Akodo Seijuro
Lion Clan
“With the spirits of his ancestors standing beside him, a samurai never stands alone.”
Posts: 304 Likes: 0 
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Post by Akodo Seijuro on Feb 12, 2018 14:41:21 GMT -5
"A moth sounds... very you," Seijuro replies, a half smile on his face in response before he begins to talk about his own woes. He isn't looking at Tsuki, doesn't want to really, so she couldn't get a decent look at the shame in his face. Rather than meet her gaze, Seijuro focused on her reflection in the rain puddle before him - cast by the soft light of the lamp posts.
"I was thinking about how my own parents had been in the dojo, some years ago. She knew them, and in a moment of weakness I asked her about the stories I'd heard about them. Mostly my father; I mean, I know my mother well enough." He paused, closing his eyes as Chiaki entered his mind. I did it to protect you; if I lost you and him both, I don't know what I'd have done Akimoto...
"So yesterday she shared the truths of the past with me, about my mother, my father... your mother, and your father, and the others. Aiko-sensei helped me find the courage to take the first step to the future, and to stop running away from myself and who I am." He finally looked back up to Tsuki, with the courage to meet her gaze. "I am the bastard son of the Lion Clan Thunder, Akodo Arasou-shiryo. Today on, I am not going to hide that any longer."
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Kakita Tsuki
Crane Clan
The delicate illusions that get us through life can stand only so much strain
Posts: 791
Likes: 1
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Post by Kakita Tsuki on Feb 12, 2018 15:00:05 GMT -5
He built it up and yet so quickly let out his feelings to her that it was a surprise. She stared at the man she knew to be Seijuro, adopted son of the Unicorn Thunder, whom at times seemed so passive in things. Even conflicted. Now he was boldly claiming, thanks to Aiko, that he could proudly name himself as the son of Akodo Arasou. Son of the once Lion Champion. Son of the Lion Thunder. Son of the man she was supposed to marry.
The rain fall almost seemed to harden around them but her gaze remained affixed upon the man. She stared into his golden eyes as if somehow this was a prank or joke, but it was nothing even remotely close. She opened her mouth a bit to speak but sucked the words back in. The pitter patter of each raindrop upon the umbrella cover, for a time, was the only noise made between the two of them. Until finally she summoned up some words that vocally affirmed her shock.
"I... You..." She took a breath, "Did your mother confirm this?" A poor question, but she didn't know what else to ask.
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Akodo Seijuro
Lion Clan
“With the spirits of his ancestors standing beside him, a samurai never stands alone.”
Posts: 304 Likes: 0
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Post by Akodo Seijuro on Feb 12, 2018 15:16:00 GMT -5
Seijuro was a bit surprised to see Tsuki's reaction; he wasn't sure why she was so shocked, but there was no point in thinking about the cause of it. Instead, he remained silent as well... at least until she asked the question about his mother.
"Hai, on the last day I saw her... over six years ago. Just I was about to leave to train with the Utaku Infantry, she told me all about who my Father was. And that she was my Mother. She explained to me about... well, how the first eleven years of my life had all been one giant lie. just that one revelation allowed all of the missing holes in my life to just click into place. I was enraged against her, so I left, and sought out to retrace the footsteps of my Father to find peace in a life of truth."
"Thus here I am, his scion, and if Lady Tayuko wills it, his heir upon my graduation. Matsu-dono confirmed as much to me. As did my grandfather, who 'adopted' me. And if that is not proof enough I suppose," he gestures to the twin swords on his hip, "perhaps Arasou-shiryo's daisho is."
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Kakita Tsuki
Crane Clan
The delicate illusions that get us through life can stand only so much strain
Posts: 791
Likes: 1
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Post by Kakita Tsuki on Feb 12, 2018 15:36:22 GMT -5
She breathed again and finally composed herself as he spoke upon the truth of it all. There was much to think on, and over a number of parts. It was almost sickeningly unfair how much backing and proof he had compared to her friend Tetsuko, whom struggled each day and often fought, to prove who she was. her own situation was completely changed now. Had this been what her instincts had been telling her?
Her eyes fell to the pavement for a moment. She was thinking and it took effort to decide what to say or do, but if she was going to do something, it wasn't going to be without a good reason. "If you are recognized for the son of the Lion Thunder by them, if you carry his daisho, then there is little anyone can argue against. Will you tell anyone else, or will you remain silent on it until officially recognized, Seijuro-san?"
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Akodo Seijuro
Lion Clan
“With the spirits of his ancestors standing beside him, a samurai never stands alone.”
Posts: 304 Likes: 0
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Post by Akodo Seijuro on Feb 12, 2018 15:45:35 GMT -5
"I don't think I can hide it any longer. I don't want to hide it any longer. Not at least about my Father. And if Mother meant to protect me, then I will protect her as well." Confiding this much in Tsuki was an unrivaled sign of trust. The Unicorn Clan Thunder having a child out of wedlock and breaking her vows of chastity could cause both shame and potential calamity. Chiaki was a hero of the war, and Seijuro wanted to make sure she remained that way. It was the least he could do for breaking his mother's heart and leaving her alone.
"I feel shameful enough hiding it for so long and from you as well. I consider you a good friend, Tsuki-san. Forgive me if this revelation has give you reason to doubt my honesty." To show his Sincerity, Seijuro offers the Kakita a low and apologetic bow. "From this point on if anyone wants to doubt that sincerity, they will have to answer for the words."
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Kakita Tsuki
Crane Clan
The delicate illusions that get us through life can stand only so much strain
Posts: 791
Likes: 1
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Post by Kakita Tsuki on Feb 13, 2018 7:44:24 GMT -5
Her grip tightened around the handle of the umbrella, the woman shaking her head at the man whom apologized to her. "Please no, don't, you have nothing to apologize to me for. I don't know your situation fully, but how can I judge when we both know that if the truth came to light, it could stain your mother's deeds. Like how it stained my grandmothers name, and in turn my fathers."
The cool air rushed past her, the chill of the rain ever present. "I have always considered you a good friend, Seijuro-san. Even if we don't speak often, you have always come off as a good man to me, if uncertain at times. How much did Aiko tell you? How much did you already know? What did she say about my mother and father when it pertains to you?" She asked, almost wondering if he knew of the betrothal. She had never truly brought it up, at least not in detail. It didn't need to be, and he had never asked. Did he know now?
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Akodo Seijuro
Lion Clan
“With the spirits of his ancestors standing beside him, a samurai never stands alone.”
Posts: 304 Likes: 0
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Post by Akodo Seijuro on Feb 13, 2018 8:06:18 GMT -5
"Ah, thanks. I'm not sure I am worthy of your praise, but I will strive to be," Seijuro said evenly, raising from the bow. He could say nothing about being called uncertain; some might take offense, but Tsuki was speaking the truth.
"I asked her about Matsu Nagato and where she fit into all of this. The only truth I knew about her was what my Father had written in his journal. And that play still angers me," he admitted, mouth twitching a little. He couldn't be that mad though. It was the province of playwrights to stretch the truth for the sake of a good story, painting his Father as some lovesick forlorn puppy dog. Not when Seijuro was proof enough that he loved his Mother. "I asked her about all the Thunders, about the climactic battle, and that was all. She said your Father was riding around on a magic carpet."
The Akodo smiled again. The thought was rather amusing, after all. Any sort of potential arranged marriage he seemed wholly ignorant about.
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Kakita Tsuki
Crane Clan
The delicate illusions that get us through life can stand only so much strain
Posts: 791
Likes: 1
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Post by Kakita Tsuki on Feb 13, 2018 9:01:19 GMT -5
"Ah," She glanced off to the side, "Yes, I remember him saying something about that. He said it was efficient, but dull."
She jumped back over to the main thread of thought. It seemed the talk was about Seijuro's own concerns more than anything else, but that made it a bit harder to decide what to do next. She stood there for what seemed like hours to herself, but it wasn't even close to the seconds that went by. To speak or not. What would her mother do? Probably jump for joy. What would her father do? She smiled at that thought, and then looked up to the Lion.
"Seijuro-san, did you know my parents and your father spoke in private before they left to face the Usurper?"
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Akodo Seijuro
Lion Clan
“With the spirits of his ancestors standing beside him, a samurai never stands alone.”
Posts: 304 Likes: 0
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Post by Akodo Seijuro on Feb 13, 2018 9:26:43 GMT -5
"No, I had no clue," Seijuro admitted honestly. "Father didn't keep a journal after he graduated, or if he did I haven't seen it. I'm sure they talked all the time though."
To be honest, Seijuro was more than happy to shift the conversation away from him if need be. He had already gotten what he wanted to say off his chest.
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Kakita Tsuki
Crane Clan
The delicate illusions that get us through life can stand only so much strain
Posts: 791
Likes: 1
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Post by Kakita Tsuki on Feb 13, 2018 10:20:19 GMT -5
That's what she had thought. Even her parents had spoken little on it other than what the betrothal entailed. Even so, when they had spoken of Arasou, it had been always with admiration and respect. Her white knuckled grip loosened and the woman took another breath. Some things needed to be said.
"It was private, very private, from what I understand, but my parents and your father were good friends. I don't know what convinced my father, likely mom, but I knew they all understood that an empire without the two hands linked together would falter after the war. So they spoke on the matter of keeping that union intact, doing it in a way that those below them would recognize and respect. They agreed for their children to have an arranged marriage." Her words were soft, gentle, but clear in their weight.
"Your mother never knew, because no one knew Akodo Arasou-shiryo had laid with her. I'm not even certain your father knew she carried you. Your sincerity gives no doubt to you belief. However, if that is the case, then that means I, or my sister, are to be married to you, and you, to one of us."
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