From: unagim@aol.com (Unagi M)
Date: 18 Aug 1999 22:02:14 EDT
The silver moon rode the clouds easily as Unagi left the Arena with Nyan-nyan and they passed through the stillness of the streets. His offer of lodging had been impulsive and he silently thanked the First Retainer for the amazing gift of construction, suspecting that this woman, whose back felt like fire to the inside of his guiding arm, would have found scant respite in the cave
that had served Unagi as home since leaving New Mountainside.
She had returned. He found he could not recall when she had left. All he knew was the ache of missing her. Had it been only for a month? Had it been for ever? Before he would never have been so bold as to speak so directly as he had this night. But the shogunate had changed much about him. Even though he no longer bore the crown, it had left its mark in passing. A strange confidence was his, a new decisiveness, alloyed with a passionate
resolve in the twin crucibles of victory and almost death.
He hoped the journey by foot would not be over-tiring for her. As for himself, every sense was opening to a higher level. He heard the wings of the nighthawk far above. He could see the furtive twisting of zephyr-teased leaves dark against a moonlit sky. He could feel the lightest tremor of her footstep through the ground as they walked. Scents tantalized him - pine from the ridge far to the west, the fading sharp tang of steel from the combat of the
Arena, the flinty dust of the road, the faint earthy musk of dried sweat on her body, the copper of his own blood still damp on the nondescript kimono from wounds sealed by the Ward.
Time seemed to dilate... and compress. And they were there.
Kanemaki was watching at the gate of the outer wall. The unobtrusive hand signal allowed passage for Unagi and Nyan-nyan. A large courtyard opened to her eyes; a broad expanse of moon-washed grass, archery targets of unusual shape in the distance, other constructions suited to familiar and unfamilar excerises, and an interior wall.
They were met at the inner gate by a diminutive woman, kimono clad, long black hair wrapped in a careful bun. She bowed deeply and whispered greeting. Unagi bowed in return and a brief conversation ensued in which Onyx caught her own name.
Unagi turned to Onyx. "This is Yoshino. She wi'rr care for your needs. I must make of certain duties and wi'rr return soon." He turned and headed in through the gate toward a low building, but not before the silver moonlight betrayed the effort it took to take his eyes away from Nyan-nyan.
"P'rease with me come, hai?" The maid was beckoning with gentle persistence.
*****
House Miyamoto (SL, not a post)
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From: onyxsolare@aol.com (OnyxSolare)
Date: 23 Aug 1999 12:49:21 EDT
..A welcome distraction was the walk with Unagi, from the problems buzzing around in her brain like angry wasps..
She was tired. Weary would be a more apt description of her physical and mental state at the moment. Private hopes thrown were again to the hard cold floor of reality tonight. It shook her up this night, badly. Reopening all the scarred over wounds. When Unagi asked her how she was, she told him the tale was long, and indeed it was. Will it even come out of a throat that tends to slam shut every now and again? She didn't owe anyone an
explanation, but she's no fool as to believe that holding on to the story of why and what happened when she left, with a tight fist, will make things any better. Or her guilt at turning her back on Sage any easier. Sage simply got too close...
Coming back into to town was almost as taxing as staying away, despite all the fond memories. Entering the arena and its roped rings of combat was comfortable, a sure thing that she could rely on even when everything else was tossed up into the air like so much unlucky dice. Physical strain was good for her nerves and the bout, even though lost, was a release. She wondered who would remember and some dear to her did, but most she usually got from
the regular crowd at the Arena was a nod. She won't kid herself. That's just the way things work around here. Many you can greet every night, yet never become someone called friend. Pity, she thinks. Yet it was good seeing the familiar faces, especially Unagi's.
She bowed her head, letting a thick fall of hair slides across her cheek, obscuring the enigmatic smile. Unagi seemed so surprised to see her back. The man had always brought about a fond smile on her lips. Something about him soothed her, made her relax. When she greeted him after being gone for so long, she asked him if he had enjoyed the basket of fruit she sent. She couldn't resist doing so, after all he has never tasted a peach before.
That in itself made her feel glad to return. She delighted in his reaction.
Onyx's boot heels scuffed the dry road, her feet less nimble than usual. She sighs under her breath.
Unagi's guiding arm was a welcome touch. After passing through one entrance, seemingly effortlessly, Onyx walked with him in silence. She is tempted to rest her head upon his shoulder, but for now she keeps up the strong stance. It takes so much energy for her to keep her eyes forward, spine straight, especially when Unagi's body is right there for her to lean on. Despite her desire she doesn't dare to presume to do so.
Her sensitive pupils dilated to take in the features in the darkness, the moonlight acting as her hazy blue sun. After quick darts of her eyes to the unfamiliar objects inside the courtyard, she took measure of the figure ahead. A delicate woman waiting for them by another gate. Even while she knew Unagi would not take her to a place that held danger, her instinct for self-preservation kept the feline ears flicking and scanning all the sounds
around her. From an insect in the taller tufts of grass to the flowing vocalizations of the delicate woman and Unagi, each sound was distinct, overly sharp to her nervous ears.
When she heard her name in the accented and unfamiliar language her attention was locked on Unagi, staring at him as if doing so would translate the entire conversation.
He turned to her. "This is Yoshino. She wi'rr care for your needs. I must make of certain duties and wi'rr return soon."
A half formed "What?!" stuck stupidly on her lips. Whipping her eyes from him to the maidservant.
"P'rease with me come, hai?" Onyx stared at him as he left, looking back to the maidservant as she spoke, Yoshino gently waving her arms forward, graceful and persistent. Onyx's hand slid down her thigh to grip the comforting coil of the braided leather lash hooked to her hip. The grip got tighter as both Onyx and the graceful Yoshino passed through the inner gate's entrance.
Date: 23 Aug 1999 12:49:21 EDT
..A welcome distraction was the walk with Unagi, from the problems buzzing around in her brain like angry wasps..
She was tired. Weary would be a more apt description of her physical and mental state at the moment. Private hopes thrown were again to the hard cold floor of reality tonight. It shook her up this night, badly. Reopening all the scarred over wounds. When Unagi asked her how she was, she told him the tale was long, and indeed it was. Will it even come out of a throat that tends to slam shut every now and again? She didn't owe anyone an
explanation, but she's no fool as to believe that holding on to the story of why and what happened when she left, with a tight fist, will make things any better. Or her guilt at turning her back on Sage any easier. Sage simply got too close...
Coming back into to town was almost as taxing as staying away, despite all the fond memories. Entering the arena and its roped rings of combat was comfortable, a sure thing that she could rely on even when everything else was tossed up into the air like so much unlucky dice. Physical strain was good for her nerves and the bout, even though lost, was a release. She wondered who would remember and some dear to her did, but most she usually got from
the regular crowd at the Arena was a nod. She won't kid herself. That's just the way things work around here. Many you can greet every night, yet never become someone called friend. Pity, she thinks. Yet it was good seeing the familiar faces, especially Unagi's.
She bowed her head, letting a thick fall of hair slides across her cheek, obscuring the enigmatic smile. Unagi seemed so surprised to see her back. The man had always brought about a fond smile on her lips. Something about him soothed her, made her relax. When she greeted him after being gone for so long, she asked him if he had enjoyed the basket of fruit she sent. She couldn't resist doing so, after all he has never tasted a peach before.
That in itself made her feel glad to return. She delighted in his reaction.
Onyx's boot heels scuffed the dry road, her feet less nimble than usual. She sighs under her breath.
Unagi's guiding arm was a welcome touch. After passing through one entrance, seemingly effortlessly, Onyx walked with him in silence. She is tempted to rest her head upon his shoulder, but for now she keeps up the strong stance. It takes so much energy for her to keep her eyes forward, spine straight, especially when Unagi's body is right there for her to lean on. Despite her desire she doesn't dare to presume to do so.
Her sensitive pupils dilated to take in the features in the darkness, the moonlight acting as her hazy blue sun. After quick darts of her eyes to the unfamiliar objects inside the courtyard, she took measure of the figure ahead. A delicate woman waiting for them by another gate. Even while she knew Unagi would not take her to a place that held danger, her instinct for self-preservation kept the feline ears flicking and scanning all the sounds
around her. From an insect in the taller tufts of grass to the flowing vocalizations of the delicate woman and Unagi, each sound was distinct, overly sharp to her nervous ears.
When she heard her name in the accented and unfamiliar language her attention was locked on Unagi, staring at him as if doing so would translate the entire conversation.
He turned to her. "This is Yoshino. She wi'rr care for your needs. I must make of certain duties and wi'rr return soon."
A half formed "What?!" stuck stupidly on her lips. Whipping her eyes from him to the maidservant.
"P'rease with me come, hai?" Onyx stared at him as he left, looking back to the maidservant as she spoke, Yoshino gently waving her arms forward, graceful and persistent. Onyx's hand slid down her thigh to grip the comforting coil of the braided leather lash hooked to her hip. The grip got tighter as both Onyx and the graceful Yoshino passed through the inner gate's entrance.
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From: unagim@aol.com (Unagi M)
Date: 24 Aug 1999 21:04:25 EDT
The first thing Nyan-nyan noticed was that the floors squeaked. Not what one would expect of alternating rosewood and cedar slats with the look of having been polished to a warm patina by a hundred generations of slippered feet. And the walls of this house... were... she reached out a gracfully unobtrusive hand and traced a touch along the nearest wall as they passed along... yes... the walls were made of paper. Large
translucent rectangles, some lit from behind, suggesting enclosed rooms.
Yoshino stopped at a section of this paper wall, semingly indistinguishable from any other - more rectangles of softly glowing paper framed by thin wood strips - and slid an entire panel back along its own length. Nyan-nyan's eyes caught what her weariness had earlier passed over - thin tracks along the base of these strange walls which allowed them to slide and open or close entrances to rooms like the one she now entered as the diminutive maid
paused at the side of the door.
The room was floored with some sort of reed mats, again regular shapes of rectangles in array. In the center of the small room was an enormous brass tub, reflecting the light of the oil lamps placed carefully on their stands, and filled more than half-way with steaming water scented lightly of rain and sandalwood. A simple wooden rack less than a step from the great brass basin held two towels of extraordinary plushness.
Were it not for the towels, the basin might give the impression of a cannibal tribe's cooking pot.
"Wou'rd Onyx-sama wish for Yoshino to wash away strain of dojo and weariness of travel?"
The maid apparently anticipated an answer in the positive as she deftly rolled the sleeves of her kimono up above her elbows, exposing a formidable pair of forearms for so slight a body.
Date: 24 Aug 1999 21:04:25 EDT
The first thing Nyan-nyan noticed was that the floors squeaked. Not what one would expect of alternating rosewood and cedar slats with the look of having been polished to a warm patina by a hundred generations of slippered feet. And the walls of this house... were... she reached out a gracfully unobtrusive hand and traced a touch along the nearest wall as they passed along... yes... the walls were made of paper. Large
translucent rectangles, some lit from behind, suggesting enclosed rooms.
Yoshino stopped at a section of this paper wall, semingly indistinguishable from any other - more rectangles of softly glowing paper framed by thin wood strips - and slid an entire panel back along its own length. Nyan-nyan's eyes caught what her weariness had earlier passed over - thin tracks along the base of these strange walls which allowed them to slide and open or close entrances to rooms like the one she now entered as the diminutive maid
paused at the side of the door.
The room was floored with some sort of reed mats, again regular shapes of rectangles in array. In the center of the small room was an enormous brass tub, reflecting the light of the oil lamps placed carefully on their stands, and filled more than half-way with steaming water scented lightly of rain and sandalwood. A simple wooden rack less than a step from the great brass basin held two towels of extraordinary plushness.
Were it not for the towels, the basin might give the impression of a cannibal tribe's cooking pot.
"Wou'rd Onyx-sama wish for Yoshino to wash away strain of dojo and weariness of travel?"
The maid apparently anticipated an answer in the positive as she deftly rolled the sleeves of her kimono up above her elbows, exposing a formidable pair of forearms for so slight a body.
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From: onyxsolare@aol.com (OnyxSolare)
Date: 28 Aug 1999 13:13:29 EDT
Her boots fell painfully loud upon the wooden floor, and she cringed behind Yoshino's back. Thinking of herself as a bull in a china shop didn't help her relax either. Everything seemed so delicate...so breakable. After noticing the near maze like array of rooms, cordoned off by walls made of ...paper? She blinked in amazement. The thinnest type of paper it seemed. Drawing her hand back quickly lest she poke a fingernail through Unagi's decor,
she moved her arms behind her and entwined all ten digits together at the small of her back.
Onyx kept her eyes on the small maid's back for fear of getting lost. The woman ahead of her was considerably smaller than her own size but damn, was she quick. Yoshino ended her walk with a slippered stop at another paper wall, but wait, this was a door. Onyx's nostrils flared in appreciation. A smooth scent, slightly spicy, yet tempered with the newborn scent of...rain, yes that was it, made her close her eyes briefly and smile. Yoshino slid the
door further open revealing a huge brass vessel in the middle of an otherwise empty room.
Strange place for the kitchen, she thought.
"Wou'rd Onyx-sama wish for Yoshino to wash away strain of dojo and weariness of travel?"
Ahhh...the bathing room.
She turned around to face Yoshino. Onyx's head already shaking in the negative.
"Quite alright...I can take care of it myself. Thank you for showing me the way but I'll be fine from here on out. " She smiled through the uneasy feeling in her belly. Even as Onyx said this the maid rolled up her sleeves and was advancing toward her. Onyx didn't know she was backing up until her hip bounced off the rim of the brass tub. Her hands waved in between Yoshino and herself with increasing alarm.
"Tis duty, p'rease disrobe and get in water"
A blink, another blink and even more blinks followed. Now it wasn't the idea of bathing, she loved to be clean. Nor was the problem disrobing. It was the fact that she did not know this woman, despite that this was Unagi's maid. And for some reason, be it the circumstance or something else, made her uneasy to let this woman bathe her. Onyx just didn't like the determined glint in Yoshino's dark eyes.
Onyx skirted around the tub and Yoshino followed. The maid frowned and clapped her hands together sharply. A small hand with an amazingly strong arm behind it, took hold of Onyx's jacket. She felt the tugs and pulls and then the draft, but before she knew it, Onyx was pushed up a few small wooden steps and plunged unceremoniously under the steamy water. Water rushed into her sensitive feline ears making her shoot upwards with a spring of her
legs. A tremendous slosh of water poured over the lip of the tub, soaking Yoshino almost head to toe. Mounds of heavy hair clumped over Onyx's eyes and the drenched feline ears became flattened and turned outwards. To the sound of her sputters, Onyx's fingers swabbed away tangled hunks of hair from her eyes. Eyes that were now narrowed and glinting.
"You......." she growled with a voice that sounded like a rusty squeezebox.
Bath brush in hand,Yoshino came closer. The maid's lips were set in a firm line of disapproval as she whisked the semi-stiff bristled brush across a cake of soap. Standing on the few wooden steps Yoshino bent over the edge of the tub and applied the soapy brush to Onyx's back, causing Onyx to whirl around to dodge the rough bristles. A duel of hand and brush ensued. For every quick scrub from Yoshino, Onyx was there with an attempt to escape from
the brush. Maybe later Onyx would laugh about this but for now, it was a battle of utter seriousness.
Then a master move. Yoshino with her hands full of soap lather descended on Onyx's hair and face. Onyx's growls became a soapy gurgle and her balled up fists lifted from the water and cannonballed down in frustration, sending another tidal wave of bathwater to the floor. The waterline in the tub that was previously at her collarbone was now around her hips. Evaporation was causing her to shiver under the bubbles. Soon she felt the absence of
Yoshino's briskly scrubbing hands and that damnable brush. Her soggy ears strained to listen for what her eyes could not see.. but the water clogging them sabotaged the effort.
Foooosh!
Brisk cold water sluiced over her head and down her body, shocking her into a choked off scream. Her hands formed into outraged claws. "Bit...." Another bucket of cold water was dumped over her head, cutting off whatever oath she was going to swear.
"Co'rd water invigorating, hai?" Onyx would swear later she heard the satisfaction in the maid's cheerful tone. A low chest borne growl was Onyx's only response.
The maid's hand gripped her upper arm, urging her to a stand for a final rinsing of cold water. Onyx stood, silently glowering as Yoshino splashed the last bucketful over her legs, rinsing away the rest of the soap. Again Yoshino stepped away, her slippers squishing in the puddles of water surrounding the tub. This time Onyx watched the maid depart in order to gather two plush towels. Yoshino passed one towel to Onyx with what seemed to be...a
cheeky smile. Onyx couldn't be positive for it only lasted a second. She snatched the towel from the maid's hand and wrapped it around her own head, squishing the feline ears in haste. Afterwards the maid made short work of drying the top half of her.
"Dry rest of you. Come" Yoshino and her firm grip guided Onyx onto the small wooden steps. From there the maid dried her lower half in the same efficient manner, handing Onyx a simple robe made of dark silk. Gritting her teeth together Onyx glared at Yoshino and slipped on the robe. To Onyx's surprise it was long enough to cover her to the middle of her shins. She belted it tightly around the waist and stepped down, refusing the maid's offered
hand of assistance. Reaching the bottom of the steps her feet splashed once again into chilled water. She paused with a look of utter irritation.
Her footfalls thudded down into the puddles in anger. When she reached what she thought to be the door to the room, she turned and faced Yoshino, her arms were tensely folded across her chest with a bath wrinkled foot tapping impatiently.
"Unagi better be back now...."
"That Yoshino do not know." The maid bowing slightly with a shy looking smile, "Wou'rd Onyx-sama wish for Yoshino to knead away soreness of dojo and tenseness of day?" The maid rolled up her sleeves again and softly cracked the knuckles of her tiny hands.
Date: 28 Aug 1999 13:13:29 EDT
Her boots fell painfully loud upon the wooden floor, and she cringed behind Yoshino's back. Thinking of herself as a bull in a china shop didn't help her relax either. Everything seemed so delicate...so breakable. After noticing the near maze like array of rooms, cordoned off by walls made of ...paper? She blinked in amazement. The thinnest type of paper it seemed. Drawing her hand back quickly lest she poke a fingernail through Unagi's decor,
she moved her arms behind her and entwined all ten digits together at the small of her back.
Onyx kept her eyes on the small maid's back for fear of getting lost. The woman ahead of her was considerably smaller than her own size but damn, was she quick. Yoshino ended her walk with a slippered stop at another paper wall, but wait, this was a door. Onyx's nostrils flared in appreciation. A smooth scent, slightly spicy, yet tempered with the newborn scent of...rain, yes that was it, made her close her eyes briefly and smile. Yoshino slid the
door further open revealing a huge brass vessel in the middle of an otherwise empty room.
Strange place for the kitchen, she thought.
"Wou'rd Onyx-sama wish for Yoshino to wash away strain of dojo and weariness of travel?"
Ahhh...the bathing room.
She turned around to face Yoshino. Onyx's head already shaking in the negative.
"Quite alright...I can take care of it myself. Thank you for showing me the way but I'll be fine from here on out. " She smiled through the uneasy feeling in her belly. Even as Onyx said this the maid rolled up her sleeves and was advancing toward her. Onyx didn't know she was backing up until her hip bounced off the rim of the brass tub. Her hands waved in between Yoshino and herself with increasing alarm.
"Tis duty, p'rease disrobe and get in water"
A blink, another blink and even more blinks followed. Now it wasn't the idea of bathing, she loved to be clean. Nor was the problem disrobing. It was the fact that she did not know this woman, despite that this was Unagi's maid. And for some reason, be it the circumstance or something else, made her uneasy to let this woman bathe her. Onyx just didn't like the determined glint in Yoshino's dark eyes.
Onyx skirted around the tub and Yoshino followed. The maid frowned and clapped her hands together sharply. A small hand with an amazingly strong arm behind it, took hold of Onyx's jacket. She felt the tugs and pulls and then the draft, but before she knew it, Onyx was pushed up a few small wooden steps and plunged unceremoniously under the steamy water. Water rushed into her sensitive feline ears making her shoot upwards with a spring of her
legs. A tremendous slosh of water poured over the lip of the tub, soaking Yoshino almost head to toe. Mounds of heavy hair clumped over Onyx's eyes and the drenched feline ears became flattened and turned outwards. To the sound of her sputters, Onyx's fingers swabbed away tangled hunks of hair from her eyes. Eyes that were now narrowed and glinting.
"You......." she growled with a voice that sounded like a rusty squeezebox.
Bath brush in hand,Yoshino came closer. The maid's lips were set in a firm line of disapproval as she whisked the semi-stiff bristled brush across a cake of soap. Standing on the few wooden steps Yoshino bent over the edge of the tub and applied the soapy brush to Onyx's back, causing Onyx to whirl around to dodge the rough bristles. A duel of hand and brush ensued. For every quick scrub from Yoshino, Onyx was there with an attempt to escape from
the brush. Maybe later Onyx would laugh about this but for now, it was a battle of utter seriousness.
Then a master move. Yoshino with her hands full of soap lather descended on Onyx's hair and face. Onyx's growls became a soapy gurgle and her balled up fists lifted from the water and cannonballed down in frustration, sending another tidal wave of bathwater to the floor. The waterline in the tub that was previously at her collarbone was now around her hips. Evaporation was causing her to shiver under the bubbles. Soon she felt the absence of
Yoshino's briskly scrubbing hands and that damnable brush. Her soggy ears strained to listen for what her eyes could not see.. but the water clogging them sabotaged the effort.
Foooosh!
Brisk cold water sluiced over her head and down her body, shocking her into a choked off scream. Her hands formed into outraged claws. "Bit...." Another bucket of cold water was dumped over her head, cutting off whatever oath she was going to swear.
"Co'rd water invigorating, hai?" Onyx would swear later she heard the satisfaction in the maid's cheerful tone. A low chest borne growl was Onyx's only response.
The maid's hand gripped her upper arm, urging her to a stand for a final rinsing of cold water. Onyx stood, silently glowering as Yoshino splashed the last bucketful over her legs, rinsing away the rest of the soap. Again Yoshino stepped away, her slippers squishing in the puddles of water surrounding the tub. This time Onyx watched the maid depart in order to gather two plush towels. Yoshino passed one towel to Onyx with what seemed to be...a
cheeky smile. Onyx couldn't be positive for it only lasted a second. She snatched the towel from the maid's hand and wrapped it around her own head, squishing the feline ears in haste. Afterwards the maid made short work of drying the top half of her.
"Dry rest of you. Come" Yoshino and her firm grip guided Onyx onto the small wooden steps. From there the maid dried her lower half in the same efficient manner, handing Onyx a simple robe made of dark silk. Gritting her teeth together Onyx glared at Yoshino and slipped on the robe. To Onyx's surprise it was long enough to cover her to the middle of her shins. She belted it tightly around the waist and stepped down, refusing the maid's offered
hand of assistance. Reaching the bottom of the steps her feet splashed once again into chilled water. She paused with a look of utter irritation.
Her footfalls thudded down into the puddles in anger. When she reached what she thought to be the door to the room, she turned and faced Yoshino, her arms were tensely folded across her chest with a bath wrinkled foot tapping impatiently.
"Unagi better be back now...."
"That Yoshino do not know." The maid bowing slightly with a shy looking smile, "Wou'rd Onyx-sama wish for Yoshino to knead away soreness of dojo and tenseness of day?" The maid rolled up her sleeves again and softly cracked the knuckles of her tiny hands.
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From: unagim@aol.com (Unagi M)
Date: 01 Sep 1999 14:39:26 EDT
Yoshino had attended to recalcitrant students and servants before, but never one so feral- seeming as this woman.
It was only a bath, and was not cleanliness divine? This one would simply have to learn the way things were done in the House. A stiff brush to scrub - ahyeeyah, but Lord Unagi had brought a strange one to the House this time, such ears! Nevermind... Yoshino thought, this one will clean up like other students and the cold water will wake up and chase drowsiness away, heya?
This one is student, hai? Yoshino thought as she wielded the brush and the water flew. Yes, certainly... with the quick reflexes that were making the bathing difficult. Also... there were the faint traces of healed cuts common to adherents of swordplay... Yoshino's black eyes missed little as she applied the brush with vigor.
Eeeeyah! Such growling! Well, maybe cold water to rinse will settle this one down.
Yoshino tossed the large bucket effortlessly, sluicing away the suds with a great dash of cold water. Yes... she thought... that will quench the fire... and soon the second bucket followed.
Through the towels Yoshino could feel under her hands a trembling body - strong and lithe. Maybe this one had promise.
The drying finished now was time to allow new novice relaxation of massage - tomorrow would be full day and usually very hard for beginning students to keep up.
"Unagi better be back now...."
The words surprised Yoshino, though she let to trace reflect on her flat features.
"That Yoshino do not know. Wou'rd Onyx-sama wish for Yoshino to knead away soreness of dojo and tenseness of day?"
She rolled up her sleeves again and softly cracked the knuckles of her tiny hands.
"Massage room is this way..."
Yoshino slid open a different wall panel and stepped through to an adjoining room.
Date: 01 Sep 1999 14:39:26 EDT
Yoshino had attended to recalcitrant students and servants before, but never one so feral- seeming as this woman.
It was only a bath, and was not cleanliness divine? This one would simply have to learn the way things were done in the House. A stiff brush to scrub - ahyeeyah, but Lord Unagi had brought a strange one to the House this time, such ears! Nevermind... Yoshino thought, this one will clean up like other students and the cold water will wake up and chase drowsiness away, heya?
This one is student, hai? Yoshino thought as she wielded the brush and the water flew. Yes, certainly... with the quick reflexes that were making the bathing difficult. Also... there were the faint traces of healed cuts common to adherents of swordplay... Yoshino's black eyes missed little as she applied the brush with vigor.
Eeeeyah! Such growling! Well, maybe cold water to rinse will settle this one down.
Yoshino tossed the large bucket effortlessly, sluicing away the suds with a great dash of cold water. Yes... she thought... that will quench the fire... and soon the second bucket followed.
Through the towels Yoshino could feel under her hands a trembling body - strong and lithe. Maybe this one had promise.
The drying finished now was time to allow new novice relaxation of massage - tomorrow would be full day and usually very hard for beginning students to keep up.
"Unagi better be back now...."
The words surprised Yoshino, though she let to trace reflect on her flat features.
"That Yoshino do not know. Wou'rd Onyx-sama wish for Yoshino to knead away soreness of dojo and tenseness of day?"
She rolled up her sleeves again and softly cracked the knuckles of her tiny hands.
"Massage room is this way..."
Yoshino slid open a different wall panel and stepped through to an adjoining room.
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From: unagim@aol.com (Unagi M)
Date: 10 Sep 1999 01:27:15 EDT
Unagi was sitting in meditation at the side of the rock garden. The patterns of the raked pebbles and the way at least one of the eight boulders was always hidden from view no matter where the observer stood or sat always helped the day's stress dissolve and the mind open to deeper paths.
He had almost reached the third level of Ha Gakure or "Hidden Leaves" when the feral cry tore the still night air.
"UNAGI!!"
It was his name, and almost unrecognizable, but her voice. The cry contained elements of fury and rage, and the undertones of an animal wailing frustration at the summer moon. His reaction was immediate. Rising like a lotus unfolding with petals of gleaming razored steel, he hurtled toward the source of the sound even as its fading echoes haunted the ebon sky.
Onyx had had enough of this maid. Cultural differences or not, the bath was beyond excuse and for this woman's hands to know her body in the intimacy of massage was impossible. Surely Unagi would set this straight... and even so might be given a piece of her mind.
But the sound that answered her shout was baffling. Was it a bee or a buzz saw that was drawing rapidly near with intimidating velocity?
Onyx had time only to turn toward the sound before the wall to her left parted in a huge inverted 'V' - wooden frame pieces and fragile paper alike severed instantly and effortlessly before the onslaught of whirling tempered steel.
Unagi burst into the room, both blades spinning at such a rate only the flash of passing made them visible. A trail of slashed paper and amputated wood frames extended in a perfectly straight line behind him... passing through at least four rooms.
Black eyes scanned the room for threats as he paused in the attitude of happo biraki - "open on all eight sides".
Frozen in shock, Onyx's mind perceived two things... Yoshino collapsing to her knees on the floor immediately behind Onyx... and the fact that Unagi's feet had made no sound whatsoever on the squeaky wooden floor.
"What is wrong?!" Unagi's eyes still searched for the threat.
"Ahhhh.... the bath... I mean... I didn't want... "
The subtle redness of the vigorous brushwork still marked Onyx's bare shoulders.
In one fluid movement, the swords found their sheathes and Unagi bowed carefully but quickly to Onyx. "I beg pardon Nyan-nyan..."
One step around her brought Unagi to the side of the kneeling Yoshino.
A burst of interrogative speech brought a quiet reply. An exclamation followed, then another harsh question in the island tongue. Unagi stiffened and one hand fell back to the hilt of the shirasaya.
One awful long frozen moment passed. Then Unagi spoke in a voice bearing the cold of winter ice on the sea. Yoshino's face paled immediately, the red flush of embarrasment replaced in an instant by the pallor of barely controlled terror.
Then Unagi was bowing again to Onyx and addressing her.
"I am most very deep sorry, Nyan-nyan... Yoshino has mistake you for either a novice student of dojo or a new househo'rd servant. P'rease to accept my most humb're apo'rogy. Yoshino wi'rr make further amend in morning. For now, p'rease come with me."
Unagi led Onyx through the rent in the wall, tearing the way open further with one hand. Two left turns on the wooden hallway floor and Unagi opened the sliding panel into a well furnished room, complete with a wardrobe open to reveal several exquisite silk kimonos.
"This wi'rr be your room as long as you wi'rr favor this House with your company. I wi'rr not far be away and wi'rr answer if you shou'rd ca'rr."
With that statement, the strange man bowed yet again and turned on his feet, once again making no sound in his passage over floors that creaked and groaned at every step Onyx took.
Date: 10 Sep 1999 01:27:15 EDT
Unagi was sitting in meditation at the side of the rock garden. The patterns of the raked pebbles and the way at least one of the eight boulders was always hidden from view no matter where the observer stood or sat always helped the day's stress dissolve and the mind open to deeper paths.
He had almost reached the third level of Ha Gakure or "Hidden Leaves" when the feral cry tore the still night air.
"UNAGI!!"
It was his name, and almost unrecognizable, but her voice. The cry contained elements of fury and rage, and the undertones of an animal wailing frustration at the summer moon. His reaction was immediate. Rising like a lotus unfolding with petals of gleaming razored steel, he hurtled toward the source of the sound even as its fading echoes haunted the ebon sky.
Onyx had had enough of this maid. Cultural differences or not, the bath was beyond excuse and for this woman's hands to know her body in the intimacy of massage was impossible. Surely Unagi would set this straight... and even so might be given a piece of her mind.
But the sound that answered her shout was baffling. Was it a bee or a buzz saw that was drawing rapidly near with intimidating velocity?
Onyx had time only to turn toward the sound before the wall to her left parted in a huge inverted 'V' - wooden frame pieces and fragile paper alike severed instantly and effortlessly before the onslaught of whirling tempered steel.
Unagi burst into the room, both blades spinning at such a rate only the flash of passing made them visible. A trail of slashed paper and amputated wood frames extended in a perfectly straight line behind him... passing through at least four rooms.
Black eyes scanned the room for threats as he paused in the attitude of happo biraki - "open on all eight sides".
Frozen in shock, Onyx's mind perceived two things... Yoshino collapsing to her knees on the floor immediately behind Onyx... and the fact that Unagi's feet had made no sound whatsoever on the squeaky wooden floor.
"What is wrong?!" Unagi's eyes still searched for the threat.
"Ahhhh.... the bath... I mean... I didn't want... "
The subtle redness of the vigorous brushwork still marked Onyx's bare shoulders.
In one fluid movement, the swords found their sheathes and Unagi bowed carefully but quickly to Onyx. "I beg pardon Nyan-nyan..."
One step around her brought Unagi to the side of the kneeling Yoshino.
A burst of interrogative speech brought a quiet reply. An exclamation followed, then another harsh question in the island tongue. Unagi stiffened and one hand fell back to the hilt of the shirasaya.
One awful long frozen moment passed. Then Unagi spoke in a voice bearing the cold of winter ice on the sea. Yoshino's face paled immediately, the red flush of embarrasment replaced in an instant by the pallor of barely controlled terror.
Then Unagi was bowing again to Onyx and addressing her.
"I am most very deep sorry, Nyan-nyan... Yoshino has mistake you for either a novice student of dojo or a new househo'rd servant. P'rease to accept my most humb're apo'rogy. Yoshino wi'rr make further amend in morning. For now, p'rease come with me."
Unagi led Onyx through the rent in the wall, tearing the way open further with one hand. Two left turns on the wooden hallway floor and Unagi opened the sliding panel into a well furnished room, complete with a wardrobe open to reveal several exquisite silk kimonos.
"This wi'rr be your room as long as you wi'rr favor this House with your company. I wi'rr not far be away and wi'rr answer if you shou'rd ca'rr."
With that statement, the strange man bowed yet again and turned on his feet, once again making no sound in his passage over floors that creaked and groaned at every step Onyx took.
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- Archivist
- Posts: 30701
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From: unagim@aol.com (Unagi M)
Date: 10 Sep 1999 01:27:15 EDT
Unagi was sitting in meditation at the side of the rock garden. The patterns of the raked pebbles and the way at least one of the eight boulders was always hidden from view no matter where the observer stood or sat always helped the day's stress dissolve and the mind open to deeper paths.
He had almost reached the third level of Ha Gakure or "Hidden Leaves" when the feral cry tore the still night air.
"UNAGI!!"
It was his name, and almost unrecognizable, but her voice. The cry contained elements of fury and rage, and the undertones of an animal wailing frustration at the summer moon. His reaction was immediate. Rising like a lotus unfolding with petals of gleaming razored steel, he hurtled toward the source of the sound even as its fading echoes haunted the ebon sky.
Onyx had had enough of this maid. Cultural differences or not, the bath was beyond excuse and for this woman's hands to know her body in the intimacy of massage was impossible. Surely Unagi would set this straight... and even so might be given a piece of her mind.
But the sound that answered her shout was baffling. Was it a bee or a buzz saw that was drawing rapidly near with intimidating velocity?
Onyx had time only to turn toward the sound before the wall to her left parted in a huge inverted 'V' - wooden frame pieces and fragile paper alike severed instantly and effortlessly before the onslaught of whirling tempered steel.
Unagi burst into the room, both blades spinning at such a rate only the flash of passing made them visible. A trail of slashed paper and amputated wood frames extended in a perfectly straight line behind him... passing through at least four rooms.
Black eyes scanned the room for threats as he paused in the attitude of happo biraki - "open on all eight sides".
Frozen in shock, Onyx's mind perceived two things... Yoshino collapsing to her knees on the floor immediately behind Onyx... and the fact that Unagi's feet had made no sound whatsoever on the squeaky wooden floor.
"What is wrong?!" Unagi's eyes still searched for the threat.
"Ahhhh.... the bath... I mean... I didn't want... "
The subtle redness of the vigorous brushwork still marked Onyx's bare shoulders.
In one fluid movement, the swords found their sheathes and Unagi bowed carefully but quickly to Onyx. "I beg pardon Nyan-nyan..."
One step around her brought Unagi to the side of the kneeling Yoshino.
A burst of interrogative speech brought a quiet reply. An exclamation followed, then another harsh question in the island tongue. Unagi stiffened and one hand fell back to the hilt of the shirasaya.
One awful long frozen moment passed. Then Unagi spoke in a voice bearing the cold of winter ice on the sea. Yoshino's face paled immediately, the red flush of embarrasment replaced in an instant by the pallor of barely controlled terror.
Then Unagi was bowing again to Onyx and addressing her.
"I am most very deep sorry, Nyan-nyan... Yoshino has mistake you for either a novice student of dojo or a new househo'rd servant. P'rease to accept my most humb're apo'rogy. Yoshino wi'rr make further amend in morning. For now, p'rease come with me."
Unagi led Onyx through the rent in the wall, tearing the way open further with one hand. Two left turns on the wooden hallway floor and Unagi opened the sliding panel into a well furnished room, complete with a wardrobe open to reveal several exquisite silk kimonos.
"This wi'rr be your room as long as you wi'rr favor this House with your company. I wi'rr not far be away and wi'rr answer if you shou'rd ca'rr."
With that statement, the strange man bowed yet again and turned on his feet, once again making no sound in his passage over floors that creaked and groaned at every step Onyx took.
Date: 10 Sep 1999 01:27:15 EDT
Unagi was sitting in meditation at the side of the rock garden. The patterns of the raked pebbles and the way at least one of the eight boulders was always hidden from view no matter where the observer stood or sat always helped the day's stress dissolve and the mind open to deeper paths.
He had almost reached the third level of Ha Gakure or "Hidden Leaves" when the feral cry tore the still night air.
"UNAGI!!"
It was his name, and almost unrecognizable, but her voice. The cry contained elements of fury and rage, and the undertones of an animal wailing frustration at the summer moon. His reaction was immediate. Rising like a lotus unfolding with petals of gleaming razored steel, he hurtled toward the source of the sound even as its fading echoes haunted the ebon sky.
Onyx had had enough of this maid. Cultural differences or not, the bath was beyond excuse and for this woman's hands to know her body in the intimacy of massage was impossible. Surely Unagi would set this straight... and even so might be given a piece of her mind.
But the sound that answered her shout was baffling. Was it a bee or a buzz saw that was drawing rapidly near with intimidating velocity?
Onyx had time only to turn toward the sound before the wall to her left parted in a huge inverted 'V' - wooden frame pieces and fragile paper alike severed instantly and effortlessly before the onslaught of whirling tempered steel.
Unagi burst into the room, both blades spinning at such a rate only the flash of passing made them visible. A trail of slashed paper and amputated wood frames extended in a perfectly straight line behind him... passing through at least four rooms.
Black eyes scanned the room for threats as he paused in the attitude of happo biraki - "open on all eight sides".
Frozen in shock, Onyx's mind perceived two things... Yoshino collapsing to her knees on the floor immediately behind Onyx... and the fact that Unagi's feet had made no sound whatsoever on the squeaky wooden floor.
"What is wrong?!" Unagi's eyes still searched for the threat.
"Ahhhh.... the bath... I mean... I didn't want... "
The subtle redness of the vigorous brushwork still marked Onyx's bare shoulders.
In one fluid movement, the swords found their sheathes and Unagi bowed carefully but quickly to Onyx. "I beg pardon Nyan-nyan..."
One step around her brought Unagi to the side of the kneeling Yoshino.
A burst of interrogative speech brought a quiet reply. An exclamation followed, then another harsh question in the island tongue. Unagi stiffened and one hand fell back to the hilt of the shirasaya.
One awful long frozen moment passed. Then Unagi spoke in a voice bearing the cold of winter ice on the sea. Yoshino's face paled immediately, the red flush of embarrasment replaced in an instant by the pallor of barely controlled terror.
Then Unagi was bowing again to Onyx and addressing her.
"I am most very deep sorry, Nyan-nyan... Yoshino has mistake you for either a novice student of dojo or a new househo'rd servant. P'rease to accept my most humb're apo'rogy. Yoshino wi'rr make further amend in morning. For now, p'rease come with me."
Unagi led Onyx through the rent in the wall, tearing the way open further with one hand. Two left turns on the wooden hallway floor and Unagi opened the sliding panel into a well furnished room, complete with a wardrobe open to reveal several exquisite silk kimonos.
"This wi'rr be your room as long as you wi'rr favor this House with your company. I wi'rr not far be away and wi'rr answer if you shou'rd ca'rr."
With that statement, the strange man bowed yet again and turned on his feet, once again making no sound in his passage over floors that creaked and groaned at every step Onyx took.
-
DoS Archive
- Archivist
- Posts: 30701
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From: unagim@aol.com (Unagi M)
Date: 10 Sep 1999 01:27:15 EDT
Unagi was sitting in meditation at the side of the rock garden. The patterns of the raked pebbles and the way at least one of the eight boulders was always hidden from view no matter where the observer stood or sat always helped the day's stress dissolve and the mind open to deeper paths.
He had almost reached the third level of Ha Gakure or "Hidden Leaves" when the feral cry tore the still night air.
"UNAGI!!"
It was his name, and almost unrecognizable, but her voice. The cry contained elements of fury and rage, and the undertones of an animal wailing frustration at the summer moon. His reaction was immediate. Rising like a lotus unfolding with petals of gleaming razored steel, he hurtled toward the source of the sound even as its fading echoes haunted the ebon sky.
Onyx had had enough of this maid. Cultural differences or not, the bath was beyond excuse and for this woman's hands to know her body in the intimacy of massage was impossible. Surely Unagi would set this straight... and even so might be given a piece of her mind.
But the sound that answered her shout was baffling. Was it a bee or a buzz saw that was drawing rapidly near with intimidating velocity?
Onyx had time only to turn toward the sound before the wall to her left parted in a huge inverted 'V' - wooden frame pieces and fragile paper alike severed instantly and effortlessly before the onslaught of whirling tempered steel.
Unagi burst into the room, both blades spinning at such a rate only the flash of passing made them visible. A trail of slashed paper and amputated wood frames extended in a perfectly straight line behind him... passing through at least four rooms.
Black eyes scanned the room for threats as he paused in the attitude of happo biraki - "open on all eight sides".
Frozen in shock, Onyx's mind perceived two things... Yoshino collapsing to her knees on the floor immediately behind Onyx... and the fact that Unagi's feet had made no sound whatsoever on the squeaky wooden floor.
"What is wrong?!" Unagi's eyes still searched for the threat.
"Ahhhh.... the bath... I mean... I didn't want... "
The subtle redness of the vigorous brushwork still marked Onyx's bare shoulders.
In one fluid movement, the swords found their sheathes and Unagi bowed carefully but quickly to Onyx. "I beg pardon Nyan-nyan..."
One step around her brought Unagi to the side of the kneeling Yoshino.
A burst of interrogative speech brought a quiet reply. An exclamation followed, then another harsh question in the island tongue. Unagi stiffened and one hand fell back to the hilt of the shirasaya.
One awful long frozen moment passed. Then Unagi spoke in a voice bearing the cold of winter ice on the sea. Yoshino's face paled immediately, the red flush of embarrasment replaced in an instant by the pallor of barely controlled terror.
Then Unagi was bowing again to Onyx and addressing her.
"I am most very deep sorry, Nyan-nyan... Yoshino has mistake you for either a novice student of dojo or a new househo'rd servant. P'rease to accept my most humb're apo'rogy. Yoshino wi'rr make further amend in morning. For now, p'rease come with me."
Unagi led Onyx through the rent in the wall, tearing the way open further with one hand. Two left turns on the wooden hallway floor and Unagi opened the sliding panel into a well furnished room, complete with a wardrobe open to reveal several exquisite silk kimonos.
"This wi'rr be your room as long as you wi'rr favor this House with your company. I wi'rr not far be away and wi'rr answer if you shou'rd ca'rr."
With that statement, the strange man bowed yet again and turned on his feet, once again making no sound in his passage over floors that creaked and groaned at every step Onyx took.
Date: 10 Sep 1999 01:27:15 EDT
Unagi was sitting in meditation at the side of the rock garden. The patterns of the raked pebbles and the way at least one of the eight boulders was always hidden from view no matter where the observer stood or sat always helped the day's stress dissolve and the mind open to deeper paths.
He had almost reached the third level of Ha Gakure or "Hidden Leaves" when the feral cry tore the still night air.
"UNAGI!!"
It was his name, and almost unrecognizable, but her voice. The cry contained elements of fury and rage, and the undertones of an animal wailing frustration at the summer moon. His reaction was immediate. Rising like a lotus unfolding with petals of gleaming razored steel, he hurtled toward the source of the sound even as its fading echoes haunted the ebon sky.
Onyx had had enough of this maid. Cultural differences or not, the bath was beyond excuse and for this woman's hands to know her body in the intimacy of massage was impossible. Surely Unagi would set this straight... and even so might be given a piece of her mind.
But the sound that answered her shout was baffling. Was it a bee or a buzz saw that was drawing rapidly near with intimidating velocity?
Onyx had time only to turn toward the sound before the wall to her left parted in a huge inverted 'V' - wooden frame pieces and fragile paper alike severed instantly and effortlessly before the onslaught of whirling tempered steel.
Unagi burst into the room, both blades spinning at such a rate only the flash of passing made them visible. A trail of slashed paper and amputated wood frames extended in a perfectly straight line behind him... passing through at least four rooms.
Black eyes scanned the room for threats as he paused in the attitude of happo biraki - "open on all eight sides".
Frozen in shock, Onyx's mind perceived two things... Yoshino collapsing to her knees on the floor immediately behind Onyx... and the fact that Unagi's feet had made no sound whatsoever on the squeaky wooden floor.
"What is wrong?!" Unagi's eyes still searched for the threat.
"Ahhhh.... the bath... I mean... I didn't want... "
The subtle redness of the vigorous brushwork still marked Onyx's bare shoulders.
In one fluid movement, the swords found their sheathes and Unagi bowed carefully but quickly to Onyx. "I beg pardon Nyan-nyan..."
One step around her brought Unagi to the side of the kneeling Yoshino.
A burst of interrogative speech brought a quiet reply. An exclamation followed, then another harsh question in the island tongue. Unagi stiffened and one hand fell back to the hilt of the shirasaya.
One awful long frozen moment passed. Then Unagi spoke in a voice bearing the cold of winter ice on the sea. Yoshino's face paled immediately, the red flush of embarrasment replaced in an instant by the pallor of barely controlled terror.
Then Unagi was bowing again to Onyx and addressing her.
"I am most very deep sorry, Nyan-nyan... Yoshino has mistake you for either a novice student of dojo or a new househo'rd servant. P'rease to accept my most humb're apo'rogy. Yoshino wi'rr make further amend in morning. For now, p'rease come with me."
Unagi led Onyx through the rent in the wall, tearing the way open further with one hand. Two left turns on the wooden hallway floor and Unagi opened the sliding panel into a well furnished room, complete with a wardrobe open to reveal several exquisite silk kimonos.
"This wi'rr be your room as long as you wi'rr favor this House with your company. I wi'rr not far be away and wi'rr answer if you shou'rd ca'rr."
With that statement, the strange man bowed yet again and turned on his feet, once again making no sound in his passage over floors that creaked and groaned at every step Onyx took.
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DoS Archive
- Archivist
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From: unagim@aol.com (Unagi M)
Date: 10 Sep 1999 01:31:21 EDT
Onyx awakened to a grey damp morning. As she padded reflectively through the cricket-wood hallways, passing occasional open panels with glimpses of gardens and rooms, she felt an untoward tension in the air. Returning to her own room, she found a simple breakfast laid out on a lacquered tray.
As she sat cross-legged on the tatami mat and ate, wondering where everyone was, a manservant she had not yet met tapped lighty at the side of the open panel of her room.
"Gomen nasai... so sorry. I w'rr return and take tray 'rater. All of House is summoned to archery yard."
Clearly, he did not seem to think this summons included Onyx as he bowed twice and hurried on. Onyx finished the meal rapidly, slid the panel shut and changed into the clothes she had worn the night before in the Arena. At least they had been cleaned, she saw as she slipped them on.
It took some minutes in the empty House to find an exit... and more yet to walk around the long building and locate the archery yard. A small crowd had gathered in a loose semi-circle around three figures: Yoshino, Unagi, and the man that Onyx remembered had stood watch at the outer gate.
Onyx approached the groups and caught the attention of the manservant who had passed by her room.
"What is happening here?"
The man bowed quickly.
"Ah... Hatamoto Unagi-sama has declared punishment for Yoshino for offense against most honored guest of House."
"What?!"
"Hai... Yoshino wi'rr suffer six stroke of cane." The man looked troubled.
Onyx's eyes swung toward the trio at the focus of the semi-circle. Even as she looked, Yoshino, pallid as the night before, knelt slowly in front of a stubby wooden post. The guard... Kanemaha...? Onyx couldn't recall his name... stepped forward, a six foot length of what looked to be bamboo tucked under his arm. With strangely gentle movements for so squat and muscular a man... Kanehama...? ... unlaced the back of Yoshino's blouse and bared her
shoulders and back. The woman trembled once then gathered the front of the blouse against her chest and took one deep breath, straightening.
Onyx started forward in protest, but the small crowd somehow was in the way. The guard stepped back and raised what Onyx could now see was a bamboo cane, the last two feet of which was finely split. The cane made a whistling sound ending with a solid slap and the slight figure rocked slightly on her knees. As the cane drew back for the second strike, Onyx could see the cuts across the white skin well with blood.
The second strike fell as Onyx pushed her way toward the trio.
Just as Onyx was about to win free, a command from Unagi froze the guard's arm. The command was followed by a ringing statement and the man stepped back and blanched.
Two maids ran forward and helped Yoshino to her feet, then turned her toward the House.
A sudden light tug at her elbow and the manservant was standing at Onyx's side.
"Hatamoto Unagi-sama says now that Yoshino's fau'rt was a'rso his... because he did not c'rear'ry communicate identity and nature of guest which is you, most honored Onyx-sama. He has said he wi'rr take remaining strokes of cane." Again the manservant bowed, as if apologizing.
Unagi stepped in front of the guard and with a single movement opened and lowered the top of his kimono. A surprisingly broad back, well-muscled like a gymnast was revealed.
Kanehama stepped forward, trembling, and brought the bamboo around in a flat arc. A moment later he was picking himself up off the ground where Unagi's fist had sent him sprawling. The blow was so swift it had almost evaded even Onyx's sharp sight. A thin trickle of blood started down Unagi's back from the cuts left after the stroke and he barked a growling command to the guard.
"Unagi says Kanehama strikes weakly..." the manservant translated.
Onyx pushed her way back through the crowd and by the time the fourth blow fell she was on her way out of the compound.
Date: 10 Sep 1999 01:31:21 EDT
Onyx awakened to a grey damp morning. As she padded reflectively through the cricket-wood hallways, passing occasional open panels with glimpses of gardens and rooms, she felt an untoward tension in the air. Returning to her own room, she found a simple breakfast laid out on a lacquered tray.
As she sat cross-legged on the tatami mat and ate, wondering where everyone was, a manservant she had not yet met tapped lighty at the side of the open panel of her room.
"Gomen nasai... so sorry. I w'rr return and take tray 'rater. All of House is summoned to archery yard."
Clearly, he did not seem to think this summons included Onyx as he bowed twice and hurried on. Onyx finished the meal rapidly, slid the panel shut and changed into the clothes she had worn the night before in the Arena. At least they had been cleaned, she saw as she slipped them on.
It took some minutes in the empty House to find an exit... and more yet to walk around the long building and locate the archery yard. A small crowd had gathered in a loose semi-circle around three figures: Yoshino, Unagi, and the man that Onyx remembered had stood watch at the outer gate.
Onyx approached the groups and caught the attention of the manservant who had passed by her room.
"What is happening here?"
The man bowed quickly.
"Ah... Hatamoto Unagi-sama has declared punishment for Yoshino for offense against most honored guest of House."
"What?!"
"Hai... Yoshino wi'rr suffer six stroke of cane." The man looked troubled.
Onyx's eyes swung toward the trio at the focus of the semi-circle. Even as she looked, Yoshino, pallid as the night before, knelt slowly in front of a stubby wooden post. The guard... Kanemaha...? Onyx couldn't recall his name... stepped forward, a six foot length of what looked to be bamboo tucked under his arm. With strangely gentle movements for so squat and muscular a man... Kanehama...? ... unlaced the back of Yoshino's blouse and bared her
shoulders and back. The woman trembled once then gathered the front of the blouse against her chest and took one deep breath, straightening.
Onyx started forward in protest, but the small crowd somehow was in the way. The guard stepped back and raised what Onyx could now see was a bamboo cane, the last two feet of which was finely split. The cane made a whistling sound ending with a solid slap and the slight figure rocked slightly on her knees. As the cane drew back for the second strike, Onyx could see the cuts across the white skin well with blood.
The second strike fell as Onyx pushed her way toward the trio.
Just as Onyx was about to win free, a command from Unagi froze the guard's arm. The command was followed by a ringing statement and the man stepped back and blanched.
Two maids ran forward and helped Yoshino to her feet, then turned her toward the House.
A sudden light tug at her elbow and the manservant was standing at Onyx's side.
"Hatamoto Unagi-sama says now that Yoshino's fau'rt was a'rso his... because he did not c'rear'ry communicate identity and nature of guest which is you, most honored Onyx-sama. He has said he wi'rr take remaining strokes of cane." Again the manservant bowed, as if apologizing.
Unagi stepped in front of the guard and with a single movement opened and lowered the top of his kimono. A surprisingly broad back, well-muscled like a gymnast was revealed.
Kanehama stepped forward, trembling, and brought the bamboo around in a flat arc. A moment later he was picking himself up off the ground where Unagi's fist had sent him sprawling. The blow was so swift it had almost evaded even Onyx's sharp sight. A thin trickle of blood started down Unagi's back from the cuts left after the stroke and he barked a growling command to the guard.
"Unagi says Kanehama strikes weakly..." the manservant translated.
Onyx pushed her way back through the crowd and by the time the fourth blow fell she was on her way out of the compound.
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From: onyxsolare@aol.com (OnyxSolare)
Date: 13 Sep 1999 17:39:19 EDT
She had seen things more violent, hell..took part in some grisly events herself. But never would she have expected this. She had heard tell of this sort of thing before, but had never witnessed it....
One event blurred so fast into the other. Everything snowballing before she had time to open her mouth and explain to Unagi that really Yoshino's certain....enthusiasm... in bathing her wasn't such an offense. The bellow that summoned Unagi exacted consequences she wasn't expecting. This morning as she ate upon the floor, she wondered how in the hell she could explain her feelings without seeming ungracious to Unagi's exemplary hospitality. This
was his household after all. She was pondering this still in the eerie silence, when a manservant informed her that there was an assembly outside. Being a slave to her curiosity made her finish her food in a few wide bites and noisy chews. She rose and dressed, then left her room, padding through the paper walled maze of corridors only backtracking three, four times.
(m) Breadcrumbs.....to mark my trail...
Her feline ears pricked forward to catch any sort of conversation, any clue from the unfamiliar language that would explain what was going on. She lightly tapped the shoulder of the servant who informed her of the assembly in the first place.
"What is happening here?"
Her brows frowning, for the air of the gathering was not right, it felt grave and uneasy to her instincts.
"Ah... Hatamoto Unagi-sama has declared punishment for Yoshino for offense against most honored guest of House."
"What?!"
Her mouth was open to say more, but the servants next words shocked her more.
"Hai... Yoshino wi'rr suffer six stroke of cane."
Her eyes were as round as they'd ever been as she looked to the spectacle with increasing horror. Her thoughts were drowning in feelings of guilt and responsibility.
"Oh god...I've got to stop this...my fault...my fault.....", she rambled in her mind as she tried to make her way through the crowd to halt the caning of Yoshino, never thinking it might be more of an insult to Yoshino than the maid's shame in displeasing her master. Body upon body in the small crowd kept her back and short of moving the spectators bodily there was no way she could break through. Over the assembled heads she could see a man stood
poised over the bowing Yoshino, a wicked slender stick in his grasp.
Whhhhirrrrrr.....*snap*
Harder she pushed through the crowd, breaking through as another strike rented the air...and rented Yoshino's skin. Unagi's voice suddenly stopped all movement. Once more her ears strained to make sense of his language, but all she knew was the tone. She was most familiar with it. Her wide eyes followed Yoshino as the maid was led back to the house, supported by two others. Just then, the servant she spoke with this morning, came to her side
once more.
"Hatamoto Unagi-sama says now that Yoshino's fau'rt was a'rso his... because he did not c'rear'ry communicate identity and nature of guest which is you, most honored Onyx-sama. He has said he wi'rr take remaining strokes of cane."
It had come down to this. She had a sick feeling in her gut when Unagi stopped the proceedings, that this was going to happen. She swallowed, her throat felt dry and sticky. Her mind tried to justify all that was happening.
"It's his custom, his way, his house, his honor." She thought with increasing panic.
The first blow to Unagi's bared back startled her, but not more so than Unagi's fist crashing into Kane....Kanehame?..the cane wielder's chest, lightening fast. A spark of thought that admired such speed, flashed in the back of her mind. Her eyes squinted into a wince at the cut along Unagi's back, the red line of fresh blood looking redder than red against his skin. Again Unagi's voice of authority growled low to the cane wielder.
"Unagi says Kanehama strikes weakly..." the manservant translated.
The image of Unagi's bare flesh being sliced into strips from the split cane was too much for her to handle. Hot and cold pricklings of panic danced under her skin. Without another word she plowed through the gathering and swiftly escaped the area, not stopping to gather the rest of her belongings, the howling hounds of guilt and shame eagerly snapping at her back.
Date: 13 Sep 1999 17:39:19 EDT
She had seen things more violent, hell..took part in some grisly events herself. But never would she have expected this. She had heard tell of this sort of thing before, but had never witnessed it....
One event blurred so fast into the other. Everything snowballing before she had time to open her mouth and explain to Unagi that really Yoshino's certain....enthusiasm... in bathing her wasn't such an offense. The bellow that summoned Unagi exacted consequences she wasn't expecting. This morning as she ate upon the floor, she wondered how in the hell she could explain her feelings without seeming ungracious to Unagi's exemplary hospitality. This
was his household after all. She was pondering this still in the eerie silence, when a manservant informed her that there was an assembly outside. Being a slave to her curiosity made her finish her food in a few wide bites and noisy chews. She rose and dressed, then left her room, padding through the paper walled maze of corridors only backtracking three, four times.
(m) Breadcrumbs.....to mark my trail...
Her feline ears pricked forward to catch any sort of conversation, any clue from the unfamiliar language that would explain what was going on. She lightly tapped the shoulder of the servant who informed her of the assembly in the first place.
"What is happening here?"
Her brows frowning, for the air of the gathering was not right, it felt grave and uneasy to her instincts.
"Ah... Hatamoto Unagi-sama has declared punishment for Yoshino for offense against most honored guest of House."
"What?!"
Her mouth was open to say more, but the servants next words shocked her more.
"Hai... Yoshino wi'rr suffer six stroke of cane."
Her eyes were as round as they'd ever been as she looked to the spectacle with increasing horror. Her thoughts were drowning in feelings of guilt and responsibility.
"Oh god...I've got to stop this...my fault...my fault.....", she rambled in her mind as she tried to make her way through the crowd to halt the caning of Yoshino, never thinking it might be more of an insult to Yoshino than the maid's shame in displeasing her master. Body upon body in the small crowd kept her back and short of moving the spectators bodily there was no way she could break through. Over the assembled heads she could see a man stood
poised over the bowing Yoshino, a wicked slender stick in his grasp.
Whhhhirrrrrr.....*snap*
Harder she pushed through the crowd, breaking through as another strike rented the air...and rented Yoshino's skin. Unagi's voice suddenly stopped all movement. Once more her ears strained to make sense of his language, but all she knew was the tone. She was most familiar with it. Her wide eyes followed Yoshino as the maid was led back to the house, supported by two others. Just then, the servant she spoke with this morning, came to her side
once more.
"Hatamoto Unagi-sama says now that Yoshino's fau'rt was a'rso his... because he did not c'rear'ry communicate identity and nature of guest which is you, most honored Onyx-sama. He has said he wi'rr take remaining strokes of cane."
It had come down to this. She had a sick feeling in her gut when Unagi stopped the proceedings, that this was going to happen. She swallowed, her throat felt dry and sticky. Her mind tried to justify all that was happening.
"It's his custom, his way, his house, his honor." She thought with increasing panic.
The first blow to Unagi's bared back startled her, but not more so than Unagi's fist crashing into Kane....Kanehame?..the cane wielder's chest, lightening fast. A spark of thought that admired such speed, flashed in the back of her mind. Her eyes squinted into a wince at the cut along Unagi's back, the red line of fresh blood looking redder than red against his skin. Again Unagi's voice of authority growled low to the cane wielder.
"Unagi says Kanehama strikes weakly..." the manservant translated.
The image of Unagi's bare flesh being sliced into strips from the split cane was too much for her to handle. Hot and cold pricklings of panic danced under her skin. Without another word she plowed through the gathering and swiftly escaped the area, not stopping to gather the rest of her belongings, the howling hounds of guilt and shame eagerly snapping at her back.