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Post by Orie Hidehira on Jan 4, 2007 18:15:47 GMT -5
The servants kept on giving him odd smiles, probably thinking he was hopelessly lost. He indeed looked the part, empty-handed and wandering around aimlessly. He just wished the Asai household was easier to navitage, or at least the members were easier to locate.
He had a favor to ask of Asai Kohana. Though they had only first met recently, and for only a brief period at that, he felt that she was the easiest to approach, and most comfortable to be with. He had to admit that he admired her earnesty and friendliness, somewhat lacking in these qualities himself. She was, however, extremely hard to find.
He stopped walking when he heard voices, and recognized both immediately as that of Kohana and Yuuto. Looking up, he found himself in front of a meeting room, the one that served as the setting for briefing on matters of war, usually. It was one of the places the leader had pointed out when he first arrived, and one of the few locations he remembered due to its importance.
With a soft sigh, he settled himself quietly against the wall, waiting for them to finish.
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Jan 4, 2007 18:36:23 GMT -5
"Haven't I always acted in your best interests," Yuuto frowned, refusing to back down. "This time is no different, Kohana. Think of it as a command from your brother or your leader- I don't care. Whichever it takes for you to realize that this is a command."
Bent over the low table, Yuuto's hand moved methodically from parchment to ink well, sketching out Watanabe's Hokkaido fortress the best he could remember. He had only been a teenager when he first visited, and there was no doubt the structure had changed throughout the years in the face of the clan's decline. This was only one concern in the long list of difficulties this mission presented, and Yuuto refused to add Kohana's presence to the tally.
Ignoring the set of footsteps that halted outside the doorway, Yuuto marked a point that he hoped would at least be the remains of a moat.
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Asai Kohana
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Total Penis Envy [Japan]
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Post by Asai Kohana on Jan 4, 2007 19:00:24 GMT -5
"Yuu-nii, I have to do this. For myself!"
Somewhere in the back of her mind, Kohana had always known there would be a day when she would have to come to terms with who she was and where she came from. Even if Chiba was her home, Hokkaido had been her birthplace. Kohana needed to see for herself- see the place that would've surely been her grave if not for the Asai.
Yuuto glanced up at her plea, golden eyes fierce, and Kohana staved off the, "Not this time," before he could even speak it.
"This isn't a matter of vengeance, no matter what you're thinking. This is about forgiveness."
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Jan 4, 2007 19:08:35 GMT -5
Taking a great breath, the general finally sat aside his writing tools and gave Kohana the full weight of his gaze.
"Forgiveness?" He echoed, palms flat stop his thighs.
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Asai Kohana
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Post by Asai Kohana on Jan 4, 2007 19:21:14 GMT -5
"Don't force me to hate my parents for the rest of my life, Yuu-nii. What they did was horrible, but I can never be happy with the life I have now until I forgive them for it. My hate will keep me grounded in the past."
Yuuto blinked slowly at her words, and Kohana realized her next words could tilt the scale in her favor.
"Once I've seen where I came from, I'll never have to wonder. I'll know, and there'll be no need to ever dwell on it again. I can finally be Asai Kohana- completely."
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Jan 13, 2007 18:16:56 GMT -5
It was nearly impossible to deny logic like that- whether Yuuto claimed to be Kohana's leader or her brother. She was, had always been, a great crack in his wall of bushido. However, it was one matter to admit the weakness in your heart, and another to have that weakness present on the battlefield.
"I won't be able to protect you."
Kohana's mouth twitched in obvious displeasure, and the general raised his palm before she could retort.
"You have proven yourself a more than capable samurai on the practice field, but this isn't a training exercise with your fellow clansmen. The Watanabe will be striking to kill, and you may have to do the same.
Can you take a man's life, Kohana?"
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Asai Kohana
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Post by Asai Kohana on Jan 13, 2007 18:32:31 GMT -5
It was a loaded, yet valid, question. They both knew Kohana's aversion to killing- even her fighting techniques were grounded in defense and nonlethal attacks. She'd never taken part in an actual battle, or even seen Yuuto take a life himself, for that matter.
"I don't know," she answered honestly, knowing she could never lie to Yuuto's face. "But I'll never know if I remain in Chiba."
Yuuto's brows creased over liquid-golden eyes, and it was the first time Kohana had ever seen him display such an openly worried face while in his Asai-sama persona.
"I have to grow up, nii-san. And you have to let me, even if it hurts." Even if it means my death, she thought silently, aware that Yuuto was probably considering the exact same thought.
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