| The Samurai and the Rebel. | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 29 2010, 02:34 AM (505 Views) | |
| Post #1 May 29 2010, 02:34 AM | Max |
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Sabaku was living in the Kingdom of Aleia now. He had been taken in by a prominent noble family. The Schtauffen Family offered Sabaku a place to live until he could establish himself and build his own manor. The family had the young samurai living in one of their cabins out in the countryside with a single servant by the name of Raphael. Raphael was becoming Sabaku’s closest friend in his new life. No one knew of his brand, all thought the scars on his arm and hand were from battle against his corrupt father and brother. The two were out walking the grounds and Sabaku was picking his friend’s mind about how things worked in this country, even though he was a servant, Raphael was intelligent and privy to much information about the nobility and workings of the Schtauffen Family. “Raphael, you must tell me about this western idea of the caste system. In my land, it is decided by warrior status. Except for the royal line, that is the line blessed by Helios and Xia.” “Sir, it is decided all by lineage here. You are born into nobility. There are ways to gain it, but it is normally passed through by lineage.” Raphael was a tall man, matching Sabaku in height and being slightly burlier than the samurai. He had long blonde hair and carried a large sword on his back. The two had a lot in common, both enjoying the art of combat from a technical and philosophical point of view. “I must say Raphael, this whole pretense of sir should end,” Sabaku was talking to the man as they walked through the gardens of the estate, reaching the outer gate and entering the marshes. “I am no better than you here, my family may have been nobility but here I am nothing more than you, call me Sabaku.” He refused to use his personal name here, wishing for his name and his clan’s name to become synonymous and return the honor to his clan by being honorable himself. |
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| Post #2 May 29 2010, 02:57 AM | Hobo |
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Zera had finally found a place to relax, his arms were a bit worn from all the work in the Butcher shop. That was ok though, he had worked hard enough that the wear and tear didn't affect him that much anymore. He stared up at the blue sky with matching colored eyes. They were narrowed, hawk like, piercing. Zera even while lying down in the grass carried himself like a man on a mission, a man of importance. He was only fourteen. He heard the sound of boots against grass and immediately snapped to attention. He leaped up onto his feet like a cat and scanned the area. He saw two men in the distance, one walking a few paces behind the other. He reached down and grabbed his great blade and slid it into its holster on his back. "Nobles, I can smell it from here." He hissed inwardly as he watched the two walk by, he crept low to the ground slinking away. It wouldn't be wise for him to attack them at the moment. Not after taking on those five guards. They certainly wouldn't remember Zera's face, but the guards would remember the damage he could cause. He'd be caught in no time. He shook his head. "Not a good time to get lost in thought Zera!" He derided himself. Slipping away he cut a path into the marshes, certain that the nobles wouldn't dare dirty their boots in the thick muddy water he took a break. Though his heart still beat with a fury he could hardly contain. He swore. "Souls! Those blasted Nobles..." He hissed, looking around to make sure no one was listening. "I'd become the void itself if it were to kick those bastards off their high horses!" He stood on a stump, imagining himself in front of a great army, a proud smile on his face. "Just imagine!" He said. "Brothers in arms! Today we strike the final blow against our hated foes, the nobles of Aria! Far too long have you suffered under their heel, far too long have we toiled and sobbed at the loss of our lovers, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers." He closed his eyes and clenched his fists. "Today marks a new beginning. I will lead you! Trust in me!" He had to keep himself from shouting, he felt the tingling on his skin, the excitement. Oh thats how it would feel when he really did stand in front of an army. He plopped down on the stump. "One day..." He said, staring into the murky water. |
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| Post #3 May 29 2010, 03:12 AM | Max |
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Sabaku saw the young man with the large blade and grew curious. He looked over to his guardian and smiled, “I’ll be back by dinner Raphael. Go have some fun.” With that, Sabaku was gone, he was rushing through the trees and through the marshlands like a fox chases his prey. He had none of the ill intents of a predator, mere curiosity filled him. He had met no other souls here out in the marshes and another person interested him. They were not close to the city out here, and a person hanging out could prove entertaining. Sabaku came up to a small clearing with a tree stump and hid behind a tree as he watched the boy jump on it and begin a speech, a speech about bringing the downfall to the nobles. It interested the samurai for he could see how the peasantry would feel oppressed. He knew what that was. Looking down at his left hand his smile faded. The samurai could still see the cross burned into his skin, even if others wouldn’t notice it among all the other scars. All of them were hidden now by white bandages wrapped around covering Sabaku’s forearm from his elbow to his fingers, leaving the fingers themselves exposed. The branded samurai walked out from behind the tree when the boy sat down. He wasn’t angry, in fact he was clapping. He was applauding the boy’s speech. “Very good young one. Short, sweet, and to the point.” Sabaku knew that one day this boy would become something great, “You’ll use that speech one day I bet, and the day you do will be a dark day for the established society.” A look of sadness entered into Sabaku’s eyes as he remember how he tried to fight the established and ended up banished and branded before he continued, sadness in his voice, “Be prepared or you could suffer the worst fate of any freeman.” |
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| Post #4 May 29 2010, 03:20 AM | Hobo |
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The clapping was the first thing Zera heard, he leapt up and pointed his blade at the intruder. Just from the looks of him, the way he dressed, the way he carried himself. Everything screamed noble. There was something else there though. Something different, Zera couldn't put his finger on it. Zera was the son of a noble, he grudingly admitted to himself that fact. His very appearance, should he ever manage to clean himself up, was that of a noble. Zera cursed his heritage with every breath he took. He shook that train of thought away. He had more pressing matters to attend to. He swung his massive blade once to the side, he was a distance away from his potential opponent so it was simply a threatening gesture. That and wielding the weapon with one hand was enough to get the point across. "Who are you, and why should I not kill you where you stand?" He asked, though inwardly he glowed a bit. The noble had said some rather, kind things. Some humbling ones as well. He couldn't help himself. Zera really couldn't. "And why do you say such things?" He asked, his eyes narrowing, again like a pair of blue hawk eyes piercing at the soul. They carried a luminescence to them, as if his heritage was more than mortal. Zera was prepared to suffer, he was prepared to bring suffering. He knew the only man deserving of causing such destruction was one who was willing to accept the consequences. He was more than willing. He'd suffered enough, he'd watched others suffer, toil, beg, die. He hated it, he hated the established order. There needed to be justice, and if he had to bring it at the end of a bloody blade. "So be it..." He whispered to himself, taking a side step. "Answer me!" |
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| Post #5 May 29 2010, 03:32 AM | Max |
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Max stepped back slightly as the blade was swung by the young teen, and he smiled. He recognized the threat that it was meant to symbolize, and ignored it. He listened to what the boy said, truly listened; he regarded skill only as the sign of respect, not age or status. “I am Sabaku Kyoshi, you may call me Sabaku.” The samurai bowed slightly, showing respect to the teen on the stump. “Why would you want to kill me? Did I offend with my earlier statements? I am not used to all of your customs in this kingdom. Raphael is teaching me though. I apologize for any insult I may have said, I did not mean it.” Sabaku continued to smile, not an unconcerned, holier than thou smile, but a comfortable, soothing one. “I said what I said because I believed it. You are a good orator, especially for your age. You can accomplish much with that voice of yours. You could sway the masses if you tried.” Sabaku continued to advance until he was six feet away from the teen. “Now that I have answered your questions, will you answer mine good sir?” Before awaiting a reply, the samurai continued, “What is your name young one? Why do you feel so much anger towards me? Have I caused injury to you?" Max truly wondered why the boy was so angry; he had no idea how bad the difference between the peasantry and the nobility was in this kingdom. In his country it was simpler; the differences were less because it was small, each had to pull his own, and the samurai was separated from it for most of his life by being in training as the second son was destined to do. Sabaku knelt down, resting on the balls of his feet and smiling up at the teen as he waited for an answer. He hoped it wouldn’t turn into a fight, that wasn’t what he wanted. In the past two years he had not drawn his sword once in battle, and he wished to continue that for much longer. |
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World Emperor Of The World
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| Post #6 May 29 2010, 03:46 AM | Hobo |
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Zera stared at the man for a good long while. He was so confused he didn't know exactly what to say for a moment. He stood and analyzed the newcomer with wide eyes. Trying to figure out if he could trust him. "I do not hate you, Sabaku." He said at last and despite himself he smiled. "Nope, I hate the nobility, I hate them with everything I am." He said, why he was speaking his mind now he'd never know. He felt like he could trust the man though, so he did. He expressed himself honestly, flipping his blade with one hand and slipping it back into its holster. He smirked and sat down on the stump. "To be honest, I think killing is really a waste." He said, resting his chin in his palm. "If minds can be changed, all the better." He said with a sigh, looking down into the murky water again. He glanced up. "Zera." He said finally. "Thats my name." He extended a firm hand. "I just don't trust nobles." He said, "Though you seem different, trustworthy. Otherwise you'd be dead in the water." He said grudgingly, glancing away. "Most nobles do nothing but take and take and take." He grunted, punching his palm once. He scratched his nose and looked to the man. "You aren't from around here, are you?" Zera asked, leaning close, he tried to see if any particular feature would give it away. Zera didn't know if he could say anything else. Though he did feel heartened by the man's words. Could he really sway the masses? Or was it just words to gain his attention or even sway his opinion in order to get in close for an attack. He'd have to see for himself. Edited by Hobo, May 29 2010, 03:47 AM.
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| Post #7 May 29 2010, 03:59 AM | Max |
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“I agree my young friend; nobles do appear to only take here. That is not how it should be. The nobles should return to the lower classes for the services they provide.” Max looked at his left arm again briefly, “I wish to show you something Zera. Tell of this to others and I will deny it, but you seem like you are trustworthy.” Sabaku began to unwrap his bandages, revealing the numerous ugly scars that covered his arm and hand. “Most think these are from battling my father and older brother. That is a lie. These are scars to hide the truth of me.” Sabaku extended his palm so the boy could see. A cross was in the center of his palm, hidden by lines of scars caused by knives that the samurai had held over various points of the past two years. However, he had left it recognizable when one looked for it, as a constant reminder of what he really was and the humility he should keep. Pride would lead to his downfall. “See the cross? That is my brand. I am a Branded, but I am also a nobleman. I exist in both worlds but neither. The lower classes do not accept me even though I am one of them, and if the nobles ever learned of this I would be banished from their sights, left alone in this world.” Sabaku smiled sweetly at the boy when he remarked on his foreign heritage, “No young one, I am from the east, a small kingdom that no one ever knows about.” He lowered his hand and began to wrap it up, and he looked up, the sun was still high in the sky, and he had plenty of time before Raphael came looking for him. He was glad; he wished to know this boy that hated the nobility. There had to be a reason for someone so young to feel so strong, and the samurai wished to know what it was. |
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| Post #8 May 29 2010, 06:21 PM | Hobo |
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Zera blinked. "You're a branded?" He said as his eyes grew wide. The shock of the reality was enlightening to say the least. Nay, Zera was overjoyed. Something told him it was just what he needed. Something in his heart told him this meeting was more than predestined. He knew what he needed to do here. He needed to... he shook his head again. He needed to stop thinking and start acting! He stepped forward. "You are a branded, disguised as a noble?" He asked, his eyes wide. He laughed. "This is incredible!" He exclaimed taking the others hand. Exactly what I need! He thought to himself. Zera laughed. "From the east eh?" He queried, looking about himself. The sun was still high in the sky, he wasn't expected back home for some time. He had plenty of time to learn more about this Branded Noble. This branded noble from the east. He was fascinating, and he was certian he could learn much from the man. Possibly learn some way to accelerate his goals. He felt the excitement build in his chest. This is what he had been waiting for. |
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| Post #9 May 29 2010, 06:44 PM | Max |
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Sabaku was shocked by the boy’s response, he hadn’t expected such excitement in response to his secret, most shunned branded, this boy seemed to be a different type, a better type. He judged the person on the person, not their status, much like Sabaku himself did. Sabaku stood from his kneeling position, reaching his full height and smiled down at the boy. “Yes, from the east, but that doesn’t matter, that life is behind me now. The past only serves the purpose of creating who we are, the details are irrelevant.” Sabaku was curious why the boy was so excited about him being a branded noble. “Young one, why do you seem like you are ready to jump around in joy at finding out about my Brand, are you a Branded as well?” Sabaku finished wrapping up his hand and forearm, drawing it in and tight to make sure it held and then tied it off in a small knot. Sabaku was secretly happy about the boy’s excitement, perhaps the cruelty and hate applied to the Brand was slowly dying and the next generation would see it completely removed as a practice. It was inhumane, turning a human into an animal most often. The day he had returned honor to the name Sabaku was the day he would return to his home, no long as his father’s second son, but as the head of the clan, and he would take control of it and bring the corruption to an end, nothing would stop him as he restored honor to the Sabaku clan worldwide. Edited by Max, Jun 1 2010, 10:49 PM.
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| Post #10 May 29 2010, 10:50 PM | Hobo |
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Zera shook his head. "I'm not a branded, no." He said a smile crossing his young face. "My 'brother' is though." He stated, nodding to Sabaku. "I'm something else." His eyes lit up, as if an infernal blaze had caught behind them. He grinned, and he felt the fury that he had begun to feel more and more often recently beat in his chest. He'd felt it before, when he had beat those guards, and when he had escaped another guard. He was beginning to understand a bit of where it came from. He... he was lost in thought again. "I'm the aristocracy's worst nightmare. A man with a mission." He said cooly. "We are people before we are anything else." Zera began, standing up. "The Nobility simply cannot accept that, they have treated peasants and branded alike like animals." He hissed, his eyes still ablaze. "The only thing I lack right now is a teacher." Zera said, he said in complete honesty. He had been hoping he could find someone in the aristocracy to help him. "I need a teacher, to teach me the ways of the aristocracy, how they think, how they work, how to disguise myself as one of them." He said, his mind immediately setting to work. "More than that, I need resources, and a way to procure them without suspicion." He said, now pacing back and forth restlessly. Zera was fourteen, he admitted to himself again that his youth was right now his biggest setback. He'd have to wait a few years before he could make any sort of move. For the time, he had to be satisfied with the idea that he would one day be ready to take on the world. |
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