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Post by Asai Yuuto on Sept 5, 2006 22:41:01 GMT -5
It was a lovely morning. The sun was breaking over the hillside, the air was fresh with dew, the trees were alive with birdsong, and the men were... groggy with sleep. All except one, really.
Yuuto had been impressed with Orie's willingness to wake before dawn, but perhaps that had more to do with Orie sharing a room with Yuuto, and less to do with the boy's commitment to his commander. Either way, for all appearances Orie seemed widely awake atop his saddle. A little straight-backed, but definitely alert.
It wasn't as if Yuuto got some thrill out of pressing Orie (well, maybe a little). Yuuto had minimal time to spare actually observing Orie's personality under normal circumstances, and his methods, while unorthodox, produced quicker results. He had to know what kind of man Orie was- what kind of man he had the potential to be.
It was likely to ruin any chances of Orie actually liking his commander, but Yuuto wasn't in charge to make friends. Sensei would've understood...
After caning Yuuto over the head for some of the more colorful remarks Orie had had to endure.
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Sept 5, 2006 23:05:10 GMT -5
Surprisingly, Orie had slept well last night. He had spent perhaps all of five minutes silently stewing over the particular choice of sleeping arrangements, but as soon as his back had hit the bed, all capable thought had left his head. It might've had something to do with actually being under a sturdy roof, which was infinitely more comfortable than sleeping under trees, regardless of the other inhabitant of the room.
That, and the fact that he felt safer when he wasn't on his own. Working by himself was nothing he especially disliked, but the sense of ease that came with human companionship couldn't be substituted. It was nice, he decided, to not have to look over your own shoulder every waking second. Even if Asai-sama was a very, very odd man, he was a reliable one. Irresponsible men did not ascend to positions so easily.
That wasn't to say, of course, that he was going to let down his guard. Orie was still a little tense in the company of these men. After all, he had all but made a complete fool out of himself yesterday, and then proved to be extremely adept at making mistakes to his own commander. He certainly wouldn't be so prone to acting without definite confirmation in the future.
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Sept 5, 2006 23:26:05 GMT -5
They rode mostly in silence, their pace steady yet easy. Once cleared of the village, the road had become less trodden. The dirt trail ran alongside a dense forest, and they moved into a formation that allowed more breathing room. Yuuto rode in the center, with a pod of two ahead and behind his mount.
Yuuto was anxious to see Chiba again, but he knew it would be well into nightfall before his village would come into view. Edo wore him thin, and the Shogun wore him thinner. He knew that not long after his return to Chiba, he and Orie would have to make leave again, but even one night in the Asai household would be worth it.
And if Orie was anything like his grandfather, Yuuto thought the boy might actually enjoy their grand temple. There were extensive archery courses on the grounds, and even if Yuuto himself didn't take advantage of the drills, he was sure Orie would be missing his daily target practice by now.
"Orie-kun," he called to the two men riding behind him, tilting his head for his voice to carry.
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Sept 5, 2006 23:33:27 GMT -5
Scenery watching had grown boring within the first five minutes, so when the sound of his name broke the tiring pattern of treading hooves, Orie slid his eyes in its direction, still looking utterly bored. He caught himself before answering though, straightening his back into a position even more rigid and pulled taut. If he kept this up, his back would break before they got there. "Hai, Asai-sama!"
If he's going to mess with me again, he thought inwardly, though his outward expression was of complete seriousness and alertness, I swear I'll shoot an arrow into his horse's backside while he's not looking.
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Sept 5, 2006 23:47:45 GMT -5
The road would be long and dull. It was a perfect opportunity to find out more about their newest charge. Or at least indulge in some distraction.
"Ride with me."
Yuuto raised his hand above his shoulder, and without looking backward, crooked a finger at Orie.
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Sept 5, 2006 23:53:14 GMT -5
"...Hai, Asai-sama," he responded obediently, though he took his time weaving his horse up to where the general was. It was a simple enough request, but Orie couldn't help but wonder what ulterior motive the man had this time. The others maneuvered their horses to the side and allowed him to pass, but they were all too lethargic to do anything else, let alone snicker at him behind his back like yesterday. He was thankful for that little mercy, at least.
"Was there something you wanted?" he asked, coming into stride with the general. For a moment he wondered if he should hold back, let the superior advance a few steps and lead. He didn't know if it was presumptious to be at equal pacing with the other. He frowned, slowing his horse down. It was better to be safe than sorry.
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Sept 6, 2006 0:15:09 GMT -5
With the silence broken, the men to the front began to chat quietly, their voices low and polite.
"There is a grand temple on my family's land," Yuuto said, turning to regard his companion. "Sensei enjoys it very much."
He paused, and a fond smile graced his lips. "He especially enjoys the archery grounds since, much to my dismay, I do not."
Yuuto had excelled at most every lesson of the samurai, save archery. Even the honorable and famous Orie-sensei hadn't been able to instill a love of the art in Yuuto, but that certainly hadn't stopped the two from becoming great friends.
Yuuto's time at the kyuudo school hadn't been a complete loss. He could, if needed, wield the bow (as a last resort), but the skill and accuracy in which he did it was less than awe-inspiring. Sensei always made sure to thoroughly exhaust the Chiba archery grounds, saying that at least someone should put them to good use if Asai-kun couldn't.
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Sept 6, 2006 0:23:40 GMT -5
"Archery grounds," Orie repeated, interest obviously piqued, even if his reigned emotions kept his voice flat and level and his eyes fixed ahead. He missed it - the wide open field where everything except the target ceased to exist, where there wasn't the pressure of having to succeed, where he was knocking, drawing, aiming for the pleasure of the sport, rather than to crush the life of a living man.
He allowed himself to glance at the man beside him, though he turned back to the road immediately when he saw Asai returning the look. "Is that an offer?" he asked frankly.
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Sept 6, 2006 0:37:16 GMT -5
"Orie-kun." He tried to get the young man to meet his gaze.
"It's an invitation," Yuuto replied amiably, wondering what it would take to crack Orie- if Yuuto even could.
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Sept 6, 2006 0:42:44 GMT -5
At first, it seemed as though he hadn't heard at all. He neither faced the man nor showed any indication on his face at having registered the words. Slowly, though, the stubborn frown eased off his face, to an expression that was at least neutral, if not showing the hints of a smile. It was an offer too good to reject. "Thank you. I accept."
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Sept 7, 2006 8:14:44 GMT -5
Definitely Sensei's grandson.
Even Yuuto wasn't above a little bribery now and then- with only the best intentions in mind. However, being the strategist that he was, Yuuto also understood the concept of opportune moments. And how to take advantage of them most thoroughly.
"And after you tire of my range," he began, stressing my so carefully that most men wouldn't take notice, "you will join me for tea?"
It was a question, but just in case his grin looked a little too imploring, he added, "It would honor..."
Yuuto trailed off mid sentence, his expression suddenly going slack. Keen eyes slid away from Orie's upturned face, and Yuuto's focus turned toward the dense trees of the adjacent forest.
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Sept 7, 2006 22:42:05 GMT -5
You might as well tell me the catch before you lay the bait, Orie thought distastefully, but it would have to take at least a miracle for him to ever voice such things aloud. He opened his mouth to once again agree (or, in his terms, to obey), but the words died in his throat when he noticed something amiss.
"Asai-sama?" he questioned, trying to follow the general's line of sight and wondering exactly what was of such intrigue on a bare and dusty road, "Asai-sama, is there something wrong?"
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Sept 8, 2006 3:07:20 GMT -5
Expression turning grim, Yuuto answered absently, "The birds..."
The forest was dead- an eerily quiet backdrop to the steady gait of their horses. Yuuto's heart picked up speed, and its strong beat drowned out the voices of the other riders' conversation. Their chatter faded into soft echoes inside his mind.
Quickly, Yuuto reigned in his mount, leaning over to simultaneously jerk back on the reigns within Orie's grip. Orie's horse stopped, rearing slightly in protest to the manhandling of the bridle bit.
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Sept 8, 2006 8:49:54 GMT -5
"What are you- ah!" The sudden and abrupt stop of movement caught him off guard. Asai's firm grip on his reigns saved him from falling off, and he gripped them in his fists to pull himself to equilibrium. His horse grunted, shaking its head as it stamped its legs impatiently, apparently as surprised as he was, so he ran one hand down the side of its neck to calm the animal down, noticing then that the general was not the only one who had quieted.
The rest of the men in their entourage had noticed their commander's motions immediately, and halted their advance. Years of experience had given them some understanding to the man's pattern of action. They were tense when Orie looked over his shoulder at them, faces grim and serious, offering no hint as to what had just transpired.
The birds? Orie slowly ran his gaze across the horizon and frowned. What about them? He didn't hear any. Ah, his eyes narrowed as the realization dawned, squinting into the dense line of the approaching forest, that's the problem - that there aren't any, hmm? He caught a hint of movement - the slight expansion and contraction of the body that came with breathing, and noticed soon after that it wasn't alone.
"Ah," he murmured, leaning forward to better his view.
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Sept 8, 2006 16:22:50 GMT -5
A distant whistle of air was their only warning, Yuuto bellowing, "Archers!" to his accompanying clansmen. His katana was drawn before he even finished the word, and Yuuto jerked the reigns so that he and his mount shielded Orie.
The wave of arrows fell from the sky, their shrill screams echoing with the shout of a rider struck solid in the shoulder. Yuuto could only morbidly look on as he methodically knocked away arrows that streamed toward Orie and himself.
Wood split and fractured against his blade, but Yuuto merely clenched his teeth when a shard sliced across his neck. The second volley seemed more heavily aimed on Yuuto, or even Orie, and Yuuto almost wasn't able to block a shot with his metal arm-guard before it flew into Orie's face.
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