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Post by Orie Hidehira on Sept 9, 2006 20:39:09 GMT -5
"Ah, good morning," he greeted, smiling, bowing and sidestepping to allow the blushing servant girl to pass with her tray. She passed him hurriedly, hiding her face behind steaming pots of tea and giggling as she rounded the corner. He wondered if everybody here was this friendly, or if it was just because he was under Asai's charge. Either way, the atmosphere was friendly, and reminded him of home.
A few days had passed ever since arriving in Chiba in the evening, a little bruised and bloody, but very luckily alive. The men had all been ushered to different rooms to be tended to, and in the middle of the hussle, Orie's stamina had exhausted itself. When he awoke the next morning, he was already tucked into a foreign bed in a strange, well-furnished room.
Today, his patience had worn thin, and any remnants of his muscle aches had long disappeared. He was eager to leave the household and go look around, excited as any other person would be when in a new and unfamiliar place. Maybe, if he was lucky, he would be able to find the temple and those archery grounds the general had mentioned, days before.
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Sept 9, 2006 21:14:29 GMT -5
Upon stepping foot in Chiba, Yuuto had immediately felt whole again- despite his ragged state. The Asai household had rushed out to greet them, and upon discovery of their wounds, hurried Yuuto and his men inside for care.
The next few days, Yuuto had allowed his men time to rest without disturbance, but Yuuto himself couldn't afford such luxuries. There were repairs in the village that needed immediate attention, men in training to oversee, and families without food for the oncoming winter. He didn't mind so much, however, because it was all just a part of being home.
He was exiting the temple after morning meditation when the attack occurred. With little warning other than shrill screams, he was barreled backward onto the ground by more than one set of arms and legs.
Tiny, grubby fingers clutched to Yuuto's yukata, and he laughed openly at the cries of "Asai-niisan! Oniisan!" in between the children's giggles and excitement. Their bouncy weight pinned him to the grass, and Yuuto tried to raise his hands in supplication.
"I surrender! Surrender!"
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Sept 9, 2006 21:32:49 GMT -5
Orie's head snapped up, frowning deeply until he created little lines between his brow. He had only walked a small distance from the main gate of the Asai household, haphazardly picking a direction and trusting his gut feeling to somehow eventually get him where he wanted. It had actually led him in a complete circle, because five minutes later he realized the surroundings were awfully familiar, so this time he picked another street and headed down that one instead.
Is that...Asai-sama's voice? he questioned, growing a little nervous. He hadn't heard it in a few days, but that tone and pitch was difficult to mistake. It had made quite the impression on him ever since youth, after all. It had been yelling for surrender? In the middle of his own town? Before he realized it, he broke into a run, worrying about what kind of threat had the general so quickly begging in defeat.
Apparently it was the very formidable force of screaming kids.
Orie skid to a halt and just stared, feeling the urgency deflate.
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Sept 9, 2006 21:50:12 GMT -5
Cheers of victory chorused among the tiny soldiers in the face of Yuuto's defeat. Mock-growling, he swiftly rose to his feet, small bodies hanging from his various limbs. He turned in a circle, and his live-accessories swung in delight. Then, catching sight of a familiar form as he spun, Yuuto stopped to consider his audience.
"Orie-kun!" Yuuto's face was comically tragic. "There was an uprising!"
A few of the kids released their captive, suddenly more interested in watching the newcomer. With an arm finally free, Yuuto hefted a thin boy that was clinging to his bandaged neck, so that he rested atop one broad shoulder. His throat throbbed from the boy's grip, but the General only rubbed the injury to alleviate pain.
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Sept 9, 2006 21:55:21 GMT -5
Orie looked from one chubby face to another dirty one, as they smiled curiously at him, before finally lifting his eyes to his general's face. He didn't notice much of a difference, going from one kid's grinning visage to Asai's. "...Excuse me," he said finally, turning to walk away. Completely incompetent childish good-for-nothing irresponsible weirdo playing with little kids when he was just bleeding all over his shirt the other day, what a nitwit, I can't believe that Grandfather sent me to work for such an utter idio-...
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Sept 9, 2006 22:14:20 GMT -5
"Hide-kun!" He called as the young man turned on his heel. Dipping low, the boy slid safely off his shoulders, and Yuuto shooed the giggling masses away to wreak havoc elsewhere.
The temple grounds became placid once more. Familiar, soothing chants bled from open corridors and into the village.
Yuuto dug into the fold of his yukata, pulling out a familiar strip of black cloth. "Will you make me a thief?" He dangled the headband in the air, an invitation for Orie to come and retrieve his possession.
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Sept 9, 2006 22:20:35 GMT -5
Orie turned half-way around, fixing Asai with a very unimpressed frown. His eyes widened a fraction when he finally recognized the material in Asai's hand, and he marched forward, reaching out to take it back.
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Sept 9, 2006 22:45:14 GMT -5
Admittedly, Orie's complete rigidity was starting to test Yuuto's patience. He feared that the two of them would be doomed to always clash outside the battlefield. It was astounding that after practically being raised by Sensei, none of the elder Orie-san's easy disposition had rubbed off onto his grandson.
The headband was jerked just short of Orie's fingers, and Yuuto's own latched firmly onto the outstretched arm. He squeezed the boy's muscle, but with no intent to inflict pain.
Head dipped to eye level, the General's low tone only seemed to compliment the temple chanting. "Try to lighten up, Orie-kun." Then, as if he knew Orie would bristle at such a command, he added, "Please," to clarify the nature of his request.
"There is ample time ahead to warrant such seriousness and dedication. But I think, that if you can't do it for yourself, you can at least attempt it for our people." Pausing, Yuuto's eyes swept over the children- happy even with their bellies so thin.
"There are other ways to help than with your bow and arrow."
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Sept 9, 2006 22:57:43 GMT -5
Orie's face darkened, but he didn't dare say an opposing word against his commander, though he did try, fruitlessly, to tug his limb out of the other man's grip. When he finally did manage to get free (due to Asai relinquishing the hold rather than his own efforts), he snapped his headband back, wrapping the winding cloth around his palm for the time being. The fabric was black, but it had obviously been cleaned and washed of blood since the time he had leant it to the general.
"Whatever you want, Asai-sama," he answered, but the response was empty and only an echo of politeness. The request had been simply phrased, surely, but he wasn't sure exactly what the man wanted, or if he was capable of fulfilling it. How was he supposed to lighten up? He hadn't exactly been going around, bursting everyone's bubble, had he? That couldn't be it - he had made an effort to keep to himself as much as possible.
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Sept 9, 2006 23:10:45 GMT -5
If anything, Orie's reply only seemed to further unsettle the General. He stared into the boy's face a moment too long, then with a pained sigh, he stepped back to give a little breathing room. Yuuto's hands fisted atop his narrow hips, and he frowned down at what appeared to be his feet.
"Orie-kun. I am just a man."
But before Orie could even inquire as to such a cryptic statement, Yuuto turned and gestured toward the temple. "Let me show you the grounds." Expression and voice amiable again, Yuuto's body straightened into his usual, relaxed posture.
"I did promise, right?"
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Sept 9, 2006 23:13:30 GMT -5
He opened his mouth to ask exactly what Asai had meant by a statement like that, but as soon as mention of the grounds cropped up, the words in his mouth magically transformed into, "Ah, yes!" It sounded a little too excited even to his own ears, and he drew back immediately, a little abashed at that failure of restraint. "I mean, I would like that very much, Asai-sama."
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Sept 10, 2006 12:55:50 GMT -5
Over the generations, the Asai clan had practically built the entirety of Chiba with their own hands, and the grand temple was a fine testimony to their legacy. The structure had withstood time beautifully, with metal-workings gleaming in the sunlight. Smooth stone walkways weaved between the winter-barren gardens, and everything about the temple seemed like a pearl among rocks.
If anyone in Chiba could be considered "rich," it would be the Asai household. However, as a boy Yuuto learned that his clan considered their possessions to belong to the whole village. He worked the fields no differently than the poorest commoner, and scrubbed the temple floors with the dedication of a monk. Yuuto firmly believed that if anyone in Chiba would go to sleep on an empty stomach, it would be him.
Yuuto led Orie along a stone path that circled the entranceway and between buildings. Soon the chanting became softer, and a chorus of synchronized shouts accompanied the mellow prayers. Breaching the rear, they came upon a group of young men running morning drills. Yuuto raised his hand in greeting two a pair of wizened instructors, and after the next bend, the path fed into an open target range.
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Sept 10, 2006 13:31:04 GMT -5
He followed Asai quietly; the only evidence of his presence at all being the quiet rise and fall of footsteps. Orie's hometown had been considerably less grand-scale than Chiba - a little village surrounded by large, grassy clearings perfect for the kyudo school it housed.
And while his family had also held somewhat of an authoritative position there, Orie had never been treated quite like Asai, as if he were everybody's favorite person. It wasn't that the people were particularly cold - most likely, it was his own demeanor: standoffish and never really childlike.
So he thought, watching everyone smile and greet the general, that maybe it would've been nice if he had tried a little harder to be sociable. Maybe this is what he meant.
Lost in contemplation, he didn't realize they had reached their destination until he felt the telltale breeze of an open field. He didn't bother to restrain the smile that spread on his face, forgetting his manners once again and darting past Asai to rush into the range. Two, three, four, five... - multiple targets were scattered at varied distances. The best thing was, it was empty save for the two of them, unlike the crowded, noisy grounds at home.
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Sept 10, 2006 13:58:43 GMT -5
An alcove of sorts had been fashioned into the back of a building, the slick wooden floors and close targets obviously used for instruction. Wandering over, Yuuto sat on the edge and leaned his weight back onto flat palms. It was a perfect viewpoint; he could see Orie no matter what target he worked over.
In this way he found Orie and Sensei alike. Their joy, love, for the art unable to be contained. But Sensei could take pleasure in many different aspects of life, as well, and Yuuto had yet to find anything other than archery that Orie might consider "fun." He wasn't sure if it was because Orie's presence was too fresh, or if the young man truly was one-sighted.
Either way, Yuuto decided to give him this. He tilted his head back in silence, and merely tracked Orie from beneath lowered eyelashes.
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Sept 10, 2006 14:02:21 GMT -5
As if suddenly remembering where he was, Orie spun around, scanning the area until he spotted the general. "Asai-sama," he called, cupping his hand over his mouth so that the sound would carry. He had run pretty far out without thinking, after all - it had probably seemed rather immature, now that he thought about it. Before he got too ahead of himself, however, at least he had remembered to ask for permission, even if it was just a convention. "I can use this, right?"
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