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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2018 22:40:04 GMT -5
Yuujin breathed a sigh of relief as Asuka came to his aid, destroying the incoming boulders with her ki infused bandages. He nodded in agreement with her assessment, eyes looking upwards to the trapdoor in the ceiling. "Right. Good idea. This entire place is obviously rigged with more traps, and that's the second life threatening mistake I've nearly made today. Thank you again Asuka, I owe you my life." He gives her a surprisingly intimate look, before breaking his gaze. "Yes... I can still use my bandages well enough. But it'll be difficult given my arm." With that the two begin their ascent, using their ki infused bandages like grappling hooks that respond to their every whim and movement. After much hardship and struggle the duo arrive at the tomb of the Third Tetsukami. It is a macabre sight, strewn with the remains of a generation's worth of failed applicants. The spirit of the Tetsukamo himself, Noh Ogata sits on his own tomb. Spectral form still wearing his old military armor beneath his Tetsukami's robes. He claps, albeit sarcastically and with a wry grin on his face. "Good work children. I'm amazed to see you both made it this far..." When he speaks, its almost as if with unspoken annoyance neither had perished to his traps. "I saw how you worked together to overcome your individual limitations. Sadly, that kind of cooperation will do you no good here. My final test is one of individual skill, and ability. You will not be able to rely on each other." In life Noh had believed only in individual strength. Even as an army medic, he saw the injured as failures simply by being injured in the first place. Every man taken out of combat meant half a dozen were needed to tend to him. An army's march slowed to a crawl for its wounded. Just like the body would shudder against its injuries. It had defined his philosophy within the Tetsudo order, leading the man to focus on further enhancing the defensive techniques of the order where his own master, the Second Tetsukami had focused on offense. As the duo approached, Yuujin glared at his father's spirit, offering up only a cold greeting. "Father..." He said simply. "Son..." Came an aptly simple reply. "What is this final trial then? What more tests could you have? We've thwarted your traps together, even it cost me my arm!" Yuujin spoke with confident resolve, his free hand taking Asuka's in his grasp and squeezing tight for reassurance. Feeling her warmth in the cold, dark tomb. Noh Sensei smiled without displaying a hint of emotion, rising from his 'seat.' He began to stroll casually about his tomb, in a way that forced the children to look upon the grim reminders of past failures. "My final test, my students, is quite simple. It is designed to demonstrate to me true mastery of my most legendary technique. One of you, and I care not which, will need to perform my Mummification Technique on the other. Obviously if you are successful, your friend will be unharmed and you will both be able to proceed to the Trial of the Fourth..." There was a pause, a sinister silence hung in the air. "Of course, should you fail, well..." Noh gestured around him to the rotted and partially mummified remains within his tomb. "I trust you both know the price of failure."Yuujin gritted his teeth, clenching his fist as he let go of Asuka. "That's madness Father! You've seen what we've been through. We're in no shape to perform that technique. What if we refuse?" Silence hung in the air at his defiance of his father's whims. Yuujin thought the spirit of his father deranged, even more uncaring and sadistic than he'd been in life. Or maybe he'd just been too blind to notice the full extent of his father's atrocities. "You are free to abandon the trial, Son." Noh says rather nonchalantly in reply. He acts uncaring, as if this threat of refusal was nothing to him. "And you may leave at any time. You simply need to traverse back through my trial, and out the door. It is as easy as that." No it wasn't, it never was. Both he and Yuujin knew that was currently an impossibility. Neither Yuujin nor Asuka had the strength to make it backwards through the trial, and they had barely made it the first time. It was a death sentence to leave, and the price of failure marching forward was also death. Yuujin's own father had trapped his son and his newfound companion between a rock and a hard place, with his option only mildly being the better course of action. Yuujin puzzled on it for a moment, before swinging out his fist and smashing the skull of a skeleton that dangled from a pillar close by. "Fine then you bastard. I'll do it." He turns to face Asuka, fiery resolve burning bright in his silver eyes. "Asuka, I have to be the one to do this. I was practicing my father's moves since the day I first learned to sense ki. I have more experience than you in his techniques, and even if I have less energy left than you it has to be me. It's the only way." As the young martial artist pleads with his friend over their dilema, his father merely watches as his lips curl into a sinister smile. He did so love watching a moral conflict, the struggle of emotions would only make the struggle of the mind and body to come so much more... real. He tapped his fingers on his thigh impatiently, waiting for the two pupils to come to a decision.
Post Count: 20 Hanzo Medjikara
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Post by Hanzo Medjikara on Dec 29, 2018 21:57:44 GMT -5
As Asuka overheard the bitter words exchanged between father and son she took her place in the center of the room and extended out her arms. “Go on Yuujin it's alright.” Asuka wasn't sure what would happen she could even potential die. But she knew how much this meant to Yuujin and was confident in his ability. “I trust you.” Asuka said to her companion. With that all Yuujin needed to do was perform the maneuver.
But with only one working arm Yuujin wondered to himself for all his assurance his want and drive prove himself, could he even do it. “The Mummification technique requires both hands to pull off, since they’re needed to keep their grip on one’s opponent. I only have one arm so this task may prove to be a challenge if not impossible, and now I'm also expected to make certain my opponent remains unharmed...” however after looking to his arm. “Unless…yes that’s it.”
As the third Tetsukami looked on at his son as he prepared to perform his technique. “So he’s going to be the one to perform the maneuver, this ought to be interesting he only has one arm. He won’t have enough wrapping in order to properly perform it. he must be planning something.”
Asuka looks to Yuujin in affirmation, slightly scared that she could die. But Yuujin noticed this and looked to her calmly and smiled as if to say “I won’t hurt you.” the two shared a wordless exchange of confidence. And then Yuujin began to the first steps of the maneuver. He vanished forward and smashed his palm into Asuka’s chin in order to send her straight up into the air, Asuka grunted, in pain from the sudden jerking of her head and neck as it was whiplashed backward. Once in the air Asuka’s eyes looked around for any sign of him and before she knew it Yuujin stood before her extending out his one good hand in order to cause his bandages to burst from his body and envelop her. She froze her body overtaken with fear as the wrappings bound her body. However, Yuujin himself was feeling the pressure however this was all apart of his plan.
“Wait a second…” thought the third Tetsukami as he closely inspected the maneuver.
As Asuka’s body was wrapped in bandages Yuujin grabbed hold of her but instead of the bandages stopping once there was enough to Coat Asuka, they continued until there was no sign of them left on Yuujin’s arm and soon his body became encased in the bandages as well with his bursting white eyes glowing a violent shade of white.
“He’s using the energy from the Shouten State as a buffer, in order to encase the girl from head to toe…” The Tetsukami seemed relatively impressed by such a display of skill.
As Yuujin then begins his descent he pulls Asuka downward, Asuka who can feel the tug of gravity in her stomach braces herself for impact as Yuujin begins to spiral downward creating the white barrier of Ki around the two of them, and just before the final impact Yuujin used his vanishing technique to distance himself from the explosion.
“BOOM!” went the ground as the attack impacted with the cold metallic flooring an echo and trails of white ki leaving streaks of fire across the floor. The technique was complete and in the center was a cocoon made of bandages and it suddenly began to pulse with energy but as the cloth began to unravel Asuka's body could be seen still with blood beginning to seep from the back of her head as her entire body began to she convulses. Asuka was fading quickly and Yuujin knew it. “Asuka I'm sorry...I failed.” He walked toward her and stood in silence over her body, he placed his hand in hers, her trembling head then turned to him.
The third Tetsukami then appears behind him, and looks to his son.
“You used the protective Mummification Technique to shield her body and protect her from the full impact of the fall. But it looks like it wasn't enough. A brilliant move my son but the outcome, however, is unfortunate”
Yuujin simply looks to her in silence.
“Curses...”
The third Tetsukami crosses his arms.
“Not necessarily I expected you to perform a variant of the technique that would leave her unharmed and thought she's quite injured she is still very much alive. And to leave you to die would be a waste...”
“You're letting me pass?” Yuujin said looking to his father with a confused expression.
Yuujin looked to her body...and stood up.
“Would you rather I not...There’s no use mourning her...she’s gone now, you can either sit here and debate this with me. Or I leave you in here and you can join him once you starve to death. Your ki is running low anyway, you might just die from exhaustion.”
Yuujin looks down at Asuka’s trembling body and then turns a look of conviction back towards his father. “I'm not abandoning her…” Asuka turns her head and looks to Yuujin as he stands over her.
“Yuu…jin...”
Asuka was losing blood at an alarming rate and wouldn't last more than a few minutes without aid.
Yuujin seeing his comrade on the ground, struggling to speak caused him to remember how she had helped him when he lost his arm. Asuka put her faith in him and he failed her and when given the chance to repay her kindness the young warrior would not leave her behind.
“She did not leave me behind and I will not do the same to her…! If you wish to lock us both in here to die then so be it, I will not become like you.”
Asuka grips Yuujin’s leg as the blood continued to pour down her head.
“I see...then so be it…You pass, your final trail.”
Yuujin awaits his father's judgement harshly staring the spectre of his father in the eyes
Yuujin flabbergasted retorts yet again.
“What…?”
“Had you accepted my offer and left Asuka behind I would’ve trapped you in there until someone else came along.” The third then gestures out towards all of the remains of the student in the temple. “Look around you Yuujin these are the corpses of students who were abandoned by their peers. They all took my offer and died of starvation, in my tomb. Yuujin despite my attitude toward you as your father, Something I wish to instill in all of my students is something I lack. Compassion. I would've trapped Asuka in that part of the room as well. Had you made it here on your own I would've posed the same question, just in a diferent fashion."
The door to the 3rds Chambers begins to open.
“Father, what do you mean?”
“I’ll tell you in but a moment. For now tend to your friend, in my chambers, there’s a scroll with a special healing technique. Use it to resuscitate her, I have much to explain to both of you.”
What had made the third a wildcard unbeknownst to Asuka and Yuujin was his suffering from a mental illness a combination of sociopathy something he was born with and other mental illnesses brought about from his time as a doctor and military soldier before joining the order. He always understood these ailments but hid them from his students and his family. After his bickering with the 4th Tetsukami led to the death of the latter after he turned the temple against him, as well as the subsequent abandonment of the temple as a result of the assassination. Noh exiled himself from the order and left the temple with his wife, with his last act before leaving is the mummification of the last 3 Tetsukami he blamed the downfall of the order on himself. Once Yuujin was born after giving birth to his son who yearned to learn of the order his father was apart of, he fell into an even deeper depression feeling as though everytime he trained his son he was reminded of his failures. Eventually, the pain became too much to bare and Noh abandoned his family and 2 year later committed suicide in what was now his tomb when Yuujin was 8 years old. Leaving the line of Tetsukami at its end.
@amatricina
WC: 1418
TWC: 21,245
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2018 23:43:01 GMT -5
Yuujin wastes no time, dashing into his father's tomb with the last of his strength. His body aches, every bone screaming out in pain and his muscles begging for rest. It doesn't matter, he had to save his friend by any means necessary. The exhausted warrior stumbles, too exhausted to run, tripping collapsing onto the ground. "Asuka..." he cries out through the pain, pulling himself forward with his only remaining arm. Clawing his way toward's his father's sarcophagus in his desperate bit to find the scroll. With his last ounces of strength, Yuujin pulls himself up against the great stone tomb, using it to balance as he pulls himself to his feet. "Have... to... find it." He pants between labored breaths, looking around the tomb for the scroll. He spies it, carefully balanced atop a display on the wall behind his father's sarcophagus. With every fiber of his being screaming out for rest, Yuujin moves to the scroll, clutching it in his hand. The wounded student tucks the magic scroll safely under his arm, turning to make his way back towards his dying friend. How long had it been? A minute Two? How long could Asuka last, he had to move faster. Yuujin dug deep into himself, finding reserves of strength he never knew he had. Sheer adrenaline willing his body to action, forcing his limbs to move as he made his way back to Asuka's bleeding body where it lie. The martial artist sank to his feet as he reached her, the ghost of his father silently judging him not far away. Arms crossed as he watched his son's selfless acts of compassion with heavy heart. Yuujin carefully unraveled the scroll, holding it open with his hand and one knee, reading over it carefully. The knowledge within more advanced than any medicinal techniques he'd ever known. The life's work on his late father, learned from decades as a martial artist and seemingly a lifetime as a soldier. "I... I can do this." Yuujin says as his eyes race over the scroll's contents. He knew medicinal techniques, they came naturally to him as any. No, more naturally, despite the hate he felt for his father Yuujin was forced to admit he was his father's son. Noh's gifts flowed through Yuujin, he'd inherited every ounce of his parent's talent, he just lacked the years of experience to master it. Studying the scrolls one last time, committing everything he could to memory, Yuujin summons the last ounces of ki he has. "It has to work. I'll make it work." The warrior declares, a fire burning in his eyes as he steels himself to his task. His hands draw forth the last of energy into an orb of silvery, shimmering energy. Like a mercurial ball, it ripples in his hands against his touch. Yuujin can feel his vision darkening around the edges. So much ki condensed into one technique, his reserves of stamina completely drained. He wills himself to stay conscious through sheer mental force until he can finish his technique. "I'll save you..." He tells himself, tears welling in his eyes. He barely knew the woman bleeding on the floor beneath him. But the guilt of dragging her into this, into his mistakes. And getting her killed for it, because of his own weakness. The pain in his heart, of that grief, it was almost unbearable. Yuujin places the orb of ki on Asuka's chest, and it defuses slowly over her body like water. Covering her figure in a shimmering layer of rippling ki, before being absorbed completely. It was done, Yuujin had done all he could. He stumbles a bit, his vision darkening as he tries to steady himself. It was too much, just... too much for him. As his bod slumped to the side, his eyes caught one last glimpse of the woman he'd tried so desperately to save. "Asuka..." His last word came weakly, before Yuujin collasped into unconsciousness, hitting the ground like a sack of bricks as he landed beside her. His hand twitched once, a last attempt to reach out to her, and then all grew dark around him as he slipped into darkness.
Post Count: 21 Hanzo Medjikara
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Post by Hanzo Medjikara on Jan 1, 2019 20:28:25 GMT -5
As Asuka awoke her surroundings were unfamiliar a yellow series of clouds that seemed to stretch on endlessly. And before her a series of white puffy clouds. “What the...where am I…?” the ground beneath her feet was made up of a dark blue almost turquoise like color, that seemed as though it went on for miles.
“Alright everyone move along! Move along! We can’t have the line being held up.” Called out a voice, out in the distance. Asuka looked about a saw a blue-skinned man in a business uniform minus the blazer he wore glasses and had a sharp devilish tail, was he some sort of demon.
“Excuse me, but can you tell me where I am?” she says talking to the blue-skinned demon.
“Otherworld land of the dead!”
Asuka’s face went pale flush with fear and panic. “Land of the dead!?” he nods.
“I wouldn’t worry about it miss you’ve got your body something not a lot of people can say. You’ve must’ve done some serious good in your time for the gods to reward you in such a fashion.”
Asuka placed her hands on her hips. “But...how…?”
“Keep it moving Ma’m a lot of people who die suddenly tend to have that reaction. Everything will be explained once you reach the desk.” Asuka looked down at the long line.
“But that’ll take forever…!?"
“Oh it's not like it matters, time is immemorial here. Now I’m going to ask you one more time, keep it moving I won’t hesitate to have you sent to the back of the line."
Asuka groans and continues to trod along. “Yuujin must’ve botched the technique! Guess I just wasn’t meant to finish my trails after all.”
After some time has passed Asuka arrives at the end of Snake way but still sees yet another line before her. “Another one!?” Asuka says to herself. She falls backward and lands onto the hard snake way floor. “Oh man…” Suddenly as she looks up at the clouds. “Y’know...its kind of nice here...peaceful, maybe this isn’t so bad.“ Later still Asuka gets closer and closer to a large building with a sign above it that reads “Welcome” at the check-in along side a large desk. However something about her surroundings was different the other ghosts were gone and in front of the desk only stood one woman a familiar one at that. Asuka walked forward and as she got closer Asuka immediately recognized her! That hair her indistinguishable smile it could be only one person her mother!
“It’s not your time, my love…” her mother's voice echoed in her mind,Asuka desperate to reach out to her mother extended out her hand as if to grab her desperate for the warm embrace of a woman she hasn't seen in far too long. “Mom…!” But just before she could say anything a light flashed before her eyes and the world around her turned a bright white, everything blinking out of existence and then suddenly, darkness.
A MOMENT LATER
"Asuka..."
called Yuujin's voice
Suddenly, Asuka feels an energy pass through her and feels something pressing against her body, her eyes slightly flutter open and she suddenly hears a thud, as she lifts her body up she feels a throbbing against her head. She then looks around and upon pulling her hand off of her head she sees blood staining her hand. “Wha…” she looks to her side where she sees Yuujin’s body lying on the ground. “Yuujin…?” She panics and turns his body over. Frantically placing her head against his chest able to faintly hear his heartbeat. She sighs with relief.
“Don’t worry he’s fine, but you however you very nearly died. Yuujin made sure to return the favor. With all the energy he expended you should be in peak physical condition for the next trail.”[
Asuka looks up listening in as the voice echoed throughout the walls of the large metal chambers.
“But before you go, I want you to know that I am very proud of what both of you accomplished here, this last leg of the trail was meant to test your compassion. All of the other students failed either forcing the technique on others or deliberately destroying their teammates in the hopes of passing, and when given the opportunity to save them they chose to save themselves. You had no idea if Yuujin could bother even perform the technique yet you still willingly sacrificed yourself for the sake of his ambition. You two have only known each other for maybe an hour yet you are both willing to lay down your lives for one another and that is something I could not be more proud to see.”
The specter goes silent reflecting on his own past.
“When I was alive, I was a medical doctor and in the Earth’s Armed forces, and thought it was my job to help people, I often leave many of my men to die, As much as I believe in making sure that no one is left behind if I if it becomes apparent that the situation is unsalvageable then why bother expending the energy. I was a soldier first and a medic second, and after I was discharged from the military shortly. I was eventually found by Nakamura Sensei and brought into the order where I rose to prominence. As a combatant, I was famed for impenetrable defense and unflinching brutality. And as teacher I was known to be very strict, unfeeling and business-like. I never showed an ounce of empathy towards my students and those who could not perform were turned away. i wanted to see the order prosper and in order to do that I needed to quell those that had no value to the order. It was cruel but effective. In doing I bred some of the most tactical and cunning members of our order. With the best being the future 4th Tetsukami, he was my most impressive student however he did not share my values for the future of the order.
Noh sensei paused in reflection balling his fist as he remembers the many students he crushed underfoot with his cunning and might, but also in remembrance for what he was about to describe next.
It was this clash of personality and philosophy that led to the downfall of our order.
"You see for the longest time, our Order was rather secretive and only individuals recruited by people who were already members were allowed to enter. This level of secrecy was put in place in order to prevent our secrets from falling into the hands of other rival schools such as the crane or turtle schools. And when I came into power, I felt as though guarding these secrets were of the utmost importance. I built the tombs you see here and gathered together the many scrolls of the other Tetsukami who once walked these halls in order to keep their secrets safe. I only cared for two things in life and that was the order and my family of life. To me we were a community, a group of people with values and traditions, and we could not allow any of it to be seen by those who were not apart of our order."
The thirds tone rose and became more passionate as he spoke
"Aliens, in particular, for centuries humans had struggled to find a place in the galaxy we were always weak always looked down upon, "just look at what those wretched Saiyans and Majins did to our peaceful planet." I thought, I felt the people of Earth needed representation the people of Earth needed our order, the people of Earth needed to know they could be strong. But the 4th wanted to change that."
Asuka thought back to how she had learned of the legendary Z fighters of old and the friendship she shared with Zam and many others.
"But that's not true..." Asuka protested
"I wish I knew that then..." the 3rd said solemnly.
"You see the 4th Tetsukami wanted us to expand our criteria for entry open up dojo's around the planet and even create new temples on other planets in order to expand our influence. He wanted to spread Tetsudo throughout the galaxy he had a grand ambitious vision. But back then I was a different person. I was Xenophobic and at the time I had more influence within the order, and so I used my influence to undermine his authority and damage his credibility by arguing against his point. Ultimately now, I knew that he was right and I was wrong. There was fighting on both sides and our debate came to a head and ended with a civil war between the two of us. And after his demise I realized that he had a point, I wanted to go to the 2nd Tetsukami for guidance once it had ended but our squabbling had put a great deal of stress on her and she died of a broken heart a short time later. Eventually, I attempted to relent on my Xenophobic stance but by then it was too late everyone was set in their ways and grew to distrust me. And so seeing no other choice I abandoned the order and with no one to lead it. The temple and the order fell into ruin."
The 3rd Tetsukami spoke with a great deal of regret for the actions that he had performed., he hung his head in disappointment. "I'm sorry Kaede Sensei, if only I could've learned before your passing."
"After my self-imposed exiled I fled to be with my family feeling as though I could start anew with them. But as Yuujin's training furthered grew older and his curiosity in our order grew, I was reminded of my failure with every question. I failed as a master to my students, as a leader in our order and as a father to my son. To see the light in his eyes, his passionate desire to learn and to know that I threw that all that away, was far too much to bear. And so I exiled myself here to this tomb where I committed suicide. With my last mission in life being to mummify and preserve the last 3 Tetsukami as a form of repentance. It's a shame that it wasn't until I was near death that I had realized, that if all I had was a little compassion perhaps I wouldn’t have turned out this way. I gained power and prominence, yes but I couldn’t feel joy in the life I’d led as a result and my lack of empathy and compassion for the thoughts and ideas of others ultimately led to my downfall. That is what I wish to impart unto you, and I apologize for the distress that I have caused in your life. Go now...take whatever you need from my tomb."
She looks down at Yuujin, who lies unconscious. "I hope we meet again." she whispers.
“I know you care for him but I assure you he will be fine, besides the 4th trail must always be taken alone. It is the most personal of all the trails.”
Asuka passes into the 3rd Tetsukami’s tomb where even more remains can be seen. In his tomb, however, there are a set of tattered robes and a photograph of a beautiful woman. Along with a photo of the 2nd Tetsukami as well as the 4th. There were many scrolls, but Asuka had run out of scripture to write on besides she figured Yuujin could benefit from the knowledge more than her.
“Your ability to learn from your mistakes doesn't excuse you from your actions Noh sensei, but you're a good man for wanting to learn from your mistakes, and seek redemption.”
"It is all I can do...and I can only hope that my son doesn't inherit his father's negative traits."
As the exit begins to open his the ghost of Noh Ogata begins to fade away as it prepares to return to hell, his eyes following the young warrior as she departs his tomb but not before looking onto Yuujin one last time, in her heart hoping that she will soon get the chance to see the warrior again.
“You might not think so, in the immediate future...” the specter whispers as he shuts the exit to his tomb.
Asuka continues to move forward looking back as the tomb door shuts sealing away the wisdom of the third Tetsukami once again. She turns her head to face forward readying herself for the 4th and final trail.
@amatricina
WC: 2073
TWC: 23,318
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2019 15:08:03 GMT -5
Before Asuka stands a shockingly simple room. Gone are the peril filled corridors and battle hungry golems of the First and Second Tetsukami's trials. Gone is the macabre horror and legions of traps of the Third's. What stands before Asuka is a very simple room, as large as the great hall of the Temple, though without the high ceilings. It is lined in rows of columns, each with a torch illuminated by ki channeled into the door to open the tomb's entrance. The room is void of obstacles, no golems or constructs roam its halls. Instead, there are merely a series of simple stone pillars arranged in a half circle in the room's center. In between them is a large engraving of the Tetsudo Order's kanji on the floor, illuminated in white. Upon each pillar lies a perfectly preserved scroll, resting neatly and awaiting the pupil to take it in hand. The entire room is deathly still, almost eerily so given the previous trials. In the center of the room stands a familiar specter. One Asuka should recognize from this morning when she first arrived. The spirit of a man of above average height and build, with spiky unkempt hair and a neatly trimmed pencil mustache. The spirit is dressed in the robes of a Tetsukami, though his are far more plain and simply display the order's kanji across his back emblazoned in a large circle. The spirit smiles softly, lifting his head as he looks to Asuka. "So, you have finally arrived." When Asuka had activated the First Tetsukami's ancient seal, it had inadvertently remove this spirit's ability to manifest his form. Far from gone though, his incorporeal spirit had watched her silently from the ether through her journey. He was impressed by his pupil, proud of both her character and her skills with their martial arts. Now that his own seal had been awakened, he could use the Shouten ki to reform his spectral body anew. There was one final trial before her, though the spirit knew for Asuka this would be a mere technicality. He had seen her candor, and she was more than worthy. Now she needed only prove that to herself. "You may approach my pupil, I swear on my honor there are no traps or puzzle to this trial. It is a simple test, sometimes we forget to appreciate the simple in the grander scheme of things." With that the Fourth Tetsukami motioned to the pillars before him, letting out a soft sigh as he did. "I suppose my deception is revealed now, isn't it? I did not reveal this to you before, but I am indeed the Fourth Tetsukami of the Tetsudo Order. My spirit is not like my brethren, bound solely to my tomb. My burial ceremony was never properly completed, and my soul cannot return to the Other World to celebrate the afterlife with my beloved. I am trapped here, bound to this temple as my final prison. Forced to wander it endlessly until my soul can find peace. I have come to accept the solace of that fact."There was a flash of pride in the spirit's eyes, the kind of fire not even death could snuff out. "But that does not mean I will ever forsake my duties as a Tetsukami, not even in my restless death. Come student, you must have so many questions to ask of me. I will explain them all if you need. Once you are satisfied we can begin my trial proper." With that the Tetsukami beckoned Asuka to approach him so they could discuss matters face to face as master and student.
Post Count: 22 Hanzo Medjikara
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Post by Hanzo Medjikara on Jan 7, 2019 21:18:16 GMT -5
With her wits now about her from the healing ritual performed on her by Yuujin Asuka embarked forward towards the next trail. After a short walk, she found herself in a suspiciously simple room. Knowing what had happened to her in the last few trails and how the Tetsukami seemed to be prone to deception. Asuka kept her wits about her not knowing to expect both literally and figuratively. The simplicity of the room only added to the tension, no traps no blades no mazes or tricks surely there was something up the 4th Tetsukami’s sleeve. She looked around the room but the only thing out of the ordinary were the 4 scrolls placed atop small pillars in front of what seemed to be the tomb door. She lifted her foot up to take a step but still on edge for the treachery of the previous trails, Asuka stopped and instead asked the 4th Tetsukami to reveal themselves first.
“4th Tetsukami aren’t you going to introduce yourself?” she said with a rather aware tone of voice in her previous trails the Tetsukami would normally make some sort of grand entrance or catch her off guard but she wasn't about to be caught with her bandages unraveled this time.
Asuka waited for a brief moment and like magic almost as if appearing out of thin air the 4th Tetsukami revealed himself and his appearance was all too familiar. That penciled in mustache those features and that hair why it was the same specter who had introduced her to the temple in the first place. “You!? Your the 4th?” she cried.
Asuka’s was more then surprised she was thrown for a loop and to call this a surprise would be an understatement. Why would he lie? Why conceal his identity? She already knew next to nothing about The 4th Tetsukami as a whole, and for this to be in his introduction made for a rather odd first impression. “Why did you lie to me!?” Asuka indignantly demanded, and while she was a tad upset she was still curious. Perhaps it was necessary, either way she wanted an answer and glared down the specter with her arms crossed and an irritated expression etched across her face until she got. "I'd expect that from the third...but based on what he told me that seems unbecoming from someone as noble as you, just who are you?"
@amatricina
WC:405 TWC:23,723
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2019 23:13:35 GMT -5
The Fourth Tetsukami expected the hostility, he knew well enough it was coming. He'd betrayed the trust in his own student in order to mask his identity. "You must understand, I did so for your own benefit. Had I told you my identity immediately it would have called into question so much of what I said to you. You'd have doubted yourself, me, and our order. I wouldn't allow you to have doubts because of my failure, so I deceived you. I apologize for that my student, though I would do it again if I must." The fourth bowed his head slightly, it was more out of sorrow he must stoop to such deceptions than out of shame he had deceived the young woman. "But... your anger is completely justified my student. I would feel the same way in your position, deceived by someone I am told to look up to. I can only hope I can make it up to your before you leave my trial." The Tetsukami cleared his throat, hand brushing along his mustache as he mulled over how best to address the situation himself. "I like to think myself noble, though I suppose we all do in our own way. Better than admitting we become the monsters we fear. For my time as Tetsukami I did my best to maintain our order, and ultimately lost my life trying to adhere to the old ways. My name is Akisame, Fourth and final Tetsukami of the Tetsudo Order. Though I am not the only one who has hidden their identity." The spirit said with a grin, leveling his gaze on his young pupil. There was something, familiar about her he could not place. "If you recall, you also never told me your name as well my pupil. You only ever told me why you came to this temple, and I never asked you to reveal your own identity. So perhaps it is you who should introduce yourself first." The Tetsukami smiled a sly grin, folding his arms across his robed chest. Two could play at this name game. He was eager to learn the identity of his star pupil, the first in ages to finish all four trials. Well, she had not finished his yet but that she would he had no doubt. He tapped his foot impatiently, though as a ghost he had more than all the time in the world. "So, who are you then my young student?" He asked a final time, eager for her reply.
Post Count: 23 Hanzo Medjikara
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Post by Hanzo Medjikara on Jan 9, 2019 22:03:49 GMT -5
Asuka who is still somewhat angry realized that she had forgotten to mind her manners, and immediately placed her hands by her sides and bowed to the Tetsukami. “Gomen-nasai Akisame-sensei. I forgot my manners. My name is Asuka.” she looked back up at him. “Old ways? From what I was told you were very progressive. It’s unfortunate what happened to you. You didn’t deserve to die like that. The 3rd expresses his regrets...” After a moment of silent reflection. She breaks the silence with another series of questions.
“So what does this trail entail, what’re the scrolls for? Do each one of them contain some sort of technique. Were they what made you famous?” She walked forward to approach the scrolls, whose glow gave the room a white glow much like that of the pale colored specter. However, unbeknownst to Asuka, each one was in fact empty, each one meant to be filled with Knowledge by a worthy student and future master of the order.
They floated in a grandiose fashion atop each pedestal and piqued the young girl's curiosity. Each one meant to be filled with Knowledge from the students who were deemed worthy enough to take them. Not all masters dealt their trails in combat. She then looked down at Akisame sensei's hands and noticed that he didn't have his bandages. "Does is have something to do with your bandages...?" she then tries to put two and two together. "Is that my trail am I...to remove my bandages?" she looks to her hands remembering the first time she had her power awakened, it was a rather erratic experience. "But if it's what I need to do then I shall. Akisame sensei." she bows her head to the 4th Tetsukami. "If you think I'm ready, I'll prepared for whatever you wish to throw at me."
WC: 311
TWC: 24,034
@amatricina
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Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2019 23:29:37 GMT -5
"Asuke?" The Tetsukami thinks to himself, the confused expression clear on his face. He tries to hide it though, but the seeds of doubt are already creeping into his mind. Could it be? No, no there was no way. He could not be blinded by his past, his eyes need look to the present. The spirit warrior clears his throat, using it to buy time as he thinks on what to say. "Then I suppose that is our belayed introductions, is it not?" He chuckles slightly, mostly to himself. In truth though its more a ruse than anything. Akisame's brow soon furrowed, as he was forced to address his pupil's comments regarding his predecessor and the state of what had once been his order. "Yes Asuka. The old ways. Our ways. Perhaps Noh should have expressed his regret when he was among the living, acting like a damned fool and overstepping his bounds." The normally calm and reserved spirit clenched his fists as he let out a long sigh. Anger wasn't their way. Anger is what led Noh Ogata down his self destructive path. Only through self control and self reflection did their path forward illuminate. Akisame calmed himself, it mattered little anymore, both the men were long dead anyways. "When I say old ways, I mean to the times before the Third Tetsukami. Ogata caused much harm to our order with his foolishness. He set us back decades, then pushed us even further with his mad schemes. Look at our temple, once teeming with students and bustling with life its now little better than an oversized tomb. Is that better than the old ways? I think not." The warrior let out another sigh, casting his gaze at the ground at his feet. "I am progressive, Asuka. Or so I liked to think when I took up the mantle of Tetsukami. But changing for the sake of changing isn't progressive, it's reckless. Real change takes time, it is the result of careful deliberation and foresight. Real change is accepted, false change is forced. I couldn't teach my best friend this lesson, and it cost us our lives." The Fourth Tetsukami looked heart broken by that revelation, and swallowed hard as he buried his past once more deep inside his undead heart. It was the past for a reason, dwelling on it could not change it now. Only improving the future could, by washing clean the blood soaked stains of past mistakes. Or so he told himself every sleepless night sitting atop the temple gazing up at the moon. Akisame snapped back to attention, returning once more to the task at hand. He nodded simply to Asuka. "My scrolls are empty, they are not meant to be studied, but the reverse. My trial is not about learning, but rather displaying mastery. Total mastery. Each scroll is embossed in the personal seal of its respective Tetsukami, one per era. Each one can only be filled with the knowledge of their signature technique performed at the highest degree of mastery." The spirit's eyes light up as Asuka motions to his bandages, or lack their of. "A keen eye Asuka, you are correct. For my trial you must remove your bandage wrappings, and unshackle your full potential. That is the final lesson. No matter how much a Testudo martial artist thinks they have mastered our arts, they must truly master them at their limits to earn the title of 'master.' Every technique has an ascended variation, one only a few in our order could ever truly wield. To do so remove your bandages, unshackle every ounce of your ki, and enter the Shoten state. Let it overwhelm your mind, guide your instincts. Control comes through mastering that which cannot truly be mastered. Instinct and command working in harmony, forging the spirit of a true warrior. The limit of human potential, that which Koh sensei toiled for his entire life. We must reach our own limits, only then can we surpass them. For that is what it truly means to be Tetsudo." With his speech said, the Tetsukami smiles a confident grin, gesturing to his scrolls. "Pick any you like, order doesn't matter. Only knowledge of the techniques, mastery of their usage, and the willpower to tap into your fullest potential. Are you ready Asuka?"
Post Count: 24 Hanzo Medjikara
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Post by Hanzo Medjikara on Jan 14, 2019 19:51:01 GMT -5
Asuka listened in to her sensei but could felt a degree of bitterness is his voice. “Sensei...He’s dedicated his time in the afterlife to teaching compassion, in an effort to make amends for his wrongdoings. I do not believe he should be honored for what he did but, I believe his efforts to enlighten others is...commendable.” She said with sincerity but paused in contemplation uncertain as to whether or not her words ring true. “But forgive my brashness...I was merely voicing my opinion.”
But as the conversation concludes, Asuka then focuses on the scrolls but then looks to her hands. “Remove my bandages…” Asuka then begins to process of slowly unraveling her bandages letting then drop to the floor. She takes a deep breath as her power swells up inside her body and as she exhales her Ki explodes from her body her heart rate escalates and her eyes grow white with her muscles and veins bulging as a fiery aura surrounds her body.
“So this is...what my full potential amounts too...amazing.”
Asuka looks out at her palms balling them into a fist as she gets a grip on her unshackled power feeling a sense of euphoria from finally having control over her latent strength. She then places her hand across her heart and feels her heartbeat rapid pace slow down to her normal levels as her body attunes to her newfound strength.
“I feel at peace, this power it doesn’t feel violent, it feels calm.”
With this new shift in power Asuka's body no longer felt the need to push itself to a powerful state for it was already there.
“Now then...onto the trail.”
Asuka then begins to walk the scrolls but in doing so a powerful energy erupts from out of them, crashing unto the ground revealing three living clones of three Tetsukami. All 3 of them set their gaze upon Asuka.
“Congratulations she who wishes to attain the rank of master, you have come far." Remarks the third Tetsukami
"To successfully remove one's bandages signifies mastery of our teachings and thought you no longer need your bandages to protect you from yourself..." Says the second Tetsukami
"it is time to show us how you will use your new found power to protect others." Says the first picking up where the third left off.
"Now then she who wishes to attain the rank of Master it is time for you to prove to you why you are worthy of such a title.” Out of respect for each Master Asuka bows to them only to take a combative stance but a moment later ready for battle. The first Tetsukami then steps forward.
“Now then, show us why you are worthy of being called a Master!”
The first Tetsukami then engages Asuka in battle attacking her with a flurry of palm-based strikes. Asuka managed to parry each blow effortlessly, catching his palm and channeling her ki through her body and then expelling it in one blow. “Shouten!” the first Tetsukami is then blasted back taken out of the fight.
“Gahahahaha this old man is no match for this generation! You’re up Kaede-chan!” the first says as his spirit then fades away.
As Kaede walks up before Asuka, Asuka bows to her sensei. “Oka-san!” she then takes a stance. "You did well against my golem's Asuka-chan, but let us see how you fare against myself." quickly her sensei enters into the Shouten state and the duo begin by exchanging a series of furious blows each strike landing palm for pal with their eventual final clash creating sparks within the room itself like steel meeting steel. The two then jump back with Kaede placing their hands by their sides, preparing to utilize the original variant of the Tetsu-ha. Asuka who recognizes the hand motions Asuka devises a plan placing her hands by her sides in order to craft her own modified variant of the Tetsu-ha. With both warriors now in a state of absolute focus charging up And as Kaede fires her blast forward Asuka begins running toward her placing her hands by her side rapidly reciting the incantation. “Tetsu-ha….” as the blast detonates upon colliding with a wall Kaede senses something is off and then suddenly Asuka appears before her wielding her Tetsu-ha within her palms. “Kishū!” Asuka brings her arm forward and fires her attack at point blank range in front of her sensei. As her spiritual form is vaporized she lets out a small smile, visible amongst the outline left by her body within the Ki wave “I’m so proud of you...Asuka-chan.”
With Kaede out of the fight, the third Tetsukami attempts a sneak attack smacking Asuka in the face with a powerful blow, that knocks her too the floor Asuka stands up rubbing her cheek.
“It looks like it’s up to me now…”
The third stands giving her a sinister look as he vanishes away, But Asuka being ever the savvy fighter weaves past his violent onslaught. manages to sneak in a strike to his ribs in order to stop his onslaught. Stunned, the third Tetsukami stumbles backward. Asuka seeing this follows up with a series of devastating palm strikes each one more brutal than the last, a swift strike to the face, a powerful blow to the ribs, with a violent final strike to the chin which launches him upwards into the air. However, knowing what comes next the third Tetsukami using Asuka’s discarded bandage wrappings to pull her upward and ensnare her in a trap. With his clever plan successful, Noh Ogata spins her downwards using a modified variant of the offensive mummification technique. But upon landing on the ground. The third discovers that Asuka is nowhere to be found amongst the wreckage. He looked around to for any sign of her, but suddenly he feels a tug on his feet. Looking down the third Tetsukami finds his legs wrapped together in the bandages and after a moment Asuka follows up by racing forward landing another launching palm leaping into the air and grabbing hold of him bringing him down in a spiral motion. Just before landing Asuka uses the vanishing technique to land a safe distance away from her foe.
“Well then, it seems I lose…”
He says as he attempts to stand to his feet, only to fade back into his scroll.
With the three Tetsukami defeated Asuka stands alone. And their spirits then return into their scrolls. Asuka then gives one final bow to the three Tetsukami as they fade away.
She then re-seals her power and looks back to the 4th Tetsukami. Despite having utilized a great deal of power in her fight the youth still seems rather refreshed from using her new found power a testament to how well she has learned to control her power.
“Have I impressed you Akisame-sensei?”
@amatricina
WC: 1153
TWC: 25,157
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2019 23:53:05 GMT -5
Akisame watched with crossed arms as Asuka completed his brief, but rigorous trial. She easily defeated the spirit clones of the three previous Tetsukami, a feat that always brought a tear to the weary spirit's eye. He wiped it away, trying not to let his student see him get emotional about the past. His pupil displayed great mastery of form, showing great aptitude for every facet of the Tetsudo style throughout her brief display of martial prowess. There was something about the way she moved though. Her long brown ponytail flowing behind her, the shape of her slender figure as she dodged blows and retaliated with fearsome strikes. It was all so... familiar, but the Tetsukami could not place his fingers upon it. He shook his head slightly, trying to shake off the deja vu and focus purely on judging Asuka on her own merits. His past was clearly getting the best of him again. When Asuka finished her performance, resealing her powers Akisame greeted her simply with a warm smile. He bowed his head, dipping it low as if he were the student greeting the master. "Indeed you have Asuka. You have surpassed my humble expectations, and those of my three predecessors before me. You have demonstrated great master of our sacred Shouten State, our Tetsudo Martial arts, and all manner of our signature techniques both great and small. You move with agility, grace, and strike with strength and ferocity. You are quick witted, display a keen eye for detail, and highly adaptable in combat." The Tetsukamu wished he could hug his student, shake her hand, embrace her warmly as master and pupil. It pained him he could not, so he simply cleared his throat and continued speaking. "Asuka-san, you have displayed in your Trial of the Four Tetsukami total mastery of each and every aspect of what it means to be Tetsudo. You are an exemplar of what is the best in all of us, what makes our order what it is. You have the Strength of Koh, the Brilliance of Kaede, the Guile of Noh, and in time I hope you shall possess the Wisdom of Akisame. As the Fourth Tetsukami, I, Akisame Atsuki bestow upon you, Asuka, the rank and title of Tetsudo Master. May Earth give you strength, Heaven give you knowledge, and Hell give you nothing. May your every day be spent honoring our ancient ways, and may you share your teachings with the next generation of Tetsudo Martial Arts. I am humbled to be your Tetsukami, but I am proud to call you Master." With that Akisame summoned his ki, his hands glowing white with arcane energy. There were a few tricks in death he had learned that he couldn't when living. Spirits could tap into magics beyond human understanding. Akisame Sensei materialized a set of ornate white robes at Asuka's feet. Brilliant white, with black belts and matching size. Fine silken bandages a shimmering silver were neatly rolled besides the sleeves. The Kanji of their order embossed across its back in fine embroidery. A flawless garment, for a peerless martial artist. "May these robes do you justice, Asuka. They are my last great gift to you, beyond what little knowledge yet exists within my tomb." The Tetsukami gestures behind himself, as the doors to his tomb swung open behind them. "You are welcome to anything that can help you further in your travels, Master Asuka."
Post Count: 25 Hanzo Medjikara
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Post by Hanzo Medjikara on Jan 15, 2019 1:30:25 GMT -5
Asuka basks in the praise of the Tetsukami, reveling in his words. Asuka had come a long way training on her own inside of an orphanage to master grueling techniques morning noon and night. Working to decipher her mother's map in order to locate the temple, and now here she was finally being bestowed the rank of master. She took the robes presented to her and held them in her hands, her fingertips trembling with excitement. The soft material and the kanji sewn on the back took her back to when she was a child holding her mother's robes in her hands hoping that one day she would get one of her own. “I always wanted one of these.” Asuka squeals with glee. She then excitedly tries on her placing her robes over her uniform and wrapped her arms in her bandages. “Sugoooi.” she says to herself strutting around in her new robes. “Thank you Akisame sensei!” Asuka then enters the Shouten state and begins performing a Tetsudo Kata to get a feel for her robes, tossing kicks and punches hearing the whisping of the winds as the wind passes through her sleeves. “Daaaah!” she shouted finishing up her routine with a mighty high kick her Shouten Ki and bandages bursting from her body. And as her white ki engulfed her being as if her jacket itself was on fire. The young girl standing with proud in her new robes and looked towards her master and bowed to him. “Thank you Akisame sensei, for everything!”
Asuka then turns about heading toward the tomb, the rock making a loud creaking sound as the rocks glide against one another revealing the insides of the tomb. Inside she sees a very simple shrine, with an old martial arts gi perfectly preserved in the center surrounded by a bevy of neatly stacked scrolls and photographs. With the most significant one of them all situated directly beneath the gi itself. The frame revealing 3 separate photographs of Akisame beside a short-haired woman. One where the two stand in their uniforms where both she and Akisame appear to be in their youth alongside the 2nd Tetsukami. The second photograph showing the two in wedding a collage of wedding photos, with the final picture showing the woman with a protruding belly an obvious sign of pregnancy. This woman was Saya Atsuki.
“Mommy…?"
Asuka’s mouth dropped and she covered her hand with her mouth, Asuka’s beady eyes darted toward the name on the gi as she hesitated to read the Kanji aloud. “Akisame Atsuki…” Shocked, Asuka exited the tomb nearly tumbling about as she was overwhelmed with emotions. Her eyes welled up with tears, unable to hold back Asuka began to weep. She covered her hands in her face burying them in her palms, as the tears streamed down her face. Emotionally and psychologically crippled by the revelation that the 4th Tetsukami was the father she never knew.
@amatricina
WC: 496
TWC: 25,653
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2019 0:18:18 GMT -5
Akisame put the revelation together at the same moment Asuka did. The way she looked at the photographs of his departed wife, the color of her hair, her eyes. It all matched so perfectly. It had to be. Asuka Atsuki, his daughter, the daughter he'd never known, and the child he wished so dearly he could have raised. For the first time in his life Akisame didn't know what to say, he floated there stupefied, his mind racing but his mouth refusing to cooperate. Asuka. He mouthed the word, but no sound came out. Asuka. He tied a again, a hoarse whisper as the spirit watched his child fleeing in sorrow. There was so much he wanted to say, so much he had to say. The Tetsukami found his nerve, flying after his daughter as she buried her face in her hands and sobbed. "Asuka!" Akisame called out, finding his voice as he pursued his daughter. His ethereal spirit phased through objects and obstacles as he followed after her. "You have to stop. Asuka please!" He spirit cried out in anguish, it hurt his very soul to see his daughter in such despair. He wanted to console her, to tell her it would be all right. The Tetsukami caught up to his child, placing his hand on her shoulder. It phased through her, and he bitterly thought of his own immaterial nature. "Asuka please, I just want to talk. You are my daughter. Let me held you Asuka... I love you."
Post Count: 26 Hanzo Medjikara
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Post by Hanzo Medjikara on Jan 16, 2019 16:54:48 GMT -5
Asuka continued to weep but upon sensing the presence of her father, her tears stopped she then looked up at him and wanted so badly to hug him. “I love you too Daddy…” Asuka looked to the transparent specter with red eyes. “Mom Always used to talk about you...how much of a good man you were and...how she wished you were still with us...our house was so empty without you...but now I see why she never told me who you were...she wanted to keep me safe from...from other members of the order who wanted to hurt us...” Asuka then thinks back to having met the third Tetsukami. “Ogata..!” she turns back in a huff her eyes welling with tears, and her spirit teeming with rage. She races towards the tomb entrance and violently activated the Shouten state in an attempt to bash down the door assaulting it with palm strikes. “His students desecrated your statue in the garden, then I’ll destroy his tomb…!" She shouted her decree as she continued to chip away at the tomb door, with her barrage of vengeful strikes. "He was more than a fool he was a bastard!” Eventually, the youth realized her efforts were pointless. At this point was causing more harm to herself then the impenetrable tomb wall, now exhausted the youth simply limped against the wall. And as her shoulder slid down the wall and her body met the ground. Her frustration and anger caused her to weep once more. “I never got a chance to know you...and now with Mom dead...I’m all alone.” Asuka pounded her fist into the ground, the insides of her palms red from the repeated strikes to the wall “It’s not fair…” she spoke her words distorted as she whimpers through her tears.
@amatricina
WC: 307
TWC: 25,960
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2019 17:50:38 GMT -5
"I know you do my daughter. My sweet, wonderful, darling daughter." Akisame said, slumping to his knees besides Asuka. He sobbed manly tears that streamed down his face, as much a part of his spectral figure as the rest of his image. "You and your mother meant the world to me. I should have been there. There is so much I wish I could have done different. So many things unsaid. Your mother and I, we wanted the best life we could possibly give you. We failed that Asuka... we failed you. I failed you. I failed everyone." The proud warrior was now weeping heavily, his head bowed low as he sat on his ghostly knees at his daughter's side. There was nothing left to do but let out everything that he had held pent up inside him for so many years. So many empty, painful years spent in this horrid limbo between life and death. The sorrow in Akisame was tempered by the sight of his prodigal daughter flying into a rage at the revelations of his predecessor. He rose back to his feet, shifting to appear directly in front of her so that her misguided punches must first pass through his spectral form, and his stern expression. The Tetsukami wiped the ghostly tears from his eyes, furrowing his brow as he glared at his daughter. "ASUKA, ENOUGH!" He commanded of her, his voice harsh and stern for the first time since they met. "This rage, this anger. It is not our way. It is not what it means to be Tetsudo. Yes, Ogata was more than a fool, he was a bastard. He was a misguided man, one I once called friend. He was a sick man, he needed help and he needed guidance and for that we failed him. All of us did. And our order suffered for our failure." The Tetsukami paused, letting his words ring through the empty room and carry the weight of what he said. "What Ogata and his followers did Asuka, was a terrible crime. In death though, they are justly punished for it. They rot in Hell, punished and tormented for their wickedness. The statues are just things. Things can be replaced. Rebuilt, better than they were." The man sighed, letting the weight of the past fall upon him. "It is ideals that we cannot replace. You cannot give in to the same anger, the same hate that gripped Ogata. It would make you no better than him, it would spit in the face of all that your mother and I have taught you. All that our order has taught all of us. Our legacy, is your legacy now Asuka. You are the first of a new generation of Tetsudo Master. Ones without a Tetsukami. If our order is to survive to see a fifth era, it must be rebuilt. This temple, those statues, all can be restored, and made greater than they once were." The man let out another heavy sigh, wiping the tears from his face. "I can never give you what has been taken from you. I can never have so many things a father wishes to have. I did not hear my daughter's first words, see her learn to walk. I wasn't there for you when you were happy, scared, or sad. But that doesn't mean you're alone. You'll never be truly alone Asuka. I'll forever be with you, watching from the next life. So will your mother, I know she already does and she would be so proud of you. And someday, we'll be reunited in Heaven. That is something no one can take from you."
Post Count: 27 Hanzo Medjikara
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Post by Hanzo Medjikara on Jan 20, 2019 14:53:07 GMT -5
Asuka looked to her father as she picked herself up off the floor. Tears still in her eyes. “I know I shouldn’t be mad but...It…” she looked to her father who was giving her a stern fatherly look. “I'll do my best…I’m sorry.” she then contemplates to herself as she stands up. “Me the future...I suppose restoring the temple is a good start…” Suddenly a light creaks into the room from beyond the tomb of the 4th. “Ack…” the youth says not accustomed to having seen any form of daylight in quite some time. “There's a sight I haven't seen in a while, I guess it's time to go…” she says as she looks to the bittersweet sunlight and then darting her eyes toward her father's ghostly figure not wanting to be apart from the man she had waited so long to meet “Would I be able to wish you back with the dragon balls? Maybe you, me and mom could be a family again…?” She says as the light shined off of her face her voice trembling. “I...I don’t wanna leave just yet...I...wanna stay a little while longer.” she then looks out into the distance knowing what needed to be done. “But I can’t...I’ve got an order to restore and a legacy to rebuild... filled with doubt and having more questions than answers Asuka looks to her father with uncertainty questioning herself and her role in the rebuilding process. "But I'm not like you, I'm no Tetsukami...?” Asuka had only just completed her trails and was only just now becoming a master, there was no way she could possibly be next in line to become Tetsukami? Perhaps there was more than what her father was trying to say but what was it?
@amatricina
WC:305
TWC: 26,265
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2019 15:53:04 GMT -5
Akisame's gaze softened, he could never stay mad at his own daughter. Asuka had quickly seen the error of his ways, she was her mother's daughter after all. The blood of the Atsuki line flowed strong in her veins. "I know you'll do your best. That's why you're my Asuka." The tired spirit said, the weight of all he had said so heavy on his slender shoulders. The man looked puzzled though, Dragonballs? What were they? In all his years of study he had never heard of such a thing. The Fourth Tetsukami was a scholar, not a sorcerer. His knowledge of the arcane was finite, and limited. It cam mostly from Kaede Sensei's brief lessons on the matter, rather than his own research. "I'm sorry Asuka, but... Dragon Balls?" The man questioned to his daughter. "I don't understand what you mean. Wish us back? Asuka what are these Dragonballs. I would give anything to be a family again." Her father was concerned, excited, and optimistic for the first time in years. His daughter knew of something he did not. Some way to maybe bring back his wife, her mother? It was too good to be true. "You don't have to leave Asuka. No one is telling you to go." The Tetsukami assured her, wishing so dearly that he could just place his hands knowingly on her shoulder. Console his daughter physically, hold her in his arms like a father should. It pained him he could not. "Asuka." He said somberly, blinking back tears. "No, you are no Tetsukami. But you do not have to be. Your destiny is your own, I can only help guide it. Someone must carry on our legacy, our order cannot die with you and your mother. I will not let four generations of hard work slip away into the sands of time. Asuka, you are the last of the Atsuki line. You carry with you the hope and will of an entire lineage of proud martial artists. But more than that, you are my daughter. My daughter would never quit, never give up hope. She'd fight to her last breath, until her task was done or she could fight no longer. That is what it truly means to be Tetsudo. To embody the unyielding human spirit." Akisame looked down, his hands more transparent than before. The forces beyond death that kept him trapped here in his prison were fading. His unfinished purpose in life was completed in death. He had found the one who would restore the Tetsudo Order, he had found the daughter he had never known. "Asuka.... I think... I think it is finally my time." Akisame said with new tears in his eyes. For a decade he had been trapped here alone, wishing only for a death to escape death. But now, now for the first time he didn't want to leave, and yet the Other World was claiming him? Was fate truly, truly, this cruel? "Asuka I love you." Akisame cried out, rushing towards his daughter to try and hug her. "I will tell your mother. I will tell her it all..." He said, his body vanishing before he could reach her to embrace. His spirit form disappearing in waifs of ki back into the ether. Asuka Atsuki was now alone once more in the world. Alone in the tomb of her father, with only his words echoing in her head.
Post Count: 28 Hanzo Medjikara
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Post by Hanzo Medjikara on Jan 21, 2019 17:18:01 GMT -5
As Asuka heeds her father's words and watches him vanish away…”Daddy…! Daddy…!” she calls out as he fades away, grief-stricken by his sudden passing “Come back...I need you.” As he fades away she flings her arms forward as she attempts to clutch him but as her fingers phase through him all that remains is dust. Leaving Asuka alone with the sunlight shining down on her body. Asuka then stands to her feet heads towards her fathers' tomb who's pristine robes shine in the light of the sun. She then bows before them. "Thank you, Dad." The youth takes one last look at her father's robes and smiles. She then walks exits the tomb, and shield her eyes as she approaches the outside world where she is greeted by the morning sun.
Before her now stand the ruins of a once vibrant temple, floors cracked and walls decaying, all representative of a time gone past. Now it was up to her to rebuild. but with her lack of inexperience, Asuka knew the order needed a strong leader. But the question is where would she find such a person? The members of the order had grown thin since its fall more than 2 decades ago. “If I'm not supposed to be the Tetsukami then maybe...I can find a replacement? At least until I can gather the dragon balls! Man, that'll be a task in of itself. Gotta just take this one step at a time. Now then...The order can't be completely dead if Yuujin's alive surely there are others he had to have been raised and taught by somebody...right? I wish I could've asked him before we got separated during the trial.” At this point, Asuka had far more questions than answers and not a single lead. “Now if I were a member of the Tetsudo order where would I be...? I guess I'd better start looking.” Asuka then feels something foul assault her nostrils. "Right after I get home...and take a MUCH NEEDED shower." and with that, the exhausted warrior makes her way home for some much-needed rest, though unbeknownst to her a friendly face was out in search of her, along with a malevolent force following right behind. Both prepared to make a sudden arrival.
@amatricina
WC: 374
TWC: 26,646
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