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===Final Act: Bloodspeaker=== :>Naomi began packing immediately :>I sent letters to everyone. :>I had no idea how many would come. :>Though her mother had asked Naomi to bring Jade Magistrates, this was still a personal matter. :>Naomi was barely able to keep her face while she prepared to go. :>My heart, on the other hand, was cold and still. :>Shoji was dying. :>He had almost killed his daughter many times, through neglect, abuse. Once he had called for her execution. :>He tired to take my son, and subject him to the same horror. :>Though we had forestalled any immediate decision, the last word form the Clan had been "We will see". :>I knew there was a way to say 'we will see' that was really just a polite way of saying 'no fucking way'. :>When I asked Naomi if that's what they meant, her silence spoke volumes. :>So we were left raising our Tsuyosa, until he was old enough to begin his formal training. :>Then... uncertainty. :>Shoji dying resolved that problem. :>But... it was still dredging up emotions in Naomi. :>No matter how often your brain tells you things are one way, your heart can betray you at the worst times. :>Her pain was my pain. I could not take pleasure in Shoji's end. :>And then... what were the Jade Magistrates needed for? :>What the hell was going on in the lands of the Phoenix? :>We met Mantis-san at a port, along with Toshiro and Akane. :>I arched an eyebrow. :>He shrugged. :>New Yojimbo. :>I figured it was time Naomi wasn't the only one with a personal protector.. :>The corner of Akane's mouth twitched up, her eyebrows drew down as she shot Toshiro a sideways glance. :>He pretended not to notice. :>If you keep ignoring me, I'm going to tie you down and have my way with you tonight until you're begging me to stop. :>Toshiro smiled at her. :>I'm counting on it. :>Naomi and I exchanged a wide eyed look. :>I muttered to her. :>We're not THAT bad, are we? :>...I do not think so, Ishigaki-kun... :>Mantis-san coughed. Even he was blushing. :>Get on already, we have to pick up Monkey. :>Oh? He didn't send us a reply. :>He sent one to me, just to tell me where to pick him up. :>He figured he needn't bother to tell you yes. :>Hah. Of course. :>Mantis-san leaned in. :>And for the record, you two WERE that bad when you first got married. :>Naomi blushed. :>Mantis-san looked around. :>Ayame, Osako? :>We hired them to guard Ishigaki Mura, not us. And Ayame didn't want to come. Too many bad memories, she said. :>He nodded. :>We set sail, picking up Monkey on the way. :>We exchanged news of Kitsuki-san, and learned that no one had personal contact with him since he entered the monastery. :>His absence was a keen pain, and the air grew heavy as we all thought of him. :>Monkey spoke first. :>I guess... since he's Kera now, he wants to cut off ties to his old life as Kitsuki Takeshi? :>Mantis-san spoke next. :>How long do you think he can last? :>Toshiro answered. :>It depends. Jade petal tea suppresses the taint, and keeps it from spreading on it's own. :>But it's always there, tempting you. :>And if a Kansen senses it, it might join in. :>Hence monasteries. Less likely for kansen to meddle. And an ascetic life to separate yourself from your desires, so the temptation to use the power the taint offers is not as strong... :>Take... Kera has a strong will. I think he will die of old age. :>We all took some small comfort in that. :>We made our way into the lands of the Phoenix, and to Shoji's castle. :>There were many bushi on active payroll. :>The air was full of tension, as though they were expecting a siege or something. :>Naomi's mother met us at the gate. :>She fell into a dozega immediately :>Please, please I beg of you! :>Help my husband! :>Naomi quickly fell to her knees and lifted her mother up. :>Oka-san had aged much. :>He hair was white as the snow now, and deep lines had formed around her mouth. :>Mother, what is it? :>What has happened to father? :>... :>Oka-san pointed back to the garden. :>Confused and apprehensive I walked back to see what was there. :>I was not ready for it. :>A cage of iron, four tatami mats long and two tatami mats wide was set in the garden. :>Two Shiba in full armor with Naginatas stood beside it. :>Inside, huddled against the cold, clothes ragged and torn, hair matted, covered in mud and what smelled like his own filth, was Isawa Shoji. :>He was rocking back and forth chewing on his thumb. :>His fingernail was gnawed down to flesh, and his finger bleeding as he bit at it. :>He saw me, and lunged against the cage. :>The Bushi jumped. :>YOU! YOU'RE HERE! :>He waved his arm through the bars. :>Quickly quickly, here here, come here! :>My feet moved on their own; my mind was too numb to think. :>They stopped just outside of reach of his arm. :>The bushi looked nervous, but said nothing. :>Shoji gripped the bars of his cage and looked deeply into my eyes. :>His sclera were black. :>It's out there. He's out there and they're coming they're going to come and kill and eat and silence and kill and you have to save my son he's the only left to carry on the line save him savehimaavehim... :>You have to. :>I heard a gasp behind me. I stood and whirled in time to catch Naomi before she got too close. :>NO! You have to stay back! :>Toshiro thumpdraged over. :>He pulled out his sliver of crystal. :>It shone in Shoji's presence. :>He squealed like an animal then scrambled on all fours away into the furthest corner of his cage when the light touched him. :>It only confirmed what we already knew. :>Shoji was tainted. Severely, almost lost. :>Of all the ways I had imagined Shoji dying, this one never once crossed my mind. :>In my darkest imaginings, I had wanted to kill Shoji myself, with my bare hands. :>But this wretch? Death was a mercy that should have been granted long ago. :>Toshiro asked Akane to take Naomi away from here, and she did. :>The rest of us faced Oka-san. :>I started. :>Why is he still alive? :>He could slip into Jigoku's clutches at any moment! :>No one, not even Shoji, deserved to be consumed by the Realm of Evil. :>Oka-san looked away from my gaze. :>It's an Oni... :>What? :>An Oni has taken his name. :>Toshiro interjected at that point. :>How do you know? :>It's... been attacking. :>Killing a few servants at first, then bushi. :>The Karo died last week. :>...that prick? :>Killed by an Oni bearing his master's name? :>...how fitting. :>Now it was Toshiro's turn to be angry. :>He yelled. :>Don't you know the longer an Oni drains their soul, the more powerful it becomes?! :>Oka-san's voice dropped to a whisper. :>I know. I also know that if the Oni is slain, and if the one whose name it bears was not tainted by other means, then they will make a full recovery. :>They MIGHT! But only if they resist the taint! If they use it willingly, even once, then it will never recede! :>LOOK AT HIM! :>She did. :>He is far too gone! :>Oka-san shook her head. :>Please... please... :>...please... :>Toshiro sighed and rubbed at his forehead. :>The Oni is not the only problem, you know. :>What? :>The Tsukai. :>People can't just give names willy nilly to Oni. :>It MUST be a name they own. :>Everyone owns their own name, which is why most fools that summon Oni give them their own. :>Oka-san tilted her head. :>How does one... 'own' a name? :>A name is tied to the life of the one that bears it, so if you own someone's life, you own their name. :>A Lord could give their vassals names to an oni. :>...and, if you have saved a life then that life belongs to you as well. :>So. :>He turned and looked Oka-san in the eye. :>Who could have given Shoji's name to an Oni? :>She blinked. :>I doubt Raigin-sama is a Tsukai. :>Raigin-sama? :>Isawa Raigin, the provincial daimyo. :>I can not think of anyone who has saved his life though... :>Can you not just slay the oni? :>Of course, assuming we can find it. But then what? If the Tsukai still lives... :>Oka-san's face fell. :>I took Toshiro's arm. :>Come on. She understands it's unlikely. But it's the only hope she has. :>He arched an eyebrow at me, but allowed me to lead him away. :>I didn't say it yet. :>Once we were alone I spoke. :>She's hiding something. :>Everyone looked at me sharply. :>Akane tilted her head. :>You think so too huh? :>Yeah. :>But what? :>Naomi tugged my sleeve. :>She was looking down, hair covering her eyes. :>Does it matter? :>The oni comes first. It is my f... it is Shoji's only hope. :>I looked down at her for a long time. :>As you wish, Naomi-sama. :>She flinched as though I had slapped her when I used the honorific. :>Toshiro frowned, staying silent. :>Alright. How? :>It's been sneaking in and killing, yeah? :>Catch it in the act? :>I nodded. :>Fine. :>We got a map of the castle. :>Toshiro looked down. :>Where do we want to fight it? :>I looked over the map. :>Here. :>This room is big enough for us to fight in, while leaving it few escape options. :>Toshiro nodded. :>I can set up some wards to drive it to us. :>Nami spoke. I will make sure the guard presence is thin in the right places then. :>We discussed the particulars for a few hours, then set to work. :>It was a simple plan, but I preferred simple plans. Fewer things to go wrong. :>We dressed in our armor, powdered our weapons and waited for night to fall. :>I was in the garden. :>Shoji began to get agitated. More than usual. :>He went from rocking and muttering to scratching at his arms. :>Scratching hard. :>Drawing blood. :>I looked at him. :>Shoji, what is it? :>Closercloserhungerbloodcloser.... :>He stopped, going rigid. An almost painful arch to his back. :>He turned his head to look at me, only his neck moved. :>It's here. :>A scream from inside. :>I ran towards it. :>I ran into Monkey. :>THAT WAY! :>We turned and ran together. :>I heard Mantis-san bellow. :>We've got it! :>Monkey and I burst into the room. :>Mantis-san and Akane were already there. :>And so was Oni no Shoji. :>It was short, maybe five feet tall. :>It's legs were stumpy, bent back at the knee like a birds. It's feet were birdlike as well, with talons of obsidian. :>A potbelly bulged out from it's torso. :>It's arms though. Each arm was as long as the oni was tall. :>It's hands were far too large for it's spindly arms. :>It could seize my head in one, easily. :>Kabuto and all. :>Eight fingers, and two thumbs for ten digits per hand. :>It's head was almost normal, and that might have been the worst part of it. :>Only it's mouth was just too wide, splitting it's head literally ear to ear. :>Bloody strips of flesh dangled from that mouth. :>A Shiba was leaning heavily against the wall in the room, clutching his bleeding shoulder. :>The Oni looked at us all and blinked, slowly. :>It's arms lashed out, seizing both me and Mantis-san. :>It yanked us up, and were both slammed into the ceiling. It then let us fall, armor clattering to the floor. :>The blow knocked the air from my lungs, and I saw Mantis-san likewise gasping beside me. :>That thing was far stronger then it had any right to be, looking like that! :>Akane and Monkey shouted and attacked at it. :>As Mantis-san and I pulled ourselves to our feet we saw them open up deep wounds on it. :>Then it swallowed the lump of flesh in its mouth. :>It's wound began to close. :>Damn, I hate it when they do that. :>Still, there were four of us, and Toshiro's thumpdraging was getting closer. :>Naomi would be here soon as well. :>This would be over quickly. :>The Oni seemed to sense the danger it was in though, because it took off running. :>It just dragged it's limp arms behind it. :>I was astonished at how fast it could move on such short legs. :>Mantis-san tried to get in it's way, but Oni no Shoji whipped an arm around and slapped him aside, and through a rice paper wall. :>I heard him cursing from the room as he clattered to his feet. :>OH that's IT! That little shit is MINE! :>Toshiro, heads up! It's coming your- :>GWUGH! :>... your way. :>I ran out, and helped Toshiro back to his feet. :>He looked at me. :>Damn that thing's strong! :>I nodded. :>And fast, get on! :>We ran in pursuit of it. :>Naomi caught up with us, and began chanting a prayer. :>My feet lightened, and my pace quickened. :>We overtook it in the garden. :>Just as I sat Toshiro down, the Oni raised up both it's arm. :>They were longer then they were just a moment ago, now they were as long as I was tall. :>It slapped it's palms down onto the ground as hard as it could, and flew up and over the garden wall. :>FUCK! :>We all looked at Monkey. :>Toshiro nodded.. :>Couldn't have said it better myself. :>Mantis-san looked around. :>So... now what? :>A high pitched giggle drew our gaze to Shoji's cage. :>One at a time, one at time oneatatimeatatimeeee. :>Too many, too dangerous, too much to handle. :>And of course, the damn oni would gain Shoji's knack for picking his battles. :>I shook my head. For all it's comedic looks, that thing was very, very dangerous. :>Monkey spoke up then. :>So, Toshiro. What are you gonna call that one? :>Huh? :>You know, Oni no such and such, demon of this or that? :>Cause I'm thinking Oni no Shoji, Demon of Avarice. :>We all stared hard at Monkey. :>It's those long grabby arms. And big hands. Looks like it just wants to grab everything it lays it eyes on, yeah? :>We all exchanged a glance. :>It... fit. Perfectly. :>Monkey looked around. :>What? no good? :>No, it's... it's fine Monkey. You're right. :>He grinned and puffed himself up. :>The others went back inside to discuss the next plan. :>I stayed outside with Shoji. :>You two, beat it. :>The Shiba looked at each other. :>We cannot do that, Hida-sama. :>I glowered. :>I have to do something that is not for your eyes. It's jade magistrate business. And don't forget that's my Father-in-law. :>Scram. :>One swallowed hard. :>And then they left. :>I got close to Shoji's cage. :>Close enough he could grab me. :>He leaned in, pressing his face against the bars. :>You know who did this to you, don't you? :>Shoji jerked back as though he had touched something hot, and looked away from me. :>No, no. NO NONONO. No clue, no idea. Could be anyone. :>Someone you owe your life too! :>Lots of Yojimbo, many protectors. Any one. Any one. :>And how many are still alive? :>...anyone. :>You understand, don't you? :>If we don't stop that thing that's running around with YOUR name, it will kill everyone. All your servants, all your allies, your wife, your son. Everyone! :>Everyone? Anyone! Don't know. Doesn't matter. Just kill it. :>A rustling behind me caught my attention. :>I looked over my shoulder to see Oka-san there. :>You don't understand Ishigaki-kun. :>We cannot save our son by finding the Tsukai. :>I closed my eyes. :>That monster is far too clever. When it's outmatched, it runs. Most tainted things don't do that. The damage it can do... :>...will be minor compared to what will happen if the one who summoned it is found. :>Shoji slammed into his cage. :>SILENCE! MUSTN'T SAY! :>I glanced off the side. The others noticed when the Shiba went inside, like I'd hoped. :>They were hidden and eavesdropping. :>If either one thought we were alone, they might think I would keep their secret, and admit it. :>Thank you for teaching me this trick, Kitsuki-san. :>The Oni is bound to it's summoner as it is to the whose name it holds. It WILL be there to protect the one who brought it to this world. It's the only way to corner it truly. :>Oka-san sank to her knees. :>There is no other way? :>I shook my head. :>...after the failure at the winter court, the council was considering demanding Shoji's seppuku. :>Only the Master of Earth disagreed. :>Hohiro saved his father's life. :>I had been right. :>Right under my nose. :>All this time. :>All those lives lost. :>All that death. :>All that suffering. :>All that fear. :>If I had just kept digging. :>If I had just killed him. :>There was a weight on my chest. :>I ignored it and kept walking. :>I had to kill Hohiro now. :>Then there was weight on my arms. And my legs. :>I stopped and looked around. :>Monkey, Mantis-san and Akane were all holding on to me. :>Monkey was yelling something. :>I blinked. :>...UCKS SAKE STOP!! :>OW, Quit screaming in my ear Monkey! :>Everyone looked up at me. :>You calm now? :>I'm always calm, you know that. :>Uh huh. Sure. :>Anyway, we can't just sit here. We've got to go kill Hohiro. I know right where I'm going to display his head too. :>Mantis-san growled at me. :>So, what? Just going to walk to Kyuden Isawa from here and try and take the head of the Master of Earth? :>Toshiro cut it. :>No, he's here. :>What? :>Few things touched by Jigoku are clever like that. They're insane, filled with bloodlust. :>I think Hohiro is grooming the Oni, keeping a tight leash on it. :>So he's close. :>Might even be with the oni. :>Great, so we can track it down? :>Yeah, that seems the best course of action. :>We'll have to wait for dawn though... :>NO! :>Shoji's scream got our attention. :>It knows! If you wait, they will flee! My son. My son is in danger! :>Let me out! :>I can find it, find them! :>I have to save my son! :>Akane barked at the cage. :>Don't you get it old man? Your son is a Maho-Tsukai! It's too late to save him! :>No. No my son is not. Not a Tsukai. But in danger! :>I finally noticed Naomi. :>She was looking at her father. :>What must she be going through? Wondering, at what point did her brother become a monster? :>How many times he tried to kill us. How many times he almost succeeded. :>Had her father driven him to it? So demanding of Hohiro that Maho seemed the only way out? :>She spoke up. :>One whose name is bound to an an Oni can sense that Oni, is that not correct Toshiro? :>Um, yeah it is... it's vague but- :>Then why should we wait for dawn? :>Because letting a tainted madman on the cusp of becoming Lost out of his cage to lead to an Oni's lair is a bad idea? Like, crazier than anything I've seen Monkey do bad? :>The alternative is that the monster with my father's name and the monster with my brother's face kill the rest of my family. :>I will not let that happen. :>Mother, bring me the keys to father's cage. :>Na... Naomi? :>Naomi looked at her mother. :>Do it. :>Her voice was as cold and dark as the depths of the ocean. :>There was no arguing with her about this. :>We were all taken aback by that. :>Hana-chan had thorns. :>I put my hands on her shoulders. :>Ishigaki-kun. :>This hurts so much. :>I have never felt such pain as I do now... :>Her shoulders shook, and tears fell, but she did not allow herself to cry out. :>I... must thank Hohiro, when we see him. :>What do you mean? :>I now know why were attacked from the very beginning. He feared that I, an Emerald Magistrate, might find out his secret. He sought to remove me, or at least break my will so that I would retire. :>The implication hit me like tsunami. :>Without Hohiro's meddling, I may never have fallen in love with Naomi... :>And it is thanks to you, Ishigaki-kun, that I now have the strength to do what must be done. For the Empire, and for my family. And for myself. :>She spun around and hugged me. :>Is THIS the burden you have carried all this time? It is so heavy! :>I held her a moment, then cupped her chin :>Naomi, look there. :>I pointed to Toshiro and Akane. :>I was never carrying that burden alone. :>I swept my hand to encompass Mantis-san and Monkey. :>And you don't have to either. :>Everyone nodded firmly. :>She wiped at her tears. :>Hai. You are correct. :>Oka-san brought the key. :>Naomi opened the cage and released her father. :>Father, you know what you must do, yes? :>Take us to the Oni. Take us to Hohiro. :>Shoji nodded. :>Then he sniffed the air. :>He sank down and sniffed the ground. :>He scrambled about on all fours. :>Then he stood up straight. :>Come. It is this way. :>He strode out the gates of his castle, back straight, as though he was wearing something other than rags and filth. :>We went after him, powdered weapons drawn. :>I had, of course, returned Kimimaru to Gentoku's family already. :>They thanked me by repairing my armor. :>Every other smith I had shown that armor to had said it would be easier to just replace it, but that armor had saved my life more times than even Naomi. :>I could not bear to throw it away like that. :>We walked into the ancient forest, the place where the Earth Kami sang. :>Toshiro scowled. :>He'll be a nightmare to deal with, in here. :>You think the Earth Kami will heed him? :>Toshiro shook his head. :>He's a Bloodspeaker. He's been controlling his taint well. I doubt he's so tainted they will be repelled. :>Mantis-san froze. :>So. We're going to fight a powerful Maho-Tsukai who is ALSO the Master of Earth?! :>Toshiro nodded. :>Great... :>You are right to be wary. Hohiro is clever, but he is also strong. Far stronger than I am. And he knows how to use that strength to its fullest effect. :>I looked at Shoji's back. He was being terribly lucid all of a sudden. :>Father, why did you act like that? To make us take pity on you? Do as you wished without asking questions? :>... Yes. And no. :>I feel it, writhing around inside me. Even now. :>I don't know when my mind will go again. :>Naomi... :>I... :>No. It is far too late for that, Father. :>His shoulders slumped. :>Yes. I suppose it is. :>We walked on in silence for a time. :>Then he stopped, and hissed. :>HERE! :>A clearing. :>Hohiro stood in the center of it. :>The moonlight seemed to shine on him and him alone. :>He smiled at us all. :>Hello there! So glad you came out here to meet me! :>Would you like some tea? I have a fine blend that comes from a plantation in the Ikoma lands... :>I stepped out in front, tetsubo in hand, scanning for the Oni. :>Oh? :>Nothing to say? :>Not even a 'brother, how could you?' Naomi? :>Well, I think I'll tell you anyway. :>It was easy. :>This dusty old relic here has always been covered in shit! :>You think YOU had it rough? He ignored you most of the time! :>I was ALWAYS under his eye! :>Nothing but a doll for him to dress and play with as he saw fit! :>And if I ever fell short...well it's a good thing the backs of my legs are rarely seen by others. :>Of course, once I started to surpass the fool, then that was no good either! :>Well, how would you do it? I had to be better than EVERYONE, yet never better than HIM! :>HOW WOULD YOU DO THAT, SISTER? :>... :>Are you done, Hohiro? :>He blinked in shock. :>I surprise you, brother? :>Why is that? :>It is your doing after all. :>You are the reason I am a Crab. :>Now, if you are finished justifying your crimes with self-pity, I will show you my claws. :>I grinned and charged Hohiro. :>What a wife I had! :>Hohiro, however, just smiled at me. :>And then an arm burst up from the ground, seizing my ankle. :>It pulled me off my feet, and whipped me against a tree. :>As I fell, coughing and gasping for air I heard Hohiro's voice. :>A bit too hot headed as always, Brother! :>Oni no Shoji pulled the rest of it's arm from the ground where it was buried and stepped out. :>Hohiro laughed. :>Well then, let's see how this goes! :>With no scroll, and almost no chanting at all several dozen rocks lifted up from the ground, flying into the others. :>I hauled myself to my feet and charged Hohiro again. :>Being tossed around like a rag doll was painful, but I could endure that much easily. :>So long as I was a threat to Hohiro, the Oni would focus on me. :>Mantis-san read my intention and drew out his bow. :>Monkey rushed the Oni, trying to bring it down with Akane. :>Again they wounded it. :>Toshiro threw blue white energy at Hohiro. :>It seared into him and he fell back. :>OW! :>The he grinned.. :>Yes, I suppose you would know that your jade magic won't work on me! :>He grinned. :>But I wonder? :>How will you deal with this? :>Hohiro cut his arm and bled. :>Then he hissed. :>A foul black mist spewed forth from his mouth. :>It washed over us. :>And the jade powder on our weapons blackened and sloughed off. :>Just a hair too late, Naomi finished her prayer. :>Our bodies were wrapped in soft blue light, our actions hastened. :>Without missing a beat she began to pray again. :>Ah, Sister, that's going to get very annoying! :>The Oni's arms whipped towards her, but I threw myself in the way. :>It's claws dug into me, light scrapes. :>Toshiro blasted the Oni with Jade Energy. :>Then grunted in surprise. :>He turned to look at Hohiro, who smirked back at him. :>I looked at the Oni. It was barely singed. :>It sucked the few bits of my skin off it's fingers, and the burns faded away. :>Toshiro should have caused much more damage than that. :>Akane, Mantis-san and Monkey all rushed at Hohiro. :>Who sliced into his arm again. :>The world went dark. :>Mantis-san shouted! :>NOT THIS SHIT AGAIN! :>I heard Monkey cry out in pain. :>Then Akane. :>OI! :>I'm fine!, damn thing just bit me! :>Same here! :>I backed up to Naomi, my back touching her arm, and listened. :>She finished her chant, and more energy suffused me. :>Then I felt a sting of claws digging into my arm, followed by a rush of energy to the wound. :>The same spell she had used when we fought the Akuma, the one the healed us as we were wounded. :>The black mist began to clear. :>I could see the Oni, right in the middle of everyone. :>Hohiro was off to the side, scroll in hand and praying. :>The Oni lashed out, raking claws against Toshiro and Monkey. :>Toshiro yelled, but not in pain. :>STOP HIM! He's invoking the Armor of the Emperor! :>Akane rushed him with her Masakari and struck him two mighty blows. :>Hohiro didn't so much as flinch. :>The axes bounced back off him, like they had struck solid rock. :>What the HELL? :>I am the Master of Earth FOOLS! :>If my sad little Sister can invoke the Water Dragon, do you not think I could invoke the Earth Dragon? :>You have no jade! :>I have already blocked your Earth magic! :>I am protected by the mightiest Earth Kami! :>YOU HAVE NO HOPE! :>At that, Shoji screamed. :>He fell to his knees, clutching his stomach. :>Then he rose. :>The skin on the ends of his fingers was split and bleeding. :>Black claws of pure obsidian were coming from the ends of them. :>Shoji charged into the Oni attacking it wildly, an animal given over to pure rage. :>Oni no Shoji recoiled in confusion. :>It did not want Shoji to die soon, as it had not fully consumed his soul. :>It could grow stronger yet, and for Oni strength is everything. :>Shoji used that to his advantage. :>Naomi added her own magic to strengthen her father. :>Shoji tore the Oni bearing his name apart with his bare hands. :>And in so doing had consigned his soul to Jigoku. He had embraced his taint. :>Hohiro frowned. :>Well, I didn't anticipate that... :>Then shrugged. :>No matter. :>With a flick of his wrist he sent jade flames into his father. :>Shoji screamed and burned falling to the ground. :>You still cannot harm me! :>He then reached into the ground and pulled forth a tetsubo of solid stone. :>Come on then! :>We rushed at him striking at him from all sides. :>He remained rooted in place, neither I nor Mantis-san could topple him. :>Blow after blow after blow fell on him, yet there seemed no limit ot his endurance. :>For the first time in my life, I realised what it must be like to fight me. :>He laughed, and swung the tetsubo about into me. :>The Earth kami in his weapon tried to bowl me over, but it is not so easy to topple a Crab. :>Then Hohiro's laughter cut short. :>He was staring at something behind us. :>I looked. :>A towering figure of Water had taken shape. :>And so had one of roots, moss and tree limbs. :>Toshiro and Naomi had both called up their avatars. :>Hohiro's eyes widened as the two behemoths surged towards him. :>The rest of us dove out of the way. :>The Titans crashed into him, bowling him over. :>Naomi's avatar coiled around Hohiro lifting him up and squeezing. :>As Toshiro's slammed it's palms together on him. :>A red ruin that may once have been a human fell from their hands. :>It was over. At last. :>A cough, weak and wet drew our attention. :>Shoji crawled towards us. :>Pustules and boils had erupted from his body, the taint roiling through him. :>He... help... me. :>I walked over to him. :>There's nothing we can do now. You chose this. :>I know... :>But you can cleanse this taint from my body. :>Shoji looked at Toshiro. :>I know you can, Kuni. :>...I can cleanse your body, yes. But you won't survive. :>Better... to die now... than fall... :>I began to pull my sword. :>NO! :>Not that! :>Do not send me to stand before Emma-O like this. :>Just, this one mercy... :>Toshiro narrowed his eyes. :>I wouldn't call it mercy. It will hurt. A lot. :>...I am prepared. :>Naomi knelt beside her father. :>And pulled his head into her lap. :>Tears ran down her cheeks. :>Na... Naomi? :>This is all I can do for you now. My last duty as your daughter.. :>Ishigaki-kun. please. Do not let him shame himself by thrashing about. :>I knelt, and placed my hands on Shoji's legs, holding him down. :>Shoji nodded to Toshiro. :>I am ready. :>Toshiro pulled out an old, weathered scroll. :>And began to pray. :>Red light began to pour out of Shoji's eyes. :>Red smoky mist seeped from his nose, mouth and ears. :>He screamed and writhed in our grip, but we did not allow him to thrash about. :>Slowly, the red light enveloped Shoji's body. :>When the light receded, he was gone. :>I held my wife as she wept. :''A new hand takes over'' :''>The Master of Earth being revealed to be a Maho-Tsukai shook the Empire, and the Phoenix Clan to its core.'' :''>His mother, wife of a disgraced daimyo, chose to follow her husband into death, and cleanse her family's shame.'' :''>The younger brother of the Master of Earth was judged innocent in this affair. His training as a Shiba Bushi continued.'' :''>Hida Ishigaki, my father, returned home to his duties on the Wall.'' :''>His fifth and final child, Goken came into the world the following year. Alone of us all, he took a new name upon his gempukku, and is now called Hida Kenpachi.'' :''>Hida Ishigaki stands upon the Wall to this day, guarding you from things you may not even believe in.'' ::''-Hida Tsuyosa.''
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