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Fujiwarano Yuki looked out upon the snowy meadows from his castle balcony. He breathed out into the cold, early morning air and sighed, watching his breath spurt like a fountain from his mouth. Japan, his homeland, was continuously being torn apart in wars between the two major clans, the Tsuchi, and his own Fujiwarano. Yuki longed for a day when Nippon would be united under one flag, the banner of his clan, and he would be supreme ruler. He knew this would never happen in his lifetime, however, and right now he only cared for the well-being and prosperity of his own people...

Keiji Maeda sat on the back of his large gray horse, but unlike normal riders he was laying on his side and holding his head up with his right arm. His weapon was dangling lowly off of his back and nearly dragging on the ground, saved only by a strap on his horse. He rode through the snowy terrain until a castle came into view and a man could be seen on a balcony. Keiji first thought that he would need to turn around. "damn it.. another castle.. I don't he will any more hospitable then the others." He then began to crawl up to a sitting position.

The wind blows the grass and flowers throughout the garden. On a lone tree rests a large halberd with a blade big enough to cleave a man in two. Next to it s sits a large figure. At first glance one would mistake this creature as a fearsome giant with little mercy. although things are often what they do not seem especially here.

Yama sits in a mediative stance clutching the baby bird in his one palm with stroking it with his other. Finally he lifts his hand and lets the bird fly away. Standing up he picks up his weapon and stands on the edge of the garden. He looked out over the green terraces nestled between two mountains. This was all his, he was honor bound to protect it. Every leaf, and every child was resting on his broad shoulders. The sun was just rising. He closed his eyes and let the rays hit his face.

Kaiju Wasamaki was sitting up on a tree, on the highest branch on the tree. From there he had a view of all the surroundings. He was also chewing on a leave he found on the branches of the tree. When will the war be over? he thought to himself. But then he smirked to himself. Maybe the war was a good thing? What else would keep all the men in Japan from becoming lazy and fat? Kaiju chuckeled to himself. He unshead his Katana, with a red hilt and beatiful inscriptions in Japanese written all around the hilt. The sword was well balanced and Kaiju treasured it as much as his own live.

Yama began his morning walk down the hillside from the castle through the village streets. There was always an early morning chill in the air. It felt good on Yama's bald head. It was at this time Yama thought about everything but war. He got enough of that talk with the counsel. This was his time to just be the man and not the Mountain.

A few kids ran in front of him playing with wooden swords. The children stopped abruptly as soon as they saw who Yama was. They bowed before him like all young ones should. Yama returned in kind. The kids continued and Yama couldn't help but smile.

This what I fight for He thought to himself and continued on his walk.

Dawn had arrived so soon as radiant light breached through the darkness of Nakamura Sosuke's room. Awaking only but a few minutes afterwards, his mistress' arm lay across his garmentless chest, nonchalantly he pushed it aside with seeming discontent. "Ugh, women", he uttered.

Quickly getting to his feet, he walked around the room, only thinking of what's to come. Perhaps his future plans would come into an actualization, a reality, but with the current status of the country, Sosuke also had to adhere to the teachings of his mentor, "be aware of the present". Insightful words, words to live by during this period.

Slowly striding across the wooden floors of the castle, he retrieved his apparel from his wardrobe, and put his outfit on. Fixing up to look more formal, he put on his usual makeup before leaving the room, and equipped his katana. A fine one at that. Decorative and gray with matching sheath.

Finally, before making his leave, Sosuke told his mistress, "Would you be so kind as to get dressed, and get out of my room before I make my return?", his blunt tone made it seem more like a command than a question.

Sam sat in the fields resting upon a tree, his long black hair covered his face. His two katana rested on the floor by his feet. The sky was blue with an white aura, but anyone could see the black clouds that were rolling in any day now. There are bad times ahead he quickly jumped to his feet grabing his weapons and making his way back to the town centre.

Keiji sat up on the horses back like it was meant to be ridden and grabbed it's mane. The horse instantly knew to run so it took off in the direction of the nearby woods out into the snowy wilderness. He rode until he came to a small dirt road that connected two neighboring villages. Jumping down from the horse he walked down the road and the horse followed his every move. Making sure that he had his hand on his sword at all times, he advanced towards the castle that he had been at earlier but this time from a different area.

Originally posted by Survivor01
Keiji sat up on the horses back like it was meant to be ridden and grabbed it's mane. The horse instantly knew to run so it took off in the direction of the nearby woods out into the snowy wilderness. He rode until he came to a small dirt road that connected two neighboring villages. Jumping down from the horse he walked down the road and the horse followed his every move. Making sure that he had his hand on his sword at all times, he advanced towards the castle that he had been at earlier but this time from a different area.

A sentry in a guard tower sighted Keiji. The wind blew through the man's long hair, and his face was stern and weathered.

"Who goes there?"

Yama made his way through the village to the large wooden wall that stood from one side of the mountain to the other. It stood 15 feet high and stretched for about150 yards.

He walked up one of the ladders to the top. There he gazed over the wall into the large green plains and fields that stretched on for miles. There Yama stood until he was disturbed.

Keiji looked up at the guard and thought for a moment. His face remianed unchanged as he spoke to the sentry.

"I am Keiji Maeda, the recliamer of southern Japan to it's rightful Emperor."

Originally posted by Survivor01
Keiji looked up at the guard and thought for a moment. His face remianed unchanged as he spoke to the sentry.

"I am Keiji Maeda, the recliamer of southern Japan to it's rightful Emperor."

The sixty-year old laughed.

"Well then you are far from home, are you not young man? What brings you here to the lands of Fujiwarano Yuki, the soon-to-be ruler of Japan?"

Elsewhere...

A messenger departed from the Fujiwarano Castle. Riding on horseback, he dashed through the snow, south, towards Yama's lands.

Keiji just looked at the ground in embarrasment.

"I am here to... I'm here to find the daughter of the emperor..."

He shook hid head as if to say they were wasting his talent on a little game of hide-and-seek.

"By chance have you seen a young woman in a royal kimono?"

"You shouldn't worry so much" laughed Kaiji as he appeared from the back and put his hand on Yama's shoulder. "People will always die, people will always be born, and people will always fight. It's the principles of greed and jealousy" he added.

"All we can do is follow those principles, and do our part in the world. Your part or a lowly beggar part, it does not matter. All matters, and noone can be blamed for anything. Atleast thats how I see it."

"You should listen to Kaiji, strangely he can occasionally be right about these things!" he said with a smile as he walked over to Yama. "You cannot be blamed for peoples deaths, you are only doing what your father would of wanted" He approached Yama slowly "And may I add, your doing a great job".

Sam slowly turned his attention to the black skies "Bad times are coming..."

Originally posted by Survivor01
Keiji just looked at the ground in embarrasment.

"I am here to... I'm here to find the daughter of the emperor..."

He shook hid head as if to say they were wasting his talent on a little game of hide-and-seek.

"By chance have you seen a young woman in a royal kimono?"

"No, I cannot say I have, sir. Though I can tell you that Master Fujiwarano can treat you to a royal time should you decide to stay as a guest at his castle."

Keiji looked behind him and then to both sides before he returned his eyes to the sentry.

"Very well then I shall stay but only for one night if it permits to your liking."

Right as he spoke his stomach growled and he sighed making his horse move forward.

Originally posted by Survivor01
Keiji looked behind him and then to both sides before he returned his eyes to the sentry.

"Very well then I shall stay but only for one night if it permits to your liking."

Right as he spoke his stomach growled and he sighed making his horse move forward.

"Very good."

Descending from the tower, the guard motioned to Keiji to follow him.

"Come then, onwards to the Daimyo's great castle."

Yama looked over his massive shoulders at his two best warriors and possibly his two best friends. They were right Yama was doing everything he could but still all this death Yama didn't want any part of it yet he was forced to.

"You are right Kaiji we must uphold our principles. We our the great Earth Clan and like the mountains behind us," looking over to Sam, " We shall whether any storm no matter how big it may be."

The Moutian of the Earth Clan looked over the green plains to see a person Horseback coming this way. He wore the banner of Fujiwarano Clan.

Still even the biggest mountain can be eroded with time and here comes the wind that can do so.

Originally posted by Newjak
Yama looked over his massive shoulders at his two best warriors and possibly his two best friends. They were right Yama was doing everything he could but still all this death Yama didn't want any part of it yet he was forced to.

"You are right Kaiji we must uphold our principles. We our the great Earth Clan and like the mountains behind us," looking over to Sam, " We shall whether any storm no matter how big it may be."

The Moutian of the Earth Clan looked over the green plains to see a person Horseback coming this way. He wore the banner of Fujiwarano Clan.

Still even the biggest mountain can be eroded with time and here comes the wind that can do so.

Upon his arrival at the palisade, the messenger got off his horse and alloted out the customary bows.

Yama returned the customs and gave the signal for the gates to be opened.

He met the messenger on the ground.

A figure In black Armore with red lacing displaying the Mon of Tsunetomo clan,rides up to the gates of Fujiwarano Yukis castle. "Fujiwarano Yuki!" The Samurai yells "Fujiwarano Yuki , I am Haida no Kami Masashiga, Daisho to Tsunetomo Yamomasa, You killed my Brother in the battle of Kagagawa, leaving his bady faced away from his enemy . You dishonored my Clan, and brought shame on my family.
I am here to call you out. I will either die in combat like a Samurai or I will present your head to my Daimyo." "Fujiwarano Yuki!!!" The Samurai screams till his voice crakcs. "Do not hide behind your castle walls , Face Me"