooftop…

But Lord Agares’ misfortune hadn’t stopped there. Miho had an eye on the conflict and was ready for the opportunity presented, so she was able to put aside her distaste and mistrust in order to press the advantage. Miho charged toward the dazed demon and pulled back her blade to slash through his unprotected neck—or... not? As if she were hacking into wood, Miho's katana gets trapped in the nape of Lord Agares and she's forced to pry it out roughly, revealing the bloody result of her attack. Blackened blood spurted through the split in his neck to roll downward... first blood! Lord Agares doesn't seem to give any reaction more than a grunt. Then, immediately following up that attack, Katsu wouldn’t think twice before she’d take her turn on the demon as well. She had shown no reaction to Lord Agares' mockery or leap to the roof beyond her gaze keeping track of his every movement. Even the unexpected sight of a shadowy arm emerging from Mizuki and pulling their opponent back down to the ground didn't stir her from her focus, merely registering as more information to keep in mind about the battle. So with her enemy now back in front of her and Miho slicing into him from behind, Katsu brought her fist in to strike the man demon's gut. Dazed as he was, he had no way of defending against it—though his surprisingly sturdy suit absorbed a chunk of the blow.

“Mhn…” A short break in time gave Lord Agares the time he needed to recover from his ruthless beatdown. He shook his head to finish clearing himself of the mental cobwebs, and then with a snap… the demon was back on his feet with no concern for his new injuries. “Well… you three have done quite well thus far. I think I can take this a little more serious now." The demon turned to Miho with a surprising show of speed, catching her off guard with his quick recovery as he launched into a flurry of strikes! A powerful palm jab to the gut started his combo. Miho was pushed backward from the surprising force of the blow, but she was stopped from pulling away from him as he reached out to grab her and pull her in for another attack—quick jab to her hip. The attack put her off balance. “Then…” The hand gripping her arm spun upward, forcing her to show her back to him and giving him the chance to completely rotate around Miho, then follow up with an elbow strike to her back. The harsh attack to such a sensitive area could’ve forced her blade from her hands had it been any more precise, “isn’t there something you can do? I know all of you were imbued with some form of power... show it to—” but it was a mere rushed attack to knock her away as another attack came his way from Mizuki.

She’d followed the strange man from the ground, waiting patiently for her opportunity before she lashed out with her new weapon. The shadowy appendage ripped through the air on its way to Lord Agares. If she did this right they would be able to surround him… “Ooh. I’d rather not get hit with that again.” But he merely sidestepped the attack—and again had to lean forward a tad awkwardly to let an overhead kick from Katsu whistle pass him. She’d rushed down to the other stairway and grabbed hold of the railing to swing an attack over to him in an impressive display of agility. “Impressive, monk. I do appreciate your—” He’d be cut off by a biting pain from behind. The demon quickly stepped forward to roll away and spin around to face a recovered Miho, her blade again darkened with his blood… and quite a few tatters on the ground as well. It seems his earlier onslaught hadn’t taken her out. But she looked to be a little distracted, as if she were battling to focus on the battle itself… perhaps she was trying to keep something controlled.

“Quite something, wasn’t that.” Lord Agares spoke in a plain tone. It seemed he felt no pain as he straightened himself, his stance open yet still full of a seemingly unassailable confidence. He smiled politely as ever as he paused to consider something. "How's about this?" Another dark bullet of energy fired from his fingertip into the wood of the sizable porch they fought on, seeping into the wood with a silent hiss… and he waited. "Wouldn't suppose either of you would like to declare something impossible?" Always chatty, wasn’t he? He’d punctuate such an observation as he turned to regard Katsu. "You are also the last to reveal your power, aren't you? Something tells me it wouldn't be so useful in this situation... but perhaps later? You feel it there, don't you?" … Didn’t she? She did. Katsu could feel something… opening to her, like a door to her house that she never knew existed. But it was likely best to leave such findings alone for now.

Something more pressing was cropping up. "Get away from the stairs!" A shadowy hand now attributed to Mizuki darted out at the demon already in mid-dodge. "Rude. Someone put a great amount of effort into making these stairs, you know?" His chuckle and nonchalant attitude wouldn’t assuage the warning bells the Taira warrior had picked up on from the moment after he fired that bolt of fire from before again. Mizuki was tracking the battle before. Just when Miho and Katsu had him surrounded, their foe pulled a trick out from under his sleeve, and it was a card she wouldn’t like to flip.

Katsu heard the warning cry from Mizuki and immediately got into action without question. Still bringing her leg down from her previous kick, she used the momentum to turn herself into a back kick aimed at Agares' chest, though he would again block it with a raised wrist. She used him as a springboard to backflip backward and start darting towards Mizuki and away from the building, letting her Warrior's Zen drop as she tried to take the opportunity to catch her breath. Miho would intend to follow the other two’s plays and get away from the spot of the bolt. She stepped low and left, trying to circle slightly as she looked to slash low along his flank while circling around him. She lashed out with the blade again and she finished stepping around, bringing the katana around in a back hand, trying to position the demon between herself and whatever it was he shot in ground… but he’d predicted her move. Mid slash, the demon had reached out to grab the bladed edge of the weapon, ignoring the blade cutting into his flesh as he used it to pull her toward him. In a familiar move as before, his palm reached out to speedily strike her midsection, cutting off her momentum and rebounding her down to the ground… just where he fired that last attack.

It exploded into a ball of black flame right then, taking both a winded Miho and an apathetic Lord Agares into its open, hungry fire. Miho screamed, eyes rolling back and her back arched as she writhed in the flames, every nerve searing in agony as she was consumed. Her very consciousness seemed to char and blacken, thoughts melting and perishing in the inferno… yet, maybe almost miraculously, her body seemed totally unharmed by the fire. But her clothes burned away with a hiss, blackening into charcoaled remains as her own energies seemed to mix and corrupt, changing and transforming and evolving and devolving all at once. It was an impossible flux of endless trauma. Hot… sometimes cold, then hot again. It only lasted a few minutes.

An unconcerned, suave voice would speak over the burning sounds and screams of Miho. "Hm... hold a moment. It would not do to have any of you gone for the rest of our conversation." And with a snap of his fingers, the flames would immediately die out. Miho was left with her clothing reduced to mostly ash and tatters. She was exhausted and limp, naked as the day she’d been born with her bare breasts rising and falling shamefully through her tattered and singed clothes as she panted for breath, but seemingly unharmed. She was most definitely not conscious though. The first fallen in this combat. "Let's move on to the rest of you."

The demon shot forward, aiming for Katsu with a wide smile. He sucks in a deep breath and blows out a torrent of freezing cold air! His frosted breath poured over her and Mizuki, trailing far past them as it assaulted them with its icy feel. Katsu, especially, was hurt by the cold. But he wasn’t done there. The demon repeated himself, sucking in to blow colder air at the two warriors, though Katsu was able to miraculously dodge away from this second flurry. Mizuki wasn't so lucky.

”What the hell was that?!” A shivering Mizuki stood on shaky legs after the demon’s assault. She had thought they were starting to edge ahead of this cocky bastard. But after Miho was engulfed in that fiery attack, things took a sudden turn. Now she was bleeding and cold as shit. She was considering her options in the break between his attacks, positioning herself in a slightly defensive manner as she watched him carefully for an opening. “Now,” and it’d present itself as he began to speak. “Let us see your—”

“Lord Agares,” but a terse voice would cut through the battle like a knife. Miko looked composed as ever as she called for the demon, an expression of both minor annoyance and tiring on her face. "Please do finish your battle, won't you? I wouldn't want to bore our friends with the wait." The addressed suited man wouldn’t tear his attention away from Katsu and Mizuki… but he’d nod. Ever so slightly. "... You heard our host. Let's say this final strike is our last, yes? If even one of you survive my next attack, we can consider this bout your victory. Otherwise... it'll be mine, and I'll claim my spoils."

Conditions were set. An opportunity was offered. Both warriors now knew what to aim for in this battle. No longer was it about defeating the demon, but now… it was outlasting his time limit. Mizuki and Katsu would launch their own strategies for this.

A phantom limb jetted out through the air to pin down the arrogant demon. "Go down!" Yet, the ever nimble Lord Agares sidestepped the attack with a simple motion. He glanced over to Katsu with anticipation for another blow… but she found her own answer for the situation.

She didn't consider herself strong enough to guard against his attack, but a definitive end had been set. If she managed to make things tricky enough for him so that he couldn't take them both out this turn then they could still outlast him… so she acted in accordance with that. Utilizing her own strange power that she felt swelling inside her (part of her suspected it wouldn’t have been enough to trick Agares but she felt it was worth the attempt), Katsu summoned a duplicate of herself as she started to move, the duplicate moving from the same point as they both retreated back away from their opponent and took up defensive positions, keeping enough space between each other to force Agares to pick a target to go for. She wasn't a fan of pulling back from the fight, but this might be her only chance to make it through this. "Oh? A cloning art... very interesting. Those are always fun, but I'm afraid I'm not so foolish as to fall for those." He dashed her hopes as he hopped backward to the roof of the house.

“Let's finish our bout. As stated; if you survive this attack, I'll hand victory to you. Consider this the final test." As he spoke, Lord Agares was surging with energy. It wasn’t especially powerful as he seemed to be withholding it still… but it was no less commanding and telling of just what more he could have in store. It felt like lightning. The air seemed crisp and charged. The two warriors braced themselves to try what they could to defend against the attack; dodge it, or block it, maybe even interrupt to find some way around it? They weren’t sure what form it would come in… but they had to be ready for anything. The demon looked down to Mizuki and pulled back an arm.

"Raikō." Then he threw forward a jagged beam of pure energy almost too fast to recognize. Nearly as quick as a real strike of lightning, the energy collided with Mizuki, sending her senses haywire with deafening pain! The crackle of the powerful energy filled her hearing as she was fried in a second. It surged through and all around her with visible shocking bolts… that wouldn’t stop there. In the same moment she’d been shocked, the energy bolted from her to a surprised and unguarded Katsu, completely passing her clone to strike her directly. The bodies of the two warriors would seize up underneath the pressure of the shocking. The pain was almost too much…

But they survived it. As quick as it came, it left just the same, leaving two battered women behind as they dropped to the ground. Lord Agares watched their falter… but neither had fallen face down. They heaved and panted, sucking in air painfully and trying to recover from the onslaught, but both Mizuki and Katsu were alive and conscious. That meant…

Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap. Lord Agares was back on the ground now. His expression was that of a smile, and he looked quite pleased by the results of the fight. “Bravo, you two. Bravo! While that attack was not my strongest, it was kept at a level I fully expected to be enough to end you in one. Alas, here you are! I congratulate your tenacity.”

That was it. The battle was over. It lasted a mere few minutes in actuality, and it had left all parties looking much worse for wear… but it was over now. Mizuki, Katsu, and Miho had won. “As stated, I’ll grant you a reward befitting of this combat. You three and only you three will be privy to it… just after we’re done here. And, no, it is nothing similar to removing the Sigils. That I would not do for you and your world’s sake!” The demon smiles widely with a strange expression that could be mistaken for amused pride. He raised a hand to the air and snapped his fingers, and following the simple action, a green energy would surround him and his wounds—those cuts and slashes into his skin—would close up and heal as if being undone. He'd offer the same courtesy to Mizuki and Katsu, filling them with a strange energy with just a snap that seemed to take all of their pains and exhaustion away. And of course, he'd done the same for Miho; however, her clothes couldn't be repaired. Lord Agares would shrug at the issue. "I have a large repertoire of abilities, but tailoring clothing from ash is not one of them. The nudity should hardly pose too much a distraction for those present."

He stepped backward to return to Miko's side, silently bringing attention to her to allow for her to speak. "... So be it, I suppose. I'll apologize if the demon was too rough with you two. I'm not sure entirely why you'd wish to face him, but his nature as a demon makes him quite the sadist." Miho would begin to awake around this time. She'd find that she was fully recovered... but covered in ash and the singed tatters of her clothes. "Regardless, our time runs short so I'll try to tidy up this meeting and respond to all of your burning questions one by one. If I miss anything, please tell me and I'll try to rectify such a mistake."

Miko paused to prepare herself to do a lot of talking. She took a steadying breath. "To begin... you wonder the reasons why I'd select you nine to be my Oni. Your exact selections were not specific—it could've been any Ronin bereft of a family to have been chosen, so that part was beyond my control. But I had no choice but to enlist great power to stop the calamity I'd seen in my vision." A pause. "... I am something of a seer, which means to say that I see visions of the future in my dreams. They are almost always visions of tragedies that our current society brings upon itself. Sometimes a war develops that drags every clan into. Sometimes a new, terrible Yokai comes to be that threatens the balance of life. It is the latter in this case, and it takes the form of a skeleton, the ultimate symbol of our sins. I do not know its name nor its purpose, but what I'd seen... was that it alone would cause untold destruction and be the end of our world. It would walk the lands and kill everything in sight, and we would be powerless to stop it."

"We would think of it as a typical Yokai at first, if incredibly dangerous. We would use those means to combat it, but that monster grew with everything it killed. By the time we realized its strength, it was too powerful to stop." Miko closed her eyes solemnly. "So; I decided that the only way to combat this threat and figure out how and why it came to be was to be the Empress of Yamato. Once our lands are unified under one common banner, I am sure we will be able to survive." Miko took a moment to let her words sink in. Honestly, she spoke as if rallying a crowd...

"You also requested payment. As I said, your new lives as Oni grants you the ability to reach untold amounts of power, and with the sponsorship of my friend here? You nine could become the strongest Oni to live if you play your hand right. But I suppose, if that really is not enough... to those who wish to make the trek, I can pay you if you can make it to my home. I have no ability to leave so I'm afraid that would be the only way to receive payment from me. Surely by now most of you have realized we are not in a real world?" She smiled with a playful giggle, but her expression would soon return to one that understood the gravity of the situation.

"Now I've told you the truth. I know none of you trust me, but I can guarantee I am not your enemy. So I'll ask once more, and if the answer is no? Then I will not contact you again; are you willing to work with me to save our home?"

[Mark3000]

Mizuki breathed heavily as she gripped her sword firmly. She was tired, bleeding and on the verge of collapsing after Lord Agares’s powerful attack. But she was still standing, as was Katsu. As the cocky demon began to clap, Mizuki wanted to smack him in his smug face. But instead, she sheathed her sword and fell back on her butt with a huff.

“You’d better keep your word Agares.” Mizuki said as she let out a deep breath followed by a smirk. She was pretty much done with this tranquil dreamscape. But it had been a while since she’d had a proper fight. Plus, she’d gained a valuable new weapon in her Kabari.

Seeing the green flames flow from Lord Agares, Mizuki flinched wondering if the demon was going back on his word. Once it touched her, she felt suddenly renewed as her wounds closed. As he returned to Miko’s side, Mizuki stood up to answer her. “It’s as I said before, I wanted to judge his strength for myself. You’d be surprised at how many men talk up their abilities only to fall short. But I’ll admit, Agares is the real deal” Mizuki said making it a note to drop the ‘Lord’ part of his name as often as possible.

Mizuki listened to Miko’s tale with a bit of disbelief. “So you wish for the banner of Empress to save the people from a threat to come in the future.” The pink-haired Ronin surmised as she tapped the side of her leg. “Alright I’ll help you” Mizuki said with a nonchalant look. “A long as I get to handle bring the lands of Taira and Yamato under your control, then we have and agreement. If we’re done here, I’d like to wake up from this dream”

[MiscChaos]

Akako does her best to tune out the utterly pointless fight going on before her. Literally nothing changes if they win and the demon gets to rape to its heart’s content if they lose. Seems like a complete waste of everyone’s time to her since they can’t move the fuck on until this is over with. And in the end, they don’t even win! The demon gets bored and basically lets them win because it couldn’t knock them out within its self-imposed time limit. Still, it’s finally fucking over and they can move on to the actually important things. Like a damn explanation of what’s going on.

She kinda wishes that she didn’t though. She got marked by random chance? Yeah, she can deal with that. It’s infuriating that she’ll have to hide it if she wants to blend in anywhere, but whatever, she can work with it. That’s the last thing she can deal with though. The haughty bitch in front of them being a seer? More like fucked in the head as everyone else who sees “visions” is. And even then, she doesn’t actually have a plan for what happens if she becomes Empress. She wants everyone to put their faith behind THAT!? Absurd! In the end, all she can do is sigh and drag her hand down her face.

“Where do I even begin?” She says, having so much to dissect that she’s honestly at a loss. “Well, the first thing is this: Why the hell should we believe you’re a seer? You’ve done absolutely nothing to gain our trust and, in fact, have done quite a bit to make it seem like we shouldn’t trust you. Conscripting us without our agreement for one. Allowing your demon to use the threat of rape for another. Speaking to us like we’re fucking five years old and aren’t deserving of respect for yet another. When you drop info that we can’t see proof of in that case, it becomes very hard to believe you.” Now that she’s started, finding points to tear her arguments apart seem to flow effortlessly off her tongue. “For another thing, what the hell is your plan for dealing with this so-called ‘Skeleton of Sin Oni’ even if you do unite the land? ‘I am sure we will be able to survive’ doesn’t strike me as particularly comforting against something that supposedly can bring about the end of the damn world. Third off, you keep bringing up the power we could have as an Oni as payment. I’ve already stated once before I don’t give a damn about power. I care about my ability to hone my craft and guess what? Money is often necessary to do that unless you have a way of gathering all the necessary materials on your own. So future payment, and I use that term loosely, does nothing for the present since I assume you would need someone to arm your happy little band of ‘heroes’ NOW, rather than LATER when we’re all powerful. It’s not like I’m asking for payment out of greed, though being raised in the Ietake clan does make that a pretty key component of who I am. I’m asking for payment out of pragmatism. You can’t arm an army out of well wishes and hopes and dreams!” She finally begins winding down on her long rant.

“All that said, I literally have nothing better to do. One of the pitfalls of leaving home and leaving a bunch of corpses as you do so.” She says with a shrug of her shoulders. “So if you can answer my concerns, I have no issue working with you so long as you keep the condescending attitude locked away and the rape threats in some deep, dark dungeon somewhere far away from me. I’ve worked with those I’ve trusted less, after all. And on the off chance you’re not batshit insane and just having delusions, I’d much rather not have the world end. There’s no profit in that, after all.”

[exalted]

A strangled cry was the first thing to come from her throat as Miho came to, body and back arching like a drowning victim revived by the breath of life; only she had drowned in fire, and flames still flickered around the edges of her psyche. She stayed on the ground, curled up slightly, panting for breath lightly as she tried to cover herself as best she could with charred remains of her clothes. Vaguely, muffled through the mist she heard the sound of voices but the words were lost as they washed over her huddled form, mentally shivering still as her mind spun and churned in the storm and inferno.

Gradually she felt the mist close in tighter around her, growing thicker and heavier against her exposed skin, weighing and pressing her down until she couldn't see even the decking under her.

* * *

Miho woke with a start, the sharp intake of breath echoed around the small one room hovel. The dilapidated structure rested on the outskirts of the small village she had found last night, the place apparently abandoned in a hurry sometime ago. Her breasts rose and fell rapidly as she panted for breath, skin flushed with cold sweat as she scanned the room, looking for any threat or danger as the flickering flames of trauma slowly faded to glowing embers in her mind.

She wanted it have been a nightmare, but it wasn't... she could still feel it, deep inside her, whatever the demon had unlocked within her and she still desperately tried to suppress. It was still in her... and she had lost....

Her mind raced as to what she should do. There was treachery most foul planned against the Emperor... but if it was true than it was for the better cause, for the nation as a whole... she shook her head, trying to force some hidden magical option to appear... could she even get warning to the Emperor? She was a criminal, a ronin... she couldn't stop this, the battle with the demon had proved that, and if Mizuki was left to her devices who knew what would happen to her home... no, she had lost, she belonged to plot now as much as Mizuki and Miho and she was damned sure this treason would be handled Honorably.

The shame of defeat was enough but at the back of her mind she remembered the demon's threat of what he would do. The team may have won, but Miho was had lost... and part of her was sure the demon would come to collect.

[Lorielle]

Mikiko was somewhat interested in the fight going on outside. While she knew better than to participate, learning this particular yokai’s capabilities was not beyond her purview and thus she observed the fight from a safe distance to ensure she wasn’t going to get caught in any sort of collateral damage. It was obvious the demon was much stronger than he let on, having simply given up when he got bored enough. And beyond the fact he didn’t act with any sort of base desire, either to feed or breed with these women the condition to rape them if they lost notwithstanding, but he definitely carries himself different and that was an issue of the yokai hunter.

Beyond that though she turned back to Miko and her grim portend of what was to come. She didn’t fully believe the young woman, why would she, but she knew that this was something larger than herself. “If the world is to end and I have the means to prevent its destruction then I will do what I can to protect it as I’ve done for so long.” Mikiko says as she faces Miko. Giving her a nod before she allows herself to awaken from the dream.

[Blue56]

Izumi let out a small sigh as her words went unheeded and a fight proceeded to break out regardless. Though she often took the violent approach to problem solving herself, this was perhaps one of the only scenarios where restraint was the ideal solution. Yes, Agares was offering a reward, though what that would be was yet unclear, and yes, the threat of rape meant little to Izumi, but she still didn't feel the need to expend her energy for such a vague promise in the unlikely event she actually won. No, she would much rather take this time to observe, not only the demons, but the other women who had been brought here in action. One could never have too much information after all. Already, the interaction between Agares and Miko seemed to confirm Izumi's theories about who was really in charge here, with the way that her authority only served to change the location of the rape, rather than putting a stop to it as Miko likely intended. And that light shade of pink that now colored her cheeks. Who would have thought that such an imposing woman would also be a blushing maiden, Izumi smirked beneath her mask at the idea.

The fight began about exactly as Izumi believed it would, with the women seeking to overwhelm with numbers, but it was obvious by Agares' movements that the yokai wasn't taking this seriously. Not only was that boring, but it rendered watching the fight pointless as she couldn't gauge the yokai's true strength like this. Things began to get interesting though, when Mizuki's missing arm grew into a new demonic limb and began to assist her in combat. Though she was no expert, she was fairly certain that Mizuki was not a yokai herself, marking this new power as influence from the Sigil's they bore. Izumi's gaze flitted to her shoulder, and the mark she had there hidden by her clothing, as she wondered if the power it would grant her was the same as Mizuki's or something completely different. That answer would come later as the one called Katsu seemed to produce a clone of herself. Izumi had difficulty discerning which one was real, but Agares had no problems in finding the true Katsu. These newfound powers seemed to make the battle more interesting, until it abruptly came to an end as Agares simply stopped and declared the three women the victors, though with one unconscious and the other two seemingly barely standing, that was obviously not the case. Perhaps if this Yokai was going to so freely hand out rewards, than she should have participated after all...

Regardless, with the anticlimactic battle over, Izumi turns her attention back to Miko so that she can finally get some of the answers she sought. The story she heard was less convincing than she had hoped. A skeleton yokai that grew with every kill did sound like the kind of threat that could spell doom for Yamato. With the fractured relationships between clans, it seemed plausible that by the time the threat was given serious consideration, it would be too late. But putting blind faith in the dreams of a seer was distasteful to Izumi, and she would have to investigate this on her own to confirm it. Surely there would be some other evidence of such a being out there, even if it was only another seer, a shared vision would lend the idea more credence. In the end though, whether Miko's vision was real was irrelevant to the issue of removing their sigils. Whether the world would truly end or not, Izumi was marked and that would not change until she satisfied the conditions that had been given. The only issue she had left was just how she would go about satisfying those conditions, given that Miko wanted nothing less than complete control of these lands. "Impressive though these Oni powers seem to be, I doubt that what I've seen thus far will allow me to conquer much more than a bandit camp. I've no interest in taking on a suicide mission. But so long as you can prove to me that we have a chance, however slim it may be, then I will assist you in this task." Izumi answers Miko quietly. Not that she had much choice in the matter, it was either this or live in exile, hunted by the Ashikaga for the rest of her days. If there was even the smallest opportunity to return to her family, than she would soak herself in as much blood as it took.

[Nobudi]

Despite wanting to be a part of the battle, Kagehoshi was under no impression that she'd have any real chance to do anything more than to superficially wound the thing. Her family's art was powerful, but required several conditions to be fulfilled. Knowledge of what kind of youkai It was, it's strengths and more preferably Its weaknesses. Having knowledge of the terrain and how to best exploit it. And most preferably... the lost knowledge of her family's secret arts that she had been unable to learn after their slaughter.

With none of those conditions even closely favorable, she decided that it would be best to be an observer. Any and all knowledge in this case would be a welcome change if it got her wires wrapped around something vital of the monster along the way. While her stance may have been slack to the casual observer, her eyes were sharp and watchful. Behind her back, she played with her spool of wire, unwinding and winding it rapidly in her hands.

The fight began in the trio's favor, scoring first blood, but honestly, Kagehoshi could see how outmatched they were against it. Most youkai she had encountered were much more animalistic, more wary of taking hits such as those, but this one was unfazed by the attacks, if not mildly irritated. Things got interesting when one the trio began exhibiting demonic abilities, proof that the seals labeled to them were removing them from their own humanity should they use it. One was ultimately taken out, but the terms of the battle changed, and by surviving as long as they did, they 'won'. In her eyes, it was merely judging them as a lord would a new dog gifted to them. She could barely hold her contempt for the smiling monster, almost preferring to stick to the simplistic shark youkai. Almost.

All in all, there was much to learn of this fight, and the most obvious was that she was outclassed entirely. This was probably a youkai that whole families would band together to take down back with the Ashikaga. Upon remembering her former clanmates, she frowned, and banished the thought away. She couldn't fight it the way it was now. That's all she needed to know for now.

Upon the conclusion of the battle, the "gracious hostess" explained the reasoning for their assembly here: saviors to the world against an undefeatable enemy in the future. While it did seem outlandish, it was not without some merits to them. No one could know the future, but none could claim that it was impossible. After all, many people used to believe that youkai did not exist, since they had never seen one before. That wasn't the case for her.

But in the end, it was an ultimatum: Serve without knowing when or where disaster would strike, or live without knowing when your next breath was your last. As others began to agree or waver, she was dead set on her answer. Stashing away her spool, she spoke. "I've never wished for riches, nor have I ever desired power. My wish once," she claimed. "Was to live with my family and learn their arts." She let that sink into their host. "Once I was branded with this cursed seal, my family was slaughtered. Then my wish became to undo this curse upon me and live my days out quietly." She paused, and her jaw clenched as a lump developed in her throat. "Now I have learned that this mark upon me can not be undone without sacrificing what I have left?" She laughed. In her own ears it was a short, bitter and unpleasant sound. "Knowing this, that I care not for power or riches," she said hoarsely. "Should I serve you, what is my recompense? What can you offer me that I will throw what I have left away to serve as a puppet?" At this point, her face was hardened and almost murderous. "If you cannot give me a satisfying answer," she gritted out quietly. "Then you know my answer."

[mrblah]

Miko was silent as they all responded in kind. Some of the replies were surprisingly favorable, though she was aware public opinion of her wasn't high. The lady closed her eyes as they finished, mulling over what next she'll say or do... "For those who give their support, I thank you for your help. Know that this will not be an easy task. I am sure many of us will have to engage in unfavorable acts, but at the end of this... no one will deny what we did. We will be venerated as heroes." She paused briefly. "Now, to those who raised concerns, I will attempt to assuage all of them. Perhaps that will help any uncertainty or ambivalence you may feel." A glance to Kagehoshi.

"Proving I am a seer is as difficult as you'd say, Akako. The very nature of my powers is random, at best. I do not know when I'll get a vision, how I'll get it, or when my vision will come to happen—I only know that my vision will come to pass in some way, whether it be direct or indirect... that being said; although I could not provide you with them myself, you may be able to find signs of the Yokai's coming, if you are truly so adamant on it. I'm certain such signs already exist somewhere in the lands." Miko sat straighter and folded her hands in her lap. "My plan for defeating that tragedy in the future is by uniting the lands. Yamato is home to some of the most powerful warriors we could ever have in the world. With all the clans banded together, we will be able to stage a large frontal attack to defeat this monster before it has the time to power to its fullest potential. With the little information we have on it to begin with, that is the best plan we could come up with... though," Miko pursed her lips and glanced down in thought, "perhaps... the Ashikaga clan may know something of it. They do have a wealth of knowledge on Yokai of all species. If anyone else would know of it..."

"Finally, my situation still makes me unable to fulfill any monetary requests, Akako. You would have to travel all the way to my home. It may not look it now," the woman lifted her legs to kick them around gently, "but I am bedridden, never to walk again. As a mere human, I could not heal from it as an Oni could, you see... and my demon friend's supportive abilities do not extend well to those human. If you so wish for payment, you'll have to come to Sodai. That is where you'll find me." Her eyes drifted to close... and after a moment's pause, Miko opened them and looked to Kagehoshi.

"If you do not want the power of the Oni, the safety of our world, the respect of all as a hero nor the potential riches... perhaps all I could offer you would be peace, and a chance to return to your family. After all, once Yamato is unified, the status of Oni would have to change. Seen as Yokai though they may be now, they are truly... far more, and still quite human. I could not believe the Ashikaga would not have you back, Kagehoshi—they are progressive and more open-minded. They employ controlled Yokai in their services, do they not?"

Finally, she moved on to answer Izumi's question, looking to the aforementioned Ninja with a smile. "This power you all hold is much more than what you can see now, Izumi. Surely you've heard tales of the most powerful Onis exploits? Defeating entire bands of samurai... fighting armies with just their lonesome weapons and powerful abilities... the power of the Oni is so limited by the one who grants their Sigil, and Lord Agares here gives quite the lengthy amount of potential." She gestured briefly to the unconcerned suited demon. "I can assure you that, should you all properly train yourselves, you will not have much trouble with this quest."

... Was that the last question? She'd done a lot of talking. Miko checked her jaw and glanced to the suited demon to her side. He offered a nod in response and stepped forward.

"The rest, I'll conduct myself! If all of your questions have been answered, my friends... then simply give your own if you haven't yet and turn to walk back from whence you came. That is how you depart this world. Or I suppose in Miho's case, you could... phase out too." He explained with his typical devilish grin. "When you wish to return again, simply think of us as you sleep. We will be called here, as will you. This works vice versa; if we ever have need of you, we will meet in a dream... please don't forget this unless you have absolutely no intention of working with us. Even should you reject to help Miko, it is best you keep in contact with me! There will come times where the Sigil's natural power can only do so much to cultivate your growth... and I'll be there when it happens, hm?"

Now Miko would offer some parting words. She looked around at those assembled wordlessly... before she'd speak. "I thank all of you, again, regardless if you agree to help me or not, for your time. To those who decline, I can only offer my deepest apologies for inconveniencing you, and for those who will fight with me... my first task is for you to amass power. Nothing can be done until you are strong enough to take on the next quests. When you're ready, we will meet again to discuss."
[Main] Quest "Rise to Glory" started! Details: Reach LVL 5!

That was that. Those who hadn't before would offer their answers; the short girl with the shark would decline, stating that they're not interested in worldly affairs, and the monk would say her peace whatever it was. After the rest of them would say what they wished, they would turn around and leave the area, tracing back their steps... and the world would begin to fade in time.

exalted/Miho Ran

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Outskirts of Nohwasan, Hills of Taira

Miho had awoken a bit quicker than the others. She woke up in the last ruinous structure she slept in on the outskirts of Nohwasan—it was a simple small home that had long been abandoned, likely due to some bandit attack or another. The place reeked of mold and ash, and the coldness of the elements were not stopped by the crumbled walls and bare roof. She, herself, had been sleeping under a small blanket she procured and the simple hard, dirty ground. It wasn't comfortable in the least, but it had to make due. It was nothing particularly new to Miho now, with her life as a Ronin as it is.

It still felt like... not too long ago, her whole world was rocked to ruins. Everything she was gone had gone in a snap, and all for a reason she still pursues, clueless as to what they may be... then, on top of it all, now she's not even human and discovers that she's meant to help a plot to conquer Yamato in order to unite it against some deadly threat? It couldn't be any less than exhausting. Infuriating, maybe. The cards dealt to her have yet been merciful. Perhaps nearly as a reminder of the dream, the next card dealt her way would similarly be rough.

"... hello? Hello?" Then, a sudden yet familiar voice would be heard. Miho couldn't trace the sound back to any place in specific—it sounded like it was coming from all around her. "You can hear me, I believe... Miho, was it? Miho Ran. 'tis your friendly demon Lord Agares, speaking to you through the trace vestiges of sleep escaping your form! I've merely come to give you your prize for winning the duel, if you remember? Your new ability was just something you... let's say, start with, as your own signature as an Oni. Now, your prize is information..." The voice trailed off.

"... An Oni's truest strength is their ability to learn and empower themselves through experience. Even if you lose, you will get stronger if you have the potential." Lord's Token granted!

"That is all for now... oh, and do stop by Our Sanctuary sometime. That is, for the record, the name given to our shared dream world by Miko. I'd never be so forward myself, but that woman is... as she is. Farewell~" ... It was quiet again. Evidently, the demon had left... and Miho was back to her own devices.

Thank God. At any rate, she had plenty to do today. Aside from the task newly shoved upon her, she still had her personal journey to accomplish. The truth of her father's death... the enemy who ruined everything she had... she still needed to catch him, and the broken foreign weapon she's kept with her has been her guiding clue for all these years. It apparently was a "wheellock pistol," a type of ranged weapon that uses small explosions to fire small projectiles. She's learned of these through her talks with passersby merchants, and they all pointed to the same place when she tried to find its origin...

The Ietake Barrens, where the foreigners regularly come for trading and other work.

Rustle rustle...

Her attention swiveled to the noise, her gaze pointed and searching for whatever could've made it... and after a moment of watching, nothing followed. That's right. She's out in the wild... there's no real protection out here. No cover, nor safety. A few somethings could be in the area right now without her knowing... so it might be best to figure out her plan quick and get to moving. It was still a bright day out, anyway.

Mark3000/Mizuki

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Kawakise, Hills of Taira

After Mizuki had spoken her peace and finished her business in the dream world, she woke up in a small inn in Kawakise—a practically nameless one, fit like all the other minor inns scattered around the land. Her room was more like a closet with one bed and a dresser than an actual room, but it made due for the night, and since the innkeeper's business had fallen on hard times... she was even given free breakfast alongside the room! What a steal that turned out to not be. The rice and fish served up to her was in poor quality, and it likely would've tasted better if the fish were cooked over a simple fire and not even slightly seasoned, but the old man who tended to the inn... really tried to impress her. It was sad.

But free food was free food. Once she was done with it, Mizuki had her time to do with however she wished.

"... hello? Hello?" Then, a sudden yet familiar voice would be heard. She couldn't trace the sound back to any place in specific—it sounded like it was coming from all around her. "You can hear me, I believe... Mizuki, was it? Mizuki, 'tis your friendly demon Lord Agares, speaking to you through the trace vestiges of sleep escaping your form! I've merely come to give you your prize for winning the duel, if you remember? Your new ability was just something you... let's say, start with, as your own signature as an Oni. Now, your prize is information..." The voice trailed off.

"... An Oni's truest strength is their ability to learn and empower themselves through experience. Even if you lose, you will get stronger if you have the potential." Lord's Token granted!

"That is all for now... oh, and do stop by Our Sanctuary sometime. That is, for the record, the name given to our shared dream world by Miko. I'd never be so forward myself, but that woman is... as she is. Farewell~" ... It was quiet again. Evidently, the demon had left.

... Well, in whatever case, standing around doing nothing was just burning daylight. Right now, she was just mulling her options in the inn, with the innkeeper off tending to the tables. A few people were settled around the place; a group of laughing fishermen chatted over a few jugs of cheap booze to the side, and at another table, a worried-looking girl distractedly tapped her fingers on the old wood. The place was barren otherwise. Yeesh...

What should she get to doing in Kawakise? Wander about, searching for trouble? Or perhaps... she could listen around for anyone needing an able blade. Pick up some work or not. It was a small village so it's a toss up if anything big was happening. Whatever she chooses to do, it'd probably be good to make sure she's getting stronger from it. Maybe even test out her skills? The world was her oyster.

MiscChaos/Akako

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Narasaki, Ietake Barrens

Another day, more money to be made... or something along those lines. This morning wasn't quite like every other one, however. Last night's dream was actually not really a dream. She remembered being taken to that strange place in the woods. That woman, and her demon... what she said, what she asked, what she'd given in return... and Akako remembered her response. Something troublesome was settled on her shoulders now. Miko stated she'd contact her and the other Ronin who she pulled in once they were stronger, which... well, the hell could that really mean for her? She was a blacksmith, not a fighter. She wouldn't be on the front lines in the middle of a war.

Whatever. The future will bring answers. She knew she was awake now, and she knew she had work to do. Akako had landed herself in Narasaki after a bit of travelling on her way out of the barrens. The sleepy town was truly a small and inconsequential one, and its nameless inn was just as quality as you'd expect... but it was enough for her. The food was still food and a bed and a room was still a bed and a room. It was also cheap, which was perfect.

"... was shit, too! And..." What? There was... shouting, coming from outside her room. A distinctly memorable voice was making itself heard. Following that, she could hear the sounds of wood scraping against wood, more shouting, and general sounds of strife. All common signs she's become used to since meeting one singular traveling companion of hers... sigh. Looked like she needed to get up and stop the ensuing brawl, lest either that drunkard excuse of a warrior and whatever idiot he picked a fight with kill each other. First, she had to get ready.

... Okay. Time to go. The room Akako was given was on the second floor of the inn, so she traveled down the stairs to be greeted by a sight she expected and really hoped she wouldn't see. A portly man in armor was standing behind a younger man. The armored man had his arms around the younger one's neck, strangling him from behind as he kept his foot on someone Akako just noticed was below him, laughing like a complete drunk idiot. Then, worst of all, the innkeeper stood idly by with worry etched on her face and a frying pan in hand, shouting at the man to... let her son go. You could line up the puzzle pieces.

"... whuh? Hoh! Ahkago!" The portly man threw the innkeeper's son to the side, laughing and raising his arms in greeting as if to hug her. "Ahkagooo! Yer woken up..! May, you'd been shleepin' for so long, 'n ah jusht... ah got bored! Then ah wus... tryna give som' CONSTRUCT— er... CRITISHMS! 'n theshe... kids? Come at me all wild'n'out! So ah beat 'em!" This obvious drunkard was a strange mercenary she'd met passed out on the road named Jiraiya. After she saved him from being passed out. On the road. They'd held a conversation with one another, and he learned that she was heading into Minamoto territory.

"What a coincidence! I, too, am headed to the forests. You don't look the fightin' type, so what say you to a partnership till we get there? Pay for my food and rooms, and I'll keep you from dying! Good?"

It was a simple, mutually beneficial deal. She kind of felt it was so worked in her favor due to his various lecherous looks at her when he thought she wasn't looking... but it might also be because he was actually a flat broke addict who got into too many bar fights and was down on his luck with jobs. She's yet to see him seriously fight a fight, but he does look strong... so just maybe it was still in her favor. In either case, they've been traveling together for some time, but they're slated to go their separate ways once she's settled well enough in the Minamoto Forests. Maybe she'll be able to pay another merc by then.

But for now, she's got this drunkard, and he's caused himself a situation. Again.

Lorielle/Mikiko

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

North of Guang, Shaded Ashikaga

Mikiko did not wake up in a bed. She had, in fact, awoken in a treetop, after sleeping among the leaves. Her journey was taking her out of Guang proper, where she'd stayed last, and up closer to Yamato Central to get out of Shaded Ashikaga as quickly as possible. For although she'd been able to hide the fact of her changing from her peers... Mikiko knew it was only a matter of time not even numbering in the days. She didn't have the luxury of taking a mission outside of territory so her absence has no doubt already been reported, and once they figure that part out? It'd be easy to guess why she's fleeing. Every member of the Ashikaga were trained to be fierce hunters of Yokai. They were loyal to their clan and to the clan's cause, but as a member... they'd know the fate that would await an Oni. Never has one hailed from the Ashikaga clan itself, but as a powerful Yokai... it's possible a fate worse than death could await her should she be caught by her former clan.

The Shikigami of the woods are proof of the dangers. Once a proud species of Yokai... now reduced to submissive, primal servants who obey the clan in fear. Even if you were fiercely loyal, to be subject to that would be... no. No need to think of it. She had to gather up her gear and get moving quickly. The sooner she's out, the better her chances.

... But on an unrelated note, she'd learned something useful of her situation. Namely the time spent in that dream. She learned of just who cursed her with this, why, and what she's expected to do. She also recalls that Miko said something about a chance of their being information on this future world destroyer in the Ashikaga's archives... something Mikiko could confirm was highly likely. The information stored in Liazhou's archives were expansive when it came to Yokai. She'd never seen it herself, but... if there was anything on this creature, it'd be there.

It might not do to entertain any thoughts of sneaking back in and playing pretend to try to get to it. She'd probably be spotted out in seconds... but, there's no doubt that she still has a slight chance, should she prefer to try that instead of continuing on her journey home.

Blue56/Izumi

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Kojibetsu, Minamoto Forests

... It could've been the dream's ending that pushed her into awakening. Her memory of its events weren't foggy in the slightest so it'd just felt like she just experienced something totally real rather than fantasy. The sights, the scents, the feels... all still familiar, and so had the words lingered in her mind. This quest she's taken... firm in her thoughts like a true reminder. It was no ordinary dream, Izumi knew. So perhaps, it was the dream's ending that pushed her to open her eyes to greet the new day.

But the ungodly stench in her temporary sleeping quarters could've done the trick too.

She'd almost forgot her horrific situation— and no, not the part about becoming an Oni and the world ending yadda yadda that stuff. Irrelevant. Right now, she's still in forests of her former clan after fleeing from home. She got to Kojibetsu so far which lies on the outskirts of the territory proper, but that doesn't necessarily mean she's home free. The Minamoto Clan was one that prided itself on subterfuge and plotting. They were schemers. Strategists who waited the perfect time for their strikes, and manipulators who'd throw you in a web. They'd make you think your safe just to get you to lower your guard down, and when you least expect it... there's a dagger in your spine.

Izumi is well aware of this because she used to be the one holding the dagger. Now? To avoid getting her spine stabbed, she's had to sleep in some old man's hovel on the outskirts of the village. He was an unlikable, lecherous rat bastard who she got lucky to find. After all, in his position? There was a whole slew of methods she could've used to get him to work in her favor. Slip him a peek or two of what lied on the other side of her top, or maybe throw a few coins his way to make him shut up. Threatening to murder him would definitely have worked to, but of course... Izumi only used one of these many methods to get him under control. The end result landed her a generally safe place to sleep.

He had a dog though. A big, big dog, that smelled like he hadn't been bathed in weeks, and the old man wasn't helping the stench. "Hah! Hah! Hah! Hah!" ... Speaking of, that very same large mutt was watching her and panting heavily. He's been... oddly attached to her, since she showed up. It's been annoying and incredibly strange. Never had any animals taken a liking to her in all her life, but this one...

Didn't matter. She had work to do today. Izumi needed to gather resources and prepare for the rest of her trip out of Minamoto territory, or perhaps she find some work at the local inn, or anything else she could do while in Kojibetsu. She doesn't need to stick around this dirty dog and the mutt that kept following her longer than she needed to.

Nobudi/Kagehoshi

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Southeast of Chang, Shaded Ashikaga

She woke up slowly, her mind still groggy as the effects of her slumber carried. Most typically, it would be during these few initial moments where her memory of the night prior, and her dreams, would be fading and blurry like a distant memory... but this time was different. Kagehoshi perfectly retained the memory of her time spent in that forest. Her meeting with Miko, the things she learned of her curse and their supposed future, her final decision... and the task given to those who accepted Miko's request. Get stronger. Empower yourself for the times to come, then when you're strong enough, you'd be contacted again.

... Irrelevant at the moment. She had other things to focus on.

Kagehoshi was currently in a makeshift camp on the bay of Bleeding Waters. Her camp was small, with a mere single futon for her to sleep on and a pile of deadened logs that were once lit with fire. It was technically a pretty unsafe spot, but... it was close to a larger camp of hunters that she stumbled upon during her fleeing out of the territory. Tired from the events prior and knowing it wouldn't have been wise to try to rush through to escape while low on energy and food, she stopped by the camp and worked to make up a decent relationship with them under the guise of a fellow hunter. Having a small team of allies would prove helpful on her way out of territory.

And odds were, the outposts on the edge of Shaded Ashikaga were expecting her to try to sneak past alone. Everyone in the clan must've known about her condition by now, so although she'd like to run out as quickly as she could... doing that without a plan was suicide for her. Hence; hunter camp. And speaking of... they were probably just waking up and readying for the day. Kagehoshi would gather herself and make her way over there. She was low on food, so the kind leader there had offered for her to have breakfast with them every now and again.

When she got there, they were mostly all already up. The hunters' camp was bigger than hers, but still kept at a modest size. They were a band of hunters hailing from out of the Inazumi Savannahs who wandered around Yamato catching the biggest game they could, but since that's a near suicidal journey with how dangerous Yamato was, their small band numbered to four strong. Honestly, they weren't too bright, either. Kagehoshi couldn't pinpoint just how exactly they've survived this long with their journey, but it's only a matter of time until their luck runs out. They'd already invited a dangerous criminal for breakfast, after all.

"Aha! Ha ha, look who it is! It's the girl, all woken up, yah? Come on! Come on! The fish is almost cooked!" Evidently, she was noticed quickly. The leader, a fairly tall and muscular man approaching his middle age, waved her over to their campfire where the rest of the gang was. Most of them were pretty much the same as the leader; jovial, clearly physically capable, but too trusting and kind... the last one of the quartet was different. He was the leader's son, a young man around Kagehoshi's age who kept himself armed with his two small blades and watched her with a careful and distrustful gaze. She never bothered to get his name, though she knew his father's name was Daichi.

When she approached them, Daichi was quick to shove a skewered fish into her hands—the first of the ones cooked. He grinned at her. "They say 'ladies first' in Masamune's territories. Never got why, but you're mighty thin, girl! Think the reason is that you women are always so small, so we gotta make sure you eat or you'll shrivel up!" The men around Daichi laughed at his joke while his son merely watched the fire without a care.

Lazy Kitsune/Katsu

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Yukian Rebels, Inazumi Savannahs

Katsu woke up. The last traces of sleep gripped her like loose strands, gently trying to lull her back into its sweet embrace... but the day beckoned. Once she'd opened her eyes, the crack of light through her tent's flap killed any chance she could've had at returning to her slumber as it spoke to her consciousness. She had much to do. A great many things to get to, and no time to simply idle about in bed. Especially not after her dream... though, considering the fact that she fundamentally felt as if it were real, maybe "dream" wasn't the right term for it. Katsu knew she'd just met the woman who turned her into an Oni. She met the demon that woman contracted, she'd been told of some great threat in the future, and she'd been given a mission to defeat it. Regardless of how she felt at that or maybe this moment, those were the facts. It was up to her to decide if she'd obey or not.

"Snoooore..." Her thoughts were interrupted. She was suddenly pulled close by a muscled arm, warm to the touch yet more rough than soft. Her head knocked against the man's chest, and that same arm reached to fondle her naked breast. Even in his sleep... sigh. This would've probably cleared up the remaining sleep fog in Katsu's mind. Ono Daisuke, professionally referred to as "Boss Ono," was the chief of the Yukian Rebels, a bandit-esque gang of strays from all the clans. He was a tall, rugged man with the hearty laugh of a victorious scoundrel and the charisma of a natural born leader, plus he knew what people wanted and made a habit of using that to make them work his way. Despite being nothing but a bandit, the man was unfortunately well trained and a strategist. Some say he was a member of the Masamune clan before turning rouge... Katsu wouldn't know the truth, but she knew him for the lecherous bastard that he was. Depraved, truly, but... he'd also been somewhat decent to her in his gang, and he made his men give some amount of respect to her.

Still. The man was an insatiable lust demon after her body. It'd been every night, she'd find herself naked in his bed, her skin sticky with sweat or cum or whatever. And in the morning? Sometimes he'd go for thirds—seconds had already happened just the night before. This time would prove no different. She was naked in his bed after another night of merciless sex, and judging by the morning wood he was sporting...

"... hello? Hello?" Then, a sudden yet familiar voice would be heard. She couldn't trace the sound back to any place in specific—it sounded like it was coming from all around her. "You can hear me, I believe... Katsu, was it? Katsu, 'tis your friendly demon Lord Agares, speaking to you through the trace vestiges of sleep escaping your form! I've merely come to give you your prize for winning the duel, if you remember? Your new ability was just something you... let's say, start with, as your own signature as an Oni. Now, your prize is information..." The voice trailed off.

"... An Oni's truest strength is their ability to learn and empower themselves through experience. Even if you lose, you will get stronger if you have the potential." Lord's Token granted!

"That is all for now... oh, and do stop by Our Sanctuary sometime. That is, for the record, the name given to our shared dream world by Miko. I'd never be so forward myself, but that woman is... as she is. Farewell~" ... It was quiet again. Evidently, the demon had left.

... His presence was a reminder of that task. Get stronger? Prepare for some world-ending threat? If she wanted to be a part of this world-saving mission, she'll likely have to travel the continent regularly... something the Yukian Rebels don't do. They reside in the Inazumi Savannahs and make their living off of attacking smaller villages, subjugating them under their "protection" then protecting them from other bandit gangs, and weapon smuggling. The Inazumi Savannahs was one of the special places of Yamato where it was clan territory but the clan who owned it didn't care to protect it much from bandits, making it a safer ground for profit. The Yukian Rebels were far too large to survive in the other territories.

Traveling would be off the table unless she felt ready to try and sneak away...

Katsu heard a sigh above her. She turned her attention upward to see a steadily waking Daisuke, his free hand reaching up to rub at his face. "... Mornin' to you too." He smirked down at her, his fondling hand kneading her breast possessively. "Don't look like anyone's botherin' yet... I'm feelin' randy, Kat. Help me with that?" Well...

[Mark3000]

As Mizuki still reeling from her bout with Miko's demon assistant, she merely listened to the supposed seer. Mizuki wasn't looking to be this nation's savior. All she wanted was her pound of flesh. Though at the very least, Miko saw fit to answer their questions. While she had no real concerns of her own, Mizuki sat patiently for any information that might provide useful. "Sodai, huh" Mizuki whispered to herself as she made a mental note of Miko's location. While compensation would be nice, what she really wanted was to have another go at her demon servant. With their little meeting over, the pink-haired ronin stood up and retraced her steps to the exit.

______________________

Mizuki woke up with a groan as she stretched her good arm out. The lush atmosphere of her dream had almost made her forget when she had been staying. It was a nameless village along the borders of Taira territory, but that just meant less people would recognize her. Since fleeing captivity and escaping the capital, Mizuki has kept to the small villages on the outskirts. She had entertained the idea of leaving her home all together and making a name for herself in the Marshes of Shima or the Minamoto Forests. But she still felt bound to this land. Rising from her bed, Mizuki suddenly heard a familiar voice. "Agares?" Mizuki replied being sure to leave out the 'Lord ' part. As he continued to speak, he explained what exactly he wanted. She had forgotten about they prize they were owed for their victory. The Ronin didn't the demon an answer, merely accepting the prize she was owed.

After she had gotten properly dressed, a feat which was harder with just one arm, She would collect her free breakfast. In her line of profession, a free meal is a free meal. As she eat, she took stock of the little inn. But as she tried to figure out her next move, Mizuki got distracted by the worried girl tapping the old wood table. Grinning her teeth, she couldn't take the tapping sound anymore. Taking what food she had left, she walked to the table with the worried girl. "Some of us are trying to enjoy a meal" she says in an aggressive tone. Taking a seat at the girl's table. "You have the look of a girl who's about to be swallowed whole. What ails you to the point of making that incessant noise?

[MiscChaos]

Akako nods along with Miko’s explanation on how she can’t prove she’s a seer. She was hoping for something a little more controlled, but of course she can only see sporadic, uncontrolled visions. That follows with the theme of someone who has no idea what the fuck they are doing, but is hoping for the best. Following that up with a rather naïve idea of how to combat this monster, Akako can do nothing but place her head in her hands and sigh. Well, she hasn’t said yes or no to this thing definitively yet and will continue to not be obligated to it until she gets paid. Something she has to go all the way to Sodai to make happen. Akako sighs again and shakes her head again. “My advice, which I’ll be generous and throw in for free, would be to get an actual combat advisor before you go any further. Because the first thing you told us about this thing was it gets stronger through death. And then you want to meet it in a head-on battle where every soldier it cuts down makes it more powerful? That strikes me as an absurd gamble. Either it would work before it kills too much or we’d literally feed the thing the end of the world since we’d empower it too much to be stopped by the stronger warriors. A better plan might be in order.” That’s the major point sticking in her side. The rest… “Anything else can be discussed once I have my payment.” She says, turning and walking back into the mist.

---

Upon waking, Akako groans in annoyance. Well, nothing about what she just witnessed while she was asleep could be considered good. Some ominous threat to the world where the response is headed by a woman who quite clearly knows nothing of combat. She sighs, going through her morning routine as she continues to think. How the hell is she to become stronger in accordance to Miko’s wish? She makes weapons, she doesn’t use them! She remembers the strange powers the others showed in their fight against the demon. Maybe that will help on that front, but still! It seems her talks about how not everyone she assembled desires power still did not penetrate Miko’s thick skull. …why isn’t the demon distributing her payment? Even if Miko is a cripple (and it gives Akako just so much joy to know the woman who is supposed to lead a united Yamato is an invalid on top of being naïve), the demon should be more than capable of acting as an in between for them and Miko. …she has the feeling she is being had. Well, if nothing else, that is another reason to visit Sodai. She has never once let someone escape payment from her (at least not without taking her pound of flesh) and she is not about to start now.

Her thought process is disrupted by the gentle sounds of her traveling companion making a complete nuisance of himself. Again. Probably while being completely drunk. An irritated sigh escapes her lips at the commotion. Well, she had better go break that up before what goodwill the hostess had for her dried up completely. She doubts she’ll find cheaper accommodations around here and she may have need of it again. Going downstairs, she somehow finds out things are somehow worse than she thought. The drunken idiot has harmed two people, one of which is the hostess’s damn son and either a bystander or one of his friends. Either way is terrible is terms of reputation. And now the buffoon has smeared her reputation just as surely as his by associating the two of them. Well, damage control then. “Jiraiya, you will release the both of them this very instant or you will find yourself looking for a new patron.” She says, using the coldest voice she can muster. People must think she is able to control the moron after all. “You may have to anyway. A merchant’s life is in their reputation and associating with you is damaging mine.” It’s not an idle threat she just gave. Handling this slack-jawed drunkard is more trouble than it is worth at this point. She may have to hunt for a bodyguard more… presentable. Quickly. Especially since her travel plans just changed. “Now go dunk your head in a well or something while I apologize to these fine people that you have wronged.” She says, attempting to end the conversation there before anything else happens.

[exalted]

Miho heart was still pounding in her ears when she heard the rustling noise, hands shooting to her blade and baring the first inch of steel from the scabbard. The Demon's words still echoed with her, and she shivered at the thought at the thought of what would await her sleep tonight. Agares had not come to claim her physically here, but she doubted her dream self would be as lucky.

Snapping her attention back to the problem at hand, the rustling noise, she quickly gathered her meager possessions back onto rough blanket she had slept under and bundled them up, tying them up as a parcel on her back as her eyes flashed about. The hovel was no longer save to stay in and she had to move.

She shuffled slightly over to the back corner on the hovel, away from where the noise had come from and she grimaced slightly at the cowardice she showed. Before this, before everything of her downfall she would never had slunk away like this, but the situation demanded caution and subterfuge as much as she hated to admit it. The back corner had partially fallen down and, quietly as she could, she moved aside the boards that covered the hole in the wall and slipped through.

Without direction from Miko she decided to keep on her former path to the Letake Barrens. Everything had to be linked, didn't it?

Her stomach grumbled as she sniffed the air, smelling the first wafts of the morning fires of the small town on the chill air. One meal, she bargained with her self, one last hot meal before the long road. Checking her bundle was secure on her back, she strode towards the town centre, keeping an eye still for the whatever had caused the rustling sound.

[Blue56]

Though she was careful not to show it, inwardly Izumi was smiling as she listened to Miko answer their questions. In particular, what she had to say to Akako was exactly what she was hoping to hear, but didn't want to ask. To learn that Miko resided in Sodai and that she could not use her legs outside of this dream world was valuable information indeed, and obtaining it with their hosts being unaware that she wished to know it was perhaps even more valuable. Izumi would play the role of the obedient servant, for now, and if the time came when it proved to her advantage to be rid of the young noble, she might not forsee such a betrayal. As of now though, there was no reason to kill the girl, but it was good to be prepared for anything. In comparison, the answer to Izumi's own question felt a bit underwhelming. Yes, she had heard the tales, but if the power of Oni was enough to take over Yamato, then why hadn't it been done already? Regardless, when all was said and done, Izumi simply bowed respectfully to Agares and Miko before departing the forest. There was work to be done in the waking world.


When Izumi awakens, she finds herself almost immediately wishing she had lingered a bit longer. This hovel was barely fit to live in, but it was the ideal hiding place for her for a number of other reasons. Being located on the outskirts of the village meant that she was away from the eyes of many of the locals, and with only a lone resident, there was only one persons silence she needed to keep. Speaking of the resident, he was a vile old man that she couldn't wait to be rid of, but at least he had been easy to control. It was obvious what he wanted from her when his lecherous gaze first fell upon her, but a kunai pressed against his rib cage made it clear what would happen if he acted upon his desires, or told anyone about her. Not the most elegant solution, but it had gotten her a place to stay, and she would be damned if she let this wretch even think he might be able to get away with laying a hand on her while she slept.

As she stirred, Izumi fixed the filthy panting mutt with a glare, not that it seemed to deter the dog any. Eventually she sighed and rubbed the dog's head gently for a brief moment. It wasn't his fault his owner was such a dirty wretch after all, and it was a bit nice to have an animal that wasn't wary of her around for once. The dog had originally been another benefit of staying here, Izumi had thought that it would alert them to any intruders that sought her life in the dead of night, but seeing how it treated her made her doubt it's usefulness in that regard.

Izumi rose and immediately stepped outside the hut, eager to take in a breath of fresh air as she planned her day. Kojibetsu was on the outskirts of Minamoto territory, but she was under no illusion that she would be safe here. No, she would need to keep moving from place to place to stay a step ahead of her clan. She had been heading towards the Ietake clan's territory, and saw no reason to change that in light of her dream. Even if she did want to visit Miko in Sodai, that was the opposite direction and she couldn't risk spending any more time in her clan's territory than she already had. She did want to test these new powers she supposedly possessed, and doing so in combat would help fulfill the mission Miko had given them as well. With that in mind, Izumi set out for the inn to see what work they had available. She would need funds to supply her travels after all, so if there was a job that could fulfill all three of those goals, that would be the most efficient use of her time.

[Nobudi]

Kagehoshi woke with a snarl frozen on her face. Raising herself up and attempting to calm down was a failure.

How dare she. Speaking those poisonous honeyed words like all was going to be right in the world. Like her clan was going to join hands with monsters... a monster like her wasn't going to be welcome back, no matter what.

After all, the only youkai in the eyes of the Ashikaga were either dead ones or useful tools.

… This thought process was taking too much out of her already. Rubbing her one good eye, she slipped out of her makeshift shelter to get her supplies for when she had to eventually depart in order. Heading over to the main camp, she was greeted by the hunters. They were a strong bunch, if a bit dim, but their generosity and companionship gave her a sharp spike of guilt whenever she was around.

If they had discovered what she was, she'd be killed... Or more likely, they'd be executed as traitors for fraternizing and housing her. The leader's- Daichi, if she remember correctly- son was weary of her, and a small part of her was glad he was on the lookout to keeping their group alive. Overall, she wanted to leave soon, for their lives were at stake and she did not feel like a gambling woman.

As breakfast was shoved into her hands, she gave the group a grateful smile and said simply, "Smaller builds make it easy to walk through underbrush." After thanking them for the food, she slowly ate and watched as the men joked and chatted amongst each other.

Once the fish was naught but a pile of bones, she asked, "Shall we go on the hunt soon? We should get some more food while it's still light out."

[Lazy Kitsune]

It was a surreal experience, lingering between the waking world and the dream one for a few moments as Katsu found herself back in Boss Ono's bed, his arms around her naked body. Despite her misgivings about what had happened during her sleep, both kept quietly to herself and outwardly expressed in her confrontation with Lord Agares, now that she was back in the waking world it was starting to hit more than ever. She had a purpose. A greater purpose. And a goal to strive towards. Her life was starting to have meaning again... maybe she wouldn't let it be the meaning that Miko and Agares wished to ascribe to it, but her future was doubtlessly altered from this moment forward. Although perhaps for the better now, unlike the last time the mark had changed her fate.

That previous change of fate wasn't about to just disappear, however, as the man snoring with his stiffening cock rubbing against her was testament to. How long had she let her life stagnate in this situation? She had tried patience for so long, using her training to enter a calming, zen like state while he had his way with her each and every night so that she could push down the ever building rage deeper within her so it may never see the light of day. This was easier said than done however, and each time she felt a little less capable of controlling her-

Hmm, a message from Agares. Despite how much that... entity repulsed her, it was almost comforting to hear his voice. A reminder that she was destined for something greater than some bandit's bed warmer. The motivation she needed to find her way out of here... Although possibilities to slip away right now quickly diminished as Ono Daisuke started to awaken. Turning to face him, she let her gaze meet his as he awoke. There was no affection in her eyes, there never was. But there was a degree of respect - for him as a warrior and as a leader. That was enough to have made him acceptable all this time. But times were changing. Still, attempting to flee now would be overly rash and she could do with fewer obstacles on the start of her journey.

"If you spent as much time fighting as you did fucking, you might have your own clan by now." she states, calmly yet pointedly. While her mind might have its reservations against laying with him, her body still reacted to his touch, her nipple stiffening against his palm as he groped her breast. And as a freshly satisfied Boss Ono would be easier to slip away from than a scorned one, her mind agreed to play along.

Sighing, she lowered her hand down to give his rising cock a slow stroke, pressing firmly on a few points to make his manhood shiver. "What takes your fancy this morning?"