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Post by Jenny on Jul 7, 2012 23:04:16 GMT -5
"And that is where you and I come in." He smiled. "It's best that you steer clear of Shigeru here in the city, considering the possibility he'd sniff you out. You should go to west Kyushu, to Shinji's more humble lodgings tucked among the countryside. I will stay here and continue to watch Shigeru. If I get thrown into the mix as far as being forced to join his militia, then I will work around it. I'll be able to hold my own when the time comes to join you again."
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Post by KD on Jul 7, 2012 23:06:20 GMT -5
"My dear, letting him sniff me out is precisely what I had in mind," Shade said, laughing. "I only needed two minutes to figure him out, you think I can't manipulate him properly?"
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Post by Jenny on Jul 7, 2012 23:14:24 GMT -5
Hiroshi chuckled. "I see your point. All right, we'll switch it around as you wish. Shigeru is yours then, I will travel to trail his brother. We'll contact each other when we've learned enough about them and I will rendevous with you at an opportune time. Shen will be coming to the city as planned. If you see him, let him know what we have discussed. To give him any advantage will mean that this mission is successful. I'm not great with small talk, your silver tongue is more suited for that, but I will make every effort to wring any information I need to from Shinji’s side.”
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Post by KD on Jul 7, 2012 23:16:52 GMT -5
"Sounds like a plan." She sobered a bit. "Be careful, Hiroshi. I think there's more to that Shinji than meets the eye. Of the two, I'd count him the more dangerous."
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Post by Jenny on Jul 7, 2012 23:21:10 GMT -5
Hiroshi's smile faded some and he nodded to show that he took her advice seriously. "I haven't been in a fight that I haven't won, but I don't let that get to my head." He chuckled a little. "Well, perhaps a little bit, I'm human." He sobered again. "But since I don't know what we are getting ourselves in to, I'll play it safe for now. Take care of yourself, Shade."
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Post by KD on Jul 7, 2012 23:59:27 GMT -5
"I always do." She smiled to show she was taking his advise seriously in turn before fading into the shadows again
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Post by Jenny on Jul 8, 2012 0:09:18 GMT -5
Hiroshi smiled to himself as she left him, thinking to himself that it was nice teaming up with his old friend. But they lived their separate lives as drifters do. Perhaps when they had the chance to catch up, they would, but for now it was business as usual. Hiroshi made his way through the slums towards the west gate. As much of this side was in disrepair due to the fact that the poor made their homes here will little gold to rub together and could not produce the coin needed to upkeep damage from the occasional earthquake from the lava floes beneath the city, there were cracks and crumbling stone he made a point to avoid. As a survivor, Hiroshi took what he needed. He was not above petty thievery so when the opportunity came with a wealthy passerby he reached out and nimbly removed him of his coin purse.
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Post by KD on Jul 8, 2012 1:14:22 GMT -5
Shade watched him go a bit wistfully before turning back to her own business. For her part, it was merely a matter of being in the right place at the right time.
When Lei came into town a day or so later, Thrade had a good lay of the land and she was nervous as hell about it. Maybe the brothers are just wanting to tear the land apart before the volcano does. She said to Lei in his mind. She was crouched in his satchel as a small brown mouse at the moment. They seem the type to want to make sure nature doesn't get the best of them...
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Post by Jenny on Jul 8, 2012 1:51:53 GMT -5
With some of the coin he had pilfered, Hiroshi bought an old mare to make more ground in less time than he would by foot. It was a pitiful beast, and he’d let it to pasture to live out its days without changing any more hands when he had reached his destination.
Lei glanced up towards the volcano Unzen in reaction to her words. There was a faint wisp of billowing smoke but was common enough not to cause worry. If not the smoke, then the restless rumblings of lava beneath the earth reminded both visitor and native alike that the city was completely at nature’s mercy.
“Do you believe we have cause to worry, my love?” Lei spoke low to Thrade so only she could hear. Keeping his eyes open for Shade was by nature, as he knew that he would not see her unless she chose to make herself known. He was trying to keep a low profile.
But Lei had not accounted for his stallion.
His horse was so fine, the coat shining and the curve of its neck revealing good breeding, that anyone who was anyone would try to figure out who he was associated with. He kept an unreadable face and did not let his eyes wander. If they were to think he was a noble, then he could do nothing for it. He was sure to attract governor Shigeru’s attention within a day, but he hoped not before Shade found him first.
So Lei kept clear of the slums, for he did not want to make a bad first impression. Better for Shigeru to welcome him as an important guest than to try and gain access without invitation. Perhaps that was just the leverage he needed to start things off right. After all, hadn’t he wanted to make peace?
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Post by KD on Jul 8, 2012 1:57:27 GMT -5
At the moment, no, but even I can't predict when a volcano decides to go off....right now there is no major movement or the kind of silence that happens right before it blows, though. Thrade said.
When Cezir landed to rest again, he dropped a note from Shade stating she was in the governor's house. She warned him he knew a great deal about Lei...Shade would even venture to guess the man was jealous of him.
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Post by Jenny on Jul 8, 2012 2:14:43 GMT -5
He already knows a great deal about me, Lei repeated the words in his head and frowned in disapproval. Was his own influence so widely known that even in this part of Nihon, so far from Kyoto, his reputation preceded him? This may not be in his favor. If Shigeru knew he was associated with the emperor, who had tried and failed to make peace in Kyushu, then surely he already knew why Lei had traversed to this very city before a word between them had been spoken.
And if he already knew, had he shielded himself with stubbornness? Or perhaps he was like a snake with a silver tongue and had already thought two steps ahead. What was he stepping into? And worse, he may be putting Thrade into great danger by association with him.
This was not playing out the way he would have wished, but he must do his best for the sake of the people. If he was invited into Shigeru’s presence, he must somehow win his favor. Lei could make the premise that he was on Shigeru’s side, that he wished for no more struggle in Kyushu, that much was true, but won by Shinji beneath his heel. He could play that card although it would be a lie. Ultimately, he would also have to convince that Shigeru to submit to the emperor’s rule completely. If Shigeru has enjoyed his taste of power, he might not find that so easy to swallow. Every word would have to be spoken tactfully, for one word may put Shigeru towards the path of resistance.
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Post by KD on Jul 8, 2012 3:13:07 GMT -5
When he quietly relayed the contents of the message to him, Thrade was silent as she mulled things over. Shade would not have mentioned anything about you, so we have to assume he knew about you beforehand...
A richly dressed messenger approached them on horseback. He gave a smile, spreading one hand. "Master Lei Shen?"
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Post by Jenny on Jul 8, 2012 3:19:36 GMT -5
Lei nodded, and she would see from her vantage point, the satchel opened slightly to allow her to look at him and breathe easily. He reigned in his horse as the messenger approached him. "I am Lei Shen.” He repeated, with no sign of distrust or confusion on his face. This could be one of Shigeru’s but it could very well be of a different party, one who had some interest in a curious visitor like himself. He brushed the satchel lightly with a hand, trying not to be outright obvious that his wife was hiding away within it, just tucking some of the satchel’s cover from view on instinct.
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Post by KD on Jul 8, 2012 3:24:03 GMT -5
"I speak on behalf of my master, Lord Shigeru, ruler of Nihon." Thrade stirred at that. Ruler of all Nihon, was he? The messenger was looking around him, frowning slightly, proving his instincts right with his next words: "Master Shigeru was under the impression you were often accompanied by a foreign witch of surpassing beauty and power, is it not so?"
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Post by Jenny on Jul 8, 2012 3:29:07 GMT -5
Lei visibly stiffened before he could think of suppressing his reaction. Ruler of all Nihon? The nerve of Shigeru… it was like a slap in the face, for he was sure that the elder brother already knew of his relationship with Haru. He forced his body to relax with an exhale. He reminded himself to blink.
“My wife has stayed in Kyoto. Diplomacy is meant for men, not the woman of a household.” A complete and utter lie. If Thrade did not know better, she would have bit him. He smiled lightly at that.
“How may I be of assistance to the governor?”
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