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Post by Orie Hidehira on Aug 20, 2006 23:48:19 GMT -5
'What a bother' was quickly becoming his life motto. He hadn't had the same reoccuring thought cross his mind quite so many times in such a short period of time. To arrive in Edo, be accosted by a stuck-up runaway palace girl, and only to be told that Asai-sama had just left the city did nothing for his disposition.
He had almost bit through his bottom lip to stay calm while asking the smirking official where the man had been headed. A vague wave of a finger and a long road later, Orie found himself in a small village. It was not bursting with life like Edo, but it had a vitality of its own, in its pleasant people and easy-going atmosphere. Arriving there, he found that the air was immediately much more comfortable, and he found his stewing temper somewhat assauged.
Now, the problem was finding the man he was after. He had not seen Asai-sama for years. In fact, the only time he had met the man face-to-face at all was when he was ten or so, and the memory was all but a haze in his mind, with his grandfather's gentle guiding hand introducing a tall young man to his grandson. The face was a blur now, but the aura had been overpowering. He was sure that, if the man measured up to his reputation, it wouldn't be that hard to pick him out from these simple folk.
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Aug 21, 2006 0:12:45 GMT -5
His prince was missing, there were traitors amongst his faction, the Shogun was suspicious, and Asai Yuuto was well on his way to becoming thoroughly and delightfully intoxicated.
Everything was just lovely.
After spending weeks stationed in Edo, Yuuto could already feel some of the tension draining from his shoulders. Soon he would be home, in Chiba, and although he wouldn't find much respite from the current crisis, he could at least pull his hair out in comfortable surroundings.
With that thought, Yuuto gestured for the serving boy to bring a fresh sake bottle to his table. He drank in silence, fondly watching his fellow clan members' animated conversation across the tavern.
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Aug 21, 2006 0:24:34 GMT -5
Walking through the weave of people, Orie felt a little out-of-place. Everyone seemed so familiar with each other here, as if it was just one large family, and they shied out of his way wherever he moved. He excused himself and apologized multiple times, even though there was no need for it. So far, no one had caught his eye as someone who stood out among commoners.
There was an inn here, a fabric shop there, a herb shop and a clinic over here, and a tavern a little farther down...Orie stopped walking, squinting his eyes at the patrons of the outdoor bar. The wooden fence marking its perimeter was blocking his view of most of the men inside, but through the opening he spotted a large, towering man that seemed to overshadow everybody else.
There isn't anyone else around here that could be him, he thought, taking one last glance around for precaution. The drab colors of peasant clothing, and even the slightly more saturated tones of merchant uniform all seemed faded compared to the aged and worn-out condition of the man's odd armor. He broke into a run and hesitated before entering. He looks a bit...more crass than what I remember, he mused briefly, but then again the memory was fuzzy.
"Excuse me," he said, sitting across the table from the suspect. "...Are...are you, by any chance, Asai-sama?"
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Aug 21, 2006 0:40:40 GMT -5
Yuuto paused in sake-pouring at the mention of his name, lifting his eyes to scan the patrons. Oddly enough, the question hadn't been directed to him, but one of his men sitting at the adjacent table.
He tilted his chin, studying the stiff back adorned with arrow quiver, and dark, bent head of the youth. The voice wasn't immediately familiar to him, and if the blank stares of his traveling companions were any indication, they, too, were at a loss.
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Aug 21, 2006 0:48:59 GMT -5
In his rush, he didn't even bother taking a look around, though it might have saved him a great deal of face. He could hardly be blamed for his hastiness, though. He had spent the past week or so just trailing the man, and he desperately wanted to get this report over and done with. He expected some sort of punishment for his failure, but having to wait this long just to deliver the message was a sort of torture too, like a prisoner waiting for an impending death.
"Asai-sama," he said, not bothering to wait for the man's reply, "sorry for the interrupting you like this, but I went to Edo and they said you had just left, and I had to follow you here from there, though I didn't have any leads as to exactly where you had gone, so it took a while. Ah, umm, I've been sent to be of any assistance to you; I'm from the Orie Kyuudo School, my grandfather sent me, and he..."
He trailed off as he looked up to find the man smiling, barely able to contain his amusement, and pointing to the right at someone else. "I think the man you're looking for is over there," he said.
Orie had to close his eyes and just breathe for a moment before he turned. What a bother.
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Aug 21, 2006 1:13:24 GMT -5
The young man turned in his direction, and Yuuto could hardly contain his amusement at the other's expense. He smirked over the masu rim, arching an eyebrow in mock innocence before indulging in a deep drink.
When the message from Orie Kazuya had been delivered to the capital, Yuuto had hardly expected his old friend to send his own grandson and heir to the Orie kyuudo legacy. Well, Orie-san had promised his best pupil for the cause.
The last Yuuto had seen the little... Hidehira, wasn't it?... he had been but a child. While still relatively small in size, it was obvious even from the tables between them that there was power beneath those folds of clothing and slight body.
Yuuto raised the masu in invitation, hoping his smile was more pleasant, and less intrigued.
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Aug 21, 2006 1:17:24 GMT -5
Orie set his hands on the table and pushed himself to his feet, bowing his head to the mistaken man with a respectful, "My mistake, I apologize," before walking over to the real general. He could feel some of the other men laughing at him behind their cups and chalked this up to yet another moment he could've done without in his life. The count had really been increasing extraordinarily fast these past few days, and he was sure that if the war didn't kill him, his own mishaps certainly would.
"With all due respect, sir," he said as a greeting, sitting at what he hoped was the right table this time, "you could've interrupted me and saved me from that mortification."
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Aug 21, 2006 1:37:21 GMT -5
"I could've," Yuuto said agreeably, and seemed disinclined to offer anything more on the subject.
He angled his head back, taking in Orie's appearance from beneath hooded lids. Up close he could ascertain the family resemblance, and even see a bit left of the child that would eagerly shadow Yuuto during his frequent visits.
He wondered if Orie even remembered him.
Without awaiting approval, Yuuto refilled his masu with sake and slid it across the table.
"I'm sorry for the complications," he said politely, "but there are very important matters that require my immediate return to Chiba."
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Aug 21, 2006 1:46:21 GMT -5
Taking the offered drink, Orie raised it to his lips and downed the entire thing in one shot. He needed it, after all that hassle and the even larger problems that were bound to come. The liquid burned down his throat. He could handle alcohol but he was still unused to the sensation, and he scrunched his face up a little as it settled warmly in his stomach.
Asai Yuuto, he decided, certainly didn't live up to the hype. He had expected someone utterly amazing, who you could feel a thousand miles away, with both an appearance and a demeanor that set him apart from a thousand men. This, he decided, lifting his eyes, was a painfully normal man, save for that scar down one eye. He looked neither capable of striking fear into men's heart, nor able to instill any sort of inspiration in it.
He was cooler when I was ten, he concluded, not so much surprised as disappointed. People changed, he knew, and not always for the better.
"Asai-sama," he began anew, "I assume you've already heard the introduction, so may I skip that?"
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Aug 23, 2006 18:25:10 GMT -5
Yuuto's brows arched, pleased, as Orie braved the strong sake in one gulp. The sour expression was expected, but Yuuto merely lowered his eyes to the table, refilling Orie's masu dutifully.
"Fair enough, Hide-kun," he tipped his chin back, considering. Briefly, the image of a serious, quiet child super-imposed itself over Orie's sharp features.
"The pleasantries aren't needed, but I must inquire of Kazuya-san's well-being. His visits to Chiba have been sparse lately, and I've seen him in Edo even less."
He paused, absently rubbing a finger over the ridge of his eye, the scar shifting over skin.
"Sensei is a stubborn mule," he murmured fondly. "Is he really as busy as his letters claim, or should I start making the effort to see him myself?"
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Aug 23, 2006 18:40:07 GMT -5
Orie kept his hands in his lap and his eyes lowered, but they snapped up at the sound of the almost-forgotten nickname. Was that supposed to be some sort of insult? Was he provoking him, implying that he was still a child in the superior's eyes? If this was a test of patience, he wasn't about to be goaded into a reaction so easily. Ultimately, it was not his place to specify what his commander should call him.
Swallowing both a scowl and his pride, he answered, "Grandfather has been occupied with the recent influx of students at the school. Other than that, he is in good health, but I will apologize in his place for not taking the time to visit Asai-sama." He bowed his head dutifully. "He would not want you to trouble yourself by making you take the time to visit him."
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Aug 23, 2006 18:59:59 GMT -5
"So polite," he smiled gently before waving a hand in dismissal.
"I've found that time with Sensei is well worth trouble, not that traveling to the school usually presents any. But the palace aristocracy has kept me equally as busy, dancing about for their amusement."
Yuuto's lips thinned suddenly. A muscle twitched perceptively along his jawline.
"And now that things have become complicated, and I've lost track of-" A deep, relaxing breath rushed past his mouth, Yuuto's eyes sliding to gaze at a distant point.
"...Koyada-sama."
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Aug 23, 2006 19:10:59 GMT -5
It must be difficult, Orie conceded, but only in thought, to cater to both the revolution and whims of the ruling class. The change of expression did not surprise him initially - the man could hardly be blamed for wanting to frown at the mention of being used by useless officials with only their birth to thank for their positions, but at the mention of the prince, he stilled, daring to look up into Asai's face.
Orie's own expression darkened. Brows furrowing in confusion, he asked, "...Koyada-sama? As in, the prince? Someone told you already? That I lost him?"
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Aug 23, 2006 19:40:20 GMT -5
Yuuto's eyes immediately jerked back, narrowing to mere, dangerous slits.
Orie's words rolled and spun within Yuuto's head, trying to rearrange themselves into something cognizant. Even after a patient moment, where the sounds of his men and the village faded away, the words remained confusing and unfamiliar.
His muscles contracted against the bench, the wood creaking alarmingly when his torso leaned into Orie's personal space. One broad, long-boned hand rested flat against the tabletop. The fingers twitched in accord with his clenching gut, and Yuuto pressed his palm downward.
Akihito-sama...
"What do you mean," he questioned very slowly, carefully.
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Aug 23, 2006 20:14:06 GMT -5
Orie leaned back as far as the bench permitted without flipping over, trying to put as much space between the apparently furious general and himself. Something wasn't matching up here, and he had a feeling that whatever it was would not be working out for the better for him. Was he angry because Orie couldn't finish the job?
His eyes darted from the face in front of him to the sides, like a cornered animal trying to find an escape route. "...Wha...w-what do you mean?" he responded in kind, stuttering much to his embarrassment. "...Wasn't I supposed to..." He stopped himself, a possibility striking him mid-sentence. His eyes widened and he looked back up to Asai. That would explain things. "...I wasn't?!"
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