Chitsukiko paused, waiting for Kyouka to line up her shot, following the angle of the rifle's mouth toward the target. As soon as the trigger was pulled she smell the acrid scent of the ignited gunpowder wafting through the air. "Our family - yours now too - once held the shogunate, twice, in fact. It has shaped our clan's women as they have the Yakuboo men. Honing and practicing martial skills is a way to carry on that ancient legacy, honoring our ancestors, and strengthening the clan. Onna-bugeisha usually learns to handle the naginata, a type of spear, and knife, but some like Aunt Midori and myself have chosen to continue our studies and walk the path of the samurai without reservation. It's a rewarding life."
"Indeed. Though is it really a miss, if that's where you aimed?" Kyouka said with a grin as she slings her rifle on her back. "Ah, too bad, I kind of wanted a new gun." She added, "And I'm always itching for a good fuck." She said in a low haughty tone, just loud enough for the lord to hear.
' If you'll have me I'd like to accompany you,' Jian told his father. He listened closely to the explanation, as well as he could over the gunshots, 'Interesting, so it is more of a family tradition. You and your aunt honour your ancestors very well, then.' He turned to the two musketeers, as they took turns shooting, 'It's certainly not a weapon for an assassin.'
Shintaro smirks. "Well, perhaps I can still accommodate you." He looks to Jian. "Sounds like fun. No, probably not too useful for a shinobi or kunoichi. Still, maybe someday."
"In a way." Agreeing with Jian, but there was more to it. A calling. Her brow furred as she heard her great-uncle's words. "The bow is more than adequate to slay our enemies in the hands of skilled warrior without having to rely on nanban technology as a crutch. Trust in the Rai kunoichi and us too handle anything which threatens the clan, Lord Shintaro." Her distate for the weapon was obvious.
"Ho? Do you think we have enough time, before we have to depart?" Kyouka asked in an amused tone, she then leans in to whisper, "Just like in battle, I like to take my time. And show my "opponent" all... of... my... skills." The redhead then moves away, licking her pink lips to tease him further.
"Indeed my Shogun, I am ready whenever you are." He said as he stood to the side, ready to follow Shogun's lead.
Yunah stands up from her Meditation in The Garden under the Big Tree with Red leaves. She nods at The Servant and attaches The sheath and Family Katana on her Belt before correcting her Armour and walking into The Family Mansion. She wondered why her Father called for her. It must be Important. She makes her Way into The Main Hall and when she sees her Father bows her upper Body and Head down Respectfully before looking at him. "You wished to see Me Father?"
As expected, he stands there, face shrouded in his mask, with his sword drawn. "I've been looking for you all day, and here I find you, where no one can see us." He chuckles, gesturing to the loud hubbub outside as samurai and servants prepare to leave the shogunate castle. "And there's enough noise that no one will hear us." He bows. "We shinobi are known to be evil and immoral, but we have our own form of honour, so I wish you luck." He raises his sword and adopts a combat pose. "Yield, and tell me who your master is, or I'll carve you to pieces."
Shintaro chuckles. "Oh, Chitsu, you've been spending too much time with Lady Midori. A girl your age shouldn't be so old fashioned! There's a whole world out there, beyond our islands, and we should be excited to see what awaits us there!"
Shintaro turns from his relative to look Kyouka up and down. "Not enough time now, but when we board our ship to the capital, there'll be little to do, except get to know one another better."
She leads him outside, where a large host of samurai and servants has gathered. Sanada awaits on his horse, though Shintaro apparently left early. Jurobei's horse is saddled next to his brother's, though the shogun seems willing to let him ride in her carriage as well. Either way, it's the early afternoon, as the trail of horsemen see Castle Yokuboo and the port city of Ryuza in the distance.
Inazuma smile behind her own mask and draw her secend kunai, crossing them before hersellf in combant pose and bow too. "I feel bad about I can't offered you the same my dear. My orders comand your death, but I give you quick death, for respect." She said and attack him, quiet and fast, swing her kunais in two ways on him, what was only to distraction him because real attack come from licking him in the leg closer to edge of roof.
"Interesting. Very well. Once we board the ship, I guess we will be getting to know each other a low more." Kyouka cooed, grinning as she continued, "Until then, my lord." Doing a little cursty, while adding a sultry tone to her words to tease him further.
"Likewise." He swats away the kunai with his blade, before rolling away from her attack, closer to the center of the roof, though he doesn't get far as the castle's roofs are slanted at an upwards angle. He attacks quickly with his sword, slashing from multiple angles, but he's slowed a little from his wounded foot. He presses against Inazuma, locking their blades together, and draws a kunai, moving to stab the kunoichi in the throat.
Jian chuckled, 'All manner of fireworks and powder weapons, have a long tradition in my homeland. They helped a great deal to fight the Horse-lord invasions.'
Inazuma moves her head down, to push away kunai stab by her wooden mask. Not the best protection but still better than nothing and in the same time she kick him hard in wounded feet. She realised that ninja must be on highter level than her in sword arts, so kunoichi must make distance betheen them and push him away.
The ninja curses, backing away. Using his sword and kunai together, he launches a violent flurry of attacks, backing Inazuma towards the edge of the roof, and the large drop below.
"Fireworks?" Compared to the harshness from before, it was hard to believe the glittering eyes were from the same woman. "As a child, I had a chance to see them... Lord Shintaro, the celebration of the Emperor's ascension will have a fireworks display, will it not?" She had been so young then, but the sparkling colors lighting up the night sky like they were stars had been awe-inspiring. Chitsukiko also knew of the Horse-lords through her education. Though bound by land their interactions with Hattori were minor, if she remembered correctly, it was usually as mercenaries hired by lords with too much coin and far too little honor, according to the samurai woman.
