The Ways of the Sword |Daiichi|

Re: The Ways of the Sword |Daiichi|

feeds@yuku.com (Lady Mai Inoue) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 18:00:20 GMT

She very nearly uttered the phrase your word means nothing, but managed at the last moment to hold her tongue. The things that he said - it was far from an apology, formal or otherwise. But the look in his eyes and the square of his shoulders gave her reason to pause where his words did not. She recognized, whether she wanted to or not, the sudden aura of someone who felt his honor had been questioned unjustly. It was the manner in which he spoke that gave her reason to doubt the...

Re: The Ways of the Sword |Daiichi|

feeds@yuku.com (Daiichi) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:44:56 GMT

At the first gesture Daiichi very nearly did turn around and walk out, having some choice put-downs lined up on his tongue. However, when she carried on he paused for a moment, recognising the anger that flashed in her eyes. I would rather burn than be taught by a man who would ridicule me. The sentiment behind the words was so blindingly familiar that he couldn't turn away, as he had intended. He knew what it was like to be in that position, where you had to accept help from...

Re: The Ways of the Sword |Daiichi|

feeds@yuku.com (Lady Mai Inoue) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:07:00 GMT

Lady Inoue had never been more furious in her life.

"Do not mock me," Mai all but snarled for the sudden fierceness in her words, stopping just short of curling her lip in a sneer. Who did he think he was to speak to her in such a manner? Who did he think he was to lecture her on proper female etiquette? The brute! The boarish hellion of man! How dare he lay claim to her respect without so much as bow or praise dropped at her feet. He had no right to speak to her...

Re: The Ways of the Sword |Daiichi|

feeds@yuku.com (Daiichi) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:49:10 GMT

Daiichi was very aware that the girl's attention was fixed on his movements, despite her show of indifference. When he had finished, and taken the hand off the hilt of his dagger, he looked at her. "Do you wish me to show you?" he enquired. He knew she did, and he would be damned if he was going to take the trouble for someone who was rudely ignoring him like this. "I'm not surprised you don't have a teacher. It's not seemly for a woman to learn the sword, so if...

Re: The Ways of the Sword |Daiichi|

feeds@yuku.com (Lady Mai Inoue) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:19:13 GMT

The Lady bit down her resentment and subtly watched him, her face half turned and her attention seemingly on something of greater interest than what he had to show her. But she was watching, make no mistake of that. He was an ignorant lesser noble but he was an ignorant lesser noble who actually knew how to wield a sword and was sparing a moment to gift her with some fruit from the tree of knowledge. Mai brushed loose strands of raven hair from her brow and lifted her chin defiantly when he...

Re: The Ways of the Sword |Daiichi|

feeds@yuku.com (Daiichi) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:58:36 GMT

Daiichi allowed himself a slightly incredulous look at the girl facing him, an imperceptible change in his stance that suggested he didn't quite believe he was hearing that tone. Who did she think she was? Even if she was a noble, as seemed probable, there were only nine noble families who ranked equal to or higher than the Takayama line. The other nobles should defer. However, Daiichi thought, glancing down at the plain black haori coat he had slipped on over his yukata, he was wearing...

Re: The Ways of the Sword |Daiichi|

feeds@yuku.com (Lady Mai Inoue) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:03:28 GMT

The moonlight crept across his features like the long white tendrils of frozen branches and swept away the darkness. Elegance and regality was revealed, if coupled with a somewhat amusing display of bed-head. The subtle curve of his jaw and the lift of his chin said he was a man of station, and the set of his tired shoulders said he was a warrior. Mai recognized both of the qualities without having to get a full, good look at him, which she did anyway. Was he from the court? The Lady did not...

Re: The Ways of the Sword |Daiichi|

feeds@yuku.com (The Incidental Characters) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 13:40:16 GMT

She was more observant than Daiichi had anticipated. He felt the cold night breeze stir the hairs on the back of his neck, but no sooner had he realised that would give him away than she had turned.

"What are you doing there?"

Her voice left little doubt that she was used to answers being given right away. The corners of Daiichi's mouth lifted a little, and he stepped forward deliberately slowly. He could have slipped away into the shadows, but he...

Re: The Ways of the Sword |Daiichi|

feeds@yuku.com (Lady Mai Inoue) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:25:57 GMT

Kimiko was a young girl with a round, shy face. Her hair was done up neatly and modestly and her kimono was a soft lilac color printed with reeds. She had been serving the Inoue family for so long that her position as head attendant had been preordained long before she had been born. "It was not quite right my lady," she began, speeking with a meekness in her voice customary of all servants. The fact that she had known Mai all her life mattered very little as far as manners went....

Re: The Ways of the Sword |Daiichi|

feeds@yuku.com (The Incidental Characters) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 04:34:18 GMT

Daiichi couldn't sleep. He had managed to get an early night, but had been lying there for hours, forcing himself to lie still under the cool sheets in the hope that his body would understand it was time to rest. It hadn't worked. He would never admit it, but the rooms themselves, although a tad smaller than his rooms back on his estate, were too opulent, too different. Gold screens caught any faint light there was, and the bed, the sheets, even the feel of the air were subtly...

The Ways of the Sword |Daiichi|

feeds@yuku.com (Lady Mai Inoue) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 03:57:51 GMT

Mai exhaled slowly, expensive red silk gliding over porceleain skin as she extended her arm and took a graceful step forward. The sword in her hands dipped, its sleek metal catching the dusty candlelight as she brought it down in an equally gradual arc, each careful gesture near silent in the empty temple. Full red lips parted and she took another breath, cold air tingling the back of her throat, only to purse again in intense concentration. The young woman swept the katana...