[Ryuujin Shiina]

In the city of fools, I was careful and cool but they tore me apart like a hurricane.

TAG - Muramasa Uemon



NOTES -

And knowing how to handle herself, she did.

The two hostesses and Noriyaki carried the 'drunken' woman to her room. It was a big room, with a private hot spring that overlooked the main streets. It was a half open air bath, where part of the tub was covered by a roof and part of it wasn't, giving whoever occupied it the perfect balance of hot and cold during the wintry months. The cold air of the night mixed with the heat of the water was what Shiina loved so much about hot springs, and it was the feeling she often sought after, unavailable to her at places where there were only public baths shared by everyone in the building. But tonight, she was not here to for it, even though it was a luxury in and of itself. No, she had more pressing matters, despite the pressing matter being dropped on her lap suddenly and without any plan.

That was the way of life after all.

They carried the woman to the bed and lay her head down on the fluffy pillow softly. "Please get me some hot tea and warm towels." The man would say to the two hostesses before they left them alone. Through the feigning of drunkenness, she couldn't help but notice that he had a good heart. "Ran-san, are you alright?" She giggled, continuing her façade. He had chosen the wrong company to be around tonight, and he would have to pay the price for it. Shiina pulled Noriyaki as he sat at her bedside, reaching out with her hand to grab onto his collar. She knew she wasn't going to kill her, but she was going to make it very difficult for him to continue to walk the lands. For a moment she faltered, but not enough for her to completely abandon the plan she had made up in her head. She pulled the man close, the smell of alcohol and sweat reeked as his face became centimeters away from hers. He flushed a deep crimson as she continued to giggle, before he pulled away aggressively. "R-Ran-san..."

A knock on the door interrupted the both of them as the hostesses came back with some tea and hot towels. Noriyaki rushed to put the warm towel on her forehead, as though to try to help her sober up. Of course, she needed no such thing, slapping his hand away when he tried to put the warm towel on her head. "More sake!" She said in her half-drunken voice, smiling at the samurai. It was her smile that completely 'killed' him, and for the first time while he looked at her drunken state, did he think about how much he wanted to have her, to make him hers. He obliged, knowing that he simply wanted to spend the night with this beautiful woman and the more drunk she was, the less combative she may be. He asked the hostesses for another bottle of sake and waited for their return patiently.

His hands and body were shaking as he thought about the unlawful deed.

Her body was shaking behind him as she knew what was on his mind.

But she didn't feign drunkenness for him to be able to pull off such a thing, Shiina reminded herself. The hostesses brought them a bottle of sake to which he attempted to have her drink. Although he was a samurai, he was young and inexperienced. When he pushed a cup to her lips, the woman grabbed onto his extended arm, with a grip that told him at that moment that she wasn't as out of commission as he had expected. In fact, she was far from it...twisting his arm behind his back so that the sake cup dropped to the ground. He was about to yell, when she brought her other hand over his mouth, firmly pressing it against his face. She was agile, jumping out of bed and pushing the now captive Noriyaki into it. "You are going to shut up and not move you filthy human..." She grabbed the sake bottle and began to pour the entire thing into his mouth, lifting the hand that had been covering it to do so. "R-R-R-" He wanted to break free and began to squirm, trying not to drink the liquid. But that angered her even more, and for the first time her eyes reflected that anger. "You are going to drink and shut up or else I am perfectly capable of making you see the light of day..." she hissed in his ear, making the boy tremble.

This was only the beginning....

MADE BY MIZO

[Muramasa Uemon]

Muramasa

A sandaled foot applied pressure to one of the man's shattered legs prompting a pathetic pained groan from the man.

Muramasa continued to glare at the man, a dark shadow falling over the top half of his face as his hair drooped over his eyes. "Do you remember me?" Quiet as ever his words carried. Jinzashin tried to speak but his jaw hung limp. Broken most likely. Explained why he couldn't speak. "Allow me." he muttered, crouching down while the swordsmith's massive puppet loomed behind him, shadowing them both. Two faintly glowing Chakra Threads extended from his index and ring fingers attaching to the top part of the man's jaw and bottom respectively. This allowed him to control his mouth's movements and would grant the man some crude form of speech. "Still have your tongue. Talk." For a moment the crippled samurai stared at him with a mix of both fear and defiance. Then answered. "Y-you are... that traitor's so-!!!" A hand shot forward to grasp the man's throat and squeeze. Jinzashin could do nothing but gurgle as the grip tightened.

Eyes dark as night peered into his frightened face. "Muramasa Iemitsu was his name." he spat, just barely containing his rage. "My father." As his threads moved the man choked out a few more words. "I... did not... slay him." The swordsmith inched his face closer so that they nearly touched. "No... you only stood by and watched." Forcefully he shoved the samurai's head away and stood, pacing around the meadow for a few moments before a laugh broke the silence. A deep laugh. Not loud but... crazed. Anyone who knew him knew that this was completely out of character. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd laughed out loud. Had he gone mad?

Pinching the bridge of his nose Muramasa lowered his head, still cackling. "You know... I don't even believe in fate." he muttered more to himself than anyone. His fingers traced the fresh scar on his forehead as he covered his face with his hand. "But when I saw you enter the ryokan... I admit, it made me consider the possibility." Rambling on his fingers parted and he peered at the samurai with one eye. Jinzashin shivered helplessly. "I planned on extracting information from some nameless samurai..." his words were but a hushed growl now as his gaze held. "Instead I found you." With a flick of his fingers the massive puppet slithered forward, coiling itself around both Jinzashin and the tree he lie broken against. Slowly it began to constrict as its huge head curved around to face the man. In the moonlight up close he now saw its true form. A monstrous white snake bigger than two men put together. Not a lucky omen like others of its ilk. Instead... a harbinger of doom. Of vengeance.

SPOILER: Click to show

OFFENSIVE TECHNIQUES:

NAME: Kugutsu no Jutsu - [Puppet Technique]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low [Continuous]
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu [Puppetry]
ELEMENT: N/a
DESCRIPTION:
The fundamental and most used technique of the style, Kugutsu no Jutsu allows a puppeteer the ability to use puppets in battle. While the degree in skill determines the number of puppets that can be controlled, for starters the user can control only one. By making near invisible strings of chakra from each of their ten fingertips and attaching them to their puppets they are able to control the puppet from various distances. However there is a delay between the puppeteers orders and the puppets movements, meaning puppet movement will not be instantaneous, and the response time increases based on distance.


SPECIAL ABILITIES:

String Theory - E.C.C

Necessary for his Puppet Ninjutsu and applicable to his other techniques, Uemon has trained extensively in order to mitigate the amount of chakra he uses with his techniques. Compensating for his average chakra reserves this allows him to stay in the fight that much longer.

Puppetmaster - U.A.

A natural strategist with a quick mind, Uemon is always observing even in the midst of combat. This allows for him to find gaps and weaknesses in his opponent's techniques easier than some, and allows him to formulate strategies and deceptions to take advantage of these shortcomings. His knack for tactics cues him on which approach should work best depending on his target.

Ashizukai Footwork - E.P.T. (Speed)

Honed after years of fighting and training in jujitsu with samurai as a child in the Land of Iron, Uemon is surprisingly light on his feet and his hand-to-hand strikes are faster than most expect. Able to strike and weave with deft swiftness he is capable of holding his own against Taijutsu specialists of his rank and outright overwhelming those of lower ranks in a straight up slugfest.

[Ryuujin Shiina]

In the city of fools, I was careful and cool but they tore me apart like a hurricane.

TAG - Muramasa Uemon



NOTES -

Not realizing the extent of vengeance and why Fudo wanted to kill these samurai so badly, Shiina had a different reason for what she was doing to the poor Noriyaki. She was never a woman who fooled around, who wanted to be considered that for even a second. Of course, she was certain that her façade, the character she conveniently named as Ran gave off that impression, but she was as dignified as any, if not more. The woman finished up pouring sake into the poor boy's mouth, before releasing him from the bind. He fell onto the bed, his eyes slightly terrified now that he realized what kind of situation he was in. "W-Who are you...?" His face was red and his words a mere murmur. She smiled at him, the kind of smile that could chill a person. "There's no need for you to know..." The playful tone he had known to admire had all but disappeared. He could also see thar she held a dark expression, the coldness reflected in her eyes.

Before he could utter another word, he would fall backwards, the overwhelming amount of sake finally reaching his head. Shiina had been waiting for that moment for awhile now, slapping him a few times across the face to ensure that he was really out cold. Satisfied at his rather lifeless body, the woman got to work. There was a system of doing things, a system that only she knew. Stepping off of the bed, she first searched his body, running her fingers into any potential pockets of his garments. She was after money, and from the way both the samurai seemed, she was sure that he was a rich little boy. Her assumptions were correct, as she pulled out a few coin pouches, all of which contained enough gold to last her lavish lifestyle quite awhile. "Didn't you parents tell you not to have so much money on you, Noriyaki-dono?" She whispered in her ear, a genuine smile plastered on her face.

She pocketed all of the pouches, four in total, reminding herself to divide it up evenly with Fudo. Even though he was probably not that into money as she was, there was no harm in having excess, after all. Shiina then ripped his clothes in various places, a tear on his sleeves and took off most of what he was wearing. The woman then began to rip some of her own clothes, careful to make this theatrical performance all the more truthful. She never really did this kind of thing, at least didn't take it this far, but there was something about both this boy and the man Fudo was entertaining that didn't sit right with him. As she untied her obi so that it fell neatly on the ground, she would look at the sleeping boy with a pitiful expression.

"I'm sorry...but you were just at the wrong place at the wrong time..."

MADE BY MIZO

[Muramasa Uemon]

Muramasa

The serpent continued to constrict until the sounds of bones cracking filled the night air.

More whimpers sounded out as the swordsmith manipulated the man's jaw with his threads. "W-what... do you... want?" Every word a pained gasp. Muramasa stared at the man, his cold glare unmoving. "A name." His slasher smile had since faded but it was clear from his look that he held no sympathy at all in his heart for this man or their ilk. The older samurai likely still held out hope his squire would come to save him... little did he know the boy had fallen victim to one even more fearsome than himself. Suddenly the snake stopped its movements and the avenger approached the man once more.

He stood to the side as his face moved within an inch of the samurai's own. "I know the Daimyō ordered the execution." he said, his voice but a hate-filled whisper in the man's ear. Muramasa's wrathful gaze was almost enough to burn holes in the side of his head. "What I don't know is 'why'." It was true. The whole event eight years ago left a lot to be uncovered. Now was his chance to finally get some answers. "I... don't..." Useless. An admirable attempt but he was playing a game he was woefully unprepared for. A flick of his fingers later and the massive snake opened its mouth wide, baring its enormous black iron fangs over the man's face. Muramasa brought a hand up to press one of them inward. A sweet-smelling pink liquid dripped down the side into Jinzashin's mouth. A deadly toxin made using cherry blossom petals. Hana wa Sakura.

More liquid splashed the samurai's face. "You're samurai, you must know the old saying." Moments passed as the swordsmith continued to watch the man, a cold sweat starting to form. "Among blossoms, the cherry blossom..." An ominous lilt tinged his otherwise monotonous voice. The man's entire broken body began to tremble. "Among men..." He could not finish his taunt as the samurai's ragged breathing drowned out his voice. "P-please... make it... stop..." Poison was truly a wicked thing, especially this. Made with the sole intent of killing samurai it robbed one of their senses before inducing organ failure. The faster one's heartbeat the faster it acted. Jinzashin's heart was pounding. "Name him." He demanded, watching the poison's effects. The samurai wriggled helplessly shaking his head but... it was no use. Soon he was delirious and groaning, seemingly requesting assistance in talking. Muramasa moved his fingers once more, allowing for it. "Kira! Kira... Yoshitada... he s-suggested it!" His threads detached allowing the man's jaw to fall limp. Muramasa withdrew his black book and flipped to a back page, writing down 'Hirohata Jinzashin' and further down it 'Kira Yoshitada'. This was good. He now knew where to start. For a brief moment his thoughts returned to Ran. Hopefully he hadn't been gone too long. "This chapter needs an ending." His gaze returned to the man... all of this was just about over now.

SPOILER: Click to show

OFFENSIVE TECHNIQUES:

NAME: Kugutsu no Jutsu - [Puppet Technique]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low [Continuous]
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu [Puppetry]
ELEMENT: N/a
DESCRIPTION:
The fundamental and most used technique of the style, Kugutsu no Jutsu allows a puppeteer the ability to use puppets in battle. While the degree in skill determines the number of puppets that can be controlled, for starters the user can control only one. By making near invisible strings of chakra from each of their ten fingertips and attaching them to their puppets they are able to control the puppet from various distances. However there is a delay between the puppeteers orders and the puppets movements, meaning puppet movement will not be instantaneous, and the response time increases based on distance.


SPECIAL ABILITIES:

String Theory - E.C.C

Necessary for his Puppet Ninjutsu and applicable to his other techniques, Uemon has trained extensively in order to mitigate the amount of chakra he uses with his techniques. Compensating for his average chakra reserves this allows him to stay in the fight that much longer.

Puppetmaster - U.A.

A natural strategist with a quick mind, Uemon is always observing even in the midst of combat. This allows for him to find gaps and weaknesses in his opponent's techniques easier than some, and allows him to formulate strategies and deceptions to take advantage of these shortcomings. His knack for tactics cues him on which approach should work best depending on his target.

Ashizukai Footwork - E.P.T. (Speed)

Honed after years of fighting and training in jujitsu with samurai as a child in the Land of Iron, Uemon is surprisingly light on his feet and his hand-to-hand strikes are faster than most expect. Able to strike and weave with deft swiftness he is capable of holding his own against Taijutsu specialists of his rank and outright overwhelming those of lower ranks in a straight up slugfest.

[Ryuujin Shiina]

In the city of fools, I was careful and cool but they tore me apart like a hurricane.

TAG - Muramasa Uemon



NOTES -

Lights. Camera. Action.

Shiina needed to time her little act in align with what she assumed would be Fudo's return. Although she couldn't count on him returning at all, she also reminded herself that the man now sleeping like a baby on the bed was indeed merely asleep from drunkenness and not dead. This meant that she would need to act quickly to ensure that he didn't wake before this was all over. Running into the halls of the ryokan, she saw a hostess coming down the hallway, making a conscious effort of running into her. As if on cue, her tears would cascade down her face. She neither screamed nor yelled, instead clung onto the rather disheveled hostess on the floor, looking at her and then back in the general direction of the room. "H-Help me..." she pleaded quietly. Shiina knew that people were generally more sympathetic if she put on a full performance, but she knew she had to keep her innate composure. A woman who had given off the impression of being calm and collected would never yell and scream, that much was well-established.

The rather panicked hostess took the woman down the stairs, making a detour from the main lobby where everyone was seated and into the kitchen in the opposite direction. Understanding her implications, she also was at no position to offer any actual help. Instead, she took her to the hostess owner, who would only need to take one look at the torn clothing on Shiina before being able put the pieces together. "That monster..." Of course, the woman made it known to the owner that nothing had been done except for the tearing of her clothes, and that Noriyaki was fast asleep on the bed having become too overwhelmed by drink. The owner would take a couple of men up the stairs and drag the still sleeping man to the kitchen, where the owner would have to decide what to do with the situation.

"Since there was no actual assault that was done, we would most likely be fooling ourselves for bringing him to the authorities. But this doesn't mean he should be left off the hook either! Ran-san, what would you like to do.?" The purple-haired woman would continue to simply cry silent tears, buying herself some time for Fudo's return. If he did return, she would hope that he had a good consequence for the boy, but if not, she needed to think of an appropriate punishment. Ripping a woman's clothes, regardless of intent was more than frowned upon, especially at such a public place as a ryokan.

MADE BY MIZO

[Muramasa Uemon]

Muramasa

Muramasa's first three fingers closed together, mimicking a snake's bite. The white serpent's jaw clamped down on the samurai's neck. Crimson liquid sprayed everywhere.

Instantly he took action, puppeteering the serpent to swallow the man whole which easily disposed of the body inside its spacious body cavity. Retrieving the man's katana from the ground he unsheathed it. "Shoddy work." A quip upon seeing the blade but nonetheless he used its edge to slice the right side of his yukata open, exposing part of his bare chest. Once he was finished he had his snake swallow the sword as well and re-sealed the massive creature in its scroll. Stopping for a moment, he looked down at his blood-stained right hand and placed it over his heart. "Just like I thought..." the words were a whisper even in his own head. "Nothing." This was the first time he'd taken a life... and he didn't feel a thing. Troubling. Silently he curled his hand into a fist and smashed it into the tree's broad trunk several times. Enough to bruise his knuckles.

Slowly he made his way back to the ryokan, a distant stare on his face. Fudo had gone for the night. Upon entering he saw Noriyaki being carried down the stairs and as the men saw his disheveled appearance they gasped. "Hirohata Jinzashin made an attempt on my life." He stated, his voice strangely calm for someone in his alleged shoes. But shock was not uncommon in such cases. The men beckoned him to follow and he removed his zori once more before being led into the kitchen... where Ran stood in a state much like his own. His steely eyes shifted between Noriyaki's and her. Too much he had missed. "Seems both samurai had ill intent." the swordsmith spoke, his voice notably lacking the same warmth as before. Understandable for someone in shock... but even his manner of speaking had shifted. Not as fanciful anymore.

"Masamune-dono! What on earth-?!" he shook his head and moved to place a 'sympathetic' hand on Ran's back. "While we took the air Jinzashin alluded to some disgusting plan of theirs involving Ran-san. When I spoke up in her defense he drew his sword to cut me down." A solemn expression looked to each person in the room before coming to rest on Ran. If she looked into his eyes she would surely see that same fury from earlier. "But... Hirohata-dono is a samurai, how did you escape?!" The hostess asked. For a moment a solemn look crossed his face. "He was drunk... and I got lucky." Removing his left hand from Ran's back he used it to nurse his right. Everyone's eyes fell to the bruises. "We struggled some and then he ran. I don't think he expected a fight." Seeming to understand the others nodded along. It wasn't his best tale, but it was simple enough to leave no room for interpretation. And combined their 'evidence' was enough to seal the deal. He looked to Noriyaki once more. "Do you have a cellar?" he asked. The hostess nodded. "Keep him down there for the night. Have some men keep watch and in the morning..." Muramasa looked again to Ran. His eyes wandering. "What then, Ran-san? These wretches tried to rob you of your honor. It should be your call." His hand returned to her back as he looked the woman up and down. What would she say? And after that... what was next for the two of them?

SPOILER: Click to show

OFFENSIVE TECHNIQUES:

NAME: Kugutsu no Jutsu - [Puppet Technique]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low [Continuous]
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu [Puppetry]
ELEMENT: N/a
DESCRIPTION:
The fundamental and most used technique of the style, Kugutsu no Jutsu allows a puppeteer the ability to use puppets in battle. While the degree in skill determines the number of puppets that can be controlled, for starters the user can control only one. By making near invisible strings of chakra from each of their ten fingertips and attaching them to their puppets they are able to control the puppet from various distances. However there is a delay between the puppeteers orders and the puppets movements, meaning puppet movement will not be instantaneous, and the response time increases based on distance.


SPECIAL ABILITIES:

String Theory - E.C.C

Necessary for his Puppet Ninjutsu and applicable to his other techniques, Uemon has trained extensively in order to mitigate the amount of chakra he uses with his techniques. Compensating for his average chakra reserves this allows him to stay in the fight that much longer.

Puppetmaster - U.A.

A natural strategist with a quick mind, Uemon is always observing even in the midst of combat. This allows for him to find gaps and weaknesses in his opponent's techniques easier than some, and allows him to formulate strategies and deceptions to take advantage of these shortcomings. His knack for tactics cues him on which approach should work best depending on his target.

Ashizukai Footwork - E.P.T. (Speed)

Honed after years of fighting and training in jujitsu with samurai as a child in the Land of Iron, Uemon is surprisingly light on his feet and his hand-to-hand strikes are faster than most expect. Able to strike and weave with deft swiftness he is capable of holding his own against Taijutsu specialists of his rank and outright overwhelming those of lower ranks in a straight up slugfest.

[Ryuujin Shiina]

In the city of fools, I was careful and cool but they tore me apart like a hurricane.

TAG - Muramasa Uemon



NOTES -

And as if on cue, Fudo entered the kitchen, just as Shiina had finished explaining the happenings upstairs. She looked at his bloodstained clothes and hand. So...he had gotten to the poor man...she thought without so much as batting an eye. It seemed that they were on the same wavelength when she saw him glance at her circumstance. It wasn't as bloody and flashy as his, if one could call it that, but it didn't beg for any imagination to be had. She merely nodded to Fudo solemnly, acknowledging the man's entrance. Upon seeing his state, the owner gasped. Two of her patrons had committed acts unworthy of their titles of samurai and two of her other patrons were 'victims' of it. If they were not in such a state, she wouldn't mind the publicity.

"What should we do with Noriyaki then?" The owner repeated, to which Fudo suggested having the man stay the night in a cellar to which she agreed. "I do think he needs to be taught a lesson...if I understand the samurai code correctly..." she glanced at Fudo before looking at the hostess. "Such acts, even attempted are not to be easily forgiven. I suppose we can rid ourselves of the responsibility of coming up with a punishment. At the crack of dawn have your men accompany this man to where he is supposed to be staying. I'm sure there is ample punishment that would await..." Shiina's voice hushed, was calm and collected, much like Fudo's had been when he reiterated what had happened outside.

Nodding her head, the hostess waved for two men to take Noriyaki away. She would then turn to two other helpers to ask them to prepare another room for Shiina and Fudo, excusing herself to help with the preparations. The night was not getting any younger and both of them needed a place to rest their head. As the hostess walked away, Shiina would smile at Fudo, giving him a reassuring nod to tell him that she understood exactly what had happened out there. There was no need for explanations after all, all it took were to like-minded people to meet.

"Shall we?" Shiina invited Fudo to follow her and the hostess up the stairs to another room. She knew perfectly well that Noriyaki's fate would end in death, for he had dishonored the samurai code, and so she was not concerned. "Could you please bring us both some clothes to change into. I shall pay for the attire..." She told one of the helpers, as the current state of their clothes would not be appealing to the eyes in broad daylight.

MADE BY MIZO

[Muramasa Uemon]

Muramasa

Muramasa kept his eyes fixed on the woman as she decided the man's fate.

Seppuku. He nodded. "Leave it to his lord. If the lowlife has any shred of dignity he'll cut his own belly and bear it." The others looked around offering varying levels of agreement. Clearly the staff had not been expecting such a night of dreadful events. As they took the man away he watched in silence. Noriyaki had nothing to do with his father's death but it was as Ran had said to him; wrong place wrong time. If he wasn't a samurai he might have even felt half bad. Mura's dark gaze returned to Ran as he removed his hand from her back and ruminated. "This Ran is full of surprises." Just as many as he, it seemed. Since he first laid eyes on Jinzashin he planned on staging an incident... and without so much as hinting to her his intentions she beat him to the punch with Noriyaki. He did not put it past those vermin with swords that call themselves samurai to attempt such a despicable act but her similar mannerisms and tone of voice clued him in. Her manipulations were like his. Except she was better. Much better.

Ran smiled at him, a nod indicating she knew more than she was letting on his face remained unmoved. She then invited him to room she requested. "I'm dealing with a master here." was all he thought as he silently followed. He did not even attempt to don his mask again. Coming face-to-face with Jinzashin like that had flipped a switch in him. Muramasa was now on full display. Ran bid the assistants bring them clothes and as the two entered the room he slowly slid the door closed behind him. There he stood. Covered in blood with vacant eyes locked onto hers. Ran's own ripped garments making her an almost perfect counterpart. His ominous gaze ran the gamut of her body but he did not emote. Not that he didn't appreciate the sights but... he had questions. For a long time there was silence. And then... "Who are you?" The swordsmith's voice was eerily calm. Beauty, danger, and wits all rolled into one. A formidable combination. He wondered that since now the two of them were accomplices if she would dispense with her charade as well. For the time he waited. And stared.

SPOILER: Click to show

TECHNIQUES USED:


SPECIAL ABILITIES:

String Theory - E.C.C

Necessary for his Puppet Ninjutsu and applicable to his other techniques, Uemon has trained extensively in order to mitigate the amount of chakra he uses with his techniques. Compensating for his average chakra reserves this allows him to stay in the fight that much longer.

Puppetmaster - U.A.

A natural strategist with a quick mind, Uemon is always observing even in the midst of combat. This allows for him to find gaps and weaknesses in his opponent's techniques easier than some, and allows him to formulate strategies and deceptions to take advantage of these shortcomings. His knack for tactics cues him on which approach should work best depending on his target.

Ashizukai Footwork - E.P.T. (Speed)

Honed after years of fighting and training in jujitsu with samurai as a child in the Land of Iron, Uemon is surprisingly light on his feet and his hand-to-hand strikes are faster than most expect. Able to strike and weave with deft swiftness he is capable of holding his own against Taijutsu specialists of his rank and outright overwhelming those of lower ranks in a straight up slugfest.

[Ryuujin Shiina]

In the city of fools, I was careful and cool but they tore me apart like a hurricane.

TAG - Muramasa Uemon



NOTES -

To say that she was much better was an overstatement, if anything.

Shiina wasn't really good at much, except using the beauty she had and the brain she was born with in tandem, to allow for those who would be too ignorant to see past the superficial to meet their own grave. To be fair, she hadn't intended to see the death of Noriyaki, and despite how she knew that seppuku was the only option available to him now, there was no way of backing out. In truth, if Fudo hadn't rid the other samurai, she perhaps wouldn't have gone this far. The purple-haired woman would wait for the hostesses to return with their new clothes and retire from the room before turning to Fudo. "I suppose there is no use keeping a façade up any longer..." her voice was a small whisper, although her gaze was serious and daring. "My name is Ryuujin Shiina. I'm guessing Fudo is not your real name either?"

A mastermind meeting another...what would become of this...?

"Let us then not continue to pretend, we've done enough of this tonight as is." Shiina sat down on the edge of the fuuton and looked squarely at the man. "Now tell me, what had that samurai ever done to you? You had that look...the look that could kill the moment he entered the ryokan tonight." She was very straightforward, a little bit of her real personality showing through. "I could tell from the moment you two stepped outside that one of you wouldn't return..." her voice trailed. She would wait patiently for him to offer an explanation if he chose to. If not, she would simply sit there in silence, her mind going through this night's events. It had certainly started off to be a quiet night, taking a sharp turn for excitement quickly.

She would heave a small sigh, getting up from the fuuton as to draw herself closer to him. Each step she took was small, like that of a true lady. And as she got close, the woman would wait until she was within centimeters of his face, her golden hues locked onto his face as she whispered, "Well, seeing as we are both tired from tonight, shall we enjoy the hot springs..." she drew even closer still, until her lips were next to his left ear, "perhaps together...?" It was daring and inviting, and for a lot of people, just those mere words would ignite a deep-rooted desire. To say that she didn't find him good on the eyes was a blatant lie, but this was her chance to gage whether he felt any sort of way.

A lady should always remain lady-like, after all.

MADE BY MIZO

[Muramasa Uemon]

Muramasa

So his suspicions were correct... at least he knew now that he wasn't just being paranoid.

Both of their gazes met and seemed locked in some sort of struggle. This whole night had been an intricate game of shogi. Ayame, the staff, the guests— even the samurai their pawns to move around the board. He did not fault her actions with Noriyaki. After all, how could he? Justified or not tonight marked him a murderer. She was only playing to his violent tempo. Expertly so. 'Ran' gave way to Ryuujin Shiina. It somehow seemed more fitting. "Muramasa." was his own curt introduction. He would not tell his first name. Only one person outside of his family even knew it... but since she had been so forthright... "My family's hated in this Land." A tidbit. Something for her to investigate more on her own time if she was curious enough. Or maybe a challenge? That is... if she felt she could milk more information out of him.

Pretending was over by her say so and his own exhaustion. "Agreed." his blunt response. Dark irises remained on her the entire time barely blinking at all. Half because of her allure, half because he felt if he looked away a knife would be at his throat. Perhaps he wasn't wrong. The woman inquired about his disdain for samurai. Normally something he would never tell a stranger but the metaphorical cards were on the table. "Samurai killed someone important to me." A truth, but one lacking in detail. Aces were best saved for crucial hands. His mind too recapped the night's events. A bloody performance. But he had what he needed. Now? Was the question of want...

Muramasa's eyes narrowed as she stood and approached. Forgoing her persona had only grown her enticing presence. Cool as he appeared he was not unaffected by this. An invitation to join her in the hot springs was proffered with a bewitching whisper in his ear and a closer look at her partially exposed body. "Trouble, for sure." Echoed one of his first thoughts upon meeting the woman. Her head near his ear and her figure nearly pressing up against his own he continued to look ahead. Until he inched closer to her own ear, that is. "I wonder..." he spoke, his voice an intense growl at such a low volume. "How many people have actually told you 'no'?" An honest question not without its own carnal undertones. He leaned back slightly, his gaze slowly traveling down the woman's figure and back up again. Taking her in completely. His expression had relaxed a bit... but his eyes remained as discerning as ever. "I could do with washing this blood off." For the first time since they'd been alone he turned his back to the woman but not before stealing another glance. Shiina was a woman many pursued. Longed for. This he knew just by laying eyes on her. Curiosity begged... how long had it been since she did the chasing? Muramasa gathered up his change of clothes and took a few steps towards the door. Sliding it open he stopped only to cast a steely eye over his shoulder. "Coming?" With that he would make his way out into the hall and towards the springs. One game ended. Another began. 

SPOILER: Click to show

TECHNIQUES USED:


SPECIAL ABILITIES:

String Theory - E.C.C

Necessary for his Puppet Ninjutsu and applicable to his other techniques, Uemon has trained extensively in order to mitigate the amount of chakra he uses with his techniques. Compensating for his average chakra reserves this allows him to stay in the fight that much longer.

Puppetmaster - U.A.

A natural strategist with a quick mind, Uemon is always observing even in the midst of combat. This allows for him to find gaps and weaknesses in his opponent's techniques easier than some, and allows him to formulate strategies and deceptions to take advantage of these shortcomings. His knack for tactics cues him on which approach should work best depending on his target.

Ashizukai Footwork - E.P.T. (Speed)

Honed after years of fighting and training in jujitsu with samurai as a child in the Land of Iron, Uemon is surprisingly light on his feet and his hand-to-hand strikes are faster than most expect. Able to strike and weave with deft swiftness he is capable of holding his own against Taijutsu specialists of his rank and outright overwhelming those of lower ranks in a straight up slugfest.

[Ryuujin Shiina]

In the city of fools, I was careful and cool but they tore me apart like a hurricane.

TAG - Muramasa Uemon



NOTES -

Having taken their respective masks us and be their complete honest selves was probably one of the most refreshing things about this entire encounter. Shiina nodded her head, musing over the name Muramasa. She seemed to remember hearing something, all of which were heresa. Still, it didn't phase it one bit when told her his family was feared in these parts. There was always something incredibly enticing about men who came from those who were feared, especially since she had been in Kumo herself once upon a threat. Though not entirely a threat to her village, she had been made out to be someone she wasn't and so she made every effort to fit in to the narrative anyway. If the people of her village wanted so much to fear her, she simply allowed herself to be that kind of person.

"I see..." she smiled, "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you again, Muramasa-san." She didn't call me by an honorific that others called him. It was a sign that she neither feared him nor felt the need to elevate the man just for aesthetic purposes. And as he looked at her, thinking aloud of whether anyone had ever turned down an invitation from a woman such as herself, she would give a little chuckle. "Admittedly I've never gotten a rejection before..." she gave him a playful look, "though I wouldn't say that I've extended an invitation to many..." and she was being completely honest. The woman rarely could be herself, and rarely invited people the way she had done Muramasa as Ryuujin Shiina. Every move she made was calculated for the last five years that it was like a breath of fresh air.

She would wear the same smile when he turned around to walk into the hot springs room and turned to ask if she was coming. Without a word, the purple-haired woman would begin to take off the rather sad looking remnants of fabric that hugged her body, starting with her obi in such grace that one would think that practiced every day just to look this smooth. But a lady had a lady's way of everything, including undressing. Each step she took, a piece of clothing would fall behind her gracefully until she was left with nothing the second she reached where he was standing. There was no blush, no embarrassment; the woman was more than comfortable in her own skin.

MADE BY MIZO

[Muramasa Uemon]

Muramasa

The young man remained stoic as she smiled her temptress smile and told him it was a pleasure to meet him again.

He paused. "And you, Shiina-san." Speech was a funny thing. Locals within the Land of Iron were overly obsessed with ideas of respect and honor hence the importance they placed on honorifics. To him, they were something he simply abided by until someone gave him reason not to. Muramasa-san was just fine by him... his own usage of '-san' being a slightly more cheeky choice as Shiina was his elder. But just as she did not fear him it was clear from his body language and tone he that he felt the same. Wary, perhaps. But out of self-preservation.

Shiina told him that she had never been rejected and his expression did not change. Honestly the question might as well have been rhetorical since he was sure of the answer before she replied. "Of course." No one dared turn her down. The Ryuujin woman was beauty incarnate. None could resist her allure... and perhaps none should. For the chance to spend a night with her was surely one that came along only once in a lifetime. Saying she did not extend the invitation to many caused a flick of his eyes. He was one of the chosen few, it seemed. Her assumption that he was unlike the others would prove correct as he arrived at the hot springs and stood in wait. The woman followed and upon entering began to remove piece after piece of clothing. Not once did Muramasa's eyes waver, watching her every graceful movement as she stripped and came to stand before him. Bare. For a moment he stood in silence, his dark eyes traveling down her shapely figure in thorough appreciation. Ryuujin Shiina was truly art. A goddess in mortal form who felled lesser men... but he did not bow to any deity. "Take this off of me." A command, his voice low and even with just a touch of lasciviousness. His sliced up yukata already hung open exposing much of the right side of his chest. A white sash loosened by movement kept it barely closed. Fresh blood still marked his face. But his eyes remained locked on hers. Those dark, iron eyes. Would she obey?

SPOILER: Click to show

TECHNIQUES USED:


SPECIAL ABILITIES:

String Theory - E.C.C

Necessary for his Puppet Ninjutsu and applicable to his other techniques, Uemon has trained extensively in order to mitigate the amount of chakra he uses with his techniques. Compensating for his average chakra reserves this allows him to stay in the fight that much longer.

Puppetmaster - U.A.

A natural strategist with a quick mind, Uemon is always observing even in the midst of combat. This allows for him to find gaps and weaknesses in his opponent's techniques easier than some, and allows him to formulate strategies and deceptions to take advantage of these shortcomings. His knack for tactics cues him on which approach should work best depending on his target.

Ashizukai Footwork - E.P.T. (Speed)

Honed after years of fighting and training in jujitsu with samurai as a child in the Land of Iron, Uemon is surprisingly light on his feet and his hand-to-hand strikes are faster than most expect. Able to strike and weave with deft swiftness he is capable of holding his own against Taijutsu specialists of his rank and outright overwhelming those of lower ranks in a straight up slugfest.

[Ryuujin Shiina]

In the city of fools, I was careful and cool but they tore me apart like a hurricane.

TAG - Muramasa Uemon



NOTES -

To say that she was much better was an overstatement, if anything.

Shiina watched the man closely, her gaze unwavering and her small smile in tact as she started walking towards him, a piece of clothing came off with every stride. She could tell that he appreciated the sight and as they stood very inches away from each other, she would hear a soft command, telling her to take the robes off him. Muramasa had some nerve, in fact, he had a lot of nerve to ask her of such a thing. Not only was it not in her nature to adhere to commands, but the mere idea of ordering her to do things that pleased him was...quite comical. She couldn't help but giggle, her golden hues traveled to the obi that loosely tied the man's robes together. All it took was a little tug perhaps, and the robe would part.

But that wasn't the point.

She considered for a moment, before reaching a conclusion that was neither here nor there. Turning her face away from the man, she would lean in on the right side of him. If he thought the woman was going to kiss him or whisper into his ear the way she had done moments prior, he would be quite mistaken. Instead, Shiina reached out to grab the wooden basin where people used to bathe themselves before they entered the hot springs. She would turn on the tap, placing the wooden basin beneath the warm running water. Grabbing a small towel, she doused the towel in the water as well, ringing it dry before turning back to the man. All the whils,e she didn't utter a word.

Taking the warm towel, she took his hands in hers, wiping his bloodied hands of the blood that belonged to the dead samurai. She moved gracefully and her touch was gentle, as though any pressure applied would somehow hurt the man. Once she was done, she would move to wipe the blood off his face, before tossing the towel back into the water-filled basin. Drawing close to him, she would give him a smile, her right hand came up to where his obi was. With one quick tug, she released the garment free from the sash, allowing the obi to drop the floor. "Nobody orders me to do things...if that's one thing that you learn of me..." her voice was serious, despite her smile still intact. "Let me make it clear that I untied that because I wanted to, not because of your orders..."

It was important for the man to know and understand that this was not common practice and to never abuse it again.

MADE BY MIZO

[Muramasa Uemon]

Muramasa

Fortune favors the bold or so the saying goes.

Bold he became. Masamune Fudo was gone and yet this Muramasa took action still dissimilar from the norm. Was it the alcohol? Advancement of his goals? Taking his first life? Or perhaps it was Shiina herself drawing this out of him? Whatever the case it was unusual but not necessarily bad. Maybe this was the true Muramasa buried deep down. If so, here was his chance to know him. To find out more about himself... and to understand just what he was truly capable of.

A giggle broke the silence after his command. Something that may have made others shrink but he stood firm watching her every move. The woman leaned in until their bodies nearly touched... only to grab a bowl. "Hm..." Wordlessly he observed her take up a towel and wring it out before grasping his hands to wash away the blood. Her touch was softer than anything he'd ever felt. And her hands moved wih an expertise that rivaled his own. She would see the knuckles on his right hand were split and though the cloth dabbed them he did not so much as flinch. Shiina would pick up on the the fact that his entire body was tense, likely due to the night's events. This became more apparent as she moved closer and tugged at his sash. His yukata swayed open revealing all. He did not react.

Both of them seemed more than comfortable in this state. Two prominent scars marked him, the thin one on the left side of his forehead and a medium-sized diagonal one along the right side of his abdomen. Products of swordplay. Shiina told him she did not take orders and instead untied his sash because she wanted to. He stepped forward inching closer to her smiling face. If she did not move his chest would meet with hers. "Why did you want to?" His voice was hushed but still forceful. A quiet confidence. His arms remained at his sides as his face neared hers, almost appearing to move in for a kiss until... he stopped short. Muramasa's dark eyes met with her irises of gold. "To find what you seek?" A double meaning. Try as he might he couldn't devise reasoning for her being there and aiding his schemes other than... she was simply curious. Just how much? He intended to find out...

SPOILER: Click to show

TECHNIQUES USED:


SPECIAL ABILITIES:

String Theory - E.C.C

Necessary for his Puppet Ninjutsu and applicable to his other techniques, Uemon has trained extensively in order to mitigate the amount of chakra he uses with his techniques. Compensating for his average chakra reserves this allows him to stay in the fight that much longer.

Puppetmaster - U.A.

A natural strategist with a quick mind, Uemon is always observing even in the midst of combat. This allows for him to find gaps and weaknesses in his opponent's techniques easier than some, and allows him to formulate strategies and deceptions to take advantage of these shortcomings. His knack for tactics cues him on which approach should work best depending on his target.

Ashizukai Footwork - E.P.T. (Speed)

Honed after years of fighting and training in jujitsu with samurai as a child in the Land of Iron, Uemon is surprisingly light on his feet and his hand-to-hand strikes are faster than most expect. Able to strike and weave with deft swiftness he is capable of holding his own against Taijutsu specialists of his rank and outright overwhelming those of lower ranks in a straight up slugfest.

[Ryuujin Shiina]

In the city of fools, I was careful and cool but they tore me apart like a hurricane.

TAG - Muramasa Uemon



NOTES -

It took like-minded people to see and appreciate another, and she was not at all surprised that he would try to pull the same stunt that she did. The woman smiled as he leaned forward, closing the distance the other way around. His face was centimeters away from hers, intending to play it off as a kiss. When he stopped though, inquiring about her wants, she almost couldn't help but smile. He wanted to know more about her intent, which was quite fine, if she knew her own intent to begin with. Choosing her words carefully, she stared at the man squarely. "I don't suppose you intended to bathe with your clothes on. It's not only disrespectful to the ryokan, but disrespectful in all facets." The woman wasn't really insulting him, but merely taking the time to think about a more serious answer.

"I am a person who seeks knowledge..." she begins, her tone serious. "I don't care for violence, but I don't reject it either. But if a person can get what they want without shedding any blood, I am all for it." Shiina took the chance to inch in closer, knowing that he was possibly unlike other men, at least on the surface. Many wanted her physically, and she strongly disliked this premise. The woman hoped that Muramasa would be different. "And what is it that you seek?" She would move away from him at this point, hoping for him to follow. If he did, he would notice that she was going into the hot springs.

Did she appreciate what she saw in Muramasa? Definitely.

Was she going to make a move? Not if he continued to be that way, referring to the way he commanded her earlier. Shiina dipped her toe into the hot spring waters, smiling to herself at the temperature of the water. She turned her head to look at Muramasa, the sly smile now forming on her face again. Patting the edge of the tub, she invited him to come and sit next to her. All the while, her eyes would follow his frame, the way he moved.

MADE BY MIZO