|
Post by Raikou on Jan 6, 2009 21:36:33 GMT -5
Two younger guards stood on the edge of Koga territory, neither one of them extremely attentive. Since the rebellion and descent amongst their clan, the Kogas had been in a minor state of turmoil. The unit to suffer the most of all, however, was the border guard. With one of their higher ups, Joumae, injured, and with the treachery of their former general, none of them were devoted to their jobs because of the devoid of leadership. No one wanted to step forward, yet the current higher ranks refused to step down. Perfect, the streak of white thought as he blazed through the trees. Landing with a thud, Raikou, the infamous (in the Kogas eyes at least) Iga leader, descended from above, landing between the two guards with his trademark grin still plastered on his face. Some found it eerily creepy how he managed to smile during most situations. Others found it annoying. No matter what they thought, the two young guards jumped to their feet and started to shake and cower in fear in his presence. "Yo!" Raikou greeted happily, eyes still shut in a smile. "It's a beautiful night, isn't it?" The two guards made it boring for him by not responding. Instead, they simply whimpered and stared at him with wide, round eyes. "Fine, fine, I'll get down to business. Look, I need to have a little chit-chat with your leader, Kamui, so go and fetch him like good little underlings, okay? Make it snappy why dont'cha--I haven't got all night. My clan doesn't really know I've left, so I'd like to get back before they know I'm here." "Y-Y-You're R-R-Raikou!" stammered the first guard, a puny looking lighter brown male. Raikou rolled his eyes. "I'm aware of that." "Yeah, you idiot!" snapped the second, lashing out at his friend. "Let's get out of here and get Kamui-s-sama before he does anything!" Raikou's booming laughter couldn't be held back any further. "Do something? Now, now, you make me sound so vicious. I can be a nice guy when the mood strikes me." He grinned from ear to ear, a devious plan forming in his head. "Well, if I'm so untrustworthy, why don't one of you stay here, while the other goes to fetch Kamui, hmm? It only takes one idiot to deliver a message." They guards exchanged fevered glances before one of them, the larger of the two, took off, hopefully in Kamui's general direction. Raikou sank to his haunches, watching the remaining guard with contempt in his eyes. So far so good, he told himself. Now I've got this moron as a hostage should those Koga get a little too rowdy. As long as no one at the house goes looking for me, and as long as Kamui doesn't take his time getting here, I should be back before my bed even gets cold.
|
|
|
Post by Akane on Jan 7, 2009 14:36:41 GMT -5
"So, it's come to this." A dark threatening voice slithered from the shadows, and it seemed to creep up and grasp the remaining border guard by the throat. "A-Akane-s-sama!" He stammered and spun around to stand to attention, all the while his eyes darting fearfully toward Raikou. 'The Iga Leader's alone... Akane will kill him!' "You, run Raikou's path to the river. I have sent others there to make sure he wasn't followed." The red brute narrowed his eyes at Raikou. Akane was unnaturally calm, and this unsettled the lone border guard greatly. Why had the Commander not already taken him by the throat and ended it here? "Y...Yes, Sir." Thankful to remove himself from the situation, the Koga took to his heels and ran as fast as he could, not wanting to look back.
With a discontent throaty growl, Akane walked past Raikou and sat six feet away at his side. "Under the circumstances, I know my Leader would like me to keep you alive." He said in a pernicious tone of voice, not looking at him and only forward. He fought every instinct in his body not to tear that grin from the Iga Leader's face, but he knew that with the increasing threat of the Rebel army approaching, Raikou's death would not be in Kamui's best interests. "I will wait with you."
|
|
|
Post by Kamui on Jan 7, 2009 15:23:22 GMT -5
There was a slight whooshing sound as a shadow dropped from a tree branch, walking out of the fog and into the morning sunlight. It was Kamui, the leader of the Koga clan. He was almost surprised when he saw how controlled Akane looked; he would have expected him to have attacked Raikou. Kamui couldn't help but feel proud of his second-in-command. With a sweeping gaze around the clearing to see whether or not there were hidden warriors planning to ambush him, he stepped forward and regarded the Iga leader with a thin smile. "Hello, Raikou," Kamui said in a neutral tone, "what brings you here on this fine morning?" The Koga leader felt suspicious curiosity and anxiety boiling inside him; what was so important that Raikou himself stepped paw into enemy territory?
|
|
|
Post by Raikou on Jan 7, 2009 15:23:58 GMT -5
Raikou kept his eyes shut and mouth still poised in a sheepish grin. "Oh, so good to see you, Akane!" he chuckled as the Koga second sank to a sitting position rather far away from him. "And I understand your concern, but please, I have no desire to fight at the moment." This is the jerk who beat up Katsuo, he thought. And, if Tsuno heard correctly, he's Kenta's abusive father! Anger sat like a rock in his belly. I'd really like to tear him apart right now, he growled to himself, trying to swallow down a deep-rooted snarl. I can't imagine that Kamui would want to talk to me if I showed up covered in his second's blood. The thudding behind him made Raikou's ear flick in Kamui's direction. He opened his eyes at last. Memories of their first encounter flashed in his head. He'd been only two at the time, and the both of them had been newcomers to the heated battle field. The last time he'd seen Kamui, at their last battle, he'd become so made that he'd shouted, "I swer to God, Kamui, I'm gonna tear your freaking head off!!! Get down here and get some!" I hope he doesn't remember that as vividly as I do, Raikou thought, swallowing. "There's no need to have your warriors chasing blue squirrels through the trees," he began. "I've come alone, without my clan's knowledge, so hopefully they won't be barging in on our conversation. See, Kamui, we're not that much different from one another. Although we fight this ridiculous war between our clans, were either of us really there when the fighting began? Were we among those who cast the first stone? No, of course not. The both of us are much too young. Therefore, consider this--Kamui, we're fighting a war that neither one of us began or truly understands. We hate one another because we're obligated to by our elders. Can't we put that aside for just a while? I can only assume that you know well enough about the rebellion that your renegade mutt started. It kills me to admit that alone, neither one of us would be able to defeat him or stop this meaningless bloodshed. You've had casualties too, correct?" Without waited for his answer, Raikou inhaled deeply and exhaled sharply. "What I propose, Kamui, is a momentary cease fire between our clans. We don't have to be friends, but we're morons if we continue to fight two battles and assume we can win out. I'm not going to force you to do anything as it is your right as leader of the Kogas to make your own decisions. But Kamui, just think for a moment what our combined strength could do. The Igas won't like it if you agree, but I can make them sway. So, what say you..." He smiled again. "...comrades?"
|
|
|
Post by Akane on Jan 7, 2009 15:47:19 GMT -5
Akane stood up as Kamui approached and dipped his head respectfully before sitting down again without saying a word. Being there as a safe-guard for Kamui was good enough for him, and he watched as the Iga Leader said his fill.
Comrades. The word was vomit-inducing. Akane proceeded to curse himself inwardly - if only he had been there when that treacherous scum turned his fangs on his Leader... perhaps the situation might have been different.
|
|
|
Post by Kamui on Jan 7, 2009 16:02:13 GMT -5
Kamui was taken aback by Raikou's words and the surprising truth he found in them. All his life he had heard this repeated by every elder in the village: "the Igas are our enemy and they're not to be trusted. That's all they ever have been and all they ever will be". God, when he was just a pup, his father had captured an Iga and told his son to kill it! Kamui began to feel a miniscule part of himself questioning these morals he had been taught, even though he bristled at the thought of 'working together' with the Igas. He had his own personal reason for fighting, but Raikou was right when he said that no one truly understood it but their ancestors, and they were long gone now. With a deep breath, Kamui began to talk.
"There is truth in what you say. Tachiim is an evil dog and truly persuasive. He is making an army, and I can't be certain of just how big it will be, since I'm sure he'll draw followers from both sides." He paused, eyes narrowing in disgust at the thought of the treacherous border guard. Then he continued and his expression was more confident. "I'll agree to the momentary cease fire. I'll try to convince my clan of this... camaraderie---" the word stuck in Kamui's throat for a moment, "---just let me say that it won't be easy... for the both of us. We are all very set in our ways." But they'll need to realize that there is something bigger happening than this war between us.
|
|
|
Post by Raikou on Jan 7, 2009 17:14:22 GMT -5
"Sounds good to me," Raikou said, trying to surprise an even wider grin that he knew would come off creepy. Instead, he allowed himself a small, quiet chuckle. "A cease fire for the first time in centuries--wonder what the ancients will think." Finally letting loose that smile, Raikou gave each one of them a nod. "Right, so, I'll be on my way back to the Iga house. I trust that I won't be followed...?" He let the question hang, shooting daggers at Akane. "By the way, before I go, I have to request that you not shred my dear comrade, Ieto. I smelled his blood on the way here." The Iga leader let his eyes wander between them. "I can only assume that it was one of your doing." He turned his back on them, heading back towards Iga territory. Though he wanted to trust them with his whole heart, he knew from experience that naivity could get him killed. He planned to take the long way back to his village, perhaps waiting hours before venturing through the gates. The location of the main Iga house was still unknown to the Koga clan, and Raikou, despite the shiny new cease fire, wasn't about to break that record. "I'll be...in touch. Just don't rough up my guards when you come knocking, okay?" With that, Raikou lept into the trees, kicking it into high gear and cursing the rising moon. He'd stayed too long already, but he'd gotten his answer. And that made him smile.
|
|
|
Post by Akane on Jan 7, 2009 19:11:38 GMT -5
Akane couldn't stand the Iga's cockiness, but held back until Raikou had gone. "The gall to ask a favour after a cease fire has been declared?" Akane snarled, "I'll kill this Ieto myself if you haven't done so already; we can't show weakness in a decision made prior to now, Leader!" He turned his back and paced up and down in disbelief that he was now in the same fighting force as his enemy.
Suddenly he stopped, realising that Kamui was the one who dealt with Ieto and the traitor by himself - not that he wasn't capable. "Kamui-sama... forgive me. I swore my service to you and failed to aid you in the events today. But I promise you, regardless of the Iga's... I will not let a traitor become a threat to our clan."
|
|
|
Post by Kamui on Jan 9, 2009 15:53:36 GMT -5
((OOC: Sorry for not responding sooner but I had the flu yesterday and still have it a bit today. BIC:))
Kamui smiled. "It's okay, Akane. You don't have anything to be forgiven for." His smile grew even bigger as he continued. "And I'm proud of you for restraining yourself around Raikou."
|
|
|
Post by Akane on Jan 9, 2009 19:07:29 GMT -5
(OOC: Awh, the flu is no fun :C I hope you get better soon!)
Akane stopped his pacing, and for the first time in a long while, he cracked a fraction of a smile in response to Kamui's praise, "If Raikou's blood was spilt today, the Iga would not hesitate to join forces with the Traitor to see that their Leader is avenged. I could not bring myself to do it." His tail swished as a cool breeze blew through them, "Not that I wouldn't have embraced the challenge on the battlefield..." Akane's humour wasn't exactly the most tasteful of sorts. "So," he began again, "What is to be done now? The Elites are forever ready, and they are capable of training their own small groups if more numbers need to be drafted... I suppose you will have to meet with Raikou again to talk tactics once we know the numbers of the Traitor's army." He refused to utter Tachiim's name out of disgust, and even saying Raikou's left a bitter taste in his mouth.
|
|
|
Post by Kamui on Jan 10, 2009 9:52:06 GMT -5
((OOC: Thanks, I'm feeling better today ^^ BIC:))
Kamui was glad to see Akane actually smiling a bit, but he grew serious again when his second-in-command brought up the issue of what they were going to do now. "The amount and intensity of the training should be increased. We have to be ready for anything. Also, we need to keep an eye out for anyone who might be a traitor, or thinking about joining Tachiim's army. And you're right, I'll have to arrange another 'meeting' with Raikou in the near future."
|
|
|
Post by Akane on Jan 10, 2009 16:08:59 GMT -5
Akane grumbled and clawed the earth with his paw like a rutting bull, "You know me, Sir; rarely does a traitor slip my grasp." He swiped his tongue around his jaws at the thought. The number that escaped him was currently two: Tachiim and his good for nothing offspring, who techincally he left to die not able to take his cries anymore. "I'll relay your orders to the Elites and devise training groups to get the younger fighters up to speed. I think perhaps it would be wise to announce the situation to the whole clan to boost moral - your words will give even the lowest of ranks high fighting spirits."
|
|
|
Post by Kamui on Jan 10, 2009 18:49:00 GMT -5
"You know me, Sir; rarely does a traitor slip my grasp."
Kamui could agree to that. Akane was persistent and he seemed to hate traitors with a passion. "You're right; I'll make the announcement once I get back to camp. But first, I believe I have a young Iga to deal with." The Koga leader rolled his eyes at the memory of the stubborn Ieto. Maybe he was dead by now? I doubt it, Kamui reluctantly admitted to himself.
|
|
|
Post by Akane on Jan 13, 2009 9:55:54 GMT -5
Akane nodded, "Then I will also excuse myself; I trust you will not need me to accompany you." With that, Akane ran forward and jumped onto the low branch of a tree. He then turned back to Kamui once more, "I'll make sure no-one leaves the main camp tonight to await your briefing."
|
|
|
Post by Kamui on Jan 13, 2009 16:08:30 GMT -5
"Thanks," Kamui said, and a moment after Akane had gone, he ran into the trees. His mind was racing with thoughts of what had just happened and what was to come.
|
|