Tea Gone Wrong

[Soren]

(Karen is free to mangle my body and leave it for the crows!)

Soren sighed heavily. He could feel the connection between him and the Shogun grow. It was a weak connection, but it was there regardless. He turned toward Dai'chi, who had been watching Soren this entire time.

"I do not know the powers full ability. This is the first time that I have tested that theory on anyone. He could have died in front of us and I would have been helpless. This is the first time it has succeeded..." He needed the Shogun to hear those words and understand that he could have lost his life. Soren spoke to the Shogun, his words patient and understanding.

"You feel strong now, but your body is still accepting the Vuri. You need to rest." He left the two, wanting to be alone for a mere moment. What had he just done? Had he cursed the man? He didn't know what the Vuri power would do to the Shogun, so they would have to wait and see how he was in the morning. He pictured the worst happening- that the Shogun could go berserk and he would be forced to kill him in front of Dai'ichi.

No doubt, they would kill him after the fact.

[Kirin]

(I shall mangle your body for calling me 'Karen'! )

Hiro nodded, not really wanting to over-extend himself. He laid back down, starting to relax. He felt like a child now, being told to rest when he was sick and not really wanting to. However, he closed his eyes and eventually fell asleep.

Makoto was running back to the castle, obviously extremely frightened by what she had just witnessed at the shrine. She didn't know who to talk to, but it was obvious that the normally calm preistess was now terrified beyond belief.

Dai'ichi had just left the Shogun alone shortly after Soren's exit. Makoto grabbed Dai'ichi by his shoulders. "Y-Your sister! The..The Empress!" She stammered, rather loudly. "Someone..Someone came to the shrine..She's crying!"

Dai'ichi rose an eyebrow. "You're...This isn't another one of your jokes, is it?"

Makoto shook her head. "N-No. There's something going on beyond just the attempt on your brother's life."

[Soren]

Soren went back to the Shogun, curious as to how the powers were reacting with the man.

He felt the power of the Vuri rising from the ominous staff. He wondered why Makoto hadn't taken the staff from him, since their pact had been made to protect the power. His training wasn't nearly complete, but he wondered if saving this man's life would count as something positive. The people around him acted terrified of his existence, some even fleeing from his mere presence.

The moment was beyond awkward. He couldn't explain himself, or express that he tried to save Hiro. The next twenty-four hours would be crucial for the Shogun, since he didn't know how the powers would react with Hiro's blood. From the look of the Shogun, the powers seemed to be reacting well.

Soren had taken all of the poison from the man's body during the acceptance of his Vuri powers. They wouldn't be necessarily "soulmates," but more like literal blood brother's. They could share each others thoughts when needed and Hiro would have to learn to control his powers in the future. They wouldn't be as strong, but they would still be useful if he could control it.

He sat by the Shogun, terrified for his life. "I think your people are ready to slaughter me on sight...." He didn't know if Hiro could hear his worried voice, but it brought comfort expressing his concern. "Maybe I shouldn't have saved you...my existence has been too compromising." Cradling the staff, he wondered what he should do and who he should talk to.

Makoto had fled, leaving him helpless, for lack of a better word. If she came back and saw him influencing the Shogun with his powers, he would be killed instantly. However, he didn't know any other way of saving the man. They would have to wait for judgment.

The staff hummed in his hand, finally feeling its masters presence.

[Kirin]

Although Hiro appeared to be sleeping, he was awake. He opened his eyes slowly, glancing at Soren. "I'll make sure that you do not die. You have my word. Well, I'll make sure that you do not die for what you did a few moments ago. Saving me." He added, being quick to change what he was saying. "However, if you do something stupid, I cannot be responsible for what happens to you." He laughed.

Hiro was a very light-hearted man. He was an older, more muscular version of Dai'ichi. He did not know of the commotion caused by the raising of the Empress' body in the shrine. Dai'ichi returned, sliding the screen closed behind him. His face was pale as he stared at the floor.

"Oniisama," He bowed. "Makoto-sama has informed me that someone has desecrated oneesama's shrine. She has told me that Setsuka is crying.. I'm sorry to come to you with such news while you are in a fragile state of health. What should I do?"

Hiro stared, contemplating on a course of action. "Is she hurting anyone?" He asked.

Dai'ichi frowned. "I am not sure. No one will go near."

Hiro appeared to be thinking once more. "Allow no one to go near the shrine until I say it is fine. If she does end up harming others, then by all means, fight back." He sighed, closing his eyes. "I need to rest." He muttered. "Where is Makoto-sama?"

Dai'ichi tilted his head. "She is in the infirmary, doctors are trying to help her, ah, cope with what she has just witnessed."

[Soren]

He needed to see Makoto, if their Doctors would allow it. "Let me see Makoto. I am a student of hers. I need to return this staff to her anyway." He further explained to the two. "I swore a pact to her." Soren said, concerned after everything he had just heard. He wondered what kind of monstrosity Makoto had witnessed. Was her health failing that drastically? If that was the case, then he would not be denied a visit. He would insist to be taken to her, even if it meant influencing the Shogun. Hiro was connected to him now, so it would not be a difficult task to accomplish.

[Kirin]

Dai'ichi's face colored slightly and he stood. "Follow me." He motioned for Soren to follow him.

Once the pair would get to the infirmary, a female healer exitted from the room where Makoto was lying down. She was young, Dai'ichi's age. Susumu bowed her head. "Lady Makoto is sleeping. We..didn't know what else to do." She appeared drained. "You can peek in, but please do not wake her." Susumu sighed, standing at the side of the screen.

Dai'ichi tilted his head. "Can we see her?" He sounded worried.

Susumu opened the screen and kept to the side. She rested her hands in front of her. Susumu appeared patient. She was of average beauty for their land, with rounded features, but having a slightly larger nose. Nothing that was out of the ordinary. Her build was a bit taller than most of the other girls. Her hair was always braided into two long braids and she always wore the red and white garb of a priestess.

[Soren]

He bowed in respect to the woman and carried the luminescent staff at his side. He was tired of not getting any answers and seeing Makoto in so much stress. He could feel the tension in the room- in fact, it bore into his very nerves. Soren kept the staff close, not letting anyone catch a suspicious glance of it. He acted as though it were a normal walking stick. Makoto was going to have to explain what happened- they couldn't keep guessing by her nature.

If he was needed, he would have to know.

He took the staff and raised it above her head. Susumu might become alarmed, but he cared not, since the move was a childish one. He bonked her on the head, with the thick end of the staff. Soren was tired of women and their moods and her storm wouldn't be a calm one. At least he had been around her enough to be able to handle such a catastrophe.

"You must wake and tell me what you saw to put you in such a state! Is it related to the Shogun?" Soren blurted out, feeling the wrath of Makoto stirring, under sweat and tear ridden blankets.

[Kirin]

"Ah!" Makoto's eyes opened and she shot up. "Oh..Soren." Her voice became more calm. So did her heartrate. "Oh. It's the Empress. She has been dead for nearly a decade and I walk to the shrine to leave an offering and I hear someone crying. I investigate and it is the Empress herself. All decomposed. I didn't even want to go in further. It's no good. No good, her grave has been defiled."

Makoto shook her head. "Now, give me the staff so I can beat you with it."

Susumu gasped. "Lady Makoto-san!"

"I was kidding." Makoto glanced off to the side.

No, she wasn't.