On Wed, 3 Apr 1996, Nightelf wrote:
On Wed, 3 Apr 1996 22:47:13 -0500 Andy Skuse said:
At 03:46 PM 03/4/96 -0700, THE NEFARIOUS ROBMA CHALLENGED:
On Wed, 3 Apr 1996, Andy Skuse wrote:
The ronin warrior sits in his bamboo grove, the aroma of incense wafting
occasionally to his direction. Suddenly the shifting breezes turn to a
strong wind that lasts but a breath. The cherry blossoms at the edge of his
grove sigh
as the wind passes over them and then- silence.
The ronin's ears prick up, the whisper of light footsteps approaching behind
him barely perceived. The ronin's eyes narrow, as the smell of death
overwhelms the gently wafting traces of incense . . .
(Zodiak walks into the Beijing Zoo and strides proposely to Panda's
place. His hand carries his soul sword, with blood dried onto it.)
Zodiak: Kajagua! Show yourself! I have a present for you! (Tosses a
golden hairband into the cave. The sunlight glimmers off of the
metal and the sapphire in the middle of the band. Blood stains
the hairband with strands of white hair pasted to it.) Hahahahahaha!
How does it feel to know you've lost her to me forever?
The ronin remained seated, his back to his ancient enemy in a show of sorrow
and disatisfaction with Scorpio's disgracing of the Zodiak clan. But he also
remembered that Scorpio Zodiak was once a different man. One who
controlled his own will and destiny, and cared deeply for his family. Traits
held high above all else in feudal society, no matter what his personal
feelings might dictate.
Kajagua rose slowly, hesitating before facing his challenger. On the ground
to his right lay the blood-stained hairband, delicate wisps of white gossamer
tangled and caught in the metal ornaments. The sunlight pierced through the
gaps between thin pipes of bamboo to play with the sapphires, making them
twinkle like a woman's mischievous eyes. A woman that the ronin had once
held tightly in his arms. A woman with white, gossamer hair . . .
Kajagua steeled his nerves and turned. Scorpio stood before him, his dark
blade of doom held suspiciously limp at his side. Both men were masters at
the art of the Iaijutsu, the "quick draw", but Scorpio had his enemy at a
disadvantage, his weapon already drawn, and still warm with Virgo's blood.
The two warriors continued to stand and regard each other coldly, their eyes
becoming locked in a contest of nerves. To look away first was to lose honour.
Scorpio's eyes blazed with fury and hatred, while Kajagua held his
opponent's gaze with eyes of cold, black, stone. The ronin smiled as Scorpio
flinched under the spell of his possessed soul. Through gritted teeth and
set jaws, the two men raced at each other head on, thin blades of steel
suddenly flashing in the bright sunshine.
<Shring!> . . .
"Wait!" A cry is heard from the distance. A cloaked and hooded figure stands
away from the warriors, an unsheathed katana in one hand. "The pawed
mammal is mine!"
The figure whips away the hood, to reveal...hair as dark as a moonless night,
a noble face scarred in battle, and pointed ears..."You have dishonored me
for the last time, panda! I shall have your head!"
The clouds billow overhead, and it starts raining...the assassin looks up
at the thundering sky, a look of despair on his face as the first drops
fall...
Zodiak(refuses to look at the newcomer, his eyes fixed on his greatest rival.
Through gritted teeth, he speaks): Remove yourself from this
battlefield, my grievenaces with the Ronin(the word is spat out as if
the taste disagrees with him) far out weighs your own.
The figure watches the two combatants as they stand ready to charge again.
He doesn't want to surrender his claim, but he concedes to the two who are
already engaged in combat.
Zodiak(raising his blade high): Come, Ronin. Let's see what you are made
of... (with a cry of hate, Zodiak charges at his opponent. Kajagua
charges ahead without hesitation)
The two blades meet in another clash of steel. Zodiak twists to catch
Kajagua's blade in Soul Defender's own V-shaped hilt. Kajagua loosens
his hold to avoid being disarmed and kicks Zodiak away. Zodiak lashes
out, but Kajagua brings the katana up and the two swords lock, the
screeching of steel as the two blades hold the other back from their masters.
Zodiak(sneering): I hope you'll take some pleasure at the fact she screamed
out your name when I struck the blow that stained that hair band...
(Kajagua freezes for a second, a second Zodiak takes to head butt
him between the intertwined blades.) Nevermind, I lied. She just
screamed in pain... (Kajagua heart turns cold at Zodiak's gloating
of the agony he inflicted to the woman they both loved. In a cold
rage, he strikes hard and fast as the startled Zodiak moves to block
the furious blows.)
Kajagua strikes from the side. Zodiak nearly missed blocking it. Kajagua
strikes with the hilt of his sword to Zodiak's exposed face. Zodiak
stumbles back, the back of his left hand to his mouth. The right hand
holds the blade ready as the left hand pulls away, stained with blood.
Zodiak: First blood is yours. I'll tell you this, Ronin. She lives.
My strike only stunned her enough for me to take her as my prisoner.
But she will never be the woman you remembered her as... (His eyes
start to glow blood red) I'll see to that. (a dark portal opens
behind him) Follow me to Tokyo, if you dare... You'll never
leave alive, again... (with cold mocking laughter, Zodiak steps
through the portal)
The portal remains open... waiting for Kajagua to go after Zodiak... and
to find her before it's too late.
Rob "Welcome to Tokyo, Kajagua. The warzone for Sig War 3..." Orick
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