The leaves rustled slightly as the wind breezed through the Isawa Woodlands. It was a dark night, and it was particularly hard to make anything out due to the woods' thick growth. Even though the darkness had aided her, the Phoenix shugenja had made particular care not to be seen in the night. She was terribly afraid. She crept along the forest floor, ever onward into the mysterious woods, being ever careful as to make as little sound as possible, and hide her movement from the unseen. She doubted the ones she was following knew she was here, and looking back she didn't see anyone following from the castle. When she turned to continue forward was when she heard the twig snap.
She ducked behind a fairly large growth of bushes without an ounce of hesitation. She focused her chi so as to be prepared for whoever might suddenly spring on her. She must not have been as careful as she had supposed, seeing as how someone had obviously followed her. She seriously doubted that someone had just decided to take a leisurely evening stroll through the Woodlands, considering how dangerous most considered them. Even those who knew better. She cursed herself for not being more careful. She knew she was probably going to need every last ounce of will and inner strength tonight, and wasting some of it now was not making her happy. Not to mention the small thing that was curling up inside her stomach. She began to feel sweat run down her cheek even though it was a relatively cool evening. Another snap popped closer to her then before. Whoever or whatever it was would reach her within seconds.
A silhouette of a robed man, carrying a katana came into her sight. The young Phoenix touched her chi, and her hands began glowing with an ominous pale light. Whoever this was, she couldn't be allowed to let them get a counter strike. She had to do away with them before they knew what was coming. She inwardly screamed a small fury, and then released her hold on her magic. In the light that emanated from her wrath she could see the sudden look of surprise from the man that had been following her. She took a short shallow gasp and pulled the power of her spell back within herself, stopping herself short of killing the man that she now recognized!
"Osugi-chan!! Merciful ancestors! What has come over you!!", cried the man that she nearly destroyed.
Osugi nearly tackled the man glad that she had recognized him in time, "Togama-chan! Oh, I am so sorry!" She held him a brief moment longer before remembering herself, and realized what she was doing. She pulled herself away from him blushing, catching the stern look on Asako Togama's face.
"Osugi-chan!", he finally started, "What are you doing out here in the woods? It is too dangerous out here for you!"
"More so then you guess at, Togama-chan!", she said in a hushed voice. She remembered why she was out here, and held her finger to her mouth in a shushing gesture.
"Osugi! Wha..."
"By Shiba's feathers, would you silence yourself!", Osugi grabbed Togama's sleeve and kneeled down, pulling him down with her. "Please, let me explain, but we must remain silent!"
Togama realizing her grave nature, agreed to do so, and waited for her to catch her breath.
"First let me ask you: what are you doing out here?"
Togama shrugged, "I went to your room to wish you a good night, and when I found you not there, I proceeded to look around for you. I spied you crossing the courtyard outside towards the woods, and wondered what was going on! Now tell me so we can go back inside together!"
Oh, poor Togama!, she thought, Do I needlessly bring you into this dangerous business with me?
"I am out here following someone. Some fifteen people actually. I followed them from the castle!"
Togama looked dubious. "‘Fifteen people'! How did fifteen people get past the watch guards of the castle and into the Isawa Woodlands without being seen!?"
"Because they came from the castle itself!", Osugi explained, "Strange things have been going on recently, and I've taken notice of them. Tell me you have as well!"
He suppressed a grin, and answered her, "I've noticed you haven't paid as much attention to me as you used to!"
Osugi tried to hide the fact that she was charmed, "No, not that! I'm talking about the way the daily routines have changed, the way we've totally closed off our lands to ourselves, and aren't participating with the rest of the Empire!"
"I had not noticed!", Togama said, "What do you mean!?"
"I overheard Ujina-sama after he returned from his journey to the Shadowlands. He...", her voice trailed off.
He placed his hand on her shoulder to reassure her, "I know it is hard. He has been so terribly disfigured. But he is still the same man inside."
"Is he!?!", she blurted, "Sometimes, I wonder." Togama just sat and looked at her.
" ...But anyway", she continued, "I heard him tell Shiba Mikoto to send more samurai to the Phoenix borders and keep outsiders from trespassing."
Togama shrugged, "I'm sure Ujina-sama had good reason. He is the Master of the Void, after all."
"I know... But then I've noticed other things. People I've known for a long time, people I've studied magic with and close friends have suddenly started being cool towards me, or avoiding me all together. I've noticed people going out at all hours... Shugenja who never return to their quarters and no one seems to notice!!"
"Osugi-chan...", he paused, "Are you sure you're not just being overly paranoid? I mean, are you sure about this? What do you think is happening?"
She gave a visual protest with her features, "No, I am not just being "paranoid"! I'm following these people out here, aren't I? Why are fifteen people from the castle just wandering out into the woods so late at night!"
"Perhaps they are just soldiers sent out to stand guard", he seemed unsure of his own guess.
"They aren't samurai, they're shugenja!", she waited for this to sink in. "Besides, the other day, I was eavesdropping on a conversation between two shugenja as they were leaving Isawa Tomo's chambers."
"Osugi!!", Togama gave her a stern look, "You should never eavesdrop!!"
"I know! But it was an accident!", actually she had only accidentally heard the two speaking. She neglected to tell him that she had purposely been skulking around quietly in the hall-way. She figured the technicality wasn't in need of debate at the moment. "Anyway, it was hard to make out what they were saying, but one word I'm sure I heard plain as day... I heard the word... ‘bloodspeaker'!"
"Bloodspeaker!!", Togama's faced winced at the speaking of the word, "Surely you misheard! The Phoenix do not have any..."
"I know, Togama-chan, I don't want to believe it either, but there are fifteen possible answers to my doubts running around out here right now, and if I'm right, we're in terrible danger!"
Togama looked at her for a second then off into the woods, then back again, "You're scaring me now, Osugi-chan. Come on. I think we should just return to our quarters and let them be... Whoever it is out here."
"I can't go back now. I was lucky to catch them at all. They were using a spell to cover their tracks just in case, but I was able to successfully counter it, and replace it with a spell that will allow me to follow them. ...See?" She focused her chi just enough so that he could see the faint glittering effect from the footprints the mysterious fifteen had left.
"You are not the clans Prodigy for nothing, eh my darling Osugi?", he smiled, "But honestly, we are but two and we don't stand much of a chance against fifteen, even with surprise."
"‘We', my dear Togama-chan?"
"Well, don't think for an instant that I'd leave you out here all by yourself!"
Osugi laughed despite herself. She knew he meant it, and now she had to fear for him too. And knowing he could face harm was something she did not want to feel responsible for. She thought quietly about him, what he meant to her, and the fear of not being with him any more if he were to be hurt tonight. Then she thought about the clan, and the Empire.
"No. I have to go on. Please, go back to the castle. I don't want to see you hurt!"
"Nor I you, but if you insist on being so blasted headstrong, then I will come along!"
Osugi once again allowed herself a brief smile, "Fine... just remember we have to be quite! You were trumping along there pretty good before, so see if you can keep it down this time!"
Togama gave a quiet chuckle, "I guess a master of stealth I am not, but I'll watch my step!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They continued in to the woods, following the glittery footprints further and further into the darkness. Once again the fear started creeping back into her stomach, and she wondered if Togama felt it too. The woods were terribly still now, and not a sound was heard anywhere around them. Steadily they moved on, only keeping the footprints visible within a few feet ahead of them. After what seemed like close to an hour they both stopped. They could hear the faint sounds of chanting coming from ahead. The clear night allowed the moon to shine down on the clearing that was ahead of them. Not to mention the light from the fires that appeared to be lit. The two of them exchanged a brief look, before mustering up the courage to go on. When they did, they moved to the edge of the clearing and this is what they saw.
Apparently other shugenja had come out to the woods before the fifteen she followed because there were over 40 standing in the clearing before them. Most were standing around the perimeter of a circle where a few others, others she could recognize, were standing over a make- shift alter in the center. One, wearing a red hooded cloak was standing with his back to them, but one, who was holding a ceremonial looking dagger, and standing over a person laying on the alter was definitely Asako Oyo.
He was standing ready with the dagger as the shugenja chanted in low murmurs and the hooded one seemed to be working some sort of spell around the individual laying down. The chanting became more rhythmic and its intensity seemed to be building. Fear began creeping into every extremity of Osugi's body. What could she do? Even with Togama, there was simply nothing to do but sit and watch.
Finally the chanting reached a climactic end and as it was cut silent, Oyo brought the dagger down and stabbed the heart of the victim laying on the alter. He screamed out in udder agony, and it was then that Osugi recognized the man as Isawa Nuboe, a young shugenja in training. She had talked to him a number of times about spells he had been working on. Oh, this was more horrible then she could bear! Almost before he finished crying out in pain, the hooded man bent to him and placed something over his twisted face. Osugi's heart raced. She did not know what it was, but she guessed it was not something good.
It was then that the hooded one spoke, "Now, my devoted followers! I show you all how we begin the end of this pitiful Empire. It is with this ones true strength of sacrifice that allows us to take the first step in our task!" Osugi recognized the voice... No!! It can't be!! Please, no!!
"And the second step,", the hooded man continued on, "is for you, my dear Osugi, to come and face your destiny."
Osugi nearly let panic take her. The cloaked man turned and withdrew his hood revealing her sensei, Isawa Ujina. His now hideous visage staring directly into her.
The many shugenja in the clearing all stood and brought themselves to their ready. "Come now, my dear child, you don't think you could escape your sensei's sight, did you? Come from your hiding place."
Osugi grasped Togama's hand, and looked to him. The desire to run was overwhelming, but running would do nothing. They could not hope to escape. Better to stand their ground and not think about the end. The two of them stepped into the clearing and stood defiantly at the group of shugenja before them. Osugi really only saw her teacher and Daimyo.
"What is this, Ujina-sama!?", she managed, "What are these atrocities!?"
The Nameless One only laughed, "Osugi, my dear, I know your heart. It can not be swayed, and I have no time for explanations. Perhaps in the afterlife, you will know, but for now..." He gathered his chi into a visual manifestation of power.
Osugi brought her arms up. She had been touching her chi. Prepared to throw up a defensive shield. As she spun the threads of her spell she prepared to return an offensive blow. She was not sure of how effective it would be, but she had to try. She could hear the distinct sound of Togama's sword clearing it's saya. She didn't know what good his katana would do, but she inwardly, for a second, appreciated the courage it mustered. Then he moved for a strike, and a flash of moonlight glinted from his blade as it moved effortlessly through the air. Osugi felt a slight thud as something hit her arms. The desperation of the moment had been so intense that she didn't even feel whatever it was, but it had been strong enough to push her arms down. She quickly worked to bring them back up so she could work her spell, but for some reason they wouldn't. That's when she realized they weren't there any more.
Ujina laughed as she screamed at the sight of here arms spurting blood all over her and the ground. She then realized Togama was simply standing aside, with the other shugenja, his sword bloody from slicing off her arms below the elbows. The shock of it all was overwhelming. She wondered why she didn't faint. She sobbed, and looked at Togama with a look that clearly showed his betrayal was hurting her more then her arms ever could. "...Why!!!"
"I tried to warn you, you stupid fool.", Togama said without remorse, "I tried to get you to return to your safe, warm bed, but you wouldn't hear reason."
Osugi shook her head furiously. This simply couldn't be. Then she gathered her resolve. She wouldn't let this be the end. She fought through the pain, the heartache, the betrayal and focused on her attack. If she was going to die, she would see others went with her. Her power was about to be unleashed, when she opened her eyes only to see the streak of fire fly from Isawa Ujina's hideously formed hands. Then all was beautifully white, and she no longer felt any pain in her arms at all.