A Long Awaited Return [Yuki]

[Sakai Nagamasa]

Nagamasa strolled the courtyard, his eyes wandering across all the different plants and flowers. He stopped in front of one patch of flowers, smelling the fragrance of the petals. He smiled, feeling oddly at peace in the place. He could tell it was a well tended garden, far different then the ones from his homeland....but it gave the same air of tranquility. It was a rare feeling for him; he was so used to being on a battlefield or doing some form of killing that he had forgotten what it was like to literally stop and smell the flowers. He knew it wouldn't last, so he decided to enjoy it for a while, almost in a trance as he stood there. Eventually, however, he decided to move on. If he was going to meet Yuki, he needed to get it over with.

Making his way to what he knew to be her favorite spot, he arrived early. Finding a good visible spot, he prostrated himself on his knees, putting his sword next to him on the ground. He kept his back straight and closed his only good eye, calming his mind as he placed his hands on his knees, and simply waited for his former charge to arrive.

[Yuki D'Avranches]

Date: 5^th of Sato 747 OD
Time: Early Morning

Dress

Yuki had gotten up early and had finished all her paperwork for the early part of the day. Looking at the sky she saw that there was still some time before she had to meet Gabriel at the Moon Temple she decided that she would take her morning tea outside in the courtyard since it was also a nice day. Sending her handmaiden ahead of her to prepare her favourite spot in the courtyard she sat in front of her mirror wondering what to do with her hair. After some time, she decided to just brush it down straight and secure it with her signature ribbon at the end of her hair. Standing up she walked to the full-length mirror and did a few turns making sure that she had tied her ribbon properly and there wasn’t a stain on her dress. That day she was dressed in a simple cream colour long sleeve dress that came down to her knees. The dress did show off her flat tummy and her small waist before flowing out with a cute floral design. Smiling brightly, she left her quarters and headed down towards the courtyard.


As she walked outside her heels clicked against the stone, she quickly followed the path that would lead her to her favourite spot. Not too long after her eyes spotted a familiar figure she swore that she was seeing things. Looking around she saw the guards and they all seem to be aware that this man was there with a sword that was bigger than herself. Closing her eyes thinking that maybe she was dreaming but as she opened her eyes she saw that she wasn’t dreaming. Yuki was frozen where she was seeing a ghost of her past her old guard who went on vacation and now it was pushing four months that she had even sent a formal letter to the captain of the civilian guard about it. Slowly she started to walk forward towards the man wondering what happened for him to have disappeared for so long and didn’t even send a reply but the closer she got to him the more upset she became. She was mad at him because he was spotted in town a few months ago, and had murdered a bunch of people, she was upset that he couldn’t even send a message to her about him deciding to take an extra long vacation. The closer to got to him the more that her emotions started to go into overdrive that she wasn’t able to control her magic and her hair was whipping behind her as her eyes glowed red almost as if they were on fire.


After she realised what she was doing she took a few deep breaths until she was in front of Sakai. She just stared at him, without saying anything as she calmed herself because she knew that if she said anything that she would feel her temper rise and she would act unladylike. Once she felt she was calm she crossed her hands in front of her so that her fingers were laced together. “Sakai.” Her voice soft and void of all emotions as her eyes watched him for any reaction. “Would you like to sit and have tea with me?” Unlacing her hands, she gestured to the table not far from them that had a light blue cloth over it along with a white teapot and two cups of tea with milk and sugar each in a smaller bowl. Not waiting for a respond, she walked towards the table and took a seat, and proceeded to pour herself a cup of tea.

[Sakai Nagamasa]

He could feel it. The raw emotion and anger coming from Yuki, even with his only good eye closed. It wasn't malice; he was used to sensing that. It was more..mixed. He did not blame her for being angry, and simply sat there, awaiting the blow that was sure to come....but it never came. He felt her anger subside, but it did not completely vanish. When he heard her voice, he opened his eye and looked at Yuki, who by now would have already poured herself a cup. He paused before nodding, reaching down to grab the long o-dachi sword on the ground at his side.

"....Tea sounds nice. I've missed the way you make it."

He got up and walked over to the table to sit down, leaning his sword against the table within quick grabbing distance, always prepared even in a tranquil setting like this. He waited politely for Yuki to pour him a cup as he began speaking.

"I apologize for not sending word. After the incident with the riot, I felt it good to lay low. Though I only killed men wielding weapons against others, your law does not seem as lenient on the issue on my country. So I went back home until I thought it safe to return....and home is very VERY far away."

[Yuki D'Avranches]

Yuki reminded silent as she poured her tea watching Sakai wondering why now of all time did he decide to return. She had finally moved on with her life after all this time she now had a new guard, she had been training to fight and she been accepted into the Arch of Ages and now was a mage in training. Her life was finally going somewhat for her and now Sakai had to show up throwing it out of order. Even as she anger subsided a bit she still wondering why now he decided to show up and what his reason for abandoning her and making her worry all this time.


She only nodded her head when he said tea sounds nice. Picking back up the pot she poured him some tea. Once done she allowed him to say whatever he wished to say as she slowly drank her tea for once wishing that instead of tea she was drinking something a bit stronger. Hearing him apologise calmed her a little bit as she listened to his full explanation on why he didn’t return. As he continued explaining she almost felt her fingers tighten around the tea cup as he mentioned that he used a weapon against others. She honestly wondered how he thought that his actions wouldn’t have consequences when he killed the citizens of this country, even if there was a riot and they were wielding weapons they were not trained like he was in fighting. Plus, some of the people he had killed were just drunken fools and some had been children of merchants that she had to send out presents to make up for them losing their child.


Once he was done she just continued to look at him saying nothing only sipping her tea until the nothing reminded in the cup. She placed the cup on the table and folded her hands over her lap wondering what she was to say in this situation. He wasn’t threatening her, nor was he causing any harm to her and he wasn’t another noble that she was used to having a conversation with over tea. This was uncharted territory for Yuki and she didn’t know how to respond and even begin. Closing her eyes went though her breathing excises that she normally did when she was focused on summoning magic to clear her mind on how to handle what was presented before her. Finding some peace of mind, she opened her eyes. “Sakai…” She was still lost for words. “Why are you really here?” She finally asked.

[Sakai Nagamasa]

Hawkeye sat silent for a moment, observing Yuki. In the three months that they were apart, he could tell that she had changed. She seemed stronger in spirit, somehow. He had no magical powers to sense anything of the sort, but his intuition was rarely wrong...and he could see the look in her eyes. The silence was almost deafening, and to him was worse then the silence before a battle. At least in a battle, he knew that death and violence were going to occur, and he could lose himself in the melee, and focus on what he was good at. This silence....it was painful, echoing in his ears like a war drum. He almost breathed a sigh of relief when Yuki spoke...but he could tell she wasn't one hundred percent pleased to see him.

"Straight to the point. Very well."

He took a deep breath before continuing.

"The other reason I did not return....I was ashamed. Not only did I cause many deaths, I may have sullied your name in the process. In my country, samurai are much like your knights. We have to follow a code, and what we do reflects on our charges, or lords. What I have done would admittedly not go over well even in MY homeland."

Hawkeye grabbed his sword and gently put it on the table. The aura was palpable, even to people not trained in magic. The blade was CLEARLY evil, it's presence demanding...and tempting.

"In my country, we can only retain our honor in two ways. Atonement through deeds....or seppuku, a form of ritual suicide. As my lady, you decide my fate. Whether I continue in your service, whether I am to be shamed and no longer have work....or whether I go to see my ancestors. But I have one request if seppuku is chosen. Take this blade...and give it to the strongest, most willful person you can. It is evil....and must not fall into the hands of the weak willed. It can warp even my mind, and demand blood. If I am spared, however, I wish to reenter your service....and REDOUBLE my efforts to by worthy of you."

[Yuki D'Avranches]

Yuki wasn’t expecting Sakai to feel ashamed for his actions though the fact that he brought up the code that he followed is like the ones that the knights of Nova following. She was also glad that he realised that his actions reflected upon her be them positive or negative. Her eyes followed his hand as he placed the blade upon the table. It took everything in her power not to run away from the blade the aura that it gave off was murderous that she only felt the darkness coming from the weapon.


Hearing him mention suicide she fingers slips from the tea cup, her eyes watched the cup fall as it shattered into million of tiny pieces. Even if it was a ritual thing she couldn’t ask anyone to lay themselves on they own for her, she wasn’t going to allow the blood of another on her hands. Still, he presented her with a few options that she could consider. Though she couldn’t allow him to wander the streets alone and nothing to do other than selling his skills to the fight bidder but she wasn’t sure if she could allow him back into her employment as her guard after that had happened.


Looking away from him, she moved to pick up the broken pieces of the cup as she weighed all her options. Each no matter how she thought about it had good and bad factors that she needed to be weighed. Her eyes turned to the broken pieces of the cup now in her hands she looked back up at Sakai then back at the cup as she came to her decision. “I’ll spare your life… plus I could never ask you to kill yourself. I sadly can not allow you back into my employment as a guard, but I can allow you back as a combat instructor.”

[Sakai Nagamasa]

Sakai watched as Yuki dropped the cup, keeping silent. Some part of him knew that she would have been shocked by the proposal, possibly even horrified at the thought of having to kill someone, or ordering their own death. A another part of him wished that she WOULD do so. He was tired; carrying that blasted sword around all this time had taken it's toll on him mentally. He was no longer sure when he was indulging his own crave for battle, or when he was obeying the sword's will. When Yuki did finally speak, however, it was not to be so. He sighed deeply. Not a sigh of relief, but one of melancholy. He was not to be a guard....but he had employment. That he could handle.

"...Very well. I am grateful for the opportunity, and I thank you. BUT."

He looked up with a serious look in his eye, staring straight at Yuki.

"This will not prevent me from going to certain lengths to shield you. Samurai means 'one who serves' in your tongue. And one day you may need to order me or even someone you know to do something that will put them at risk of death."

His tone and face lightened up as he took the sword off the table, and the aura seemed to subside.

"So, combat training. You wish to learn how to defend yourself? My knowledge in weaponry is mostly the battlefield weapons of my country. Spears, bow ad arrow, and of course, the sword."

[Yuki D'Avranches]

Yuki nodded her head since she couldn’t stop him from if he wanted to still act as her guard that was something in her control. Though she almost dropped the shattered cup again this time she accidently cut one of her fingers since she wasn’t expecting him to say that one day she might have to order him or someone and it will put they life in danger. She didn’t even notice her finger bleeding at first since she couldn’t think of her even by accident putting those she cares about in danger where they might die for her. When she finally came out of her small shock she realised that blood had dripped onto the cup staining the white red as it ran down on top the table cloth.


Quickly she ripped a piece of the tablecloth and wrapped it around her finger to stop the bleeding. “I pray that day never comes. I don’t want anyone to risk they life for my own.”


When the conversation shifted to something lighter in her opinion. Thinking for a moment on what type of combat would be more preferred for herself. A sword might be too heavy for her to wield in her current and if anything, she could learn a spell to make an air sword but right now she needed a weapon that wasn’t created with mana. “Yes… I figured it’s best I learn to protect myself so I don’t have to rely on others all the time. I wouldn’t if you taught me how to use a bow and arrow.”