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#Post#: 399496--------------------------------------------------
Re: Your Betrayal
By: Haburi Shimofuri Date: December 2, 2015, 1:29 am
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Cei looked over at the servants that brought Eri's like fine
personal couriers, wondering if that was really necessary with
the sheer amount of food that was already present at the table.
Surveying the field a bit, he seemed displeased by the selection
until something caught his eye. Standing up from his chair, he
lunged forward, putting the entire room on alert as he seemed to
make a risky dash at Eri. With his pale skinny fingers, he
hoisted up a good chunk of grapes still hanging from its tender
vines. "Oh goodie." Cei returning down to his chair, began to
take off the grapes one by one while sitting completely poised
and upright in his chair. Tasting the plumb fruit, he mindfully
took down each grape singled out at a time at an orderly pace.
"Well, my good Queen." He made sure not to have any food in his
mouth while he spoke. "I am the former strategist of the
Shimofuri family, royalty almost. Very close to the inner circle
of his family, I've known their family growing up since as long
as I could remember. The elders adored me because I was gifted
in reading people and situations, quickly learning the art of
war itself. Though the reason they really liked me more than the
other strategists, was that Haburi couldn't kill me whenever he
threw a temper tantrum or lost his wits and ended up
annihilating both sides of the field in his rage." Cei tried to
calmly discard the seeds in a dignified matter into a side cup,
but found there wasn't really a polite way to get rid of seeds
at a Queens dinner table. "Nonetheless, I honestly don't know
why they decided to get rid of me. Whether it was personal
preference for Haburi, the fact I was probably the only
non-Shimofuri bloodline that could actually trade with him in
battle, or his fear that I might one day manipulate him like I
do so many others..."
Cei looked at Eri with an innocent smile. "Listen, I know you've
already realised that I'm here to take advantage of you.
However, I'm not taking advantage of you unfairly. It is in
common cause I seek your assistance. I ask to lead your men so
that you do not see these horrors of war five feet from your
doorstep. If you do not take my aid, you will be forced in one
days pass to deal with them yourself at your front gates with
your people much closer to the danger than if we fought on the
morrow. Simply put, you either deny me and my 200 men a fight
miles from the castle, or fight the problem yourself with the
guaranteed blood of your people in your dainty little hands.
Either way, I will have my revenge on those betrayers." Cei
regained his composure and relaxed a bit back in his seat.
"Risking a hundred lives for then thousand seems pointless,
especially when those one hundred live to die for those ten
thousand every day."
#Post#: 399966--------------------------------------------------
Re: Your Betrayal
By: Colette Date: December 4, 2015, 11:58 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Eri couldn't help the slowly growing distaste she had for this
Cei individual. The expressions he made were nothing but a
formal mask and it put her off...as a person of honesty to the
point of total ignorance, it didn't sit well with her; the irony
being the face she'd always have to put on for her people during
public addresses. The false innocence in his smile as he went on
and talked about himself left a bad taste in her mouth and it
made her appetite slowly wane, to Eri it felt as if he were
bragging shamelessly to her and her mood was not one for that
kind of dalliance at the moment...
Though his sudden honesty upon his intentions did surprise her.
Of course, it had been a slight thought that he was here just
trying to use her army, but she hadn't expected him to be so
bold in its admittance. "So you do admit to it..." Her abandoned
soup was growing cold and she sat back in her chair, holding her
hands in her lap as she looked to mull over his words quite
seriously. The idea of turning her men over to this...snake of a
man made her uncomfortable beyond compare; she had no basis
really for why she didn't trust him besides her gut feeling,
even if his words were painfully true. Dealing with the
inevitable clash on her own would certainly be impossible; for
one, Eri held no military understanding like her father or
advisers and for two, there was no way she'd be able to rally
her people and protect them all while protecting
herself...Haburi was an unstoppable monster where battle was
concerned, from what tales she'd heard anyways, and someone like
her fighting against him...she'd probably wilt from just the
look.
Still chewing over on the thoughts, she gently brought her right
hand up and spoke to her servants quietly. "I'd appreciate it if
you could allow our visitor and I some privacy." Aiko, holding
her perch from one of the nearby walls immediately held back her
tongue on wishing to stay. The idea of leaving the Queen alone
with such a potentially dangerous man...but, she couldn't deny
the request of a Queen. Her and all the other servants slowly
shuffled out and in their wake left behind a single thud of the
door while she eased back in to her chair with a soft and tired
sigh. So much had already happened in this day for her...she was
quickly growing exhausted. "You wish to use my men, my people,
and my kingdom to exact your revenge on Lord Haburi, yes?" Her
tone was a little childish and accusatory, but she quickly
dialed it back as she tried to be more understanding at the
remembrance of her mother's words when she'd once gotten in a
fight with the neighboring kingdom's visiting son. Her mother
had told her to "try a little harder to understand someone
else's views" and through a slight bit more patience and a great
deal more understanding, her and the smaller boy had come to an
agreement and passed aside their childish fury. To try and
compare that to this situation was childish in itself, but
anything to help her make a better decision no matter how small
it was...Eri would take it.
"I do not wish for my men to be treated unfairly. They
are...good people, as you say, they put their lives on the line
with the knowledge that they could die for them, but I won't
have them sent out in order to be just...fodder." Gently her
fingers wound and twisted at the napkin in her lap and she
slowly looked up to meet the gaze of Cei, though the contact
didn't last for long. He unnerved her, the look in his eyes...
"If I were to allow you the use of my army, it would be with the
understanding that I'd want them to be treated as you would your
own men." Her ignorance was truly dangerous, for she was
completely unaware of how he'd treated his own men from the
moment she'd left his presence earlier...not like she'd ever
find out at this point either. "But you are right...the news of
his uprising grows everyday and everyday I get more letters,
he'll get here soon enough and I'm not suited, or prepared, to
battle him." It was cowardly of her to admit it, but a coward
she was. "If he made it to the gates...I shudder to think of
what would happen..."
#Post#: 400423--------------------------------------------------
Re: Your Betrayal
By: Haburi Shimofuri Date: December 7, 2015, 10:20 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Watching her Majesty's face make so many conflicted faces was
partially amusing the the drowning table conversation. She
looked so confused and frustrated in having to make one simple
decision that any ordinary ruler would make instantaneously. The
choice isn't hard, even to a keen intelligent eye it's too good
of an offer to pass up, especially for a ruler that doesn't
personally want to get their hands dirty. Taking a quick glance
down at the half pile of of seeds, Cei picked up the table
napkin, tapped his lips and placed it over the bowl to cover up
the aftermath. "Understand that I don't request your men as if
they were common trading pawns. I consider them more as a large
government loan. I plan to soak my hands with the blood of my...
No, our enemies as much as personally possible. Your men will be
stationed behind my own in the battalion. Your men will be
mostly there to intimidate, protect the rear, and pick off
whatever my soldiers leave behind. However, above all these
things, your men are there..." Cei's face almost cracked a
genuine smile for but a second. "There to observe what happens
for your own report." The young lord rose up fully to his feet,
excusing himself from his chair.
"I suppose that is a yes then. Now get some sleep my Queen, I'd
imagine all the drama of today has made you tired." With eyes
that continued to exert a heavy pressure onto her side of the
room, he released his chained stare that was noticeable as he
finally looked away. Taking hold of the door, he jerked the door
open to reveal a hall full of servants that seemed a bit on
edge. Cei tried to contain his excitement for the first of many
battles to come on the morrow, feeling strong and poised in the
moment. Taking loud slow steps, he passed by the worried looks
that were tied down to the floor and his feet. As he made his
way down the hall to his room, he stuttered in a right foot step
to fully look at one of the maids. "Aiko, I believe she called
you. Right?" She looked like she was about to raise her head and
affirm the name, but Cei raised a hand to halt even a yes.
"Looks like the big bad Cei won." Finally, the man with the
oppressive aura gave a full honest smile. He grinned with a look
of pure enjoyment that not even his own men have seen yet. The
night grew dark, yet the moonlight shone brightly on his
unnatural eyes.
In the world ruled by the extraordinary and the ambitious, none
were quite as truly ambitious as Cei. The almighty hand of the
disturbed was placed over his own mouth, trying to hide how
blissful he felt. Though it seemed like he had no particular
hobbies besides making plans and dramatic plays, there was
something he instinctively loved doing more than anything.
Something he thrived on, was his unquenchable thirst to make
people want to start fights. His ability to get under peoples
skin was on par with his skill in war or his strategic
dominance. Whether he liked doing this because it was so tightly
correlated with his actual unique talent in battle, or his power
was born out of his love for starting dramatic scenes, most
couldn't stand being around Cei.
Opening the door to his room, he finally was able to calm
himself down just enough to regain his composure and put down
his hand. "Ah, I almost lost my cool there. That would've been a
lack luster performance if I had." Holding up the door, stood
two knights in white dreaming beside the bath. Cei closed the
door behind him with minimal creaking as he took off each
separate article of clothing before him. With nothing left on
but his skin and underwear, he sat criss cross hunched over with
elbows to knees and hands collected together. "Alright." spoke
Cei as his skin collectively obtained goosebumps from the chilly
air of a cold night before war. "Tell me your story dear
knights" the rolling clicking sound of his worn out prayer beads
rolled down to his wrist and partially into his hand was muffled
towards the end. "Tell me your story, spirits. Then move on from
this world to the next." Raising the beads, he placed them up
against his lips cozy in his bed behind a locked door. The moon
burned bright that night, through the tasteless fog that barely
dimmed its shine. The sound of a prayer was spoken, then there
was silence.
#Post#: 400758--------------------------------------------------
Re: Your Betrayal
By: Colette Date: December 9, 2015, 4:56 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Distrust, distrust, distrust; the simple way she felt about him.
His aura made her skin crawl, her body unnerved, her gaze found
its way lightly pacing from focus to focus, all while her
insides filled with the slimy, cold snake of dread. Why did Eri
suddenly feel as if she'd made a deal with the Devil himself?
Perhaps it was in the unnatural attractiveness of his appearance
that left her with no desire, only discomfort at such a pleasant
face with such deeper intention within the eyes. It was like
looking at a marble statue that felt...and plotted; more or less
it could have just been that she knew all along that his
flourishing and falsely comforting words were just
that...needless flourish, honeyed words, a potpourri of
disgusting language that simply masked the underlying intent.
Eri had always been around people like that, though never
personally.
Briefly, her mother and father graced her still mourning mind.
The way she'd been silenced at her parent's sides and told to
watch instead as they did their dealings for the Kingdom; there
were often seedy individuals and her parents had always dealt
with them accordingly...so why hadn't she done the same? It left
her feeling pathetic and hopeless...small and frightful, a
little girl.
Her lament couldn't continue forever and it soon halted once his
oppressive presence left the dining room, leaving behind the
Queen, her sorrowful thoughts, and the smells of food uneaten.
"What a waste..." Outside, a whole different story unfolded.
Unlike her Queen, Aiko was everything but small and frightful.
The only thing that stopped her from snapping back at this
spiteful guest was the solidity of her standing; a slave
attacking or talking back? There would be no such thing in these
halls...not for her sake, but for her Majesty's. Yet her gaze
was heated and seething as she watched him prattle away, looking
as gleeful as a vindictive child who'd just gotten another in
trouble. It took great strength on her part to hold her fiery
tongue and her pace was vehemently irritated when she made her
way back in to the dining room to both escort and clean.
There was no discussion between the two; Eri felt immense guilt
over her snap decision and knowing of how poorly Aiko felt on
the subject, while Aiko felt irritation over Cei having won and
blatantly used both Queen and friend. Aiko spoke briskly to Eri
as she accompanied her into her freshly clean room, "Sleep well,
Majesty.," and was even more brisk to exit. There was just too
much going on here beneath just the surface and all she wanted
was to break apart that marble skin of Cei's and find the
wriggling, slimy deceit beneath...
Eri had undressed herself and donned the thin white nightgown
she'd worn earlier in the day, though clean this time. Its
fluffy sleeves covered their way along her fingertips and the
cool air within the castle nipped at her exposed knees and neck.
Pale fingers slowly moved along the ties in her hair and she
felt her scalp ring in relief as she undid the large pigtails,
allowing the mounds of blue hair to fall down her back and onto
the bed where she sat against the edge, worry pricking her mind.
To think battle would find her so early..."Mother...Father, why
didn't you prepare me better for this?..." Sighing quietly and
pulling away the large and unnecessarily fluffy blankets, she
curled within and tugged the coverings above her head, only
singular strands of blue now seen as she tucked herself into a
ball, hoping just briefly that maybe if she held to herself
tightly enough, she might just disappear all together...but such
was not how things worked in the world.
When her eyes next opened, sunlight peered faintly through her
blankets and she felt the solid weight of dread and fear drop
down her stomach. Today, her men fought and in the hand of
someone she didn't trust in the slightest. Rising from the bed,
her hair and clothes messy, she made her way to the door and
wondered when they'd leave...should she make an appearance?
Should she actually be at the battle itself? There were just too
many questions and she had no knowledge on any of it...but one
thing was at least certain, Eri felt that things today were
going to be far too intense.
#Post#: 400886--------------------------------------------------
Re: Your Betrayal
By: Haburi Shimofuri Date: December 10, 2015, 11:57 pm
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Get up you caniving creature. Cei's eyes slowly budged open,
staring at the stony white ceiling of the guests quarters. His
face looked exhausted and deprived of energy, or rather complete
emotion. Yanking his arm up, he forced himself upright in bed,
making the beads of the necklace that hung from his arm rattle
like the bones of its former master did. Gripping the edges of
the bed he shook off the rust from his senses and opened his
sights out a bit more. With a long sigh Cei stood up, looking
for his clothes on the other side of the room. However, the
wooden pearls of the necklace werent triple wrapped around his
forearms like they usually were and proceeded to roll off his
fingertips. More awake than ever, he dashed down to a scramble
on the floor trying to hook his arm back through the hoop.
Feeling forcefully woke up from his dilema, Cei took a breath
and placed his wrapped up arm along the bathtub to get himself
back to his feet. The grave man didnt take the slightest bit of
notice over the fact he touced the very cast iron tub his former
soldiers had been cremeated in not too long ago. "Today, I..."
He began the mundane process of hooking his formal attire ontop
his shoulders, reciting back his plan for the day back and forth
in his mind. "Take the battlefield... No survivors or
witnesses... Return back to Kingdom victorious..." Cei
straightened out his vest and fully extended the sleeves over
his wrists. "Regardless if her Majesty still approves of me,
I'll have the approval of the people. That's the key, got it.
Opening the door with a fluent motion, Cei stepped outside his
room to be greeted by two new guards.
"Good morning gentlemen." The men looked at the door a bit,
before fully comprehending a question that had been on their
mind and accepting it. "Good morning sir. Your horse is
outside." "Very well." Continuing down the hall, Cei passed Aiko
on the marbled floors. "Good day to you as well Aiko." He didn't
make the slightest expression of joy or grief as he walked by
her, not even actually looking at her either as if to deny her
existence. The young man refused to deal with much of anything
that could unfocus him from that task at hand. While he broke
through the doors he immediately noticed a small divided
gathering of citizens lined up with worried expressions. "Word
spreads fast." Waltzing past the silent crowd, he stared down
the main gate with a slowly growing fire in his eyes.
Approaching his horse he gave it a light touch, comforting the
riled horse into a calm statue.
Reaching into the side saddle he pulled out a belt with a weird
contraption strapped to the back of it. Firmly securing it
around his hips, he refound his confidence and a meek smile.
Untying the knot from the hilt, he drew his katana out from the
straps of the saddle. Equipping a black hard rope from the
spindle on his back to the handle of his sword, he jumped up
with a locked leg onto his horse. Giving a light kick, his body
was pulled by the force of the horse that propelled him ahead of
the mixed banner army before him. "I know some of you don't
trust me as I walked into your kingdom not twenty four hours
ago, but hear me now. Follow my sword into battle, follow my
rage into victory. Only then, will you seek the chance to bow to
your beautiful Queen once more." Charging with the sound of
eager shouts and calls for war, the men rallied behind the
brilliant mind of a battle enthusiast. Riding for no more than
half an hour, they almost immediately came in contact with the
watchtowers of the nearby village that hoisted the red and white
colors of the Shimofuri.
The soldiers there looked more saddended than nervous for the
ambush, drawing their swords hesistant for battle. Underneath
the sound of thundering gallops and clanking armor, the sound of
three thousand men total trampling quickly into the open village
shot up dust and loud clamour. The clash of men on horseback
bashing through an unprepared grouping of soldiers resounded a
loud smack and spray of blood that instantaneously dirtied the
ground and houses. Screams and unbareable sobbing became of this
small town, defiling the air with its twisted crackling. The
continuous snapping of bodies and gutting sound was fighting in
volume to contest what Cei was doing to the innocent. "None will
live to tell of what happened today but me alone." Abandoning
his horse quickly, he was cutting down the fleeing citizens as
fast as they were panting their few last breaths.
His sword, again and again found itself bursting through the
chest of life after life, mudding their open mouthed face with
the owners blood before retreating back through their spine to
leave a clean cut. Smoke and fire rose in abundance as those who
thought they could hide safely in their locked homes were
trapped in an oven of infernal heat that rose fast in intensity.
Not a single building was left unchecked, whether they screamed
till their lungs filled with smoke and choked to death or they
were roasted under spits of fire, nothing was left to chance.
Cei confined himself in this moment, feeling the wind under his
arms, rattling his prayer beads in every swing. He spoke a soft
prayer for every life he took, yet showed no remorse as he cut
off an ankle to keep a fast runner from getting away. "I take
your life in the name of ambition. Find peace." Another thrust
of his sword stomped the hard metal into the thick body of
flesh. As the final few crashes of blade and bodies fought for
survival, the last of the opposition fell to a spear thrusted
through his throat. There were very few casualties for Cei's
forces at seventy eight, and hardly anything lost from Eri's
legion with only twelve men dead.
Gathered in the town church, Cei had about twenty citizens bound
and gagged with all of them lined up bowed on their knees facing
the front stage. The young but tired lord snapped his sword back
into its case and let the dried blood rest on the black case.
Taking the front podium before the trapped hostages, he assumed
the role of pastor and spoke to his congregation of soldiers
before him. "My brave, valiant men. You have done so very well
today. On this day, you have bested your delieverers." Raising a
hand, he motioned a youthful soldier that wore the Perit colors
of blue and gold. He looked scared and guilty, probably having
seen war for the first time, and being so thorough in it
nonetheless as to kill the bystanders. "Step up and give me your
name soldier." "I.. Uh... Galland! Galland Sire..."
"Very well, Galland." Stretching his body over the podium, he
looked across the few survivors before singling one out. Walking
over still a bit tired from the long battle, he ungagged one of
the citizens. "Why did you take the colors of the Shimofuri? Was
it not your intention to aide them in their conquest as a
foothold?" The blindfolded man spat in gasping breath, still
terrified for his life, but more proud than any of the others by
far. "We seeked the King, yes... Haburi promised us both peace
and provisions from your land... You sit there cozy in your
kingdom, unaware of this famine or war around you... Too busy
watching a dead Queen so closely to see if she's even breathing
to see someone dying so fucking close to you!" With a quick
right cross the mans head was stuffed into the ground, still
bent over in pain and sweat. Wrapping the gag right back over
his mouth, Cei patted the mans back twice and stood back up
fully upright.
"Galland, was it?" He made his way back to his podium. "Listen
up! These men have no remorse or initiative. They could've asked
for help, they could've had our strength that you all saw here
today. Instead, they went behind our backs and insult her
Majesty." Pointing the finger, Cei looked with a disgusted
grimmace. "Take his life Galland. Be the first to indulge in
killing the so called innocent, and I will have you recommended
and honored at our victory feast." Galland looked unsure still,
but budged his feet slowly more and more towards the cowering
mass. Shakily raising his sword, the others in the Perit forces
bowed their hands and looked down at the debris covered ground.
With a drop of the hilt, the gleaming blade took the commoners
life. He let out a brief cry of agony before passing onto the
next life. "Rejoice! You have truly surpassed your comrades.
Embrace him brothers." Cei's men shouted and cheered, patting
the man on the back and taking him back to his place with glee.
Galland steadily grew more and more pleased with himself,
accepting fully his deeds as just with a smile by the time he
resumed his place in the army. "Fantastic! Now, who would like
to be honored next?" One by one, a line formed from Eri's men
joining in with joy and praise from the whole army as they
slowly took the last womans life. "Know that on this day, though
we have gained favor and victory. You have also gained my hard
to earn respect and trust. I am proud to have been called your
leader on this day." The soldiers slowly joined in unison,
chanting the glorious name of Cei in coralled unison, each time
louder than the last as they made their way out of the now
silent church.
Returning home to the Kingdom, Cei looked with a smile on his
dirtied face as he thought to himself in self silence on his
horse. "That went better than expected, it was almost too smooth
and easy to get this far. With now the support of her own
troops, I will have bought myself a place at the dinner table
and some authority in war. If you asked a common man how could
you with only three hundred men take on King Haburi's forces,
they'd have no clue in the slightest. However I am no common
man. Look at this, I have virtually gained an entire Kingdom
under my control for what cost? Nothing, but cheap lives. I was
the one who sent her those letters of Haburi's coming forces,
true. What she doesn't know is that Haburi was going westward,
not here to the east. It could still be years before he even
attempted this direction, but all it took was my most loyal men
and a silver tongue. Disguising my own men, I had them force
that village to align with the Shimofuri acting as Haburis
soldiers the entire time. Then, after persuading them to take
their colors, I made up the entire thing about their attack on
tomorrow. I simply knew that affording an assault on our front
gates wasn't something Eri was comfortable with and got her own
men to witness the battle. I only pray for that man I made an
example of at the church, you played your role perfectly
soldier. On your grave, I promise your family will be taken care
of properly. Now to see Eri..." Cei looked up at the tall castle
gates and stepped into the welcoming arms of hundreds of
citizens cheering for their victorious return.
#Post#: 400901--------------------------------------------------
Re: Your Betrayal
By: Colette Date: December 11, 2015, 1:32 am
---------------------------------------------------------
The day felt monochrome for her. Enjoyment was absent and in its
place was her usual anxiety coupled with the deep ringing
silence that slithered its way across her castle. Eri and her
staff were all collectively holding their breaths as they waited
to hear back from the brigade that went out earlier into the
battle she could only imagine as perilous. Pacing, winding, not
leaving her room besides peeking out over the open balcony
outside her room's inner doors, Eri was a ball of tension and
worry that refused to take care of itself. No eating, no
resting, no enjoyment...she just wanted to hear back from her
men.
Meanwhile, there was something deadly brewing within the silence
of the castle walls. Down in the linen room of the castle
bowels, Aiko was elbow deep in the scorching water that washed
away at a strangely clean, soggy white dress. Her hands
mindlessly moved, masterful at their work she'd done so many
times before and she thought on how tragic it was to have to
bring out Eri's funeral clothes once again. There was no doubt
in Aiko's mind that some of their force today would fall and, as
her parents had before her, Eri would be attending a mass
funeral to thank and mourn over the men who bled for their
kingdom...but the last thought was spiteful in Aiko's mind.
Their kingdom, their men...and a stranger whose intentions
filled her with rage when she thought on their vagueness. Aiko
didn't trust Cei in the slightest and it wasn't just because of
the way he got under her skin. The man simply reminded her of a
snake and Aiko just wouldn't idly stand by and let Eri get
bitten... Pulling out the white cloth and expertly hanging them
to dry, she dried her own hands on her white apron and rolled
down her sleeves, pushing aside her red bangs as she prepared
for a split decision she'd just made.
With her hair messily blowing in the wind on her balcony, Eri
was within her black dress from the day prior and she looked
over the empty horizon, only occasionally offering a small and
hesitant wave when a few by-passers noticed their rare Queen.
Her lamentations and plaguing worries were only interrupted by
the soft knock on her door, of which she picked the ends of her
dress up for to hastily run and open the heavy wooden surface.
"Any news? Are they okay yet? What of the forces they
attacked?-Oh, Aiko. Ah...I'm sorry." Looking down in
disappointment, Aiko could only sigh lightly internally before
reminding Eri that apologizing to a servant wasn't very royal of
her. To which Eri casually reminded her in her typical innocent,
ignorant manner that "we're friends."
"Eri, I have some...sad news." Watching her Queen's expression
fall was rather pitiful...Eri wore her emotions on her sleeve.
"Not that kind of news, your Majesty. It's about my mother,
she's gotten ill...it's very poor timing, but she sent me the
news." Holding out the yellowed paper to Eri, who took it
sheepishly without even opening it, Eri quickly apologized once
again. "Oh Aiko...I'm sorry to hear. I know it must be very hard
for you-" Eri was only cut off as Aiko quietly sighed, laying a
sympathetic hand on Eri's shoulder with a playful, but
melancholy smile on her face. "You only look away from me when
you're either not paying attention, or lying, and you aren't the
lying type. Majesty, I'm very sorry to be so forward with you,
especially in a time like this when you're wracked with
worry...but, I need to see my mother." With her ever sheepish
expression still looking away, this time in slight guilt over
being found out, Eri just nodded understandingly before looking
up to meet the jade gaze of her most trusted friend. "You should
go and see her. I'd hate to deprive you of seeing your
mother..."
Their goodbyes were short and curt, but heartfelt as Eri
escorted Aiko towards the entrance of the castle where Aiko
pulled her aside to talk to her just a small bit more, this time
her expression showing worry. "Eri, I have no reason to ask you
this...especially as a servant, but try not to make any
decisions until I get back, okay? I don't care how much that
snak-man, our guest, pushes you to. Just...try and hold it off,
alright? He's not in any power here, remember that, through and
through you are our Queen." A little taken aback by the
sincerity in her final words, Eri could only breathlessly nod at
her friend's strangely firm belief in her and she briefly
questioned what she could have done to deserve such devotion.
Seeing Aiko off as the sun slowly neared the horizon, Eri felt a
sudden pang of loneliness once the doors closed again, truly
leaving her with just her worries crawling along her back.
Thankfully, it couldn't have been but a few hours later that the
first cheers could be heard from the city and almost too
hastily, Eri begged and pressed her staff to open the doors of
the castle to welcome home a party she could only describe as
victorious. For the first time in a while Eri felt...relieved,
even if Cei was the leader of the front, but just seeing her men
so revitalized and not dead filled her with happiness. Almost
losing her cool, she was very quick to make even a personal
appearance from within the castle, taking her first steps
outside of the castle in what could have been months.
"You...made it back!" Holding the ends of her large dress in
hand, looking rather un-queenly with her messed hair and
slightly wrinkled clothes, Eri smiled brightly at the site of
such life and celebration. "You were victorious? How were my
men? Did...any fall?" She hated to ruin the festivity with such
a question, but she had to know...Yet she gave a quick and
dismissive shake of her head at the question. "I apologize,
that's not the question I should be asking right now. You all
just arrived, I'll see to it that you're all taken care of now."
With a quick usher of her hand, the staff was quick to burst in
to action, ushering off the men past the grabbing desperation of
her townsfolk and leading them to the castle's barracks where
they'd be taken care of. Food, drink, sleep, wash; for her men
and Cei's she'd provide them with the utmost comfort to thank
them for what they'd done.
Eri alone approached Cei, a little disconcerted by the dried
flecks of blood that were perfectly visible on his clothing,
skin, and sword's scabbard. The fact he went in to battle
himself was...daunting, but it wasn't polite to stare and she
was slowly becoming aware that whether or not she liked it,
battle was going to confront her soon enough. "You lead them
into battle and more importantly, you lead them back. I
am...thankful." Not entirely lying, Eri didn't entirely tell the
truth either, she still had her immense doubts about Cei, but he
did at least uphold his word and her men mostly made it back
from what she could see. "On behalf of my people and I, I thank
you." Per formality, she snapped back into her position and
stood straight, hands politely folded in her lap while she
gently bowed her head in a humble gesture of thanks. Rising her
head once more, she actually confronted his gaze this time with
the feeling of ease and relief still riding high in her mind,
allowing her to be more free and relaxed than usual. "If you
have any injuries or requests, I'll see to it that you're taken
care of here just as well as I'd be. Aiko could you-I
mean...um.." Suddenly she clammed up at her social boo-boo,
remembering she'd beckoned her friend goodbye just a few hours
prior. "I mean, ah, Juxe, could you please escort Cei back to
his quarters and attend to his wishes while I check with the
soldiers?" A smaller maid than Aiko appeared, but she was
friendly enough and she awaited for his orders while Eri
fluttered about with the brisk and light sound of her heels
along the ground as she both took on the task of greeting her
still clamoring people while making her way to the barracks
themselves to hear news of the forces. Juxe, the small maid,
gave a small and formal bow to the rather attractive visitor and
she smiled politely. "I'll be overseeing your care, Master Cei.
Miss Aiko has left the city on a familial call, so please, do
send all your requests to me."
The sad news that was given to Eri made her feel immense guilt,
but the soldiers assured her it was nowhere near as bad as it
could have been. They gave her assurance over and over again,
praising Cei's leadership and she was slightly surprised by
their words of respect. Her soldiers were completely enamored
with his leadership! Eri simply nodded and offered her fake
smile to the soldiers who had fought for their kingdom that day
while she delivered the sad news of the funerals she would carry
out for them. Despite the heaviness of the topics, the men still
seemed invigorated and it was all thanks to the tastes of
victory and even the sight of their Queen who'd come all on her
own to congratulate them; the booze and the warm food certainly
didn't hurt the situation either. While they'd continued their
jovial celebration, Eri left with a slightly heavy heart and was
escorted back to the castle where she found the stark white
outfit on her bed, a single piece of parchment left on the
finely pressed linens. "Miss Aiko had said to bring these to
your quarters after she left." The last time she'd worn this
garment was when she'd attended her parent's funerals. It was
foolish of her to think that all of her men would make it out
alive...Battles never ended with everyone alive and Eri was
going to have to face that fact, one way or the other.
While the Kingdom celebrated a false victory, Aiko crumbled the
dirty parchment in her hands miles away and threw the item with
disgust. Her heels dug into the side of her horse's side that
she'd rented and she tightened the white hood around her head,
snapping the reigns with a crack as she commanded it westward
towards the Towa kingdom that had fell months earlier to Haburi.
Aiko hated lying to Eri, it always left a disgusting, lingering
taste in her mouth, but she could only hope that Eri would
forgive her for the sin she was about to commit. Cei just wasn't
to be trusted in the slightest and she needed him as far away as
possible from both her kingdom and her Queen...the only answer
she could possibly think of was Haburi himself. Aiko would
gladly sell Cei out if it meant securing safety for Eri and that
thought alone made her force the horse into an even more gallant
gallop, if she traveled at this pace, it would only take perhaps
two days...three maybe to reach the kingdom where she'd find
answers and solutions to the problems plaguing both Eri and the
Perit Kingdom.
#Post#: 401049--------------------------------------------------
Re: Your Betrayal
By: Haburi Shimofuri Date: December 12, 2015, 2:07 am
---------------------------------------------------------
At the sight of the citizens wrapping around Cei, rushing fast
to applaud the courageous soldiers. Cei felt the heavy burden of
his sword bare down and make his back ache from its sinking
weight. The skies themselves didn't look quite grey and dim as
he thought it'd look for the massive omen he brought upon this
kingdom. Looking across the masses that gathered to tend the
weak, Eri came forth to stand out among the others in the most
peculiar way. Not like a roaring fire in the dark, but rather an
ember surrounded by freshly lit candles. She spoke her words
kindly, as if she knew the burdens of formality well. "Please do
not bow your head to me, my Queen." Cei bowed his head just a
bit lower to show respect for superiors. Having sight of Juxe,
the tired lord gave a smaller greeting bow out of kindness to
the new maid who was much smaller than some of the other maids.
"I'll see you at a more appropriate time then, Eri." Holding up
a hand to give a slight farewell as he turned his back to her
and headed towards the castle while she went to observe her
soldiers.
"So Juxe was it?" Cei calmly refound his usual composure, easing
his body a bit now the Queen wasn't before him. "Yes sir." She
replied. "What do you think my chances are of becoming goof
friends with her majesty?" Together the two took to the long
staircase that a small portion of his men had still been
guarding. Each step a bit nastier than the last, as Cei felt
like he might've twisted his ankle crushing someones nose bridge
not too long ago. "Hmm... I think everyone kind of just assumed
you already knew her Majesty. Most wouldn't be so bold as to
barge into another's kingdom and get a laz-" Juxe gasped and
held onto her mouth with widened eyes as she tried not to even
look at Cei. "My apologies, my apologies. And get a... um,
unmotivated queen to open her doors and take such a proactive
decision." Cei gave her a half fake smile and stopped as they
got to the top of the staircase, sliding his long fingers around
the curvatures of the brass door handle. "I'm glad. That about
answers my question for me. Now don't tell any of the other
servants okay?" With a clean tug of the door, he held it open
for pint sized maid. "You're already my favorite servant here.
That's for sure."
Juxe without much to say to both the kind words and holding the
door for a servant, she fluttered inside with a simple 'Thank
you master Cei, very much." Pulling the door around him to a
close, he held up a finger and called. "Oh yes, Juxe. Please
send a report of local town news and activities to my room." "Of
course Sir." With the two going their seperate ways, Cei made
his way down the hall with his dirtied hand on the wall, only
occasionally leaving a smudge or a bit of dried blood in his
wake. The pain of his sprained joints and aching bones that
screeched when rubbed together like a grinding machine without
the slightest bit of oil. "This is becoming cumbersome." Two
guards stationed at his door eventually saw the aching body and
rushed to his aide. Taking Cei with his arm over their head and
their hands at his side, they managed to successfully get him
sitting in bed. "Please my lord, it isn't too much to ask for
help." The young lord looked up with bitter apathetic eyes. "I
don't need help, I need prayer. Get out of my sight and ask our
dead brothers if they need help walking to their rooms you swine
in knights armor..." Becoming slowly more and more snappy from
the recent involuntary contact of skin and clash of auras from
the two men, Cei grew impatient. The soldiers immediately
evacuated the room and were last heard skittering down the hall.
Drenched in blood, sweat, and dirt Cei directed his body forward
with a quiet loathing of motion itself. Catching the edge of the
white cast iron tub, he began to draw a bath, throwing whatever
soaps he could find about the shelves into the mix. Bubbling and
steaming hot Cei grew weary and pained just knowing how much the
initial temperature would sting him. Peeling layer after layer
of clothing from his skin, he felt an optimistic release of
negative repressed energy pop out of his bones. Sliding into the
tub he twitched spastically as his eyes clenched shut and his
teeth gritted from the heat. This very intensity of hot steam
that mugged the air felt like the very flames of the wood that
burned off the houses he consecrated this morning. In a baptism
of mixing energies, Cei tried to find his own natural aura and
separate it from the others. All he could smell and breathe was
the faint lingering energies of deceased innocence. Some he knew
were his own men he had sent to the refiners fire. "Fuck, fuck
all of this... Ugh, I need... Ne.." Cei shed two tears as pure
suppressed raw emotion over took his senses with his insides
screaming like his very body was rejecting his flesh.
"Breathe..." He found peace as he looked down at his prayer
beads, feeling unburdened once more fresh and renewed. Humming
to himself, he allowed himself to soak as he settled down, able
to think on the morrow with collected wits. "Well, good thing I
wear nothing but grey and black anyways." Stepping out of the
bath, he said farewell to the two spirits that lingered there
and took to bed.
The dawn has arrived. Brewing in a saddened state, Cei awoke
feeling worn more so spiritually than his sorry physical state.
Gathering his grey and black trimmed attire, he took his time to
make sure each bit of cloth was tucked and straightened
perfectly for the occasion. For once, he took his comb and
straightened his hair out a bit so it wasnt so stray and unruly.
Giving out one final sigh, he faced the long walk down the empty
hallways and abandoned staircases. The quiet town gathered for
the large funeral of several good men. Hearing gentle
conversation, Cei found a comfortable spot and took his seat.
Leaning forward he held his old relic in his hands and prayed
into his hands with closed eyes.
#Post#: 401071--------------------------------------------------
Re: Your Betrayal
By: Colette Date: December 12, 2015, 3:24 am
---------------------------------------------------------
The day that started felt miraculously morose; the hushed towns,
darkened attire, even the slightly grayer than normal sky seemed
to mourn for this very day. Getting ready was a tough venture
for Eri. On top of how much she didn't want to leave the
make-believe comfort of her room, she had to prepare herself
mentally, physically, and emotionally. Being tired from the
running, tired from the sadness, and tired from the mounds of
contact she'd had yesterday, Eri just felt painfully
exhausted...but today was not the day to be selfish like she'd
been for the past few months. Today was the day she'd mourn and
respect the men who'd died for their Kingdom.
With the help of two servants, Eri was wrapped tightly in the
ceremonial garb she'd worn for only one funeral before. Bounds
of white fabric were wrapped around her from head to toe, a
single hood covering the expertly twisted piles of blue hair
that draped across her shoulders in chest in small, blue curls;
however the insides of the white fabric were red in color and as
she felt the hood gently pulled over her head, Eri remembered
her mother explaining to her the reasoning behind the color
choice.
"Eri, come here and listen to me for just a moment." She was
young and vibrant at this time, just 9 years in age and watching
her beautiful mother wearing a dress identical to hers. The
bright of the white contrasted against the red made Eri's heart
pound with excitement and she pulled and pulled at her mother's
waist, begging to wear the same clothes only to silence as her
mother spoke and looked upon her in a soft, morose manner. "Do
you know why your father and I wear these colors today?" Dumbly,
Eri had shook her head and her mother gently twirled her hair
while looking into the mirror, perfecting her appearance. "A
good ally of ours has died and we must honor his spirit. In
death, there is no longer the need for our kingdom colors. The
white signifies the purity of death, the essence of a spirit
released from the world. The red signifies the blood they'd
spilled for their lands and their people. This way, we are able
to honor them for all they've done." As she'd been speaking,
Eri's mother had risen and in her hands was a simple umbrella.
The handle was worn and wooden, the umbrella top's interior was
white and when her mother opened it over her shoulder, the
inside was a brilliant red. Once it was opened, Eri felt a
strange...peacefulness fill her and her once excited hands
simply relaxed against her mother's hip while she looked up to
the face lost beneath the shadow of the hood. "Today we mourn,
but we also respect and celebrate the memory of those who
passed. Remember Eri, death should never be viewed harshly..."
With a small pat of her head, her mother left and with her so
did the peace and calm.
Here she was, years later, same outfit and same umbrella in her
hands unopened. The servants seemed satisfied enough with their
work and they offered her a polite bow; one of the females
gently held a hand forward as if to usher Eri forward, "Majesty,
I believe it is time. They're all gathered and waiting." With
nostalgia and sadness hanging heavy in her heart, Eri departed
with the two servants trailing behind her as she made her way to
the funeral.
When she arrived, the whispers became more hushed and she felt
painfully self conscious. Again and again, she recited her words
in her head, not wishing to butcher a speech that was meant to
be respectable and comforting...but she could just feel the
anxiety wrenching in her chest and it showed plainly on her
face. Her pace stuttered briefly and she stood in front of the
huddled masses of the mourning, all seats filled with the men,
family and staff that had worked and suffered for the cause
they'd fought for the day prior. Slowly, she raised the umbrella
they'd used only for these ceremonies, passed down through the
generations of her family, and opened the item with a soft clack
before setting it along her left shoulder. With the opening, Eri
felt a sudden calm rush over her as if all of her worries
drifted away and strangely enough, this feeling seemed to spread
to all around her as well. Mourning faces shifted into relaxed
ones, the weight of their worries strangely lifting and leaving
them unable to feel them at all, even if they'd tried. The
lightness in her chest let her breathe a little easier, the
sadness of the passing in front of her too, drifted away,
leaving in its place simply respect as she opened her mouth and
released the typical ceremonial passing speech.
"Yesterday, the Perit Kingdom ascertained a surprising victory.
Such a thing would not have been possible if it weren't for the
lives of the good men we lost; both ours, and Cei's men will not
be forgotten as we usher them into the next life with our care,
our respect, and our sadness for their passing. Instead of
simply mourning this day, we should also...rejoice. Our fallen
men have prepared for us a greater future, a steadier peace, a
way to keep our home rightfully as it is; ours. So tonight, I
ask of all here mourning, that we remember these men at their
best; valiant and steadfast soldiers that gave up everything to
protect us and with that, we too should do our best to make sure
we live for not just our sake, but their own. May the Perit
Kingdom prosper from their sacrifices. Let us now have a few
words from our Kingdom's priests to make sure they travel safely
and soundly into the next life." As she ended her words with a
small bow of her head, Eri took her place beside Cei and
strangely enough, she felt no desire to distrust him today. Cei,
too, had undoubtedly lost men and it seemed to weigh on him just
as much as it did everyone else. The best she could do in the
moments of silence that followed was to gently and rather
forwardly lay a hand on his shoulder in a strange attempt to
comfort someone that just earlier she hadn't even trusted her
men with.
The following procession was heavy and long, but it didn't feel
as such to Eri as she traced the small ridges lining the handle
of the umbrella she held. The marks into the wood were
undoubtedly purposeful, but they felt strangely placed and none
seemed to quite match the other from what she felt...almost as
if they were letters of some kind, but the desire to figure it
out was nonexistent. Eri just felt...calm. Subdued. It was only
at the end of the procession, as the bodies of those men who'd
returned home were taken away to be disposed of in whichever way
the families and closest friends of the fallen preferred, that
Eri closed the ceremonial umbrella and with it her soft worries
and woes began to come back.
Withdrawing rather quickly, her fingers visibly tightened around
the handle and she stood up with the two servants who'd helped
her prior assisting her to her feet. Nervous and jumpy as all
the negativity she'd just earlier thought no longer existed
rushed back, Eri politely began to excuse herself as she
hurriedly requested to retreat back within the walls of her
castle. It was rude to not meet her people with the same respect
and formality she'd shown those present at the funeral today,
but the idea of being around more people suddenly drained her of
energy. "I'd like to go back to my room now." Her servants,
visibly disappointed despite having already suspected such an
action, quietly objecting her decision to themselves while
beginning to escort her away. Inside the safety of her room,
locked behind the broad, closed doors that were a familiar sight
to all in the castle, Eri found herself crying quietly beneath
the messy sheets she bundled around herself. She hated funerals
more than anything.
Meanwhile, the Touwa Kingdom was just in the distance for Aiko.
Her body was weary, her mind even more so, but the determination
for the safety of both Perit and Eri was keeping her wide awake.
The only times Aiko had even stopped in the day was to allow her
horse some rest, but she was ruthless in making it continue
forward and the mare was becoming unruly in its treatment;
slowing down, refusing certain directions, sometimes kicking up
all together. It didn't take too long for her to pause again and
when she'd dismounted, the horse just up and ran off!! There was
no way she was catching a racing steed on foot and she felt such
wrath build up inside of her...thankfully, no one was around to
see her spit her fiery words into the quiet air while she kicked
her way along the pathway. Adding a few extra hours into her
journey, Aiko's legs were screaming in pain by the time she made
it to the city gates and it was a wonder she was even still
walking. Looking rather haggard, she verified her papers at the
gate and despite the edged looks she'd received from the guards
at seeing her papers from Perit, they still let her by after
checking her for anything smuggling related.
The city of Towa was tense, as she'd imagine it'd be, but it was
the word in a very different sense. As far as affairs with Towa
had gone between them and the Perit, they weren't exactly
prosperous, not as much as Perit had been at least. Yet now, the
people seemed well off. Streets were clean and she didn't see a
single beggar in sight, but the people seemed visibly subdued.
No superfluous chatter, no children having mindless fun, as a
matter of fact...there was virtually no chatter at all. These
people seemed so tense, worried, scared even. "So this is the
kind of land ruled by the Shimofuri..." Her words were carefully
muttered under her breath and Aiko spent barely any time finding
the castle. With its strangely empty and exposed doors, Aiko
found herself drowning in the disgusting air of unease that
permeated from this place...but she'd already made it this far.
Approaching the throne room was a bold move and from what she
could tell, it seemed that the leader of this area didn't care
for guards and typically that only led to two things; this
person either stupidly thought they didn't need them, or KNEW
they didn't and the Shimofuri didn't make it this far by being
stupid. Following the pathway that could simply lead nowhere
else but someplace as major as the throne room, Aiko stood at
the entrance of the large, opened doors and squinted to look
towards the throne, clearing her throat and speaking in the tone
she always wished she could use back in her kingdom. Strong,
certain, albeit a little bit tired from her journey that'd led
her this far. "Are you the leader of the Towa now? I possess
some information that I believe Lord Haburi would enjoy and
since you're closest, I imagined that you'd be the one to come
to with it."
#Post#: 401243--------------------------------------------------
Re: Your Betrayal
By: Haburi Shimofuri Date: December 13, 2015, 12:27 am
---------------------------------------------------------
The sun began to set on the large collesium like city of Towa.
The walls looked rustic and vast, unending to the eyes as banner
after banner of red was thrown over the sides. Producing the
sign of the king and the royal Shimofuri, its crest was a white
crown surrounded by a bloodied red. As Aiko made her way through
the gates, the guards did well to look and stare as she
attracted attention. Someone really want to come here of all
places, when this very city fell not three weeks ago? Yet, she
dared to come forth and seek the throne as if she didn't know
that very action was a beckoning for a deathwish. As she made
her way into the throne room, no one was there to greet her but
a young man that sat in a royal red chair at the back of the
room, centered. The man with eyes closed rested his head on his
left fist, slouching in his chair in a light slumber. His attire
was that of a common elite soldier in the ranks of the Shimofuri
legion.
On his person laid a worn leather attire, covering his front in
a vest like fashion. The top few of their ranks wore white from
torso to toe, with one sleeve missing to expose their left arm
and the Shimofuri brand tattooed into their skin. Feeling the
slightest feint inhale of air in her lungs, the young mans eyes
opened into a mesmorizing glare. He looked fair in looks on par
with Cei, yet didn't look like the type to use deception but
rather lacked a restraint on his honesty. "Who goes there?"
Lifting his head off his fist, his bones cracked from a long day
of idle work to find a middle in his chair. "You now face Shiro,
royal son of his lordship Haburi, King of the unyielding flame.
Speak your case with your soul on the scales, or be cast to an
eternity of darkness in the void." As Aiko approached uncertain
of the fate of her choice, she plead her appeal and chose her
words wisely. "A man named Cei has approached our Kingd-" "Cei?"
"Y-yes, my lord."
Shiro stood up, full of vigor and unbridled nerve. With an
outstreched arm, his fingers cracked and snaked around the
handle of a sword that leaned against the throne. Dragging the
sword with its large dull green boxed like sheath, he swug it
widely into the air, turning it and having it land with a thud
on his shoulder while the chain that seemed to bond the sheathe
to the hilt of the sword. "Say no more, simply expose the rat
and I will personally drive my blade through his weak, pathetic
heart." Giving her a quick glance of raw, pure, murderous
intent, he set his sights at the door. With a single gesture of
his hand, he signalled both his horse and his men. Taking a big
leap, he found himself upon his horse to take point. From what
seemed like men waiting in ambush, came the slow emergance of
one thousand men, armed in red and valor. "Someone get this
woman a horse, I have passion not patience."
With hands that pressed deep into his eyes, Cei remembered every
last scream. He sat, feeling more alone than ever in a dark room
with nothing but his ambition. His heart grew heavy, knowing
that on that day he personally found and murdered every soldier
of his to spare the other men from having to fight them. Each
life he took made his body feel a bit slower than previously
before. The dark skies of this grave day called for tears, yet
Cei couldn't find a single one, yet only felt more pained that
he couldn't bring himself to cry for his men. Feeling the soft
hand of her majesty on his back, he felt a bit more calm under
the shade of her umbrella. No, everything was completely fine,
there was no sense in worrying. Those men filled their cause,
and died happily to further the cause and provide for their
families. Cei picked himself up to sit right in his chair,
briefly widening his eyes as Eri's hand briefly touched his
neck, bare skin. He knew in his mind that he was supposed to
panic and dread the raw emotion that was to come, however felt
nothing in his heart but overwhleming calm.
"What power is this.." he spoke to himself as he looked to Eri,
only seeing a sympathetic look as she dismissed herself from the
funeral. At that very moment, he felt all those mixed emotions
return. Anger, pain, grief. He was buried in it, but shoved it
down into the form of a balled fist and took the moment to walk
away from the steadily growing pity party of people around him.
"This is becoming pathetic, I'm done with this shallow
gathering." Moving on, he took to the castle, locking himself in
his room for the rest of the day. Noticing the newspaper on the
floor, he tilted his head in brief stupidity. "Oh yes, I forgot
I ordered that of Juxe yesterday. Must've not have heard the
door knocking in the bath." Taking the paper, he gave it a good
read onceover and eventually passed out in his bed forgetting to
eat."
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