(D14 EN) And One Mask to Bind Them

[Kuni Shiori]

It seemed like everything was bound to go according to plan, especially with some very important people part of the plan and wielding some rather ancestral blades. When the ritual got underway, Shiori was in the position to follow through with the restraining ritual as the last shugenja in the cue but then...everything just unfolded in a rather unexpected way.

She supposed no plan was foolproof but they hadn't considered all of the variables of what could go wrong, especially when it came to possession. The Phoenix Champion acted quickly and ultimately vanquished the gaki. Shiori was perhaps equally stunned and awed that she could do little to react, even in the aftermath of it all.

After recovering at the moment, she bowed deeply to honour Yogo Kiuchi's sacrifice and offered a prayer of her own. It wasn't a lengthy one, as ceremony wasn't her strongest suit, but it was a sacrifice and that indirectly allowed them victory. It was perhaps some small regret that she didn't know the Yogo better. And then, whether or not things could have gone differently.

[Seppun Sadako]

Sadako begins walking around the site, her feet tracing a pattern.

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori raised her brows and made quick steps over to where Sadako was presumably still working, bowing deeply to get her attention without getting in her way. "Seppun-dono...is there anything this one can do to aid with what needs to be done?"

[Seppun Sadako]

Sadako shakes her head.

"With Yogo-san's sword and scrolls taken, there is only to purify the area. And the Lady Scorpion was right; the cleansing fire of the kami will help ensure that no lingering touch of other realms troubles this place from this night's events."

She pauses to look at Shiori.

"But I appreciate the offer, Kuni-san. You'll want everyone to be clear of the area."

[Asahina Hoshiko]

"Ah...thank you, Kitsu-sama. It would be difficult to know if the sword alone would have sufficed when Emma-O himself comes to collect a wandering soul." Even she finds his lack of a solemn moment disconcerting as she carries the mask back to Shinnosuke. Different people react differently to stress though, and she's nowhere near the status to express any disapproval of the daimyo.

She nods at Ryu's words and returns his bow before reaching the Crane actor. Holding the mask out, she notes, "It should be untouched, but if you're concerned, we can purify it, or burn it as well." She looks to Minehime as well, since she may also have an opinion on the mask returning to Crane House.

At Sadako's words, she nods. "Oh, right. No reason to carry it back." The Burakumin would have far less to collect it seemed.

[Yasuki Masaki]

Masaki remained silent throughout the whole thing.

That doesn't mean she remained completely impassive - she took some steps back when it became clear that something had gone wrong, and one more when the spirit's voice came out of Kiuchi's mouth.

Her hands instinctively went to her scroll satchel - but Higashime's sword is so much faster. The Yasuki flinched, hands still on her satchel, but soon the spectral form of a Fortune - a very particular Fortune - presents before them and finishes the deed.

It takes her longer than most to fall to her knees and press her head to the ground. She felt the moment of silence. A chill. Something seemed to run down her cheeks. She held it back, and after straightening herself gave a deep bow to where Kiuchi was fallen.

No words though. Words had already been spoken. What was there to add?

That the Kitsu Daimyo thought otherwise was noted but with a small crease of her brow as her eyes shifted to where he was. But just for a short moment.

As the Crane delegates regroup, and with the Scorpion and Phoenix daimyo gone, she walks closer to Shiori and Sadako.

"I will do what I can to help", is all she manages to say, bowing deeply to Sadako and the Kuni. Her easy, gentle voice is clearly affected, still soft, but somewhat strained. "Even if only in ensuring the area remains clear."

[Seppun Sadako]

"That will be best," Sadako replies, resuming tracing out an area for an entirely different casting.

[Doji Shinnosuke]

"Ah...thank you, Kitsu-sama. It would be difficult to know if the sword alone would have sufficed when Emma-O himself comes to collect a wandering soul." Even she finds his lack of a solemn moment disconcerting as she carries the mask back to Shinnosuke. Different people react differently to stress though, and she's nowhere near the status to express any disapproval of the daimyo.

She nods at Ryu's words and returns his bow before reaching the Crane actor. Holding the mask out, she notes, "It should be untouched, but if you're concerned, we can purify it, or burn it as well." She looks to Minehime as well, since she may also have an opinion on the mask returning to Crane House.

"If it's, er, safe..." Shinnosuke reaches out hesitantly, but with both hands, to accept the return of the mask (the circumstances may be spooky, but stage masks still have to be treated with respect). "It is a rather good mask. Maybe... if there's ever a good play about all this..." He glances a little shakily from the mask to the crumpled form of Kiuchi. The mask's likeness to the specter of Emperor Ningi as they'd all seen him really is quite striking. Had the mask-carver seen truer than Shin knew, many years ago? Or had the ghost somehow shaped itself to fit the form into which the priests had been preparing to call it?

[Kuni Shiori]

As Shiori considered playing usher to the scene, she glanced at the interaction between Shinnosuke and Hoshiko. A part of her failed to see how a 'good play' could come out of this, but she took a step back from her immediate knee-jerk feelings about what transpired. She supposed a victory was found here, she told herself as she nodded to no one in particular. One life is lost but the corruption is vanquished. That should be considered a fair trade.

[Asahina Hoshiko]

"If it's, er, safe..." Shinnosuke reaches out hesitantly, but with both hands, to accept the return of the mask (the circumstances may be spooky, but stage masks still have to be treated with respect). "It is a rather good mask. Maybe... if there's ever a good play about all this..." He glances a little shakily from the mask to the crumpled form of Kiuchi. The mask's likeness to the specter of Emperor Ningi as they'd all seen him really is quite striking. Had the mask-carver seen truer than Shin knew, many years ago? Or had the ghost somehow shaped itself to fit the form into which the priests had been preparing to call it?

Her right hand still curled up within her sleeve, Hoshiko looks back to the still form as well with a shiver, but nods once. "It should be. We never got to the binding portion of things before the unfortunate, hmm breakdown. I didn't expect..." She takes a deep breath, not really thinking about the play.

Watching Shiori, she says, "We should get back. I'm not sure what Lady Seppun is about, other than that it will include fire." It did make her wonder how many the Crab shugenja had seen fall to supernatural enemies by now.

[Doji Shinnosuke]

“Just… just like that? In the middle of nowhere, without his kin here or anything?”

It’s obvious this is not a man whose life experience has included battlefield cremations.

[Seppun Sadako]

"I will see to him," Sadako says.

[Kuni Shiori]

“Just… just like that? In the middle of nowhere, without his kin here or anything?”

It’s obvious this is not a man whose life experience has included battlefield cremations.

Shiori would break out of her brooding and approach the pair when she heard the question from Shinnosuke.

"...Unfortunately, this matter needs to be handled with the utmost urgency, Doji-san. The spiritual concerns mean we need to remove all traces while they linger on site, we need to be sure now. We can do our best to remember Yogo-sama's sacrifice and while not pleasant, it is indeed good that you've been here to witness it." She said solemnly on the matter.

There were tales in days of yore where everyone involved would be put to the sword but she was sure that Shinnosuke didn't need to know that. They had become more sensible in time, even if withholding a funeral was still a bit cautious.