Fantasy Our Eternal - IC

[Clouds]

The darkness was a truly fearsome thing to be reckoned with. The average soldier wouldn’t stand a chance against these creatures, let alone keep their sanity intact when facing them. Dangerous whispers echoed inside of one’s mind, fear spreading in their hearts with no safe place to take a rest. Most when mad when exposed to these whispers for too long, especially those who were weak-minded. There was no hiding from what was coming eerily close. Towns had already fallen, having turned to one another, even slaughtering their own family in the hopes that the voices would die out but nothing worked. Some became suicide grounds where heaps of bodies were to be found by the government and travellers passing by. It was a truly gruesome sight to behold.
One clan was forged to go against this abomination spreading through the streets of Japan. Those with a strong mind and the will to fend of the darkness, even if it meant risking their own lives for it. Because of this, the hope of the survival of the country was put into their hands which could even burden the strongest of them, yet they did not back down upon facing what laid in the future. A peaceful world was all they wanted, and also their goal they were working towards. But the true question was…

Were they willing to sacrifice everything in the end?

January 1st, 1860

The establishment of the Eternal Clan was finally definite. The last few samurai should be arriving today, presenting themselves to the current master: Akio Nomi. It’s already been a harsh winter and it didn’t seem to be subduing anytime soon as the wind was still blowing strongly and the temperature was balancing around -5°C. The building was being heated with small stoves, fuelled by wood which they retrieved from the nearby forest to keep the people warm inside. The training however was to be done out in the cold, making it even harder to continue and so strengthening the mind to keep on going. It was practically a good training to go against the darkness this way, but who knew how many would stake out until the end. Or worse… how many would be able to retain in their right mind after withstanding many battles to come. It was all a gamble on if it would end well or not which Nomi was all too willing to take.

She and Oda had encountered one of the lower-level creatures before but weren’t allowed to take action at that time as their higher-ups didn’t want to risk it. Even then, just by the mere glimpse they managed to take, they knew this battle was going to take a long time. It wouldn’t be solved in a couple of months, let alone a year. It had already spread too much for it. She hated the fact that nobody really took action before until her father and Nomi decided to take matter in their own hands. It was always like this… The government was too much of a cheapskate to train soldiers into fighting this unknown darkness, neither did they really care about the common folk. Only shooting in action once someone of their own status were to be fallen into the grasp of the dark creatures. Because of this Nomi and Oda resented helping the rich, rarely being friendly towards them, showing their disgust openly. Yet, despite this display, they didn’t dare to raise a finger due to the overpowering aura hanging around them; also the fact they were not weak like most of their men.

Nomi was sitting in the living quarters with a cup of green tea in her hand, the warm liquid spreading throughout her body, warming her up just that bit more. The red cushion underneath her made it comfortable for her to sit down on as well. After drinking her cup half empty, she placed it onto the low wooden table in front of her as she let out a soft sight of relief. Her dark brown eyes shifting towards the outside where she could hear the grunting of Oda who was practicing his swordsmanship in a serious manner which was a rare thing to see. Chuckling as she saw him swearing under his breath because of the coldness probably, the tops of his finger already having turned a bright red colour which was a complete contrast to his outer appearance.

As she tucked a strand of her chocolate brown hair behind her ear, she saw a snowflake fluttering down from the sky. Once it touched the wooden porch, it slowly became one with the thin layer of ice spread across the domain. Wondering when this weather would came to an end so they could fend for themselves easier for when the time comes.

Pepsionne The Fluffiest Floof Blu animegirl20 GrigoriLord

 

[Blu]

Wings Soar Above Dead Trees

Tsubasa Shimori

January 1st, 1860 | Early Morning, Kyoto - Capital of Japan
Interactions: Pepsionne animegirl20

'Winter solitude,' straw zori leave impressions upon the soft, snowy ground. As a gust blows by, a golden braid sways along with it. Frost is exhaled from tender lips. 'A world of one color,' the sleeves of a patterned kimono shifts to and fro, dancing in step with the movements of one's person. Footsteps halt as a child's temari stops at their feet. Reaching down with careful hands, the toy is seized and delivered back to an impatient girl. Quiet words are exchanged as well as pleasant smiles. Footsteps carry forward. One more wintery squall, and a kind face looks up at the receding sun, 'here, the sound of wind.'

The soliloquy of one who walks gently...​

It was an especially cruel winter this year. The silence of the town deafens Tsubasa's thoughts as he sat inside a small eatery peering out the window. Today's contemplation would have to wait. "As if our troubles haven't amassed enough," he sighs, quietly murmuring to himself. A waiter walks to his table with a straw basket; inside: the comfort of hot food. Tsubasa thanks the man and pays for his purchase before exiting the establishment. The streets are unbearably lonely against the backdrop of a cold, ashen sky.

In his isolated stroll, he comes across a pair of thieves purloining sweet potatoes from a storage shed. "The family must not be home," he discerns from the dark interior of the main house. True, it was a harsh winter and food will undoubtedly be scarce for all, but the taking of this food will assuredly cause the family living here to suffer. "Friends, if you're in need of a hot meal, I'd be happy to help, but this food doesn't belong to you." He makes his presence known.

"W-Who are you? Just beat it!" A burly man hesitantly demands.

"Look at his clothes. Expensive. He's got money; gotta be. Shit, is he a samurai?" The other thief motions to Tsubasa's waist where a katana and wakizashi rests.

"I don't intend to draw my blade on another person. But I won't let you take what's not yours. Please leave now."

"Hey," the burly thief finds a woodcutting axe in the shed and tosses it to his compatriot; while he, himself, produces a small knife. Tsubasa does not react in any meaningful way. From his sleeve, he procures what looks like the branch of a Sakura tree; in full bloom with beautiful white petals. "He's gonna fight us with a stick? Humph, whatever. Let's teach him a lesson!" The thief with the axe charges toward Tsubasa who has yet to make any movement. A single petal flies past the thief's face and he brings his axe down toward the young samurai.

As if exerting no effort, Tsubasa simply shifts his person to the side, completely avoiding the attack. He then strikes upward with the branch, producing a hard thwack against the chin of his assailant. The thief collapses to the snowy floor, unconscious. To the other thief, it looked like everything happened in the span of a fraction of a second.

Seeing this, he ends up running away, dropping the potatoes as he does so. Tsubasa kneels down and retrieves the axe then collects the potatoes, putting both back in the shed and securing the door shut. Some time later, the unconscious thief wakes in an alley covered in some straw blankets. To his side, a small pouch of coin.

Arriving at a medical clinic, Tsubasa walks inside and enters a back room. "Hello Aki, Suzu. I brought the two of you lunch." He shows them the straw basket he purchased at the eatery earlier. "I'm afraid I'm a tad late however. Something came up along the way." He sets the basket down on a nearby table and puts his hands into the opposing sleeves. "So, shall we meet up with Master Nomi and Oda?" A pleasant, brotherly smile is strewn across his face as he awaits a response.

 

[The Fluffiest Floof]

Miyoshi Ikage​

"つまらぬ者を斬る気はない" Miyoshi, The Viper

---

Snow falling slowly
A dark foe lying ahead
A dangerous task​

The day was cold, as had the previous been. White snow coated the ground, falling endlessly as if it was looking to drown the entirety of Japan in its soft embrace. The coldness was harsh this year, worse than usual. It brought many struggles with it, for all layers of society. And yet here she was, snow crunching under her steps, as the woman moved quick and yet gracefully during this sparring match in the biting cold.

Her opponent was Oda Sugita, a young samurai that had been part of the same clan that Miyoshi's new master, Nomi Aiko had formerly been part of. Now she was head of the newfound Eternals clan of course, which Miyoshi had been sent to join. A means to counteract the darkness and the waste it laid to Japan. She had been ordered by her previous master to do whatever it would take to stop this darkness. And Miyoshi never failed to achieve her goals.

Training in the snow like this surely posed an additional challenge for unexperienced warriors. Even those with a great deal of experience would find the cold an opponent they could never truly win against. But one could learn to live with it, to ignore it. A task as much requiring mental as physical fortitude. Yet the two combatants managed well to fight without muuch struggle against the rough weather conditions.

Oda was a formidable opponent, his speed unrivaled by almost any warrior Miyoshi had ever seen. Would it not have been for her own enhanced perception and reflexes, his strikes would have been impossible to react to. At first, the woman had struggled with him, but as they sparred regularly, things turned more and more in her favor. She had learned his way of thinking, started to predict rather than react. That usually gave her an edge, unless he managed to surprise her yet again.
Even still, theree was no winning against somebody with such quickness by exchanging blows. He was far superior to the woman in that regard and she knew it well. But she knew just as well that he was a hothead. Even if he concentrated a lot more during their duels, he remained somebody to act on instinct rather than thought. Something that had continued to been his downfall before, yet he could not seem to shake.

Miyoshi's body shifted to the side as she avoided another of the young samurai's strikes. The snow beneath her feat crunched audibly as she tilted her foot and swung the polearm she was holding. A swing that would easily catch any other opponent commiting to the attack he just had. Oda himself however would be fast enough to avoid her strike and retaliate, which would easily win him the duel. An opportunity he could never let slip away.
Of course, it was a trap. Miyoshi's body spun away, never committing to her strike, avoiding the attack that Oda was going to throw. His blade missed her, the shaft of her weapon hooking under his leg and shooting forth. The momentum he had given himself with the directional input she had acted out led to two very loud sounds. The young samurai that hit the ground and the curse that was audible through the entire training ground. "You lost.", the woman calmly commented.
Clouds

​

 

[Pepsionne]

mood :

curious, serious

location :

Kyoto

outfit :

mentions :

Oda

interactions :

Clouds Nomi, animegirl20 Suzu, Blu Tsubasa

Doctor

Miura, Aki

Aki pressed forward through the streets of Kyoto, weaving through the crowds of people engrossed in their daily errands or work. It was brutally cold, most of the city opting to stay indoors if at all possible. Due to this, the small crowd that filled the street was thinner than usual, but it still served as a nice relief from the frigid temperatures. Regardless of the insulation, Aki's body still stiffened from the morning breeze. He wrapped his haori tighter around himself as he walked. Its deep red and gold pattern contrasted brightly in their bleak surroundings. The meal that Tsubasa had brought he and Suzu earlier helped to warm him up against the cold of the morning, but it was quickly fading now faced with the brutal temperatures that surrounded them.

Suzu and Tsubasa strode silently beside him. Aki glanced over at Suzu, his gaze piercing as he studied her appearance. A stab of annoyance bolted through him as he looked at her. It had been several months since she was brought to him, yet he still hadn’t healed her back to her original state. Heijiro mentioned nothing of amnesia in the writings that Aki had sifted through, leaving him in uncharted waters for testing characters. Everything he had thought up so far was of no use, and it was starting to drive him crazy.

Maybe it was for the best. Ever since the young woman had taken on the position of his bodyguard, Aki’s quality of life had improved by a significant amount. His mother worried about him less since he no longer sported a black eye or bloody nose until he had the time to heal himself. Antagonizing the loud mouthed drinkers that paraded their cocky attitudes around the local bars was too tempting for Aki to ever quit, no matter how many fights it landed him in. Now with Suzu around he was able to achieve even more than just selfish indulgence in his favorite pastimes. They were currently heading towards one of those new opportunities now.

The past year Aki had begun to see more and more cases brought to his clinic, his services at an all time high. There was something inexplicable happening around the city--and as he learned later--around the country. Deep injuries that took all his strength to heal, mental breaks that caused people to snap and harm those closest to them. He soon heard whispers of dark creatures as the source of this new phenomena. It seemed impossible--Aki didn’t want to believe it, but it soon became a reality he could no longer hide from. A small group who named themselves the Eternal Clan rose up shortly after the existence of these beasts became common knowledge. Aki was exhausted during this time, drowning in the number of patients that were delivered to his clinic daily. The responsibility of so many lives placed into his hands was heavy.

Hearing the Eternal Clan’s claims of fighting back against the darkness was tempting but--Aki couldn’t fight. He could barely defend himself, as the outcome of most his bar fights stood testament to. He would often catch himself gazing with jealousy and longing towards the samurai that would wander into town, wishing he had been gifted with a fraction of their natural strength and talent. His gaze shifted to the side at Tsubasa’s taller frame walking beside him. His golden hair had lost its typical bright sheen in the cloudy and grey environment the day offered. Aki felt a pit of inferiority building up within him when he pictured how he met the young samurai, remembering how easily Tsubasa had handled the small group that had surrounded Aki.

Several times Aki had succumbed to the desire to be as strong as the samurai he would heal or encounter in the city, using the Kami no Sumi on himself to experiment with strength enhancement. Each attempt was humiliating, resulting in Aki gazing down at his frail body that was covered in the markings of useless characters. The boldness of the scrawling black ink against his pale skin mocked what he could not achieve. Disgust at his failure would plaster itself across his face while a bold ink splatter painted the wall after he had slapped away the tin in frustration. So Aki had decided not to pledge to the clan. He wished them luck, promised them a clinic to come to if ever in need--but he would not be able to promise more than that. Then Suzu came along.

Once healed, the young woman immediately showed signs of the strength he had always envied in samurai. Oddly enough, she had even possessed a relic. Aki took her on as his bodyguard to assuage his mother’s worried pleas after his most recent bar fight had left him with a missing tooth and broken nose. Aki saw no need as he could simply heal those injuries as if they never happened--but he could not bear to see his mother suffer further.

Aki breathed out a soft sigh, his warm breath clouding in a translucent mist through the frozen air. They had since made their way through the crowded main streets of Kyoto, now navigating the tighter side alleys. The letter from the leader of the Eternal Clan had listed out directions to the location of their gathering. Aki knew the city by heart after living there for years and making house calls when necessary.

“We’re close,” Aki said, glancing between Suzu and Tsubasa. He braced himself against a strong breeze that ghosted through the alley, wincing as the wind stung his face. Occasional snowflakes descended from the sky in a soft dance. One rouge snowflake caught itself in his hair, the small white piece a stark contrast against the silky black color.

The breaking point for Aki had been a house call he had received several weeks ago. A family on the outskirts of town had fallen victim to the dark whispers of the creatures. They turned on each other ruthlessly, resulting in a bloodbath. He arrived to a gruesome scene. There were very few things that were overwhelming enough to bring Aki to his knees in despair. That experience was one of them. He was able to save one of the children and the mother, who were just barely on death’s door--but the rest of the family had gone cold upon his arrival.

How much more of this would he have to witness? How many more would have to suffer? What if the Eternal Clan failed? The worries began to weigh him down after this encounter. With Suzu by his side, protecting him, Aki could now pledge himself to the Eternal Clan. He could heal them when needed and increase their chances of success against the creatures of the dark. He could even continue experimenting with strength enhancement--charting a new territory Heijiro never ventured.

Aki arrived outside the house that was described in the letter. The grunts of training emanated from the back, loud sounds that pierced through the gentle silence of the winter morning. He tried the door, his pale hand flinching against the cold surface of the handle. He sighed in relief to feel the warm air of the house swarming around his body, beckoning him in further once he pulled open the wooden door. He, Suzu and Tsubasa pushed into the small entryway to strip off their outer layers that had protected them from the cold.

Aki strode forward to the living quarters, where several small fires burned with a warm orange glow. A woman sat further in the room, a cup of steaming tea placed on the table beside her. Aki lowered himself to his knees in a bow. “Miura Aki,” He said, his voice soft, “I am the doctor who pledged. My bodyguard, Suzu,” He gestured towards the young woman at his side after prodding her arm to instruct her to sit in a bow as he had. Aki waited for Tsubasa to offer his introduction before he raised his blue eyes slightly at the woman, who he assumed was Akio Nomi, asking for permission to stand and enter further into the residence. His eyes caught the sight of two samurai training outside, a gleam of mischievous amusement dancing within them as the male was knocked down onto his back in a puff of snow.

coded by reveriee.

 

[GrigoriLord]

It was a chill day, the air itself seeming to be in the throws of funerary rites, flitting with sparse snow squalls as the elderly man Saga Tsunekage approached the incomplete fortress of the Eternal Clan he had heard so much about. While Saga normally stood out, due to his dress, build, hair and skin, this day saw the man almost entirely ignored by the passersby on the road and through the entrance to the fortress. Almost entirely thanks to the use of his cloak, a wonderous object made by the ancients with arts long forgotten by more contemporary craftsmen, no one would likely know who he was or that he had even arrived that day. Such was the requirement of travel in the perilous age he now found himself.

While the cold of this winter was but a mid-autumn chill to the well travelled Saga, his joints certainly minded the cold more than they once did and such his first priority was a blazing brazier nearby to slicken the fluids of his limbs once more. He stood there for a few calm minutes watching the parade of individuals making passage through the Eternal Clan's home. He absentmindedly pulled some of the snow and frost from his tightly braided beard as his eyes caught in thick, honey like spectacle produced by the sharp flash of steel on steel. Many a sparring bout had graced his attentive chocolate orbs and like those before this one he could not break the trance to look away. A feint, followed by a quick double thrust, deftly dodged and answered in kind before a burst of sparks like divine lightning as the flat of one blade met the edge of it's twin.

So entrancing had been the display that by the time the young man laid on his back, having overcommited to his thrust which his partner had instantly exploited to it's fullest, Saga was fully warmed. He looked down to his hands finding they had instinctively been to work sketching the fluid forms of the two master warriors in the throws of their beautiful dance. He knew he would have to read over the fully inked pages he discovered tucked under his arm as, a problem he still struggled with to this very day after 45 years, he had been taking notes of the battle and his surroundings whilest in a focus trance enthralled by the show before him.

He finished his sketch of the two, recognizing one of them as a Samurai he had interacted with some time ago despite his lack of memories tied to her, and mechanically put away his writing equipment in the same matter he had done so hundreds of thousands of times before. Keeping his thick cloak about his shoulders and body he walked slowly and purposefully to a building he shortly identified as a living space.

Within sat a regal young woman sipping presumably tea from a beautiful cup: radiating an aura of power reserved for those of utmost importance. His experienced eyes identified the leader of the clan, Nomi Akio, as she sat before a small group of what sounded like new recruits. Perhaps not all new recruits as he noticed the weapons and stances, brimming with confidence, of the young man and woman to the sides of the speaking man.

His cloak would grant him anonymity until the Mistress was finished with these three. To make him even harder to notice he began to mimic some of the servants in the well accomodated room, stocking stoves with wood from a nearby pile, moving light objects to their new homes and standing at the periphery of the conversation so as not to interrupt. He never would get used to this cloak and the unease it filled within his heart that he was able to so easily stand unseen so near perceptive others.

 

[animegirl20]

Suzu cursed under breath as she made her way down the streets of Kyoto. It was freezing and she couldn't believe she out here walking in this. But something about this brutal winter felt familiar to her and she wasn't sure why. It also put her in especially foul mood though that really wouldn't be surprising of course cold weather like this could make anyone's mood foul but it wasn't just the could there something triggering about it like it sparked something in her mind but she couldn't quite grasp why. Suzu stuffed her hands deeper into her sleeves. She was wearing a blue and white kimono with white fur around the collar and then over that a hanten. She definitely could not wear her usual clothes in this weather.

As Suzu continued on her way, along with Tsubasa and Aki she had started to get a headache it started off light but it was continuing to get worse and she had no idea why. She thought maybe it was just the cold air but she couldn't help think it was related to something else. She suddenly someone's gaze on her she glanced in Aki's direction she could see a look of annoyance on him. She raised an eyebrow wondering just why the heck he was looking at her like that. After a few mins she rolled her eyes looked ahead ignoring his gaze. Though they could both get on each other nerves at times she felt little bad. He had been doing everything he could to help her with amnesia thinking no progress had been made when in realty there were....little things that had occurred that she never mentioned. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden increase of her headache she shook her head as if that would make it go away. She glanced over at Aki, he was no longer looking at her and seemed lost in thought, she then looked over at Tsubasa. Getting to know him he seemed to be kind and calming. Those tend have secrets. Suzu thought to herself as she looked back at the path ahead of them.

“We’re close,”

Suzu glanced his way when he said that. Great she couldn't wait feel some warmth and hopefully may getting warmed up would sub side her headache. They were on their way to see the leader of the Eternal Clan. This clans focused was mainly on fighting the darkness. From what she had seen from Aki's patients it was a terrible sight. They seem to be hearing voices that drove them mad. In the beginning Suzu had thought she heard voices but she had continued to dismiss them. They made no sense to her and figured they were just weird things going on with her memories she still does. She hasn't had that problem since then and had kind of forgotten about it up until now.

Finally they had arrived at their destination. When they entered the three of them took off their outer layers and headed further inside. Suzu let the warmth settle in glad to be out of the cold. Her headache was little better but not by much. Suzu uncharistically wasn't quite paying attention and felt Aki prodding her arm. Quickly catching on she sat and bowed like he had and they waited as Tsubasa introduced himself. Suzu caught sight of the two samurai training and suddenly her headache suddenly grew worse and started pounding the suddenly it stopped, a memory flashed before her and her eyes widen slightly. It was no longer the two samurai she watching but instead she saw herself as young girl , no wrappings her face was normal, and a dark figure, it looked like a man. They were training but it harsher then samurai's. Her younger fell to the ground having had lost she watched the dark figure yell at her and then her younger self stood back ready to continue fighting again. Her headache then back worse then it was before her mind was trying to remember things but it was to painful.

Suzu had only been looking for min in that direction for min before her eyes looked down to the ground. She had no signs on her face of there being anything wrong and only closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again. She then relaxed her body which, she was just now noticing had been tensed, and paid attention to what happening around her ignoring her current predicament.
Pepsionne Blu Clouds

 

[Blu]

Wings Soar Above Dead Trees

Tsubasa Shimori

January 1st, 1860 | Morning, Kyoto - Capital of Japan
Interactions: Pepsionne animegirl20 Clouds The Fluffiest Floof

The trio walks silently through one of the busier parts of the city in order to reach the Eternal's clan stronghold. It's always nice to be in this part of town, despite the bitter conditions. Tsubasa loves to observe people going about their day. He's appreciative of the normality of it all. Lately, the world has been anything but. He catches wind of the gazes that Aki and Suzu gave each other—and to him—but his own gazing was much more discreet.

Ever since Tsubasa met Aki some time ago, he's had the habit of treating the young doctor like something akin to a little brother, much to Aki's chagrin at times. But truthfully, Tsubasa admires him greatly. The dedication he puts into saving lives is commendable and, much like Tsubasa, it's done at the expense of himself oftentimes. Honestly, Tsubasa wishes Aki would take better care of himself. Still, what he does is amazing. Much more so than Tsubasa.

And then there's Suzu. She's certainly a little package of mystery. Amnesia, he believes is what it was called. To lose one's memories... Tsubasa is a bit envious in some ways. There are certainly things he'd like to forget. Regardless, he prays that Suzu regains her lost recollections quickly. More importantly, he can appreciate the talents she provides. It's good to have someone looking after Aki.

Their brief stroll comes to an end as they arrive at their destination. Inside, they quickly met with a beautiful young woman enjoying a cup of tea: the master of the house; as well as of the clan: Nomi Aiko. Aki gives a polite bow before nudging Suzu to do the same; then, introduces themselves before waiting on Tsubasa to do the same. Strangely, Tsubasa simply raises his hand in greeting—a polite smile on his face.

"Good morning, Master Aiko." An exceedingly casual introduction; one that might be considered rude given the circumstances so it's totally unlike Tsubasa. Fortunately, he soon explains as he turns to face Aki and Suzu. "Forgive me, I did not tell you. I've already pledged my services to Master Aiko here and the clan the first time I arrived in Kyoto. Today's more about you two and the last of our recruits."

He then looks over to the background and notices Oda—the clan's head samurai—having been knocked to the dirt and, a warrior and brilliant tactician, Miyoshi standing over him. "It's Miyoshi's win today, hmm? She must've used a feint and let Oda's hot-bloodedness take the lead in their dance, then worked it to her advantage. Scary." Tsubasa did not see a single second of the fight but simply deduced it from what he's observed of the both of them these last few months.

 

[Clouds]

Oda favoured sparring with Miyoshi as she was one of the stronger opponents out there in the open and now that she was this close, he couldn’t possible pass up a match like this. After all, it didn’t really go about winning or losing but the fact that he could improve himself by watching her every step. He did realize one thing however which was the way they went into “battle” as they were complete opposites. Miyoshi being the calculating type and Oda being the one who went with his instinct completely, making them both fearsome opponents for anyone to be reckoned with. Nomi even went as far that they could probably wipe out a majority of mere soldiers who were supposed to be protecting the royal family. There was however one man who Oda truly feared which was Nomi herself as, despite her frail and almost doll-like looks, she carried herself with dignity and was a horrifying force on the battlefield. She had fought alongside with her father for the greater good, instilling fear in those who’ve listened to the rumours going around in their camps of the ghost in red. Yet there was no clear proof that it was actually Nomi, some saying it was even an actual ghost siding with the Akio family as they didn’t want to belief a woman was capable of such massacre. Even Oda didn’t believe it but from the few times they sparred with each other, he felt that she was not someone who could easily be dealt with. Oddly enough, Nomi had yet to step foot on the sparring grounds from the moment she formed the Eternal Clan so her capabilities were still hidden away from the naked eye.

Back to the present… Miyoshi was once again using Oda’s straightforwardness, having not though a step ahead which made his downfall clear. With a thump he hit the snow-covered floor, a huff and then a loud protest escaped his lips as he was blaming it on her dirty tricks yet knowing very well she was in her full right of using anything possible to do so. It still didn’t feel right with him despite it all. He ruffled a hand through his platina blonde hair as he gave her a snarl, swiftly getting back up on his feet as it was just way too cold to be sitting down. ”Tsk, I would’ve won if she didn’t trick me like that. Honestly…” Oda grumbled towards Tsubasa, obviously annoyed that he was being played like this once more.

Nomi chuckled as she noticed the bickering of Oda which was becoming a natural view to her by now. It was quite a frequent thing the last couple of days or were it weeks already? Eyes almost as dark as the abyss made their way over the three people standing in the entryway, looking at her as if she was some kind of nobility. Well, she was in a way.

The moment the male with the short black hair spoke, she shifted her attention completely towards him as it seemed like he was being the main persona of this moment. A man who knew how to speak politely was always welcome in her home. ”Welcome, Miura. Suzu. You must have come from a far away place. Can I offer you something warm to drink?” Nomi uttered, already mentioning towards one of the servants to bring more tea for the guests. Nodding towards the blonde male: ”Welcome home, Tsubasa. And yes, it indeed seems like Oda lost this round. Perhaps I will relay punishments for whoever loses a sparring match to make them more… motivated?” A chuckle escaped her cherry red lips before going back to her neutral state of emotion.

Tea came in quickly, the small cups being neatly placed onto the wooden table next to her, gesturing with her slender hand for them to sit down on the empty cushions. ”Please, warm yourselves up a little. Mr. Tsunekage will lead you around the premises once you are ready.” She said, a piercing stare going towards the man hidden in his oversized cloak. Having to admit he was a professional at blending in with the crowd.

Blu The Fluffiest Floof Pepsionne GrigoriLord animegirl20

​

 

[Pepsionne]

mood :

observant

location :

Eternal Clan Residence

outfit :

mentions :

Oda, Suzu

interactions :

Clouds Nomi, Blu Tsubasa

Doctor

Miura, Aki

Aki’s eyes drifted over to Tsubasa beside him, the samurai still standing as he addressed the woman before him with a small gesture of his slender hand. Aki’s brow furrowed at that. He met his gaze with Tsubasa’s, the man looking down at him while he explained the situation further. Aki stood shortly after, noticing unpleasantly just how far Tsubasa’s gaze seemed to drift down in order to meet his own. Aki straightened the fabric of his hakama pants after he stood. It was no surprise that Tsubasa was familiar with the clan’s members already, he was a capable samurai, like those that had been sparring in the snow. It was only until recently that Aki had gained the means to join as well, now equipped with Suzu whose strength existed outside his own abilities or lack thereof.

The young doctor listened to those familiar with each other speak between themselves. His gaze fell on the blonde samurai who huffed brashly about his loss. Oda, he thought to himself, turning the name over silently. Tsubasa had described him as hot blooded. He seemed like he’d be an easy target to rile if things ever became stagnant. Suzu was much too cold and Tsubasa too tolerant of his antics to ever draw worthwhile reactions out of.

“If the other side of Kyoto is considered far, then yes, we’ve traveled quite a considerable way. Tea would be much appreciated,” Aki responded to Nomi’s offer with a shallow bow. His eyes lingered on her expression as a brief flicker of amusement ignited her refined features before being snuffed out just as quickly, leaving her emotionless once more. A chill crept up Aki’s frame in her presence. She was one he would refrain from poking fun at. There was some type of silent authority to her that made him uneasy.

Aki settled on one of the cushions Nomi gestured towards, his movements fluid and calculated. He sighed as one hand wrapped around the warm ceramic of the tea cup, bringing it to his face in order to breathe in the steam and fragrance it emanated.
“Ms Akio,” he began after a beat of enjoying the warmth the tea provided, “if you wouldn’t mind, I’d appreciate a list of pre-existing medical conditions and a history of injuries from all members of the clan. The more I understand all your bodies the more efficient I will be in healing future injuries. Of course, I expect that every injury will be impossible to account for, so just the most significant will do.” Aki offered a soft smile after he finished speaking, aiming to soften the straightforwardness of his request.

coded by reveriee.

 

[animegirl20]

Suzu quietly observed as things continued. Tsubasa gave a casual greeting apparently he had already pledged his services to Akio. Shortly after her and Aki both stood up. After Tsubasa made a comment on the training that had transpired the blonde, who had lost the fight comment, caught her attention.

”Tsk, I would’ve won if she didn’t trick me like that. Honestly…”

What a pathetic excuse Suzu thought to herself as slight annoyance appeared on her face. Though that might've been from the blasted headache. Part of her attention went to Akio as she spoke up.

”Welcome, Miura. Suzu. You must have come from a far away place. Can I offer you something warm to drink?”

Didn't have to ask her twice. Though she waited a moment before walking over to sit down. After Aki accepted her offer Suzu sat down on one of the cushions. She relaxed as she waited for the servants to bring the tea.

”Welcome home, Tsubasa. And yes, it indeed seems like Oda lost this round. Perhaps I will relay punishments for whoever loses a sparring match to make them more… motivated?”

Suzu looked over at Akio. She couldn't tell if she was truly joking or not...perhaps she was. Whatever it's not like she'd be training with them anyway...right? When the tea arrived Suzu immediately picked up her cup and took a sip. She closed her eyes. This was exactly what I needed. Suzu sat there and enjoyed her tea as Aki basically requested everyone's medical records.
Pepsionne Blu Clouds

 

[GrigoriLord]

Saga chuckled at mention of his name and threw back his cloak gladly revealing himself to all those whom may not have noticed him prior with his hood up. He pushed the cloak back from his form to reveal his slightly foreign looking colourful blue robes. His long silver hair and matching silver braided beard framed his mirthful elderly face as his glittering coffee eyes glanced to each inhabitant of the room before coming to rest on the speaker who had revealed his presence.

"I will take my few hours knowledge of your beautiful home Miss Akio and gladly share them amonst our peers. Oh but first my manners," Saga intoned, in perfect japanese with but a simple exaggerated accent, gently before falling into a shallow bow, his face belying the stiffness in his back for but a split moment, and he continued, "I am Saga Tsunkage, the newly minted resident scholar of our illustrious Clan. Some of you may have heard of me or interacted with me in the past in fact," he said as his eyes settled uncomfortably on the stoic form of Miyoshi. After an uncomfortable moment he shook his head and continued, "However that can wait until you have sufficiently spoken with the Master you now pledge yourself too. I will be here when you are ready."

Having spoken his piece Saga shifted towards the glowing warmth of a nearby stove and using it's light began to further complete the sketch he had inked earlier of the training session between the Samurai. It was coming along nicely and was flattering for both subjects of the battle; Saga had learned long ago to only ever make an unflattering image when far from the subjects in question. It would only be a matter of time before he would use beautiful paints to add a dash of colour to the drawing and truely make it an image torn free from the fetters of time itself. As was common with Saga he became so absorbed with his work that only rapid movement or his name would snap him from his work. He knew he had little to fear within these walls except possibly verbal barbs however his pistol was tucked deep within his robes as it always was just in case of emergency.
Clouds Blu Pepsionne animegirl20 The Fluffiest Floof

 

[The Fluffiest Floof]

Miyoshi Ikage​

"つまらぬ者を斬る気はない" Miyoshi, The Viper

---

Gathering slowly
United by a common cause
The new clan forms now

As the young samurai rose from the snow, not without a bickering comment, Miyoshi let her glance shift towards the people that had gathered. "Our enemy will not adhere to our rules. They are ruthless and merciless. There is no such thing as a fair fight with the darkness. Best be prepared for that.", she commented. Without giving him chance to engage her in a conversation about it, she strode towards Nomi and the others. Her naginata held at her side, the tip pointed towards the floor as it loosely in her grasp.

She gave a polite bow to the clans master as she arrived near them, before spinning her naginata around, resting the shaft on the floor and leaning on it slightly. She had a bit of distance to the group, but was well within hearing distance. Wordlessly, she listened to what the group said. She knew about them, had heard Nomi speak of their arrival. A doctor and their bodyguard. Miyoshi was still making herself an image of Aki, though she was certain there was a lot more to him than he let on. Hiding behind an image of innocence, there was more depth to his actions than he liked to reveal. That much she knew.
Suzu on the other hand, Miyoshi had not met in person before. Due to that, she knew nothing of the woman yet, except that she was meant to protect the medician. The viper would have to learn about her in the time to come.

And of course there was Tsubasa, who she was already acquainted with. The samurai was an asset of great value in Miyoshi's eyes. He possesed great tactical knowledge and was a capable warrior. He seemed hindered by his caring nature towards others, though Miyoshi intended to test how much she could sway him away from such approaches to truly use the potential he possessed.

Then there was Saga, the sage and scholar of the clan. The viper had run into him various times. He was very inquisitive, too much so for the womans taste. He may have always appeared as innocent and curious, but she knew too well how dangerous information could be in the right hands to discard him as an old curious man. As she had once told him "A scholar is often times more dangerous than any warrior. Knowledge can fell foes steel never could."

After the introductions had taken place, her eyes shifted back to the Eternal clans master. Nomi was very secretive about her person, hard to see through and careful in what she said. It showed intelligence, which Miyoshi respected greatly. She was said to be a great warrior too, another point that earned the respect of the viper. But it also meant she had weak points she was trying to hide. Weak points Miyoshi would try to spot where ever they would show. The samurai had no intention of betraying her master, but believed that the more she knew, the better she was prepared for whatever situation may occur in the future.
Clouds GrigoriLord animegirl20 Pepsionne Blu

 

[Blu]

Wings Soar Above Dead Trees

Tsubasa Shimori

January 1st, 1860 | Morning, Kyoto - Capital of Japan
Interactions: Clouds The Fluffiest Floof GrigoriLord Pepsionne animegirl20

Once Aki and Suzu had taken their seats, Tsubasa props himself at the wall nearest to him; arms inside the other sleeves—his favorite posture seemingly. When Oda waltzes in, he begrudgingly claims that he would've been the victor of the bout if not for Miyoshi's cunning ruse. Nomi is quick to remark about how she should administer punishments to those who lose these bouts as 'motivation' to perform better. It was like a volley of arrows had struck Tsubasa from behind when he heard Nomi's idea. He is one to often shirk a friendly challenge by his fellow samurai; not that Tsubasa isn't confident in his abilities but he prefers spending his time on other pursuits than sparring. "Master Aiko, perhaps we can find a different form of motivation? Something less... draconian? For the sake of our battered and tired fellows, of course..." Nomi could no doubt see through the thin facade of his suggestion.

Looking up at the ceiling, Tsubasa becomes a bit more serious. "I'm afraid honor has little place in these strange, new times." He says, regarding Oda's earlier complaint. "The enemy will seize every opportunity possible in their aim to slaughter us all." He turns to face Oda specifically. "You've certainly the skill to fight them, but take the time to hone your temperament as well as your blade."

Against an enemy with no morals and no qualms about how they conduct their warfare, the noble samurai must adapt or die; it's as simple as that. Tsubasa closes his eyes and sighs. "Still... We should not relinquish everything that defines us just for the sake of victory. We'll end up leaving behind what we're fighting to protect, and that is the same as losing." Tubasa glances over to Miyoshi as he finished his thoughts. While he greatly admires her skills as a powerful warrior and possibly unrivaled tactical mind, her ruthlessness and willing to sacrifice whatever's necessary to achieve her goals is something he just can't accept blindly.

Not long after, the tea arrives and Nomi nonchalantly reveals a hidden figure in the room. Emerging from under a large hooded cloak is a man of considerable age; older than any currently present in the room. His demeanor carries with it a sagacious wit—one who has accumulated a vast wealth of knowledge beyond even his actual age. He introduces himself as 'Saga Tsunekage', a name that Tsubasa has definitely heard before on his travels albeit he never thought he would actually meet the titular figure of said tales. "A pleasant surprise to be sure. Master Tsunekage, it is an honor." Tsubasa bows. "I am Tsubasa Shimori—a humble samurai of this clan but one who's heard much about your exploits. If the opportunity arises, I would love to speak to you and learn more about your adventures; perhaps over tea or sake?"

Later, Aki had requested that Nomi produce an adequate medical history for all the clansmen. An appropriate request for someone who takes their profession so seriously. Aki would already know Tsubasa's own medical history which is unsurprisingly healthy. He is after all a young man of prime age who's trained as a warrior and is of considerable combat skill so has managed to avoid any major injuries, discounting the emotional ones.

"As studious in your work as ever, Aki. I knew you'd make a wonderful addition to this clan. If needed, I'll survey the clansmen myself to get you those records. Fortunately, we've already got two down: Suzu's and my own."

 

[Clouds]

”A list of the ill and deceased you say?” She repeated after the words which Aki had spoken. Long polished nails tapped against the wood underneath, eyes slowly drifting away; seemingly just out of focus as she tried to recollect some of the most noteworthy. ”We do have some scrolls with the descriptions of the ill but the doctor went mad himself very recently and tore up most of it…” She rubbed the bridge of her nose as she tried to recall if they had found something that was still readable, they hadn’t been able to clean the room yet as it was still fresh. Also the reason why everyone kind of avoided the room, the furthest in the east. Well, might as well do the job herself as most people were quite fond of the doctor and she didn’t want to remind them of the accident more than they already did when passing by. ”Well, why don’t we go look for some of his scrolls though it might not be the best of sights if you are up to it. It still has to be cleaned up after all so I’m sure you won’t mind helping me out.” She asked rhetorically, not even saying it as a question.

”Mr. Tsunekage, change of plans. Can you go get us some buckets with clean water and rags to clean the room, you can call Oda to come with you. You can leave once you’ve dropped it off if it lays to sensitive with you.” Nomi instructed, standing up swiftly from her seat. Shen then shifted her attention back to Suzu, with a soft snickering: ”Perhaps once we will have some small duels in the future. I’ll definitely get back to you then. But for now, if you all would please follow me.” She gestured towards the two newcomers. Eyeing the two newcomers in particular.

Oda in the meantime was taken aback by the sudden backlash of others, standing there with a displeased emotion all over his face. ”You didn’t have to rub it in like that…” He muttered as he quickly picked up his katana, almost as if he was trying to hit the air due to built-up frustration. He knew they were right and everything goes on the battlefield but it just went against his moral code that he laid upon himself. Grunting as he dusted of the remnants of snow of his clothes, the cold clearing freezing up his fingers by now which was actually starting to hurt quite a bit. How long had he even been outside today, did he even had breakfast or did he forget to eat it or just forgot everything in general of this morning. ”Anyway, next time I’ll beat you.” He huffed towards Miyoshi, giving her the stinky eye.

His attention went over to Nomi as she was talking to the newcomers, placing a hand on his hip as he tried to figure out what she was saying but as she was motioning towards the east room, he knew exactly what she was talking about. ”So she’s going to clean up the doctor’s room, huh.” He commented with a blank state of mind, he didn’t like thinking about the death especially if it was someone who was supposed to heal them. Sadly enough there was yet a remedy to be found for this so-called curse that was being placed upon humans, not even this clan was immune to it after all.

Nomi had already started walking away into the direction of the east, making sure she paced herself for if they wanted to join her or not. Knowing Oda would avoid going, she didn’t make any movements that indicated that she would wait for him. It wasn’t going to be an easy thing to do but as the head of the clan, this was just some of the things she had to deal with; be it on her own or with others.

Blu The Fluffiest Floof Pepsionne GrigoriLord animegirl20

​

 

[Pepsionne]

mood :

observant

location :

Eternal Clan Residence

outfit :

mentions :

Oda, Nomi

interactions :

Blu Tsubasa

Doctor

Miura, Aki

Aki inhaled the warm fragrance of the tea in front of him as he waited for a reply from the other clan members. The snow outside fluttered through the air in a soft, silent descent. His eyes followed the white motes briefly before they were lost in an endless tumble. His gaze flattened when Tsubasa spoke, the man openly offering praise for Aki's dedication to his practice with a supportive tone. Aki fought the urge to roll his eyes and instead picked at his finger nails, aggravation bubbling up within him. Black ink stained the tips of his fingers subtly, an ever present feature he was unable to avoid. Tsubasa had a tendency to treat Aki like he was--younger than he was. Less capable than the feats he had accomplished. Ever since they had met, there was this tension of inferiority in their relationship. Aki couldn't help but deduce that it had something to do with his physical incapability, the young samurai instinctively reacting to Aki's smaller frame and vulnerability with a protective instinct. Although the thought never failed to bubble up frustration within him, Aki refused to let it visibly play across his face.

He turned his body slightly to face where Tsubasa stood within the small living quarters. The flickering light of the fires returned the soft gloss of the samurai's flaxen hair while it ignited a devilish gleam within the dark pools of Aki's eyes. "Yes, you do make a good point, Tsubasa. I have become overwhelmingly familiar with your body these past couple of months, wouldn't you say?" His expression remained innocent to the double meaning laced within his statement, but the dark dash of amusement in his eyes said differently, hoping to pull a flustered response from the samurai.

The expression washed from his face once Nomi's smooth voice punctuated the air. Aki took another sip of his tea, the steam obscuring the focus of his gaze. The mood in the room seemed to have--shifted. More specifically the demeanors that suddenly overcame both Nomi and Oda at the mention of medical documents. Aki was unaware of the fact that there had even been a Doctor to the clan before he signed up. Not only that, but the idea that he had gone mad and ripped up the documents? His gaze rested on the smooth surface of the tea in his cup, the shadowed reflection of his face staring back at him. Would he be susceptible to the same fate? He had just barely seen what the creatures of the dark were capable of before he had decided to commit himself to this cause, what would he do if he decided that even his resolve was not up to par?

Aki followed the woman's lithe figure toward the East wing of the residence. His stomach had turned over, churning in a soft boil of unease. He had no idea what he would come across in the room. Entering the space of a man in the midst of his madness was akin to living it himself, and the scribblings of his research might hold horrors he was not ready to face. Aki had felt the maddening pull of obsession when it came to his practice and it had already been enough to spook him. To see the result of someone who had given in to that dark pull and read the ramblings that resulted from it was something else entirely. He wiped his hands on his hakama pants discreetly, feeling the skin began to clam up the closer they got to the room.

coded by reveriee.

 

[animegirl20]

Suzu continued sitting there silently, sipping on her tea as the others talked. But a comment Aki made caught Suzu completely off guard.

"Yes, you do make a good point, Tsubasa. I have become overwhelmingly familiar with your body these past couple of months, wouldn't you say?"

Suzu's eye widen and started coughing a little on the tea she was drinking. She then looked at Aki wondering just why in the hell did he make a comment like that. She glanced at Tsubasa for his reaction then looked at Aki. Slight smirk came to her face as she debated on whether or not she would comment. There was no way she could let him get away with saying something like that. But it wasn't directed at her so she decided to bite her tongue.

Nomi suddenly said something her and Aki were not expecting. The last doctor that was part of the clan had went mad and to top it off it had been resent. Suzu couldn't help but wonder why they didn't learn about this sooner. Though she guessed it didn't matter to much. What happened didn't really affect them in anyway except the fact the doctor who went mad and had tore the documents up and apparently they were going to help clean? She minded very much and there was no way in hell she was cleaning up some mad doctor's mess that had nothing to do with her. She didn't care who Nomi was Suzu wasn't cleaning shit. She'd observe but that would be it.

Suzu followed Nomi to the doctor's room walking ahead of Aki. Suzu glanced back at Aki a couple of times. He seemed off and she wasn't quite sure why. Though after thinking about it for a moment she wondered if it had anything to do with that doctor. She slowed down and walked next him. Suzu glanced at him then looked back ahead of her. She wasn't sure what was wrong but his current mood for some reason bothered her so she decided distract him little. "Well Aki I'm quite surprised at you. I had no idea you were getting so familiar with your patients in such a way. Should I be concerned?" Suzu said clearly teasing him.

 

[GrigoriLord]

Saga unsurprisingly was deep in his sketch when some movement caught his eye; that of a quick and courteous bow. Enraptured as he had been Saga missed the first few words to leave the mouth of the handsome young man that now stood before him. He recognized the tone and timber to be that of a man with respect in his voice which took Saga aback for a heartbeat. He was not expecting to be recognized in this land let alone in this makeshift clan. Once the young man had finished his piece Saga spoke, "Please no need to be quite so formal Mister Tsubasa Shimori. You may simply call me Saga or Mr. Tsunekage, which ever tickles you more, and I shall offer you the same courtesy if you so desire it. I would love to hear about you and your exploits my dashing young warrior over some nice cold Sake. Perhaps in the coming days?"

No sooner had he finished his sentance when the conversation of the clan Master and the new Doctor broached the fate of the late previous physician. Saga had not known the man personally but had heard he was a man of incredible intellect. Nomi turned to address the thought-stricken scholar and request some cleaning supplies delivered to the old physician's room. Saga shrugged to Oda, assuming the young man would follow suit, before he left the living quarters for the servants quarters.

Saga was well aquianted with every other servant and guard of the clan, as he made it a point of pride to know every individual of lower rank than himself in any organization he was affiliated too, and so was able to aquire three buckets of fresh water and multiple cloth scraps for cleaning. The servants were pliant enough with a warm smile, a kind word and a devious wink. Knowing that he was walking into the scene of a brutal and bloody death he procured a large jug of potent vinegar as well. He collected the cleaning supplies before he took a moment to snack upon a small piece of candy he produced from his voluminous robes.

Blu Clouds Pepsionne The Fluffiest Floof animegirl20